STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
Most advertised job vacancies require you to complete an application form.
Although you will follow an identical format to every other candidate, there are still ways to make your application stand out.
The form should give the employer an insight into you as a person and encourage them to offer you an interview to find out more.
HINTS AND TIPS
Follow the application instructions, present the information neatly and sell your most relevant skills. n If the form is online, draft your application offline first.
This way you’ll have a backup and you’ll also be able to run a spell check before you copy the information into the online system.
If you’re filling in a form by hand, write neatly in black ink.
Use block capitals if the form asks you to. It is a good idea to write your answers out in rough on a separate page first before copying them on to the actual application form.
Read it over for spelling and grammatical errors — these are one of the most common reasons applications are rejected n Ask someone else to check it for you.
Check you’ve filled in all the boxes that are relevant to you. If a box isn’t relevant, put ‘N/A’ in the space provided.
Never lie on your job application.
There can be serious consequences for dishonesty.
Focus on the questions asked, avoid being vague and use descriptive power words such as ‘transformed’, ‘effective’ and ‘determined’.
Photocopy or print out the finished form, so that you have a record of what you’ve written and can refer back to it at the interview stage.
Send your application form to arrive in good time.