Although you’ll be expected to have a basic level of qualifications to be accepted onto a Midwifery course, one of the most important things the admissions team will be looking for in the selection process is what kind of person you are, and how you match up to the requirements of the role.
Of course they can’t just tell by looking at you whether you meet the standards, and won’t just take your word that you’re the right person for the job.
It’s up to you to prove this, by drawing examples from your past educational, work and life experience.
But what counts as relevant experience – and more importantly how do you get this across in your application?
1.Look at the requirements the University are looking for. Do all the research you can in this area! List them in order of importance.
2.Note down ALL the experiences you can think of that relate to the criteria and characteristics laid out in the requirements. Dig deep – think about not only your experience in education and employment but in life experiences, voluntary work, leisure time…
3.You have limited space in an application or CV so choose the best examples – ideally ones that show your skills in a few areas. Try to describe these in as concise a way as you can.
For example, you might have teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills which were especially apparent in a course you took part in whilst in school, or experience in dealing with the public and decision making from part-time work.”
4.Clearly show how what YOU did in the example you’re giving that contributed to the end result, and how it shows that you meet the criteria for the role you’re applying for.
5.Don’t use buzzwords or generic statements that take up space but fail to explain what you did or why this experience is relevant to your application.
Saying “My time working in a small group as an assistant in a care home helped build my strong teamwork skills” doesn’t get the message across or back up the skills you’re claiming to have.”
A better way to put this would be:
I worked as part of a small team in a care home for the elderly. We had to work together to tight regulations and a strict routine which meant that good communication was essential between us in order to get the work done well and to schedule, and ensure the comfort and happiness of the residents. I was responsible for dealing with the majority of new admissions, and working in emotional and sensitive situations vastly improved my people and communication skills.”
6.Sell yourself and highlight your experience but don’t exaggerate or embellish things – it won’t ring true, especially if it sounds unrealistic or if you stumble over your answers or are inconsistent when questioned further later in the process.
7.When you’re talking about experience from previous employment make sure you mention anything relevant to the role that you took on, even if it fell outside of your day-to-day duties.
Maybe you worked as reception staff but were also asked to take on responsibility for additional cash-handling and weekly banking tasks. This shows you are adaptable, and that your employers valued your honesty and integrity – as well as your numerical skills.”
8.You don’t need to list the duties expected of you in previous roles entirely, just the parts that are relevant to the role you’re applying for now. Pick out the key skills that are relevant to the course requirements.
9.If you have gaps in your employment try to think of experiences you’ve had in those periods that could strengthen your application. Maybe you did a useful course, volunteered, or built up your skills in a sport.
If there are any achievements you are proud of or feel that have helped you’re your personal development, then mention them!
10.Look for the positive in your experiences.Even if at the time it felt like there wasn’t a positive! Perhaps you were made redundant from a job you loved – what did you learn from it? And how could what you learned be helpful to you in your new career?
If you feel like you could do more to build on your experiences then our advice is to go ahead! Research what’s available in your area, perhaps even look at volunteer or charity work, or a work experience placement.