Employment Application

What is an Employment Application?

An employment application (also referred to as a job application) is the official document that an employer will ask applicants (job seekers) to fill-out during the employment process. An employment application can filled-out online or off, in paper format.

An employment application provides a standard evaluation format, enabling a company to ask uniform questions to each prospective employee. Job seekers who apply for open positions are evaluated based on their answers latent in the employment application—along with their resume. If the employer finds the employment application satisfying, they will contact the individual for an interview.

All employers will utilize the employment application; the document serves as the starting point for securing employment. Individuals looking for work can physically go to an employer (most suitable for retail or the service indsutry) to secure a job application or apply online through an assortment of job-listing websites. Employment applications will also be made available on company websites, typically under the ‘career’ or ‘jobs’ tab.

What is on an Employment Application?

An employment application is a legally dispensable document, which requires the candidate to list their educational background, qualifications, references, employment history and more. Dissimilar to a cover letter and resume, which are written and formatted to highlight an individual’s most impressive credentials, an employment application is a listing of questions that requires nothing but factual responses.

Positions held, dates of employment, contact information of previous bosses or supervisors, dates of degrees, along with the applicant’s personal information is typically required on an employment application.

Purpose of the Employment Application:

An employment application will be used for assorted reasons by an employer. The employment application enables the employer to collect and evaluate a potential employee’s personal information—which in turn enables the employer to view the candidate’s criminal history if applicable—as well as other information concerning work and educational history.

This information is affirmed through the potential employee’s signature—the candidates signature will verify that all statements on the employment application are valid. Furthermore the signature allows the employer to seek references and review the results of drug tests (if instituted).

An employment application will also provide names and contact information for the candidate’s previous employers. The majority of employment applications will also ask for the individual’s social security number and the candidate’s prospective work schedule. Moreover, the employment application will ask whether the candidate has ever been convicted of a felony or has ever enlisted in the armed forces.

All employment applications will end with the applicant’s consent to provide a signature, certifying that all information listed on the document is true and granting the employer broad permissions to cross-reference or evaluate the candidate’s suitability for work.