Application forms

Most large graduate employers now use online application forms as the first part of their recruitment process and you will need just as much time and care to complete this as you will for a paper version. A typical application form will ask for:

• Name, address and contact details - Be sure to add these carefully - a missed or incorrect digit in your telephone number could result in you falling at the first hurdle! 
• Details of your education and qualifications - Some employers require a full breakdown of all of your modules so try to ensure you have this information available when applying.
• Details of your employment history - This may includes dates of employment, job title, and responsibilities. 
• Specific questions relating to the skills needed for the job - This section could include four or more questions in which they ask you about your experiences and the skills you have developed. These are central to the recruitment process and you should spend time and care working on this section. The STAR approach can be a useful tool to structure answers: Describe the Situation, the Tasks you needed to complete, the Actions you took and the Results.
• Career choice - Why are you applying to this organisation? This is an important section and a good opportunity to show employers that you've done your homework.
• Health declaration - They may ask you whether you have any long-term health issues or disabilities, which could affect your employment. It is usually a good idea to be open about any problems here because a failure to disclose any issues will count against you if they subsequently arise when employed. If you want any advice about this contact the Disability Resource Centre or a Careers Consultant.
• Referees - Usually you will be asked to supply contact details of two referees. An academic and a work-related person will be suitable. Don’t forget to get their permission before you use their names.

Don’t forget to print off a copy of your application form once it has been completed as it is likely you will need to refer to it again if you are invited to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Remember - Employers often do background checks on everything you put on your application form once an offer is made and they have the right to withdraw offers if certain information is not accurate. Always ensure you fill in the application form as accurately as possible and inform Employers as soon as possible if you notice an error.

Avoiding mistakes

Many application forms are rejected on the grounds of poor grammar, spelling and use of language. Even if you are completing your application online, you are not emailing or texting, so you need to adopt a professional manner.

Some companies have a 'three mistakes and you're out' policy with regard to applications. They believe it would not be acceptable to recruit trainees with poor written communication skills, as communication with clients must be of a high standard.

Common mistakes include:

• confusion about the use of apostrophes and commas
• poor sentence structure
• lack of spell checking applications before submitting them
• cut and pasting between application forms (complete with mistakes)
• inappropriate style with exclamation marks, a chatty manner and bold text to emphasise points

Useful websites

• See the Prospects website for job application advice www.prospects.ac.uk
• Visit Select Simulator for practice application forms www.selectsimulator.com

Relevant resources

Relevant events

We regularly run the training session Effective application forms.