Job application forms are used to select qualified individuals to interview for open positions. Your job application form may be the first impression an employer may have of you. Incorrect completion of this form can make it stand out… but in a negative way. Read on to find out what you need to do to successfully complete a job application form, and follow these tips so you can land the interview you’ve been waiting for.

Use good penmanship. If you are using a paper application form, use only black or dark blue ink. When writing, please print information instead of cursive. Make sure your handwriting is legible and neat.

Never leave a completely blank area on your job application. When completing a job application form, it is important to write in all areas that ask for information, including those that do not apply to you. If there is information requested that does not apply to you, write or write ‘N/A’ for ‘does not apply’. When filling out addresses, be sure to enter full details, such as street and city names.

He always tells the truth. If you were laid off from your previous job or had a bad experience, please convey this information in advance. You are more likely to lose a job opportunity for lying than for telling the truth about information.

Provide a complete employment history. Holes in your employment history can kill your chances of getting an interview. Don’t skip the bad segments of your work history to highlight the good ones. If you have legitimate blocks of time where you were out of work, please explain them in writing. Many lapses can be turned into assets. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you’re probably good at managing and multitasking; most military personnel have valuable experience and training; students fresh out of school with no work history will be knowledgeable about the latest technologies and theories.

Proper submission of the completed employment application is imperative. Make sure your app is clean, uncluttered, and free of bugs. Do not turn in an application that is dirty with food or coffee stains, one that is torn, or one that has excessive erasures and corrections. Check your application for spelling and grammatical errors. Have someone else do a final review of your job application to check for any errors or omissions.

A sloppy and incomplete job application form can give the wrong first impression to an employer looking for job applicants. If you follow these tips, you’ll make the right first impression to land that job interview.