General Application Tips
Consider Visual Impact
The employer will make judgments about you based upon how you complete the application. For instance, if there are spelling or grammatical errors they will question your writing skills as well as assume that you don't care about making a good impression (an automatic disqualifier for many positions). Therefore, it is a must to proof the application to make sure there are no errors. For maximum visual impact, it's best to type hardcopy applications. Also, don't fold applications when returning them via postal mail.
Be Positive
Don't put any negative information on the application. For instance, when asked to list why you left a previous job, do not list fired, quit, or personal reasons. Instead, respond with something like, "I would prefer to explain this at an interview." You could also list, "Found a more challenging job" or "Needed more hours" if those are the real reasons for why you quit.
Be Honest
Keep in mind that the information you provide will go into a personnel file if you are hired; false information is an automatic basis for dismissal. On the other hand, don't volunteer more information than what is asked for if anything negative can be construed from what you write.
Target Your Qualifications
Look for ways to match your qualifications to the specific requirements of the job. To do this, think about how your experiences, skills, personality traits, and what you've learned through your courses relate to the job duties. It's also useful to indicate how your values fit with the philosophy and culture of the organization - you can usually get a feel for this from a company's web site.
This is generally the hardest section of an application to complete. If you're stuck on describing your skills, check out the following Internet resources:
Careers for Your Major - lists the marketable skills associated with various academic majors
http://www.ku.edu/~uces/majorexploration/index.shtml
The Transferable Skills Survey - a great tool for comparing strengths to growth areas http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/car/self/career_transfer_survey.html
Listing References
Choose people who know you and your qualifications well. It's preferable to list faculty and past supervisors (from paid jobs or volunteer positions), but it's acceptable to list one personal reference. Be sure to get permission before you list someone as a reference.
Listing Wage/Salary Requirements
When applying for jobs that pay above the minimum wage, you may be asked to list your compensation requirements. If the wage or salary range is included in the job posting, this is a much easier task. Most job postings will distinguish between required and preferred qualifications. If you clearly meet all the qualifications they are looking for, and have made this clear on your application, than list the top end of the range. If you posses all of the required qualifications, but lack some of the preferred ones, than list a figure that represents the middle of the range.
If the wage isn't posted, one option is to respond with "open" or "negotiable". Be advised that some employers view such responses negatively as they consider them to be a sign of someone who doesn't follow directions well. Therefore, you should try to find out what the approximate wage/salary range is by doing a little research. To get this information, call the employer and ask for the "average pay range." If the employer doesn't share this information, consider checking with other employers who have the same or similar jobs, temp agencies, or the Wittenberg Career Center. The following web sites also feature salary information:
Salary Information
http://jobsmart.org/tools/salary/index.htm
America's Career Information Network
http://www.acinet.org/acinet
monsterTRAK's Salary Center
http://salarycenter.monster.com/