Applicant FAQ

General Posting Questions

Do I have to fill out an application?

Everyone who applies for a position at Iowa State University is required to submit an application. All required information is denoted with an asterisk. The more information you are able to provide, the more effectively your qualifications can be evaluated.

Do you accept paper applications?

No, all employment applications must be submitted electronically through the employment website at https://www.jobs.iastate.edu/

Is there a limit to the number of positions I can apply for?

No, there is not a limit to the number of positions to which you can apply.

How long will a posting be listed on the web?

Most postings will be listed for a minimum of seven or ten calendar days. If a posting is viewable on the online system, you may apply to it.

What is a posting end date?

This is the date by which applicants must apply for a posting if they wish to be considered.

If a posting end date is July 3, does that mean midnight or earlier?

It means Midnight, Central Standard or Daylight time, depending on the season. We recommend you plan ahead as applications may not be considered after this time.

Will late applications be accepted?

If the posting is available on the website for applications, then you may apply. ISU does not collect applications outside of the online application system.

How can I apply for positions that were previously posted?

If the position is not listed on the website, you will not be able to apply for it.

What if I lose/forget my username and/or password?

If you forget your password, click on the “Forgot Password link on the Login page. You will be asked to enter the e-mail used to create your account and click on “submit”. The system will send you an e-mail with your temporary password.

Accommodation Requests

TTY Users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942. All other inquiries should email employment@iastate.edu with their requests. UHR TA will work with ERLR to accommodate those individuals

Spousal Accommodations

A spousal/partner accommodation is when the University works with a potential employee to find opportunities for a spouse/partner. This is usually part of the effort to recruit and retain faculty members. The Provost’s office is the contact for questions about this process. Departments should contact their HR Service Delivery Team.

Questions Before Application Submission

How do I know what positions I can apply for?

You may apply for any position listed online. Please note in order to be qualified for a position, you must meet:

Faculty	Merit	P&S
Required Education & Experience	Required Qualifications	Required Education & Experience
Special Required Qualifications	Special Required Qualifications	Special Required Qualifications

What information will I need when applying for a position?

You will be asked to complete an application based on the type of position for which you are applying. You will be asked to provide personal information, education history, and answer pre-employment questions such as questions regarding convictions, prior Board of Regents employment, and authorization to work in the U.S. In addition to the information above, Merit applicants will be asked to enter your employment history, including information such as dates of employment, duties, machines/software/equipment used, and name of supervisor.

Is it important for me to disclose on the application?

Yes, it is important for you to disclose convictions, deferred judgments, sentences, fines, probation, pleading guilty or no contest and traffic violations when asked on the application. Should you be selected for hire, a background check may be completed per the Employment Verification and Background Check Policy at ISU. If there is a discrepancy between an applicant’s background check and their application, it could negatively impact the applicant and/or be considered falsification of records, which could result in the applicant no longer being considered for hire. Please keep in mind that a criminal conviction is not an absolute bar to employment but will be considered in relationship to the specific job requirements.

Can I save an application in the middle of creating it and come back later?

To save the application:

There is not a way to save an application, however, when you start applying to a position, it will ask you if you would like to use your last application to apply for the position. Selecting this feature will auto-populate any fields from your last application. You will have the ability to edit the information as well.

How long does my application remain active in the system?

Each application is active until the position is filled or the posting is withdrawn.

Will I be asked to attach a resume or cover letter?

Each posting will have unique document requirements. Most P&S and Faculty positions require you to attach a resume and cover letter and will ask you to attach documents as you go through the online application process. PDF documents are recommended, however, the system will convert your Microsoft Word documents to PDF once uploaded.

Will I be asked to attach reference information?

Most P&S and Faculty postings will request a list of references contact information (e.g. name, email, relationship, phone number) to be uploaded as a PDF. Merit postings do not ask for references, instead departments will contact former supervisors for reference checks.

How do I attach a document?

If the position you are applying for accepts resumes or other documents, you will have the opportunity to attach your documents after you have clicked the “Apply” button for the position for which you wish to apply. After clicking that button and completing the My Experience section, Applicant Questions will appear.

Can I attach a different resume for each position I apply to?

Yes, if the position you are applying to requires a resume you will be able to choose which documents to attach when you are in the “My Experience” section of each application. If you have previously applied to a posting at Iowa State University and have used our system to upload documents, the system will give you the option to use a previous application. However, if you wish to upload a new document, you can name and choose a file from your computer to submit.

To whom do I address my cover letter?

Please address your letter to “Whom it may concern” or “Search Committee Members”.

Questions after Application Submission

How do I edit my application after I have already applied?

If you wish to edit an application you have already submitted, please contact UHR TA at employment@iastate.edu to request access to edit your application for a specific posting. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to allow the edits depending upon the timing of your request but will inquire with the hiring department.

Updating or replacing documents

If you need to replace a document for a position to which you had already applied, please email employment@iastate.edu.

How do I verify my application materials were received or check the status of my application?

Log into www.iastatejobs.com with your username and password. Click “My Applications” to display a list of all the applications to complete and completed applications. Here you can view the posting and the status of your application. You can also view the documents you have attached for each posting.

Some postings may not ask for documents to be attached, so please review the application instructions for each posting to confirm if you successfully attached the requested documents. Once you have successfully submitted your application, you will see a confirmation number and you will be sent an email confirming that you have applied.

What Human Resources Sees	What the Applicant Sees
Review	In Process
Screen	In Process
Interview	In Process
Reference Check	In Process
Background Check	In Process
Contingent Offer	Contingent Offer
Ready for Hire	Hire
Any Withdrew or Failed Status	No longer under consideration

When will I know if I am selected for an interview?

The hiring department will generally contact you by phone or email to request an interview. If your contact information has changed, please notify the department contact listed on the posting announcement or send an email to employment@iastate.edu. You can login at https://www.jobs.iastate.edu/ to check the status of your application and view the posting.

What does "No longer under consideration" mean?

What does "Position filled" mean?

This means that the department has proceeded with the selection of other applicants at this time. We appreciate your interest and hope that you will continue to monitor ISU job opportunities at https://www.jobs.iastate.edu/

What does “Withdrew” mean?

If you no longer want to be considered for a position for which you applied, you can elect to withdraw your application. However, if you accidently withdrew your application when attempting to edit it, you can reapply to the position if it is still posted

When will I be notified if I received the position?

This varies greatly by department. Please email employment@iastate.edu with any questions.

Background Checks

Per the Employment Verification and Background Check policy, ISU requires a background check for all ‘covered’ positions (see policy).

QUESTIONS?

UHR Service Center

Applicant FAQ

General Posting Questions

Questions Before Application Submission

Questions after Application Submission

QUESTIONS?

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