next »

[hmmm]

I'm looking at an application for a lectureship in the UK that is basically a form, with boxes, asking for qualifications for this post.
What is one supposed to do?
--list publications?
--refer to attached letter?
--list degrees?
--list grants?
--list teaching experience?
--refer to cv [and is the cv supposed to be re-ordered specifically into the categories of the form?]
I'm willing to follow all sorts of rules, but this looks very different from what I'm accustomed to in the US.
Enlightenment welcomed.

[%sig%]

[sidey]

Stupid HR forms, how we hates them...

Personally I would cut and paste my entire CV into the box, or, perhaps less self-destructively, just list degrees and teaching exp.  Hard to tell without seeing what the rest of the form is.

[uk sub]

If there are specific questions and lines for writing in the answers (degrees, previous employment, etc), fill these out on the form.  If there's just a big blank box that says "list qualifications," you can paste in your CV or (what I always did) write "see attached CV" and attach a CV.

[science expat]

The form is for HR and they're the only ones who will read it. Just like the States, write a good cover letter saying how you meet the specifications of the post and expressing your enthusiasm for it, and include your CV.

One tip, however. If the specification includes a list of essential and desirable criteria you must demonstrate (say in your cover letter with reference to your CV) how you meet these. If you do not meet each essential criterion you cannot be shortlisted.

[Lucy]

Science expat gives good advice as usual, and I would second the advice to send a good cover letter and CV as well.  If all you send is the application form, you won't be able to show how you meet the requirements of the job.  The form is necessary for HR, but the department will appreciate it if you have a clearly laid out CV and a nice letter to go with it.

[melba]

I am in the U.S., so maybe this doesn't apply. But the suggestion that the form is only for HR is not true in all cases. On the committees I serve on we ALWAYS view the application form, as well as other materials. I find the HR form useful as it forces applicants to answer questions that they might forget to address elsewhere (of course, if the applicant is too lazy to address what they're supposed to in their cover letter/CV, then maybe we shouldn't be considering them in the first place). I also use the HR form for quick reference, say when thinking about last minute change to my short list.

[dover]

In our (UK) dept, the candidate files that I see contain the application form and whatever additional materials (C.V., etc.) were attached.

Some people fill out the forms in a terse & minimalistic fashion with no other materials.  This does not help their case.  I would be sure that your application contains all of the information you would put in a good C.V., and frankly, I would attach your C.V.  It is not standard here (in my field) to send other U.S.-typical materials like teaching statements, manuscripts, etc. with the initial application.  I don't think it hurts, however, to have a brief cover letter.

Because of the way university funding works, research is very important, even for "less-than-elite" universities.  If the job ad mentions it as a priority, take this seriously and emphasize it in your application.

[%sig%]

[akiwil]

The thing that really spooks me out on those British HR forms is the question whether I would be willing to submit to a medical examination! I mean, what if I did have TB or AIDS? They wouldn't be able to hire me?

Has anyone ever refused to agree to one? Must say I was very tempted to just say no.

[%sig%]