May you put personal on a job application?

An employment application is the first step for consideration for many positions around the world. Most pre-printed applications ask a set number of questions to help the potential employer decide whether to take your application to the next step.

It is probably not in your best interest to write 'personal' as a way of avoiding answering any particular questions, especially those which the prospective employer needs to determine eligibility.

If there is a question which you feel is inappropriate for the employer to ask, then it may be best to simply leave that portion blank and wait for the interviewer to raise the question, if she or he does at all.

Questions regarding age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disabilities are in contravention of many laws in some countries.

Questions such as arrests or convictions may also be prohibited in some countries or circumstances, depending on the age of the conviction, the type of conviction and whether the conviction tariff has been spent (or completed) for an extended period of time.

If there is anything you would prefer to discuss with the employer first, before writing any actual answer, leave the question blank, but be prepared to discuss why you have not answered the question. And be able to do so in a polite and professional way.