Graduate job application

Creating the best graduate application package you can

Making a good application should take a lot of time and effort on your part, so you should be sure that you really do want to work for that company and are prepared to work at your application. For the purpose of this chapter we are assuming that your application will be made online as this is generally the case.

Many of these online applications can seem as if they have been designed to make you sweat blood, however bear in mind that to some extent they are there to test you as to whether you really do want it. Many employers are swamped with thousands of applications and they are looking for any excuse the cull the numbers - make sure you don't give them one!

Making a good application depends on the time you have taken to identify your key skills and how they fit in with the competencies (skills) that the employer has identified in the job description and as the company as a whole - what is their mission statement and company goals? What skills do you have to demonstrate in order to get the job and do you have them?

Before you begin typing you should consider the application form and you CV as one and the same thing. Both are platforms for you to show off from and that should make you stand out from the crowd.

If you follow this process it should help you to fill in each section properly and fully. Remember that you only get one chance at this so it is worth being slightly obsessive in your preparation!

• Identify the skills need for the job and basic requirements
• Check that you have these
• Reassess your skill base, is there anything you can add?
• Does anything need to be omitted?
• Do you have any better examples that demonstrate your skills?
• Can you make any further past experiences more relevants?
• Have you filled in your application to the very best of your abilities?

As always your careers service will have lots of examples of these applications form which you can practise on. Alternatively we would recommend printing a few out from employer’s website and practising with them.