What Makes a Good Application?

Applying For Foundation Training

Witty Sandle – WMS Careers Adviser

Aims of today:

Explanation of competency based applications

Principles of writing a good application Examples of answers and how scored Further help

What is a competency?

Individual abilities/characteristics that are key to effectiveness in work

Competencies represent clusters of skills, abilities Competencies represent clusters of skills, abilities and knowledge needed to perform jobsand knowledge needed to perform jobs

Increasing use in organisations– what you can do and how you do it– observable behaviours– Past behaviour predictive of future behaviour

Competencies on foundation application form

Building relationships Team working Leadership Influencing Communicating Planning Clinical skills Academic knowledge/understanding

Top Tips- Principles of Good Applications

Reflective not

descriptive

Think - why they are asking the question? Try & give a wide

variety of examples. Avoid

repetition

Stay within the word limit (150

words max)Make full use of

word count!

Cover all essential criteria, and hopefully the desirable too!

Complete sentences but succinct!

Why an application may fail (except you won’t fail!)

Failure to identify what the employer is really looking for (person spec)

Underselling yourself Failing to provide the right evidence to

support your statements Making assumptions- be explicit Silly mistakes- grammar, spelling

STAR Framework

– S ituation– T ask– A ction– R esult

An approach for competency questions:

Good for interview questions too!

The STAR Approach

Describe a particular situation/scenario Explain what you had to do. What was the

task or target? (Inc. information such as any barriers

overcame, issues encountered etc..) What was the action you took? What was the result? Give a positive

outcome

Application Form Howlers!

I am someone who knows my own destiny, but I have no definite long term plans

I have a desire to work with commuters At secondary school I was a prefix Here are my qualifications for you to

overlook Up until a little while ago I used to compete

in British-Eventing competitions on my horse, from which I got a real kick

Place of Birth? – A London hospital

Strong Words! Some adjectives to describe yourself:

impartial resilient

Accurate resourceful

methodical reliablelogical

calm

conscientious

responsible

sensitive

persuasive

Strong Words! Verbs to describe what you have done:

achieved evaluated

initiated devised

co-ordinated implementedcontributed

analysed

demonstrated

planned

organised

investigated

Evidence Examples

Recent is better

Elective Publishing & Conferences

Societies

Part time, summer, &

voluntary work

Sports

Staff/Student Committee

Clubs

Personal experience

Fundraising

Research groupsClinical

Experience

Audits

Prizes & Awards

Family Responsibility

Academic Achievement

Hobbies & Interests

1st degree/MSC/PHD

Scoring

All assessors given same ‘marking scheme’ So many points for each question

– Last year:-– 0 = no evidence provided

1 = minimal evidence provided2 = some evidence provided3 = good evidence provided4 = outstanding evidence provided

This year - ?

Example from last year’s form

Pick two of the seven principles of Good Medical Practice, state the principle and illustrate your qualities with respect to these.

Guidance

Applicants must demonstrate that they know what the principle is and give a relevant, but different example for each principle selected. The illustration of qualities should be appropriate to the principle and demonstrate insight and reflection. Applicants should consider how they can demonstrate their understanding of the principles and give examples of how they have exhibited the qualities it describes.

Scoring: example from London for academic post this year: Teamwork

Give one example in which you have participated and contributed to the successful working of a team. The example should be from your undergraduate (or postgraduate experience if relevant) and should identify your role and contribution to the team & possible relevance to academic activities.

Scoring advice for teamwork Q

0 Blank box

Incomprehensible or irrelevant answer

1 An example identified but the specific role and contribution are not developed in the answer, or explanation is minimal

2 Example identified with excellent explanation and reflection on specific role and contribution

Notes to assessors

Examples could be drawn from a variety of clinical and non clinical settings. This list is not exclusive

Sports activities; Organising rotas; Organising events; Research projects; Charity work; Expeditions; Part-time or vacation jobs; Arts/cultural performance events

Some examples: Teamwork

I was secretary of a ball committee and I was responsible for putting together the agenda and writing the minutes which I circulated afterwards. This helped me to develop good communication skills as liaison was an integral part of the role.

