Applications on Paper (Page 1 of 2)	
Applications on Paper	
Why do employers make you fill out an application?
1. Employers want to know if you will follow instructions on the job.  An employer knows that —
 	Person who follows instructions on an application will follow instructions on the job.  	
2. Employers want to know if you are a reliable person whom can be counted 
on to stick with the job.  
	 To	find	out	if	you	are	a	reliable	person,	employers	read	about	your:		a)	education,	if	you	are	in	school		
or	graduated;	b)	held	a	job	for	at	least	six	months;	c)	participated	in	a	club	or	sports	team;	d)	earned	a	
job-training	certificate;	e)	did	volunteer	work.			
3. Employers want to know if you are an accurate person.  An employer can tell 	
that you are an accurate person when the information on application is a
ccurate 
and	complete	—		with	every	line	of	the	application	filled	out.	
What will I need to fill out an application?
1. 	Two pens		(blue	or	black	ink)	so	that	you	have	extra	in	case	one	runs	out	of	ink.			
NEVER	ask	an	employer	for	a	pen	to	fill	out	an	application!	
2. Your 	resume	,	social security card	,	and		driver’s license 	(or	other	form	of	identification)	.	
3. Your 	Job Hunt Worksheet		so	that	you	have	all	important	information	to	complete	the	application:	
	 a)	 Schools	you	have	attended	with	their	addresses	and	dates	of	attendance.
	 b)	 Your	past	and	current	work	experience	—	paid	job,	unpaid	job,	volunteer	work	—	the	job	title,		
name	of	company,	address	of	the	company,	supervisor's	name,	and	begin/end	dates	of	employment.	
	 c)	 Names	of	3	adult	personal	references,	their	phone	numbers,	and	their	work	or	home	addresses.
4.	 Make	copies	of	your	documents	such	as:	high	school	diploma,	job	training	certificates,	keyboarding		
speed	certificate,	attendance	award,	recommendation	letters,	and	any	others	you	earned.		NEVER	give	
an	employer	your	original	documents.		 Always	make	copies	of	documents	you	give	to	the	employer.	
5.	 Staple	application,	resume,	and	copies	of	your	documents	together	—	neatly	in	the	upper	LEFT 	corner.
What should I do if I cannot answer a question or feel uncomfortable answering?
If	the	application	asks	a	question	that	does	not	apply	to	you,	such	as	dates	of	military	service,		write the 	
letters "NA" on the line	 to indicate that the questions is 	not applicable (does not apply) 	to	you.		Or,	you		
may 	neatly draw a short dash (horizontal line) in the space	 to show that 	
you	read	the	question,	and	that	it	does	not	apply	to	you.	
If	the	application	asks	about	your	health,	you	should	answer	"Good"	even	
if	you	have	just	had	a	cold	or	the	flu.		If	you	have	a	health	condition,	ask	
yourself	the	following	questions,	"Will	my	health	condition	prevent	me	
from	doing	a	good	job?"		If	the	answer	is	no,	the	answer	to	the	questions	
about	your	health	should	be	"Good."		If	you	think	your	health	condition		
may	prevent	you	from	doing	a	good	job	—	FIRST,	talk	with	your	doctor,	school	counselor,	or	teacher	to	
find	out	if	this	is	an	OK	job	for	you.		If	it	is,	you	may	write	"Will	discuss	in	interview"	on	the	application.		
During	your	interview	with	the	employer,	discuss	your	health	condition	in	a	positive	way	describing	what	
you	can	do	and	why	you	would	be	an	excellent	employee.

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tion.	Applications on Paper (Page 2 of 2)	
12.	 After	you	write,	"Terminated.	Will	discuss	in		
interview"	—	a)	What	do	you		not do	?  	
	 b)	What	do	you		say		during	the	interview?	
13.	 a)	If	you	have	been	convicted	of	a	crime,	what		
do	you	write	on	the	application?		b)	 What	
should	you	say	during	the	interview?	
14.	 If	you	lie	on	an	application,	what	does	the	
	 employer	have	the	legal	right	to	do	to	you?
15. Pretend that you are a grocery store employer 	
and	Jason	gives	you	a	job	application	to	apply	
for a job opening.  Make a list of 7 things that 
you	will	look	for	on	Jason's	application	to	find	
out if Jason is a good worker that you will hire.	
16.	 If	Jason	was	convicted	of	a	DUI	(driving	under		
influence),	would	you	hire	Jason	for	a	delivery	
driver	job?		b)	Give	a	reason	for	your	answer.	
17. 	Carefully and accurately, fill out the Home 
Store application. 	 When you apply for jobs, 	
bring the Home Store application with you to 
help fill out paper or computer applications.	
What should I say if I was fired ("terminated") from my last job?
Try	to	avoid	writing	"fired"	on	a	job	application.		Is	there	a	more	positive	reason	
you	can	give	for	why	you	left	the	job?		Do	you	want	a	job	with	more	responsibility?	
Do you want a job with opportunity for promotions?  Do you want a job wi
th more 
hours?  Did you want to spend more time on homework?  Did you need more 
time 	
for	a	sports	season?		Do	you	want	a	job	that	would	better	fit	your	career	plans?		If	your	former	employer	
will	say	harmful	things	about	you,	give	the	name	of	another	responsible	person	at	your	old	job	who	liked	
you	or	is	not	hostile.		If	you	feel	uncomfortable	about	these	suggestions,	you	may	write	"Terminated.	 Will	
discuss	in	interview"	on	the	application.		During	the	interview,		do not criticize (talk bad about) your 	
former employer; 	rather,		say how the experience will help you become a better worker.	
What if I have a criminal record and the application asks about it?
Applications	ask	if	you	have	been	convicted	of	a	crime.		If	you	have	been	arrested,	but	not	convicted,	the	
answer	is	no.		If	you	have	been	convicted	of	a	crime,	write	"Will	discuss	in	interview"	on	the	application.		
Be	prepared	to	discuss	the	conviction	in	a	positive	way	telling	how	the	punishment	made	you	a	new	person	
who	is	wiser,	more	careful,	and	more	determined	to	be	a	good	worker.		In	a	humble	way,	tell	the	employer	
that	you	have	paid	your	debt	to	society,	want	to	be	an	outstanding	
worker,	and	will	 do	everything	 you	can	to	help	 the	company	 succeed.
Should I lie on an application?
If	you	are	found	to	have	lied	on	an	application,	the	employer	has	the	
legal	right	to	fire	you	even	if	you	have	worked	for	some	time	and	are	
a	good	employee.		Do	not	lie	on	an	application;	rather,	present	the	truth	in	the	most	positive	way	possible.
1.	 What	does	an	employer	know?
2.	 To	find	out	if	you	are	a	reliable	person,	list	5		
things employers read.	
3. How can an employer tell that you are an 
 accurate person?
4.	 List	5	things	you	should	bring	with	you	when		
you	go	to	fill	out	an	application.		
5.	 When	may	you	ask	an	employer	for	a	pen	to	fill		
out an application?	
6.	 What	do	you	NEVER	give	to	the	employer?
7.	 List	2	things	that	you	may	write	in	the	space	to		
show that the question does not apply to you?	
8.	 What	words	do	you	use	to	describe	your	health?		
9.	 List	3	persons	you	may	to	talk	to	find	out	if	this		
is a job for you.	
10.	 Give	3	examples	of	positive	reasons	for	why		
you left a job. 	
11. If your former employer will say harmful things 	
about	you,	what	should	you	give?	
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