An effective employment application will allow you to efficiently search for suitable candidates to interview and hire at your place of business. Discover what you need to include in an employment application and when you should use one.
What is an Employment Application?
An employment application is a document to be filled out by a potential candidate for employment at your business, organization, or company. A well-organized written application will help you sort through applicants for each open position at your company and help you decide who you may want to interview in person.
An application for employment places potential employees on an even playing field by having the requested information in the same place on every application. This allows you to wade through applications quickly and efficiently, especially when looking for specific skills or education that can help enhance your business.
When Should I Use an Employment Application?
Use an employment application form pdf when you need to pinpoint the most critical skills or experience you’re looking for in a candidate, which includes:
- Searching for suitable candidates for your job
- Looking for specific knowledge or experience
- Looking to hire one or more employees or staff
- When you are planning to create a database of potential future hires
- When looking for a good fit within your company
- When deciding how to broaden your pool of applicants
What are the parts of the employment application?
In an employment application template, the information that needs to be included can be organized using the following stages:
Stage 1: Personal information
Stage 2: Eligibility for employment
Stage 3: Education
Stage 4: Employment history
Stage 5: Signature
Stage 1: Personal information
Primary contact information begins with an applicant’s legal name, residential address, and all online contact information, including a valid and monitored email address. Contact numbers must include cell phone and/or home phone number(s).
Stage 2: Eligibility for employment
This section addresses an applicant’s ability to legally work in the United States and simply requires a checkbox. More in-depth information can be sought regarding the hours available to work, whether flexibility is available in the applicant’s schedule, and when the applicant can physically be present and start the job.
Be sure that your questions are not disguised or designed to elicit what can be deemed to be discriminatory information. These include inquiries about age, race, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, or criminal history in some states.
Stage 3: Education
Under skills and education, you can list the skills required for the position or present them as multiple choices for mobile users. Applicants can list their skills, although their descriptions may vary depending on the job.
This section includes spaces to list high school, university, or college degrees, training in other educational facilities, or specific online courses.
Stage 4: Employment history
Ask for detailed job information regarding responsibilities and duties, mainly if the application is intended for hourly or entry-level employees.
It may be difficult for candidates to get written references, so consider leaving space on your free employment application for the name of the last company or individual the candidate worked for. Have the applicant include contact information for their previous employer, including their email address and telephone number.
You can have applicants state the starting and ending pay at the last or current employer and use a checkbox to indicate whether the payment is hourly or by salary. If applicable, you can allow applicants to demonstrate their desired pay.
Stage 5: Signature
Finally, the applicant must date and sign their name for the application to be considered a valid submission of accurate and correct information.
It is far more efficient to structure an employment application form using a template. You can produce an application in minutes with a Legal Templates free step-by-step form builder.
Application for Employment Sample
Here’s what an employment application pdf typically looks like:
Employment Application
This free printable employment application form template can be created using a Legal Templates document builder or printed out after downloading and saving the form.
Other Things to Consider in an Employment Application
Mobile platforms will increase your applicant pool considerably. Many of your candidates will apply online and through their smartphones or tablets. Create a mobile-friendly version of your application for employment by providing multiple choices and eliminating dropdown boxes.
Also, consider including a non-negotiable yes or no question that will help you separate the applicants rapidly.