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Tackling Application Forms – Get that job!

5 March 2023
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Found the ideal job to apply to? Great! But it comes with an online application form to fill in – so how do you go about filling this to such an excellent standard that they shortlist you? Well that is the tricky part, however these tips, links and resources below will have you producing high quality, well written applications in no time!

💡 1: Research and select:

Find the jobs you actually want and make a hit list of a few you really want to go for and make an action plan with dates. Applications, when done properly are time consuming to say the least, it will take a good few hours on one decent high quality graduate application. Do yourself a favour and avoid spending time filling out applications for jobs you don’t really want or for companies you know nothing about. Instead, invest more time in those you do want. Employers can spot who is genuinely interested in the job they are offering. Research shows graduates tend to make the mistake of applying to many jobs as they think the more they apply to, the greater their luck is instead of actually thinking about their suitability for the role and whether they are the right fit for that company culture and values. It really is about quality over quantity when it comes to applications.

💡 2: Plan and prepare

Gather together all the information that you’ll need, including details of your academic achievements, employment history, your skills and competencies and contact information for your referees.

Find out what the recruitment requirements are for the employer alongside the aims of the company you’re applying for, the sector they operate in and who their main competitors are. Company websites and their social media is a must and for detailed company information – contact your college/school Librarian, since the university has access to specialist information databases and subscriptions giving you information you won’t find on google.

Lastly and very importantly, study the job description/person specification so that you can refer back to the specific skills and qualities that the employer is looking for as you complete the form and match yourself to those skills when giving evidence of your capabilities. Remember they have outlined clearly their requirements, so its time to show them what you’ve got.

💡 3. Filling in the form

With most forms they don’t expect you to fill it out in one go, so you can sign up start, save and come back to it. The personal details, education and employment history sections are straight forward and self explanatory. The tricky and time consuming part is almost always when they ask for your reasons for applying and suitability for the job.

Many graduate recruiters use a standard application forms (SAF) or other competence based forms in their recruitment process. These forms ask specific questions in relation to skills the recruiter expects you to have. Some forms do not make the criteria explicit, but instead leave a long, blank space for you to fill, to impress them! Other forms may have complex questions so the trick is to answer each part of the question.

The employer application form (EAF) or the company application form (CAF) is designed by individual employers and relevant only to their organisation. It is widely used, particularly by larger organisations, many of which are now encouraging online application forms.

Either way, application forms are designed to test whether your skills and experience match the competencies required in the job, along with why you’re applying to them in particular and why this job.

💡 4. What exactly do I write?

Don’t be afraid to sell yourself. Demonstrate your passion for the company or job and any past achievements you can relate to the role. When writing your answers, always consider what skills employers want and how you can show that you have them. write a well-structured, well-argued case that you are the right person for the job, again referring to the person specification set out in the advert.

Don’t underestimate the importance of articulating your answers concisely, impressively and really highlighting how you meet each competency through your education and past work experience/voluntary and extracurricular activities. Evidence is key! You must clearly be able to demonstrate through examples how you have demonstrated that skill in the past. The STAR approach (links below) is great in answering competency questions and even for writing convincing statements.

Remember also to use buzz words since many systems scan electronically for the right words before you proceed any further.

Typical questions:

“Please use this space to tell us what you have achieved that makes you stand out.”
“Tell us about a time when you have had to overcome significant difficulties to achieve something. Tell us how you approached the issue and managed to overcome any obstacles.”
“Describe a situation when as a leader of a group you directed its efforts and how you gained commitment to achieve results.”

Some employer application forms are designed to be difficult and off-putting, they use this as an initial filter to test your commitment and interest in them.

For more examples click here: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/applying-for-jobs/example-questions-and-answers

💡 5. Read through, check, check again and submit early

Once you complete your form, spell check it, read it a few times and keep a copy. Ask a friend or family member to also read through it and remember you can get help from the Careers Consultants throughout any stage of your application form. Keep a copy of the form or copy and paste the answers for yourself to refer to should you get an interview offer. Aim to send in your application ahead of any deadline. 80% of candidates try to submit their application forms during the last few days and some roles close early – Therefore don’t leave it to the last minute or you may end up disappointed!

:star: Final tips:

use power verbs such as transformed, delivered, achieved and inspired
choose descriptive words like effective, consistent, determined and adaptable
focus on answering the questions and avoid waffling or being too vague
select appropriate examples of your achievements from past experience
demonstrate enthusiasm for the role
ensure your spelling and grammar is correct.
don’t copy and paste across several application forms – start fresh
glassdoor is a good website to find reviews and tips from others who have gone through recruitment procedures and also worked at those companies
You can always book a 20 min short consultation with a careers consultant to go through your application form before you submit

Good luck!

💡 For more information about tackling application forms, refer to the following excellent websites:

➡ https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs/271309-the-graduates-guide-to-job-application-forms

➡ https://www.grb.uk.com/careers-advice/graduate-job-applications#

➡ https://www.e4s.co.uk/graduate-jobs/free-application-form-tips.htm

➡ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/applying-for-jobs/write-a-successful-job-application

➡ https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2017/12/How-to-use-STAR-in-your-application.pdf

➡ https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice/the-star-method

➡ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/applying-for-jobs/example-questions-and-answers

➡ https://www.wikijob.co.uk/interview-advice/interview-questions/nhs-interview-questions

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☞ Big thanks to Iram Sial, one of our Careers Consultants, for writing this blog post. We hope you find it useful when applying to jobs.