Resources

The Employment Application

Let’s start at the very beginning. The application. So many times this process is taken for granted. While employment applications are customary for hourly positions, for professional positions, a resume is frequently accepted in lieu of an employment application. Regardless of the position being filled, the employer require each applicant complete a standardized employment application.

It is always a good idea to have all the information needed in an application on a separate form.

One has been provided on the link below. Fill it out completely with all the information needed to complete an application accurately and completely. Doing this in advance just make the process much easier. Most employment applications are set with filters. If spaces are blank, if information does not add up, chances are that the employer won’t even see your application. This is why, preparing this information in advance will give you the assurance that this boring process is taken care of accurately.

Make sure your employment information is complete and correct.

Take the time to gather all the information you need such as addresses, supervisors name, phone number, job tittle, dates employed, wage, and reason for leaving. Make sure you compile a concise thorough description of what you did on the job. And, of course, you always start with the last job first.

Call all your references in advance in inform them they are being used.

Use professional reference if at all possible. And make sure you are accurate in recording the information. Such as, the length of time known and in what capacity they are known. It would be quite embarrassing for them not be prepared with an excellent reference for you.

Elevator Pitch

Don’t take this for granted. Most think that this is simple, but not quit so. This is one of your first assignments on your to-do list. It should be a 30 second speech that summarizes who you are, what you do, and why you would be the perfect candidate.

You should be able to literally deliver it in an elevator, in your job interview, at a job fair, networking event, anywhere.
Let’s break this down:

Clarify You Job Target

This may take some write and re-write to get it smooth. Nail down the best way to describe your field and the type of job you are pursuing. You won’t get much attention if you don’t do this. If you don’t know what you want, how will you get it. Until you can clearly explain the type of position you want, nobody will listen to you or hire you.

Put It On Paper

Mistake #1, just thinking that you can do this off the cuff. You have got to spend some time on this. Write down everything you want a prospective employer to know about your skills, accomplishments and work experiences that are relevant to your target position. Then, take a red pen and strike out what is not critical to your pitch. Edit and edit again until you have few bullet points or sentences.

Remember, your goal is to get the interest of your listener to learn more about you. It is not your life story, so remove any distracting statements from the core message you want conveyed.

Format it – A good pitch should answer three questions:

• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• What are you looking for?

Tailor the Pitch

This is not about you, even though it is about you. Here is the deal. Remember, inside the listener’s head is this recording that is saying, “What’s in it for me?” So focus on their needs. What they want to hear.