Online Application Forms

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On-line Application Forms
Economics 2009/10
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On-line Application forms

• By the end of this presentation students should
• learn to understand
• What is an on-line application
• Why it is used by graduate recruiters
• How to prepare for writing on-line application
  forms
• What employers are seeking from applicants
• Common reasons for rejection
• How to tackle more complex questions

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What is an online application form?

• Web based application form employer specific
• First hurdle used to screen candidates
• Sometimes replaces a CV, letter, paper form
• Primary purpose secure you an interview
• Access it through an employers graduate
  recruitment website. Always note their deadline.
• Part of a career recruitment system
• Typically includes bio data, academic record,
  work experience, extra-curricular activities,
  competency and open questions

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Why is it used by graduate recruiters?

• Smoother process for employer and candidate
• Allows employers to deal with a high volume of
  applications (approx 10,000)
• More flexible save, print, edit
• Enables the employer to ask specific questions
• All applicants stored in one system

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What are employers screening for in an
application form?

• Competencies / transferable skills
• Academic results level of intelligence
• Achievements what makes you different?
• Breadth of experience captured in a clear,
  concise, professional manner
• Complete all sections do not copy and paste
  responses or you may make mistakes

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Success with Applications

• Plan and Research
• Yourself
• The company
• Deadline dates and prioritise
• What do you have to offer?
• Education
• Work Experience
• Activities and Interests
• Positions of Responsibility
• Companies will be looking for certain
  competencies.

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What is a competency?

• Drive
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Communication and Influencing
• Leadership

• Attention To Detail
• Creative Thinking
• Technical Skills Knowledge
• Planning Organising
• Business Awareness Focus

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How do YOU show you have these competencies?

• What you do already
• Extra curricular activities ie involvement in
  campus societies Drive, Leadership Business
  Awareness
• Sports Teamwork, Leadership
• Community activity, travel etc Drive,
  Proactivity and Teamwork

• What you need to do
• Research the industry Attention to Detail
• Research the company (basic SWOT) Business
  Awareness
• For occupational information see
  www.prospects.ac.uk

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The Open Ended Questions

• Explain what attracts you to the type of work you
  are applying and offer evidence of your
  suitability?
• Describe a particular challenge you have faced
  recently. How did you cope? What was the
  outcome?
• What has been your greatest achievement to date
  and why?

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The Open Ended Questions

• Try to work out why the question is being asked
• Answer the question in full
• Structure your answers context action
  results
• Dont waffle use strong words like created,
  managed, started, devised, designed, co-ordinated
• Provide evidence and be specific about your role
• Sell yourself but dont lie

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Demonstrate your achievements

• Use examples to highlight your skills rather than
  simply stating you have them
• e.g. Managed till in busy retail environment
  developing time management and customer service
  skills
• rather than,
• Sales Assistant
• e.g. Responsible for administration of invoices,
  ensuring accurate forecasting through
  communications with suppliers and colleagues
• rather than,
• Assisted finance department

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Describe a situation where you have

• Used your initiative to acquire new skills and
  knowledge in order to achieve a goal or complete
  a task effectively
• Encountered a difficulty with something you were
  trying to achieve. Describe how you identified
  the problem and what you did to overcome it
• Worked in a team or group situation. What did
  you do as the team leader or team member to
  contribute to the success of the way the team
  worked together

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Break it down

• Describe a situation where you worked as part of
  a team
• What do they want?
• The situation what were you working on? Bring
  it to life give a few details, facts, figures,
  scale
• The team who were they (student peers, friends,
  workmates)?
• What was your particular role? Leader?
  Co-ordinator? Time-keeper? Etc
• What did you achieve and how did you contribute
  to the success
• What did you learn about yourself and team work
  from the experience?

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And Another

• Please identify any major successes in your life
  to date
• What do they want?
• Describe the achievement give the context and
  dont be too mundane
• Why was it a success for you personally? For
  example, getting into university can be a real
  success if you are the first one from your family
  but not for everyone
• What did you learn about yourself/others from
  this achievement?
• How has it affected your life since?
• Can you link it to what the employer wants e.g.
  experience or skills?

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The open-ended question

• Use this space to tell us what makes you a good
  candidate for this job
• What do they want?
• Structure is the key dont waffle
• Say why you are interested in the job/company
• Tell them what action you have taken
  presentations, web search, workshops etc
• Describe the key qualities and skills which you
  will bring and back up with evidence
• Detail any relevant work experience or academic
  work
• End with a positive statement about your
  suitability
• Remember your UCAS personal statement same
  principles but more mature

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Dont do this!

• Working in a fast food restaurant has taught me
  how to work with stupid people with stupid
  problems
• Being a Virgoan, my sense of assertiveness and
  resilience has prompted me to continue with my
  ambitions to be a solicitor in a major law firmI
  am also a seventh generation descendant of a
  Chinese princess and a Sulawesian warrior, which
  makes me both an amiable and energetic person

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Or this!

• Motives for applying money, power, sex
• I had early opportunities for responsibility in
  my vacation job when my supervisor was run over
  by a fork-lift truck
• I was closely involved in every aspect of my
  former company, right up to its bankruptcy

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Or indeed this!

• I am someone who knows my own destiny, but I
  have no definite long term plans
• Like one of your coffees, I am designed to be
  opened, savoured and enjoyed
• I am currently reading Robbie Williams
  thought-provoking autobiography
• At secondary school, I was a prefix
• and so on and so on.

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Mind your language!

• Positive words
• liaised
• supervised
• negotiated
• formulated
• implemented
• initiated
• evaluated
• co-ordinated
• researched
• enhanced
• instrumental

• Positive phrases
• Demonstrated skills in
• Proficient in
• Assigned to
• Extensive involvement
• Proven track record
• Instrumental in
• Diverse experience
• Provided technical assistance to
• Substantial contribution to

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Top Tips

• Preparation is key prioritise deadlines
• Read through the form carefully, print out a copy
  before you start
• Thoroughly research the organisation, and the
  role and the selection criteria and target your
  application
• Assess whether this is the right employer for you
  and the right occupational area (using Prospects
  website)
• Think of examples to demonstrate evidence of the
  skills and competencies that the employer is
  seeking

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Top Tips continued

• Respect the word count it is a measure of how
  much detail the employer wants
• Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Use the save and return function
• Keep a copy of your application to re-read it
  before your interview

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Practise before you send the application

• Practise completing application forms using
• select simulator
• CCD staff can review your application form. Book
  a duty appointment online for this.
  www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ Go to Careers
  Appointment from this link.
• You will find further information regarding
  application forms on our website and the
  Prospects website.

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Selection Process
Typical
Online application
Offer
Assessment Centre
Telephone interview
Aptitude Tests may be used first determines who
can submit application
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Common Reasons for Rejection .

• Dont meet minimum requirements
• Examples drawn from the same part of your life
• Not enough detail but got a balance
• Vague, irrelevant answers, lack of
  industry/company knowledge
• Not answering questions and leaving a gap
• For further help see the Completing application
  form leaflet