How to complete an

application form effectively

Skills session

Carla Henison

Hymans Robertson LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct

Authority

Today
Application form purpose
Preparation

Completion
Core Competencies

Q&A session

Purpose of the Application Form

Assess interest in organisation and sector
Assess skills - technical and soft
Communication
Consistency

Preparation
Select your top/favourite companies to work
for (10-15 max)
Read form fully before completing
Understand company
Understand the role

Completing the form

Follow instructions

Understand what is being asked

Answer question (STAR) and what, how, why
Use range of examples
Specific to you
Honest

Dont leave blank spaces

Spell check!

Hints & Tips

Work history achievements/what learned

Other hobbies we want to know about you!

Sell yourself be confident in your ability and
what you have achieved.
Get someone to proof read before submitting

Exercise Good and Bad

Question:

Can you give us an example of how you have planned and organised your workload to meet
conflicting priorities?
Bad Answer:

During my time at university I had lots of coursework to complete at the same time as studying for
exams. I workde hard to plan my work to meet these deadlines. I also stayed up late to help achieve
this. I sometimes had to rearrange my plans to meet these deadlines.
In the end working late and juggling my schedule helped me achive my goals and I got good marks in
everything I submitted.
Good Answer:

At exam time I had to study for 6 exams and also complete 3 assignments. In order to achieve the
results I wanted in each, I had to sit down and prepare my study schedule effectively. To do this I took
into consideration what exam and piece of coursework came first, together with the complexity of
each. I drew up a plan on excel marking each in date order and highlighted those I thought I would
struggle with most in red. For these, I allocated more time to study. However, as I worked through my
plan, I realised that I still struggling with a couple of areas. As a result, I spoke to my classmate and
we decided to study together for these areas. I had to adapt my schedule slightly to fit in with her
availability but found brainstorming the troublesome sections invaluable. I achieved the marks that I
wanted for each piece of work but looking back, for next year I think I would highlight troublesome
areas well in advance and set up study groups for these with other students.
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Exercise - Good and Bad

Question:
Can you tell us about a time when you have had to adapt quickly?
Bad Answer:
During my second year at UNIVERSITY' peer and I were charged with organising and running a
Christmas ball for the freshers in our halls of residence, where profits would go to charity. The event
specified dinner and free entrance to a liquid nightclub, all of which had been arranged. However once
students arrived, the club denied our previously arranged free entrance. Requesting to speak to the
manager, who continued to reject the agreement, I changed tack and renegotiaed the entrance.. I
managed to receive free tickets for all students carrying student cards with them on the day which
catered for of around 85 percent. For the remaining 15 percent I personaly paid the entrance fee, for
which I was later reimbursed for from ticket sales

Exercise - Good and Bad

Good Answer:
During the summer I volunteered on the Warwick in Africa project, which meant I taught Mathematics
in a township school in Johannesburg for six weeks over the summer. The aim of the project was to
motivate students, raising their aspirations, attendance and level of attainment.
After arriving from England, I had to adapt to the way of life in South Africa, not just a new culture, but
many other factors. For example, getting used to the fact that corporal punishment was used; drugs
raids happened, teachers and students not always turning up to lessons, and getting used to using a
comma instead of a decimal point. After adapting to all these in the first week by proactively speaking
to different people involved in the project, I also had to deal with the biggest problem, many students
struggled with simple mathematics they should have mastered several years ago.
For example when I tried to teach trigonometry in Grade 11, most of them struggled adding fractions.
This meant I had to constantly revise lessons plans to recap and teach these simpler concepts,
allowing the class to actually be able to work on the topics they should be doing. This meant that for
the first couple of weeks, I would constantly be adapting what I planned to teach, as I discovered what
topics they struggled with from previous grades.
The project was an overall success, and to measure the success of the project I set tests at the start
and end of the project, noted classroom attendances, and handed out a learner evaluation form.

CV
Personal statement
Work experience
Fill in the gaps!
Hobbies and interests
Concise

10

Our Core Competencies

Communication, Influencing and Consultancy skills
Personal Effectiveness/Motivation
Planning and Organisational Ability

Adaptability & Flexibility

Problem solving
Leadership
Working with others
Job & Career Motivation
Technical Skills & Commercial Awareness
11

Drop In Session
CVs or application forms to check?

12

Thank you
Any questions?