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Frequent Questions

How can I get help with the application process or if I have a technical problem?
For additional assistance or help with a technical problem with the University of Washington application process, you can contact our Help Desk at uwhires@uw.edu or 206-543-2544. If you are emailing the Help Desk, it is helpful to include your phone number and the Job Req # if applicable, in case we need additional information.
What is a candidate bank? How is a candidate bank different from other job announcements?
Candidate banks represent an ongoing need to fill certain types of positions. Applying for candidate banks makes you available for multiple opportunities during the time period specified on the candidate bank announcement. For this reason your job status in the candidate bank stays Applied/In Review. If your experience is a good match for a current opening, your resume will be referred to the hiring manager. You then will be able to track your status on the requisition specific to that job.
If you are interested in being considered for other positions, you must apply directly for specific job announcements in addition to applying for any candidate banks for which you would like to be considered.
How can I apply for temporary work?
Many people discover the University through temporary employment. Whether you are available for several months or several days, you can make a difference every day as a UW temporary employee.
You will find many types of UW positions created for a limited duration, to cover situations such as special projects and events, leaves of absence, or departmental overflow work.
To view and apply for temporary positions, in the Job Search box select Temporary from the category pull-down menu, then click the Search button. View more information on temporary employment.
I've just applied for a job. What happens next?
You can view your job status by logging into your UW Candidate Profile. The My Jobs page shows the job to which you have applied, status, Req #, a link to the job posting, and the date you applied.
The time it takes to fill a position varies, averaging between three and six weeks, depending on a number of factors, including how long it is advertised, how many applicants applied, etc. Hiring departments contact only the most competitive candidates to interview. For information about your job status check your My Jobs page. The most common job status statements are:
  • Applied/In Review - Candidate has applied to a position and Human Resources is reviewing their qualifications.
  • Resume Fwd to Department - Candidate has been reviewed by Human Resources and resume was sent to the hiring manager for departmental review. The department will select the top candidates from this review for interviews.
  • Considered Not Selected - Candidate was not hired in this position.
  • Hired/Accepted - Candidate has been hired for this position.
  • Candidate Withdrawn - Candidate has asked to be removed from consideration for the position.
  • Recruitment Canceled - Recruitment was canceled by the department, so the position will not be filled.
Can I send additional documents such as cover letters, references, formatted resumes, or licenses to add to my application materials?
Do not send additional documents unless requested to do so. If additional documents are required, they will be requested as an on-line assessment when you apply or during the interview process. While copies of licenses should not be sent, information about any relevant licenses should be added to your UW Candidate Profile. Go to View your Profile and enter the information under the Licenses and Certifications tab.
How do I update my resume or candidate profile?
You can update your resume or candidate profile anytime by logging into the UW employment website. After logging in, select View My Profile and then click Edit My Profile to update your candidate information and/or your resume. As soon as you update your resume, it automatically becomes the current viewable version in your Candidate Profile. This is the resume that hiring managers will see for all positions for which you have applied.
Can I have multiple candidate profiles?
You should create only one candidate profile. If you are a UW employee, your profile has already been started for you and can be opened by entering your UWNetID and password to log in so you can add your resume and additional information. If you are an external candidate, you will create your candidate profile the first time you apply. Thereafter, access your candidate profile using the email address and website password you entered to create your profile and login as an Existing Applicant. If you have forgotten your password, click on "Forgot your password?" or contact our Help Desk at uwhires@uw.edu or 206-543-2544 for assistance. If multiple candidate profiles are found for a candidate, they will be merged together, saving the most current contact information.
Can I submit multiple resumes or tailor my resume for a specific position?
The University's employment system has the ability to hold one active resume at a time within your candidate profile. Tailoring your resume for a particular position could affect your chances for other jobs for which you have applied. For best results, we recommend that you use a comprehensive resume highlighting all of your skills, education, and qualifications. Hiring managers will receive the most updated version of your resume.
For more hints on preparing an effective UW resume, check out these Resume Tips.
Can I submit a formatted resume or cover letter?
Our employment system requires that you use the simplest formatting possible on the resume and cover letter(s) you submit on-line. Do not use common formatting features like bullets, bolding, custom fonts, columns, and images. You can present formatted documents at an in-person interview.
Use the Resume box on your Candidate Profile to copy/paste or type in your resume.
Upon completing your candidate profile, you can access your resume at any time by logging into UW employment website. Always review your resume after saving your profile to be sure it is free of errors. For more information on preparing an effective UW resume, view our Resume Tips.
Cover letters are not required for all positions. If a cover letter is required, it will be noted in the job posting. When you click Apply For This Job, you will be prompted to complete a cover letter "assessment." As a cover letter is often reviewed by more than one person, we recommend that you address it "Dear Hiring Manager."
Can I email my resume?
Please do not email us your resume, but instead create your own candidate profile using our online application.
To do this, log into the UW employment website and select Click Here to Create Your Candidate Profile. Please copy/paste your resume into the resume text box. Next, you can search and apply to jobs at the employment website.
If you already have a candidate profile, or if you are already a UW employee, please login and update your information by clicking Edit Profile.
How will I be contacted if UW is interested in my application?
Watch your email inbox for messages from uwhires@uw.edu regarding the confirmation of your application. If you use spam or junk mail filters on your email account, make sure that you add our email address to your "safe" list.
If a department is interested in interviewing you, they will usually contact you via phone using the phone number you provided in your resume. Please keep your contact information updated.
I have questions regarding my assessment. Who can I contact?
Applications are not considered complete until you have submitted any required assessments. Once you submit an assessment, you cannot view or edit your submission. If you have a question regarding the submission of your completed assessment, please contact the Help Desk at uwhires@uw.edu or 206-543-2544. If you are emailing the Help Desk, it is helpful to include your phone number and the Job Req # in case we need additional information.

