Getting your application right: What UK employers expect
Understand what UK employers are looking for in your CV, cover letter or application. Read about Applicant Tracking Systems and how you can optimise your applications to stand out.
There are a few common ways employers in the UK recruit graduates:
- CV and Cover Letter applications - You may be asked to upload or email a tailored CV and cover letter to an organisation. If would like to watch a short video on our recommendations on how to construct excellent cover letters & CVs, please have a look here: Career Essentials: Acing Cover Letters and Personal Statements ; Careers Essentials: Creating an Effective CV
- Online application forms - Many employers use structured application forms instead of CVs. These usually ask for your education, work experience, and may include written questions such as:
- “Why do you want to work for this organisation?”
- “What skills will you bring to this role?”
Employers are trying to understand your motivation and suitability for the role, so these questions may be very similar to a cover letter.
These questions are very similar to a cover letter. Although the format may look different, employers are still trying to understand your motivation and suitability for the role.
What is a CV?
A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a digital document that highlights your education, skills, achievements, work experience, volunteering, and extra-curricular activities. It is your opportunity to showcase your suitability for a role and demonstrate the experiences you have gained.
What do employers want on your CV?
|
Don’t include: |
Do include: |
|
Age |
Name and contact details |
|
Gender |
Education |
|
Marital status |
Relevant experience tailored to the job description (work experience, internships, volunteering) |
|
Photo |
Skills and achievements |
|
Generic list of skills |
Evidence of impact |
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a document that usually accompanies your CV when applying for a job. While your CV outlines your skills and experience, your cover letter explains why you are interested in the role, why you want to work for the organisation, and why you are a strong candidate.
A simple structure is:
- Opening paragraph: Introduce yourself, state the role you are applying for, and briefly explain your interest in the opportunity.
- Why this role? Explain what attracts you to the position and how your experiences, studies or interests align with it.
- Why this organisation? Demonstrate that you have researched the employer and explain why you want to work there.
- Why you? Highlight the skills, knowledge and experiences that make you a strong fit, using relevant examples.
- Closing paragraph: Reiterate your enthusiasm, thank the employer for their time, and express your interest in discussing your application further.
What employers are looking for
In the UK labour market, it is essential to clearly demonstrate how you meet the person specification (often called “who we are looking for”).
If a role asks for skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, or communication, you should:
- Provide a specific example of when you developed or used that skill
- Explain what you did
- Highlight the outcome or impact
Employers also want to understand why you are interested in them specifically. Strong applications go beyond general interest and show:
- Knowledge of the organisation (e.g. values, culture, recent news, or projects)
- A clear link between your experience, studies, or activities and what the company does
- Genuine motivation for the role and sector
You can tailor your CV or application by connecting:
what the employer is looking for → what you have done → why it is relevant.
Within this video, a careers professional demonstrates in real time how to tailor a CV to a specific job description.
Applicant Tracking Systems
Many organisations use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to advertise vacancies, receive applications, and manage candidates all in one place.
Some ATS platforms also include a feature known as CV parsing. This scans your CV for keywords, skills, qualifications, and other criteria taken from the job description. The system then identifies how closely your CV matches the role.
Students often think that an ATS is something they need to "beat". Instead, try thinking about it this way:
- Don't write for the ATS – write for the recruiter. Even if ATS is used for initial screening, a recruiter will ultimately decide who is invited for interview.
- Use the language of the job description naturally. Describe your skills and experience using the terminology from the job description.
- Tailor your CV to demonstrate your suitability. A well-tailored CV helps both the ATS and the recruiter understand why you are a strong match for the role.
- Avoid tables, graphics, images, unusual fonts, or columns. The ATS system is designed to read documents from top to bottom, left to right, so tables, graphics or images can make the document unreadable.
Using AI in job applications
Many students have started using AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) to support their job applications. However, it is important to use AI responsibly. Some employers may state within the job description or application guidance that they do not accept applications generated using AI, so always check the employer's instructions before applying.
Our recommendation is to use AI to enhance your skills, rather than replace them. In a competitive recruitment market, employers may receive hundreds of applications for a single role. AI-written applications are often generic and lack individuality; use your own words and writing style to help your application stand out.
The Careers and Enterprise Team have produced guidance on using generative AI for career development – covering advantages, limitations and ways you can use AI effectively.
Watch our videos on the application process:
- Online tests: Career Essentials: What are psychometric tests?
- Video interviews: Career Essentials: How to interview successfully
- Assessment centres: Careers Essentials: What are assessment centres?
Writing effective cover letters: Career Essentials: Acing Cover Letters and Personal Statements
Writing an effective CV: Careers Essentials: Creating an Effective CV