Completing application forms
Application forms can seem like entry forms to an alien planet at first, so these little pointers are here to give you a head start.
1. Applications are no fun
But how else does an organisation prevent thousands of unwanted applications? The more difficult the form, the more people are turned off applying and therefore, the theory goes, it's the motivated candidates that see the job through.
2. I can't fit my life into this!
Many application forms are designed to test your powers of precis. At first glance, the spaces provided for your answers just aren't big enough. Application forms are designed for this purpose. If an employer gives you a small space to comment on your work experience, that's how importantly they view it. The size of the space is a guide to how much detail an employer expects. The converse sadly, is true. A large space means a long answer. And if your answer is shorter than the question, it's a fair assumption that the money you spent on a stamp will be wasted.
3. Hold your horses
Read through the form carefully and follow instructions. Don't attach anything to the back. Do a draft of your answers first, preferably on a photocopy of the form, so that you can be sure they are going to fit in the boxes.
4. Mind the gap (s)
Don't leave gaps in your life. The people who read forms are very experienced at spotting the year that somehow seems to have disappeared. Unfortunately, the conclusion that they will make about the missing time is not that you have made a mistake and got the dates wrong but that you have something to hide. It's always a better idea to explain what happened honestly and positively.
5. Make it a pleasure to read
If your application form arrives on someone's desk in the company of 50 other forms, it follows that any form which is a) easy to read and b) the product of intelligent thought will have an immediate advantage.
You are wasting your time if it doesn't look visually decent. The reader must be encouraged to read what you have written so avoid large passages of unbroken text. If you have a whole blank page to fill, use headings or paragraph spaces. Under no circumstances resort to tiny writing to cram more in. If your handwriting is awful, experiment with different writing techniques like using small block capitals.
6. Personnel professionals are picky people
Personnel professionals are a picky bunch. It comes from having to plough through piles of application forms a year. The odd spelling mistake or bizarre sentence construction may pass unnoticed, but a form that is peppered with mistakes will make you appear careless. As would too many crossings out and too much Tippex. It's always safer to get your forms checked by a fresh - and trustworthy - pair of eyes before sending them off.
7. Choose your referees with care
You will usually be asked for the names of two referees. If you are a student or recent graduate, one of them should have seen you working. Failing that, you can always ask a family friend who has known you for years or even another academic. What you must do is to choose reliable people who have agreed to help. Your offer of employment will be subject to receiving references, so you must only nominate referees who won't let you down.
This article has been viewed 543 times.
Rating: 5 / 5 (12 votes cast for this article)
Rate this article:
Related articles