Made an Error on a Job Application? No Worries.

That’s the worst.

You’ve been searching through all the job openings in your area and came across one that looks like a perfect fit. You don’t hesitate before you apply and get started on the application. Before you submit, you double check your spelling (not just because your Snagajob job-search coach told you to, but because you want to prove to the employer that you are a responsible and professional employee) and are confident they will see just how valuable of an employee you will be for them.

Feeling proud of your application, you move your computer mouse over to the ‘Submit” button and as soon as you click it, you realize you didn’t update to your new phone number and your contact information is incorrect. Let the panic begin.

I completely understand the frustration. What if they try to call, but can’t reach you? It’s a scary thought.

Common Application Mistakes:

This is actually something we’ve been getting asked about a lot lately, “I just realized that I made a mistake on a job application. What do I do?” The most common mistakes we see are:

• Phone number

• Email address

• Reference

• Incomplete experience history

At Snagajob, when you click that “Submit” button, your application is sent straight to the employer and cannot be changed. But don’t let this get you too down. There is something you can do to help diffuse the situation… follow up on your application!

We talk about following up in a lot of our articles and videos. This is especially important if you’ve made a mistake and the employer will have a problem contacting you.

Here’s what to do:

Go into the store/restaurant that you applied to (during non-rush-hour times and dressed professionally, of course) and ask to speak with the manager. When they arrive, introduce yourself, shake their hand and explain that you applied online to their open position. Then explain that you noticed that you just got a new phone number and wanted to make sure they have your correct number so they can contact you. This way, you can leave the correct information, make an impression that you care about the situation, and prove that you work hard to right a wrong.

It’s better to try and give them the correct information than to just give up on the application.

My main advice is to always double and triple check everyone on an application before you submit it!

Has this ever happened to you? Let us know below.