Build your own Online Application Form in Less than Five Minutes
TL;DR:
- Asking candidates to e-mail their resumes in can result in buried messages and an unorganized process
- An application form and way to organize applicants creates a better experience for the candidate and the hiring team
- There are free applicant tracking systems your business could utilize too!
- Using Google Forms is a low-cost way to customize an application form while providing tracking on the backend. Jump to the template with instructions here
Candidates Hate E-mailing Resumes. Don’t make them do it.
Are you asking people to drop off a resume in person or e-mail a resume? Are you missing emails from candidates or having a hard time determining who’s emailed their resume and where they are in the selection process? At Gorge Hired, we strongly recommend against collecting applications and resumes via e-mail or in person. There are a few reasons why:
- Sending an email creates friction for the candidate, and you’re probably missing out on candidates discouraged by sending an e-mail. For introverts and younger generations, crafting an email is intimidating and they’ll apply to a company with an easier application process.
- Online application forms make the selection process more equitable by asking for the same information from each candidate. When you ask for an e-mail, you’re going to get inconsistent information from each candidate. You may get a well-worded email from one candidate and choose to interview them over the other applicant who sent a quick message with misspelled words, but did that bias towards their e-mail skills really reflect their skills as a cook or a delivery driver?
- Organizing and tracking e-mail submissions is messy. Especially if you’re receiving submissions in the same email inbox as your regular business correspondence, an application is at risk of getting buried in your inbox. You have no way of quickly knowing how many people have applied, what stage in the process each candidate is in, and how they rank based on seeing their e-mails in your inbox.
You Need an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
I hope you’re convinced it’s time to move your application and tracking process away from email, and guess what? there are a lot of free tools out there to help. Before you move into creating your own online application with Google Forms, you may want to consider researching a free Applicant Tracking System (ATS). An ATS is a web-based software that allows recruiters and people making hiring decisions to easily intake applicants, then sort the applications to prioritize the most qualified candidates. It’s a way to stay organized in the process. Features and price points vary by software.
When do I need to pay for an Applicant Tracking System?
Most small businesses making only a handful of hires a year don’t need to pay for an ATS. However, if you find yourself with an evergreen job (a job that’s always accepting applicants), needing to fill multiple positions at once, or need to hire and ramp up for seasonal staffing, you should consider paying for an ATS to keep yourself organized.
Some Free ATS:
Build Your Own with Google Forms
Our Online Template is free and easy to use. If you’ve never used Google Forms before, check out their page and how-tos here.
- Make a copy of the Template. Do not edit the template 🙂
2. Edit the Job Title and Body
3. Customize the questions
We included the minimum questions you should ask: Name, e-mail, phone number, eligibility to work in the US, age, and a space to upload a resume or link to a LinkedIn profile to gather employment history.
This form should be as short as possible, remember you want to capture the candidate’s basic information in less than 3 minutes. If it takes too long to fill out, you’ll get applicant cart abandonment. Ditch the requirement to write a cover letter, answer tedious questions, fill out employment history that’s already in their resume, or respond to short-form essay questions.
4. Customize the Response Sheet.
5. Customize the settings
Be sure to upload a company photo or logo in the banner to make it pretty 🙂
6) Turn on responses
7) Share or embed your form!
Before you publish, try going through your own application process yourself, see how long it takes and if it’s mobile device friendly. If you’re frustrated with the process, then the applicant surely is too! Test the form to make sure the responses are going into the response spreadsheet.
You’re on your way!
Questions? Contact us today!