Surveying job application form answers assessed by a graduate recruiter

Aman Rai, graduate recruitment adviser at Atkins, gives her verdict on answers to typical application form questions.

Why do you want to work for our company?

Candidate’s answer:

I want to work for you because I’ve been impressed by the work you have done and I’d really like to contribute to your projects. The way in which you managed the costs on the South Asian road development project, ensuring that the project was delivered to budget, indicates that I would be working with some of the best surveyors in the world. It would be fantastic to gain chartership alongside such professionals.

Aman’s assessment:

I like the fact that this candidate mentions a specific project and says what impressed them about it, as it shows they’ve done some research. However, they could have expanded on this a little more. It’s also good that they mention chartership as most employers will be aiming to get their graduates professionally accredited. I’d like to see more than one reason for wanting to work for us though and, although ‘projects’ is a good answer, it’s a little obvious so they should back it up with other points – for example, liking the focus on a range of clients or the company’s strategy. Based on this response alone, I’d be tempted to find out more about the candidate.

Give an example of how you worked as part of a team.

Candidate’s answer:

Since my first year at university, I have been part of The Thespians Club and have been involved in putting on an average of two productions a term. I have been part of the lighting team, sharing the responsibility on alternate nights. I worked with the actors and the soundman to ensure that cues were met. I also worked as part of a team to sell tickets to the productions. This involved working out ‘sales territories’ for us each to cover and standing up in lecture halls to publicise the event. Our last production was a sell-out on four of the five nights we were on.

Aman’s assessment:

The strength of this answer is in the fact that the candidate clearly outlines their individual role, but it doesn’t pull together with information on how they worked as a team. It’d be a stronger response if the candidate went into some detail about how they all worked together and interacted – for example, how did they ensure the cues were met? How did they work out sales territories? Based on this response alone, I probably wouldn’t progress with the application.