What to put for availability on a job application

What 'availability' actually means on a job application

Most applications use the word 'availability' to mean one of two things: when you can start the job, or when you are free to interview. Read the field label carefully. If it says 'available to start' or 'earliest start date', they want your notice period. If it says 'available for interview', they want your schedule for the coming week or two.

Some older application forms, especially on Workday and older ATS platforms, combine both into one field. When that happens, answer the start date question first, then add a short note about interview availability in the same box.

• 'Available to start' means your first possible working day after notice.
• 'Available for interview' means the days and times you can meet in the next one to two weeks.
• If the field is ambiguous, answer both in one or two sentences.

How to calculate your notice period

Your notice period is set by your employment contract, not by how quickly you want to leave. Check your contract before you fill in any application. Common notice periods by country in 2026 are as follows.

In the US, most at-will employees have no contractual notice period, so two weeks is the professional standard. In Canada, the standard is also two weeks, though some provinces require more for longer-tenured employees. In the UK, the statutory minimum is one week per year of service, up to 12 weeks, but your contract may require more. In Australia, the Fair Work Act sets minimums of one to four weeks depending on tenure, and many white-collar contracts add to that.

If you are currently unemployed, your start date can be as soon as the employer needs, but give yourself at least a few days to handle paperwork and onboarding logistics. Writing 'immediately' can sometimes read as desperate. A date one week out is more professional.

• US and Canada: two weeks is the default if your contract is silent.
• UK: check your contract; statutory minimum is one week per year of service.
• Australia: Fair Work minimums range from one to four weeks; check your contract for anything longer.
• Unemployed: use a date five to ten business days from today rather than 'immediately'.

Exact phrases and templates to use

Specific language reduces back-and-forth and shows you have thought the question through. Use one of the templates below and adjust the date to match your situation.

1. Currently employed, standard notice: 'I am available to start on [date], following a two-week notice period.'
2. Currently employed, longer notice: 'My contract requires four weeks' notice. My earliest start date is [date], though I am happy to discuss if the role has flexibility.'
3. Unemployed: 'I am available to start on [date] and can be flexible if an earlier date works better for the team.'
4. Negotiable notice: 'I expect to give two weeks' notice and could start as early as [date] or as late as [date], depending on what works for the team.'
5. Interview availability only: 'I am available Monday to Friday after 10 a.m. Eastern and all day on Wednesdays.'

When to negotiate your notice period

Employers often have more flexibility than the job posting suggests. If you have a four-week notice period but the role is urgent, you can offer to start part-time or on a consulting basis during your notice. Many employers in the US and Canada accept this. In the UK and Australia, your employer must agree to release you early, so do not promise a shorter start date until you have had that conversation.

Never lie about your notice period to get an offer. If the employer finds out during a reference check, the offer can be withdrawn. If you start before your notice is up, your current employer may pursue you for breach of contract, particularly in the UK and Australia where this is more common.

If you genuinely need more time, for example because you have a project to hand over or a holiday already booked, say so briefly. Most hiring managers respect honesty. You can write: 'I have a pre-booked commitment through [date] and can start the following Monday. I am happy to discuss if this creates a problem.'

What to do when the field is a drop-down

Some ATS forms give you a drop-down with options like 'immediately', '2 weeks', '1 month', or '3+ months'. Choose the option that is closest to your real situation without understating it. If your notice is three weeks, choose '1 month' rather than '2 weeks', because missing your start date damages your reputation with the new employer.

If there is a free-text field anywhere else on the form, use it to give the exact date. Write something like: 'I selected one month above; my actual start date would be [specific date] following my notice period.'

How Break-In Bad handles availability when it applies for you

When Break-In Bad's assistant Omar applies to jobs on your behalf on platforms like Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday, she fills in the availability field using the start date you confirmed during your profile setup. She does not guess or leave it blank. If a form has a drop-down, she selects the closest option and adds your exact date in any available notes field. You receive a screenshot of every submitted application so you can verify what was entered before an employer sees it.

Common mistakes to avoid

These errors come up repeatedly and are easy to fix once you know to look for them.

• Writing 'ASAP' or 'immediately' when you are still employed. It signals you have not thought about your obligations.
• Leaving the field blank. Many ATS systems flag incomplete applications before a human ever reads them.
• Giving a date that is shorter than your contractual notice without checking with your employer first.
• Forgetting to account for public holidays between now and your start date, which can shift the date by a day or two.
• Using a different date on your cover letter than on the application form. Inconsistency raises questions.