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VSO - Sharing Skills, Changing Lives

Application guidance

Guidance for Completing the Application Form

Present and previous employment

When completing this section it is important to include any part-time paid work or unpaid voluntary work, particularly if you have not been employed on a full-time paid basis before.

Please ensure you include your present or last employer, even if you feel that this post was not the most relevant to your application. You will have the opportunity to describe the skills and experience that are most relevant to the post within the section of the form where you describe how you meet the person specification criteria.

References

Please give the name and contact details of your current, or most recent, employer as one of your referees. If you have not been employed, you may wish to give the name of a teacher, lecturer, or other person who knows you sufficiently well to comment on your ability to do the post. Please state in what capacity you know each referee. Referees should not be partners, friends or relatives.

Job description and person specification

Each advertised post is supported by a job description and person specification. Please read these carefully. The person specification lists the essential skills knowledge and experience that are necessary for the post and these are the criteria against which you will be assessed. You should pay particular attention to these criteria and demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the post in your application form and on the selection day.

Explanation regarding how you meet the person specification requirements for the post

This is an important part of the form. This is where you demonstrate how you meet the application stage criteria, using the information supplied in the person specification.

To complete this section you should give specific examples of how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria. Remember to include any relevant skills and experience gained outside paid employment e.g. through voluntary work.

When we shortlist we can only use the information that you provide and if you do not describe how you meet all the criteria, you may miss the chance to be shortlisted for a post that you might be able to do.

Do not fill in this section with extracts from your CV. Please make your case clearly in the boxes provided. If necessary you may continue on a separate sheet of paper but you should not submit more than 3 pages in total.

Application Process

Submission of applications

Please submit your application by e-mail to recruitment@vso.org.uk or post to HR, 317 Putney Bridge Road, London, SW15 2PN. All e-mailed applications will receive an acknowledgement by e-mail. Posted applications must include a stamped addressed envelope if you would like to receive confirmation of receipt. Please note that CVs are not accepted.

Closing dates

The closing date for all VSO posts is midday on the specified date. Applications received after this time, may not be considered.

Shortlisting

Shortlisting for UK and international posts will be carried out solely on the basis of the information provided on the application form. Shortlisting will take place soon after the closing date.

Communication of selection for interview

As a charitable organisation we strive to keep our administrative costs to a minimum. This means we are unable to contact applicants who have not been shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Feedback on applications

Owing to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted.