Before you click submit on that job application
Completing an application form can be daunting for many, especially for students applying for internships. After all, this is probably your first time applying for a serious position. Application forms don't need to be a complex process, keeping your answers honest, relevant and concise will make the whole experience a lot smoother (for yourself and the recruiter).
After leading an internship programme for four years, I received and reviewed a multitude of application forms. I often see the same mistakes being made time and time again, and if you haven’t been successful in passing an application round just yet, you could be making the same errors without even realising.
So if you’re a student and you’re applying for internships, read on to see what my top tips are for completing an application form. My experience is within credit risk however I will keep my advice generic as possible as most application forms tend to include similar questions.
Why are you applying to that company and why are you interested in that particular role?
Make sure you’ve done your research. Most companies have a wealth of information on their website but the key is to identify what stood out for you. When you’re answering a question like this, I would suggest revisiting the website and reviewing the content again with the question in mind and only jotting down key notes that genuinely spark an interest in you.
Don’t make the common mistake of copying lengthy sentences directly from the website. By summarising the key words in your own sentences, you will be able to express genuine interest as well as affirmation to yourself of why you’re applying in the first place.
Make your application stand out, show that you have actually taken the time to think about the questions and that you have done your research.
What skills do you have that are applicable for the role?
You may find it easy to list what skills you have but ensure that they are relevant to the role. For example, photography skills are not relevant to a financial analyst role. This can be included in the hobbies and interests section if necessary.
Including the level of expertise is also helpful to the employer and if there is room on the application form, I would suggest providing relevant examples of skills. For example, beginner level in SAS, introduced to SAS at university as part of a Statistics module for 2 lectures. Responses needn’t be very wordy or lengthy. Simply listing skill, proficiency and a brief example should be sufficient.
Also, Microsoft Word is regarded as a compulsory skill for life not just for professional work – this shouldn't be listed as a key skill any more!
Give an example of a difficult task that you experienced and how you overcame it.
Pick a concrete example that describes the most relevant skills to the role that you’re applying for. Keep it concise, one or two well-written sentences for each point is normally enough:
Statement of what the task was
Which tasks you performed
The challenge you faced
How you overcame it.
For example, if you were working as part of team and had a specific role, i.e. team leader, be sure to state this. Remember, that this is an opportunity for you to highlight how you deal with problems as well as showcasing how you use your skills in practice.
Hobbies
Finally, on to your hobbies and interests. Most employers look for candidates that are well-rounded and want to know that you have interests aside from your chosen career path. For example, if you’re applying for a role in finance, you’re not expected to only read ‘The Economist’ and ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ or even have strong interests in any of them!
I believe that everyone should have other hobbies to balance out work-life and it’s good to have fun and switch off in your spare time to remain productive when you’re actually at work.
My final point would be to always double-check your application or ask a friend/family member to review it for you – nobody likes to read through lengthy applications with spelling mistakes and repetitive explanations!
A quality application form can make you stand out and help you to get one step closer to securing an interview.