CVs, Cover Letters & Application Forms
Strong applications help employers understand who you are, what you can do and why you are a good fit for an opportunity. Whether you are applying for a part-time job, internship, placement, graduate programme or postgraduate study, taking time to tailor your application can significantly improve your chances of success.
Our resources can help you create effective CVs, write tailored cover letters, complete application forms successfully and use AI responsibly throughout the application process.
Your CV is often the first impression an employer has of you. It should clearly showcase your education, experience, skills and achievements while demonstrating your suitability for the role.
A strong CV should:
- Be tailored to the specific opportunity
- Highlight relevant skills, experience and achievements
- Use evidence and examples to support claims
- Be clear, concise and easy to read
- Be updated regularly as you gain new experience
- Be optimised for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
A cover letter gives you the opportunity to explain why you are interested in a role, why you want to work for a particular organisation and why you would be a strong candidate.
A good cover letter complements your CV by providing context, explaining your motivation and highlighting the experiences most relevant to the position.
Effective cover letters should:
- Be tailored to the employer and role
- Demonstrate knowledge of the organisation
- Highlight relevant skills and experiences
- Show genuine motivation and interest
- Be concise, focused and professional
Many employers use application forms instead of, or along with CVs, particularly for graduate programmes, internships, public sector roles and large organisations. Application forms often require detailed evidence of your skills, experience and achievements through competency-based questions.
Completing an application form successfully requires careful preparation, strong examples and an understanding of what employers are looking for.
Our application form resources can help you:
- Analyse job descriptions and person specifications
- Identify the skills employers are assessing
- Structure answers using the STAR (Sitaution, Task, Action, Result) or CARR (Context, Action, Result, Reflection) technique
- Provide strong evidence and examples
- Demonstrate transferable skills effectively
- Prepare for online recruitment processes such as psychometric testing and Assessment Centre, visit our dedicated section on these topics.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool when preparing applications, but employers expect applications to accurately reflect your own skills, experiences and achievements.
AI should support your application process rather than replace your own thinking and input.
You may find AI useful for:
- Brainstorming ideas and examples
- Identifying transferable skills
- Improving structure and clarity - never let AI write your job application!
- Checking spelling and grammar
- Researching employers and industries
When using AI:
- Ensure all content is accurate and reflects your own experience
- Review and edit AI-generated suggestions carefully and verify any information it gives you
- Use your own voice and communication style
- Be prepared to discuss everything included in your application
- Avoid sharing personal, confidential or sensitive information with public AI tools