If you’re looking to apply for a fast food or retail job, there’s a rather good chance that you’re going to have to fill out a job application. Sure, while some are going to make you fill out an application on the computer, there are many that still prefer the old-fashioned paper application. Since there are many things to fill out on an application, it’s important that you know what to look out for before handing it in. If you have one mistake, your application is going to quickly land in the trash. For our example noted below, I’m going to use this mcdonalds job application as our example:

Fill in the blanks – If you’re finding that your application has some blanks, make sure that you fill them in. Even if you have to fill it in with a, “N/A,” do it! You’re going to find that some employers may see this blank as an error.

Flip it over – This sounds silly, but believe it or not, many don’t flip the application over! If you don’t flip the application over, not only are you missing out on a lot of information on the back, this is going to be a first class ticket to the trash.

Bad spelling – Your grammar doesn’t have to be the greatest on an application, but you’re going to want to make sure that your spelling is gold. If you can, make sure that you have someone look it over for you. One simple spelling mistake can lead to many other problems. Spelling mistakes not only show that you’re not looking over your work, it may show irresponsibly.

Not available – One thing that many companies hate is when you say that you’re not available. If you’re going to work retail or even a fast food job, plan on giving your life away. This means that you’re going to have to work the weekends, the day shifts and even the night shifts. If you don’t plan on committing your life to these jobs, you’re going to quickly find that you’re going to have to think of something else to do.

The next time you fill out an application, be sure to take your time and factor in these mistakes. By doing so, let’s hope that you can find the best job for you!

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This was a post provided to us by Jillian A. She helps run the website, MyJobApps.com – a site that showcases more than 1,500 companies. Download job applications, research salaries and even find a job in your local area.