effective application forms - university of exeter · purpose of application form to sell yourself...

Effective Application Forms

..... Careers Consultant

Employability & Graduate Development

(01392) 724493

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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

http://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!



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



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



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



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”



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


http://www.prospects.ac.uk/



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

http://www.carol.co.uk/

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/


about the market?

Competitors (Company league tables)

Takeovers / mergers

New developments / products

UK scene

International scene



Lets look at some examples

(Handout 1 & discuss;

then Handout 2 for comparison)



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”



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



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



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!




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



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‟



http://www.selectsimulator.com/


Questions?

Access handouts / additional materials from this

session on www.exeter.ac.uk/employability


effective application forms - university of exeter · purpose of application form to sell yourself...

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