Public Service job app - assistance required

[Diva]

I am applying for a job in an organisation that I really really really want to work for. I want to work there so much that I already volunteer hundreds of hours a year on their events and exhibitions.

The position is for an event coordinator, and I just so happen to have postgrad qualifications it event management. (the workplace is also located about 100 metres from my uni where I'm completing my masters of management, which is just one more bonus).

This is actually a lower level position than I really want, but i figure it is worth it because of that whole job satisfaction thing, plus getting experience in my ideal work environment. Foot in the door and all that kind of stuff.

Now, public service apps are long and tediously involved. You have to answer every point of the Selection Criteria. The more detail and examples the better. This position has 10 selection criteria, and with coverletter, selection criteria and resume + references, my application is already up to 15 pages. Medusa (who is an editor) helped me do a similar application last month for a different employer, and I can reuse a lot of the selection criteria with little or no tweaking.

However, I'm having trouble with one of the points:
'demonstrated success in providing superior customer service within a sales environment'

I have never really worked in a sales environment, although I have of provided high levels of customer services to staff, clients and external vendors. Any suggestions on how to phrase this to make up for it not really being a sales environment? I do have some experience from years ago with merchandising etc from when I worked at a performing arts centre, obviously I will include that but that is really my only direct sales experience.

Also: one of my referees is the volunteer manager, who is a seniorish manager at this employer. I have an email from her, which thanked me for high level customer support that I provided for some sponsors and VIPs last year, and at the bottom of that was thanks from the Marketing Manager, and at the bottom of that thanks for the sponsor themselves.

Is it really tacky to add this to the application? Perhaps as an appendix, and refer the sales question to this as an example of my dedication and working late nights and weekends in aid of supporting sponsors in this environment? Normally I would say no, but as it is public service, and the more crap you put in the better, I thought it might be ok.

Comments / suggestions / examples / other?

much appreciated!

[Tyrany]

It's not tacky at all to give that as an example. In fact, you can paraphrase her compliment and, asking her permission of course, reference her in your response.

Do you have any examples of this from your market stalls? Custom orders combined with the fact that you hand make what you sell might be an option as well.

:goodluck:

[Diva]

maybe you & mrs Tyrany could write me some glowing references for my cards ;)

I'm a bit hesitant to go into too much detail about hobbies, because it might look like I lack dedication to work or something. I will mention MacCon as it was something of a sales environment (selling entries, merchandise, canteen etc)

[Diva]

btw - Volunteer manager said she is happy to support me in any way, and has no problems with me referencing said letter. She was also really happy to be a referee for me (I was one of the few non-fan girl volunteers, and about the only one who understands that you should still show at least a modicum of professionalism even if you are a volunteer. She seemed to appreciate it).

[dwarfthrower]

'Sales' can be twisted a number of different ways. The CEO of a company I used to work for told us we were all salespeople. Every time we interacted with clients we were effectively selling the company's services.

The other way you can twist it is in terms of selling your ideas within the organisation.

[Diva]

selling company services is good - I encouraged dozens (prob hundreds) of people to take out membership of this place last year, because if they wanted to see the major exhibition more than once, or if they had a family group, it was more cost effective to become members. I also onsold the cheap cbd parking for members (definitely appealed to some people). Just need to work out how to phrase it without seeming like a goob.

[muppet]

Also: one of my referees is the volunteer manager, who is a seniorish manager at this employer. I have an email from her, which thanked me for high level customer support that I provided for some sponsors and VIPs last year, and at the bottom of that was thanks from the Marketing Manager, and at the bottom of that thanks for the sponsor themselves.

Is it really tacky to add this to the application? Perhaps as an appendix, and refer the sales question to this as an example of my dedication and working late nights and weekends in aid of supporting sponsors in this environment? Normally I would say no, but as it is public service, and the more crap you put in the better, I thought it might be ok.

Comments / suggestions / examples / other?

much appreciated!

As long as she's agreed to be your referee for this position, and not one outside of the company, then attaching the actual letter to the application won't have any negative effects, especially if the sponsor thanking you is a large sponsor and the company you're applying to work with has much to do with them.

Because you haven't had sales experience, you can actually state that, but give other examples of other skills you have that can be transferred across to meet that relevant criteria (the letter and examples of things that you've done in the past that could possibly in some other dimension be treated the same as *sales* work:p)

I hate writing job applications based on criteria, I usually bullshit them up and then hope that I can remember what I wrote when interview time comes. Good luck dude :D

[Diva]

the sponsor was a major airline who brought a whole stack of travel journalists (tenured and freelance) to the exhibition I was working on. they were promoting travel to another country (via their airline of course) which was relevant in terms of the exhibition.

I am also on good terms with all the gallery officers and two of the three venue managers from my volunteer work. I should prob mention that in my 'working with senior decision makers' or 'ability to work independently and part of a team' questions. or both.

I should be clear - I have had some sales experience, but it is ad hoc rather than in a 'sales environment'. But the question specifies customer service in a sales environment so I thought I could focus on the customer service part, and mention their workplace as that is most of my 'sales environment' experience

[anothe]

im only first year uni :S i cant help with an application this big but i can offer best wishes as good as anyone else!..best best best of luck!! i really hope it works out for you !

job rep!++

[anothe]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Diva again.

zgeeeek!! *shakes fist*

[Diva]

well, i have done about 3/4 of my app now. Have to finish the cover letter and the sales question tomorrow night after uni.

thanks for all the suggestions and advice, much appreciated - but please post more if you think of anything, I'll check back here a few more times before Friday to see if there is anything else I can use.

night all :)

[tomsyman]

As Dwarfthrower said "Sales" is anything. They want to see an example of you going above and beyond your job description. Whether you are selling the company name in face to face meetings, selling your department's services to other internal clients or selling Big Macs.

E.G. Say you worked retail and a customer complained about something then you fixed it for them and they left happy and told your boss what a great employee you were [note that on a resume actual events can be fictionalised].

Or someone from within your company asks you something that you know is not your job to fix but you sort it out and get it done anyway.

or

[Diva]

thanks so much for all the input. I submitted the app last night quite late, but as the deadline was COB today it got there with plenty of time.

it is the longest app I have ever done - 18 pages in all its glory! now just keeping my fingers crossed.

oh yeah, too late for anyone else to apply and gazump me now: Event Coordinator at the Powerhouse Museum. How rocking would that be??? :D

[Scumbag]

I had to do a similar thing to apply for my current role, cover letter, selection criteria, resume & references.

It was a huge pain the arse. There were so many things in the selection criteria that was basically the same question worded differently, the hardest part was trying to answer them differently.

I just used plenty of examples of my previous experience that dealt directly with the subject matter at hand.

Mine was about 10 pages long.


Sorry i cant go into it in much more detail, im in a little big of a hurry

[muppet]

Good luck with the app Diva, I know how much of a pain in the bum they are. I had to do the criteria thing just to work for Australia Post which ended up about 10 pages long with the covernote and my resume - and then there was the panel interview where they asked the same damned questions and you had to answer them as best you could without sounding like you memorized your application*faints* Fun times!

[Diva]

well, I have an interview tomorrow, so everyone keep your fingers crossed for me.

I'm one of abot 6 being interviewed, out of 140+ applicants. So I'm doing pretty well thus far, just have to get across the line . . .