How to Create a Job Application Form in WordPress (Easily)

Every small business owner reaches that exciting point where it’s time to hire their first employee. Then the questions start coming in: how do you collect and manage job applications in WordPress without everything turning into a mess?

We’ve seen many business owners try to manage applications through email, only to get buried in long threads and lost attachments. It quickly becomes overwhelming.

That’s why creating a job application form in WordPress is such a smart solution. It keeps everything organized in one place and makes it easy to review candidates without technical hassle.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to build a professional job application form in WordPress step by step, so you can stay organized and find the right person for the job faster. ⚡

Why Add a Job Application Form to Your WordPress Site?

Adding a job application form to your WordPress site is the best way to streamline your hiring process. Instead of managing a chaotic email inbox, a form keeps everything professional and organized.

Plus, a ‘Careers’ or ‘Jobs’ page on your small business website is a great way to attract talent. But just listing open positions isn’t enough – you also need a simple way for candidates to apply.

Let’s see more benefits of using a job application form:

• Better Organization: A WordPress form ensures every application is consistent and stored in one place. This prevents important details or resumes from getting lost in email threads.
• Collects Specific Information: You can require the exact details you need, like resumes, cover letters, and portfolio links, without any back-and-forth.
• Improves Your Workflow: With the right tool, you can automate confirmation emails, filter applicants, and make the entire hiring process much smoother.

In the following sections, I’ll show you how to create a job application form in WordPress.

Here’s a quick look at all the steps you’ll take:

Let’s get started!

Want to Build Your Form with AI Instead?

Before we dive into the step-by-step process, you should know about a faster option available in their premium plans: WPForms AI.

WPForms AI allows you to create your entire job application form in seconds using plain English. Instead of manually adding fields, you simply describe what you need in conversational language.

For example, you could type: “Create a job application form with fields for contact information, work history, resume upload, cover letter, and references.”

WPForms AI will instantly generate the complete form structure with all the appropriate field types, labels, and settings.

This is different from AI Choices, which I’ll mention in Step 2.

WPForms AI builds the entire form from scratch, while AI Choices helps you populate options for individual dropdown, radio button, or multiple-choice fields.

For this tutorial, I’ll show you the traditional drag-and-drop method because it gives you more hands-on control and helps you understand how WordPress forms work.

But if you prefer speed and convenience, feel free to try the AI approach. You can always customize the AI-generated form afterward.

Now, let’s get started with the step-by-step method.

Step 1. Install the Best WordPress Form Plugin

For this tutorial, we’re going to use WPForms, which is the best WordPress form builder plugin on the market.

WPForms is used by over 6 million websites and maintains a 4.8 out of 5-star rating from 14,326+ WordPress.org reviews. It’s an all-in-one solution for building powerful forms without any coding knowledge.

Here’s what makes WPForms stand out for job application forms:

• Drag-and-drop form builder that lets you create professional forms in just 5 minutes
• 2,100+ pre-built form templates including dedicated job application templates
• File upload functionality for resumes, cover letters, and portfolios (requires Basic plan or higher)
• WPForms AI for generating complete forms from plain English descriptions
• Conversational Forms addon for modern, chat-like application experiences that improve completion rates
• Form Abandonment tracking to recover incomplete job applications
• Exceptional customer support with a 9.3/10 rating on G2 and same-day response times

WPForms also includes advanced features like conditional logic, multi-page forms, and integrations with applicant tracking systems through Zapier, making it perfect for growing businesses that need professional hiring workflows.

To follow along with this tutorial, you’ll need to create a WPForms account on the WPForms website. Just click the ‘Get WPForms’ button, pick a plan, and complete the checkout process.

Upon registration, you can download your WPForms zip file. Also, copy your license key and keep it somewhere safe, like a password manager.

Next, you can install the WPForms plugin directly from your WordPress dashboard.

To start, let’s navigate to the Plugins » Add New Plugin page.

On the next screen, click the ‘Upload Plugin’ button.

Next, click ‘Choose File’ and upload your WPForms zip file.

Once uploaded, simply click ‘Install Now’ and then the ‘Activate’ button when it appears. If you need help, you can see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, you’ll need to activate your license key.

Visit the WPForms » Settings page in your WordPress dashboard and paste your key into the respective field. Then, you can go ahead and hit ‘Verify Key’.

