Many companies require a completed application form as well as a resume" before they will interview you. While this small step in your job hunt isn't difficult, you must avoid several mistakes that will eliminate your application from the pile.
Write in Pen
Pencil smudges look unprofessional. Bring a pen with you to appear more prepared.
Print Clearly
Imagine the frustration of an employer who is interested in your application but cannot decipher your name or phone number.
Complete Every Line
If a section is not applicable, write "n/a" or draw a line through the answer space. Check the side and top or bottom margins and both sides of the paper for questions you might have missed.
Know your work history
Bring with you on an index card the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all your former employers, plus a list of people to contact for information about you. If your experience is limited, it is perfectly acceptable to also include names of people for whom you've done odd jobs, such as yard work or baby-sitting.
Choose References Carefully
Before you begin filling out job applications, it is a good idea to call or write to ask permission to use someone's name as a reference and to remind that person of your current career goals. Do not list a person if you have the least bit of doubt about getting a good reference. You may not have much space on the form, but an ideal mix would be two to three professional references who could discuss the quality of your work, and one to two personal references (not relatives) who could discuss your character.
Be Careful When Writing Salary Requirements
If possible, avoid committing yourself to a specific number. An amount that is too high could eliminate you, and an amount that is too low could cost you if you're hired. If you must write a desired salary, research the going rate in your field and write a salary range that would be acceptable to you.
Use Only Recognizable Abbreviations. This will help make your application as easy to read as possible.
Be Neat
Remember that the attention you show to your application reflects how you will perform at work. Messy scratch-outs and missed questions will leave a bad impression.
Be Courteous to Everyone You Meet at the Job Location. Many people go to fill out applications dressed sloppily. They assume that since the application visit isn't a formal interview, they can be casual, rude, or unprepared. Remember that your first contact with an employer creates a strong impression. Dress as you would for the job interview. Also, remember to be friendly and courteous even to those people whom you might consider "unimportant," such as clerks and secretaries. These people could end up being your co-workers, and they may have input in the hiring decision.
Proofread
In the rush of job hunting, it is easy to become nervous and careless. Show the employer that you pay attention to detail by handing in an application that represents a job well done.
Drug Testing of Job Applicants
Because of the problems a drug user can bring to the job, more and more employers are beginning to require pre-employment blood or urine tests. These tests reveal the presence of cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines, and barbiturates.
While some employers will provide assistance and counseling to workers who have been with the company for a while before they develop a drug problem, they are unlikely to take on a new worker who shows signs o: drug abuse. Their reasoning is sound: drug abuse is likely to cost the company in terms of increased absenteeism, increased chance of on-the-job mistakes or accidents, and potential for embarrassment should customers learn of the problem. In addition, alcohol and drug abuse may ultimately raise the company's insurance costs.
Current estimates reveal that nearly 30 percent of employers test college recruits for drug use. That figure is likely to rise in future years as more employers become aware of the difficulties associated with workers who hive substance-abuse problems.
