Before you start on your application form it is important you prepare before you start writing it. Firstly do some research on the organisation you are applying to. Have a look at their website to find their ethos and values, what they do, projects they have done etc. Even the language they use can help when writing your application.
Once you have done this look at the job description and person specification. The person specification is really important as it tells you exactly what the employer wants. Use this to make sure that you give examples of every point they ask for.
Once you have done this look at the job description and person specification. The person specification is really important as it tells you exactly what the employer wants. Use this to make sure that you give examples of every point they ask for.
What is on the application form?
Some may differ slightly but generally the format includes most if not all of the below sections:
- Personal Information – As the label says!
- Education – What you have studied, where and the grades attained
- Work Experience – The employment you have done – make sure you relate everything to the role you are applying to. Some may ask for just paid employment but have separate sections for voluntary work.
- Additional information/Supporting Statement – This is often the largest part of the application and is your equivalent of the UCAS personal statement. More information on this is below.
- Specific questions – These may have been put together by the employer and based on the ethos or values of the business or specifically role related. Try to be specific and give examples. The Prospects website has a useful section on potential questions
Additional Information/Supporting Statement
This is the main section and your chance to make the application really specific to the role you are applying for. Your statement may take a similar format to the personal statement:
Opening paragraph. This is your chance to ‘hook’ the employer, you need to introduce the reader to what you will talk about in the rest of the statement. Make it an introduction to you, your skills and your experience.
Experience & evidence of skills. This the most important part of the statement and you need to make sure, above all else that mention how you meet all the criteria from the person specification. The person specification is what the employer will use to decide if you make it to interview, so you need to mention everything in there but also how you have gained those skills. This can be from a range of things including employment, college, enrichment, sport, voluntary work.
Conclusion. This is where you summarise what you have written and talk about how you may expand on this in an interview and what you think you will bring to the organisation. You may even refer to what you know about the organisation you are applying to, their values or ethos for example.
Opening paragraph. This is your chance to ‘hook’ the employer, you need to introduce the reader to what you will talk about in the rest of the statement. Make it an introduction to you, your skills and your experience.
Experience & evidence of skills. This the most important part of the statement and you need to make sure, above all else that mention how you meet all the criteria from the person specification. The person specification is what the employer will use to decide if you make it to interview, so you need to mention everything in there but also how you have gained those skills. This can be from a range of things including employment, college, enrichment, sport, voluntary work.
Conclusion. This is where you summarise what you have written and talk about how you may expand on this in an interview and what you think you will bring to the organisation. You may even refer to what you know about the organisation you are applying to, their values or ethos for example.
Useful Resources
There is a lot of further information that you can access for support and example application forms. Follow the links below:
- University of Huddersfield - a really useful resource that talks in a little more depth about the supporting statement
- Prospects - Talks in more depth about all aspects of the application form
