COMPLETING JOB APPLICATION FORMS

I have written this advice whilst polishing up my own job application skills. The information is put together from my own personal experience and talking to a variety of other individuals.

WHY CAN'T I JUST SEND IN MY RESUME OR CV?

The whole point of a job application form is that it allows the prospective employer a standardised means to gather all of the data required to determine whether an applicant may be suitable for the position and hence whether or not they should be shortlisted. Remember: You will be competing against other candidates so it is worth spending extra time on making your application as good as possible.

'PROSPECTING' FOR JOBS USING SPAM APPLICATIONS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA

Do not attempt to submit the same application to many different employers. An example of this may be if you are applying via the NHS jobs website for 'Nurse positions' and then use the same application for many positions without individually addressing the specific selection criteria. You are very unlikely to succeed. Take that extra bit of time to individually tailor your application to each position (see below) - you are then much more likely to be invited to attend interview.

FILLING IN APPLICATION FORMS

It is a good idea to have your contact details, academic history and employment history on hand (I.e. in your Resume) to help you complete your application - this will save you time rummaging around trying to find addresses and certificates each time. If you are completing a hand written form make sure that your writing is legible.

Most application forms consist of a number of sections. The first is usually basic personal information (Name, address, contact details. The second part normally consists of academic history and qualifications, followed by employment history. You may then be asked how you think you fit the job specification. Finally, you will be asked to provide reference details and asked to sign some form of declaration.

ADDRESS THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

An employer will have designed their application form to allow you to enter specific information which they can then use to determine whether or not to shortlist you for interview. In essence they want to know how your skills, attributes and experience relates to the position. I cannot over emphasize the importance of this section of an application form and it is really worth putting the extra effort in to this section. Read carefully through the selection criteria and person specification and address each point individually, giving examples of how you fill each of the criteria. In the past I have used the selection and person specification criterias as headings which I have then individually addressed separately.

Be honest, and choose your language wisely. This section often gives you the best opportunity to demonstrate your written English skills.

REFERENCES

Always ask your references before putting them on any form and obviously, choose references which are relevant and as up-to-date as possible.

TIPS WHEN SUBMITTING ONLINE APPLICATION FORMS

Many companies prefer electronic applications to paper copies and will often have a secure area on their website where you will log in and complete an online application form. The first thing to do is to remember to write down the username and password for the site. Make sure you have a copy of the selection criteria and person specification on hand when filling in the form. Read the instructions carefully.

ALWAYS PROOF READ AND SPELL CHECK YOUR APPLICATION

After you have finished your application, always make sure you check the spelling and grammar. You should always get a couple of other people to check it over to ensure it makes good use of English and makes sense. Always double check your contact details including email address and phone numbers. If you are applying using an electronic application it may be a good idea to cut and paste your answers into a program which allows you to spell check your work.

GOOD LUCK

After submitting an application it can take days, weeks or months even to receive a reply. Due to the high volume of applications received many companies will not reply to unsuccessful applications (A common note is: "Should you not have heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date you should consider your application unsuccessful").

Remember, don't be disheartened if you don't succeed in the first instance. If at first you don't succeed, you just have to keep trying. The more practice you have at completing applications, the more skilled you will become in the art.

Click here to view my advice on writing your Resume or CV

Click here to view my advice on attending job interviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This page was written by Jonathan Tolhurst whilst job hunting in the summer of 2008. The page was last updated in September 2008.

If you would like to comment on this page please contact me.

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