Some organisations, especially larger employers, are likely to direct you to fill in an online application form, instead of asking you to submit a CV and cover letter. Application form questions require you to be self-aware and to think about your skills and how you have developed these from your study, work experience, interests and activities.

"Even though you're filling in boxes your application still needs to stand out. Think about how you can demonstrate your unique qualities and the value you can bring to the organisation"

The Guardian

How to make your applications stand out

Take your time to tailor your application. It can be tempting to send out a high volume of applications, however, our advice is to spend more time sending fewer, better-tailored applications and you’ll have a better chance of getting that all-important first interview.
Complete every section and try to closely match the stated criteria. Keep referring to the job description to help make sure you’re evidencing the skills the employer is asking for.
Don't cut and paste extracts from your CV or from previous application forms. Instead, tailor your answers and show how your experience relates to the role.
Make sure you actually answer the question asked, especially if it is in several parts.
Use a range of examples  in your answers and focus on how and why you were successful.

Answering competency based questions

If you're asked 'competency-based questions', you'll need to use the STAR technique to answer them. Our section on interviews includes more information about these types of questions.

You'll be able to recognise competency questions as they will usually start with phrases like:

- 'describe a time when...'
- 'tell us about a time when...'
- 'give us an example of when...'

See our website for more information on using the STAR technique to answer application form questions

You can prepare for these now!

If you're planning to apply for graduate schemes in autumn then you could start to think of examples you might use in competency-based responses.

Look at our section on the skills employers are looking for to start thinking about the types of skills you will need to demonstrate. Then think about your previous experiences, either through work, study or extra curricular activities. You can start to develop a bank of examples to use throughout application forms and interviews.

The great news about graduate schemes is that they will accept evidence of a skill or behaviour from a wide variety of places. For example, you could use a part-time job or volunteering to showcase teamwork or communication skills.

You don't usually have to complete application forms for experienced hire roles. If you're asked to complete one, there might be an expectation that you use your work-based experience to evidence skills and behaviours.

Action: Try to develop a bank of examples using something similar to the table below. You don't have to fill all the boxes!

**Gathering your evidence for competency-based application form questions and interviews**
	Teamwork	Communication	Problem solving	Relationship building
Education
Professional experience
Volunteering
Part time jobs
Extra curricular activities

Accessing support for application forms

To find out more now about completing application forms, read our guidance on how to tackle them effectively.

Once you are registered as a student on campus, you can book an appointment through MyCareer to get feedback on your application forms.

Click through to the next page to find out about recruitment tests >