Completing Application Forms

   COMPLETING APPLICATION FORMS

From both the applicant’s and employer’s point of view, application forms can have certain advantages. For example, all candidates will be submitting their information in exactly the same format, enabling the employer to make straightforward "like with like" comparisons, and recruiters won’t be distracted or swayed by differing CV formats. By using specially designed application forms asking specific questions, employers know that they are only collecting information relevant to the post. Some application forms contain detachable pages where personal details or equal opportunities data is collected, which is removed by the Human Resources department before being passed for shortlisting, ensuring objective and unbiased consideration.

These are some tips on completing the forms:

A If you can only get hold of a hard copy of the application form, don’t just go straight ahead and fill it in. Take a few photocopies first, so that you can practice filling it in neatly and judge how much space is available. Take a copy of the completed application form too before you finally submit it.

B Presentation is very important. If filling in by hand, use black ink, as the form will usually be photocopied at some stage, and write clearly and neatly. Keep your master copy of the application form clean, and send it in an envelope big enough for you not to have to fold the form. Fill in all the appropriate sections and read the instructions carefully!

C Do not under any circumstances simply attach your CV to the form and refer the employer to that for the information. As mentioned above, employers have good reasons for using application forms; simply referring them to the CV is lazy and shows that you are not prepared to be flexible and make some effort to work within the practices of the organisation. However it is usually acceptable to continue on additional sheets of paper if you run out of space.

D Many application forms will ask specific questions and expect you to give examples to back up your answers. Think about these answers carefully; bear in mind the selection criteria stated in the job advert or job description, and ask yourself what skills, experience or aptitude is this question trying to test? Use a range of examples - using the same one over and over again will make your experience appear more limited. Use concrete examples and use words or phrases which mirror those in the job advert/description.



If the application is online, these are some specific tips:

If completing an online application form, as with the hard copy form, don’t just go ahead and start typing. Have all your information to hand and make sure you’ve looked at the form first so you know how to navigate round it and which sections to fill in. Pay attention to detail and be careful - one click of a button and you could send a half finished form through cyberspace to the employer of your dreams!

Allow yourself plenty of time. Computers, servers and links can all crash, and unlike with a hard copy form, you may not have the original data to fall back on and could lose it all. Bear in mind that if you have to log in to a site to complete a form, there may be a time limit after which your connection expires.

Even though it’s online, format and presentation still matter. Don’t lapse into e-mail speak, and make sure you lay your information out clearly. Sometimes you might not have much control over this if the form has its own formatting that you can’t override, but still pay attention to this and spell check rigorously!

Applying online may seem deceptively quick, simple and convenient - clicks of a button rather than painstakingly tweaking your CV, printing it out and lovingly sending it off in its pristine envelope. Ask yourself if you’re applying just because it’s easy and instant, or do you really want the job? Your time might be better spent applying for a different job, even if it takes a little longer.

Increasingly employers use specially programmed software to screen applications submitted online for keywords, often those found in the advert or selection criteria. Read the advert or job description carefully before you apply, and make sure that you reflect the language used in it and mention what the employer is looking for.