Apply for a Job

• CACEE Application Form and Guide
• Applying for jobs at the U of S
• Request your transcripts
• Participate in on-campus recruitment

It may seem like a duplication of effort to complete an application form if you are submitting a good resume. However, an application form is often a critical part of the hiring process.

There are two main reasons why employers value application forms, and why you, as an applicant, should take them seriously:

1. Completing an application form illustrates your ability to follow directions and pay attention to details. If you cannot be bothered to fill out an application form, the recruiter may not bother interviewing you.
   
   
2. Critical pieces of information in standard locations are used to screen for candidates with the right qualifications. In many cases, a recruiter will have "knock-out" sections on their application forms. They screen applicants based on what they find in a particular box on their application form. If you fail to fully complete the application, the recruiter cannot make an informed decision about your application. Recruiters cannot be expected to take the time to hunt through your attached resume. In effect, you have screened yourself out of the process because you did not complete the application form!

When completing an application form:

• Type the application or use black ink. The easier your application form is to read, the more likely it will be read. A typed application is most professional. Blue or other coloured ink does not copy well and can be difficult to read.
  
  
• Answer all the questions, even if the information is repeated on your resume. If you come across a question for which you do not have an answer, or you would prefer not to answer, enter “Not Applicable.”
  
  
• List your information in reverse chronological order. For example, in your “Education” section, start with your most recent degree or year of schooling and work backwards.
  
  
• Be honest, but positive. When completing the “Work Experience” section, use point form to describe your duties. Start each point with an action verb and list your points in descending order of importance. Remember, your future employer is trying to assess your potential as an employee. What administrative, technical, or interpersonal skills have you acquired that a new employer will be able to use? Be concise, but specific. Give the person reading your application a good mental picture of what you were doing. Make that person want to interview you to find out more.