Help with a job application?

Question

Any idea how the hell I answer this beauty:

Demonstrate your ability to access range of sources to obtain research data, using both internal expertise and shared information as well as relevant external organisations where appropriate

Answer 1

If we told you it would be deception. Suggest a job as a street cleaner if you cant answer this.......................

Answer 2

It's hard to answer the question without knowing what your background is. But to take the example of a university essay - how did you go about finding the data/information? Would you have done a search at the library, an online search through Medline or Google Scholar, chatted with your tutor about it (who is likely to be an expert in the field), searched through news websites, looked at press releases from relevant organisations? There are loads of different data sources.

I think it's important in answering this question to also state some of the positives and negatives about using specific search techniques e.g. a news website may take a slanted view on something to make it newsworthy. And that using such a wide range of searches/datasets is important if you are going to obtain a balanced opinion of the situation.

When working with external agencies, you may also find that there are certain restrictions - e.g. protocols to follow, or you may need to be flexible on when you want the information so that they can fit it in around their other deadlines etc. There are a lot of things you can do with external agencies to help build a relationship with them e.g. providing them with a copy of the final report, or generally just being understanding and polite when contacting them.

Good luck with your application form!

Answer 3

That's a shocker.
1. Internal expertise sounds like asking people within the organisation.
2. Shared information sounds like accessing the company intranet/Public folders stuff.
3. Relevant external organisations sounds like using internet searching to find these organisations.
I assume this is a research job. Do they mean that you have demonstrated this in the past do you think, or you're supposed to demonstrate it in a task they will set you? If it's demonstrating in the past you have to apply 1, 2 & 3 to examples of how you have done these things in previous jobs. I really sympathise, I'm doing job applications myself right now and grinding my teeth at the pretentious language they use for really obvious basic stuff like 'demonstrated time management skills'. Hate hate hate.

Answer 4

Can you describe a situation or two when you have been able to use a complicated system to access a range of research data using internal expertise, shared information and external organizations? Maybe have a letter from your boss/professor/etc who can collaberate your story?


Worse comes to worse, you can always ask them. Generally if they like you they will willingly clarify their questions.

Answer 5

OK, to me this sounds like how you obtain information - the internet - conversation (sharing information with colleagues), paper based material (books, newspapers etc), your own knowledge from past experiences. How would you do it, how could you do it, how do you do it, what do you use to obtain the information? Good luck.