Tips to Help You Complete a Job Application Form

One of the most important steps in getting a job is filling out an application form. A person looking for a job should make sure the form is filled out correctly.

Many employers will not consider hiring a person until the application form is filled out. In a way, the form is a test.

The test helps the employer decide if the person should get an interview. If you do not fill out the form correctly, you are not likely to get hired.

Read the form before you start writing

The first step in filling out an application form is a simple one. Read the form all the way from start to finish. Do not write any-thing on the form until after reading all of it.

A simple but important next step is making sure your name is on the form. Sometimes people forget to put their name on the form. When that happens, employers often cannot find the person later.

A woman who uses a married name should put that name on the form. Sometimes a former employer may not know the married woman's current name.

Be sure to sign and date the form. Putting your signature and date on the form sounds like a simple thing. But employers say a lot of people forget to do that.

Tell the truth when answering questions. A person who gets caught lying will not get hired. Employers check much of the information.

Make sure former jobs are described clearly. Do not use general terms such as “repairman” or “clerk” if more accurate words are available.

Do not hide information about other jobs you had. New employers usually call places where applicants used to work.

The form may ask if you have a driver's license. A person who has a driver's license sometimes has a better chance of getting hired. Some jobs may involve driving a car or truck once in a while.

Employers cannot refuse to hire someone because the person is 40-years-old or older. But employers should be told if the applicant is under 18. Child labor laws apply to people under 18.

Laws also do not require you to answer personal questions, such as your age, height, weight, or health status, unless they impact on job requirements. Women do not have to answer questions about their plans to have children. But it is a good idea to answer as many questions about your work history, education, and skills as you feel comfortable answering.

List your special skills

A job seeker should list all education. The list should include everything from grade school to special classes. People with special skills should put them on the form. If you speak a foreign language, include that information. Many employers today are looking for workers who speak other languages besides English.

Potential employers may ask for personal references. These are people other than relatives. They can include teachers, ministers and friends. Make sure you asked these people for permission to put their names and other personal information on the form.

Most applications ask why you left your last job. Or it will ask why you are looking to quit your current job. Be positive, but tell the truth. You can say you are looking for more important duties or more money.

Do not criticize your employers on a job application. Do not say or write things like “poor working conditions.”

Be ready with figures on past wages

You may be asked how much money you were paid at other jobs. Make sure you know what the wages were. The application may ask for those figures in several ways. You should know what the wages were by the hour, week, month and year.

Job seekers can get more information from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The state agency operates The Wisconsin Job Centers. The toll-free telephone is 1-877 US-2JOBS. It can help you find a Job Center near your home.

Source: Wisconsin Job Center Web site jobcenter@dwd.state.wi.us