Master online application forms to get your graduate career in marketing off the ground

Working in marketing has become increasingly popular with graduates and, accordingly, employers are looking for new ways to narrow down the applicants. Many still ask for a CV and covering letter but for the more competitive graduate schemes you can expect to fill out an online form.

Online forms make applying easier

Internet-based application systems haven’t been without their negative press. Graduates can feel like they’re being dealt with by a computer, and receiving a rejection e-mail within minutes of hitting ‘submit’ can smart a bit. But stories of instant rejections are due to candidates not meeting minimum criteria, which should be clearly stated on the form. In reality, employers are at pains to ensure that applications are seen by a bona fide human, and an HR human at that. Being able to cut and paste from a Word document, save pages of your application form, send your application instantly to a company and knowing that it won’t be lost in a pile on someone’s desk, amounts to you being more in control than ever.

Be top of the form

So, you’re sat down in front of your computer trying not to look at MSN Messenger and Facebook and wondering what to write. Preparation is definitely the key to making any application. Find out as much as you can about the marketing organisation and its recruitment criteria from their website or any promotional literature you can lay your hands on.

Once you’ve got a good feel for the company’s vibe (they’d probably call it ‘ethos’), you are in a much better position to explain why you are right for them. This is most relevant for the skills or achievement-based questions, such as ‘what has been your most rewarding personal achievement and why?’. If the company is looking for solid team players, it's not the best idea to put ‘scaling Everest without the aid of others, reaching the summit and shouting “sod you all!” to the rest of the world’. Remember:

• Each section’s specified word count is the perfect guide to how much detail they want from you.
• Don’t waffle, and don’t just outline an example before rushing to a hurried conclusion like a bad novel.
• Being clear and concise shows intelligent communication skills and all employers love a bit of that.

Matching competencies online

There is no such thing as a difficult question if you have a clear idea of what the selection criteria are and what matching skills, knowledge and experience you have.

• Choose examples from different parts of your life and be as specific as possible when describing them.
• Concentrate on your personal contribution to whatever it is you’re writing about and stress achievements and outcomes.
• Even that dull summer job can be turned around into a shining example of how you react under pressure, deal with people and solve problems.