2. This workshop will cover
• Application forms:
o Who uses them?
o Process
o Questions
o STAR approach
• Further information and help
3. Application forms
• Multinationals recruiting for graduate schemes and the public
sector use application forms (over CVs) for much of their
recruitment
• Predominantly (though not quite exclusively) on-line
• Automated systems allow for deadline dates to be brought
forward so may close earlier than originally advertised
• Competency questions are common
• Some favour a traditional approach – Personal Statement and
chronological Education and Employment sections
• Maximum word counts are the norm
• Almost always take longer to complete than you
initially think!
4. Application form questions
Career focus:
• Why does a career in ……… appeal to you and how
does it suit your skills?
• Identify your chosen pathway (HR, Accounting,
Marketing, Sales) and explain the reasons behind
your choice
• Tell us why you are interested in working for …….
(company) and what you think differentiates us
from our competitors?
5. Why does a career in ………particularly
appeal to you and how would it suit your
skills?
• Ask yourself why you have applied
• Avoid being very general and unoriginal in your reasons
• Do your research into the job, company and sector
(avoiding the obvious)
• Make sure your reasons are specific, accurate and
interesting
• Relate your skills to the competencies they’re recruiting
against giving specific examples of how you
meet them
6. Application form questions
Personal statements:
• Explain why you think you are a suitable
candidate for this position. Refer to the
qualifications, skills and experience which you
believe are relevant to your application.
7. Explain why you think you are a suitable candidate
for this position. Refer to the qualifications,
skills and experience which you believe are
relevant to your application
• Match the requirements laid out in the person specification to
your experience working through each point with specific, recent
and relevant examples to back up everything you say
• Explain why you want to work for that organisation/company in
that role
• Where relevant refer to any relevant longer term career plans
and how the role relates to them
• Use the space wisely
o Write more than two paragraphs but less than five pages
o Cover everything you need to but concisely
o Use a formal business style not a story board approach
8. Competency questions:
• Describe an occasion when you were part of a team. What was
your contribution?
• Tell us about a time when you had to convince someone of
something particularly important to you. How did you influence
them?
• Describe a situation when you were faced with a complex
problem. How did you approach this to reach a solution?
• Describe a time when you went the extra mile to achieve a high
level of customer service. What did you do? What obstacles did
you face?
• Describe a time when you had to analyse a lot of
data or information. How did you do this?
What did you learn from the process?
Application form questions
9. Describe a situation when you……
STAR
• Situation - what was the situation and when did
it take place?
• Task - what was the task and the objective?
• Action - what action did you take to achieve this?
• Result - what happened as a result of your action?
Make sure you:
• Answer all parts of the question (within the specified word count)
• Be structured, clearly expressed with correct grammar, spelling
and punctuation
• Use positive language and give specific examples
• Be analytical, not just descriptive
• Provide evidence that you have the relevant skills or
experience for the job
• “Sell” yourself - but don’t over exaggerate!
10. More challenging questions – used
mainly in advertising and the media
• Tell us about a well known brand which has been particularly
successful recently and explain why it has been successful
• Who would you most like to have lunch with?
• Choose one thing from the list below and tell us why we
should want it:
o A hangover
o An umbrella with holes in it
o A pack of 2,000 drawing pins
o A £5 note
• Tell us a good idea you have come across lately. It
shouldn’t be related to advertising
• Distil the history of humankind into 20 words
11. Further information
• www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc
o Job hunting handouts
o Handouts and reference books
‘Your Jobs On-Line’ ‘Select Simulator’
• Blackboard Learn
o My Organisations
o Accessing your Placement and Careers Resources
o Successful Applications
12. Further help
• “Quick Query” – bring a draft CV, letter or application
form to the Placement and Careers Centre:
o Term time: Mon – Fri, 11.30am - 3.30pm
o Vacation: Mon – Fri, 2-4pm
• Contact your Careers Consultant for an appointment
www.brunel.ac.uk/services/pcc/contact-us/people/caree
• Email careers@brunel.ac.uk
