The 3 Rules for Completing Job Application Forms and Personal Profiles

For each position you apply for you will receive a job specification, to secure a job offer you need evidence that you possess the essential criteria required for this job role.

To highlight your skills you need to record real working examples of the essential criteria, (in the personal profile and employment history section). The applicant who possesses all the essential criteria is offered the job interview.

Rule One – Stand Out

Most applicants will have the required qualifications and experiences which is why they have applied for this position, what you need to do is stand out from the crowd. To stand out you need to highlight on the application form what unique value you can offer IE what skill or quality do you possess that will increase company profit, turnover or production, etc?

By having a unique skill or selling point, will add value to the organisation you are applying to, as an example if you have a gift for turning underperforming companies on the brink of bankruptcy into a profitable business, then a company in this situation can’t afford to lose you.

Rule Two – Personal Information

The first section on the job application is simple; add your contact details, past employment history (give a brief summary only here of your role and duties, making them relevant to the job role) and your qualifications. Ensure you follow the application form rules and if required write using a black pen, etc. One important aspect of the application form is the position you are applying for and the job code boxes, because large businesses recruit hundreds of people a year and HR will only know the position you have applied for by this important code.

Rule Three – The Profile is King

The key to securing job interviews is the application form profile as this is the section that will confirm you have the required essential criteria, while you sell yourself through your unique selling point (making you stand out from the crowd)

The job specifications that accompany the job application form tells you in detail, what requirements the employer is looking to be evidenced on the job application form and the importance the employer places on each criteria.

The job criteria will be recorded under either desirable or essential criteria – it is a must that you have all the essential criteria and most or all of the desirable criteria. It’s even simpler then that, the employer on the job specification will also tell you where they will measure this criterion which either via the application form or the job interview.

 If you need to add additional pages to the application form, add them and make a note (and give a reference number to each individual page) in the application form so an employer does not miss this vital information. But as more application forms become available online extra pages are not required as text box will in-large itself – just beware of any word count limits.

• Use headings to split up your text on the profile; the essential criteria requirements make the best headings.
• Start with an opening paragraph; a mini summary that can highlight your best strengths and skills in 4-5 lines, ensuring you highlight your unique selling point. The opening paragraph must intrigue the employer, encouraging them to read your statement in more detail.
• At the end of the personal statement, write a brief summary why you have applied for this role, what has made you pick this particular role and/or organisation?

Additional Applications

To save time on future online application forms, keep a copy of your completed application form as a draft copy and use this as the basis of all your future job application forms. When writing a new application form, copy and paste the statement from your original application into your new one, edit each new application/profile to make it relevant to this new position and company, this will save you a large amount of time.

If you enjoyed this article you will also enjoy reading:

• How to write a personal profile on a job application form
• Glossary of Application Form Terms
• Job Application Form Check List

 
Sponsored Ad

Burger King Application Form

If you’re interested in applying for a job at Burger King one of the UKs leading fast food chains you will first need to read this article to learn the Burger King application form secrets.

What Makes You Stand Out

Burger King need TEAM WORK and CUSTOMER SERVICE which means you need to ensure these qualities are added to your CV and that your key skills stand out. Also think about the position you are applying; team leader, kitchen staff, ect what skills are required for that particular position?

The Application Form

At Burger King the application form is short and easy to complete the first section is your Personal Details just remember to double you have entered the correct e-mail and telephone number.

Next you are asked to add in your past two employment history details; you will need the company name and address, as well as the dates you worked. Under duties and responsibilities record a short paragraph highlighting your duties referring to the parts where you worked in a TEAM and what CUSTOMER SERVICE skills you used.

• You can keep this section short of their is a later section for you to add more detail.

Next add in all your qualifications; in this section you are only required to complete your high school and college/university (again this section is short as you can the rest of your details in the following section)

The Selling Section

The most important section on the Burger King Application form is the Additional Information section, unlike other additional information section Burger King allows you to copy and past your CV into this section, which means YOUR CV IS YOUR KEY SELLING TOOL. You will need to create a strong CV as Burger King will receive hundreds of application forms a day, and a poor CV will end up in the bin.

On your CV record a personal profile, all of your employment history (adding more job duties then you did on the application form) and all of your qualifications and certificates.

Pick a Day

Finally record by using the tab what hours you can do and which days – be honest here. If you are a student don’t put you can work a day that you have to be in school.

If you enjoyed this article you will also enjoy reading:

• How to write a personal profile on a job application form
• Glossary of Application Form Terms
• Job Application Form Check List

 How to Fill in Job Application Forms

More and more employers require you to complete a job application form rather then a CV, this reason for this is the employer can ask you questions on specific experiences or skills on the job application form whereas a CV is written from the employee’s perspective.

In many cases you may be asked to complete an application form even if you have originally applied by CV or telephone. This way, the employer has a record of your personal and employment history, verified and signed by you the applicant.

Completing the Application Form

Before you start ensure you have all the relevant details you require with you, it is important that you complete the application fully, follow the attached instructions and ensure the application form is error free.

