The portal timed out and I lost everything I had typed. How can I stop this happening again?

Save often, prepare your answers outside the portal, and avoid leaving the page idle for long. Many portals log you out after a period of inactivity, and unsaved work is lost.

Practical habits:

• Look for a "Save" or "Save as draft" button and use it after each section.
• Write long answers, such as cover notes or "Why do you want this job?", in a separate document first, then paste them in.
• Keep a master file with all your job details, dates and qualifications to copy from.
• Use a stable internet connection and a supported, up-to-date browser.
• Avoid using the browser's back button inside the form; use the portal's own navigation.

If you lose work, log back in and check whether a draft was saved automatically before starting over. If the portal keeps failing, try a different browser, or contact the employer's recruitment team, who may be able to help or accept your application another way.