{"id":1183,"date":"2017-12-04T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-12-04T09:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrdirectapps.com\/blog\/?p=1183"},"modified":"2018-12-13T20:35:24","modified_gmt":"2018-12-13T20:35:24","slug":"hiring-the-best-candidate-resumes-versus-job-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrdirectapps.com\/blog\/hiring-the-best-candidate-resumes-versus-job-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Job Applications Are a Must: Why a Resume Isn’t Enough to Qualify Candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"Your job advertisement is pulling in resumes by the boatload. The \u201cthumbs-up\u201d pile has some promising prospects. Sweet. Now all that\u2019s left is to interview and hire, right?\r\n\r\nNot so fast. Spiffy resumes that radiate glowing candidate qualities and experiences may not provide the details you need to properly qualify a potential hire. To capture relevant \u2014 and consistent \u2014 information from a pool of candidates, you\u2019ll want everyone on your shortlist to complete job applications, too.\r\n\r\nMore than a document duplicating information from a resume, a job application captures additional (and vital) details to help you make an informed decision. The extra step may be frustrating for job seekers, but it serves a fundamental purpose for businesses.\r\n

Role of the Resume: Sell the Seeker<\/h2>\r\nThe resume is an applicant\u2019s foot in the door. It\u2019s his\/her chance to shine and capture your attention, so you\u2019ll only see what they\u2019re willing to reveal \u2014 which is all the good stuff. The resume is more of sales tool for the candidate vs. a qualifying resource for you. When done well, a resume is an \u201cat a glance\u201d advertisement of the candidate, but it may not provide the nuggets you need to find the best of the best.\r\n\r\nThe biggest challenge with resumes? They\u2019re like fingerprints \u2014 no two are alike. They don\u2019t follow a standard format, nor do they always hone in on all the information you<\/em> need \u2014 such as references or reasons for leaving past jobs. When a resume leaves you with more questions than answers, it\u2019s clearly time for something more: a solidly crafted job application.\r\n

Application Advantage: Capture What You Need<\/h2>\r\nConsider a job application as a resume gap filler. Job seekers use resumes to tell their stories, and they leave out the stuff they don\u2019t want you to see. Though you\u2019re not looking to catch applicants in a lie (although that sometimes happens!)<\/em>, you are<\/em> hoping to fill in the blanks by asking questions a candidate may not divulge on a resume.\r\n
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Employers must retain job applications, resumes and other hiring documents for at least one year, by law. This includes documents from applicants you don\u2019t hire. The HRdirect Small Business Hiring Practices Survey found that only 62% of small businesses do not retain hiring record for the required timeframe.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Basically, a job application puts you in control of gathering useful info. It should include employment history, educational background, skills\/qualifications, and other pertinent details in a consistent, useful and compliant way.\r\n\r\nCurious about gaps in employment history?<\/em> Go ahead and include a section requiring an explanation. Interested in learning about how a candidate thinks? Ask open-ended questions such as, What would your most recent supervisor say about you?<\/em> or What were your biggest successes in your last role?<\/em> Want to know more about their availability? Ask how long it takes to commute to your location, how many hours they are available weekly or what shifts they are open to. Instead of trying to read between the lines on resumes, your hiring managers can compare application answers from an entire pool of candidates in mere minutes for faster screening.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In addition, and maybe most important, a job application is a safety net for your business \u2014 it protects you through the inclusion of appropriate language and mandatory legal disclosures. It\u2019s also an official document that reinforces vital, anti-discriminatory messages to protect your business from liability. For example, an attorney-approved job application will include language that you\u2019re an equal opportunity employer, along with other federal and state legal notices (and restrictions, such as \u201cban the box\u201d with criminal history).<\/p>\r\n\r\nJob applications provide tremendous value. You can confidently gather probing, job-related information regarding skills, employment and education without crossing into illegal territory.\r\n

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Employment Application Essentials<\/div>\r\n