1. Career planning and making applications
Completing an application

2. Application forms
Forms may need to be completed and submitted online, or they may need to be filled in by hand. Similar rules apply to both online and handwritten application forms.
Filling in application forms can be trickier than you think, and honesty is essential: everything can be checked by the employer!

3. Before you start
Do your research on the job and company/course and college you are applying for.
Do your homework: check you have all the essential qualifications and skills they require.
Practise writing out answers to the more complex questions.

4. Accuracy
Double check:
your spelling
your grammar
your punctuation.

5. Presentation
If you are going to submit a handwritten application form, ensure that:
your handwriting is neat
the form has been completed tidily
you have completed the form in the correct colour ink (check the instructions on the form for this information).

6. The CV and accompanying letter
For CVs and their accompanying letters, the same rules apply:
your CV must be accurate, honest and clear
your accompanying letter must be properly laid out, neat and tidy
you should make sure you meet all the essential criteria and preferably some of the desirable ones too.

7. Telephone calls
You might want to contact the employer or college before you submit the application. If so, here are a few things to consider:
be prepared
do your research
have all the information you might need to hand
speak clearly
do not use slang terms
be polite
practise what you are going to say before you ring.

8. Types of interview There are several different types of interview:
Individual: you and one interviewer
Panel: you and several interviewers
Telephone: you will be interviewed over the telephone
Group: you and a group of other applicants being interviewed together
Skype: you will be interviewed on Skype
Test- or task-based: you will be asked to do something related to the job
Presentation: you will be asked to prepare a presentation to give as part of the interview.

9. Preparing for the interview
You should be told which type of interview you will be attending.
If you are nervous about interviews, it is a good idea to practise with someone else first.
There is lots of help online too.