Chapter 7: Completing application forms

Avoid making common mistakes when filling in application forms. Avoid making common mistakes when filling in application forms. The following steps will help you complete an application form correctly.

They will also help you to avoid making some of the most common mistakes people make when completing application forms.

Stage 1

Read through the application form carefully and make sure that you understand all of the instructions.

Stage 2

Take a photocopy of your application form. If you’re making an online application then print off a blank copy of the application form.

Stage 3

Look at each question separately and write down:

what you’re actually being asked to do
why you think your potential employer is asking you that question
what information your potential employer wants you to provide.

Your notes will help you to understand what you need to include in your answers.

Stage 4

Read through all of the information that you’ve gathered about the job that you’re applying for.

This information will include: the job advert, role profile, job description, person specification and/or information about the job that you’ve downloaded from your potential employer’s website.

Take a piece of paper and write down all of the skills, experiences and behaviours that you need for the job that you’re applying for.

Once you’ve done this, write down all the things that you’ve done at university, whilst on a work placement and/or in everyday life situations that demonstrate each of the skills, experiences and behaviours that you’ve identified.

Stage 5

Create a draft answer based on the examples that you’ve captured above. The following tips and advice will help you to create your answers:

Tip 1: Plan your answers
Your answers should explain:

‘what’ you did
‘how’ you did it
‘why’ you did it
if it’s relevant, ‘who’ you did it for
what’s been ‘achieved’ as a result of your actions

Tip 2: Stick to the point and don’t go into too much detail
Most application forms have a word or character limit, if your application form’s got one then stick to it!

If any of your answers or sentences are too ‘wordy’ or too long, then break them up into bullet points and/or short factual statements.

Tip 3: All of the questions on your application form are important
Spend an equal amount of time, thought and effort completing each one

Tip 4: If you can, use different examples to demonstrate each of your skills, experiences and/or achievements

Tip 5: Your answers should be interesting and factual
Create powerful examples of your skills, experience and achievements.

Stage 6

Once you’ve finished writing your draft answers, read each one carefully to see if it provides enough evidence to show that you’ve got all of the required skills and experiences.

If any of your answers lack sufficient evidence, then edit them.

Stage 7

Check all of your answers for grammar, spelling and punctuation errors.

Stage 8

Sort your answers in order of their relevance, suitability or importance to the job or role that you’re applying for.

Stage 9

When you’re completely satisfied with all of your answers, transfer them onto your application form.

Stage 10

Finally, check the layout and formatting of all your text to make sure that it looks good.

When you’re happy with the layout, then take a photocopy of your application form (or print it if you’re making an online application) before you send the original version to your potential employer.

Keep your photocopied form in a safe place and use it to remind yourself of what you’ve written before you attend an interview.

These tips and practical steps have been sourced by Creative Choices° and written by the team at 1st Steps to Success Limited. You can visit their website for more information and to download a more comprehensive guide (or ‘Knowledge Insight Pack’) which includes plenty of examples, tips, practical advice and easy-to-use templates that will help you to find and then secure full-time employment..