application form

[Jonny]

Hi everyone

Im just wondering does anyone know when filling in the application form if I can fill it on the computer (Word 2007).
When I was looking GUIDANCE NOTES it says "If you are completing in your own handwriting please ensure that you write your answers neatly and legibly." I dont wont to come of to the board that im not paying attention to detail or anything like that. Just that I hate my own handwriting.

Would anyone help me on the matter.....thanks everyone

[Clevelandfire]

YOu infer in your question that the guidance says "If completing in your own handwriting etc" I therefore think you are free to type up the form if you wish by the way its worded

[Jonny]

Yes thats what i thought i was highlighting the IF part. thanks Clevelandfire

[Clevelandfire]

pleasure. best of luck to you

[Aesgarth]

i typed mine and got through so you'll be ok.

[Midland Retty]

Typed I think always looks better

[hannahvca]

You won't get marked down for things like that. If it asks for 10 point type and you accidentally do 12, the markers can't mark you down for that. They can only mark you against the PQAs, so if there is nothing in there about bad handwriting, then its not relevant! I've marked a lot of applications and i always prefer typed- its so much easier to assess the evidence. The hardest part is when people give evidence but you just can't make it out- its frustrating, but you can't give credit to what you can't read, so always make sure it is clear! But it is really about the quality of the evidence. I'd far rather see a really good scruffily written example with lots of clear personal actions taken, than a neat, perfectly spelt but vague and general answer, which gives me no indication of how the person actually behaves.

Hannah

[kurnal]

Hannahvca
If they ask for black ink and someone writes in blue, if they ask for 12 point and someone types in 10 is that evidence that the applicant cannot follow a simple instruction and may not be suitable for employment as a firefighter where an inability to follow simple instructions may put others at risk?

[murray]

Hannahvca
I submited an online form for SFR, but when i checked it afterwards i found that 1 of the answers was jumbled up. I sent an e-mail to ask if there was anyway i could change it, but was told that once it was in that was it. Do you think i should submit another one?

[hannahvca]

Hi Murray

If they are saying that you can't re-submit then I'm afraid that is probably it. What do you mean by muddled up? It might still ok, if its just a question of putting 'Situation' section in your 'Action' section for instnace. But if it is very muddled and its hard to work out what you mean it might reduce your score, but that doesn't mean the end of the world if the rest is looking good.

Hannah

[hannahvca]

Hannahvca
If they ask for black ink and someone writes in blue, if they ask for 12 point and someone types in 10 is that evidence that the applicant cannot follow a simple instruction and may not be suitable for employment as a firefighter where an inability to follow simple instructions may put others at risk?

Hi Kurnal

I see your point... but what we need to be careful about is making assumptions which are not completely evidenced. Someone not completing the form correctly could mean they were in a rush; they were distracted due to personal issues; they got muddled up; there PC was in default setting to 10 point; that they only had a blue ink and had to catch the post etc... To get to 'may put others at risk' is a bit of a leap. If they describe in their examples that they chose to behave in a way that appears to have risked the safety of others, then you have your evidence.
For someone who is serious about getting into the FRS we would all think, they wouldn't leave it to the last minute and they would make sure they hadn't made mistakes. But people are different, and some individuals may need a bit more experience, or maturity, or understanding of application processes to get their act together. But they might have the potential to be an excellent FF in all the ways that count.

It can be easy to make assumptions on all sorts of factors which have personal relevance to us eg is their writing neat? Did they spell correctly? did they use slang? But in the end it comes down to the evidence that they present through their examples that they can effectively demonstrate the PQAs. Because its the PQAs that are relevant to being successful in the role. I would rather have a FF turn up to my burning house who showed their ability to deal calmly with stressful situations and work well with others than one who crosses their i's and dotted their t's but their PQA evidence suggested they didn't have what it takes.

I'm not saying all assessors think that way, but that's the way the system is set up, and that's what they should be considering. I accept that others may have differnt opinions though!
Hannah

[kurnal]

Hi Hannah
Good answer. That sort of logic is so unusual these days. Thanks.

[murray]

Hi Hannah,
 when i filled in the online form everything was fine, i went over it for spelling etc, i also got my wife to check it, everything was ok. After i submited it i went back on to print it off only to find 1 of the answers had been jumbled up ,ie some of the words were in the wrong place. I can only think there was some kind of glitch or something.

[hannahvca]

That must have been really annoying!
I would suggest that it can't hurt to find the name of the person in charge of recruitment and see if you can speak to them to explain. It may be that the office is very busy so you can't speak to anyone, in which case write a letter refering your application. Recruitment teams would probably prefer to be informed in advance than for people to try to use it later if their application isn't successful.

Maybe copy the answer in here and i'll have a look for you to see if it is a problem. Or send me a private message if you'd rather do it that way

hannah vca

[hannahvca]

Hi Kurnal

glad you approve!