Following the Applications Process
How Will This Session Help Me??
Applying for a job, work experience, college, or a training program often involves following step-by-step instructions and keeping track of multiple details. It is completely normal to feel stressed when dealing with forms, deadlines, and guidelines. By practicing self-control, staying organized, checking your work carefully, and understanding how different parts of an application fit together, you will gain the confidence to manage any application process smoothly and avoid unnecessary mistakes!
Questions to get started
Think of a time when you had to follow step-by-step instructions to build or complete something (like a recipe, a game setup, or a project). What helped you complete it?
Have you ever rushed a task and made a small, avoidable mistake? How did you feel when you noticed it, and how did you fix it?
If a friend was feeling overwhelmed by a long application process with lots of different deadlines and requirements, what simple advice would you give them to stay on top of it all?
Focused Virtues
The Focused Virtue for this session is Self-Control.
Self-Control gives us the focus to manage our time, follow instructions carefully, and stay on top of key tasks so we complete applications accurately and meet every deadline.
Ask Yourself: "Can I grow in self-control to stay organised, check my work with care, and manage my responsibilities effectively?"
Focus with care, complete with pride.
Skills Development:
Navigating an application process successfully requires real self-control. It is not just about filling in boxes—it is about staying organised, following guidelines precisely, and taking pride in your work.
First, focus on following instructions carefully. Before you write anything down, take time to read the guidelines from start to finish. Self-control means resisting the urge to rush or skip ahead. Make sure you understand what each question is asking so that your answers are complete and accurate.
Next, practice working carefully to maintain high standards. When completing an application form or CV, pay close attention to detail. Double-check spelling, grammar, and dates, and ensure all required documents are attached. Taking a moment to review your work before submitting it prevents simple errors that make you look careless.
Finally, use systems thinking to manage the bigger picture. An application process is made up of connected steps—such as given information, providing references, writing statements, preparing interviews and submitting before a deadline. Self-control helps you see how these parts connect so you can plan your time, set up reminders, and stay on top of everything that needs to be done without feeling overwhelmed.
Case Studies and Questions
"If you were given a multi-step task with several detailed points, how would you ensure you followed every instruction correctly?"
"Can you describe a time when you checked your work carefully before submitting it? How did you spot any errors, and how did you fix them?"
Case Study Chloe is 13 and applying for a summer youth leadership program. The application form requires three parts: a personal statement, a teacher recommendation form, and a short video introduction, all due by Friday at 5 pm. On Thursday evening, Chloe realizes she forgot to ask her teacher for the recommendation form and hasn't checked her personal statement for spelling mistakes. What should her steps be and when should she do them?
Useful Resources:
Guidance and Resources for Facilitators
Core Concepts & Background Information
Precision and Following Instructions Successfully completing tasks requires attention to explicit directions:
Reading Guidelines Fully: Teaching girls to read all instructions before starting, rather than jumping straight in, to ensure no requirements are missed.
Sequential Execution: Understanding that following multi-step instructions in the correct order prevents errors and rework.
Working Carefully & Quality Control Self-control is key to maintaining quality and accuracy under time pressure:
Attention to Detail: Checking spelling, formatting, and completeness before submission demonstrates pride and respect for the process.
Proofreading & Review: Taking a deliberate pause to review work prevents avoidable mistakes that could disqualify an application.
Systems Thinking & Managing Connected Tasks Applications involve multiple moving parts that affect one another:
Understanding Connections: Helping girls see how early steps (like requesting a reference) directly impact later deadlines.
Organizing Workflow: Creating tracking systems—such as checklists, calendars/diaries, or folders—to monitor progress and stay on top of deadlines.
Guiding Reflection & Overcoming Barriers
Overcoming the "Rushing to Get It Over With" Barrier
Reframing Strategy: Reframe checking work as an act of self-control and self-respect. Rushing often leads to missed details that require extra time to fix later.
Prompting Reflection:
"What usually happens when you rush through a task just to finish it quickly?"
"What is one strategy you can use to force yourself to slow down and check your work?"
Overcoming Disorganisation and Procrastination
Reframing Strategy: Teach girls to break multi-part applications into a step-by-step checklist. Managing small daily tasks feels less intimidating than facing a huge deadline all at once.
Prompting Reflection:
"When you have a task with multiple steps, how do you keep track of what is done and what is left to do?"
"How does planning tasks and events in advance help reduce stress before a deadline?"
Activity Idea (Application Checklist Detective)
Pair learners up. Give them a sample application form containing intentionally hidden errors (e.g., missed questions, incorrect date formats, spelling mistakes, or unattached files). Ask pairs to act as "quality control officers" to spot all the errors and rewrite the checklist needed to complete the application correctly.
Delivery Tips for the Session
Keep Vocabulary Action-Oriented: Describe Systems Thinking simply as "seeing how all the different parts of a project connect together."
Highlight Real-World Consequences: Discuss how small errors (like incorrect email addresses or missing documents) can delay or affect real-life application outcomes.
Use Concrete Tracking Tools: Provide physical wall charts, planners, or digital checklists so girls can practice logging tasks and checking off completed steps.