How to response to Short Questions in Job Application?

Objectives:

1. Help you apply different frameworks of responses in job applications
2. Develop your ability to understand selection criteria commonly used by employers

Why are there such questions in application forms?

1. to see if the candidate satisfies their selection criteria
2. to evaluate the candidate’s linguistic ability
3. to screen candidates based on their relevant skills, experience, training and personal qualities

What are the selection criteria?

By what criteria do you think employers judge the answers to these questions?

• The key selection criteria outline the qualities, knowledge and skills needed to do the job.
• They are clearly described in the position descriptions in the job advertisement.
• It is important to include relevant and specific examples or situations where you have demonstrated the behaviour, knowledge, skills and personal qualities asked for in the job selection criteria. Perhaps you have worked in a related field or industry or have private interests that are relevant. Take all of these things into account when responding to job selection criteria.

They vary among employers and jobs. Increasingly, job selection criteria are based on key capabilities. These often include:

• resilience- for example, perseveres to achieve goals, even in the face of obstacles; copes with setbacks; stays calm under pressure; and accepts constructive criticism without becoming defensive
• problem solving - seeks all relevant facts; liaises with stakeholders; analyses issues from different perspectives and draws sound inferences from available data; and identifies and proposes workable solutions.

How to response?

Based on the selection criteria stated in the job advertisement:

• incorporate the keywords into your written responses
• address all parts of the selection criteria as possible
• use the STAR approach
• use strong action words

More detailed tips are here

START Approach

STAR

The most important thing is:

You need to make the link between what you can do, and have done in the past, and how it relates to the job. If you don’t have any actual work experience, use other relevant experience such as something you have done at university, for a voluntary organisation or a club to illustrate your capacity to undertake the work required.

Epilogue

Good luck with your job searching!