Once verified, it’s time to create your WordPress form.

Step 2. Create Your WordPress Job Application Form

To start, you need to visit WPForms » Add New in your WordPress admin area.

You will then be prompted to name your form and choose a template.

In the Setup page, you can name the form. For example, we’re going to use the ‘Content Writer Application’ name.

After that, you can scroll down to choose a template. Since WPForms has more than 2,100 templates, it’s easier to use the search box to narrow down the choice.

Simply type in ‘job application’ in the search field and hover over the ‘Job Application Upload Form’ template. Click ‘Use Template’ when it appears.

This will take you to the WPForms drag-and-drop editor.

Here, you will see the default job application upload form template, like this:

It comes pre-built with fields for name, email, phone number, address, resume upload, and “How did you hear about this position?”

The “How did you hear about this position?” field also includes conditional logic. If applicants select “Other,” an additional field will automatically appear so they can enter their answer.

If you’re happy with the form, you can save it and publish it immediately. However, I recommend personalizing it to better match your goal.

Don’t worry. This will be very easy as you have everything you need: the customization options on the left and the form preview on the right.

Now, let’s try to edit the ‘How did you find out about this position?’ question on the job application form.

To edit it, you’ll first need to click on it. Then, you will see the options for the field open up in the left-hand editing panel.

We’re going to delete the ‘Newspaper Ad’ and ‘Radio/TV Ad’ options by clicking the (-) button next to the option to remove it.

Next, let’s remove the ‘If other’ field immediately below this.

To delete a field, move your mouse cursor over it and click the red trash can icon that appears.

We’re also going to add a field just before the resume upload. This is where our prospective content writers can share links to their previously published work.

First, click the ‘Add Fields’ tab on the left-hand side if it’s not already selected. Then, simply drag and drop your chosen field onto the form.

For example, we’re going to use the ‘Paragraph Text’ field.

Once the field is on the form, you can click on it to change its label and provide a description.

Here, I added ‘Please enter links to 3 examples of your published work’ in the field’s label so candidates know what to do.

Your job application form is basically ready, and you can hit ‘Save.’

That said, I have some tips to improve it to offer a more professional experience.

Tip 1. Capture Multiple Work Experiences with Repeater Fields

If you want to collect detailed employment history, consider using WPForms’ Repeater field (available in the WPForms paid plan). This powerful feature allows applicants to add multiple previous jobs without you having to create dozens of individual fields.

For example, instead of creating “Previous Job 1,” “Previous Job 2,” and “Previous Job 3” fields (which limits applicants to exactly 3 jobs), a Repeater Field lets each person add as many or as few previous positions as they need.

The Repeater Field offers 9 layout presets including Cards, Table, and Grid formats, so you can match your site’s design. Each repeated section can include fields like:

• Company name
• Job title
• Start and end dates
• Key responsibilities
• Reason for leaving

This creates a much more professional application experience and makes it easier to review candidates’ complete work histories.

To get started, drag the ‘Repeater’ field from the left panel to the form builder.

Then, click on the field to change the label and access the other customization settings.

Once you’ve updated the label, you can choose your repeater the display style:

• Rows – Displays each set of fields in a simple vertical layout.

• Blocks – Gives you more flexibility by letting you organize fields into multiple rows and columns within each section.

You can also adjust the layout. Depending on the information you want to collect, you can use either a single-column or multi-column format. WPForms also offers several column layout options, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

For this example, I’ll use the 4-column layout to neatly organize the company name, role, years worked, and main responsibilities fields in a single row.

You can also set a minimum and maximum limit for the repeater field.

Just enter the number you want to use.

Next, you’ll need to add fields and labels inside the repeater field.

Since we’re collecting work experience, the Paragraph field is a great option. It gives applicants enough space to write as much detail as they need.

Go ahead and add the ‘Paragraph’ field inside the repeater field.

You’ll need to repeat this process based on your chosen layout. You can also mix different field types. For example, you might use a Single Line Text field for the company name and a Numbers field for the years worked.

After that, click on each ‘Paragraph’ field to customize it.

This lets you change the label, add a description, and make the field required if needed.

Simply repeat the same steps for all of your ‘Paragraph’ fields.

Tip 2. Reduce Application Errors with Entry Preview

The Entry Preview field (also available in the WPForms paid plan) lets applicants review their entire application before submitting. This is especially valuable for job applications where accuracy matters.

