Filling out job application forms

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Quick! I'm trying to fill out an application form for a deputy editor of a small industry magazine and I don't know what to write in the questions section! I hate these kindof questions (eg What do you think you can bring to our company?; Why do you want this job?; LIst your skills and qualities etc.)

Anyway, they want to know why I am applying for this particular post and I'm having difficulty with it. Obviously a candidate for Deputy Ed needs to be able to write with flair and what I've got so far is pretty shite:

As a recent graduate whose ambition is to work in the fields of writing and publishing, I am especially attracted to this vacancy.

This post particularly appeals to me because I feel I would enjoy working within a small team on a specialist publication such as this. I am also very keen to learn about the scientific and technological aspects of the job, having enjoyed my previous experience in industry publishing.

My degree in English Language and Linguistics would be a real advantage, as much of my course was based around essays and dissertations, but besides my university education, I have experience in writing and publishing my own magazines and websites as well as collaborating with other keen writers.

Work-wise, I recently had several articles and stories published in the local press and I also provided editorial work in an industry catalogue at a small publishing house.

Any suggestions on how I can turn this bitch around?

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 31 July 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, check the job description and do a point-by-point matchup of what you've done with what they want. Mention like SPECIFIC things you've written and projects, what you have down sounds vague. Even if it's a university project, just be specific about it.
& avoid the "I feel" and "would be" formulations - just say "IS an advantage" and "I enjoy working w/teams because I've done x job already."

― daria g (daria g), Thursday, 31 July 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I applied for a summer job in a pub the other day. On the application form it asked me "If your personality was a sandwich, made up of 3 fillings and type of bread, what would it be and why?"

― Nick H, Thursday, 31 July 2003 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Your first two paragraphs are also mainly concerned about 'what you what from your potential employers'. You should be writing about what you can offer them. For example, instead of:

'I am also very keen to learn about the scientific and technological aspects of the job, having enjoyed my previous experience in industry publishing.'

you could change it to:

'I have previous experience in the publishing industry which you should consider. My experience is < expand upon your relevant experience, relating to the "scientific and technological aspects" > . '

Phrase it so it sounds less lame, obviously.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Thursday, 31 July 2003 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I got the interview! Holy crap! I have to:
- provide some examples of my work (by that I mean cobble together some stuff that looks impressive)
- learn QuarkXpress
- read up on my knowledge of geomatics and land surveying
- sober up

by Wednesday afternoon if I want the job! They are a very small publishing house in St*venage who specialise in publications about the study of geomatics and they are gonna test my subediting and proof-reading skills! The latter I can handle, but I'm fucked if I've ever used Quark (which I said I could on the app form) or know anything about geomatics (which they say would be handy).

What do I do now? (and don't tell me to give up cos it's my first proper job opportunity since leaving uni a year ago!).

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Good luck Dog!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 11:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks! I'll need it :-)

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh man! I can't get my head round QuarkXpress! It looked fairly straightforward at first and now I can't seem to work out how to get pictures to stay in boxes so I can move them around. Although this isn't integral to the interview, I'd like to have some basic knowledge of it or they'll suss I don't know it.

If Paint Shop Pro worked on my computer without complaining every time I want to use a picture that is over a couple of meg in size.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of which, can anyone recommend me a reliable and easy-to-obtain application that can manipulate picture files? I'm not fussed about changing them too much, just so I can cut and paste them/convert formats/rotate/flip them etc.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

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