Free Advice on How to Complete Application Forms
Application forms are an obstacle in your path to employment. Ultimately they are designed to gently remove candidates who are unsuitable for employment with the particular company. Unmotivated individuals are intimidated by reams of paper arriving on their doorstep and the form-filling that follows. Often, candidates don't understand how to fill in application forms. It is important not to be intimidated by application forms and remember some helpful application form tips.
You must tailor you responses to the particular company to which you are applying, and if possible to the individual dealing with applications. Avoid starting your introduction letter ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, find out who the form needs to go to and refer to them by name.
When filling out the application, practice makes perfect. Take a photocopy of the document and practice in rough. Before beginning, read all of the information available to you – this includes the application form itself, the associated documentation sent, the advertisement and any other information you can find. This will enable you to target the application correctly.
Answer all application form questions but don’t offer any more than the questions require. Do not waffle. Keywords are important but keep them relevant and industry specific. References are important, choose the very best and most relevant to the targeted job. Most importantly, check, double check and then ask a friend to check your application form. Remember, a simple spelling or grammatical error could make the difference between progression and the recycling bin!
Online applications are now common. They provide many advantages to both the employer and the candidate but also come with a range of ‘pitfalls’ for the applicant. Email is fast and informal, but your emailed application form should be both formal and considered. Informal communications with a potential employers is unadvised. Keep all of your communications professional and check and double check before you hit that send button!
Remember that most online applications have no spelling or grammatical checks. This is no excuse for sloppy, incorrect content. Either get your dictionary out or complete the text in a word processing programme first. A major problem with online applications is waffle. Applicants see endless white spaces and keep on writing. Remember answer the question in a concise manner and then stop. Don’t feel the need to answer application form questions that you haven’t been asked.
The formula for creating a successful paper or online application is built upon practice, preparation, being concise, formal, targeting your form and reviewing your content. Happy form-filling!
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