RSS feedsSo here are some pointers for achieving awards success.
1. Try to focus on changes and improvements in the period covered by the award – the previous 12 months or so. Keep history prior to the relevant period to a minimum. It’s change in the relevant period that makes the difference to the judges.
2. Descriptions of how great you are take up a lot of space – better to concentrate on examples of how you have changed, progressed and the difference you have made. Answer the question how do I show we are/I am great?
3. Use the word count and the allowance for supporting information. Too concise entries often don’t say enough to convince the judges there is substance behind your claims. Conversely, writing over the allotted word count does not impress either and could see your entry marked down or even disqualified.
4. The awards are all about rewarding progress. If you give examples of your successes try to illustrate how they fit in with your overall strategy.
5. If you are an individual entering an award try to get someone to write/nominate for you and make sure your name is in the submission as well as the entry form.
6. Overcoming personal adversity, while impressive, is only relevant to the awards if it has had some effect on your work. If it is just part of your general background and unconnected to work, then it is largely wasted information.
7. Work on the structure of your entry. Too many appear to be stream of consciousness efforts which do not convince judges that the entry was well thought out. Well structured entries are also easier to read and assess.
8. Please check spelling and grammar.
9. Don’t ignore the opportunity to obtain and provide client or stakeholder testimonials. Testimonials where the writer is identified are better than anonymous ones and make sure the testimonials are written with the entry in mind. Too many are flat references to ‘satisfactory’ work clearly taken from documents written for different reasons.
10. Please, please, please demonstrate in your submission how you meet the entry criteria.
Gavin Hinks is the editor of Accountancy Age and blogs at insider.accountancyage.com
