Tips for writing an award winning submission
Parking Australia contacted some of winners from last year’s awards and asked for their advice on how to write an award winning submission.
Kieran Bogumil, Graduate Engineer Asset Management, ARRB Group Ltd
Winner of 2015 Excellence in Car Park Refurbishment (for St Martins Centre Perth)
- Don’t leave it to the last minute. Make sure that you have all your information prepared and give yourself plenty of time to put it together and submit. Have a look through the submission process early on so you have plenty of time to ask questions, clarify points and ensure there will be no surprises.
- Use the word limit. The word limit provides a good indication of how much content should be included. Use as much as possible. A short sentence may answer the question but not do the subject justice. Remember that sections may be evaluated independently so a one sentence answer generally won’t cut it.
- Answer the question. Just as the word limit gives you a good indication of how much is required, you don’t want to go off on a tangent or repeat the same content simply to meet the word limit. This bores the reader and gives the impression that you don’t really know what you are talking about.
- Use images effectively. While pictures are simple additions they can easily describe what you can’t. Try and show comparative photos and ensure they capture exactly what you are trying to show. Anyone should be able to look at a picture and know why it was included. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Claire Jansen, Marketing Manager – Parking and Transport , Brisbane Airport
Winner of 2015 Outstanding New Car Park Development
- Make sure you collect all your information and give yourself plenty of time to write and prepare your submission. We recommend aiming to complete the submission at least a day in advance to the due date, this will eliminate any last minute pressure and you can relax knowing it is done and submitted on time.
- In order to give yourself the best chance, read the questions and understand what is required prior to starting your submission. Collating all the information is the time consuming part of any submission but understanding the needs prior to starting will give you a great head start.
- The word limit is a great guide to how much information is expected to be submitted. Before starting your submission create a structure with an approximate word limit per section . This will assist in ensuring you have communicated the most important messages within the word limit.