Why is it important?
Because the application is your first chance to
present your skills to the employer.
 Read
the entire application form before you
start filling it out. Read the instructions
carefully and follow them exactly.
 Remember
that employers often judge the
appearance of an application as a clue to the
quality of your work.
General Tips:

Be honest in your answers.

Have all the information on hand that you might need to fill out an
application, such as a personal data sheet and resume… we’ll get to
those

Fill out the form neatly and accurately.

Apply for a specific position, rather than entering "anything" or "open" for
the desired position.

Leave no blanks.

Write "Does Not Apply" (or "N/A" for Not Applicable) in the space if the
question does not apply to you.

Explain lengthy gaps in your work history, for example, "attending
school."

Read and check the application for completeness before turning it in to
the employer.
Tips for applying in person:

Greet the receptionist politely when requesting or submitting an
application. The receptionist's first impressions are often passed
along.

Use blue or black ink pens.

Bring your own pen (or complete app. ahead of time)

Print clearly and legibly.

Be sure to sign and date the application.

Mail or turn the application into the correct person or place.
However, today most companies are asking
applicants to apply online.
Tips for applying online:

Have your resume available in electronic form to
attach or paste into the appropriate fields.

Choose a time when you can complete the process
from beginning to end (can take up to one hour).

Be prepared for system crash- save answers as you go
ICE so you don’t have to start over.

Proofread- mistakes and typos are not any more
acceptable online than they are on paper.
(1) Personal Data Sheets:
PDS are useful tools that help you fill out an application. You
do NOT turn this in to the employer. Keep your fact sheet
up to date for future job searches. Items on PDS include:



Employment history including company names, addresses,
telephone numbers, and dates of employment
Volunteer work history with community organizations
including organization names, addresses, telephone
numbers, and dates of service
Personal references including names, addresses, and
telephone numbers (see example PDS)
(2) Resumes….
What is a resume?
A brief written account of background, work experience, and
professional qualifications (that use SPECIFIC examples).
The objective of your resume is to get you an interview,
and the interview will get you the job (hopefully)!
Sample Resume
 Typically submitted to employer with the application.

Historically, resumes were printed professionally on nice
stock paper. However, today most employers are wanting
electronic versions (like Microsoft Word and PDF).
Dos and Don'ts
 No errors! Use spell-check, proofread, AND
have others look over it.
 Use
perfect punctuation, grammar, and
spelling to demonstrate you are able to
communicate effectively.
 Be
concise. Employers typically scan resumes
quickly. Save the detail for your interview.
Items to include:
 Contact information
 Objective
statement
 Education
 Work
(or Professional) experience
 Special
skills
-see blank resume template
An important thing to remember when you are
first assembling your resume is to be specific
when it comes to your experience and
qualifications.
Examples:
Food server (becomes) 
Provided friendly and efficient customer service by
accurately taking food orders and delivering in timely
manner.
Grant writer (becomes) 
Procured over $22,000.00 in federal and state funds by
writing 3 grants in a 15 month period.
In a sea of resumes, how do you make your stand
out?
1) Tailor the resume to the position- You would be surprised how
many people send out a “one size fits all” resume.
2) Make it you- ask yourself, “does this document convey what I
want it to convey about me?”
3) Ask for constructive criticism- a fresh pair of eyes can do your
resume a world of good
…which brings up our next point
Prepare and Practice
Prepare: your answers to typical interview
questions
Practice: saying your responses out loud. Using
a friend or family member can help
See Sample Interview Questions hand out

Be on time (and by this, we mean 5-10 min. early)

Make eye contact

Firm hand shake

Stay calm

Speak audibly and clearly

Practice good posture and be conscious of your body language
Know and avoid your nervous habits (EX: Do you constantly
pull at your neck collar? Do you say “like” or “umm” a lot?)
http://www.howcast.com/videos/2055-How-To-Ace-a-JobInterview

Follow Up
Always follow up with “thank you” note to
show your continued interest in the position.
 If
you interviewed with more than one
person, send note to each interviewer.
 Interviewers
tend to prefer old fashioned,
hand written notes. So, no “thank you”
emails!