Why do job applicants waste everyone's time by...

Mr_Oink

Going a little 'OT' my best interview ever (not) was with a company who specialise in the repair of vending machines. I was asked to attend a 'Hilton' type hotel at 3pm, which I did. Classic case of 'assumption' on my part , I arrived and went to the reception desk asking for said company and the room they had booked for interviews. After a few minutes the perplexed receptionist said "I can't find anything at all under that name Mr Oink - take a seat in the cafe for a moment and I'll have the duty manager double check." After about 10 minutes a scruffy mong walked in with a laptop and eyed me up and down asking if I were Mr Oink. I confirmed and asked if he wanted time to set up the room. He said 'I've not booked a room, I thought we could sit in the Cafe and talk about it. There is no job on offer - some recruiter randomly placed the job on 'The Career Engineer' without our permission'.

I do hope the burns he sustained from the coffee I poured into his lap did not leave any lasting scars. Seriously - some tinpot employers seem to think they are God. It's time to start 'blacklisting' these companies and their shabby practices.

shikoku

brokeinwales wrote: »

Oh I actually had to take my CV down from one of the supposed recruitment websites, because it was more trouble than it was worth - just resulted in me being swamped by calls and emails from agencies who were very eager for me to come in and register with them, fill in forms, complete tests etc - but never, ever, ever got me any work.

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Yes I have this same experience - with the same solution.

brokeinwales

Originally Posted by brokeinwales
Oh I actually had to take my CV down from one of the supposed recruitment websites, because it was more trouble than it was worth - just resulted in me being swamped by calls and emails from agencies who were very eager for me to come in and register with them, fill in forms, complete tests etc - but never, ever, ever got me any work.

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Yes I have this same experience - with the same solution.

What I don't get is why the agencies are so eager to us these kinds of tricks sign up as many people as possible when they must know they don't have the work available. What's in it for them?

Mr_Oink

brokeinwales wrote: »

What I don't get is why the agencies are so eager to us these kinds of tricks sign up as many people as possible when they must know they don't have the work available. What's in it for them?

Economies of scale + you do all the work for them. My own personal opinion of a great many 'recruiters' is they occupy a time and space in a similar vector with scammers and spammers. Coupled with an uncanny and flexible ability to emit constant bovine faeces :rotfl:

Certainly notably worse since the requirement to be licensed under the Employment Agencies Act vanished 20 or so years ago.

patman99

When I apply for a job, I automatically assume that will be the last I will hear from them. If it is one that I feel I could do with my eyes shut (so to speak), I give it a couple of weeks then email them.

Had an 'unsuccessful applicant' response from Lota Training today, but only after I had emailed them.


Talking of work, if anyone in N. Essex is looking for someone with 16 years experience in sheetmetal, and who has 10 years working as a cnc brakepress setter/operator, who also has a current '1st Aider at Work' certificate, and who is qualified to train others. Then please feel free to PM me, and I will be happy to send you my cv.

SwipernoSwiping

I'm in total agreement with some form of blacklisting for these agencies - their employees ( the ones I have had the 'pleasure' of speaking with) are amazingly talented at being two faced - telling you what you want to hear, and doing what the hell they like once your out the door/off the phone.
You have to remember that agencies are only partly to blame. - They are ONLY paid for forwarding applicants that match the education and previous experience listed by the employer/client.
Pity that so many clients/employers don't realise what they are looking for can't be matched by stipulating a list of abreviations. Capability. If you have MCSE qualifications it doesn't mean your capable of plugging in a computer any more than if you have completed your LPC proving your able to take a witness statement.
Furthermore employers that use agencies ( a former employer myself here) are merely cheating themselves. By letting someone else filter through the CV's for them the "Capability" they seek is lost, missed in the carefully edited, thought out and written content of past experience. A loyal employee that remains with your company and not tempted away by pay increases is worth a little investment. No time is lost every second year by re-training the new arrival, the repeated advertisements that are required to replace the staff that leave a department purely because the "abreviated" middle management are there "just to get paid" and care little about actually doing their job or what the company means about "Customer Care"


Was it not such minds as those that "just do their job and meet their targets" that have so many of us out looking for work - any work - right now?

Let's not also forget that many of these "digital" CV libraries - (lets be fair they do little "recruiting" ) simply mine data from one source. Many local papers will offer to display a job over hundreds of different job based websites. A potential employee merely follows the instructions the site gives, because its ripped the contact details out and they are none the wiser. The employer ends up with hundreds of applications that are broken up with html coding and jibberish.

I have traveled some 150 miles this week alone to attend interviews, I have adhered to every request. I have been doing the very same for 3 months. I'm over qualified for call centres, their middle management fear me. I know agencies won't go near me, so alas my hopes for finding work are slim employers distrust JobCentre, and are swift to mail out their generic "no thanks" even when offered my time for free.
Their loss?

chuckley

i disagree with point 3. some agencies post jobs on guardian, in particular, and ask people to send CV and cover letter in the post.... but then have the 'apply with CV' button as an option.

works both ways. this is why i hate agencies. AND they edit your CV!!!!!!!!!

chuckley

Timmne wrote: »

I'm always surprised at how many applications come in after the closing date - when every time I advertise it says the closing date on the form...

It's even better when the applicant puts in that they're great at time keeping.

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasically. if the job is still being advertised online AFTER the closing date then its fair game. if you've filled the position you would have taken it down...