APPLICATION ESSENTIALS Flathead Job Service st Ave E Kalispell, MT

The Hiring Mind Set The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." Vincent T. Lombardi 2

Agenda Welcome! Welcome! The Role of the Application The Role of the Application General Tips for a good Application General Tips for a good Application Sections of the Application Sections of the Application Summary Summary 3

THE ROLE OF THE APPLICATION 4

Why fill out an application? Initial screening of applicants. Initial screening of applicants. Federal and state hiring practices. Federal and state hiring practices. Legal documentation. Legal documentation. 5

GENERAL TIPS 6

Before you start Research the company prior to completing the application. Research the company prior to completing the application. Identify culture and buzzwords. Identify culture and buzzwords. 7

Before you start Read ENTIRE application. Read ENTIRE application. Follow ALL directions. Follow ALL directions. Carry a COMPLETED application. Carry a COMPLETED application. 8

Respond to all questions Dont leave blanks or say See resume. Dont leave blanks or say See resume. Write not applicable or draw a line in the answer space. Write not applicable or draw a line in the answer space. Be clear and concise in your response. Be clear and concise in your response. –Date available? Immediately –Date available? Sometime after the 7 th of next month, if I can get my car running. 9

Be positive Present a positive picture of yourself. Present a positive picture of yourself. Avoid negative information. Avoid negative information. Dont complain about your former boss or co-workers if asked why you left a job. Dont complain about your former boss or co-workers if asked why you left a job. 10

Be neat Pick up an application and take it home when possible. Pick up an application and take it home when possible. Print using blue or black ink. Print using blue or black ink. Use typewriter or computer. Use typewriter or computer. Carefully select your words. Carefully select your words. Make a copy for a master. Make a copy for a master. 11

Be neat Scan for errors in grammar or spelling. Scan for errors in grammar or spelling. Dont scratch out errors. Dont scratch out errors. Avoid smears or stains. Avoid smears or stains. Use complete words, avoid abbrv. Use complete words, avoid abbrv. 12

Be honest Providing bad information on an application could result in the application not being considered or disciplinary action against you including termination. Providing bad information on an application could result in the application not being considered or disciplinary action against you including termination. Be sure all information you give is correct. Dates, addresses, and references will be checked. Be sure all information you give is correct. Dates, addresses, and references will be checked. Start a log. Start a log. 13

Special instructions Honor sections that state Do not write below this line or For Office Use Only Honor sections that state Do not write below this line or For Office Use Only Look for ways to demonstrate you are the right person for the job. Look for ways to demonstrate you are the right person for the job. Think of what you would look for in an employee. Think of what you would look for in an employee. Be honest. Be honest. 14

APPLICATION SECTIONS 15

Work experience Target your qualifications to the position. Target your qualifications to the position. Detail your experience. Use the space provided. Detail your experience. Use the space provided. –Cook or –Short order cook with 10 years of experience preparing a variety of dishes including 17 different ways to cook spam. 16

Education Provide all information requested, including details of relevant exam results and grades. Provide all information requested, including details of relevant exam results and grades. Include all education which did not lead to an examination or qualification. Include all education which did not lead to an examination or qualification. Add education or qualifications gained over seas or as part of employment training. Add education or qualifications gained over seas or as part of employment training. 17

Training and development Knowledge, skills, or abilities gained through training and/or personal experience. Knowledge, skills, or abilities gained through training and/or personal experience. Identify how you have kept your skills up to date. Identify how you have kept your skills up to date. 18

Position desired Never leave it blank or use the responses Any or Open. Employers will not try to figure out where you fit into their organization. Never leave it blank or use the responses Any or Open. Employers will not try to figure out where you fit into their organization. Enter that title of an advertised job, or the title of a specific position. Enter that title of an advertised job, or the title of a specific position. 19

Position desired State the name of the department in which you wish to work. State the name of the department in which you wish to work. Fill out an application for additional positions. Fill out an application for additional positions. 20

Salary requirements Give a salary range or respond with negotiable. Give a salary range or respond with negotiable. Salary range can be found by using Montana Career Information System Salary range can be found by using Montana Career Information System – –Usename: fljspub –Password: public 21

Reason for leaving Instead of Terminated Terminated Laid off Laid off Personal differences Personal differences Quit Quit Resigned Resigned Use this Will discuss in interview. Will discuss in interview. Reduction in force Reduction in force Completion of contract Completion of contract Company out of business Company out of business Career change Career change Seek career advancement Seek career advancement Seeking better opportunity Seeking better opportunity 22

Convicted of a felony? If yes, write Will discuss in interview If yes, write Will discuss in interview Key term is conviction Key term is conviction –Ourfactsyourfuture.org –Publications>Career publications> Inside edition (for ex-offenders) Some employers will not hire based on nature of their business. Some employers will not hire based on nature of their business. –Fraud or theft conviction and banking 23

Physical limitations Answer appropriately so the employer can make suitable arrangements if called for an interview or a work-based exercise. Answer appropriately so the employer can make suitable arrangements if called for an interview or a work-based exercise. Reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations. 24

Membership of professional organization Provide current membership relevant to position. Provide current membership relevant to position. –Professional –Occupational –Trade May be required to provide proof. May be required to provide proof. Avoid identifying a protected class. Avoid identifying a protected class. 25

References 3 professional and 3 personal available. NO family members. 3 professional and 3 personal available. NO family members. –Name –Title –Address, phone, and Bob Smith, Supervisor (406) Crush n Quarry 123 Main St., Kalispell, MT Bob Kalispell 26

Signatures Sign and date with a legible signature. Sign and date with a legible signature. Legal documentation and you affirm all info is correct. Legal documentation and you affirm all info is correct. 27

Illegal questions Age or race. Age or race. Gender. Gender. Disabilities; health. Disabilities; health. Marital status, Children. Marital status, Children. Use Not Applicable or a line (-). Use Not Applicable or a line (-). You may get screened out by having too many of these responses. You may get screened out by having too many of these responses. 28

ONLINE APPLICATIONS 29

Online Application Tips Federal, State, Business, Jobsite. Federal, State, Business, Jobsite. Home/other, kiosk. Home/other, kiosk. Will ask you to register. Will ask you to register. –Ability to access for future use. –Must have address. 30

Summary Bring job file with you. Bring job file with you. Read application before writing. Read application before writing. Target the employer with your qualifications. Target the employer with your qualifications. Be positive. Be positive. Dont leave blanks. Dont leave blanks. Sign and date. Sign and date. 31

Agenda Welcome! Welcome! The Role of the Application The Role of the Application General Tips for a good Application General Tips for a good Application Sections of the Application Sections of the Application Summary Summary Questions?? Questions?? 32

APPLICATION ESSENTIALS Flathead Job Service st Ave E Kalispell, MT