How to Create a Fillable PDF Job Application with a Submit Button
Question details
The user needs to create a fillable PDF job application form that includes a functional submit button to securely collect information from external applicants.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Building an external-facing job application form to gather candidate details securely and route them to designated recipients.
- Observed behavior
- The goal is to successfully generate a standard PDF with interactive form fields and a functioning submit button compatible with applicants' PDF viewers.
Ensure you have a clear document layout of your job application ready before adding fillable fields. Decide in advance whether the submitted data will be sent to a specific email address or a secure web server endpoint.
Use Adobe Acrobat Prepare Form Tool
Utilize the standard Prepare Form tool to add fillable text fields and configure a submit button for secure data routing.
When designing external forms, it is crucial to use standard form protocols to ensure compatibility across different PDF viewers. Avoid relying on browser-based PDF viewers, as they may not fully support form submission scripts or actions.
Open the draft job application document (Word or PDF format) in Adobe Acrobat.
Navigate to 'Tools' and select the 'Prepare Form' option. Acrobat will automatically detect existing lines and convert them to text fields, or you can manually add them.
Select the 'Button' tool from the form authoring toolbar, place it at the bottom of the document, and label it 'Submit Application'.
Right-click the new button, go to 'Properties', and select the 'Actions' tab. Set the 'Select Action' drop-down to 'Submit a form' and click 'Add'.
Enter the target URL of your secure web endpoint or an email address using the 'mailto:' prefix (e.g., mailto:hr@yourorganization.com) where the data should be securely routed.
Save the PDF and test the form submission outside your organization using a standard desktop PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Create Fillable PDFs Fast with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a powerful PDF toolkit that lets you quickly convert documents into interactive, fillable PDF forms without the need for expensive software.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your job application draft document in the PDF editor.
- 2. Access the Form tab: Switch to the 'Form' tab located in the top ribbon menu to access interactive form tools.
- 3. Insert form fields: Use the provided form controls to insert Text Fields, Checkboxes, and Radio Buttons where applicants need to input their data.
- 4. Add a Push Button: Click on 'Push Button' to add a submit button to the document, then double-click it to access properties and assign the submit action and destination email.
- 5. Save the fillable PDF: Save your document to finalize the interactive job application, ready for distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't the submit button working when applicants open the PDF in their web browser?
Many default web browser PDF viewers (like Chrome, Safari, or Edge) have limited support for interactive PDF form scripts. Instruct applicants to download the file and open it in a dedicated PDF reader software to submit the form successfully.
Can I send the submitted PDF data directly to an email address?
Yes. When configuring the submit button's actions, you can enter a 'mailto:' link (e.g., mailto:hr@example.com). This will automatically prompt the user's default desktop email client to send the completed form when the button is clicked.
Is it possible to make certain fields mandatory in the application?
Yes. In the form field properties menu, you can check the 'Required' box for specific text fields or checkboxes to ensure applicants cannot submit the form without filling out that necessary information.
What format is the data sent in when the submit button is clicked?
Depending on how you configure the button properties, the data can be sent as an FDF file (form data only), HTML, XML, or as the complete PDF document itself. Sending the complete PDF document is often the easiest method for direct email submissions.
