I'm Out of Work, I Need a Job
Custom Search
Tips On Answering Personal Questions on Intern Application Forms
Most internship application forms include questions that delve into your personality, for instance requiring a personal statement or an essay on a topic such as your most memorable experience (or most embarrassing one). You may also be asked to write essays describing a time in which you showed a particular competency they are looking for. Generally by questions like these the potential employer wants to delve beyond the facts and get to the person behind the data. Not only can they find out what experience you have, but they will be able to see how it has shaped you and what you have made of it.
A General Guide To Answering Questions
Generally, in order to answer these kinds of questions, you will want to draw upon your past experiences at your university. Experiences based on academics, or other social involvements like sports, and societies can be helpful.
If you are answering set questions, be sure that the you are indeed answering the question being asked. A lot of applicants write vague answers full of empty verbiage and end up losing track of what their point really is. You will also want to support each statement you make with concrete evidence.
As always, take note of special instructions such as word counts; be sure to stick to them carefully and edit as necessary, since the person reading the application may simply stop reading when that point is reached, or discard the application altogether for failure to follow directions. You will also want to make sure to reflect in your essays the qualifications and job requirements that were given in your application packet.
Personal Statements
Personal statements give you the opportunity to display how well you can handle the job. Just as with your resumé or curriculum vitae, you have to vigorously sell yourself, along with your skills and achievements to your employer. If you can't claim the skills they are looking for and back it up with evidence, you probably won't get an interview.
One vital thing to remember when making a personal statement is to make sure that it highlights your possession of the specific characteristics that are required in the job description. You can write all you like about extraneous characteristics, but if they do not tie into the requirements for the job, they will be nothing but filler and may actually detract from your actual qualifications. Be sure to include in your answers specific examples from your experiences to back your assertions.
Make sure to write in an organized manner, covering the information systematically. You will probably want to make an outline first so that you can identify all the salient points and set them into a logical order. A rambling or disorganized essay will be taken as evidence of poor organizational skills. Make sure to use positive language and active verbs when describing your achievements and skills.
If they ask you your reason for applying for the position, emphasize the things that you can offer them. When discussing what you will gain from the experience, focus upon intangibles such as your desire to achieve professional experience to reinforce your academic knowledge, rather than material gains. You do not want to come across as mercenary, purely focused upon monetary compensation.
Competency-based questions
These types of questions are becoming very common on application forms. However, you should take note that these involve a different set of talents than are covered in your personal statement.
Most of these questions use open-ended directions such as "Give an example of..." or "Describe a time when you..." They also ask for examples of situations in which you have used specific skills like leadership, teamwork, persuasiveness and the like.
One technique used to answer competency questions is the STAR approach. STAR stands for: situation, task, action, and result. First, you state out the situation, and then you indicate what task you were supposed to do. Next you describe action you took and lastly, what was the result of your action.
Both personal statements and competency questions delve into the person behind the facts. Make sure that you write them in a way that makes you shine.
