Why are Employment Application Forms Important? What to Avoid When Filling. How can you Fine-tune Your Employment Application Form?
If you’re job hunting, you will have to fill out several job application forms. In other words, you will be required to send your resume accompanied by a cover letter. An employment application form is an official document given to job applicants asking a wide array of questions about the individual and their skills related to the job.
Regardless of the job you’re applying for, most employers will require all the applicants to fill out employment application forms, which can be done either on paper, online, or via email.
Why are Employment Application Forms Important?
In a nutshell, an employment application form allows you to impress an employer. For this reason, before filling in the application form, gather all the essential information you’ll need, not forgetting your academic achievements, employment experience, skills and attributes, and your referee’s contact information.
A well-written employment application form is an opportunity to show the employer your;
- Immediate value: A concise and compelling employment application form is your first chance to stand out and be considered a strong candidate amongst other applicants. Stressing your crucial strengths will help improve your chances of progression through the selection process while grabbing the employer’s attention.
- Personality: The wording of your application form expresses your personality in a way the resume cannot. The letter’s tone gives the reader a great insight into your character and the kind of attributes that can add value to their team. It gives you the platform to explain why you are the best candidate for the job in your own words.
- Unique fit: An employment application form is a meaningful way to express how your exceptional skills and experience meet the essential requirements of the job description. This is an opportunity to display a clear link between your experience, knowledge, and abilities to the employer’s needs.
- Enthusiasm: A compelling employment application form shows that the applicant has taken the time to research the company and understands what the employer is looking for. It gives you the chance to express that you are very enthusiastic about the job position and demonstrate your value to the company.
Check out the following tips to know more about writing impressive employment application forms.
The Information Included in the Employment Application Form
An employment application form should have the capability of grabbing the employer’s attention and leave them with the urge of wanting to know you more. If you don’t know what to include, you can check out the free templates on the CocoDoc platform for clues.
Typical sections of an Application form include;
- Personal information: First up when filling an employment application form is the heading area. This is where you put your personal information, such as name and email address.
- Educational background: Provide details on the academic achievements you have received throughout your lifetime. They include the institutions you’ve enrolled in, courses you’ve pursued, and the qualifications you’ve gained.
- Work experience: However, Give information about your professional history and highlight your primary duties and responsibilities in each role, skills learned, and accomplishments. Emphasize more on the capabilities closely related to the job you’re applying for.
- Competency-based questions: Provide real-life examples of times you’ve demonstrated the skills required for the role. For instance, about a significant decision you made,; why you made a specific decision, how you implemented it, and why some outcomes occurred.
- Personal Profile: Write a well-reasoned case that summarizes why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the employer.
When filling in an employment form, don’t be afraid to express your passion for the organization or past achievements related to the role at hand. Also, You should never lie about your experience or achievements in your employment application form; as it can result in severe consequences.
How can you Fine-tune Your Employment Application Form?
Making minor changes to the application form improves its quality. Employers are searching for confident job seekers, so you should express your suitability by giving short and meaningful answers.
You should also;
- Use action words that can deliver your message more powerfully. Some good examples include transformed, achieved, or inspired. It is usually helpful as it makes you appear as a competent and confident candidate.
- Use appropriate examples of your achievements from your past experiences
- Focus on answering the questions and void writing vague content
- Express your enthusiasm for the role at hand
- Proofread your application to ensure there are no grammatical errors
If possible, ask someone else to go through your application form to help check if any errors may have been skipped.
What to Avoid When Filling an Employment Application Letter
You should be very careful about the information you include in the application letter, avoid things like;
- Using the incorrect format
- Talking about why you are looking for a new job
- Giving irrelevant work experiences
- Talking about your salary expectations
- Using the wrong tone
- Forgetting to proofread the application before submitting it
Should I Disclose Personal Information?
When filling an employment application form, you are not obligated to provide age, disability, race, religion, pregnancy, or marriage details. It is consider unlawful for employers to discriminate against job seekers on such grounds.
It’s entirely up to you, the applicant, to disclose such information when filling an application form. If you aren’t comfortable giving such information on an application form; you can do so during an interview after a job offer is made.
If by any chance you feel discriminated against, you can make a complaint during the recruitment process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Employers have several employment application forms to go through; so jotting down incomplete or irrelevant information and hoping your application will be shortlisted is not good enough.
For this reason, you will have to prepare and demonstrate your strengths in the application form carefully. Remember, recruiters, read the employment application forms; and how you can prepare yours significantly impact getting that job interview and offere the position you’re chasing.