Finally use the job specification as a guide to ensure the application highlights the require skills and experiences the employer states as essential.

Job Application Form Details – What Information You Will require

Personal Information:

• Name
• Address
• Post Code
• Phone Number
• Mobile Number
• NI Number
• Conviction Details

Education:

• High Schools/Colleges Attended including dates and addresses
• Universities Attended including dates and addresses
• A list of all your qualifications

Position Applied For Information:

• Title of the position  you are applying for
• Job Reference Number
• Hours and Days available to work (for part time positions)
• Date you can start work and a list of any pre-booked holidays

Employment Information:

• Names, addresses, phone numbers of previous employers
• Dates of employment
• Salary
• Reason for Leaving

References

• List referees – names, job title or relationship, addresses, phone numbers and the amount of year you have know them.

Personal Statement

• The profile or personal statement is the most important section of the Job application Form, this section is so important we have wrote a separate article which will teach how to write a winning personal statement.  

If You Enjoyed this Article You Will Also Enjoy Reading:

•  Ten step job hunter plan
• Job search with twitter
• Future Jobs

• Check List for Job Application Forms

This article will teach you what you need to know to complete your job application form and will help you understand the job application form the employers prospective.

• The Employers View Point

Employers receive hundreds of applications for everyone job and often employers cannot commit to much time to reading each individual application form in full.

Due to this some employers will first request a CV to shift through suitable applicants asking successful applicants to complete an application form

Employers use the application form to assess qualities and skills, experiences, qualifications and to gain an idea of your motivation through a series of targeted questions. Successful applicants will then be invited to a job interview.

• Employers Mistakes

All too often employers will use a standard application form download from the internet rather then spending the time to write their own application form questions targeted to their specific vacancy.

This can result in job hunters not having an opportunity on the application form to highlight the skills and experiences require for the job position.

• How to Start Your Application Form

You first need to read and understand the job specification as this document highlights the essential criteria the employer requires, also spend time researching the company to get a fell for the workforce and company mission.

By matching your work experience to the company values, mission and job specification you will more likely to secure that all important job interview.

Remember the job application form is a chance for you to promote your relevant skills, qualities and experiences clearly, ensuring you are considered for the position.

• Personal Details and Education

All application forms will ask you for your personal details including your contact details, NI number and martial status, as well as asking you to complete the form in Black ink, which means you need these things to hand before you start your application, as getting up and down constantly will break your rhythm which can lead to a poorly filled out application form.  

You will also need a list of your education, qualifications and training certificates including dates achieved and governing bodies. If there is little space on this section add a separate sheet and record on the application form “please see attached sheet A1”

For non-UK qualifications, state their UK equivalency.

• Employment History

List your jobs in reverse chronological order. Include your job title and the name of the organisation        

Summaries your responsibilities and achievements as the profile section on the application form is the section where you can add more detail and really sell yourself (matching what is required on the job specification)

• Interests and Hobbies

Relate your extracurricular activities to the skills required; try to demonstrate relevant required skills than just listing hobbies and achievements.

• References

You will need your referees name, address, telephone number and e-mail address   

Ideally one of your referees should be work-related and one should be an academic at university. But in most cases employers will state what type of referee they require.             

Tell your referee every time you use them so they are prepared to give a reference when requested to; share your career aspirations and achievements with your referees so they can really sell you against the job specification

• Personal Profile

The personal profile section is the key to securing job interviews, you need to record your achievements, skills, qualities and experience on this section.

This section should be between 1 and 2 A4 pages long unless stated differently on the application form.

Start by highlighting your key selling point, as this will capture the interviewer’s eye and show your worth from the offset. Next record examples for each required skill using past real life work examples, explaining what you did to achieve results.

End with a summary of your employment history as a whole and add what you can bring to their organization

Re-write the profile 3 more times editing terminology and wording so the profile stands out from the other applicants

• Extra Tips

• Make a rough draft to check your text fits into the text boxes
• For online forms, print the form and check your work before sending it out.
• If required ask someone to check for spelling mistakes
• Keep a copy of your application form (and the job advert) to prepare for your job interview
• Be concise and avoid jargon
• Prepare and send your application within the required timescales

If you enjoyed reading this article you will also enjoy reading:

• The Secrets of Employment
• Use Stories on your Job Application Form
• How to Write a Personal Statement on a Job Application Form

Like all authors, when writing a story you need to set the scene and create intrigue “sat alone in a darken room, Stella knew death was upon her…” it is the same principle for job hunters writing a job application form, on the personal profile you need to set the scene and create intrigue “a highly qualified and experienced manger, who in the last 2 years has taken 3 under performing companies and quickly turn them into multimillion pound businesses…”

With both opening lines you would have created an image in your mind off Stella and the Experienced Manager, because to make sense of what we read our brain uses images, which means with the right words you can create positive images to ensure you secure more job interviews – keep reading to find out how you can gain more job interviews through your application form.

The opening line from the Stella story tells you that this will be a thriller or horror story; already you want to know who Stella is? Why is she sat in a Dark room? How does she know that death is upon her? Is she going to be killed? By whom? Is she old or does she have a deadly disease?

