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U.S. Work World’s Job Hunt Tips
How to Fill Out a Paper Application
1)	 Read	the	job	application	first.		Does it ask you to print?  Use pen?  What color of ink?  Where do you sign your name?  Fill out the application neatly.  No greasy fingerprints, 
  crinkled paper, or ink blotches allowed.  Spell all words correctly on the application! 
2)	 Answer 	all	questions.  If a question does not apply to you (such as questions about military 
  service), put "NA" for "not applicable" in the space — or draw a short horizontal line in one space 
of that section.  Do not leave a section blank.  The employer may think you forgot to answer.  
3)	 List	the	name	of	the	job	for which you are applying so that the employer knows that you think  ahead and have a plan.  Do not write "any job" in the space.  
4)	 When	asked	for 	"desired	salary," write "open" or "will discuss" in the space.  This tells the 
  employer that you are willing to discuss the salary during the interview .  Also, it prevents you from 
eliminating your application because the starting salary you placed on the application is too high.
5)	 If	you	were	fired	from a job, do not omit the job from the application.  In the space that it requests  reason for leaving, write "Please see me."  This tells the employer that you will discuss the 
  situation in the interview.  During the interview, do not criticize your former boss or company.  (This 
will make the interviewer think that you will criticize your new boss and company , too.)  You may 
say, "Things just didn’t work out at my former job. I learned work skills, but I decided I wanted to 
work at a job with a better team spirit (or promotion opportunities)."   
6)	 Here	are	some	good	reasons	for 	leaving	a	job.		(Use	these	in	place	of	"fired"?):		1) Returned 
to school; 2) Left for a better job; 3) Company layoff; 4) Family obligations; 5) Moved; 6) Career 
change; 7) No chance for promotion.  Do not say "Did not like the job" because it sounds like you 
are a picky person. Try to focus on the good in every job, even for the job you did not enjoy.  Good 
reasons for time gaps between jobs include:  1) Job hunting; 2) Returned to school to update skills; 
3) Attended college; 4) Traveled; 5) Cared for a sick family member.
7)	 If	you	know	a	former 	employer	might	say	bad	things	about	you,  try not to put his or her name 
on the application.  Can you list his or her boss?  Can you list another manager or supervisor in the 
company who knew you?  If not, call your former employer and ask for a fresh start and ask that he 
not say anything bad about you so that you can have a chance to get another job.  (It’ s worth a try!)
8)	 When	an	application	asks	for 	any	criminal	convictions	and you have one, write "Will discuss in 
interview" in the space.  Many employers will hire an applicant with a criminal record if they know 
that the person has learned from the experience, and how the person 
corrected what went wrong so that it will not happen again.  Say that 
you learned a valuable lesson, paid for the mistake, and ask for a 
  second chance during the interview.
9)	 If	you	have	no	work	history , list all volunteer jobs you held.  This 
shows the employer that you are familiar with a job and following 
directions.  You may add your teacher aide experience.
10)	 Ask	permission	to	use	a	person	as	a	reference.		Nothing is worse  than an employer calling a reference who is surprised or cannot 
  remember you.  Make sure the information you provide for each 
  reference is accurate— name, address, and phone number.
11)	 Do	not	lie	on	an	application.	 If a lie on the application is 
  discovered, the employer has the right to fire you even years later .