One can’t really say that human beings are solely destined to work until they can no longer so that they can survive; others will argue that the true meaning of life is to enjoy the abundance of things that are free, and others will say that working and earning is the only means to survive. Regardless of that, you will eventually have to find a way to survive in the means that you know you are capable of doing. The most common and most prevalent way is finishing an education and applying for a job that will pay you enough just to survive.
Immediately after you graduate college, you start to apply to the jobs you have been quite interested in during the course of your education. It might be inclined to the degree you took or one that is so far off, but it is what you consider as your passion. Whatever it may be, one way or another, you will have to acquire a job in order to earn. Earning a living is one of the only ways for you to buy your necessities, support your interests and other passion, help out your family, and help you prepare for emergencies and sudden circumstances you may find yourself in.
When you think about it, you may think that because it is the most common practice, finding and applying for a job is as easy as it sounds. However, there is process in which you have to go through. Companies have different application processes that applicants have to go through. Aside from that, the varying type of industries also require varying prerequisites that applicants will have to comply. Regardless though, one of the most common forms you will have to fill out when applying for a job is a job or an employment application form. Therefore, in this guide you will learn about a job application form, it significance as well as how to properly fill it out.
A job application or employment application form is a finished template that employers will require applicants to fill out during their application process. The form is commonly filled out when applying as a walk-in applicant, meaning it is filled out offline with a pen and a printed copy of the form. However, just like everything, the form has been commonly filled out and submitted online. The job application form contains the same content and questions that will be answered by each person applying for an open position.
The form usually covers the applicant’s personal information, previous job title/s, and contact information. It can also cover your educational background, degrees, qualifications, references, and so on. Companies usually use the same format of a job application regardless of the position the applicant is applying for because the uniformed format makes it easier to examine and analyze than that of a CV, which may come in varying formats. There will also be times when a company uses a specific format of the form for a specific purpose. In addition, it is also usual for companies to require applicants to fill out the form in addition to the submitted CV.
Aside from the efficiency it provides the companies, it is also one way to gather information that an applicant may not voluntarily include in his/her CV. As you may know, you curate the information you include in your CV in order to present the most significant and impressive personal, educational, and professional information. Although that is impressive, your potential employers will want the raw and unplanned data, meaning they want what’s realistic. Aside from that, the application form is also used to assess motivation and make a first impression at essential skills such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
The job application form is basically a questionnaire that you will have to answer. Aside from the common aspects you will have to fill out such as information related to your previous job and educational background, you will have to dig deeper into your mind and stature. Some job application forms will ask you to answer competency questions that will assess your competency and compatibility in the type of job you are about to enter into. Others will have you write a personal statement explaining your compatibility and suitability to the job.
Therefore, an application form is a crucial and an essential document you will have to face during your application process. Although it follows a comprehensive and uniform format, it can still provide you an opportunity to impress your potential employer. It can be your chance to showcase your personal motivations and individual style that will separate and make you stand out from the rest of the applicants.
As mentioned above, a job application form is a comprehensive document that follows basically the same format that each applicant must answer. It provides a comprehensive and thorough insight into what the employers are looking for in an employee to fill in the vacant position. Although it can be intimidating to an applicant since they will not be able to impress the employer with superfluous words, it is very useful for the employer. Listed below are some of the reasons why a job application form is important and significant to the whole application process:
With the long list of potentially suitable candidates, employers only skim through the tens and hundreds of application form. If you as an applicant think that they will spend longer than six minutes reading through your application form, you are quite mistaken. They will not be reluctant in throwing away application forms that don’t have the answers that they want and need. Here are some sure signs that an application will be thrown down the bin:
If you are filling out an application form offline, the most definite and easiest thing you can do to make sure your forms lands into the bin is handing out a document full of crossed-out words. You’ll be surprised to know that employers simply do not have the time to deal with indecisiveness and poor planning resulting to a messy paper. In addition, submitting an application form with messy handwriting will surely exempt you from being a probable candidate for the position.
On the other hand, if you are filling out a form online, that does not necessarily mean that you are safe from such factors. Clicking the send button without properly fact checking and proofreading your form might be the cause for the abrupt conclusion of your application process. Sending in careless spelling mistakes and grammatical errors will lead you to the rejected pile quicker than you think. Generally, submitting a careless and crappy form will imply that you do careless and crappy work too.
When you were still in the academe taking exams after exams, you have been constantly reminded to follow specific instructions for each section on a single subject. This also applies when you apply for a job. An application form usually has instruction on different parts that it may consist. This includes specific instructions about how to fill in the form, guidance on what to write about, word counts or instructions about attachments. If you are not able to provide what has been instructed, it can only mean that either you don’t have them or that you can’t read. If the employer requires that you submit a completed form and you submit a half-finished one, don’t expect them to accept the CV you have so kindly attached.
Even if there is a generous limit when it comes to the word count, do not babble. Babbling on and on without even hitting the point of the question is useless and simply a waste of time to both you and the employer. If you want to be included in the short list of potential candidates for the position, answer the question directly and relevantly. Always get to the point straight ahead and avoid ambiguity. If you give out examples on why you are the most suitable candidate for the job, provide the most relevant and significant evidence to back your claims and avoid discussing your whole employment history. Save your application by giving your prospective employer some time.
