Generally, a job application form gives a potential employer the first impression of you, so you should do your best to make the application stand out from the rest. This means preparing in advance by creating an application template with all the necessary information and receiving feedback based on it. So whether you apply in person or online, you can focus on customizing your responses to the job in question and creating a crisp, error-free application.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare for the application process
Step 1. Gather essential information such as your driver's license and other forms to document your identity
In the United States, you need a Social Security number or other proof of your right to work.
Step 2. Write a detailed employment history
Always put the most recent job first and work backwards in chronological order. For each position you've held, include:
- The company name, address, age, and contact information
- Supervisor and contact information
- Your job title, responsibilities and achievements
- Dates you started and stopped working for the company, the reason you stopped working there, and your final pay rate
Step 3. Prepare some alternative answers if you have not had continuous employment
If you don't have a work history, haven't worked for some time, or have been in jail, you still need to write something in the "past jobs" section. The correct answer can make the difference between getting the job and getting rejected.
- Gaps between jobs: If you have months or years of distance between jobs, you have to explain why. Consider whether you have been attending school or training. If you've been looking for a job for a while, you can just type "job search."
- You do not have a work history: Even if you have not had a paid job, it is always better to include something in the jobs section. Make a list of volunteer, charitable, or casual jobs, such as whether you worked babysitting, mowing the lawn, painting a house, or helping out on your family's ranch.
- Jail: write down the jobs you did in jail. As an employer, enter the name of the state where you were incarcerated if it is a state jail or enter the United States government if it is a federal prison.
Step 4. Record the information related to your education
Some applications will ask for your complete education history, from high school onward, while others will only want to know the highest level of education you achieved. List the most recent education first. Be sure to include:
- The name, location, and level of each school you have attended (high school, general education developmental test, or GED, college, graduate)
- The dates you attended
- Any decorations received
- If you are in school or studying for the GED, write down the date you expect to receive the diploma.
Step 5. Prepare the answers for the questions about felonies and layoffs
Most applications will ask you if you have been convicted of a felony or if you have ever been fired, forced to resign, or have resigned to avoid being fired. In response, you can:
- List the incidents. Avoid words like "termination" or "resignation" and use "involuntary separation" or "resignation" respectively.
- Write: "It will be discussed in the interview." This allows you to explain why you were fired or the extenuating circumstances behind a felony conviction.
- Remember that you do not have to report misdemeanors in the applications. Also, if you were charged with a felony but have not yet been convicted, you can answer “no” when asked if you have ever been convicted.
Step 6. Prepare a list of references with the name of each person, their position or their relationship with you and their contact information
Most applications will ask for three references, and some companies will only want professional references. Keep a list of professional and personal references so you can easily choose who to put on each application. At a minimum, you should have a list of six references: three personal references and three professional references.
- Professional references should be people like employers or coworkers who have observed your work.
- Personal references can be co-workers or friends, but they should not be family members.
- Make sure to contact all references in advance to ensure they are willing to act as references.
Step 7. Include special skills and credentials
Most applications have a "Other related experiences" section. You will need to tailor this information for the particular job you are applying for, but to prepare, make a list of the types of information that you might include:
- Languages you speak, read, or write
- Machinery or equipment that you can handle or repair
- Computer programs you know and any programming knowledge
- Licenses and certifications
Step 8. Know what information you should not provide
There are some laws against discrimination against candidates based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. The only information requested should be that which is essential to determine if the candidate is qualified. If a prospective employer asks for the following information, you should politely refuse to provide it:
- Disability inquiries
- Memberships of organizations, clubs, societies or lodges that may indicate the race, sex, age, religion or national origin of the applicant
- Church membership
- Information about race, sex or nationality of origin; If requested for follow-up purposes, it must be done on a separate form that is not taken into account during the application review.
Step 9. Create a request template
Put all of your information in a one-page application template that's easy to take with you, so it's much easier when you have to fill out applications in person. If you have a smartphone, consider keeping this document on your phone so you always have it on hand.
You can find generic applications to use as the basis for the model on many government websites, such as wsd.dli.mt.gov or labor.idaho.gov
Step 10. Have someone review the application
In the United States, there are federal and state employment centers in all 50 states that will review your application for free and help you search for jobs and prepare you for interviews. You can find a list of those resources at https://www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm. At the very least, ask a trusted family member or friend to review the application form.
Method 2 of 3: Fill out the application in person
Step 1. Bring your own black pens
Black is preferred over blue. Make sure you have pens that allow you to write clearly and legibly. A neat and neat application will be better than a messy one.
Step 2. Dress in appropriate attire when requesting and submitting applications
You will never get a second chance to make a first impression, as they say. Regardless of the position, managers are more likely to hire someone who looks professional. Plus, you may get an instant interview, so you should look like you would for a scheduled interview.
Step 3. Ask if you can take a blank application home with you
If possible, it is always best to take the application home with you so that you can take the time to fill it out clearly and ask someone to review it.
Step 4. Read the entire application, including any special instructions
Employers sometimes include specific instructions in applications to see if applicants can properly follow the instructions. For example, they may ask you to list the information in a certain order.
Step 5. Use the application form as a template, but adapt the responses according to the position
In the job descriptions in the application template, highlight the skills and experiences applicable to the job you are applying for.
- For example, if you've worked as a cook and are now applying for a sales associate position, you could highlight your work ethic and multitasking ability by describing your cook role.
- You may want to make two copies of the application and fill out a practice application first, so that you can create a neat application after you've used the first one to draft your answers.
Step 6. Fill in all the fields on the application
If something doesn't apply to you, be sure to mark it as “Not Applicable” or “N / A”. Otherwise, the potential employer may think that you accidentally skipped the question.
Step 7. Review everything you wrote
You don't want the hiring manager to think that you are someone who makes mistakes that should be easily avoided.
- To review blocks of text, read back for spelling errors that you might not notice when reading normally.
- Make sure all information is accurate. You can be fired for submitting false information on the application.
Method 3 of 3: Fill out an application online
Step 1. Fill out the online application if possible
There are several benefits of creating an online application:
- Since you will write on the computer, you don't have to worry about your writing.
- You can ask other people to review your application.
- You don't have to worry about the staff turning the application over to the hiring manager.
Step 2. Read the entire application, including any special instructions
Employers sometimes include specific instructions in applications to see if applicants can properly follow the instructions. For example, they may ask you to list the information in a certain order.
Step 3. Use the application form as a template, but adapt the responses according to the position
When filling out the online application, you can cut and paste the text of the application form, but you will need to modify the generic answers to highlight the skills and experiences applicable to the job you are applying for.
For example, if you've worked as a cook and are now applying for a sales associate position, you could highlight your work ethic and multitasking ability by describing your cook role
Step 4. Fill in all the fields on the application
If something doesn't apply to you, be sure to mark it as “Not Applicable” or “N / A”. Otherwise, the potential employer may think that you accidentally skipped the question.
Step 5. Ask someone to review your application
Print a copy of the application before submitting it, and ask a trusted friend or someone at a local employment center to review it before submitting.
Step 6. Please review it one last time before submitting
You should also review the application yourself before submitting it. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors and that all information is correct. If you've cut and pasted any text, make sure it looks correct when pasting, as special formats like italics, quotation marks, and hyphens are sometimes lost in the process.