Should you complete not required fields on application? (employment, job application, applying)
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On most job applications, there are required fields (like your name, DOB, job history) and others that are not required. Usually these are the dates you attended school, your school GPA, why you left, etc.
Should you complete these fields, even if they are not required? Or do hiring committees not care about these?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobsell
If one is older, avoid putting DOB, degree dates, and all your job history (keep last 10 years or so) to avoid age discrimination.
if DOB is required for a *job application* that's illegal.
Correction, you can ask, it's only illegal to discriminate on the basis of age if the person is over 40. Employers may discriminate against someone they think is too young, or "too old" at age 35.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. It does not protect workers under the age of 40, although some states have laws that protect younger workers from age discrimination. It is not illegal for an employer or other covered entity to favor an older worker over a younger one, even if both workers are age 40 or older.
It's definitely not smart, to ask, though. If later accused of age discrimination the defense "I didn't know his/her age" will not fly if their DOB was listed on their application.
* background check - this is usually done later in the application process
* security clearance - this is usually done later in the application process
* after hiring for insurance and other benefits
But not for a standard job application. It leaves employers open to huge liability.
If sued for age discrimination, that obliterates the "I didn't know how old the plaintiff was" objection.
Just my opinion, but I really like employers who just ask for a name, phone number, email address, and an upload of your resume. It takes 30 seconds. The applications that require you to type in everything that's already listed in your resume are dumb.
Federal Law does not prohibit asking for a DOB. As Hemlock so rightfully noted, how the information is used may create an issue. While it may not be wise, it certainly is not illegal (barring any state law that prohibits it). Being open to liability does not mean illegal. Employers are open to liability in everything they do. Not salting their sidewalks after an ice storm leaves them open to liability as well, but it doesn't mean that they have committed a crime for not dropping salt.
If you look at case law, companies that can demonstrate that they hire people in all age groups prevail in this type of litigation. Unless you can prove that you were not hired because of your age, which is hard to do when the company can demonstrate that their new hires range from just out of high school to 50+ year old seasoned workers.
Federal Law does not prohibit asking for a DOB. As Hemlock so rightfully noted, how the information is used may create an issue. While it may not be wise, it certainly is not illegal (barring any state law that prohibits it). Being open to liability does not mean illegal. Employers are open to liability in everything they do. Not salting their sidewalks after an ice storm leaves them open to liability as well, but it doesn't mean that they have committed a crime for not dropping salt.
If you look at case law, companies that can demonstrate that they hire people in all age groups prevail in this type of litigation. Unless you can prove that you were not hired because of your age, which is hard to do when the company can demonstrate that their new hires range from just out of high school to 50+ year old seasoned workers.
Quote:
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to joe from dayton again.
Just saying -
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirotek
Just my opinion, but I really like employers who just ask for a name, phone number, email address, and an upload of your resume. It takes 30 seconds. The applications that require you to type in everything that's already listed in your resume are dumb.
I agree. But it all comes down to how interested in the job you are. They're the ones shopping for talent, so they get to determine how they go about it. You are certainly entitled to apply or not apply.
And as for your question - it comes down to how applicable the question is to you and how much info you feel is needed. Again - goes to how much you want to the job. I typically just skip all non-required fields.
Having been on the other side of the table, I don't even see the application. It's strictly an HR thing in my experience. I just focus on the resume. But the majority of positions I've hired for have been in the experienced/manager roles. It may differ if one is applying for entry level or hourly positions.
On most job applications, there are required fields (like your name, DOB, job history) and others that are not required. Usually these are the dates you attended school, your school GPA, why you left, etc.
Should you complete these fields, even if they are not required? Or do hiring committees not care about these?
If it's not required as part of the online form, then it is optional, so there is no reason to fill out personal information with respect to dates. But to answer your real question, no one is looking through the applications and weeding out someone cause they didn't fill out optional information. That would be a waste of HR's time.
Fill in your application complete, even the not required as long as you are comfortable with it. If a question does not apply to your situation, fill in N/A. Don't leave it blank.
Be aware that AI is employed to scan applications for key words and weed them out. Include key words in your object paragraph.on your application that are written in the job description.
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