Applying for Future Leaders?

Applications are currently open for our Future Leaders programme. We know it can be a daunting process to apply for new jobs, so we’ve pulled together some of our top-tips and advice for making your application stand out!

We cover some of the small details that can get overlooked, through to the big things that really matter to us when we are reading through applications.

Know your reader

• Say the obvious, remember the reader doesn’t know you and they anonymise your application to remove potential unconscious bias. 
• Research the company and show it in your answers about why this company is where you want to be, what excites or interests you from your research. 
• If you know who is interviewing you, LinkedIn is helpful to research the people before you meet them, don’t worry that LinkedIn tells them you’ve been looking. It shows you are proactive and take initiative.

Own your work

• Use examples to demonstrate how you meet the qualities and experience requirements. And say what the results were of your work. Don’t just say I have done xx. Expand on that so your application scores higher.
• Don’t be humble. Say I led, I delivered. You didn’t try, you did! 
• Show your passion with examples of actions not just words. How do you demonstrate your passion in your work, not just state it. 

Speak their language

• Using the words from the job requirements or the job pack is not cheating. It’s helpful for the people reading to easily see how well you meet the requirements if you state them.
• Don’t ever rule yourself out because you don’t meet every single criteria perfectly. If you have the desire and the passion and at least 50% of the criteria – go for it anyway! Companies want someone who can grow in the role.
• If you don’t meet a criteria, don’t skip it in your answers. This is an opportunity to show your approach to figuring something out or learning about something new. Show your proactive approach to a challenge, demonstrates how you work and how you think. What similar experiences can you use to show you can build or have a desire to grow in this area with less experience?

Make it easy to read

Remember that companies will be receiving a lot of applications, and you want to make it as easy as possible for the readers to get the main information they need. 

• It’s OK to use bullet points or headings in your answers. Sometimes the person reading finds this really helpful. 
• Review and edit! Once you’ve prepared your answers edit it down so you get straight to the point. Especially if there’s a word count. How can you get your point across immediately to make the reader keep going? 
• Have someone else read it or listen to your answers and give you feedback. 

Ask for what you need

• If you need an adjustment for a form, a task, or an interview, you are entitled to ask. This is information the employer needs to be able to assess your application fairly and equitably. 

• You get to decide what you disclose and when. To share information about you is a choice and not an obligation, there is no “right” amount to share on an application. 

We understand that tools like Grammarly, spell check, or even generative AI can support application processes as a writing aid or accessibility tool. 

While we don’t prohibit the use of generative AI, we do encourage you to use it thoughtfully. AI generated text can sometimes feel impersonal, not make total sense and it may not fully reflect your voice and experiences. We are most interested in your words, your passion and your perspective. Within our application forms there is the option to use alternative formats such as video or audio as well as written to support this. 

If you do use AI, please review and personalise it to ensure it truly represents you. Our goal in an application process is to get to know you, so authenticity is what matters most!