Job Application Question

[GlesgaeHibby]

I'm currently filling in an application for a grad scheme and one the questions is:

Name a time when you have done something you consider to be ‘world class’ and explain why?

I'm really unsure what they are looking for here. I want to take the brutally honest approach and say that I haven't achieved anything I would term to be World Class, as most honest people could admit. World Class should, IMO, be kept reserved for work that truly is outstanding/ground breaking etc etc and most people will not have achieved that.

Or are they expecting people to bull**** their way through this? I'd just feel guilty lying about something and talking something up that is undeserving.

[lyonhibs]

Honestly, unless its a job you really want, I'd be sorely tempted to put in an answer such as:

"I just went for a World Class ***** twenty minutes ago, and my horizontal tango abilities are unsurpassed"

What a stupid question, even amongst the plethora of stupid questions that these job applications throw up.

[GlesgaeHibby]

Honestly, unless its a job you really want, I'd be sorely tempted to put in an answer such as:

"I just went for a World Class ***** twenty minutes ago, and my horizontal tango abilities are unsurpassed"

What a stupid question, even amongst the plethora of stupid questions that these job applications throw up.

It's the worst question I've ever seen. Incidentally I did do a world class joby this morning. I should have used that, and attached a picture as proof:greengrin

[Woody1985]

IMO, I would go with something like:


Have you done any kind of charity work.
Helped save a life.
Helped someone to overcome something i.e. alcoholic, drug addict.
Supported someone who was ill prior to death.
That may be way off tangent but if I couldn't think of anything I'd go for something that is touching and that is personal to you.

Hope that helps!

[oconnors_strip]

I'm currently filling in an application for a grad scheme and one the questions is:

Name a time when you have done something you consider to be ‘world class’ and explain why?

I'm really unsure what they are looking for here. I want to take the brutally honest approach and say that I haven't achieved anything I would term to be World Class, as most honest people could admit. World Class should, IMO, be kept reserved for work that truly is outstanding/ground breaking etc etc and most people will not have achieved that.

Or are they expecting people to bull**** their way through this? I'd just feel guilty lying about something and talking something up that is undeserving.

what is the course subject? your answer could reflect on this.

have you ever cared or looked after a family member? did you get good results in exams?

[GlesgaeHibby]

what is the course subject? your answer could reflect on this.

have you ever cared or looked after a family member? did you get good results in exams?

I am applying to a grad scheme called nucleargraduates. It represents the nuclear industry as a whole and most companies within the nuclear industry use this portal.

I did very well in my honours project last year, getting the top mark in my class, but again I still wouldn't term it world class. It's probably the closest example I can currently think of.

[lapsedhibee]

I did very well in my honours project last year, getting the top mark in my class, but again I still wouldn't term it world class. It's probably the closest example I can currently think of.

Thar's more class class than world class.

A truly inane question.

[GlesgaeHibby]

Thar's more class class than world class.

A truly inane question.

Exactly. I'm very proud of my project as I put a lot of work into it, however I am still well aware that it is not a 'world class' project.

[Twa Cairpets]

Whilst it is a stupid question, you need to put an answer. It may well be in because it is inherently daft and they want to see how people respond.

Most people will try to write something to impress. When I'm reading CV's, you can almost feel the bull seeping through the pages, and it's the same I'm sure with people reading application forms.

Be honest, say you haven't done something truly world class (unless of course you have) but then tell them of something that you have done that you are particularly proud of and you thought was of a high standard. Doesnt matter what it is, just make it honest. (Although I would think that "world class turd" is probably not exactly the area they would be looking for).

[Danderhall Hibs]

Most people will try to right something to impress. When I'm reading CV's, you can almost feel the bull seeping through the pages, and it's the same I'm sure with people reading application forms.


When you're reading the CVs do you ever bin them because the spelling/grammar is shocking? :tee hee:

[GlesgaeHibby]

Whilst it is a stupid question, you need to put an answer. It may well be in because it is inherently daft and they want to see how people respond.

Most people will try to right something to impress. When I'm reading CV's, you can almost feel the bull seeping through the pages, and it's the same I'm sure with people reading application forms.

Be honest, say you haven't done something truly world class (unless of course you have) but then tell them of something that you have done that you are particularly proud of and you thought was of a high standard. Doesnt matter what it is, just make it honest. (Although I would think that "world class turd" is probably not exactly the area they would be looking for).

Cheers for the advice. That was my original train of thought for answering the question, as I'm

a) Hopeless at bull*****

and

b) Value honesty in these scenarios

[hibsbollah]

Describe all the 'Hibs Class' things you've done instead:wink:

[Scouse Hibee]

What a question, however amongst the many definitions for world class found on the web is "of the highest order or importance". Simply relate that to something you have done.

