Application forms

Application forms are designed to screen you out rather than to get you in, therefore to be competitive in your application you need to put a lot of thought and research into answering each question.

Effective application form techniques

  • Follow instructions carefully as they will tell you how to complete the form, e.g. use block capitals, black ink, record employment history in reverse chronological order etc.
  • Research the company and role to help you focus your answers on meeting the company's needs and the requirements of the position.
  • Address as many of the essential and desirable requirements of the person specification as possible, imagine this is used as a checklist by the person short listing.  Give examples from your experience to demonstrate how you meet each requirement.  If there are essential criteria that you don't meet highlight areas in which you can add value, express your willingness to learn new skills and undertake further training.
  • Do not make assertions, "I have excellent communication skills" without evidencing of how.

Online applications

Online application forms are becoming increasing popular with graduate recruiters.  They allow employers to sift through large numbers of applications in a systematic way; many employers and agencies often use standard searches and electronic scanning of applications when looking for candidates.  They look for key skills and qualifications that relate to the job description. 

  • Online applications require the same amount of attention as a paper application; research the company, target the employer and position, check grammar and spelling - if you can't access a spell check, copy the text in from Word.
  • Make sure you follow all the instructions on how to fill out the form, don't leave sections blank.
  • Do not write in text or email speak,  "Ive gr8 comms skilz".

Competency based questions

Both paper and online application forms often require you to answer some competency based questions.  These questions have been designed to demonstrate the personal skills required for the job, typically problem solving, teamwork and communication.

One way to structure your answers to these questions is to use the following acronym, STAR.

  • Situation When, where, with whom?
  • Task Describe the situation or the task you were faced with.
  • Action What action did you take?  What was your contribution in the group?
  • Result What was the result? What did you learn from the experience?  

"Give an example of a situation where you solved a problem in a creative way"

Situation During my time at University I had to undertake a 6 week placement where I worked as a holiday rep in Spain.  Task I was responsible for organising the evening entertainment; normally I would hire a local band and provide a BBQ.  Action On this particular occasion the band were taken ill with food poisoning, leaving 60 guests waiting to be entertained.  Result As it was my responsibility to keep the guests entertained, I explained that there had been a change of plan and there would be a disco instead. I used my i-pod and the PA system to play music; I also invited the guests to play music from their own i-pods, the evening turned out to be a great success.

For further advice:

Practice the online application process www.selectsimulator.com |

As a current student, recent graduate or member of staff you also have access to more detailed information regarding application forms, including links to additional websites via CareerBox.|  Additionally, speak with Careers or Employment Advisers at Solent for individual advice about your applications.