Completing A Job Application

Employers use job applications to screen for qualified persons to interview for their job openings. If a job application does not make a favorable impression, the applicant may never even get an interview with an employer. Here are some tips as well as a sample application.

Make your application neat and complete.

• Filling an application out online is the most desirable method for a legible and  professional look. Many public libraries and community centers provide access to a computer if you do not own one.

• If the application is not available online, print as neatly as possible using black or dark blue ink.

 Complete all spaces and be accurate.

• Be sure to have the correct addresses (including zip codes) and phone numbers of your former places of employment as well as the name and titles of your former supervisors.

• Write “N/A” for not applicable if you do not think a question applies to you.

• Even though space on applications can be limited, avoid all but the most common abbreviations so a potential employer will understand them.

Choose your references wisely.

• Choose former co-workers, teachers, and mentors for references. Limit the number of friends you use.

• Be sure to notify the people you are listing as your references, and let them know they might be called by the potential employer.

• Choose people who will speak positively about you.

Spell correctly and use proper English.

• Writing skills are valued by employers.

• Misspellings and grammatically incorrect sentences give a poor impression of your abilities.

• Use action verbs, such as: achieved, assisted, earned, focused, etc., to describe your experiences.

Sample Job Application