The document provides tips for successfully completing application forms. It recommends tailoring answers to address all criteria using the STAR method of describing relevant experiences. Key tips include drafting answers separately, following all instructions, and providing specific examples to demonstrate skills for each competency question or criteria. The goal is to clearly show how past experiences meet the requirements so as to be shortlisted for an interview.

1. The secret to success
with application forms
John McMenamin
Careers Consultant
Career Development Centre

2. What will be covered
 What to expect in an application form
 How to prepare
 Providing the evidence of your skills
and experience
 The secret to success in application
forms

3. What to expect
 Categories of information
- Personal details, work permit status
- Education – qualifications, dates and
institutions
- Employment history – dates and details
- Competency questions / Additional
information / supporting statement
- References

4. How to prepare
 Print out the job description and person
specification
 Stick to the rules! Note any instructions and pay
attention to word count/limits
 Draft answers in a word processor first
 Fill in all sections, do not leave ANY blanks. Put
N/A for sections/boxes that are not applicable
 Tailor your answers
 Check, double check and triple check for spelling
and grammar errors as well as ensuring that what
you have put makes sense
 Always keep a copy

5. Providing the evidence: competency
and motivational questions
 Speak the language of the employer
 Do some research – look beyond the advert
 Finding evidence – group work, academic work,
presentations, dissertation, student union activities,
work experience, placements, employment,
voluntary activities, personal interests
 Provide specific examples that demonstrate your
skills and abilities
 “STAR” model – Situation, Task, Action, Result

6. Example of a STAR response
Describe a time when you have used an innovative
approach to solving a problem:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
When I was assistant manager of an IT training workshop at a
college in Brighton, we had a student who couldn’t raise her
hand to ask questions due to arthritis in her shoulders. She
would get very frustrated when she had a problem and even
more frustrated when she couldn’t get the attention of one of my
staff to get the problem fixed. I went out and bought a set of
decorative lights that attach to the sides of computer monitors
which could be switched on and off by a button next to the
keyboard. I informed her and my staff that if she had a problem,
she should switch the light on and then my staff would be able
to see that she had a problem and could deal with it accordingly.
She was very satisfied with the solution and found the learning
experience much easier and more rewarding.

7. The secret to successfully securing
an interview with an application form
For forms with competency questions on the form:
– Write a STAR statement for each question that clearly addresses the
given criteria with specific reference to your personal contribution to the
situation you describe.
For forms with a box to type a supporting statement
– Write a headed paragraph for each of the criteria in the person
specification (use STAR statements for competency-based criteria).

8. What happens after I submit the form?
Shortlisting
 Applications are read/scanned and checked against a
competency grid
 Applications that meet most of the competencies will be
shortlisted. If competition is fierce only those that meet ALL
the essential criteria will be shortlisted
Not shortlisted?
 Missing key information, insufficient evidence, did not meet
the essential or desirable criteria, spelling errors, poor
grammar

9. Summary/Tips
– Be sure to read all instructions
– Prepare your answers in a separate Word document so that
you can spellcheck them first
– Make sure you address every one of the essential criteria
as well as the desirable criteria if you meet them
– Address the criteria in the order in which they appear using
headed paragraphs if you are faced with the dreaded big
blank box
– Observe any word/character counts and avoid waffle
– Follow the STAR method to prepare examples of your
previous experiences to address the specific criteria
– Keep a copy of your responses for future applications