Whether filling out an application online or submitting a written version, make sure it is accurate, complete, legible, and free from spelling and grammar errors! This application is actually the beginning of your background investigation. It is the first impression the agency will have of you!
We really can't say it enough: do not forget to proofread the whole application. Check your spelling and grammar. If you are not sure about something, look it up. Have someone else read what you have written to make sure it makes sense.
Something you should always strive for regardless of the type of application you complete is honesty. Don’t try to hide anything on your application. Tell the truth. If there is a gap in your work record because you took three months off to hike the Appalachian Trail, that’s fine. Or what if you dropped out of high school and drifted for a while before you got back on track and went back for your GED? Recruiters know they are dealing with human beings with different life situations.
You should try to build a relationship or rapport with your recruiter (sometimes known as your investigator). An investigator assigned to you will understand that people go through different stages in life. As long as you are a decent person without any prior convictions, he or she will help you through the process. The investigator may instruct you on certain information to provide, such as previous and present employment and college or military transcripts and documents.
Your relationship with your investigator should be on a professional level—keep it friendly and not confrontational. The investigator may need to call you back in several times for clarification on certain matters or gaps in dates, but do not see this as a negative sign. This is part of the job to get you processed to be hired. Remember, this is not an ordinary job—your background and character count.
Once you have submitted your application, you just have to wait. Most departments will notify you when they receive your application. Even if they don’t, have patience! Some agencies process thousands of applicants. The application itself should state what you will hear and when.