As you may now know, a job application form follows the same format and pattern that caters to the needs of different companies. Some have less questions and some have more depending on the amount information a company or organization wants to acquire from an applicant. Nevertheless, most of these job application forms follow the basic structure presented below:
This section of the application form is the most straightforward and direct. It basically needs all your relevant personal details such as your full name, permanent and residential addresses, contact information, nationality, relevant government numbers, and so on. Since this is is the easiest section to fill out, you have to make sure that the information you include are pertinent and legitimately yours and that you put the right information on their appropriate places.
Before you even think about applying for a job, you have to carefully read the job description where the academic requirements will be listed. You have to make sure that you meet or exceed the minimum academic requirements required for the job. If you you know you have the right academic qualifications for the position you are applying for, the application form will require you to list the names and addresses of the schools or college you have graduated from.
You may also be required to give your academic grades for qualifications gained from secondary school through university. However, if you have relevant and serious reasons as to why you were not able to meet the required minimum grade, it is better to call the human resources department of the company to discuss your application. Prepare the proper documentation that will support the reasons for you having the below minimum required grade.
Depending on the employer, there will be specific instructions and guidelines as to how you should fill out this section. Most commonly, you will be required to list down the details of your most recent work; it can be your vacation work or internships if you’re still just a fresh graduate. You can also include details of holiday or part-time jobs, temporary work, and unpaid or voluntary work experience.
Ideally, you will need at least three examples of previous employment or work. If you have been previously employed or have been to a lot of jobs, you should list your most recent employment first down to the past ones and/or the most relevant job you have had to the position you are currently applying for. It is important to account every period of your life in an application form; it not advised to leave dates or period unaccounted for. If you had gap years, it is better to state what you did, where this took place, how you organized/funded your trip, and what skills you gained as a result of the experience.
This section should not be taken for granted. And aside from you most basic skills, think of other skills that you know will give you an advantage over other applicants. Instead of listing the skills broadly, be more specific; for example, instead of saying excellent with foreign languages, state it like this: Fluent in English and Spanish, and proficient in French.
You should also organize the way you list your skills. The proceeding skills must be relevant or at least closely related to the first one. In addition, remember that the skills, activities, and interests you include in your application form must be relevant to the job you are applying for. And always include highly regarded skills such as second languages, intermediate IT skills above your hobbies.
Normally, you will be asked to list at least two references in your job application form. It is better to use one referee from a previous employment or professional engagement and the other for academic reference. Make sure you ask permission from the people you are using as reference before you even include them in your form. You have to inform them ahead of time since the company might get in touch with them to verify the claims you have stated in your form.
This section is also called the Personal Statement section which aims to prove that you are the most suitable candidate for the position. This is where you try to sell yourself and try to match the skills, competencies, and experiences that the employer is looking for in a candidate.
In this section, you should let the employer know what originally attracted you to this job, how your qualifications and experiences are relevant to the job, what are you willing to do to improve your skills or qualifications, how your personality will make you a good member of the company, why this job is a logical move, and how it fits in with your longer term career goals. You can also talk about he impression you have of the firm from these meetings such as career fairs, company presentations, work experience, internships, etc.
This section is a common part of the overall job application form. Although this may vary from every employer, the most common examples of competency questions used on application forms are as follows:
The answers to these questions will be be examined so that the employer can determine your compatibility to the roles and responsibilities that may be required from the job. Aside from that, it can also be a good way to see your communication skills, grammar, spelling and proper punctuation, as well as examine your overall analytical and logical capabilities.
Although you might be on the right mind-set when you go and submit your CV or resume, it might take you by surprise that you still have to fill out an application form. In order to effectively fill out the form, you must prepare yourself for possible questions and requirements that you will need to give. Here is an easy guide on how you can effectively complete a job application form:
You have to prepare yourself for the possible sections and information you might need to complete an application form. You need to have a copy or at least pre-drafted list of all the basic personal details you might need such as government-issued numbers, academic requirements, and so on. You also have to prepare your references since it is a must to put at least two references in the form. You have to mentally prepare yourself on how you should answer the questions. A guide about the sections commonly found in a job application form is discussed above.
You have to carefully read the job description in the job positing before you apply for the job. This will help you prepare the information or data that you have that will be related to the job or relevant to what the employer is looking for. In addition, check for the closing dates so you can send in or apply for the job before the deadline. Employers start processing applications weeks before the closing date and they usually dread and ignore last minute applications. It is also better to research about the company or organization prior to applying so that you have a clear knowledge on the company’s background, mission, vision, etc.
It is always better to give yourself enough time to fill out you job application letter. Draft your answers first before you start filling out your form. Before anything, read the entirety of the application form and familiarize the specific instructions that you will need to follow in the process. Avoid leaving questions blank, if the question does not apply to you, write “not applicable” or “N/A” on the appropriate place. Be sure to make your answers relevant, interesting, and personal. Your goal is to make yourself sound inviting for an interview and make you stand out from the rest of the applicants.
When you’re done filling out the form, go back and check each of your answers for misspellings and other errors. Proofread your answers and make sure the information you have given are factual and that you have the proper evidence to prove it when needed. Make sure that you have included all the information and data that the employer is asking for. If available, ask for a copy of the application so you can review it before going in an interview.
A job application form is a document that you will need to fill out once you apply for a job. Although the most common type of this form is filled out offline, there has been a rising number of companies that allow filling out the form online. This document takes an identical format for each applicant and regardless of the position, some companies still use the same format for the form.
It is a significant document that will help the employers easily and efficiently screen the most suitable candidates that will proceed to the next stage of the application process. Although it may seem rigid and restricting, it can still help the candidates highlight their qualifications to make them interesting for the employer. We hope that you have learned something from what has been discussed in this guide and may you find good use to the given examples.
