Job Seeking Information

Application Forms

All forms require time, concentration and imagination, but your previous research of the employer will provide clues on how best to respond using your self-analysis. Respond to all questions even if it is to say 'not applicable'. Most forms invite applicants to build on basic factual details and complete extended questions. Usually your answers are restricted to an allotted amount of space. Use the amount of space given to answer a question as an indication of the significance attached to that question. Fill the space constructively, but avoid repetition (a sign of disorganised thought processes). Make sure you answer the question asked!

Questions are there to be exploited by you. Be explicit about what you have to offer. What will set you apart is the way you market yourself as a total package - skills, achievements, qualities and potential. Your 'package' should match as closely as possible to the expectations of the selector.

The Good - some basic rules

There are several basic rules you must follow to avoid rejection in the initial screening.

Read the whole form and follow employers' instructions. Failure to do so tells an employer something about your attention to detail and ability to follow directions.

Analyse the job description and applicant requirements/specification. Make sure that you are clear about what the main duties are and the skills and experience that they are looking for in applicants.

Do a rough draft first to eliminate mistakes and get your chronology right. Think about the reasons for the questions.

Write legibly and neatly in black ink (because the form may be photocopied). Avoid deletions. Keep all paper clean.

Avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes. If possible, get someone to check your draft answers before filling in the form. Get someone to check the final version.

Answer each answer fully and don't leave any questions unanswered. The space allowed for each question usually indicates its importance. Make sure that you respond to all parts of each question.

Make sure your answers are relevant to the question and do not omit any relevant information.

Show that you have a good understanding of what the job involves and the type of person looked for. You need to link the requirements of the job to your own qualifications, abilities,skills, personal qualities and experience. Give evidence of these from your past experience. You need to convince the employer that you match all their requirements.

You need to market yourself to an employer. Where possible, emphasise your achievements, skills and successes from your academic study and work experience to date.

Don't leave any gaps of time - they arouse doubts. Account positively for the ways in which you have spent your time since graduating eg developing other skills such as learning a language or developing IT skills, travelling (what have you gained from this?); voluntary and part-time work.

Keep a photocopy of the form to look at before your interview.

Ensure applications are submitted before the closing date.

The Bad - The most common causes of rejection

Examples drawn from the same part of your life. This gives the impression that you have only one significant experience in your life so far. Collect your evidence from as many different sources as possible. Ambitious and career-oriented people are generally rich in significant experiences.

Not enough detail (or too much!). Employers don't want you to fill the spaces with lengthy answers in tiny handwriting. They need enough hard evidence to be able to make a decision.

Verbose, vague or wooly answers. Don't waffle. You don't need to impress employers unduly with your literary skill, although what you write must make sense. What they want are the facts and lots of them. Clear, objective statements, that you have evidence for the claims you make, will enable them to select you for interview.

Irrelevant answers. If employers are asking for evidence of competencies they have usually been very carefully written and you are well advised to structure your answer to suggest that you have the potential to carry out some or all of these tasks. Don't waste valuable space on irrelevant detail.

Examples of application form answers

The examples included in this section work because they have been written by applicants using their own experiences. Use them to give yourself an idea of how you might start tackling the questions but don't just copy them.

Click here for an employers view of an application form.
Click here for a real life application form from a Murdoch student that beat off 2,200 competitors - yes, its quite good.

Some more example answers

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Please describe a situation where you have led a group of people. How did you motivate the group? Describe the result.
"As captain of the hall women's football squad, I prepared the team for the university cup. After the squad's trials I put together a team and organised a comprehensive training schedule, which required liaison and organisational skill. To motivate the team members I initiated training with prominent local coaches and weekly team dinners. My positive attitude and leadership resulted in a rise of seven places for the team."

DRIVE AND INITIATIVE

Describe an occasion when you demonstrated determination to complete a challenge.

"As a member of the University Rag Committee I worked in a team to exceed the total of the previous year's collection. In addition to established rag events we initiated a rag ball. I had to plan and organise venues and acts, liaise with publicity firms and work to a budget. Acting on a limited budget it was a challenge to ensure that we made a profit and provided good entertainment. The ball made a profit of $2,000 for charity."

Example of a completed application form provided to a multi-national company as part of their graduate recruitment programme. This application was one of 8 shortlisted from 2,300 applications and helped the applicant get an interview for a marketing job with a multi-national company even though he didn't have a marketing degree.