i agree with all except the N/A part.. as i have filled out applications where they want you to fill out EVERYTHING and they state in bold print DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BLANK! and commenced to say if you do your application will automatically be rejected.. and if N/A is not acceptable then what do you put in military if you have never been in the military? or previous employment if its the first job you have ever applied for?
When I worked for someone else, I too had filled out applications where it asks about Military background. And every application I've filled out where it asks such, there is a box to check for either Yes or No.
While some people do not want to take the time to fill an application out because a lot of it doesn't pertain to them, it looks very unprofessional to a potential Employer to see, "N/A" all over an application. It makes the Employer think that if you're that lazy on your application, then how would you really be at performing duties for them.
While N/A is faster and more convenient for some, a simple, "Does not apply to me/my situation" or a simple, "No" or perhaps another explanation, will look more professional to a potential Employer.
I know I would hire the one who actually took the time to fill their application out thoroughly over someone who put N/A to questions that didn't pertain to them.
Also, N/A has several different meanings:
The characters N/A (sometimes n/a) are an abbreviation that is mainly used in information tables. It stands for one of the following:
Not applicable: Where three or more elements are not compatible, it is said the resulting data is not applicable. For example, in a sport results table, where all teams are columns and rows, those cells which would show a team versus itself are usually marked with a symbol or with N/A.
Not available: Where there exists a lack of data. It also means a temporary unavailability of that piece of data (although TBA or TBD is often used instead). For example, in a price table, when new articles have arrived but the price is not yet available, it is usually expressed with n/a. In Microsoft Excel, the function NA() or special entry #N/A may be used.
No answer: Refers to something that has no known or available answer.
Not announced: As in the title isn't announced yet. And while N/A put onto an application usually means, "Not Applicable", it could potentially confuse the Employer in whom you are seeking Employment with. All the more reason to be as descriptive and thorough as possible even when something doesn't pertain to you!