Effective Application Forms
..... Careers Consultant
Employability & Graduate Development
(01392) 724493
Aims
To clarify the purpose of application forms
To provide tips on how to prepare for the
application process
To provide strategies to ensure you make
effective applications
To signpost you to further resources and
support
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Purpose of Application
Form
To sell yourself effectively to an employer in order to get an interview
To enable employers to compare you and what you have to offer with other applicants
NB Greatest „weeding out‟ stage of the recruitment process so you have to impress!
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Content of a typical form
Personal details – name, address, education, work history, personal interests and achievements
Competency questions or a supporting / personal statement
Administrative information – referees, medical, disability, ethnic monitoring, gender, equal opportunities
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Key points
Be prepared. A good form will take hours
to complete
Know what you are applying for and why
Know what you have to offer
Good presentation is of paramount
importance
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
What are employers looking
for?
Communication
Interpersonal skills
Analytical ability
Teamwork and ability to
work independently
Negotiation / persuasion
Tact / diplomacy
IT skills
Problem solving /
creativity
Time management
Working under pressure
Organisational skills
Flexibility / adaptability
Commercial awareness
Leadership
etc......!
Step 1: What are your skills?
How would you evidence some of these
skills that employers are looking for?
Consider evidence from all aspects of your
life – work experience, voluntary work,
hobbies, membership of clubs or societies,
coursework, travel etc
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Talking up your skills
E.g “Researching dissertations which involved
developing an idea, researching into new areas
and checking reliability of information”
Or, you could say: “Researching dissertations
which involved rapidly researching and
assessing the currency and reliability of
unfamiliar material using sources such as
electronic databases, journals, books and
interviews with experts”
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Step 2: What do you know
about the Job?
Read Job advert
Analyse the Job description
Analyse the Person specification – often broken up into „Essential‟ and „Desirable‟ criteria
Use company website
Match your skills, qualifications and personal qualities to the job description and person specification
Further information:
• Job profiles on www.prospects.ac.uk
• Professional bodies
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Step 3: What do you know
about the employer?
• Company website – products / services
• Company brochure / annual report (www.carol.co.uk)
• Information room at Reed Mews
• Directories
• Press - latest news stories (www.prnewswire.co.uk)
• Attend careers fairs / employer presentations
• Use any contacts
Step 4: What do you know
about the market?
Competitors (Company league tables)
Takeovers / mergers
New developments / products
UK scene
International scene
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Lets look at some examples
(Handout 1 & discuss;
then Handout 2 for comparison)
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Tackling questions
Do your answers have STAR quality?
Situation – suitable and clear?
Task – explain objective
Action – what did YOU do?
Result – what was the outcome?
(Download example of STAR Approach)
Supporting Statements
Supporting / personal statements are used by
some employers (e.g NHS, local government)
and involve an open question inviting you to
promote yourself e.g
“ Please describe your experience, skills, abilities,
achievements and responsibilities which are
most relevant to the post”
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Tackling Supporting Statements
Explain why you are interested in this role and employer
Describe relevant skills, abilities and qualitiesthat you can contribute (job specific headings can be a useful way to structure this)
Provide evidence to support your claims
Conclude with a summary of the above, restating your interest in the role / organisation and emphasising your enthusiasm and commitment
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Covering Letters/emails
Find a specific person to write to
– not „Dear Sir/Madam‟
Be SPECIFIC about what you want
Current situation
Why this job? Demonstrate your relevant skills and experience
Why do you want to work for them?
(Covering letter template on www.exeter.ac.uk/employability)
Top Tips (1)
Read through the entire form before completing it
Follow instructions
Answer all questions
Keep within any word limits given
Keep list of company requirements in mind -refer to the person spec, job description, company information to help focus your answers
Vary the length of sentences and how they start
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Top Tips (2)
Use positive action words (www.prospects.ac.uk – click „Careers Advice‟ then „Jobs and Applications‟ for power word list)
Use adjectives to bring answers to life
Check spelling, grammar, punctuation
Use „cut‟ and „paste‟ function with caution!
Keep a copy of your form
Make sure it arrives before the closing date
Check your emails regularly for a response!
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Top Tips (3)
Make the form look good – writing / pen colour
Don‟t provide extra information unless asked
Don‟t use clichés e.g “I want a job with a
challenge”
Avoid jokes
Be positive at all times
Be concise, avoid long waffling answers
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Further Resources
www.prospects.ac.uk – „careers advice‟ section
www.selectsimulator.com – practice online application form
Careers Consultant appointment for further help / check draft applications – phone 01392 724493 or sign up for an appointment at Reed Mews or book online via „My Career Zone‟
www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Questions?
Access handouts / additional materials from this
session on www.exeter.ac.uk/employability