Job Application Form

The Job Application form is an important document. Without it you will probably not be invited for interview. Many companies will ask to see your CV or resume and then if they think that you might be suitable for their job, they will ask you to complete a Job Application Form. These forms are often sent in an online link. To complete your Job Application Form Online, read the instructions and then read them again. I have spent an hour completing a form and then broken to make a coffee only to find that it does not save and I have to start all over again.

Some forms are available in PDF only which means that you cannot type on them , so you have to print them out and then write on them,just the same as if you had received it in the post! A simple tip in completing any Job Application form is to use clear handwriting. If you have untidy writing using Capital letters.


The main thing is "Do not lie, you could be found out and it could cost you the job"
It may be inviting to put a few incorrect details on the form, increase your grades or make your responsibility in your previous job look so much more., well don't do it.
In my experience a  prospective employer will say well if they cheated on that what else did they cheat on- it just makes you appear dishonest.

The really important thing with the Job Application form is to send it to the correct address by the closing date or else you definitely won't get the job because they either have not got the form or have already appointed someone to the job

How to write a resume

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME

As soon as you start looking for jobs you will come to the crunch point- send me your resume or CV as they call it in the United Kingdom. This is basically a career history and is never easy to do. If, like me you have been working for years in several jobs there is so much to put in, yet what do you leave out? You could re write your resume for every job but that could be very time consumning If you are young, amybe just leaving college there wont be a lot to go in other than examinations and maybe holiday jobs so you may have to write a lot about your hobbies or any community work you have done.

There are quite a few free Resume templates on the internet- try looking at employment agencies as they often provide free Resume builders which help you and make sure that you don't overlook something important.If you want to build one from scratch read this How to writea resume

 Once you have your resume you really are ready to go Job hunting!
Some people have asked how to write a resume or as we call them in the UK a CV. I have a link here to something I have written that may help you.
Click on here to find out how to write a resume 

Do a Keyword search on the Internet

Do a Keyword search on the Internet

Open up your browser to the google search page and search for any internet job sites covering your area.
Search terms I have tried are,  full time jobs in .............., part time jobs in................., job sites................admin jobs, admin jobs in ...................

These all obtain results and may give you new areas to search and research.

Employment Agencies

Try and impress an Employment Agency

I have found that there are simple rules when dealing with Employment Agencies. The thing to remember is that they are there to make money by selling-  the product that they are selling is "you".

All staff at agencies are really nice and say that they will consider your CV, chances are they will look at their vacancies and if there is nothing that springs to mind, they will file it away and it might never see the light of day again. I really struggle with agencies, despite having the skills for the job they often won't forward yourCV to the employer so it often is the case that you do better with direct applications to Employers.
However if you are approach them at the right time in the right place they just might come up with something.Another golden rule is not to put all your eggs in one basket- Don't sit around awaiting that call from the Agency, register with as many as you can, either online or in person.

Realising that I was getting no response from my agency applications I dressed myself up for work and called upon them.  One or two noted my name in their books which means that they might just read my CV when it arrives electronically. They don't like hard copies they get too many! One lady told me she gets sent 100 a day which gives you an indication of how many are read- not many I think!

Good news! Today is Thursday and I had a call from an agency explaining that they had not got me a job but were still trying! Sort of made my day

Government Employment Office

ASK THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP

What help you get from the government depends on where you  live. As we are really in an economic downturn most governments are eager for people to get work so that the unemployment benefits bill is reduced and it loods like the country is prospering.
Sometimes, unless you are trying to claim money you don't have to visit. Most people know who provide help with Job Seeking in their country but they might not know the services that they provide. Go to the website of the organisation and see what they do. In the UK our state organised Job Seeking department is JobCentrePlus they have a websitehttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm  this link tells you everything they do to help you get back into work. They have an internet service where job vacancies are placed. The important thing to remember is that the vacancies are placed all of the time, so just because there is not a vacancy when you look there might be one, say half an hour later.. well worth the time to search and it is relatively quick and easy and if you have an internet connection at home, you don't even need to get dressed.

Newspapers

LOOK IN THE PAPER
Six years ago when I used to help people find jobs, the paper was the biggest source of adverts. If a job was advertised I used to tell people to man the phone from 11am when the first edition of our local paper came out as the phone would be red hot with calls from people looking for jobs.
Things are a bit different now, with more and more people using the Internet. However there are still a lot of firms who publish job vacancies in local newspapers and some firms where they don't like IT only publish in the paper. I was amazed last week there was a job in a local school- it was published in the paper but not put on the Internet, don't ask me why?
Check out your local paper, do they have vacancies posted every day or a special job day on a weekly basis. Also check out where you can find a paper for free, libraries often get and keep copies of  local papers, so you can sit and get the details.

 You might be looking for a high powered high level job so check out any regional, national papers that may carry supplements on specific days for specific types of employment- well worth spending some time over and if you can find a library or a coffee shop you won't have to buy the paper!

Look around you

Do you look in shop/store and office windows?
If you are looking for a job it is a good idea. Shops always advertise vacancies in their windows, sometimes factories and offices will have a sign outside. If you are out and see an ad, stop and make a mental check. Have you just gone out to fetch some milk in your old clothes? Don't go into the shop and ask for a form or hand in your CV or resume as the assistant will not call the manager and will probably dump your form in the trash as soon as you have left.
Instead if you see a job, go home and get cleaned up, dress smartly and then visit, handing in your resume politely and taking time to make an impression on the assistant. If you are clean, clear and most of all have good eye contact and a nice smile, they may just call the manager over and you could be half way towards getting that job!

Perhaps the best way to find a job

Talk to your friends
Looking for work is hard, it can be like a full time job. You have to put the hours in to get the job. However the easiest way to get a job is to get help from friends. Talk to people, they will know if their place has a job opening and they know you, so a quiet recommendation may be all that is needed. Employers often like this because it means that they don't have to pay advertising costs or endure countless boring interviews where they can't tell the difference between candidates as they all seem to have the same talents.
Go out and meet your friends and acquaintances, tell them you need a job and what you are good at. You never know what might come through the door. My eldest was working at a Pizza restaurant and her little sister wanted a part time job, aged 16 with no qualifications. The manager said he would try her cos her sister was so good, and she got the job, working there for 3 years-.
Friends can tell you when adverts are being published, they can give you the inside information on what the company is looking for- use this information
I went to loads of Job Agencies yesterday, most of them didn't want to know, but in one I knew the receptionist, you can bet that my resume was seen by a consultant in preference over others- that is how it works. So get out there, meet people and talk- maybe you will be able to talk yourself into a new job!