Some roles may ask you to complete an application form rather than use your CV. Much of the information from your CV will be needed for the application form.
Before you start an application form
Before you start an application form it's important to have ready:
- A list of the jobs and work experience you have, including an outline of your responsibilities
- The names of any training or qualifications that you have
Personal details
An application form will have a section for personal details. These will include: your full name, date of birth, address, phone number and email address.
Education and training
It will also ask you to list any qualifications you’ve got, including GCSEs, A levels, or other qualifications. It will ask the name of the school, college or training providerm and the dates when you studied.
Work history
There will be a work history section of the application form. Same as your CV, start with your most recent experience first and list both paid and voluntary roles you’ve had, along with the responsibilities you had while you were there. When writing about your experience, make sure to relate it back to the role you’re applying for, and to use keywords that appear in the job advert. It’ll help the employer see that you’re the right fit for the job.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any experience, employers will understand that this could be your first role.
Skills and experience questions
Some application forms will ask more in depth questions to get more information about you and how you will fit into the business.
Some common questions:
- Describe a time you have been under pressure at work
- Explain a situation where you've worked in a team
- Tell us about a time you had a tight deadline and how you met it
As long as you highlight the skills they're asking for, you can use examples from work, hobbies, social activities or volunteering.
References
The application may ask for a reference to find confirm your previous experience.
A good reference is someone who can talk positively about you and has worked with you directly, such as a manager or trainer.
If you need a reference and you do not have much work experience or you've recently finished education, you could ask:
- A teacher or college tutor who knows you well
- A team leader from a volunteering group or sports team
- Someone respected in your community
Make sure you check with your referee before you put them down on your application form and warn them that someone is likely to contact them asking them to confirm details about you. You will need their full name, phone number, and email address.
Before you submit your application form
Before submitting your application, read through your answers and check the spelling and grammar.
You should keep a copy of your answers so you can use it for future applications and refer back to it if you're invited to an interview.
After you submit your application form
After you've submitted your application, hopefully the company will contact you. You may not hear back from everything you apply for, as with interviews, its normal to apply for many different roles before getting an interview.
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