Application forms

If your application is sloppy, an employer won’t even bother to read it. So take your time and be neat.

Most employers will ask you to fill out an application form before they’ll give you an interview. The way you fill out an application form can mean a lot to an employer. If you don’t follow the instructions on the form, he or she will think you can’t follow instructions at work. If your completed form is sloppy, the employer may think you’ll be a messy worker. So be careful, and keep it neat.

Filling out these forms can be a little tricky because every form is a little different. But if you take your time, you’ll do just fine. Here are some things to remember:

1. Be neat. If your form looks sloppy and hard to read, an employer won’t even bother to read it.
2. Read each question twice before answering. Always make sure you know what is being asked.
3. Print in capital letters. Try to keep all the letters the same size and keep them between the lines.
4. Use a pen, never a pencil. If you make a mistake, cross it out neatly with a single stroke through each incorrect word.
5. Once you’ve finished, read over all your answers to check your spelling and grammar. Ask someone else to read them over to check for mistakes that you may have missed.
6. Don’t forget to sign the form.
7. A little later in this book is a section on résumés. A lot of the information asked for on an application form can be found on your résumé, so keep it handy when going door to door and filling out application forms.

Next: Application forms continued

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