Application Forms
Although many employers ask for a CV, many others require completion
of a paper (or on-line) application form. If applying for a graduate-entry
vacancy, check in the advert as to what type of application form
is required:
Types Of Application Forms
Saf Standard Application Form
Some graduate employers require completion of the SAF. To obtain
an SAF on disk, ask your university careers service for information,
or see www.prospects.csu.ac.uk
Eaf Employer Application Form
Don’t use the SAF above if an EAF is required, as the employer
will simply ignore your SAF and send you one of their own forms
to complete. How to get an EAF? Your university careers service
may have spare copies, or you can contact the employer and request
one.
‘Via Website’ Means Apply On Line At The Employer’s
Website
A minority of employers of graduates, such as BT are now only accepting
on-line applications, so you’ll need to go straight to their
website. This application method is likely to increase in the next
few years.
Have a look at the B.T. website: www.bt.com/World/employment/graduate/apply_fr.htm
for an example of application forms of the future!
Paper Application Forms
As the majority of recruiters of graduates still require the completion
of paper forms, most of the following information applies to the
paper variety.
When To Complete Application Forms
Check whether the employer has a fixed closing date - this may
be as early as October of your Final year. Many employers, however,
have later, or no, closing date i.e. they recruit all year round.
Always check, as missing the closing date means maybe waiting a
year until the company starts recruiting again!
It’s Hard Work
Don’t underestimate the amount of time and concentration involved
in completing a lengthy application form. However, take comfort
in the knowledge that it always takes longer doing the first one
- subsequent forms shouldn’t take such concentrated ‘self-analysis’
time as the first.
What Is In The Job Information Pack?
So you’ve requested an application form for a job that interests
you. In response you’ll receive an application form and job
information pack. This may contain: the company graduate recruitment
brochure, annual report, job specification/list of selection criteria
and perhaps other papers. Read all of this carefully as it will
provide you with lots of clues as to who and what the employer is
looking for and hints to help you answer the questions on the form!
Things to do before you start to fill in the form:
- Photocopy the form several times (for practice purposes)
- Keep the original in a protective plastic folder
- Read all accompanying information/brochures carefully
- Go back and re-read Step 2 of this section, then make notes,
under the following headings, on what you discover by reading
the employer’s information pack/other details
Skills needed for this job/training scheme…
Skills I possess and concrete examples of them….
and similarly for the following headings:
Personal qualities needed: My personal
qualities . . .
Knowledge/qualifications Needed: My
knowledge . . .
Experience needed: My experience . . .
Motivation required: My motivation . . .
Now read the Job information pack again and make notes on the
following:
- What does this company/organisation do?
- What department would I be working in?
- What is the job title I am applying for – what do people
in that job actually do? (you may wish to check general careers
information at this stage)
- Do I want to do this job? Why do I want to do this job?
- How will this organisation benefit from employing me?
Now you are ready to start completing the form.
Completing The Form - What Information Is Required From You?
(Important! Practice on a photocopied form until you feel satisfied
with the finished article!)
Most forms have three distinct sections:
- Beginning - personal details section - don’t make mistakes
here!
- Middle section – ‘in-depth’ questions - the tough
part of the form!
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The questions will be asked in different ways, but all
are designed to elicit information about your skills,
experiences, motivation, commitment to the job and company,
knowledge and personality.
Possible question formats:
- multiple choice personality/aptitude questionnaire(s)
- boxed questions - each box containing one question
- a blank A4 side of paper for your personal statement
(Don’t be afraid to sub-divide this large space
by using techniques such as sub-headings, bullets or paragraphs)
Now, carefully answer the questions! Remember to use
‘dynamic/active vocabulary’ (www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/
click on Action Words in Applications); your self-analysis
of transferable skills in Step 2 and the notes you’ve
already made. Integrate all of this into each answer.
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- End section- ‘administrative details’
The difficult part is over, but take care to complete the remaining
parts of the form. Most companies request completion of an Equal
Opportunities Monitoring form, and names and addresses of referees,
in this section. Always check that you have a referee’s permission
before naming them.
Summary Of Do’s And Don’ts
DO
- Practice on a photocopied form first
- Use black ink on your original form
- Answer the questions
- Make the most of your skills, education and experience
- Do all the necessary reading and ‘self-analysis’ suggested
above
- Display enthusiasm if you really want this job
- Fill the spaces provided
- Fill the form in neatly and clearly
- Keep handwriting to a consistent shape and size
- Use your dictionary if necessary
- Subdivide an A4 blank space into smaller sections
- Keep a photocopy of your completed form
DON’T
- Apply for jobs you don’t want
- Forget to include your name and address!
- Leave unexplained gaps in dates/time
- Falsify information/experiences
- Talk only about how the job will benefit you - make it plain
how the employer will benefit from your skills and knowledge
- Give irrelevant answers
- Squash your handwriting to ‘fit it all in’
- Ruin the look of the completed form with crossings-out or Tippex!
- Spill coffee on the original form and then send it in!
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