The NHS uses a form-based web application which can make it difficult for the shortlisting person to see and assess someone\u2019s strengths and weaknesses. Before pressing the submit button, you need to ask yourself:\u00a0 Have I made it easy enough for the shortlisting panel member to see what I\u2019ve got to offer and compare that to the person specification?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
Essential attributes in a person specification.<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen shortlisting, candidates who don\u2019t achieve the essentials won\u2019t get a look in.\u00a0 They will be a combination of tick box exercises \u2013 for example, having APLS provider status, demonstrating that you\u2019ve got training in child protection.\u00a0 There will be a series of equally important but slightly more nebulous essentials which may include things like communication skills, ability to work in a team and so on.<\/p>\n
Some ways to fail to get shortlisted against the essential attributes:<\/p>\n
\n- Forget to put in some essential aspect. For example, you may be applying for a tertiary post in an important speciality, and you may be superb at it.\u00a0 However, if someone has included \u201cAPLS provider\u201d in the person specification \u2013 perhaps it is a trust rule \u2013 and you haven\u2019t taken the time to write it down because you\u2019ve been too busy listing the international conferences you\u2019ve attended, then you cannot be shortlisted.<\/li>\n
- Fail to demonstrate, in the way you deal with your application, an essential aspect. For example, if you have shocking spelling, or your grammar is challenged, then get some help.\u00a0 The person specification is bound to say \u201cgood communication skills\u201d, and if you can\u2019t write well on your person specification, then you are demonstrating poor communication.\u00a0 Similarly, if you attempt to submit your application late, you are unlikely to have good organisational skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Desirable attributes in a person specification.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\nThe desirable attributes become most important when there are a number of people who have demonstrated that they have the essentials, and the panel need to have a shorter shortlist.\u00a0 These will be much more post-specific; you should read them carefully and respond \u2013 honestly and accurately \u2013 to as many of them as you feel you have.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Domains in a Person Specification<\/strong><\/p>\nMost of the domains are self explanatory, but they\u2019re worth going through:<\/p>\n
\n- Qualifications<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The panel considering employing you will want to know that the person they appoint can actually do the things they need you to do.\u00a0 Note, eligibility for your Certificate of Specialist Training is not the same as having actually applied for it.\u00a0 If you\u2019re eligible then apply; to do otherwise makes you look like you\u2019re poorly organised.<\/p>\n
\n- Experience<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
This is the part of the person specification which deals with what you should have done –\u00a0there is often inclusion of the statement \u201cappropriate career progression to date\u201d.\u00a0 This does not mean that people with unconventional CVs need not apply, but they should be able to explain what they\u2019ve been up to and why.\u00a0 Note that whatever career path you\u2019ve followed, you should be able to demonstrate that, for example, you\u2019ve achieved what is needed, that you\u2019ve passed the assessments, and so on.<\/p>\n
\n- Skills and Knowledge<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Aspects covered here will usually\u00a0 be a description of what an \u201cideal\u201d colleague might know and be able to do; for example, managing the team, being able to communicate, carry 6 medium lattes etc.<\/p>\n
\n- Research, teaching and training<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The contents of this section will depend a lot on the type of post you are applying for.\u00a0 The usual minimum is that you are able to support a research agenda within a team. \u00a0You won’t have to have done\u00a0new and proper research for every job, but most people ought to have accumulated a few publications.\u00a0 \u00a0Note that this would include presentations, posters and published abstracts.<\/p>\n
Nearly all employees will want to see evidence that you\u2019re able to teach and train undergraduates, postgraduates, and teach outside of your discipline.<\/p>\n
\n- Personal skills, qualities and aptitudes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
This section gets down to basics about what sort of person the team really want.\u00a0 \u00a0It\u2019s worth reflecting that, even with increased career mobility most people will count their time in a consultant post in decades rather than years.\u00a0 What sort of colleague you will be is an important factor in appointments.<\/p>\n
\n- Professional Development<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
For most people in a training grade, professional development is fairly straightforward to demonstrate.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 it\u2019s worth considering how you demonstrate this \u2013 for example, your ability to recognise your educational and training needs, to seek out appropriate ways of addressing these needs, and how you demonstrate when the need is met.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So why did you keep a\u00a0CV\u00a0up to date?<\/strong><\/p>\nFor jobs in the NHS, most applications are made online, in a form which can be easily anonymised for those doing the shortlisting.\u00a0 This presents two challenges:<\/p>\n
\n- Firstly why have you spent all this time preparing your CV if you can\u2019t submit it? The answer here is several fold.\n
\n- You need to have a CV for your visits after you are shortlisted; you will want to leave a copy with people you visit.<\/li>\n
- Your CV is a handy space for all the things you may forget to include in your application otherwise.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s always a good idea to have an up to date CV. Believe us, it is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Secondly, you\u2019ve now got to cram all of your carefully prepared information into a humourless computerised environment which insists on submitting your Proustian prose to the indignity of a word count. As above, having a CV helps this as you can tick off the various aspects you need to cover.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
And finally ..<\/strong><\/p>\nGetting shortlisted is not straightforward.\u00a0 You need to start early, and think hard about what you need to do to turn yourself into a colleague that people want to work with and make sure that gets translated onto an application form. \u00a0Following the guidance here should find yourself in a strong position to get there, though.<\/p>\n
\n- Ian Wacogne, Vin Diwakar, Helen Jenkinson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We realise that you’ve had to wait five years until this post made sense, but thanks to the amazing system of curation we have in the ADC blog posts and the way it burned into your memory we’re delighted you’re back. It’s time to fill in the application form. The submission of a good application […]<\/p>\n
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We realise that you’ve had to wait five years until this post made sense, but thanks to the amazing system of curation we have in the ADC blog posts and the way it burned into your memory we’re delighted you’re back.<\/p>\n