Now you never have to leave the comfort of your home to apply for a job. With an online job application, simply enter your information and hit submit. The number of companies asking you to fill out an online application is increasing and you should be prepared for what you will find.
Gone are the days when you would get dressed to pick up applications, dressed again to drop them off, and then dressed a third time for the interview. With an online job application, you can find all your job applications online and all you have to do is get dressed for your interview. However, there are a few different types of online applications and you will need some skills to complete them.
First, you must have basic computer and typing skills to complete your online job application. Most online job applications are not necessarily difficult, but you need to understand the basic difference between the tab and the enter button along with how dropdown menus work. You will also need an email address when you complete your online job application. You can get a free email address through Yahoo! or Hotmail.
The most common online job application is one that is submitted over the Internet. You will need to enter your information, which is not much different from paper applications. Typical fields on an online job application include your name, address, phone number, education, and employment history. Most of these applications include a disclaimer that if you hit “submit,” you are telling your potential employer that all of the information is accurate.
Another type of online job application is one that you can download, but you must print and mail it to your potential employer. This type of application benefits the potential employee who does not have the best typing skills. Many government agencies have online job application forms that must be printed as they may require a legal signature.
The last type of online job application is not really an application. It’s more of a request for you to send a cover letter and resume to a company. Often these apps will require you to enter basic information such as your name, phone number, and address. Then there will be a place for you to download a cover letter and resume or you can copy/paste your cover letter and resume. Many companies are stopping allowing you to attach files to your online job application due to viruses.
One of the nice aspects of being able to complete a job application online is that it can often take longer to complete than if you were applying in person. Most online job applications provide you with an ID and password so you can stop and return to your application. This allows you to really think about your responses and present yourself in a more professional manner.
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