First and foremost: Penmanship.
The first thing a potential employer sees of you (unless they personally handed you the application) is your application.??No one wants to hire a person who doesn't take the time to neatly fill out an application.
Studies show that a person with bad penmanship is either unintelligent and/or doesn't care (the latter is definitely most of the cases with horrible handwriting).??No one wants to hire an unintelligent person who doesn't care about anything.??And being able to read their writing is always a plus.??
If your handwriting is horrible you can neaten it up ten fold by just slowing down.??As you get better at making neater letters they will come more naturally and you can write perfectly effortlessly before long.??
Secondly, whenever you make any kind of contact with the business, make it professional.??When you walk in to get an app or when you turn it in the manager will ask about you.??You don't want them to hear "he looked scruffy as hell like he just got out of bed.??I think he needs a shower, too."??
This also applies to the next step:
Don't call after turning in an application.??After a few days (so they have time to review it - more people are applying than just you!??be considerate!), go there in person and ask to speak with the hiring manager.??This will put you in their mind much more predominantly.??Make eye contact, shake their hand, say hello, ask how they are doing.??"I'm so-and-so and I filled out an application on WhateverDay.??I was wondering if you've had a chance to review it yet," is all you need to say.
Chances are you won't get an interview then and there (although it has happened to me), but it is A LOT more than a name on a piece of paper handed to them by a secretary/hostess/whatever.
If you can't get there in person then work on your phone personality.??Most people are kind of shy or curt on the phone.??Don't be.??You're calling the love of your life and you're the happiest man in the world!
"Blahblah, Inc.??How may I help you?"
"Hello!??How are you???May I speak with a hiring manager, please?"
"And your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry - So-And-So Smith.??^_^"
Don't chat up the receptionist, but let her know you are slightly outgoing so she can pass this on to the manager.
Think of everyone involved with the company as an ugly woman with a really hot friend.??The hiring manager is their hot friend.??She's not going to date you if you are mean to her friends.??
With the interview be yourself.??The manager is your best friend who you are completely comfortable with.??Laugh, make light jokes, don't stay on one subject TOO long, and answer questions directly.??Don't puff yourself up to something you are not (i.e.-don't profess mastery in a field you know nothing about).??If they have a roleplay segment of the interview (which some employers do) embrace it and meet it head on.??You ARE the salesperson and the customer is mad at you but really wants that product!??GO!??XD
Always make eye contact during the interview - but not constant eye contact.??Any more than five seconds of continuous eye contact is creepy.??
Thank them for the interview and shake their hand before AND after the interview.??You are a kind, courteous person - exactly who they are looking for.??You are going to be the face of their empire - what customers see and why they either want to come back or don't.??Don't be the reason they won't want to come back!
Be the employee they come to see!!??Be the one they ask why he's not there!??You will get raises and promotions and have a big black benz and a Caribbean cruiser!??...okay, maybe not - but you get my point!??XP
If you don't get the job don't burn the bridge (even if you never got an interview).??If you make an awesome impression they will keep you on file or even pass your name on to other companies!??I've seen it happen many many times!
I've also seen managers throw applications away as soon as the person turns around to leave!??MAKE AN AWESOME IMPRESSION EVERY TIME YOU CONTACT ANYTHING INVOLVING THE EMPLOYER!!!
I know I used WAY to many exclamation points in this post!??But I want you to believe what I am saying and be really excited!??Employers like people who are excited about working for them!
ARE YOU EXCITED?!?!??I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!!
ARE YOU EXCITED?!?!??THAT'S BETTER!??XP
Now, go get that job!!!
*edit
Oh yeah!??The application itself!
FULL NAME.??NO SHORTENED FORM OR NICKNAME.
If you are Christopher then don't put Kryss.
Don't be afraid to exaggerate a tiny, tiny bit.??If they don't ask for the most recent employers then put down the ones that are most likely to give you a good reference.
If they don't ask for exact dates then put years.??If you worked a job from November of 2008 to February of 2009 you can put 2008-2009!??THAT'S TWO YEARS!!!??Of course it isn't really, and it's not lying, either.??If they ask you can tell them 11/08-02/09.??They aren't going to dismiss you for putting accurate dates!
When asking for duties performed make them sound extravagant!??Did you take out garbage???Put "sanitation!"??Take orders at a drive through???"Customer Service Representative!"??Use your imagination!??It isn't lying - it's polishing and it's what employers look for.??Just don't say you saved lives because you cooked hamburgers - yes, excessive hunger kills, but... do I really need to explain it???lol
Your signature.
Work on it.??Does it stand out or is it just scribbles???Most signatures are illegible except for the first letters of the names.??This is really all you need.
If your name is John Smith then you just need a J-scribble S-scribble; but make the J and the S very prominent - regal even.??Just like the handwriting, try it slowly.??Work on designs for the letters.??Once you have these two then work on the scribbles.
Don't just make the scribbles arbitrary curly-cues, though.??Pretend you are actually writing the rest of your name.??The "ohn" in John will definitely need the stem of the 'h' in it.??The "mith" in Smith with have two stems ('t' and 'h') and a dot for the 'i'.??Following the "John Smith" example, one could write a stylized cursive 'J' and use the tail as an underline for the rest of the signature.??Whatever makes the signature stand out and say, "I am an intelligent person and I take pride in the things I do," instead of, "omg, I am so glad I am finally done with this application.??I want to go home and smoke pot now.??>_>"??
*double edit!
After the interview call instead of going in person!??Meeting them in person is too much pressure!??It's like sending a $120 bouquet of roses after the first date.??Wait a day or two (not the immediate day after the interview - again, you're not the only person in line) and call.??They will most likely "be out" every time you call.??Leave a message and call again tomorrow!??They will "appreciate your persistence" when you get that second interview!??
*OMG triple edit?!?!
If you find yourself too shy or insecure to do any or all of these things think about this:
If you don't get the job you will probably never see them again.
If you do get the job, it was because you did the things you were normally too shy or insecure to try.