Job application advice : Your application

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1. What do employers want…
2. Your application
3. Online applications
4. Example questions
5. Personal statements
6. Speculative applicatio…
7. Analysing job adverts
8. Common mistakes
9. Power words

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Employers use application forms to assess your motivation and skills (and your spelling, grammar and punctuation). Questions are designed to assess specific attributes, so applicants can be compared systematically.

Before putting pen to paper, carefully research the organisation, the industry and the role to determine:

• the skills you need to promote;
• what attracts you to the job (your specific motivations).

You can usually find vacant positions and application procedures in the ‘About us’ or ‘Careers’ section of company websites.

Remember - this is a chance for you to promote your relevant qualities so clearly state what you have to offer and why you should be considered.

Education

Most application forms ask you to list all your qualifications and your current education. If there is little space you may be able to:

• summarise key results or module titles;
• add a separate sheet;
• insert details into the additional information box.

If in doubt, contact the employer to confirm the best strategy.

For non-UK qualifications, you may need to state their UK equivalency. This is usually done by providing details of how many UCAS points they equate to.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)  has information on the comparability of international qualifications as does ENIC-NARIC , which can be accessed by most careers advisers.

Employment/work experience

List your jobs in reverse chronological order. Include your job title, the name of the organisation and the name of the town (plus the country if it is overseas).

Describe the responsibilities and achievements in your previous roles that relate to the skills required in the job you are going for. You can group together or prioritise some experiences if space is limited.

Interests and achievements

Relate your extracurricular activities to the skills required. It is more important to demonstrate relevant skills than list amazing achievements.

References

One of your referees should be work-related, e.g. a manager at work, and one should be an academic at university - most people use their personal tutor. Follow these tips:

• share your career aspirations and achievements with your referees;
• always get permission;
• provide their full name and title, postal address, email address and phone number;
• keep them informed about the jobs you are going for.

Checklist

• Print the form (if possible) and check your work before sending it out.
• Ask someone to read through it as you might not be able to see your own mistakes.
• Keep a copy of your application form along with the job advert/job description to prepare for your interview.
• Carefully check your spelling and grammar as poor English is the main reason why most applications are rejected.
• Use short sentences/paragraphs which are easy to follow.
• Use one idea per paragraph and state the key information in the first sentence.
• Be concise.
• Avoid jargon.
• Use active verbs.
• Do not repeat yourself.