Application Forms

'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. Don't be put off… read on.

Begin with research and planning

  • Think about what skills and abilities you have and how you are going to demonstrate them to an employer. Reflect on the experiences that have developed your skills, part-time jobs, work experience, involvement with student groups.
  • Be clear in your own mind why you have chosen this organisation and this particular role within it. Use the company literature and website to find out about the employer and the role you are applying for.
  • Plan your answers by reading the question and thinking of a variety of examples from the experiences you have had so far. Don't restrict your examples to what you have done for your degree, use part-time jobs, volunteer work and membership of clubs and societies to provide the employer with a picture of what you are like and the range of skills you have to offer.

Completion

  • Read the questions very carefully and tailor your answers to them.  If the questions have a few different parts ensure that you have answered them all fully.
  • Avoid waffle; you may not have a great deal of space and employers don't have time to wade through pages and pages.
  • Check it, or ask someone else to have a look at it for you.  Ask them to look out for grammar and spelling in particular. You can come to a drop in session at the careers service if you would like a careers adviser to give you some help. Keep a copy  - this will help you to prepare for an interview by looking back at what you told employers and recapping on the examples that you used.

You can find more information on application forms in the Careers and Employability Centre and on these websites:

The careers service regularly runs workshops as part of the Calendar of Events on application forms and interviews.

 

Updated on 21 August 2013