When applying for a job, it is essential to do your best to stand out from other applicants, as contacting a resume or application form is the employer's first impression of you. That is, it is necessary to prepare in advance, creating a template with all the necessary information and asking for the opinion of others. Then, whether in person or online, you can concentrate on adapting your answers to what the company needs and filling out your application in an organized and error-free manner.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preparing for the Application Process
Step 1. Gather your essential personal data and documents such as RG, work card or CNH
It's also good to have your CPF.
Step 2. Describe your previous experience in detail
Always start with the most recent experience and go back in time in chronological order. For each job listed, include:
- The company's name, address, age, and contact information.
- Your supervisor's name and contact.
- Your role, the responsibilities involved and your achievements.
- The start and end date of the contract, the reason for leaving and the remuneration.
Step 3. Prepare alternative answers if you have experienced periods of unemployment
Even if you don't have experience, have been out of work for a while, or have been stuck, you still need to fill out the "previous jobs" section. The right answer could be the difference between getting the job or being rejected.
- Jobless periods – if there are breaks of months or years between experiences, you need to explain why. Mention if you were in college or taking a course. If you were looking for a job, say "looking for a job placement."
- No previous experience – even if you don't have portfolio experience, it's still good to include something in this section. Mention volunteer work at charities or informal jobs such as caring for children or the elderly, housework and repairs.
- Prison – mention the work you did while in prison. Don't overlook this fact, the employer will find out anyway.
Step 4. Describe your educational background
Some employers require a full transcript from high school onwards, while others only ask for college education and specializations. Again, start with the most recent and be sure to include:
- The name, location, and degree (high school, college, graduate school, etc.) of each.
- The start and end dates.
- Good grades or awards.
- If you have not yet completed higher education, mention the expected completion date.
Step 5. Prepare answers to questions about offenses and layoffs
Most employers want to know if the candidate has been convicted or has already been fired, forced to resign, or asked for the bill not to be fired. When answering, you can:
- List the incidents. Avoid words like “dismissal” and prefer “involuntary separation” or “ask for the account”.
- Write that you will “discuss in the interview”. That way, you have a way to explain the reason for the dismissal or the extenuating circumstances of a conviction.
- Remember that it is not necessary to mention misdemeanors in the application. Also, if you've been charged with a crime but haven't been convicted yet, there's no need to bring it up.
Step 6. Prepare a list of references with each person's name, role or relationship to you, and contact information
Most employers ask for three references and some companies only want professional references. Have a ready-made list with a mix of personal and professional references so you can pick a few names on each application. Have at least six references, three of each.
- Professional references are people like bosses and co-workers who supervised you.
- Personnel can be colleagues and friends in general, but they should not be family members.
- Don't forget to contact your list in advance to find out if they accept this role.
Step 7. Include special skills and certificates
On many resumes or application forms, there is a section for “Other Experiences” or something similar. The best thing to do is to choose the one that is most appropriate for the position you are looking at, but to prepare yourself, make a list with the types of information that can be mentioned, such as:
- The languages you speak, read or write.
- Equipment you know how to operate or repair.
- Computer programs and programming skills.
- Certifications and courses.
Step 8. Know what goes without saying
There are laws that protect the candidate from discrimination due to race, religion, sex, origin, age and disability. In other words, be wary of companies that require information that is not essential to measure the candidate's suitability for the job. If an employer asks for one of the following information, you may decline to respond gently:
- Questions about disabilities.
- Questions about race, gender, age, religion and origin.
- Questions about church membership.
- If for research purposes, questions about race, sex or origin must be on a separate form that is not taken into account in the selection process.
Step 9. Create a template
It's much easier to gather all of your information into a one-page template and take it with you when you fill out forms in person. Another option is to save the document on your cell phone so that it is always within reach.
You can find generic templates to use as a base on many sites, so do an internet search
Step 10. Ask someone to review the document
If you can afford it, hire a service that reviews resumes and helps improve points with drafting tips. Another option is to ask a friend or family member you trust for a helping hand.
Method 2 of 3: Filling in the form in person
Step 1. Bring black or blue pens
Don't forget to carry pens that you can pick up and leave your handwriting nice and legible in your bag. It's much better to fill out a form in an organized way than to make a messy one.
Step 2. Dress appropriately when finding out about vacancies or filling out forms at a company
Nobody gets a second chance to make a first impression. And, as you already know, the first impression is the one that stays. Regardless of the vacancy, employers tend to hire people who look more professional. Also, you never know if you're going to get an interview right away, so choose your outfits as if you have an interview scheduled.
Step 3. Ask if you can take the blank form home
If possible, it's always best to fill it out at home, where you have more time to do your best and can have someone proofread it.
Step 4. Read the entire form and don't skip the special instructions
Sometimes companies include specific instructions on forms to verify that candidates are able to follow them properly. For example, you may need to list information in a certain order.
Step 5. Use your template as a basis, but adapt the answers to the job vacancy
When describing past experiences, for example, put more emphasis on tasks and skills that relate to the job you are applying for now.
- For example, if you worked as a cook and are now applying for a sales associate position, put more emphasis on your ethics or ability to do multiple things at once when describing your previous role.
- You can take two copies of the form and fill in the first one only as a draft, and clean it up after you have elaborated your answers.
Step 6. Fill in all spaces on the form
If something doesn't apply, be sure to check “not applicable”. Otherwise, the employer may think you skipped the question by mistake.
Step 7. Review everything written
Don't allow the hiring employee to think you've made simple mistakes that could have been avoided.
- To check larger texts, it may be better to read backwards, as this makes it easier to spot spelling errors that would go unnoticed in a normal reading.
- All information provided must be accurate. You can get fired for lying on the form or on your resume.
Method 3 of 3: Filling in the online form
Step 1. Apply via the website, if possible
There are several benefits to submitting the application online, such as the following:
- There are no worries about your handwriting as you will type everything.
- You can ask others to read and review.
- There is no need to worry about whether the form will reach the person responsible or not.
Step 2. Read the entire form and don't skip the special instructions
Sometimes companies include specific instructions on forms to verify that candidates are able to follow them properly. For example, you may need to list information in a certain order.
Step 3. Use your template as a basis, but tailor the responses to the job's needs
When submitting an application online, you can copy and paste sentences from your template, but modify generic responses to highlight skills and experience applicable to the job in question.
For example, if you worked as a cook and are now applying for a sales associate position, put more emphasis on your ethics or ability to do multiple things at once when describing your previous role
Step 4. Fill in all spaces on the form
If something doesn't apply, be sure to check “not applicable”. Otherwise, the employer may think you skipped the question by mistake.
Step 5. Ask someone else to review what you wrote
Print a copy of the form before submitting it and ask a trusted friend or family member to read it and check for errors.
Step 6. Reread one last time before shipping
You should also reread the form before submitting it. Look out for spelling or grammar errors and make sure all the information provided is correct. If you have copied and pasted some text, make sure the formatting is kept as desired, mainly because some things get lost in the process, such as italicized text, quotation marks, hyphens, etc.