"Why should I research the organisation? Shouldn't I be investing all
of my time actually writing my job application?"
These are the things I said when I started writing my first ever job
applications. And these are the objections I hear from job applicants
today. Especially government job applicants.
So, why should you, as a government job applicant, spend time
researching the organisation you are applying to?
Because ... as an applicant you need to be able to demonstrate that you
are better able to satisfy the requirements of the position than any
other applicant. That is how you get the job. Showing that you know a
lot about the organisation and requirements of the position, will help
you do this. If you can draw parallels between the organisation, the
position and how your exact skills and experience will 'fit', you are
one step ahead of all the other applicants.
I have been a selection panel member or countless government
recruitment exercises where we end up with two applicants who are very
close. Either could do the job. The thing that always makes the
difference is the applicant who can align their skill set to the needs
of the job and the needs of the organisation. In addition, they are are
showing that they are committed to the position and have invested time
and effort to prove so. And this is the person who gets the job.
So, while spending time finding out more about the organisation might
not help in all circumstances, imagine if you are one of those final
two applicants fighting for the job. Or one of two applicants fighting
for the final interview spot. That little bit of extra time at the
beginning of the job application process will mean that your answers to
the selection criteria will be more relevant and targeted to the job -
and might make all of the difference!
How it's Done
Once you’ve decided to take the plunge into applying for a job, but
before you start writing your application, it is important to find out
as much information as you can about the position, the company, and the
industry. Therefore, you are better positioned if you invest time into
researching the government agency, area the position is located in, and
the actual position so that you can frame your application to their
needs.
You Can Find Out More About an Organisation From:
What Sort of Information Should You Be Researching?
The information that you research is perfect to add to your interview cheat sheet for easy reference during the interview.
This article first appeared in the selection-criteria.com.au newsletter.
More Help With Your Job Application:
How to write better selection criteria
How to research an organisation
Dealing with selection criteria that you don't meet