5.3 When you’ve completed the form

It is good practice to do the following before submitting your form:

• Check it thoroughly for spelling and grammatical errors; ideally, get someone else to check it rather than relying on a spell checker. Make sure you’ve been consistent in style (e.g. in your use of personal pronouns).
• Look over the presentation. If possible, ask someone else to look over your application before you send it to make sure it makes sense and comes across positively.
• Make a note of the job you’ve applied for, the name and address of the person you sent the form to, and the date you sent it.
• If you’re asked to post the application form, use an envelope of a suitable size (such as an A4 envelope with cardboard reinforcement.) so that the form isn’t folded. Always send it by first class post. If you are completing an online application, you will usually receive an email when it has been received.
• Make a copy of your completed form so that you can reread it before the interview. It’ll also take some of the tedium out of tackling other forms. You can often use the same material, with a little editing, for several applications.
• You’ll rarely find the perfect application form that exactly suits your background and experience. You’ll need to adapt your answers to the questions you find.