Application forms are the first contact that you will have with a prospective employer, therefore the look and content of the form will determine whether you progress to the interview stage.
It is important that you take time to answer the questions accurately. Most applications forms nowadays are electronic and require you to complete them online.
Use the tips below to help you achieve a successful outcome:
Either complete the application electronically or in a black pen using capital letters where required.
Once completed, give it a final check to ensure there are no spelling/grammatical mistakes and that you have answered all the questions.
Gather together all the information that you need, including details of academic achievements, employment history and contact information for your referees.
Do your research, find out the aims of the company you are applying to, the sector they operate in and who their main competitors are. Browsing their social media channels is a good place to start.
Study the job description so that you can refer back to the specific skills and qualities that the employer is looking for as you complete the form.
Print out the completed application form and read it through before you submit, as it's much easier to spot spelling and grammatical errors on a printed page rather than on a screen.
Photocopy or print out the finished application, so that you have a record of what you have written.
Make sure you submit your application to arrive before the closing date.
Completing the additional information/personal statement section
This is your opportunity to explain why you are the right person for the job. Using the job specification explain how you meet all the essential criteria. You might like to present them one by one with a heading, so that the person reading it can clearly see to which point you are referring.
Provide examples to prove that you have the required skills and be prepared to discuss these at interview.
Competency based questions
Some applications will include some additional questions to answer. These can be related to the skills required or to show what you know about the employer. If a maximum word count is provided, use this as a guide as to how much they are expecting you to write. Give specific examples of times when you have demonstrated the skills, avoid being vague and don't waste space writing about skills that are not relevant.
