Applicant FAQ's:

Question: How should I fill out my application?
Answer: Your application is the first tool that a recruiter will use to determine if you have the skills and qualifications needed for the job you applied for. The recruiter will know right where to look on your application to find what they need to decide if you should be considered for an interview. Be thorough and provide as much detail as you can. Proper capitalization, spelling and grammar will help present your application in a positive light.

• For staff positions, this is not the place to cut corners on your application with things like “see resume” or “resume attached.” The recruiter will not have time to hunt through your resume seeking the qualifications that they would otherwise find quickly in your application.
• For faculty positions, the application process is streamlined but still vital to the recruiter in the determination of further consideration. Because the curriculum vitae is the primary source used to assess faculty candidates, the application requires very limited, but important information to get the applicant to the interview stage.

Question: If I was fired from a job should I be honest and reveal that I was fired?
Answer: Absolutely reveal that you were fired. Always be honest on your applications. Negative information does not automatically disqualify you from being considered for a job. If your prospective employer were to find out you had failed to disclose something on your application, you could be disqualified from the applicant pool for failing to do so. There are always two (2) sides to every story. If the position you are applying for requests a letter of application, you could discuss the circumstances surrounding the termination there. Be prepared to discuss your termination during the interview.

Question: How should I address gaps in my employment history?
Answer: Rather than make a recruiting manager wonder why you were away from the job market, address that in your letter of application. If the position doesn't ask for a letter of application, you could include any activities, volunteer projects, training and education in the volunteer section on your application for those periods.

Question: How can I list contact information if the company I used to work for is no longer in business?
Answer: Many times when a company “goes out of business” they are really purchased or merged with another company. The chances are good that the new company will have the records from the company purchased or merged. If the company truly went out of business, you might be able to contact the former owner and use her/him as a reference. Paycheck stubs can sometimes be substituted to show when you started and left the company. A best practice would be when leaving a company, get a letter of recommendation from your supervisor that includes the date you started, the date you left, your job title at the time you left and a quick summary of any duties you performed in your final position.

Question: How often do the job postings change?
Answer: The best rule for checking postings is once a week. Job openings are usually open for seven (7) calendar days at the least. Some job openings will be open much longer. Checking once a week will ensure you see all the vacant positions.

Question: How do I know that I actually applied for the position?
Answer: Applying for a position is actually a two-step process.

• The first step is to set up an online user profile. The profile is required for any position you apply for. The profile will include your basic personal information, education history, work history, references, licenses & certifications, criminal history, additional information and voluntary demographic information. This profile information will be reused every time you apply for a position. You have the opportunity to update your profile before you apply to any position.
• The second step is to actually apply for the position you want. You do this by clicking the "Apply For This Posting" button. Think of the first step as filling out a paper application and the second step is actually handing it to an employer. If you fill out the application and keep it in your pocket, the employer doesn't know you want a job and will never call you for an interview.

When you have completed both steps, along with accepting the terms of agreement and your electronic signature you will get a confirmation number letting you know you have successfully applied for the position you wanted. If you do not get a confirmation number, you have not completed the application process and you will not be considered for the job. If you cannot determine why you did not get the confirmation number, please call the Office of Human Resources at 316-978-3065 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When calling, it will be helpful if you can be at your computer and provide your name, and position or posting number. You can email employment@wichita.edu anytime with the same information. You can also check your application status using the Application Status link on the left-hand navigation panel of the applicant portal.

Question: I got disqualified while I was completing my application. What do I do now?
Answer: If you were disqualified while filling out your application, you are not a viable candidate for the position. That cannot be changed even if you made a mistake. Calling on a position you were eliminated from while applying will not get you back in the running for that position. Keep searching for other job listings that lend themselves to your qualifications.

Question: Who should I call to check on my application?
Answer: If you received a confirmation number, there is no reason to call at all. The confirmation number guarantees that your application was received successfully. If you were disqualified while filling out your application, you are not a viable candidate for the position. That cannot be changed. Each position has a search chair and one (1) or more search committee members. The search chair is not the same on every vacant position. There is no universal person to contact.

Question: How often should I call to check on my application?
Answer: If you received a confirmation number, there is no reason to call at all. The confirmation number guarantees that your application was received successfully. You will remain a viable candidate until you hear something to the contrary. Calling on a position you were eliminated from while applying will not get you back in the running for that position. If you were eliminated while applying, keep searching for other job listings that lend themselves to your qualifications.

Question: How long does it take to fill a faculty position?
Answer: It depends on whether the search is an international, national, regional or local search. The greater the scope of the search, the longer the search will take to fill the position. The time needed to conduct the search will also depend on the number of applicants. A faculty search could be filled within several months or could take a year or more to complete. All applicants are notified as soon as they are eliminated from the candidate pool or when the selected candidate accepts the offer of employment.

Question: How long does it take to fill a staff position?
Answer: It depends on whether the search is an international, national, regional or local search. The greater the scope of the search, the longer the search will take to fill the position. The time needed to conduct the search will also depend on the number of applicants. A staff search could be filled in about 30 days or could take several months to complete. All applicants are notified as soon as they are eliminated from the candidate pool or when the selected candidate accepts the offer of employment.

Question: What if I don't have all of the qualifications for a job?
Answer: To qualify at the most minimum level, you will need to have all of the qualifications for Knowledge, skills and abilities, Minimum Education and Minimum Experience. If you are lacking any of those, you will not be considered for the job. The more Preferred Education and Preferred Experience qualifications you have the greater the chances you will have of being invited to interview. If you are currently enrolled in classes or training that would qualify you for the position, be sure to include your expected graduation or completion date. Applying for a position you are lacking the qualifications will unfortunately not get you considered for the position.

SME: MH/JW/MJ/MW/LH

Revised: 08/07/2018