Job application forms

Application forms are one of the most common methods that employers use to select candidates for a range of jobs and the following tips and advice will help you produce a succinct application for any role.  

Application forms are especially common for roles in the NHS, large corporate companies who offer graduate schemes, but also used by local authorities and smaller companies too. You usually complete an application form online, where you will be required to set up an account to add in all your information.  

To stand the best chance of being included in an employer’s 'invite to interview' pile you need to make the best impression you can of your abilities and/or achievements in your application. Naturally, you should avoid any spelling or grammatical errors and follow the instructions supplied by the employer when completing the form; and take note of when the closing date is for when your application should be submitted. Questions people often ask us are: 

Do I need to include details of all my education/jobs to date? 
How is this different to a CV? 
Should I mention any part-time or voluntary jobs I’ve got or had in the past? 
What should I include in the ‘why are you suitable for the job’ (personal statement) section? 
How can I make my application stand out? 

Hopefully, this page and some of the links therein will answer these questions (and more) about how best to make a successful job application. 

What is included in an application form?

You will be required to complete specified sections of the form, which typically include: 

- Personal Information -name, address and contact details
- Education and Qualifications -information on your academic achievements, including the institutions you've attended, courses taken and qualifications gained
- Previous Employment and Work Experience- List your employment history and describe your main duties and responsibilities in each role, emphasising those most closely related to the job you're applying for. Keep the job description in mind and highlight relevant aspects of your roles. Don't forget to include relevant unpaid work or volunteering roles
- Competency-based questions- Give specific examples of times when you've demonstrated the skills required for the role. These can vary, examples include: "why do you want to work for us?" or "give an example of when you have worked in a successful team". Avoid being vague, and don't waste space writing about skills you have that aren't relevant. Use the 'STAR Technique to give detailed examples of your skills. Learn how to use the STAR technique. 
- A personal statement/supporting statement- This is the key part of your application and needs to closely follow the person specification which should form part of the job description. Write a well-structured, well-argued case that you are the right person for the job, referring to the person specification set out in the advert and keep to the word count, as many employers will automatically cut off at the limit. Find out more guidance on supporting statements here.  Here is where you convince them you are the right person for the job. 
- Interests/Achievements- Try to be specific and creative keeping the role in mind - hobbies related to the role are a bonus 
- References- Include two or three references; usually previous employers and academic tutors. 

Depending on the role you are applying for, you may also be asked to complete sections about any professional registrations (healthcare roles), additional qualifications, and declaration of criminal convictions if the role requires a DBS check (working with young people or vulnerable adults).

Occasionally, you will also be asked to upload a CV too. As you can see, an application form is very different from a CV, although the content of them is similar, an application form allows you to write more evidence through questions and personal statements. Ensure this is tailored to the role you are applying for – specifically the skills section, which should reflect the skills that the role you are applying for is seeking. 

Want to impress the employer in your application?

You can impress employers by finding out more about them.What are their values? Who are their competitors? Where are they positioned in the sector they operate in? Have they recently invested in a new development/initiative? Social media channels, such as LinkedIn, are a good place to find this information, as are the About Us pages on their website. Having this knowledge will be useful in your application (and at interview) and will complement the research you do on the specific job you are applying for. 

Use the job description. Make sure you can tick off and evidence all key points - this is what employers will be doing to decide who makes it onto the shortlist. 

Use the STAR method to clearly answer questions. After researching the role and company, it will be easier to see why they may ask particular questions on an application form. Use the STAR method to evidence your examples. The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method is the best way to structure your answers and personal statement to ensure you are giving the evidence you need. You always need to provide evidence to support your claims. The more detail you give, the better the 'mental picture' you will give the employer; if they can picture you in the role you describe, they will also be able to picture you in their advertised role. 

Finally, give yourself enough time to complete the form well – some jobs have a high volume of applications so any spelling/grammatical errors will be jumped on as a reason for discarding some very strong applications. So double-check your form before hitting the “send” button. You can often write the supporting statement in Microsoft Word first and copy and paste it over. Or better still get someone else to check it through for you, it’s amazing what a fresh pair of eyes can notice!  

Remember, a lot of forms are electronic so it may be possible to save your application, allowing you to complete it in stages rather than all at one sitting. Once you have submitted an application, make sure you download and save a copy, as you might be able to use parts of this again for other applications 

  

Want to know more?  

The Prospects website has a lot of useful information on making successful applications

Wider information on applications is included on TARGET jobs

If you would like further advice on your application, and how to get it into a prospective employer's 'invite to interview' pile, please book an appointment with an Employability Adviser who would be happy to review your application and discuss this with you prior to submission.