Tackling Online Applications

Online application forms work like precision tools for recruiters, allowing them to sift through candidates using specifc criteria.

An online applicaton form can take one to three hours to complete, depending on the number of questons and what each company expects. Yes, you didn’t read that wrong. One to three hours. They may be tme-consuming, but they’re also convenient and ofen employers’ preferred choice in this digital age.

This is because on top of uploading your resume and cover leter, these online forms also need you to answer a variety of questons with regards to your skills and motvatons.

As each company has its own customised form, make sure that you don’t just copy and paste informaton from one document to another! Here are some tps on how to handle online applicatons efectvely.

1 Show, don’t just tell

Back up your statements with examples or details to prove your point. If you just provide unsubstantal one-liners, recruiters cannot accurately assess you, jeopardising your odds of being ofered an interview.

For example, don’t just say “I gained commercial awareness through my internship”. Instead, talk about how you gained this knowledge and use a specifc example for illustraton.

When it comes to statng your motvatons for applying for a partcular role, make sure your write-up is succinct and impactul. Elaborate on the aspects of the job that appeal to you and state any related academic or work experience. When flling in online applicaton forms, use the STAR technique to keep your answers concise and to-the-point: • Describe the Situaton • Describe the Tasks involved • Describe the Actons you took • Describe the Results

This technique is useful when writng about past work experiences and demonstratng your skill sets and personality traits to show how well you ft the role. Don’t be afraid to use subheadings and bullet points – it’ll make it easier for recruiters to read too!

2 Shine like a STAR

3 Start each answer afresh

Don’t copy over an answer you used on another form, no mater how similar the questons may seem. And even if you were to do so, you would have to tweak your answers strategically to ft the role you’re applying for, anyway.

The biggest mistake you can make is to leave any traces or menton of the previous companies you’ve applied to when you’re merely pastng the same answers for many diferent potental employers.

And, whatever you do, don’t copy and paste informaton directly from the employer’s – or their compettors’ – websites! Company websites and social media pages may be useful research resources for your job hunt, but you should stll digest and process the informaton at your own pace so that you develop you own understanding of the industry and prospectve employers from your own unique perspectve. Many otherwise impressive applicatons are ofen let down by tny errors, and unfortunately, not all forms allow you to save your responses to refer back and for checks.

To save yourself the heartache of lost answers in the event of browser issues or when Murphy’s Law comes into play, you can choose to draf your answers on a word-processing programme before keying them into the form.

You can also let your career advisor check your answers before the ofcial submission. For questons that you’re not providing answers for, leave an “NA” for “not applicable”. Check for spelling and grammatcal errors, and ensure you have indicated your contact informaton correctly, especially your email address and mobile number.

Lastly, keep a copy of each online applicaton sent out for your own reference. You can even print out the completed forms to check before submission. You’ll also need to refer to your answers so that you know what to talk about if you’re called for an interview.