An application form is your opportunity to show an employer why you are a good fit for the role. Application forms vary between employers. You may be asked about your experience, skills, motivation and reasons for applying. Some forms will also include competency-based questions asking you to give examples from your experience. Our resources and can help you understand what employers are looking for and create stronger answers.
Successful applications
- Getting started
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Before you start writing, read the application carefully and research the employer and role.
- Understand what they are looking for: identify the skills, experience and qualities mentioned in the job description and person specification.
- Find your evidence: think about your studies, work experience, volunteering, activities and other experiences that demonstrate these skills.
- Plan your answers: choose your strongest examples and think about what you want to say before you start writing.
- Follow the instructions: check word or character limits and make sure you answer the question being asked.
- Don't rush: applications can be very time consuming. Give yourself plenty of time to complete them well.
- Review your application: check your answers carefully and get feedback before you submit.
We recommend that you keep a copy of your application form, so you can remind yourself before your interview or assessment centre. You might not be able to access online applications once you have submitted. Also keep a copy of the job description and person specification if possible to refer to when preparing for an interview.
- What will they ask?
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Application forms can include questions about:
- Your education and qualifications
- Work experience and volunteering
- Skills and achievements
- Your motivation for applying
- Why you are interested in the organisation or role
- Competency-based questions
Some forms may also ask for a CV or personal statement.
Competency-based questions
These questions ask you to give examples of when you have demonstrated a particular skill or behaviour. They usually take the form of:
- Can you give me an example of when…?
- Tell me about a time when…
Once you have selected the most appropriate examples for each question, use the STARR (Situation, Task, Actions, Result, Reflection) structure to shape your answers. Use our guide on Creating STARR Examples to help with this.
Motivation questions
You can also expect questions such as: “Why do you want to work for us?” or “Why are you interested in this role?", which are an opportunity to show your motivation and research. Be specific with your answers to these types of questions. Explain:
- What interests you about the organisation.
- What attracts you to the role or sector.
- What you have learned through your research.
- How the opportunity connects with your skills, interests and career plans.
Avoid generic answers that could apply to any employer. Show why this organisation and this role appeal to you.
- How do I choose the right examples?
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You don't need to have lots of work experience to answer application questions effectively. Your examples could come from:
- Your degree or coursework
- Group projects
- Part-time or casual work
- Volunteering
- Societies and clubs
- Sport
- Caring or other responsibilities
- Placements and internships
- Personal projects
Focus on what you did, the skills you used and what you achieved or learned.
- How can I use GenAI to help?
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AI can be useful when preparing your application, but your answers should reflect your own experiences, ideas and writing style.
You could use GenAI to:
- Identify key skills and themes in a job description.
- Help you brainstorm possible examples from your experience.
- Suggest ways to make your writing clearer and more concise.
- Give feedback on whether you have answered the question fully.
- Check spelling, grammar and readability.
For example:
"Here is a job description and an application question. Help me identify what the employer is looking for and suggest questions I could ask myself to find a relevant example. Don't write the answer for me."
Remember: AI can make mistakes and may produce generic answers or invent information. Check everything it suggests and make sure your final answer is accurate and sounds like you.
- Before you submit
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Give yourself time to review your application.
- Check that you have answered every question.
- Make sure your examples are relevant and specific.
- Check spelling, grammar and formatting.
- Stay within the word or character limit.
- Make sure you have followed all the instructions.
- Save a copy of your completed application and the job description.
Getting feedback can also help you spot areas you could improve before submitting.
- Ready to improve your application?
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Complete our
Learn how to approach application forms and create stronger answers.Explore our application resources
Find guidance on STARR examples, skills and successful applications.Get
Ask us to review your application answers in an appointment or online query.Your first draft doesn't need to be perfect. Plan your examples, write your answers, get feedback and refine them before you submit.