public with sharing class SearchClass
{
    public List<Contact> contacts { get; set; }
    public List<Application__c> apps { get; set; }
    public String name { get; set; }
    public String Status { get; set; }
    public String Skills { get; set; }

    public SearchClass()
    {
        contacts = new List<Contact>();
        apps = new List<Application__c>();
    }

    public PageReference searchContacts()
    {
        contacts = [select Id
                          ,Name
                          ,Status__c
                     from Contact
                    where Name = :name
                    or Status__c = :Status
       apps = [select Id
                          ,Skills__c
                     from Application__c
                    where Skills__c = :Skills
        return null;
    }
}

<apex:page controller="Criteria__c" extensions="FindClass">