Purpose of the Application

This screening tool is used by employers to give them a complete history of your background. It covers areas of education, work experience, skills and interests, both related and unrelated. You will be expected to give details, such as a complete employment history with supervisors' names, salaries, reasons for leaving, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Employers may also ask applicants to provide information in addition to work and education histories. You may be asked to list skills & tools. Supplemental Questions may be included as a sort of pre-interview assessment of your relevent experiences and knowledge. You may be asked to complete a written (or oral) technical test to measure your knowledge. Various types of testing are described below. If the company has an Affirmative Action plan, you may be asked to provide personal information (i.e., age, race, gender, etc.) This personal information should not be part of the screening process. Providing this information is voluntary. If you do not feel comfortable, do not complete this section of the application materials. It will not be held against you.

Completing the Application

There are certain things you should and should not do when completing the application. These include:

• Fill every blank. Write "NA" or "---" if not applicable.
• Name the specific position for which you are applying.
• Complete the application neatly and legibly. Check grammar and spelling.
• Be aware of chronology. Avoid gaps if possible. Explain if necessary.
• Prepare for a salary history or salary expectations. Be honest and realistic.
• Be ready to explain "reasons for leaving". Keep answers as impersonal as possible. Do not place blame.
• Prepare references. Include name, title, organization, address, phone. Work and school references are usually more effective than personal references.
• Use questions about tools,training and job duties to emphasize your relevant skills.
• Bring a fact sheet , or sample application, to help you complete the job application.

Testing Applicants

Companies may use various forms of testing to measure your knowledge, skills, personality and aptitude. Skills tests may be written, oral or task oriented (where the employer asks you to perform a specific, job-related task.) You may also be asked to take a Personality or IQ test. These tests have been determined by the courts to be legal as screening tools for employers. Polygraph tests are not usually legal for screening purposes, except for some specific "high security" or criminal justice jobs.

You may also be required to take a Drug Test or Physical Medical Examination. Typically, these are not used as screening tools, but may be required upon job offer, especially if there is a health or safety risk involved with the job. Sometimes these tests are used to set a base health measurement to be compared with later tests.

Last Modified: 2015. Send comments or suggestions regarding these pages to: Webmaster