Completing an application form for a job

If you are asked to complete an application form it will often be the only document used in the selection process, so it is important to invest some time and effort in getting it right.

Application forms can appear quite daunting at first glance but the following tips should help:

Before you start

• Read the application form carefully and check for any specific instructions.
• Read the advert, job description and person specification (if relevant) carefully to familiarise yourself with the skills and experience the potential employer is looking for.
• Have to hand the names and dates of schools, colleges and / or universities you attended.
• Ensure you have all the details of any previous employment including dates.
• Have details of any qualifications you have achieved as well as training courses you attended.

Completing the form

Below are some examples of the key sections often found on an application forms with some notes to help you:

Current / most recent employment

• Give details of your current or most recent job.
• Provide the name and address of the company.
• Provide accurate dates of employment.
• Outline the main duties and responsibilities of your current / most recent job.
• If you have never had a job, please state what you have been doing most recently. This may be attending school or college, caring for a relative, raising a family or doing voluntary work.

Previous employment

List all of your previous jobs starting with your most recent one but excluding the one you have already told them about. Make sure that you include:

• the name and address of the company.
• the job held.
• the dates that you worked for them.

Qualifications

• List here all of your formal qualifications including GCSEs, A Levels or equivalents, NVQs, HNDs, work-based courses and any further education qualifications.
• If you have qualifications gained overseas it’s a good idea to confirm how they relate to the stated qualification requirements of the job.
• Also list any qualifications gained whilst doing voluntary work.
• You will be required to produce evidence of your qualifications.
• If you have no qualifications simply state "none" in this section.

Other skills and interests

Include details of any:

• Community or voluntary work.
• Vocational qualifications such as BTECs, OCR Nationals and City & Guilds. 
• Public duties.
• Languages written and spoken.
• Anything else that has provided you with skills relevant to the job you are applying for.

Reason for application 

• This section is the most important part of your application as this is your opportunity to demonstrate why you should be selected for interview.
• Use the job description and person specification to identify the key skills and experience that the job requires.
• Take each of the key skills one by one and describe how your knowledge and experience matches those required.
• Always provide an example to demonstrate your ability.
• When you think about your experience remember all of your previous jobs not just your current / most recent one.
• Include any other relevant experience gained outside of work including community / voluntary work or leisure activities and life experiences.

Top Tips

• Fill in all sections of the forms. If there are sections that do not apply to you, write “not applicable” in that section.
• If there are any gaps in the information you provide include an explanation.
• Explain the circumstances of any period when you were not working, for example "unemployed" or "travelling in Australia".
• You can now apply for many jobs online. This is often simpler and quicker than completing a hard-copy form. There is often a facility that allows you to save your applications meaning that you can complete them in more than one sitting. Make sure that you remember any usernames and passwords so that you can get back in! Free access to the internet can be found in any Kent library or at your local Gateway.
• If you are filling in a hard-copy application you should ensure that you write clearly and neatly in black or blue ink and make a copy of the application form to practice on to avoid making mistakes.
• Ask a friend or relative to read your application before you send / submit it to check for spelling or grammatical errors. These are the main reasons many applications are rejected.
• Print or photocopy the application form so that you have a copy to refer back to at the interview stage.
• Make sure that your application arrives / is submitted before the closing date. Most companies will not accept late applications.