Tips for Applications

1. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete it 

You don’t want to feel rushed into submitting your application. Take your time and stay calm. You’ll be able to give more careful and considered answers as a result.

2. Reflect your personality in your answers

Employers want to find the best person for the job, not just the person with the best answers. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.

3. Make sure you answer the question

When giving an example or telling a story, don’t waffle on - make sure that what you are writing is relevant to the question being asked.

4. Highlight the skills you have that suit you to that role

You can find out what these are by reading through the job description or person specification. What is it that you and the person being described have in common?

5. Show that you’re passionate about the role/cause

If you care about what you do you will want to try your best when doing it. Employers know this and want potential employees to care about their job too.

6. Think quality, not quantity, when giving your answers 

You don’t need to write an essay for every answer. If a short, to-the-point sentence tells them everything they need to know then that’s great.

7. Carefully check your spelling and grammar, and write in full sentences

This is really important. Spelling mistakes and poor grammar are just small little things that could really put the reader off.

8. Get a second opinion before you click ‘SEND’

Let somebody else read through your application to see how others might view your answers. This is also a good way to check if you answered the questions in full.

Tips for Interviews

1. Research the organisation

This might give you an idea of the type of person they are looking for and the general feel of the organisation.

2. Look the part. Keep smart.

Wearing a smart outfit shows that you’re taking the interview seriously.

3. Make sure you can remember what you wrote on your application

The interviewer might want to talk through part of your application. Print a copy to read through beforehand.

4. Think about your body language

70% of communication is nonverbal. Remember to make eye contact, relax your shoulders and smile.

5. Avoid using slang and think about what you’re going to say before you say it

Consider your answers before you say them to avoid filling pauses with “umm” and “err”. The interviewer won’t mind you taking time to think. Slang can also seem lazy so use standard English instead.

6. Make sure you answer the question being asked

Don’t wander off on a tangent, or if you want to tell a story make sure it still answers the question that you’ve been asked.

7. Let your personality show and seem interested in the role

Now is your chance to show the interviewer how great you are, what makes you stand out from the crowd, and how excited you are at the possibility of working with them.