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• Classic-Fiction

As I mentioned for resumes (Do 5) and all other printed matter, designate an apartment as “Unit.” Doing so makes it appear that you own your home—a sign of stability. The “No.” abbreviation should not be used because it’s often the answer to yes-no questions and will attract attention. You’re then likely to be asked whether you rent or own.

Phone Number

Hyphenate the area code to the seven-digit number.

Include cell, home, and office numbers, designating them separately.

If you’re concerned about the calls to your office, after the word Office (not Work), in parentheses write:

“(Please leave message with name and phone number only).”

Date

Unless otherwise stated, this means the date you completed the app.

Don’t write out the date unless it’s clearly indicated by the space. And don’t start with the year.

Use forward slashes with one or two digits like 12/3/XX.

Be consistent in designating dates throughout the form.

Referral Source

First name, middle initial (find out), last name.

If you’ve interviewed with the business before, don’t include this person as a referral source. You can mention it and the details when you get the instant call.

Birth Date

Answer this question using slashes exactly as you do for all other dates.

Be honest (always).

Height

Use the proper ’ and" symbols for feet and inches. If you don’t, 5’ 9"’ will look like 59.

Weight

Vanity or wishful thinking shouldn’t change this answer.

The number should be followed by lbs.

Social Security Number

If you don’t have one, contact the U.S. Social Security Administration and get one as soon as possible.

Length of Time at Your Address

This is asked primarily to determine your stability.

Address duration is easily verified by reference and credit checks, so be careful.

Previous Address

As with the present address, this can also be verified by reference and credit checks.

Be as careful here.

Salary Required

“Negotiable” or “Open” are the only two acceptable answers.

With any number (unless you know it and agree), the probability of you being too high or low is almost 100 percent.

That will screen you out.

Type of Work Desired

Write:

“Anything in the_____________ field that will allow me to make a genuine contribution to____________ (name of business).”

Don’t write “Unknown” or “Will consider anything” as unstants do.

Availability to Start Work

This should be answered:

“After I give notice to current employer.”

If you’re not working, write the date of the following Monday.

Don’t write “Immediately,” “ASAP,” or “Now.” It will make you appear anxious—even desperate.

You’re instant—so they can wait!

Spouse or Partner’s Name

If you’re single, don’t write “Separated,” “Divorced,” or “Deceased.” Your reason for being single has nothing to do with the job.

If you’re separated, write “Married” (you are, legally). Don’t discuss a separation during the interview.

Spouse or Partner’s Occupation

This shouldn’t be asked, but it’s permissible.

Incompetent interviewers inflate spouse job titles to impress the interviewer.

It has just the opposite effect—offerors want the moneymaker because she is more likely to be a long-term employee.

Number of Children and Ages

The number of children should be a word and their ages should be numbers.

So it looks like:

“Three—8, 7, and 4”

Be sure this is consistent with whether you’re married. If not, be prepared to answer the question during the interview.

Bondability

If a direct question is asked about whether you’ve ever been “denied or refused a bond,” answer “Yes” or “No” based upon your last job only.

Otherwise, questions about whether you are bondable are asking for opinion. Yours is always “Yes.”

General Health

The only instant’s answer is “Excellent.”

Physical Limitations

Unless you have some disability that requires a special accommodation, “None