Electus

No matter whether you are just starting with your career, searching for your first job or you want to change your current job looking for new challenges or better conditions, the job application form and curriculum vitae is the first and basic aspect of communication with the potential employer.

When writing your CV and application form, it is most essential to bear in mind that when you are applying for a position, they are the only evidence of your capability to do a specific job, of your education and achievements.

How to write a good application form?

The application form is an introduction to your CV, the front page of your CV and your offer to the company you are addressing. Although due to shortage of time the employer's decision is most frequently based on the CV information only, a well written application form will capture anybody’s attention and will contain the information the employer will be interested in

Whether you are applying for the advertised position or presenting yourself to the head hunter asking to be included in their database of potential employees, the application form needs to clearly indicate your competencies, competitive edge and potential contribution to the future company.

The application form needs to be targeted
You are addressing a specific employer and you need to show that you understand who you are communicating with. Seek company information and try to understand as precisely as possible what is expected from the future employee in order to provide necessary information clearly, adequately and interestingly

Your application form offers a specific contribution to the employer
Thus, you need to understand specific job requirements, company vision and objectives, and point out what the company would gain by employing you and not some other applicant.

Do not repeat CV information in the application form
The application form emphasizes the information missing from the CV, or if it is not missing, then it is not prominent enough.

The application form is personalized to certain extent
Unlike in the CV, use complete sentences in the application form. Your writing style will suggest a lot about you. Point out the reasons why you especially respect the company and why the employer should employ you and not somebody else. Try not to overdo with emphasizing your advantages and 'personal' address. The application form is a professional form of communication and it would not be desirable to step out of the professional addressing framework.

The application form needs to have the standard business letter form
In the top right hand corner write your address in the first line, the town and zip code in the second and the date in the third. Leave an empty line after the date, and on the left hand side write the full name of the addressee, the function, company name, address, zip code and city. Start the letter with “Dear Sir/Madam”, using the surname of the addressee or his/her function, and end the letter in a business tone (“Yours faithfully”, “Yours sincerely”, etc.).

Mention the position you are applying for in the application form.
Too often it happens that employees start the application form with “I am writing in response to your advertisement...“. The companies frequently have more than one pending job vacancy advertisements, and you would not like to complicate the situation any further and leave an impression of an unprofessional and negligent person.

The application form should not be more than one page long.
The content of the professionally written application form needs to be divided into three basic paragraphs.

The first paragraph should contain the reason of your application.
Explain the reasons why you are applying to a specific company by adding a “personal” note based on your knowledge of the company acquired after you have read the vacancy advertisement.

The central part of the application form should contain the knowledge and skills you can contribute to the company you are addressing.
This is the most important part of the entire application form that will differentiate you from hundreds of other received, competitive application forms. Clearly and concisely emphasize the reasons that make you the adequate applicant.

Finish with the answer to the question “Why this company?”
Your application form should not look like a uniform application form sent to different vacancy advertisements. Express your willingness to provide further information and provide your contact instructions.