How to write a killer application

Sherry Zerh, a consultant at the financial services division of recruitment firm Robert Walters, gives her thoughts on crafting a great application form for a graduate position.

What key things do banks look for on application forms?

"Internship experience is an important indication of a graduate's overall understanding of the banking environment, as well as the pace that banks work at. In the banking environment, it is necessary to deal with numerous banking products daily and having a good grasp of technical knowledge as well as practical skills would greatly assist graduates in acclimatising themselves during traineeship programs,".

What is the best way to deal with open-ended questions?

Zerh says it is important for graduates to have an in-depth understanding of the job they are applying for and tailor their answers accordingly.

"For instance, consider the position of a client service associate and the following question, 'What are your thoughts about the recent credit crisis?'. Banks do not want a lengthy 10-page thesis on the subject. The ideal candidate should possess the ability to understand the impact of the crisis on the client services role. In this scenario, graduates should portray their comprehension and analytical skills, as well as an in-depth understanding of what the role entails."

How do you answer the "where do you see yourself in five years?" question?

Zerh says it is imperative for graduates to depict an understanding of the challenges they will face at different stages of their careers.

The first two years are about understanding end-to-end processes, products and systems. In the third and fourth years, professionals need to be mentored in order to get completely up to speed with the banking environment. Only then can they actively participate in other projects.

The fifth year would usually involve managing a small team. Graduates should be able to look beyond business-as-usual, set goals for the team and drive the team to achieve organisational objectives, says Zerh.

What shouldn't you do in an application form?

Common mistakes include answering questions without citing specific examples that relate to the role, as well as providing answers that are not concise.

"For instance in the question 'tell me more about yourself?', instead of merely writing about personal characteristics (just like everyone else), provide an example to further illustrate and reinforce qualities that would directly impact your role and provide value to the team. It is important to provide examples that display leadership qualities."