T HE J OB A PPLICATION OST286 Professional Development Getting a job is about presentation. How you present yourself and your application can make all the difference!

W HEN ARE JOB APPLICATIONS USED BY EMPLOYERS ? For most jobs, employers use applications to screen potential employees. They use the information from the applications to determine who they are going to call for a job interview. For other jobs, applications are simply the paperwork the Human Resources department requires of all job applicants. Employers often ask you to complete an application after they have invited you for an interview.

W HY DO EMPLOYERS USE JOB APPLICATIONS ? Many employers use applications as a way of standardizing the information they obtain from all job- seekers, including some things that you would not normally put on your resume. Your goal is to complete the application as completely and honestly as you can -- all the time remembering that the application is a key marketing tool for you in the job- hunting process. Remember that some employers will use your application as a basis for deciding whether to call you for an interview. Some companies require that you fill in the application while you are there. They won’t let you take the application home to fill out and then return to them.

P ARTS OF AN A PPLICATION P ERSONAL I NFORMATION Full Name Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Numbers Address Eligibility to work in US Felony convictions E DUCATION High School/Colleges Attended Major Degree/Diploma/Certificate Graduation dates(s) or dates attended R EFERENCES List of three references - names, job title or relationship, addresses, phone numbers P OSITION A PPLIED F OR I NFORMATION Title of the job you are applying for Hours/days available to work When you can start work E MPLOYMENT I NFORMATION Names, addresses, phone numbers of previous employers Supervisor's name Dates of employment Salary Reason for Leaving S PECIFIC S KILLS Software skills Keyboard skills Specific courses taken O THER Hobbies and personal interests Community involvement

T IP #1 A RRIVE PREPARED WITH THE INFORMATION YOU NEED. Be sure to bring your resume, social security card, driver's license, health card, etc. You probably will also need addresses and phone numbers of previous employers, as well as starting and ending salaries for each previous job. It's always better if have too much information than not enough. Dress appropriately to make a good first impression. When you pick up or delivery the application, you may be asked right then to stay for the interview. Have copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other documents ready to attach to your application form. Keep a copy of your completed application so you can review it before your interview.

T IP #2 R EAD AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. The most important rule to remember when applying for jobs is to follow the directions. If the employer tells you to apply in person, don't call. If the job posting says to mail your resume, do not send it via . Always take a few minutes to review the entire application. Some applications ask for information differently -- and all have specific spaces in which you are expected to answer questions. Think of the application as your first test in following instructions. Employers may use the application form to judge how well you follow instructions and how careful you may be as an employee. Remember to sign and date the application.

T IP #3 C OMPLETE THE APPLICATION AS NEATLY AS POSSIBLE. Neatness and legibility count - the application is a reflection of you. Consider typing it if you have access to a typewriter. If completing it by hand, be sure to use only a blue or black pen, and make sure you print. Don't fold, bend, or otherwise mar the application. Check for spelling and grammatical errors. If you make a big mistake, it's OK to ask for a new application and start over.

T IP #4 T AILOR YOUR ANSWERS TO THE JOB YOU ARE SEEKING. Just as with your resume and cover letter, you want to focus your education and experience to the job at hand. Give details of skills and accomplishments, and avoid framing your experiences in terms of mere duties and responsibilities. Show why you are more qualified than other applicants for the position. Include experience from all sources, including previous jobs, school, clubs and organizations, and volunteer work. What are transferable skills? Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life —- jobs, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, virtually anything -— that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your next job.

T IP #5 D ON ' T LEAVE ANY BLANKS. One of the reasons employers have you complete an application is because they want the same information from all job applicants. However, if there are questions that do not apply to you, simply respond with "not applicable," or "n/a." Do not write "see resume" when completing the application (but you can certainly attach your resume to the application).

T IP #6 D ON ' T PROVIDE ANY NEGATIVE INFORMATION. As with any job search correspondence, never offer negative information. Your goal with the application is to get an interview. Providing negative information (such as being fired from a job) just gives the employer a reason not to interview you.

T IP #7 A LWAYS ANSWER QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY. The fastest way for an application to hit the trash can is to have a lie on it, but that doesn't mean you need to give complete answers either. For example, many applications ask your reason for leaving your last job. If you were fired or downsized, you should try to be as positive as possible and leave longer explanations for the interview. Some experts recommend writing "job ended" as the reason you left your last job.

T IP #8 D O NOT PUT SPECIFIC SALARY REQUIREMENTS. It is way too early in the job-seeking process to allow yourself to be identified by a specific salary request. You don't want to give employers too much information too soon. In addition, employers often use this question as a screening device -- and you don't want to be eliminated from consideration based on your answer. It's best to say "open" or "negotiable.”

T IP #9 P ROVIDE REFERENCES. Employers want to see that there are people who will provide objective information about you to them. Pick your references carefully -- and make sure you ask if they are willing to be a reference for you before you list them. Where do you get references? From past employers, to teachers, to family friends. Most young job-seekers have a mix of professional and character references, while more experienced job- seekers focus on professional references who can speak of your skills and accomplishments. Ask your references for their permission before you add them to your resume and application form.

T IP #10 K EEP YOUR APPLICATION CONSISTENT WITH YOUR RESUME. Make sure all dates, names, titles, etc., on your application coincide with the information on your resume. Bring any documentation you may need to backup information on your resume. You will probably be required to take a proficiency test. Make sure you can backup the skills you put on your application.

T IP #11 P ROOFREAD YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE SUBMITTING IT. Once you've completed the application, sit back and take a moment to thoroughly proofread the document, checking for all errors -- especially typos and misspellings. Get someone else to look over it. A second pair of eyes is always a good thing. You will some simple one-page applications to multi-page applications. Some will be clean and crisp copies while others will appear to be photocopied a few too many times. Regardless, take your time and do the best you can, always keeping in the back of your mind the goal of the application -- getting you an interview. T IP # 12 B E PREPARED FOR ALL KINDS OF JOB APPLICATIONS

W HAT HAPPENS IF THEY ASK YOU TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW RIGHT THEN ! If you arrive to pick up an application and the administrative assistant hands you an unexpected application and asks you to fill it out right then, do not panic. Take your time to do this. Rather than turning in an incomplete job application form, ask for extra time after the interview has ended. If a particular question confuses you, ask the administrative assistant or receptionist for guidance. Always remember to say “please” and “thank you” because many employers ask these employees for information about prospective candidates. Submit the application to the person in charge with a smile, good posture, and a thank you.

OTHER… You should return an application to the employer within 24 hours. If you have not heard from the employer within a week of submitting your application, you should follow-up with the employer. There's truth to the "squeaky wheel" cliché. Ask for an interview. Ask to if your application is kept on file. Be sure not to include any information not asked for on the application form, especially that which pertains to age or sexual characteristics. These topics are not legal for discussion in this process.

A LTERNATE TYPES OF J OB A PPLICATIONS Online Job Applications Before you start completing online applications, it is suggested that you take a few tests on company career portals where you don't want to work to gain experience completing applications, taking tests, and increasing your comfort level. Job Applications Proofread your for grammar and spelling. Remember, this is your chance to make a critical first impression; even an ed note needs to be professional and error-free. Be brief and to the point. Your cover letter should not be any longer than two or three short paragraphs. Make sure you include an electronic signature with your full name, address,and phone number. Include the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your message. Be sure that your address/screen name has a professional tone. If the job posting asks you to send an attachment, send your resume as a Word document. Many employers do not accept attachments. In these cases, paste your resume into your message. Use a simple font and remove the fancy formatting. Send the message to yourself first to test that the formatting works. If everything looks good, resend to the employer.