What are the benefits of job application forms?
Job application forms provide all the necessary information you require from applicants in an organised and searchable format. You can customize job application forms for specific job openings, which allows you to ask for applicable information only. Since all applicants complete the same job application forms, it’s easier to compare their suitability for the position. If you’re using an online job application form, you also automatically have all job applications in a central place. You can format and tag your applications forms in such as way that you so can easily find and search through them.
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What information should I ask for on a job application form?
You want to customize a job application form for each specific job opening. Here are a few general sections that are typically included in a job application form:
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1. Position and availability
You want to know precisely which position the candidate is applying for, even if it’s an online form for a specific position. It’s also relevant to know by which date the candidate will be available for the position. If you need a recruit as soon as possible, and the applicant can only start working in two months, you can eliminate the application and move on to the next.
2. Personal information
In this section, you’re asking for an applicant’s basic contact details so that you can contact them for an interview if they’re suitable. To ensure that you don’t discriminate against applicants based on factors such as their race, religion, home language, sexual preferences or marital status, steer clear from including related questions on a job application form.
3. Employment history
Relevant job experience is one of the key factors to consider when you’re sifting through applications. Provide space for details regarding three or four previous positions. In this way, you prevent applicants from supplying information regarding previous positions that are not applicable to the job opening.
4. Qualifications
Finding out what qualifications applicants have provides you with a means by which you can eliminate some applications. However, you should consider all the aspects of an application when you make decisions. What some applicants lack in qualifications, they can make up for in work experience.
5. Application questions
This section provides you with a more holistic idea of what kind of a person an applicant is, including what their values, motivations, and personality traits are. Although including this section adds more information for you to work through, it can be a helpful tool in determining who the top candidates are.
6. References
Once you’ve decided on a list of candidates who you want to call in for an interview, you can consult their references before the interview process. Doing so will provide you with valuable information that can help you make your final decision.
Related: 10 Recruiting Strategies for Hiring Great Employees
Template of a job application form
Here’s a template of a job application form you can look at for an idea of the layout you want to use:
| POSITION AND AVAILABILITY | |
|---|---|
| State the position you are applying for: | |
| Available start date: | |
| Desired salary: |
| PERSONAL INFORMATION | |
|---|---|
| Surname: | |
| First name: | |
| Title: | |
| National insurance number: | |
| Address: | |
| Postcode: | |
| Home telephone number: | |
| Mobile telephone number: | |
| E-mail address: | |
| Are you eligible to work in the UK? | |
| Do you hold a UK driver’s licence? | |
| If yes, do you have any points or convictions against you? |
| EMPLOYMENT HISTORY | |
|---|---|
| PRESENT EMPLOYMENT: | |
| Name of employer: | |
| Address: | |
| Postcode: | |
| Job title: | |
| Dates of employment: | |
| Salary: | |
| Reason for leaving: | |
| PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: | |
| Name of employer: | |
| Address: | |
| Postcode: | |
| Job title: | |
| Reasons for leaving: | |
| Salary: | |
| Reason for leaving: |
| QUALIFICATIONS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Institution: | Address: | Qualification: | Start and end dates: |
| APPLICATION QUESTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Why do you want to work at this company? | |
| Briefly outline your skills and experiences that make you a good fit for this role: | |
| What is your biggest professional achievement so far? |
| REFERENCES | |
|---|---|
| First and last name: | |
| Organisation: | |
| Relationship: | |
| E-mail address: | |
| Contact number: | |
| First and last name: | |
| Organization: | |
| Relationship: | |
| E-mail address: | |
| Contact number: |
Sample of a job application form
Here’s an example of what a completed job application form may look like:
| POSITION AND AVAILABILITY | |
|---|---|
| State the position you applying for: | Senior Project Manager |
| Available start date: | 1/06/2021 |
| Desired salary: | £64,000 |
| PERSONAL INFORMATION | |
|---|---|
| Surname: | Hanks |
| First name: | Jennifer |
| National insurance number: | QQ34765A |
| Address: | 12 George Street, London |
| Postcode: | EC1A 4HB |
| Home telephone number: | 020 7477 7856 |
| Mobile telephone number: | 07911 458923 |
| E-mail address: | j.hanks@email.com |
| Are you eligible to work in the UK? | Yes |
| Do you hold a UK driver’s licence? | Yes |
| If yes, do you have any points or convictions against you? | No |
| EMPLOYMENT HISTORY | |
|---|---|
| PRESENT EMPLOYMENT: | |
| Name of employer: | Eclipse Networks |
| Address: | The Business Centre, 52 Wellington Road, London |
| Postcode: | W1T 1JY |
| Job title: | Project manager |
| Dates of employment: | 15/01/08 – current |
| Salary: | £60,459 |
| Reason for leaving: | Looking for new opportunities |
| PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: | |
| Name of employer: | Dalidus Computing |
| Address: | The Technology Hub 15 Dresden Road London |
| Postcode: | L1 8JQ |
| Job title: | IT engineer |
| Dates of employment: | 02/02/05 – 31/12/07 |
| Salary: | £35,500 |
| Reason for leaving: | Went into project management |
| QUALIFICATIONS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Institution: | Address: | Qualification: | Start and end dates: |
| Centre for Project Management | Summer Rd. Princess Risborough, HP27 9LE |
APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) | 01/01/07 – 01/07/07 |
| College of Technology | Sorbonne St., Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HU |
BSc Computer Science Degree | 01/01/01 – 01/12/04 |
| APPLICATION QUESTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Why do you want to work at this company? | Ultimate Solutions has a great reputation and I have followed the growth of this company closely in the local news. I would love to be part of a forward-looking and innovative company like yours that focuses on green technology. |
| Briefly outline your skills and experiences that make you a good fit for this role? | One of my strongest skills is forming strong relationships with clients, which I think can be a valuable asset for this company? I have extensive experience in managing I.T. projects, which means I am qualified for the job. |
| What is your biggest professional achievement so far? | It was a great honour for me to receive the accolade as Best Project Manager last year at the company I was working for. |
| REFERENCES | |
|---|---|
| First and last name: | Shelly McFarley |
| Organisation: | Dalidus Computing |
| Relationship: | Manager |
| E-mail address: | shelly.mcfarley@email.com |
| Contact number: | 07911 443456 |
| First and last name: | Desmund Farley |
| Organisation: | College of Technology |
| Relationship: | Professor |
| E-mail address: | farleyd@email.com |
| Contact number: | 07911 443456 |