Phillips Automotive has been a client of ours for years. We built their website, developed a custom timeclock system for their mechanics, and handle their ongoing tech needs. So when they needed a way to post job openings and accept applications online, they called us.
The old careers page was basic. It listed open positions but had no way for people to actually apply online. Candidates had to call or walk in. In 2026, that means you lose applicants to shops that make it easy to apply from a phone at 10pm.
What We Built
The new careers system has two parts: a public-facing job board and an application form that collects everything Phillips needs to evaluate a candidate.
The job listings page shows all open positions with clear details. Each listing displays the job title, employment type (full-time, part-time), pay range, a description of the role, and tags for benefits like competitive pay, paid holidays, and medical insurance. Positions marked as urgent get a "Now Hiring" badge so applicants know which roles need to be filled immediately.
The application form is where it gets interesting. When someone clicks "Apply Now" on a specific job, the form pre-fills the position they are applying for. The form collects:
- Personal information: name, email, phone number
- Experience level: years of experience via a dropdown
- Certifications: checkboxes for ASE Certified, EPA 608 (AC), State Inspection License, and Other
- Own tools: whether the applicant has their own tools (yes, some, or no)
- Resume upload: drag-and-drop file upload supporting PDF, DOC, and DOCX up to 5MB
- Cover letter: a text area for additional information
- Availability: when the applicant can start
A sidebar shows a summary of the position being applied for, so the applicant always knows exactly which job they are submitting for. There is also a consent checkbox confirming the information is accurate.
How It Works on the Backend
When someone submits an application, several things happen automatically. The form data and uploaded resume are processed by PHP. An email notification goes straight to Phillips with all the applicant's details and the resume attached. The applicant gets a confirmation that their application was received.
Phillips can manage job postings through an admin panel. They add new positions, mark them as urgent, update pay ranges, and remove listings when positions are filled. No developer needed for day-to-day management.
Why This Matters for Any Business Hiring
If your business has open positions and your only hiring method is a "Help Wanted" sign in the window or a Facebook post, you are missing candidates. People search for jobs online. They search "mechanic jobs Sedalia MO" or "auto repair hiring near me." A real careers page with structured job listings shows up in those searches.
The barrier to apply matters too. The easier it is to submit an application, the more applications you get. A form that takes 5 minutes on a phone at 10pm beats "call during business hours" every time. The best candidates are usually already employed somewhere. They are browsing job listings after work, not during your office hours.
The Technical Details
The system is built with PHP, HTML, and CSS. No WordPress plugins, no third-party job board subscriptions, no monthly fees. The form includes file upload handling with server-side validation (file type, file size), email delivery via PHP, and CSRF protection to prevent spam submissions.
The design matches the rest of the Phillips Automotive website. Same header, same footer, same brand colors. It feels like part of the site because it is part of the site. Not an embedded iframe from Indeed or some job board widget that looks out of place.
What Phillips Said
Phillips Automotive left us a 5-star Google review. Here is part of what they wrote:
"What really sets David apart is his reliability. Anytime we had a computer question or issue, he was always able to answer and solve our worries. That kind of responsiveness is rare and means everything to a small local business."
That is the relationship we build with every client. Phillips has been with us for years because we show up, we solve problems, and we build things that actually work for their business.
Could Your Business Use Something Like This?
If you are hiring and want a professional way to accept applications online, this is exactly the kind of custom feature we build. Job listings, application forms, resume uploads, email notifications, and an admin panel to manage it all. No monthly subscriptions to a job board. You own the system.
Check out the live system at phillipsautomotive.org/careers, or get in touch if you want something similar for your business.