The Police & Criminal Justice Community Job Site

Application Guide

When preparing your application for your next job first understand the different methods employers use.

Criminal justice and public sector employers only accept applications by application form. They do not accept CVs so do not spend time organising a CV if you’re targeting a job in this sector. The completion of an application form is a process which, like a CV, you need to take great care over. Below you fill find our advice for completing application forms.

Commercial sector organisations, as a rule, request CVs. This can often be a shock for criminal justice & public sector employees used to completing application forms. Below you will find our advice for CV writing.

Application forms

Complete or submit your application on line. Employers prefer this because it is more cost effective and immediate.

Complete the questions first in a draft format. Make sure you spell check the draft then leave it and come back to it later. This will allow you to proof read and edit the document with a fresh mind.

Application forms, in the main, ask you to evidence you have the competencies for the particular job you’re applying for. This means the employer has broken the job down in to its separate tasks and has constructed questions which ask the applicant to evidence they are competent to complete this task. When answering this style of question ensure you use real life examples, preferably from work experiences as evidence you offer the particular competency, rather than hypothetical examples.

Do not leave any question unanswered

Keep a copy of your application form

CVs

CVs are not documents which state who you are! They are documents which explain why you’re the person for the particular job you’re applying to.
The recruiter will read on average 30 – 60 CVs for one job. So you need to make it easy on them by ensuring you make it clear you’re worth interviewing.

Remember. The CV is only a document which gets you the interview. It’s at interview you get the job. The CV is a paper gateway at which the employer decides you're worth an interview.

The CV, in a sense, is a sales document selling you to the employer. Therefore know what the job entails. Break it down in to its key competencies and then ensure the first page of your CV references these key competencies.

State your reasons for leaving each of your jobs in a section beneath each particular job, and ensure the reason is positive. If it wasn’t, put a spin on it.

Your CV shouldn’t be more than 2 pages. Resist putting your whole life history down, or all those impressive courses and educational achievements. Remember you should be referencing only the information which is relevant to the job you’re applying for.

You might be fascinating, but remember the recruiter cares whether you can do the job, not what your personal interest are – keep the personal hobbies and preferences to a minimum.