Applicants can catch typos in their email address, verify that their resume uploaded correctly, or spot mistakes in their work history. If needed, the applicant can use the ‘Edit’ links to jump back and fix any mistakes before final submission.

To add this field, scroll down the field options in the left panel of the form builder.

Then, drag the ‘Entry Preview’ field into your form and place it near the end, right before the Submit button.

Next, click on the field to open its customization settings.

Make sure the ‘Display Warning Message’ option is turned on. You can also edit the default message if you’d like.

And that’s it.

This simple feature can help reduce back-and-forth emails asking applicants to resend information. It also helps make sure you receive accurate contact details and application information from every candidate.

Tip 3. Split Your Job Application Form Into Steps

Job application forms can get long, so it’s a good idea to break them into smaller steps. This makes the form feel less overwhelming and easier for applicants to complete.

You can do this by adding Page Break fields. For example, you can organize your form into a clean and professional flow like this:

1. Applicant Details
2. Work Experiences
3. Resume & Supporting Documents
4. Review Your Application

For this flow, you’ll need 3 Page Break fields – one at the end of the applicant details section, one at the end of the work history section, and one just before the Entry Preview field.

To set this up, simply drag and drop the Page Break field into the preview area.

Go ahead and add more page breaks into your form.

With that done, let’s click on the ‘First Page / Progress Indicator’ box at the top of your form to open the settings.

Here, you’ll find four progress indicator styles to choose from. Each one works better depending on the type of form you’re building.

• The Simple Progress Bar is ideal for shorter forms with 3–5 pages. It shows a clean, percentage-based bar that fills up as users move through the form. It’s a great fit for contact forms, registration forms, or simple surveys.
• Circles and Connectors are better for longer forms with 6 or more pages. They help users clearly see how many steps are left, which is especially useful for detailed forms like job applications or multi-step questionnaires.
• If your form only has 2 pages, you can choose None to keep things clean and avoid unnecessary clutter. This works well when the progress is already obvious.

You can also customize the colors to match your brand. And if you enable the Page Title, it will appear in the progress indicator as well.

After that, you’ll want to edit the other page breaks as well.

For example, here before the Work Experiences section, I changed the page break name to “Work Experiences.”

For details, see our guide on how to create a multi-page form in WordPress.

With WPForms, you can customize your form as much as you like.

Once you’re happy with everything, go ahead and click the ‘Save’ button.

That said, you don’t need to get everything perfect on the first try.

WPForms lets you edit your job application form anytime. So, feel free to come back later to add new fields, update descriptions, or rearrange sections whenever needed.

Step 3. Set Up WordPress Job Application Form Notifications and Confirmations

By default, job applications go to your site’s admin email. But sometimes, the person handling them isn’t an admin.

This is why WPForms makes it easy to send form submissions via email to anyone without giving them admin access. You can also view all applications right inside WordPress (more on this later).

To edit the notification settings, simply edit your job application form and switch to the Settings » Notifications tab.

In the ‘Send To Email Address’ box, type in the email address to which you want the form submissions to be sent. If you want to send them to multiple people or departments, that’s possible, too.

For details, simply follow our instructions on creating a form with multiple recipients.

If you’re using an applicant tracking system or payroll software, you can also use the WPForms Zapier addon to integrate with them and automatically receive every job application.

You can also change other aspects of the notification, such as the email subject line. Simply edit the pre-made copy to do this.

Next, let’s switch to the ‘Confirmations’ tab to change the default message applicants see after submitting the form.

Here, you can choose from three confirmation types:

• Message – Displays a confirmation message right on the same page after the form is submitted.
• Show Page – Redirects applicants to another page on your website, such as a thank-you page or application instructions page.
• Go to URL (Redirect) – Sends applicants to a different URL, including external websites or third-party pages.

For this tutorial, I’ll use the Message confirmation type.

To edit the premade Message copy, simply type the message you want applicants to see after they submit their application in the ‘Confirmation Message’ field.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Save’ button to make sure your changes are updated.

Step 4. Publish Your WordPress Job Application Form

Before you publish your job application form, it’s a good idea to run a quick test to make sure everything works as expected. You can preview the form and fill it out as a real candidate would.

From the WPForms builder, click the ‘Preview’ button.

This will open the form preview in a new tab.

