Filling Out the Employer Application .....

   It may seem like a trivial task, but many candidates may be eliminated as a result of this process. Understand, don't put anything on that application that you don't really mean. This includes salary information. If you need $70K for an annual salary , don't put down a penny less. If you are being represented by an agency, be sure to ask them what salary requirement they gave to their client. Once again, if they told their client 70K and you put down 65K on the application for desired salary  you will probably receive an offer somewhere in between like $67K.

 I'll let you in on a little secret. Most companies today don't verify salaries. Mainly because most ex -employers don't really like to share this information with other companies. Also, it prevents them from being liable for a potential lawsuit as a result of the candidate not receiving a job offer due to erroneous relayed salary information. However, they may verify your employment dates from previous employers.

 Another word of advise regarding salary, if you want $70K make sure you put at least $64K as your current salary. The reason for this can get complicated; however, in short it is because many companies have HR hiring policies that prevent hiring managers to extend offers to candidates that exceed 10% of their current salary. Even if  you may be underpaid in your current position, be aware this could be an obstacle in getting the $$ money you truly are worth !

 Signing the application does have significance. It means that the employer can fire you at any time if they can verify any of the information you provided may be false. This termination HR tactic is usually only done when a company is desperately trying to ridden themselves of a problem employee. But please keep in mind, signing the application may also give the employer permission  to perform a drug test or background investigation prior to you coming into the company or even  randomly during your employment  duration with them. 

 Another suggestion, be sure to print clearly and be detailed with your answers when filing out the application. Hastily filled out applications may indicate to them that your future work performance with them may be marginal as well. Have all your references available with appropriate contact information. Be sure the job titles of your references are impressive. If not, I recommend that you modify their  titles slightly  to make them appear more impressive. For example, you may be able to use Sr. Manager, in lieu of just the title Manager. Another example may be Sr. Programmer Analyst in lieu of just Programmer. If you exaggerate a bit , HR will never question it. Titles of employees constantly change ! What the referral  says about you as a potential employee  is the only thing they care about in order to extend an offer.  

  Lastly, through my past hiring experiences, when we had a candidate that we questioned about hiring    we usually always went back to the application. What kind of references do they have ? How much experience do they really have ? What was their salary or promotion history ? Believe me, the application process is important !