[Danderhall Hibs]

How many words are they expecting? I’m assuming due to it being a university they’ll be wanting you to use lots of words and a lot of them will have to be big?

Anyway - I hit a cracking volley once in a kickabout with my mates at Cavalry Park (on the wee hockey goals down the bottom) – it hit the bar but if it had went in it would’ve been world class. :agree:

It was a bit like Mikey Stewart’s for us in the Cup v Aberdeen except it wasn’t crossed from a corner. And it never hit my shin. And it didn’t go in.

Apart from that it was brilliant and definitely world class.

[GlesgaeHibby]

How many words are they expecting? I’m assuming due to it being a university they’ll be wanting you to use lots of words and a lot of them will have to be big?

Anyway - I hit a cracking volley once in a kickabout with my mates at Cavalry Park (on the wee hockey goals down the bottom) – it hit the bar but if it had went in it would’ve been world class. :agree:

It was a bit like Mikey Stewart’s for us in the Cup v Aberdeen except it wasn’t crossed from a corner. And it never hit my shin. And it didn’t go in.

Apart from that it was brilliant and definitely world class.

I did score a peach of a goal at 5's once where I chipped the opposition keeper after receiving the ball from our goalie just outside our box :greengrin

[BravestHibs]

I'm currently filling in an application for a grad scheme and one the questions is:

Name a time when you have done something you consider to be ‘world class’ and explain why?

I'm really unsure what they are looking for here. I want to take the brutally honest approach and say that I haven't achieved anything I would term to be World Class, as most honest people could admit. World Class should, IMO, be kept reserved for work that truly is outstanding/ground breaking etc etc and most people will not have achieved that.

Or are they expecting people to bull**** their way through this? I'd just feel guilty lying about something and talking something up that is undeserving.

When faced with this kind of thing, by this kind of thing I mean something that has no correct answer, I would aim to write about something that would make me stand out rather than simply listing achievements. Having been in sales for a while, I appreciate that what you're doing is nothing like the same thing but there are parrallels if you bare with me, you are often asked questions such as this to seperate those who think outside the box from those who would simply go for the most obvious answer.

For example, in order to get signed up to one of the most reputable recruitment consultants in the North, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield etc. I was in a group of about 40 people and was asked as a part of one of these nauseating 'ice breaking' sessions 'What is your greatest achievement?' I ended up being one of the last to answer and after having listened to 35 people talking about marathons and travelling round South East Asia I decided to try a different tack as well as play on my scottish accent a little and said that my greatest achievement was managing to gain a suntan despite not having left Scotland for the whole summer. Not my most hilarious joke you understand but it didn't need to be, it just needed to stand outn from the rest. Out of the 40 people that were there me and 5 others were selected.

Don't know if this helps.

[GlesgaeHibby]

When faced with this kind of thing, by this kind of thing I mean something that has no correct answer, I would aim to write about something that would make me stand out rather than simply listing achievements. Having been in sales for a while, I appreciate that what you're doing is nothing like the same thing but there are parrallels if you bare with me, you are often asked questions such as this to seperate those who think outside the box from those who would simply go for the most obvious answer.

For example, in order to get signed up to one of the most reputable recruitment consultants in the North, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield etc. I was in a group of about 40 people and was asked as a part of one of these nauseating 'ice breaking' sessions 'What is your greatest achievement?' I ended up being one of the last to answer and after having listened to 35 people talking about marathons and travelling round South East Asia I decided to try a different tack as well as play on my scottish accent a little and said that my greatest achievement was managing to gain a suntan despite not having left Scotland for the whole summer. Not my most hilarious joke you understand but it didn't need to be, it just needed to stand outn from the rest. Out of the 40 people that were there me and 5 others were selected.

Don't know if this helps.

Nice to hear another take on it! nucleargraduates expect us to give 10% of our time back to the community we work in, so I'm guessing they could be looking for some form of social response here.

[BravestHibs]

Nice to hear another take on it! nucleargraduates expect us to give 10% of our time back to the community we work in, so I'm guessing they could be looking for some form of social response here.

Ha! Quite possibly, just try and make it interesting though, put yourself in the shoes of the people looking over this, they get alot of responses which will be, more or less along exactly the same lines. 'I pick up rubbish for 2 hours a week, I volunteer in a nursing home, blah blah blah' Telling you, making this question stand out is your ticket in. Bosh!

[Killiehibbie]

Nice to hear another take on it! nucleargraduates expect us to give 10% of our time back to the community we work in, so I'm guessing they could be looking for some form of social response here.

Just spoke to the wife, she knows about this kind of thing, she reckons that's the kind of answer to go with.

[Twa Cairpets]

When you're reading the CVs do you ever bin them because the spelling/grammar is shocking? :tee hee:


Good catch. Now amended. <deeplyshamed-facedblushingsmiley>