Does anyone else get depressed about the sheer pointless form filling of job hunting?

TrickyWicky

Tippytoes wrote: »

Proof read your post. I don't mean to be unkind, but....

Get a grip, it's a forum not the workplace! All rules of grammer, spelling, morals etc seem to mysteriously vanish online.

oneofmillions768

Nothing worse than them 3-5 pages of application forms you fill in, especially if it involves tinkering with the tab button on MS Word.

Every time you press enter the flamin whole section seems out of sync. Drives me bananas.

Must admit they are sole destroying, knowing that you will spend hour or more filling in additional information section/why do you think your suitable section/what skills section etc etc.

Also a fan of the cover letter (with your skills on of course) and good CV.

Truegho

That is just ridiculous, and much akin to my own experiences of having to build Lego houses and paper mache structures just to work in - wait for it - a darned retail store, for Gawdsake!

an9i77 wrote: »

When I applied for graduate jobs a few years ago, one which was for one of the big high street banks, involved an assessment centre with an exercise that could have been straight from 'the crystal maze' (remember that show?). There was a pully in the middle of the room, with a load of poles, balls, spoons and other random equipment, I was given half an hour to work out how to get the pulley to lift up so that I could get some marbles out from underneath, and I couldn't go within 1m radius of the pulley. I then had 10 mins to get my team to do it under my instruction. !!!!!! that has to do with a graduate position in a bank I'm not quite sure. It was WEIRD.

Truegho

I can certainly share total empathy with you here. These ridiculously lengthy app forms ARE an absolute pain, and so are the idiots who designed them. These employers are really treating us jobless now like insignificant toys. If there was full employment, they could not afford to be Monty Pythonesque silly in their recruitment standards, and would have to go back to the good old -sensible - days of just asking you to apply with a CV and covering letter.

I think the government should do something about these ludicrous recruitment methods, as far from facilitating the interests of the jobless, they are only making them worse.

bartelbe wrote: »

I'm applying for a very low level job, I would prefer not to say what it is, because I still hope to get it. I spoke to the guy in charge of hiring, that went well, and he said he would email an application. What I got was war and peace, four seperate documents, including a 6 page application form.

Is all this really neccessary? I know that it helps keep alot of bloated HR departments in work, but as a job seeker I find the amount of form filling and paper work that comes with every bloody job is grinding me down. You're suppose to fill out hundreds of applications a week, but to get one to the required standard can take me half a day minimum.

This is for entry level positions, don't get me started on graduate jobs. In which there a three million seperate recruitment stages, many of them of dubious merit like Psychometric testing, before you ever get near to an interview. Of course they will be at least 2,3 god knows how many of them. These recruitment processes are not only frustrating for job seekers, but must cost companies a fortune.

Conrad_Hart

Yeah. It almost seems pointless having a CV, as most of the forms basically want you to type out your CV again which is time consuming - and if you're applying to lots of jobs - then it gets annoying pretty quick.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I would have a bloody holiday! it sounds like you need a rest and to clear your head and it is no sin to enjoy yourself and seek to enjoy your life no matter what is against you.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Or do stuff that is out your comfort zone, stretching tasks, new experiences to refresh yourself.
Or else vainly flick 'em off to meaningless job websites and even totally wacky places just for the exercise!
You don't have to take life seriously all the time and make yourself miserable.
Do and read stuff outa the old comfort zone. It must be easy to get into a rut.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I would take a comedic stance and take !!!! out the system, job application forms, employers etc for therapy and entertainment.

macalacka

Tippytoes wrote: »

It must be soul destroying for a reasonably educated unemployed person to submit an application to HR, knowing full well it will be perused (and probably rejected) by someone whose standard of education is lower than their own.

Proof read your post. I don't mean to be unkind, but....

I'm in a forum, I will make a typo or ten.

How can you make a judgement on the standard of education of people in HR? Do you know any? Thought not.

We know what we are looking for as THE LINE MANAGERS TELL US!! WE DON'T DECIDE. How can I decide what experience the IT Director wants for his next IT Manager? The IT Director tells HR and HR go and find the candidates. HR are the vehicle not the driver.

I get CV's from people who have a degree and a masters but still don't cut the mustard. I have a degree and an HR professional qualification, I couldn't get a job until I had work experience on my CV. So whilst I now filter and reject CV's I have had my own CV filtered and rejected, IT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME.

Narrow minded at all Tippytoes?

KevInChester

I've never got a job via handwritten applications. My handwriting in short spurts is ok, for long times it just gets too messy, and I end up thinking faster than I write which causes me to omit words etc On a couple of occasions though I have called up the company and arranged to type up the application form, print it off and then sign it. That seems to work.