gap between classing dates and interview.

studentphil

I do not take it personally.


I knew it was a long shot to get anywhere so it is hardly surpising that they binned my application. I assume because I do not have this magic office expeience that they were unable to see all the good things about me.

studentphil

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

:mad: Will you stop taking it so personally! :mad: :mad: :mad:

In most recruitment processes, there is a range of applicants from the 'absolute rubbish, why did they bother applying?' through to 'outstanding'. However, most of them are somewhere in the middle, let's call them 'plausible'. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Inevitably some 'plausible' candidates will be just the wrong side of a line which is drawn after all the applications have been scanned to check they meet the requirements of the job description and the person spec. In my last job we had a little grid to tick off.

We would decide in advance how many people we were prepared to interview, never more than 6, and fewer than that if there weren't enough boxes ticked. So if we had 8 candidates where we'd ticked all the boxes, we'd look closer and see who had stronger evidence, more experience etc.

OK, so 2 candidates who met all our basic requirements wouldn't get an interview. Were they useless? Were they rubbish? No, they just didn't appear on paper to be as strong as the 6 we'd decided to interview.

You may have half a brain, but you demonstrate very little understanding of how the world of work works. There is no need to convince yourself that you wouldn't have fitted in - maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't. The fact is, you didn't get an interview for this job. You may not get an interview for the next one, or the one after that, or the one after that. You'll be in good company, with 000s of other imminent graduates, not to mention the rest of the job-seeking population. Deal with it ...

I do understand how the world works, they wanted office experience which I don't have, so I knew I was at a disadvantage at starters. This sort of work is a female dominated area, so that is another disadvantage for me as people do tend to recruit people like them.

But I just hoped they might have taken a chance on my good points, but that is very hard if everything is just a tick box excercise as it leaves little room for flexibility.

Tam_Lin

If they wanted office experience and you don't have any, then the outcome is really no surprise. These days experience counts for a lot. If they got a lot of applicants, then they're only going to shortlist the candidates who are closest to what they want.

studentphil

Tam_Lin wrote: »

If they wanted office experience and you don't have any, then the outcome is really no surprise. These days experience counts for a lot. If they got a lot of applicants, then they're only going to shortlist the candidates who are closest to what they want.

Maybe they see no validity in the argument, I have great IT skills, I am a fast learner, done similar things to this just not in an office setting, therefore, I am more than upto this job even though I do not have the experience.

But there could be a whole range of reasons why I got no where, for example, my handwriting is awful and so the form won't have been very readable.

But it is hard to know how people you have had no contact with think as to what is the issue.

Tam_Lin

It's the luck of the draw; someone's CV may show exactly the same attributes as yours on paper, but they may have experience or the CV may be written in such a way that it stands out. I tend to think the right job turns up at the right time; that's always been my experience. I don't know what you can do about your handwriting; I do view poor handwriting as a real turn-off in a professional environment.

studentphil

There really is a whole range of disadvantages to why I got no where. Considering my course has not finished that creates problems for starting dates and I might need time of for my exams and graduation. But I applied now in the hope that I could beat the rush that will happen once 14,000 new graduates enter the job market in this area in about 2 months time.

I know bad handwriting does you no favours but you have the handwriting you are given and you can not change that.

It is annoying because I know I can do the job and they clearly just do not see that.

Not to worry, there is a better job than that one come up that I might apply for. But it is only a 6 month post as it is only in relation to a one off government funding. It is however covered by the two ticks disability scheme so maybe I might have more luck their as they can not do me down for handwriting if I write in the disability box that I do have hand troubles.

jobbingmusician

Good luck with this one, Phil.

Why are you completing application forms in handwriting, unless particularly specified? If your IT skills are good you should be able to complete forms on your computer (even if this means re-creating the form and importing the logo!)

Honestly, as a shortlister I cannot stress too much that the forms that get the most attention are a) the illegible ones, which DO get pored over but with increasing frustration, and b) the highly legible ones, which are much appreciated and much easier to form a good opinion of!

studentphil

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Good luck with this one, Phil.