How to Apply - UW Employees

STEP 1
Navigate to the UW employment website and click the log in button in the UW Employees area. You will be asked to log in with your UW NetID.

STEP 2
Complete Your Profile--After you log in, click "View Your Profile" in the upper right, then "Edit your Profile." Complete the information on this page. Keep an electronic copy of your resume and employment details handy as you work. This will make it easy to copy and paste the information or use the "Resume Builder" feature. You will not be able to attach your resume as a separate document. Enter your full legal name on both the Candidate Profile and resume. Optional field for Nickname is available on the Candidate Profile. When you are finished, click "Save."

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR FIRST TIME USERS! Every UW employee has a skeleton profile in the system which includes name and current position information. If you apply for a job prior to Completing Your Profile, you will be applying with the skeleton profile which is not enough information to be considered for a position. See the FAQ tab for more information about your profile.

STEP 3
Search for a Job--Click "Search for a Job" in the upper right menu box. For best search results, search by "Job Category" only. Leave the rest of the search fields blank. Click "Search" to see your list of jobs. To view the job description, click the job title.

STEP 4
Apply for a Job--At the bottom of the job description, click the link named "Apply for this Job". Remember to complete your Profile first (see Step 2)

Each job announcement offers you two options: To apply for the job right away, click "Apply for this Job". To save the job and review or apply later, click "Add to Job Cart." Your Job Cart will be emptied when you log out or leave the website.

STEP 5
Complete Assessments--Assessments are online questionnaires that allow us to gather additional information about your employment background. Assessments will appear on your screen for you to complete when you click "Apply for this Job."

Once you begin the assessment, it must be completed at that time. You cannot save a partially completed assessment. If you have limited time, do not start an assessment. Instead, return when you have more time available. You cannot go back and edit an assessment after you complete and submit it, so be sure to review your answers or text carefully. For help, email uwhires@uw.edu or call 206-543-2544.

