Tips for Writing a Job Application Form

Find about the Company and the Job!

You should make every effort to find out about the company and also make sure you fully understand the job you have applied for.

Tell the truth; Inflating your qualifications and lying about your employment history could get you in trouble.

Take your Time

Rushed applications that are not personalised will be immediately obvious to employers and can give the impression that you don’t care about getting the job.

It makes more sense to submit five tailored, specific, well-thought-out applications that will stand out to employers than 10 generic applications that are far less likely to get you noticed.

Taking your time will allow you to double-check details like the company name as well as ensure you catch any spelling or grammar errors that may have otherwise slipped through.

Don’t skip over any questions and don’t give ‘stock’ answers. Put some real thought into what type of employee the company is looking for, and how you can demonstrate that you are that person for the job.

Sell yourself!

Write your application in a way that focuses on the positive impact of your skills.

Application forms require you to write a personal, or supporting, statement. This is where you need to outline your reasons for applying for the job and how you meet the required criteria.

Use real examples of when you undertook the tasks requested in the job outline. These don’t have to be examples from the workplace! Relevant examples can be from your time at school, travel, your hobbies or volunteer work.

Keep it relevant!

It’s important to grab the employer’s attention, which means putting the most emphasis on skills and experience that are specifically relevant to the job.

Anything in your application that doesn’t respond to the requirements listed in the job outline should either be left out of the application or only be mentioned briefly towards the end.

Once you’re done, check the length. Employers read a lot of applications, so it’s important to be ruthless with text length. If you’re unsure how to cut down your application, ask someone you trust for help.