Applicants should submit their documents before the interview.
The number of applicants this year increased compared to last year.
志願者 refers to someone who formally applies or volunteers for a specific position or task, while 有志 is broader, describing anyone who joins an activity of their own accord.
志願者 highlights a person's own desire or volunteering to be considered, while 候補者 is neutral about motivation and just names the person on the shortlist.
Compound of 志願 (shigan, 'application' or 'volunteering') and 者 (sha, 'person'). The word is transparently derived from its components.