If you are a resident of America, you may be quite familiar with online job applications? Take the Ross Store for randomness. You fill out your application with your information, working experience, and so on and try to submit it but it keeps sending a pop us saying: “The value does not match the pattern aa.”
Many people have faced this problem on the ross application. It is not a huge deal. Let’s have a discussion and get to a solution to a seeming problem.
Why does this happen?
As we have stated before, this is not a big issue. When you fill out all the personal information, you have to give your Zip code, address, phone number, etc. The value which does not match indicates the numbers on your application.
Be it the address or zip code or even phone number. Most people stubble against this problem when their phone number format does not match with the instruction. In other words, you did not put the numbers the way they wanted.
For example, they wanted the country code first and you started with the area code. They won’t take it, it does not match the parameters. Typically, a pop-up will show up saying it doesn’t match the aa pattern. Or, The number entered does not match the pattern “##”.
| Data Entry Type | Common Mistake | Correct Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Number | Incorrect format: 123-456-789 | (123) 456-7890 |
| ZIP Code | Missing digit: 1234 | 12345 |
| State | Abbreviated incorrectly: Cali | CA |
| Email Address | Missing domain: user@domain | user@domain.com |
| Date of Birth | Wrong format: 12/31-1990 | 12/31/1990 |
| Social Security # | Extra spaces: 123 45 6789 | 123-45-6789 |
| Credit Card Number | Wrong grouping: 1234-5678-9101-112 | 1234 5678 9101 1121 |
| Street Address | Missing number: Main St | 123 Main St |
| Time Entry | 24-hour format without colon: 1500 | 15:00 |
| Postal Code (Intl.) | Using ZIP code format: 12345 | W1A 1AA (UK) |
Explanation:
- Phone Number: Ensure parentheses for area code and proper grouping.
- ZIP Code: Always use five digits.
- State: Use the standard two-letter abbreviation.
- Email Address: Include a complete domain.
- Date of Birth: Use MM/DD/YYYY format.
- Social Security #: Use hyphens correctly.
- Credit Card Number: Use correct grouping.
- Street Address: Include street number.
- Time Entry: Use a colon in 24-hour format.
- Postal Code (Intl.): Use correct format for the specific country.
Why Paper Applications Aren’t As Picky?
Paper applications offer flexibility due to human oversight. Unlike digital forms with strict validation rules, paper applications allow for varied handwriting and minor errors, which human reviewers can interpret and correct.
This manual process reduces the chance of rejections for minor deviations from standard patterns, making paper applications more forgiving and adaptable.
Solution For Success
First, check their instruction and what they want. Then, you can fill it out according to their pattern input desired. Lastly, you should double check thoroughly over the whole application in case any value is wrong.
Let’s face it, Employers like employees that can follow direction!
I hope, the dreaded pop-up will not happen again and you are able to submit your application without any hassle. Good Luck!