Why are you completing application forms in handwriting, unless particularly specified? If your IT skills are good you should be able to complete forms on your computer (even if this means re-creating the form and importing the logo!)

Honestly, as a shortlister I cannot stress too much that the forms that get the most attention are a) the illegible ones, which DO get pored over but with increasing frustration, and b) the highly legible ones, which are much appreciated and much easier to form a good opinion of!

For the other applications I managed to fudge the word processed form, which was poorly designed but I heard nawt from them ones either. But the one I really wanted I did handwritten as I could not get the word form to go right.

jobbingmusician

studentphil wrote: »

For the other applications I managed to fudge the word processed form, which was poorly designed but I heard nawt from them ones either. But the one I really wanted I did handwritten as I could not get the word form to go right.

studentphil wrote: »

.I have great IT skills....

Ahem!...:p

Seriously, if the Word form is slightly different most people won't mind at all (the ones who might are the ones who have coloured glossy application forms). Especially in your case, as you can argue that submission in a typewritten form is a way of dealing with your disabilities. As an employer I would see that as someone mking a positive effort to overcome difficulties and write legibly so things are easier for others!

Savvy_Sue

studentphil wrote: »

Maybe they see no validity in the argument, I have great IT skills, I am a fast learner, done similar things to this just not in an office setting, therefore, I am more than upto this job even though I do not have the experience.

Look, either you have the right kind of experience, or you don't. More to the point, either you demonstrate on the form that you have the skills, or you don't. Most of the skills which got me my first 'proper' job post-children were not gained in an office, but in voluntary work. Did I stress my lack of recent office experience? No. Did I highlight that I had the skills they were asking for? You bet I did. Where you got the skills is irrelevant.

And for a fast learner, we do find ourselves going round and round the same points again and again and again ...

studentphil wrote: »

But there could be a whole range of reasons why I got no where, for example, my handwriting is awful and so the form won't have been very readable.

As I've said before, if your handwriting is bad then don't use it to fill in application forms. jobbingmusician has now said it too. As someone with a disability do you not have a RIGHT to request information in other media, and to have a form you can complete on computer? Even if the organisation doesn't know how to provide it, if you're so good at IT you can do it!

Bottom line for me would be finding a typewriter ... but I'm old-fashioned like that ...

Seen your latest post, and here's another thought: measure the boxes they've provided for you to write information in. Set up a table on your PC with cells of appropriate sizes. Type your answers in there. Print, cut (with scissors) and paste (with Pritt stick). Stick edges down with magic sellotape (to avoid black lines). Photocopy and post.

OR scan the form into your computer. Paste each page into a Word document. 'Draw' some text boxes of the appropriate size on top - send the application form to the back so you can always see them - and type in them.

Now I've give that about 30 seconds thought ... and here's another one - go and talk to your careers service, show them your applications to date, ask their advice AND FOLLOW IT! They, after all, are paid to provide this service.

Oh, and even if they SAY they want a handwritten letter, or a handwritten application form, I'd type it and send a very brief covering letter in my BEST handwriting explaining that my disability made writing difficult and slower than typing. Wish I could use that reason myself ... :rotfl:for me, there is NO excuse!

studentphil wrote: »

But it is hard to know how people you have had no contact with think as to what is the issue.

So why do you assume it's because you're rubbish? Your application may or may not have been rubbish, we don't know because we haven't seen it. Equally it may have been a strong application, just not quite as strong as the 6 (or however many) they have shortlisted.

Note you didn't say "if my application is too rubbish for them" you said "if I am too rubbish for them." That's what I mean by taking it personally.

Please don't start explaining how you didn't mean what you said. I can only comment on what you said. If you can't use the English language clearly, there is little hope of you landing a graduate level job.

BTW, go for the 6 month contract. If they're a two tick place, you shouldn't be at the disadvantage you otherwise assume you're at. Plus contracts are often renewed, or other jobs become available. If you're good at a short-term job, you're in a much stronger position for other jobs within that organisation, and it starts to build a CV.