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.