h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Urm... well, the first few I actually bothered to fill in correctly and well. Then I got disheartened, so they are all a little more rushed now.

What annoys me is they always ask people to write in biro, and I *cannot* write well in biro. They always smudge and make a mess, but the plasticy paper they make application forms out of means that I cannot write a neat one with my cartridge pen.
The reason I use a catrridge pen is because I cannot write in biro - yet no employer realises this.

Biro photocopies well: if the companies you are applying to are organised anything like this one, then the only one who will see your original form is the munchkin who opens the envelope. I only get the photocopied ones through from Personnel.

What does hack me off is if the form says 'block capitals' or 'list jobs starting with the earliest' and the applicant clearly hasn't read it: when you've 150+ forms to go through, you just can't be arsed.

Perhaps the biggest, easiest tip I can give you is: mention the name of the company, and the job title in any bit of text they ask you to add, for some reason it's a really big plus!

Good luck: keep trying

* tries to think of some helpful advice which won't sound too trite ...

I found that fibre point pens (the sort of narrow tipped ones used for technical drawing) were the best for filling in forms.

I was lucky that when I was applying I had someone there who kept bullying me to rule the forms out properly and fill everything in in pencil first and work out the text and spacing before writing anything it seems so pointless at the time but it does look a lot better

(I'm still rubbish at spelling but working my text on the word processor first meant less mistakes got onto my form. I also got someone else to read over the form before and after inking.)

- Save a copy of what you've written for when you get the interview. it also may give you ideas for other forms. Aain if its on the computer it's much easier to write something different every time

- Show that you've read something about the company even if its only the website

- Find at least one thing about the company which is unique and explain that that's why you want the job in at least one box

- Give them three good reasons why you are the person the should employ rather than someone with the same qualifications / experience

(In our place people seem to be picked or not at the end of the day on honesty, willingness to help, and willingness to be part of a team - but then they're a pretty strange bunch

- Try and sound like you'll be happy doing the job you've applied for for more than six months

- don't let the b******s get to you - if they don't want you or can't be bothered with you're application then chances are you wouldn't be happy there

Hope this helps - it's what I was told at the time and eventually it worked

If you work out how to get free time once you've got a job - please let me know

Okay - thanks for the advice.
The main problem is I am applying for summer jobs. I've had quite a few interviews where they have said if I was able to stay on until Christmas full time I'd be able to be employed, but I have to return to Uni in a month. Which means that the longer it takes to get a job, the less likely I am to be employed at all.

Looks like I'll have to wait until next summer.

When does term start?

End of the month.