IMPORTANT: Your application will not be reviewed until you have completed all assessments required for the position.

How to Apply - External Candidates

STEP 1
Navigate to the UW employment website. You have the option of logging in if you have already created a profile, creating a profile, or searching for a job without logging in or creating a profile. If you find a job you want to apply for, you will either have to log in, or if you have not created an account, you will have to complete your profile and log in, in order to apply.

STEP 2
Search for a Job--Under "Job Search" select your search criteria. For best search results, search by "Job Category" only. Leave the rest of the search fields blank. Click "Search" to see your list of jobs. To view the job description, click the job title. If you have already created your Candidate Profile be sure to log in before starting your job search.

STEP 3
Apply for a Job--At the bottom of the job description, click the link named "Apply for this Job."

Each job announcement offers you two options: To apply for the job right away, click "Apply for this Job." To save the job and review or apply later, click "Add to Job Cart." Your Job Cart will be emptied when you log out or leave the website.

STEP 4
Complete your Profile/Submit your Resume--After you apply, follow the prompts to create your Candidate Profile and submit your resume, or to log in if you have previously submitted your resume.

Enter your full legal name on both the Candidate Profile and resume. Optional field for Nickname is available on the Candidate Profile. Keep an electronic copy of your resume and employment details handy as you work. This will make it easy to copy and paste the information, or to use the "Resume Builder" feature. You will not be able to attach your resume as a separate document. When you are finished, click "Save".

STEP 5
Complete Assessments--Assessments are online questionnaires that allow us to gather additional information about your employment background, eligibility, and interest. Assessments will appear on your screen for you to complete when you click "Apply for this Job."

Once you begin the assessment, it must be completed at that time. You cannot save a partially completed assessment. If you have limited time, do not start an assessment. Instead, choose "Click here to complete the assessment at a later time", then return when you have more time available. You cannot go back and edit an assessment after you complete and submit it, so be sure to review your answers or text carefully. For help, email uwhires@uw.edu or call 206.543.2544.

IMPORTANT: Your application will not be reviewed until you have completed all assessments required for the position.

Resume Tips

The top tip for anyone looking to work at the UW is to use a comprehensive resume that reflects all of your experience because our online application system allows one resume per candidate. If you apply for multiple UW positions you'll want your resume to reflect a complete picture of your training and experience.

The following tips can help you create your electronic resume.

What to Include

Contact information: Place your contact information in full view at the top of the page.

Accurate, complete training and employment history: For each position you have held, detail your job duties and include your starting and ending dates in the position.

Use keywords meaningfully: Use keywords within the context of duties you performed or skills that you applied to your job assignments. Creating a long list of skill words does not highlight your experience or explain how you used those skills.

Preparing Your Formatted Resume for Online Submission

Save a backup copy of your resume before preparing it for electronic submission. Before preparing your resume for electronic submission check the following:

  • Remove tabs, tables, paragraph borders, columns, and fancy fonts.
  • Remove any formatting created by adding spaces to text (indenting or center text). Keep all lines left justified.
  • Emphasize words sparingly, but if you need to, use ALL CAPS. Remove bold text as it loses its formatting in our system.

When you complete the following steps, ignore any "lost formatting" warnings.

  • Open your document in your word processor.
  • Save your document as text, plain text (.txt file extension), or with minimal formatting.
  • Open the file you just saved and apply basic formatting to make it presentable - e.g., use paragraphs or line breaks to separate text.
  • Set the document's margins to 1 inch.
  • Select all of the text in your document, Copy and Paste it into the resume text box.

For Assistance

Contact Information Have a specific UW employment question? Email us at uwhires@uw.edu or call 206-543-2544.

Disability Accommodation. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at: 206-543-6450 (voice), 206-543-6452 (TTY), 206-685-7264 (fax), or email at dso@uw.edu. The University of Washington makes every effort to honor disability accommodation requests. Requests can be responded to most effectively if received as far in advance as possible.