Here, go through the form step by step and try filling it out as an applicant would. I also highly recommend opening your website on your smartphone to test the form, as many candidates will apply via mobile devices.

You can also intentionally skip required fields or enter incorrect information (like a typo in the email address) to check if the validation messages appear correctly and the form blocks incomplete submissions.

Next, test the repeater fields by adding multiple entries, such as more than one job experience.

Make sure you can easily add and remove items, and that all the data stays properly organized.

After that, check the Entry Preview section.

This is where users can review all their information before submitting, so ensure everything looks clean, properly labeled, and easy to read.

Finally, test the confirmation setup.

Submit the form and check whether the confirmation message (or redirect, if you set one) shows up correctly after submission.

Once everything checks out, you can go ahead and add the form to your website.

With WPForms, there are several ways you can embed your forms:

• Adding it to a new page – Create a brand-new page for your form directly from WPForms, which is great for dedicated job application or contact pages.
• Displaying it on an existing page – Add your form directly to a page you’ve already created without leaving the WPForms builder.
• Using a shortcode – Copy and paste the WPForms shortcode anywhere on your site, such as in a post, page, or widget area. This method also works well with most page builders.

For this tutorial, I’ll add the job application form to an existing ‘Career’ page using the embed feature within the editor.

First, go ahead and click the ‘Embed’ button next to ‘Save.’

This will open a pop-up where you can select where to embed the form.

Let’s click on ‘Select Existing Page.’

On the next screen, WPForms will prompt you to choose a page from the dropdown list.

Simply click to expand, choose a page, and click ‘Let’s Go!’

This will open the WordPress block editor.

From here, simply click on the (+) to add a new block and then look for the WPForms block.

Once you’ve added that block, you’ll see that it has a dropdown menu.

Go ahead and click on it to select your job application form from the list.

WPForms will load your form preview in the content editor.

Here, you might want to switch on the ‘Show Title’ toggle to give applicants better context.

You can also pick one from various WPForms themes available to make your form match your brand better.

For more information about customization, you can see our guide on how to style WordPress forms.

When you’re happy with how everything looks, you can save or publish your page.

After that, you can visit your website to see the live form in action. On my demo page, I have a title, an image, a short call-to-action, and then the job application form:

Step 5. Access Submitted Job Applications Inside WordPress

Each job application will come to the admin email address of your WordPress site or the addresses you entered under the notifications tab.

The email will include all the details submitted, plus a link to download the resume or any other files uploaded.

While email notifications are great for immediate alerts, viewing entries inside WordPress is the best way to keep everything organized and allow your team to collaborate.

To see the submitted job applications inside WordPress, you can go to WPForms » Entries. Then, you’ll want to scroll down to below the graph and click on the name of your form.

This will open the form’s submission list.

Now, simply click the ‘View’ link next to any application to see its details.

You will then be able to see the application form. You can download the candidate’s resume here. You can use the ‘Star’ feature in WPForms to highlight your favorite candidates.

It’s also easy to add a note by clicking the ‘Add Note’ button. This is a very useful feature if several people view and comment on applications.

That’s it. You have successfully created a job application form on your WordPress site that lets you easily gather and sort through applications.

FAQs About Creating a Job Application Form in WordPress

What is the best WordPress plugin for job application forms?

We recommend WPForms. It’s easy to use, has a drag-and-drop builder, AI tools, pre-made templates, and lets you collect resumes and other files easily.

Can I receive applications at multiple email addresses?

Yes. You can just enter multiple emails separated by commas in the WPForms notification settings.

How can I prevent spam applications in my job application form?

WPForms has built-in anti-spam protection. You can also add CAPTCHA (Google reCAPTCHA v2/v3, hCaptcha, or custom CAPTCHA).

Video Tutorial: Create a Job Application Form in WordPress

Before you go, make sure you check our video tutorial for how to create a job application in WordPress.

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Keep Learning About Using Forms in WordPress

I hope this tutorial helped you learn how to create a job application form in WordPress.

You might also like our articles on:

• How to Use Contact Forms to Grow Your Email List in WordPress
• Tips to Create More Interactive Forms in WordPress and Increase Conversions
• How to Create Multilingual Forms in WordPress (Easy Methods)
• How I Blocked 18,000 Spam Lead Attacks in My WordPress Form
• Best Contact Form Plugins for WordPress

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