Kentucky Office of Employment and Training Virtual Workshop

[ Layout and positioning for Application Workshop ]

Application Workshop

[ Layout and positioning for Words on Application Forms ]

Words on Application Forms

People sometimes have trouble with some of the words listed on application forms. You may want to review our list of words and their meaning, before completing an application form. Later you can use this list if you forget the meaning of the word.

Words used in questions that are likely to appear in various sections of an application form can be found below. You should read the application carefully, often it is required that you answer only questions that are indicated as mandatory, other information need only be provided on a voluntary basis.

In the 'personal information' section, you may find such words as:

[ Layout and positioning for Personal Information Section ]
Arrested	Seized by police officers for breaking the law; taken to jail. This normally can not be asked on an application form.
Convicted	Proven or declared guilty; as in "Have you been convicted of a crime?" The correct answer to this questions is "no" if a person has been arrested but never found guilty.
Felony	A serious crime, one for which the punishment may be imprisonment for more than one year or death; as in, "Please explain any felony convictions you have had."
Misdemeanor	Less serious crime than a felony; as in, "Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor?"

[ Layout and positioning for Personal Information Section ]
Mailing Address	An address where you can always be reached. It may be the same as your present address.
Present Address	Where you live now.
Previous Address	Where you used to live.

[ Layout and positioning for Personal Information Section ]
Citizen	A person who is a member of a nation; as in, "Are you a citizen of the United States?"
References	References are people who can tell an employer what kind of person you are and what kind of a worker you will be; as in, "Give three personal references such as guidance counselor, teacher, or minister."

In the 'education' section, you may find such words as:

[ Layout and positioning for Education Section ]
Certification	A document proving that you have completed training in a certain skill or trade; as in, "I am a Certified ASA Automobile Mechanic."
Degree	A title you earn when you graduate from a college or school; as in, "I have a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Therapy."
Extracurricular Activities	Activities outside of school or work that you participate in that can be related to the job you are applying for; as in, "My extracurricular activities include Volunteer for Big Brothers and the Boys Club, and I was captain of the football team." This would show leadership/management experience.

In the 'work experience' section, you may find such words as:

[ Layout and positioning for Work Experience Section ]
Bonded	Employer insurance against customer/client loss through theft or damage incurred by the employee on the job; as in, "Have you ever been bonded?" This question is asked to find out if you have been trusted with valuable things in a previous job.
Previous Employer	This is the people or companies who you have worked for in the past. Only use a person's name if a company name is not available.
Supervisor	Your boss, the person you are directly responsible to at work.

In the 'on your job' section, you may find such words as:

[ Layout and positioning for On Your Job Section ]
Minimum	This is the smallest amount of pay you are willing to accept if you are hired.
Rate of pay	The amount you are paid and how often, such as hourly, weekly, or monthly.

A few other words that you may need to know:

[ Layout and positioning for Other Words Section ]
Authorize	To approve or permit; as in, I authorize my employer to check my personal references."
Falsification	Lies or false statements; as in, "Any falsification on this application will mean that you will be dismissed."
Vocational goal	The kind of work you hope to be doing in the future; as in, "What is your vocational goal?"

Here are some other words you may have heard a thousand times, but are not quite sure what they mean:

[ Layout and positioning for More Other Words Section ]
Annual	Once a year
Apprentice	A beginner who is just learning a job
Assembly line	Doing the same piece of work, passed from one co-worker to another
Civil service job	Jobs with local, state, or Federal government, awarded usually by tests
Commission	Money paid above or instead of a salary usually based on sales or piecework
Co-worker	Someone with whom you work
Data	Facts and information
Former	Past
Garnishment	Payments legally deducted from wages to pay a creditor
Gross income	Full pay before deductions
Initiative	To do something which needs to be done without being told
Interview	Meeting between employer and job-seeker
Job title	The name given to the work to be done
Net income	Pay after deductions are taken
Semi-annual	Twice a year
w.p.m.	Words per minute in typing or shorthand

There are certain words that Federal Law does not allow employers to ask on a 'legal' application form or during a job interview:

[ Layout and positioning for Not Allowed ]
Age/Birth Date	There are Age Discrimination Laws to protect a person from being discriminated against depending on your age.
Dependent	Someone who needs another persons for financial support; as in, "How many dependents do you have?"
Marital status	Whether you are married, single, widowed, separated, or divorced; as in, "What is your marital status?"
Race/Ethnic Origins	Whether you are Asian, Black, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Native American Indian, or White; as in, "What is your ethnic origin?"
Religion	Whether you are Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, etc; as in, "What religion are you?"