This activity gives the students the chance to look at application forms from the point of view of the employer. They must make the decision of which applicants deserve a job and who should be rejected.

The application form is usually the first impression that an employer or admissions tutor will get of the student. Their form is likely to be just one in a pile of 10 or perhaps 100 and the student’s first aim is to get the reader to put their form onto the “maybe” pile and not onto the “reject” pile. The second aim is to persuade the reader that they deserve to go on to the next phase of the selection process. This will normally be an interview or, for some work experience placements, it may be a firm offer of a place.

This activity gives the students the chance to look at application forms from the point of view of the employer. They must make the decision of which applicants deserves a job and who should be rejected.

The aim is for the students to work out what features make a good and engaging application form and what features make a reader put it directly onto the “reject” pile. It must be emphasised to students that there are no “right or wrong answers”. The application process in the real world is based on judgement. This activity will help students to maximise their chances – it will not guarantee success.

A set of 15 real application forms is provided. They are from Year 12 students for placements on a work experience programme. Seven forms are applications for placements in Chemistry laboratories; Seven forms are applications for placements in Genetics laboratories; One form applies for non-specific “any lab work” and may be added to either set.

The aim is to pick 2 successful applicants for Chemistry and 2 for Genetics. A “reserve” for each area should also be chosen.

A typical format of the activity is:

• Students look at the forms individually and make their personal decisions on which applicants should be successful.
• Students then work in groups and discuss their decisions and agree upon a final set of successful candidates and reserve(s).
• As a group they make notes on what features of the application forms made them make these decisions.
• Groups feed back their decisions and comments to the whole class.
• As individuals they then fill in a blank application form in a way that should maximise their chances of success.
• As an optional extra activity students could take one of the rejected application forms and modify it to make it more attractive to an employer.

For teachers, full details of this task and how to run it are provided in the download 'Applying for a Job - Teachers' Manual.'  The manual gives details or how and where to use the other downloads provided.

IMPORTANT NOTE - The information and forms provided within this module must not be used for, or in conjunction with, real applications.

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