Employment application form
An employment application form is a standardised form which is developed by some organisations to gather employment related information. This form is sometimes used as part of the process for recruiting and selecting staff. On occasion, certain employers may require you to complete such a form.
The application form itself can be either a paper or an electronic document. The purpose of the form, and the information it seeks from job applicants will vary according to the needs of the organisation.
It is important to always comply with requests to complete an employment application form, as failure to do so may mean that you are not considered for selection. Aim to complete the application as completely and accurately as possible, even though you may think that you have provided some of the required information in other documents, for example, in your resume or job application cover letter.
- Information I will need to provide
- Timing of completion of an application form
- Guidelines to follow when completing an application form
- Sample application forms
- Funding
- Applying
Information I will need to provide
Employers have various needs to collect and store essential information about their employees; for example, residential address, tax file number, details of qualifications and training, the name of a relative to be contacted in an emergency etc. An employment application form is an ideal way for an organisation to gather and store this type of information.
Some employers will use an application form as an important part of their overall recruitment and selection process, in particular as an aid to screening applications and to identify candidates who qualify for an interview. For instance, an employer might compare and select the best candidates based on their responses to questions on the application form about things like:
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Your reasons for applying for the job.
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Why you want to work for the organisation.
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Career aspirations.
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A summary of your employment history, key strengths, weaknesses etc.
- The names and contact details of your referees.
Should you be completing an application form that has these types of questions, it is very important that you tailor your answers to the requirements of the position for which you are applying. These requirements are often called Selection Criteria.
In answering these, you need to be specific by providing relevant examples that demonstrate your ability to satisfy the employer's requirements. 'Generic' type answers to these questions are unlikely to get you on the short list of candidates to be interviewed. Your aim in answering these questions is to get on to the list of candidates to be interviewed.
Timing of completion of an application form
The organisation to whom you are applying for a position will direct you regarding if and when you will need to complete an application form. Many deadlines for graduate positions are as early as March in your final year.
Recruitment procedures vary between organisations. You may therefore be required to complete this document at any stage of the application process, depending on what information is to be gathered, and how this is used within the organisation. Completion of an application form may be required:
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At the time you forward to the employer other documents related to your application for the position.
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While waiting for a first, or follow-up, interview, or immediately after an interview.
- As one of the steps in finalising a job offer to you.
Guidelines to follow when completing an application form
Following are some hints and tips to assist you, should you ever be required to complete an employment application form:
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Read the entire document before you commence answering questions.
This will help to ensure that you provide the information required in the correct place on the form. For example, you may decide to write about some of your employment related achievements when answering a question about your employment history, only to find that there is a separate question on the form about major achievements in employment. Unfortunately reading the entire document may not always be possible in some electronic documents where you complete and then submit answers on a page by page basis. -
Always tell the truth.
An employment application form can be deemed to be a legally binding document. You may need to sign a clause which states that the information you have provided is accurate. So beware of making mistakes, as this could be interpreted as dishonesty. This could lead to your dismissal. -
Maintain a personal information folder.
This will contain the type of information you may be asked to supply on an application form. For example a copy of your resume should be in the folder so that you can accurately provide details of your previous employment history. Other types of information could include your tax file number, details of your previous residential addresses, the name and address of your doctor, names and contact details of your referees. -
Take your information folder with you to interviews.
Sometimes you may be required to complete an application form immediately prior to, or following an interview. Having relevant facts, figures and other information at your fingertips will better enable you to provide complete answers, and where appropriate to tailor your responses to meet the requirements of the role. -
Answer all the questions.
One of the reasons employers use an application form is to enable them to compare candidate responses. Answer all the questions. If however you are unable to do so, or, the question does not apply to you, respond with 'not applicable' or 'n/a'. This gives the employer an indication of your abilities with regard to thoroughness and attention to detail. -
Take particular care with neatness and accuracy.
Some organisations require handwritten completion of application forms. Be aware that the neatness of your handwriting, and also the general neatness and accuracy with which you complete the form will contribute to the overall impression the organisation has of you. -
Do not provide negative information.
Remember, your objective is to use your answers to get to interview stage of the selection process. Saying for example that you had a fight with the boss or a customer as reason for leaving a part-time job role is unlikely to impress your prospective employer. -
Ensure your answers are consistent with other information you supply.
Your resume and application letter often will contain the same type of information you will need to complete on the application. Make sure dates, names, titles and other information is the same on all your documents. - Proof-read the finished
form.
When you have completed the application form take the time to thoroughly check for errors. Ensure your spelling is correct.
Sample application forms
Here are some links to websites which contain advertisements for positions which include completion of an application form:
Sample forms
Darwin Convention Centre (PDF - 51kb opens in a new window)
Tasmania State Service (PDF - 90kb opens in a new window)
Funding
The following websites are good sources of information on funding, scholarships and student finances.
Fees and financing
UniSA - Future students - Fees and finances
Department of Education, Science and Training – higher education for students in Australia – Going to uni
Scholarships
UniSA - Scholarships
Applying
Phone the university to find out about the deadline dates for applications. Deadlines can be as early as eight months, or as late as a few weeks, before the program commences. The deadlines are different for international and Australian students.
Some universities will ask you to apply through Admission Centres, such as SATAC, although this is not common for postgraduate qualifications.
How to Apply for Research Degrees
If you are applying to UniSA you can find out more information from the Program staff or Program Information Centre, at 100 North Terrace.
Telephone: (08) 8302 2376
Fax: (08) 8302 9150
Email: admissions@unisa.edu.au