Competition for jobs, training schemes and university courses is fierce, with many attracting hundreds of applicants. It is therefore essential that you invest time in getting your applications right and making yourself stand out from the crowd.
Read the person or course specification carefully, checking that you fulfill the requirements. If a qualification, skill or experience is considered essential for the position or course and you don’t have it, be realistic and work on meeting the specification for a future application rather than applying when you don’t.
For those applying for a first job this can seem daunting. However, employers are realistic about first steps on the career ladder jobs, but are looking to see if you have potential and have transferable skills and qualities from whatever you have done so far.

Never lie or exaggerate your achievements
If the specification asks for evidence of being a team player in a working environment and this is your first job, it is perfectly acceptable to illustrate your abilities through examples such as sport, hobbies, clubs and societies, volunteering or work experience placements. Employers want to get an indication of an applicant’s personality, so including extra-curricular activities and interests is important. However, never lie or exaggerate your role or achievements. Personal integrity is a fundamental expectation of all employers.
If you believe you fulfill the person specification, ensure you document how and give specific examples in your application, showing how they would be useful in what you are applying for. Be clear and succinct in what you say, but ensure you answer questions on the application fully.

Completing an application correctly is essential
Any omission of required information is the opportunity for an employer to reject you. They have to filter applicants somehow, so ensuring all sections of an application are completed – checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, character and word counts – is essential.
If you are completing an online application you can normally view the application, save any entries and go back and complete it within a specified time frame. This gives you the opportunity to write down all the questions, draft and check answers in a Word document (or alternative), and then cut and paste the final version into the application at a later time. This also gives you the opportunity to polish your answers, and importantly to have them proof read by someone else.

Tailor your application to the employer or course
Every application should be tailored to the employer or course you are applying for, adapting skills and experience to those required by the employer. Sending in a generic application or C.V gives a poor impression and is highly unlikely to be successful in getting you an interview. It is essential to have done some research on the company or course you are applying for and to incorporate evidence of this into your application, avoiding repeating information directly taken from their website or other sources. Search company websites, look at news items about the company and become familiar with competitors and key issues within the service sector you are interested in.