Job applications

An application for employment is a standard business document which is prepared with questions deemed relevant by an in order for the employer to determine the best I to be given the responsibility of fulfilling the work needs of the company. Most companies provide such forms to anyone upon request at which point it becomes the responsibility of the applicant to complete the document form and returning it to the employer at will for consideration. The completed and returned document notifies the company of the applicants availability and desire to be employed and their and background so a determination can be made as to which candidate should be hired. An application for employment is a standard business document which is prepared with questions deemed relevant by an in order for the employer to determine the best I to be given the responsibility of fulfilling the work needs of the company. Most companies provide such forms to anyone upon request at which point it becomes the responsibility of the applicant to complete the document form and returning it to the employer at will for consideration. The completed and returned document notifies the company of the applicants availability and desire to be employed and their and background so a determination can be made as to which candidate should be hired. From the employer's perspective, the application serves a number of purposes. These vary depending on the nature of the job and the preferences of the person responsible for hiring, as 'each organization should have an application form that reflects its own environment'.Diane Arthur, Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting & Orienting New Employees (1998), p. 111.</ref> At a minimum, an application usually requires the applicant to provide information sufficient to demonstrate that he or she is legally permitted to be employed. The typical application also requires the applicant to provide information regarding relevant skills, education, and experience (previous employment or volunteer work). The application itself is a minor test of the applicant's literacy, penmanship, and communication skills - a careless job applicant might disqualify themselves with a poorly filled-out application. The application may also require the applicant to disclose any criminal record, and to provide information sufficient to enable the employer to conduct an appropriate background check. For a business that employs workers on a part-time basis, the application may inquire as to the applicant's specific times and days of availability, and preferences in this regard. It is important to note, however, that an employer may be prohibited from asking applicants about characteristics that are not relevant to the job, such as their political view or sexual orientation. For white collar jobs, particularly those requiring communication skills, the employer will typically require applicants to accompany the form with a cover letter and a résumé. However, even employers who accept a cover letter and résumé will frequently also require the applicant to complete a form application, as the other documents may neglect to mention details of importance to the employers. In some instances, an application is effectively used to dissuade 'walk-in' applicants, serving as a barrier between the applicant and a job interview with the person with the authority to hire. For many businesses, applications for employment can be filled out online, and do not have to be submitted in person. However, it is still recommended that applicants bring a printed copy of their application to an interview. Application blanks are the second most common hiring instrument next to personal interviews. Companies will occasionally use two types of application blanks, short and long. They both help companies with initial screening and the longer form can be used for other purposes as well. The answers that applicants choose to submit are helpful to the company because they can become an interview question for that applicant at a future date. The employment application is not a standardized form so every company may create its own as long as regulations set by the government are adhered.