Job-application forms are an important part of the recruitment process. Employers will use your application form as a first-stage filter, in order to draw up a shortlist of interviewees.

For this reason, you should take the time and effort to make your job-application form as perfect as possible.

• Make a copy of your job application form, so you can refresh your memory before an interview.
• List your educational qualifications and work experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first), unless told to do otherwise.
• Graduate employers are seeking evidence of your ability to do the job. Analyse the competencies required, such as teamwork and problem-solving, and think of occasions when you used them. Explain the context, your role and actions, and what happened as a result.
• Stress proactive activities, rather than passive interests. Use verbs such as liaised, co-ordinated, investigated and developed.

Common mistakes on graduate-job-application forms 

Avoid these pitfalls to ensure your job application is effective:

Not answering the question
This may sound flippant, but often questions have several parts, which all need to be dealt with properly. Answer the question being asked, not one you want to answer.

Being too general or vague
Answers need to be specific, concise and illustrated with concrete examples. Make your answers as full as possible, but don’t repeat yourself simply to make up the work count.

Poor presentation
If you only have one hard copy of a job-application form, make several copies and practise filling it in before completing the final one.

Poor time-management
Set aside a decent portion of time, even if you are facing the pressure of academic coursework or exams.

Find out more

• Where are the graduate jobs?
• Online job applications
• Equality advice