Again with your opening line for your application form, you need to write a sentence that catches the employer’s imagination, as they are often fed up of reading the same old information “I’m a good team player who is reliable and flexible…”

With the experience manager example above, the employer will be asking: how did you turn these companies around? What did you actually do? Which companies did you turn around? What product did they sell? How did you turn these companies around? Can you turn my company around?

The difference between a story and your application form is that with a story you can use your imagination and take the story in any direction you wish and with the application form you have to ensure you meet the essential criteria on the job specification in the experienced manager example, the job specification required: “We are looking for an experienced and qualified manger..”

The idea throughout the job profile is to exceed the job specification and create anticipation loops making the employer want to know more about you and how you have achieved such great results “I have the formula to win completive bids which has led me to writing and winning the last 22 bids each with a monetary value of over £2 million pound..” you are now showing your worth to the employer who willing be thinking, I can employ you for £60-£80,000 a year and you can write and win 22 multimillion pound bids – there is no need for a calculator with this sum.

This technique can be used in any industry, like I said all you need to do is exceed the job specification criteria, add your worth and keep the employer guessing.

Let’s look at a retail job spec:

Serving customers, working the till and setting up displays – so the first rule is to explain that you can easily complete this task, then add worth to yourself followed by creating intrigue.

“As an experienced sales assistant working for some of the most established retail outlets throughout Europe, I understand the importance of creating eye catching window displays to intrigue potential customers passing the shop window. My window designs are so affective that in the last 12 months, items showcased in my creative windows displays have sold out within a 2 week time period. The success of my dressed windows increase the outlet profit by 50% within 12 months of being employed, which led to me travelling to outlets throughout the UK training other window designers in creative window dressing, this training exercise led to a UK company increase in profits by 37%”

You maybe asking why I didn’t mention “serving customers or working the till” by recording “experienced sales assistant working for some of the most established retail outlets throughout Europe” the employer will make a generalisation that I can serve customers and work a till, as any experienced retail sales assistant would have completed these task which means you don’t have to write detailed statements on your CV as you can show your worth by giving general examples and I would with some essential criteria you will need to add detailed examples – but, we will come to this at a later..

After reading the initial statement for the sales assistant position, the employer will be asking; how do you display items to increase a massive turnaround in profit and new customers (you may have used live models, you don’t need to tell them that here though as the line regarding the increase in profit will have hooked them) ? What is your secret formula? Will you increase my profits through creative window displays? Can you train my team to achieve the same success?

Obviously you cant lie on an application form, what you need to do is think about what you can bring to that organisation, record this as your strength and like all good storytellers create intrigue – we all love magic tricks until we know how to do them. Once you start gaining job interview, I have a powerful interview influencing technique that I will teach you to secure yourself more job offers after each interview, but more on that later….. 

If you enjoyed reading this article you will also enjoy reading:

• How to complete a personal profile on a job application form
• CV Writing service review
• Secrets of Employment

Generally speaking, career professionals only stay in one role for around 3 years before “job hopping” to a new external or internal vacancy this is because the days of a “job for life” are far behind us.

One of the common mistakes that must be avoided, made by job hunters if losing their application form details, many job hunters will spend hours writing a CV or Application Form,  secure a job role and then destroy their application form and hard work. Two to three years later they start applying for new vacancies, completing new application forms only to find they cant remember their referees address or what year they completed a certain qualification.

We have made a list of all the essential information you will need for a job application form, along with some additional job application form tips. Keep this secure! You will need it again.

If you’re ready for a career change and feel unsure what your next step up the career ladder should be, contact a Career Coach for expert advice.

The Basics; Personal Information:                                        

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number –Mobile and Home Number
• E-mail Address
• Eligibility to Work in UK
• Criminal Convictions – are they spent?

Position Applied For Information:

• Title of the job you are applying for
• Job Reference Number
• When you can start work

Education:

• Schools, Colleges and Universities Attended including Dates
• Qualification Type
• Achievement Level
• Any in-house Certificates

Employment Information:

• Company Name, Address, Phone Numbers and E-Mail
• Line Managers Name
• Dates of Employment
• Salary – at time of leaving  
• Reason for Leaving
• Periods of Unemployment
• This is needed for the previous 5 years as a minimum

References:

• Referees Name
• Address and Contact Details
• How you Know this Person (Friend, Manager, etc )

Tips for Completing Job Applications:

• Complete all boxes or record NA if the question is not applicable to you
• Follow all instructions IE using black ink
• Write clearly using capitals
• Send a covering letter
• Check for spelling and grammar mistakes
• Record employment history and education in chronological order
• Check your referees’ are still contactable and happy to provide you a reference
• Target your application form to the job role you are applying for
• Ensure you have evidence that you posses the essential criteria on the job specification
• Sign and date your application form

If you enjoyed reading this article you will also enjoy reading:

• The Secrets to Employment  
• How to Write a Personal Statement
• How to Persuade and Influence your Colleagues