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

paulwf

an9i77 wrote: »

The only advantage I can think of from the employer's point of view is that it stops timewasters who are applying to everything using a scattergun approach. A lot of them must reason, if you can take the time to fill in this 20 page application form, you must really want the job, so it's a filter against people who don't really, really want the job. In which case those that do manage to complete the application forms may find they are up against less people as a certain number may have been put off - which can only be a good thing.

It's amazing the number of forms I see where people do a half arsed job. Candidates would be best either taking the time to fill it in properly (I'm talking about a fairly short form) or not bothering. It really is worth taking the time to do an application properly as from what I see a good half are rejected immediately from being rushed or not fully completed.

It is a numbers game and the odds are actually very good. I had a position available and got 40 forms back. About half were rejected for being a poor application, then half of the remainder rejected for not matching what we were looking for. Out of 7 interviews arranged 1 didn't turn up and only 2 had prepared in the slightest. So the odds of someone with relevant experience weren't 1 in 40 the were 1 in 2 for anyone that could put in a little bit of effort.

Although everybody hates application forms try and stay positive, the more complicated they are the better the chance of getting the job if enough thought is put in. Far better chances than when several hundred people all email in a generic CV.

Tippytoes

macalacka wrote: »

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?

OK. You're HR. You have a degree and HR qualification. As an educated individual, I would expect you to be able to use an apostrophe appropriately. (CV's??). Should be automatic. Narrow minded? Not at all. Would I expect HR to know the ins and outs of every profession on their hit list? No way.

HR is a vehicle...not are.

HR, often referred to as "Human Remains".

Rejection due to poor grammar maybe?

Northerness

There are so many hoops to jump through these days, my grandad tells me how he just used to walk into jobs, they'd have a short chat with you and you'd start that very day. The problem with many of these application forms is that you need to go through the job spec and give an example of doing EXACTLY the same duties or you won't get shortlisted.

I'm sure many people just tell lies in these sections to get shortlisted. I feel like saying, "hey, I haven't done that exact particular, specific task - using a system of which yours is the only company in the entire world that uses it BUT I'm an intelligent person and more than capable of engaging my brain and learning". That's what our A-levels, degrees and professional quals show - we can learn!

Northerness

Tippytoes wrote: »

OK. You're HR. You have a degree and HR qualification. As an educated individual, I would expect you to be able to use an apostrophe appropriately. (CV's??). Should be automatic. Narrow minded? Not at all. Would I expect HR to know the ins and outs of every profession on their hit list? No way.

HR is a vehicle...not are.

HR, often referred to as "Human Remains".

Rejection due to poor grammar maybe?

I think you're being rather unfair to Macalacka...not to mention pedantic. This is a casual forum, not the work environment. I, for example, use a touch-screen mobile device to comment - so I shall be here all night if I have to make sure that all my spelling and grammar is up to your superior standards! I'm a little scared now.

Googlewhacker

Tippytoes wrote: »

OK. You're HR. You have a degree and HR qualification. As an educated individual, I would expect you to be able to use an apostrophe appropriately. (CV's??). Should be automatic. Narrow minded? Not at all. Would I expect HR to know the ins and outs of every profession on their hit list? No way.

HR is a vehicle...not are.

HR, often referred to as "Human Remains".

Rejection due to poor grammar maybe?

I very much doubt you wrote the above first time without double checking your grammar.

As has been said stop being a pedant.

DKLS

If an advertised role requests a application form, I simply don't apply.
Waste of my time, just like the charity sector who wanted me to prepare a 5yr plan to present at interview :rotfl:

Tippytoes

Googlewhacker wrote: »

I very much doubt you wrote the above first time without double checking your grammar.

I did actually!