Prepare your content

Make sure you understand the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience required. Think about some demonstrable examples you can use to evidence this.

In Adult Social Care we shortlist by setting a criteria based on the job description and requirements of the team. Once we have decided on a criteria for shortlisting, we will set a benchmark. To score against the criteria we use one - five. One means there is no evidence of a selected criteria and a five means a well demonstrated example of meeting the criteria.

One of the key sections for shortlisting is:

"Explain why you are applying for the position and how your experience (paid or unpaid), personal qualities and skills help to make you a suitable candidate. It is essential that you provide us with details that demonstrate how you meet the criteria for knowledge and experience, technical skills and personal /behavioural attributes in the job profile".

Spend time on this section, ensuring you use examples to back up statements and use the job description to structure it.