Completing the Application

Every step in the job search/preparation process is important. No less so is completing the application form.  

This may seem trivial, but surprisingly many applicants are rejected because of carelessness. Your employment application tells an employer a great deal about you before you ever meet. It creates perceptions about your neatness, your ability to follow instructions, your ability to organize your thoughts. Here are some suggestions:

• Fill out the application completely.  Stay within the lines provided.

• Leave no blank spaces.  If there are questions that do not apply to you, put a dash (-).

• Print unless otherwise instructed.

• Be neat and accurate.  Make sure every entry is spelled correctly.

• Use only black or blue ink unless otherwise directed.

• Follow directions. Use words and expressions that are clear, easily understood and interpreted.  For example, on "Date Available for Work", if you can start right away, put "immediately", otherwise put the date you can start.  Another acceptable entry might be "2 weeks after offer is accepted", perhaps indicating you want to give your present  employer 2-weeks notice.

• For "Reason for Leaving", use terminology that is not negative:

-  If you were fired or terminated for cause, use "will discuss in interview".  Do not use "terminated", it is too broad a term.  Some terminations are positive, some are negative.

-   Do not use the term "laid off".  Instead, give the reason for the lay-off.  Use "reduction in work force", “completion of job", "completion of contract",  "company no longer in business".

-  Never use "quit" or "resigned" or "personal" or "health".  Instead, use  "returned to    school", "seeking better opportunity",  "seeking career advancement", "career change",  "returned to homemaking", "became self-employed", "relocation".

• For Salary Desired", use "negotiable”.

• Do not write "see resume".  Answer all questions even if the answer is already on the resume.