For “date available” on a job application, write the earliest specific date you could realistically start work: “Immediately” or today’s date if you are not working, or a date two to four weeks out if you need to give notice at a current job. Use a real calendar date rather than a vague phrase, make it one you can keep, and if you have a fixed commitment first, such as finishing a semester or a contract, use the day after it ends.
Employers use this field to plan, so a clear, honest date helps you; an unrealistic one can cost you the job or the goodwill you start with. Below is what the field means, why it matters, how to choose your date, examples for every situation and what not to write.
What “Date Available” on a Job Application Means
“Date available”, also labelled “available start date”, “earliest start date” or “when can you start?”, asks for the first day you could begin work if hired. It is not the date you would prefer to start or the date you are applying. Most forms want a single date in a standard format, though some allow “Immediately” or “Upon offer”. If the form asks separately for the days and hours you are available, that is your availability schedule, a different question about shifts rather than a start date.
Why Employers Ask for Your Date Available
- To fill a gap on time. Many openings exist because someone left or a season is starting; a candidate who can start when needed has an edge.
- To schedule onboarding. Training classes, orientation sessions and background checks are booked around start dates.
- To compare candidates. Between two similar applicants, the one available sooner may be chosen, but a candidate who gives proper notice to a current employer is also seen as reliable.
- To spot problems early. A date months away, or “to be discussed”, raises questions the recruiter will have to ask anyway.
How to Choose Your Date Available Step by Step
- Check your current obligations. Notice period at your job, the end of a contract, a school term, a planned trip or a relocation date.
- Add the notice you owe. Two weeks is the common courtesy for most jobs; some roles and contracts require longer, so check yours before promising a date.
- Allow a few days’ buffer. A start date the Monday after your last day gives you a weekend to reset and covers small delays.
- Write a specific date. “the first Monday in June” is better than “sometime in June”; “Immediately” is fine if it is true.
- Be consistent. Give the same date on the form, in your cover letter and in the interview, and update the employer if it changes.
- Stay flexible in the interview. If asked whether you could start sooner, explain the notice you owe; employers generally respect that.
Date Available Examples for a Job Application
| Situation | What to write |
|---|---|
| Not currently working | Immediately (or today’s date) |
| Employed, two weeks’ notice required | A date two weeks after the day you expect an offer, for example the Monday three weeks from today |
| Employed, longer notice in your contract | A date matching your notice period, for example four weeks out |
| Student finishing a semester | The first Monday after your last exam or graduation date |
| Finishing a temporary contract | The first working day after the contract’s end date |
| Relocating for the job | The date you can be in the new city, with a note that you can discuss relocation timing |
| Seasonal or holiday job | The date the season opens, or “Immediately”, if you have no other commitments |
| Part-time job alongside school | Immediately, with your weekly availability in the schedule field |
| Returning after a career break | Immediately, or the date childcare or other arrangements begin |
| Applying well ahead of leaving school | Your expected graduation date |
| Booked holiday soon after starting | Your real available date, and mention the booked dates in the interview |
| Need to give notice but want to signal keenness | Two weeks from offer, negotiable |
What Not to Write for Date Available
- A date you cannot keep. Promising “Immediately” while owing notice, then asking for two more weeks, starts the relationship badly.
- “ASAP” or “Flexible” with no date. They give the employer nothing to plan around; add a date even if you note flexibility.
- A date months away without explanation. If you have a good reason, such as graduation or a contract, say so in the cover letter or interview.
- Your preferred date instead of your earliest date. The field asks when you could start; you can still negotiate a later date once an offer is made.
- Leaving it blank. Some application systems filter on this field, and a blank may drop you from searches.
Related Fields You May See on the Same Form
- Availability or hours available: the days and shifts you can work each week, separate from your start date.
- Desired salary: what you want to earn, usually a range.
- Position desired: the job title you are applying for.
- May we contact your current employer? Whether the employer can call your present workplace, which matters if you have not yet given notice.
- Employment status: whether you are currently employed, which should agree with the date you give here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I put for date available if I am still employed? A date that allows your notice period, typically two weeks after you expect an offer, or a note such as “Two weeks from offer”.
- Is it better to say “Immediately”? Only if it is true. Employers value an accurate date more than a fast one.
- Can I change my date available later? Yes. Tell the employer as soon as your circumstances change; start dates are usually confirmed at the offer stage.
- Does the date available affect whether I get the job? It can, if the employer needs someone by a certain date, but honesty about notice is rarely held against a candidate.
- What if the form only allows a date and I owe notice? Enter the date two weeks (or your notice period) from today and mention in the interview that it moves with the offer date.