1. 1 Online Job Applications …Getting Ready Developed by Boston’s One Stop Career Centers and the Boston Private Industry Council Copyright © Boston Private Industry Council, Inc. 2007

2. 2 Online Job Applications What you’ll learn What you need before you start to complete an application Typical setup for an online application Specific challenges posed by online applications Some common mistakes people make What to do about personality assessments How your information gets to the person making the hiring decision

3. 3 Online Job Applications A few questions to start What’s your name? Have you tried to complete an online job application? What did you find most challenging?

4. 4 Online Job Applications Getting started What do you need to have with you when you sit down to complete an online job application?

5. 5 Online Job Applications Getting started Time Resume/Cover letter on disk/CD/flashdrive Previous work experience References with all contact information Education history Addresses of where you’ve lived for the past 10 years Email account

6. 6 Online Job Applications Do you know what all these things have in common?

7. 7 Online Job Applications They’re pretty much EXACTLY the things you need to have with you when you complete ANY job application – even the ones on paper

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36. 36 Online Job Applications Example of a Set of Behavioral Characteristics Trust Tact Empathy Conscientiousness Flexibility Focus Courtesy Conformity

37. 37 Online Job Applications Trust Flexibility Conformity Unquestioning Uncritical Optimistic Wary Vigilant Skeptical Inventive Free-spirited Independent Traditional Compliant Conventional Uncompromising Inflexible Cautious Adaptable Accepting Enjoys new approaches

38. 38 Online Job Applications Trust 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Flexibility 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Conformity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Unquestioning Uncritical Optimistic Wary Vigilant Skeptical Inventive Free-spirited Independent Traditional Compliant Conventional Uncompromising Inflexible Cautious Adaptable Accepting Enjoys new approaches

39. 39 Online Job Applications Conformity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Summary While Ms. B rarely if ever appears to demonstrate an inclination to resist procedures, her level of Conformity is higher than the job match pattern for this position. This implies that she may be overly challenged by appropriate opportunities to make an exception to the rules. Questions could focus on how open to change she may be and if she is overly rule bound. Suggested Questions Describe for me a time when you deviated from the exact interpretation of a procedure to achieve success for the benefit of your customer, team or organization. How do you feel about those who bend the rules or take a casual attitude about procedures? Inventive Free-spirited Independent Traditional Compliant Conventional

40. 40 Online Job Applications How do online applications get to the person who makes the hiring decision? Varies widely from company to company Ranges from something simple to a full report At some companies the whole process can be bypassed This work is often outsourced to a third party Artificial intelligence does the sorting and only “forwards” information about people who appear to “fit”

41. 41 Online Job Applications Key Points Summary Be prepared - have the materials and information you’ll need Give yourself time Be relaxed – do something relaxing before starting (deep breathing, take a walk, etc.) Try not to be intimidated – it’s just another job application Be honest – the applications and programs that analyze them often have mechanisms built in to determine if you’re being honest For personality assessments, don’t try to psyche out the psyche assessment

42. 42 Online Job Applications We’d like to thank the following for permission to use their materials in this workshop Profiles International Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Career Development & Employment Wall Street Journal Tory Johnson, Women for Hire (womenforhire.com) ABC News (abcnews.com)

43. 43 Online Job Applications Questions?