If you are wondering what type of field to create for your application form (Custom Field, Qualification, General Interest), here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do I need to be able to enter specific text into the field? –> Custom Field
- Do I need to make a value mandatory (required) when new volunteers fill in an application? –> Custom Field or Qualification
- Do I need this field to be a prerequisite or essential skill for performing an Activity? –> Qualification
- Do I need this field to determine whether or not an Activity is visible to a volunteer? –> Qualification
- Does this skill or certification have an expiration date associated with it? –> Qualification
- Is this something that I want to display as a series of checkboxes to prospective volunteers so that they can indicate their general areas of interest? –> General Interest
Custom Field, Qualification, or General Interest?
The following table should also help you in deciding whether or not to create a Custom Field, Qualification or General Interest.
| Attribute | Custom Field | Qualification | General Interest |
| Data input permitted? | Yes (for Short Text, Long Text, Number and Date fields) | No. Can only select from a list of values created. | No. Checkbox only. |
| Data selection permitted? | Yes (for Yes/No, Droplist and Checkbox fields) | Yes (via droplist) | Yes (via checkbox) |
| Data upload permitted? | Yes (for File fields) | No | No |
| Data entry can have an expiration date? | No | Optional | No |
| Visible on application form? | Optional (can specify on which application forms it will appear) | Optional (can specify on which application forms it will appear) | Optional (can specify if all interests will appear on all application forms) |
| Required on application form? | Optional | Optional | No |
| Ranked list of choices? | Alphabetical order (for Droplist fields) | Optional | No |
| Hidden from volunteers? | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Read-only to volunteers? | Optional | Optional | No |
| Approval required for data entry/updates? | Optional | Optional | No |
| Can be grouped into categories? | Optional | No | No |
Note: You can see what your application form would look like to your applicant volunteers by going to: Configuration, clicking on Application Form Settings found in the sidebar under Recruitment. Click on the [Interactive Sample Form] button for any of your application forms to see the preview.