Try & score this – 0 to 2

Scoring: reminder

0 Blank box

Incomprehensible or irrelevant answer

1 An example identified but the specific role and contribution are not developed in the answer, or explanation is minimal

2 Example identified with excellent explanation and reflection on specific role and contribution

What’s wrong?

LACK OF DETAIL HOW AGENDA PUT TOGTHER & PROCESS

FOLLOWED RE. MINUTES RESULT?

Better answer

Better answer As secretary of a ball committee, I ensured the good running

of team meetings. Before each meeting I contacted each member, gathering input for the agenda. During meetings I took accurate notes which I then sent to all participants for approval. I then liaised with everyone to follow up on action points. My diligence ensured that we could run successful events and showed me the importance of good communication and personal responsibility in team work.

Non-academic achievement

During my elective attachment, I went to Romania where I assisted a group of local doctors in setting up a new orphanage. The orphanage housed 35 babies and we had to deal with every aspect of the daily work, as well as dealing with the paperwork. I found the experience very enriching and hope that as a doctor it will help me provide better care to my patients.

Score?

Scoring advice for non-academic achievement

0 Blank box

No mention of any non-academic achievements

Incomprehensible answer

1 Unremarkable achievement with no or minimal explanation of significance

2 Major achievement with good reflection/explanation of significance

What’s wrong?

LACK OF SPECIFIC DETAIL WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ACHIEVEMENT? LINK BETWEEN ROMANIA & BETTER

DOCTOR NOT OBVIOUS

Better answer

During my elective, I went to Romania to help set up a new orphanage. I worked closely with two local doctors to initiate systematic vaccination procedures, spent many hours fighting local bureaucracy to obtain funding for basic services and simultaneously helped manage the health of 35 babies. As well as making a real difference through my hard work, I found the experience very enriching. It particularly taught me a lot about the importance of empathy in a doctor’s work.

Further help

Careers Service website

http://go.warwick.ac.uk/careers - just find applications in the A to Z index

Resources in the careers hub / Biomed grid Target Medicine Careers Advice section WMS site

Careers clinics

Walsgrave: (check screen for room)Monday 30 October 12.30 to 2.30Monday 13 November 9.00 to 11.00Wednesday 29 November 1.00 to 3.00

Walsgrave: (check screen for room)Monday 30 October 12.30 to 2.30Monday 13 November 9.00 to 11.00Wednesday 29 November 1.00 to 3.00

Warwick:Tuesday 31 October 12.00 to 2.00 R.CWednesday 15 Nov 9.00 to 11.00 R.CTuesday 28 Nov 11.30 to 1.30 R.E

Warwick:Tuesday 31 October 12.00 to 2.00 R.CWednesday 15 Nov 9.00 to 11.00 R.CTuesday 28 Nov 11.30 to 1.30 R.E

GEH:Wednesday 1 November 1.00 to 3.00 R.2Tuesday 14 November 11.30 to 1.30 R.3 Monday 27 November 9.30 to 11.30 R.5

GEH:Wednesday 1 November 1.00 to 3.00 R.2Tuesday 14 November 11.30 to 1.30 R.3 Monday 27 November 9.30 to 11.30 R.5

Applications advice/quick careers advice

Go to Careers Service Website Click on ‘My Careers’ using your University

login details. Select Book an Appointment with an Adviser and type of advice slot.

Appointments can be booked from the previous day – 9.00am(Friday for Monday slots)

To see me specifically

Email me with your student number I will book an appointment Please try and keep the appointment or let

me know if you need to cancel W.Sandle@warwick.ac.uk

In conclusion…

Don’t panic Fail to prepare prepare to fail! Draft answers, again, again and again Get someone to proof read & check Apply the ‘so what?’ factor

Good Luck!