Applying yourself

Many application forms are long and – to be blunt – deathly dull. It is tempting to race through them and quickly fill in the blanks with abbreviated information straight from your CV.

But when you consider that many companies use applications as the sole means of judging candidates’ suitability for a role prior to an interview, it becomes clear they are vitally important and well worth investing time and energy into.

All too many times candidates rush in and make schoolboy errors. Silly mistakes reveal a lack of attention to detail; not the impression you want to convey to a potential employer. If there’s a box with ‘postcode’ in it don’t write your postcode in the address box. If it says ‘use black ink and block capitals’ don’t scrawl your answers out with a red magic marker.

The information enclosed with the application should also help steer your responses, providing you with background information on the company and the specific role. If you’re serious about a job you should do some additional background research – check the company website or request a brochure from the sales team. Inclusion of relevant information will help show that you are genuinely interested in working for the company.

One of the reasons employers like to use application forms is that they can ask for the kind of awkward information that might be buried or dodged altogether in a CV. Don’t let this bother you too much.

Provide the information they ask for, but don’t feel you must go into detailed explanations of any problem areas. In an application the “less is more” theory often applies – only provide positive information that will help your cause. If you passed your physics A-Level with flying colours but flunked in general studies why mention the latter?

Remember to mark any sections that don’t apply to you with “not applicable” so it’s clear you haven’t accidentally missed them out.

Many companies will email the application to you on request, so you can type it up – and edit it as you wish. This is the best option, not least because your submission will be neater and easier to read than one that has been handwritten.

One thing to bear in mind when completing a form on a computer is that just because the space is theoretically unlimited it does not mean you should include excessive detail. Ask yourself at all times if your answers are concise and relevant.

If this option is not available then photocopy the application a couple of times and practice your responses. As well as giving you the chance to make mistakes without consequences and to iron out any problem areas, it will help you plan the space needed for each answer and avoid the need to cram in as many words as you can beforethespacerunsout.

One of the frustrating things about an application form is the fact they can seem to reduce people to a series of cold statistics to be processed at the end with little or no regard to the living and breathing human being at the centre of it all. This is true to some extent – unless you have a superb education and an outstanding highly relevant career history, it is hard to stand out within a standard form.

At least, this is true until right at the end, where many applications take a detour from specific questions designed for very specific answers, to suddenly asking for an incredibly vague sounding ‘Personal Statement’ followed by a large intimidating white space.

This, more than anywhere else, is your time to shine. Like a winning goal in injury time it gives candidates the chance to add a perfect gloss to what’s gone before or even to turn around preconceptions and persuade the employer that you have what they’re looking for, even if your education and experience isn’t quite up to scratch.

'Write your Personal Statement in distinct and easily digestible sections. Use the words and phrases in the job description where appropriate. Consider using bullet points as you address each point in turn using evidence to support any claims you make.'

Be concise and avoid the temptation to exaggerate, make claims you can’t substantiate or ramble on like a drunk at closing time. A personal statement should be a rational overview of the specific skills and attributes you can bring to the table that will enable you to perform the task effectively. It should also be a breath of fresh air that allows you to bring your personality to life so the employer can really envisage working with you.

Before completing the final application read through it again. Try to put yourself in the place of the employer and look at the application objectively. Does the form sparkle? Is it well written and neatly presented? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? Have you included all the relevant information and avoided repetition? Would you employ yourself?

Don’t send it off until you feel happy with the results – if you get through to the interview stage you might be asked detailed questions about what you’ve written so it makes sense to be confident now and save blushes later on.

Rehearse potential answers in preparation for the interview – from talking about your time at university or your present job to your hobbies and interests. If you say you play golf be prepared for detailed questions about your game – if really you just like whacking a few balls on a driving range you might look a bit foolish.

When your application form is ready to send, draft a covering letter to go with it. This should be tailored to the individual you are sending it to, rather than starting with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, and should be short and to the point. If you’re uncertain about the spelling of a name or the job title of the recipient call the reception and check.

Lastly, make a copy of the form and letter for your reference as there could be a gap of a few weeks between when you send it off and get called in for an interview.

Application forms are no fun - there’s no getting around the fact - but like other forms that must be completed, whether it be to get a tax rebate or a new house, they are a means to an end that can be really rather wonderful and well worth the effort in the end. Until next time – good luck