Complete an application form
The purpose of application forms is to help employers select the best candidates for the job by assessing certain skills. They often do this by asking for examples of things that you have done in the past or how you would deal with a specific situation.
Example questions
- Please tell us about an achievement that you are especially proud of because it was difficult or demanding to do.
- Explain why it was challenging and what specific contribution you made towards achieving the end goal.
- Please describe a situation where you had to work effectively in a group or team to achieve a shared goal. What was the aim of the team? What was your contribution?
- Please give details of any major project work that you have undertaken at university.
- Give details of your main extracurricular activities and interests to date. What have you contributed and what have you got out of them?
- Describe a complex problem you have faced. What steps did you take to solve it?
- What did you learn from the experience?
- Describe any positions of responsibility you have held. Tell us about a time when you were part of a team and there was a difference of opinion.
- What happened and what did you do? What was the outcome?
- Describe a setback in your life and say what you did to overcome it. What lessons did you learn from this?
- Describe a time when you demonstrated creativity in solving a difficult problem.
The STAR approach
The STAR approach is a model used by employers to assess your responses to their questions.
By using this model when you complete an application form (and answer interview questions) it will help you produce great answers to those questions that ask for examples.
S - Situation: What’s the scene for your story?
T - Task: What task were you working on at the time?
A - Action: What actions did you take?
R - Result: What was the result of your actions?