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Over two thirds of applicants to the service are rejected at the application form stage. Here, we have compiled some useful general information for those entering the application process. If this document makes you think, consider what our courses are like when it comes to help with the assessment day itself. If you require help with your application form, we suggest you try our Application Form Checking Service

When the application pack arrives on your doorstep, it will amaze you with its apparent complexity. Inside will be general recruitment information, brochures, salary scales, equal opportunities statements, and a number of long forms.

The most important item is usually a checklist, which will tell you what items need to be sent with your application. We recommend that you separate the forms from the brochures, and then further split the forms using transparent polythene pockets. You will then be able to see what you need to complete, and what is simply background reading material.

It cannot be stressed how important the form is! The application form has been carefully designed as a sift for the applications ahead of the more extensive assessment procedures. It was tested on large numbers of potential police applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to ensure it was fair to everyone, and reliable to score.

Forces on average can get up to seven applications for every place that they have to fill. This means that recruitment officers are quite ruthless when it comes to rejecting applicants at this stage. A typical force will get several thousand forms back during each recruitment campaign. Every force will have far more applications than they will ever need. They will take the slightest flaw in your application as an opportunity to screen you out, generally barring you from applying for another 12 months into the bargain.

• Ensure that you have read the instructions carefully, and comply with them exactly.
• Many forces insist that you complete the sections in your own handwriting, often in black ink. If this restriction is given, ensure that you actually comply with it.
• Ensure that the form itself is kept neat, tidy and clean.
• We strongly recommend that upon receipt of the forms, you photocopy them, and practice your answers on the copies until you are confident that they read exactly as you want them.

Just a thought about the realities of the Police recruiting system. Human nature being what it is, faced with 5000 forms to look at, we all look for easy ways to cut them down. So, if your form is, for example, dog eared, it will probably get thrown out without being even looked at.

All forces now should be using the same national form. It can be completed online usually, and found by visiting the website of your local force. The form will ask for the following:

• Personal information (such as name, education, employment history etc)
• Supplementary or supporting information
• Medical questionnaire
• Eyesight form (to be completed by an optician)

There will also be a form asking for information about family members (to make sure you are not related to a drug dealer for example!).

Remember, doing any of the following things will probably result in your application being rejected, and you being unable to apply for that particular force for another 12-month period:

• Missing any part of the form out
• Untidy presentation
• Not following instructions
• Using inappropriate language or comments

Many people treat the section of the form is being a routine box-filling exercise. This is a seriously flawed assumption for several reasons. Candidates should be aware that the basic personal information is often scored. You may score a mark for example by being able to tick the boxes stating that:

• You have keyboard skills (using any form of keyboard will do, you do not have to be able to type)
• Having a driving licence
• Having a life-saving certificate
• Having first aid skills
• Not putting anything in boxes that do not seem to apply to you. Always put “Not Applicable”

These marks are added up for each section of your forms. If you reach a high enough score, you will get an interview. If not, your form is rejected. It is for this reason that care must be taken with every single thing you write on your form.

One common error is to list previous employment in date order, starting with the first job you ever had, and gradually working towards the present day. Unless the form says otherwise, your most recent position should always be at the top - your last job is more importance than a paper round you had when you 14!

The police especially value award schemes such as the Prince of Wales adventurer award, or life-saving certificates. They are also likely to look favourably on people who have service as Scouts or guides. You may consider this in your past and largely irrelevant, but including them may get you that one extra mark which gets you the interview. If possible, and of course truthful, try to put something in every box. Playing sport for example, is evidence of self-motivation, discipline and a commitment to fitness. It also suggests that you are a team player, all things the police service like.

This is undoubtedly the hardest section of the form to complete, and it is also the most important. The police service training and staff appraisal system has a number of identified skills and abilities. These areas, or ones very similar, will be the ones that recruiters are looking to evidence throughout the recruitment process.

For information on the competency section, please click here