application essays

I have been busy applying for every assistant teacher job that pops up in my area. Every job has the same identical application that is provided through Cheshire County Council.  After the usual application questions it has a section entitled supporting information and says: Please use this section to explain why you are applying for the job. Concentrate on how your experience, training and personal qualities match the requirements of the job description and person specification.
I feel this is a useful section and of course do not mind filling it out--- I do struggle when writing the cover letter to try not to write exactly the same thing that I wrote in this section though-- but nevermind that isn't the point.

Okay now my dilema (yes there is a point to all the above background rambling). I just picked up an application yesterday and the cover letter states: "Applicants should complete the enclosed application form and, in addition, please write a statement of not more than 1000 words, addresing the person specfication and outlining how your previous experience has equipped you for this post."

Okay...so do I need to write two essays? It looks to me like I do--however aren't they basically asking the same exact thing? Am I missing something?

Thanks for your view!!

Helena

I just had the same problem.  I needed a letter of application (no more than 2 a-4 sheets) and a response to the Skills/Experiences, etc. section on the application.  I wrote a general letter of application (about a a page and half) and a more detailed response to the skills/experiences part.  Also, since I typed out the skills/experiences part on a separate sheet, I wrote "please see attached response and letter of application" under the skills/experiences question.

Hope that helps!

Lola has a good idea there.

Phone the employer and ask them! If they are a good employer (and councils usually aren't bad) they won't mind, and it won't reflect badly on you.

Okay...so do I need to write two essays? It looks to me like I do--however aren't they basically asking the same exact thing? Am I missing something?

Chiming in:  Lola's  "please see attached..." is the panacea for all those situations.