Job applications - a rant!!!

DKLS

SuzieSue wrote: »

It was a few years ago so I cannot remember what the advert said. But I would not want to employ someone who thought it was sufficient simply to forward a CV especially when the website we used to advertise the job encouraged people to submit a covering letter with all applications. It was actually a very good way to separate the wheat from the chaff as we had hundreds of applications and there is no way I could have gone through them all.

Didn't they teach you how to screen CVs? its a useful skill there is Hr software that will do it for you now, but still useful, i can go through 100 Cvs and produce a short list in less than an hour. Trick is not to read but scan for the info you require then produce 4 piles:
Interview
Maybe
Fat chance
Retain for comedy value and office mockery.

FBaby

Why bother to screen CVs when you believe that someone who can't be bothered to send a cover letter is not someone you would want working for you? It's not the employer who is missing out but the applicant.

DKLS

FBaby wrote: »

Why bother to screen CVs when you believe that someone who can't be bothered to send a cover letter is not someone you would want working for you? It's not the employer who is missing out but the applicant.

I dont believe that, are you confusing me with another poster?, personally I couldn't give a fig about cover letters and think they are a waste of time. I haven't read one for years.

downshifter

Surely from the point of view of the applicant you would want to do whatever you could to get the job, why apply otherwise? If you can make the panel's task easier by summarising your relevant skills and experience and relating those skills to the post (or even add value) in a brief letter then you stand a far greater chance of being called for interview. For example, one person who applied was a senior level dog show judge. We could surmise from that that she might be an encouraging leader, perhaps good with people (and dogs!!), happy to travel or alternatively people of my age might remember Barbara Woodhouse and run a mile from employing someone like that! How are we to know if you don't tell us?

We had a handful of applicants for our job and 3 interviewees. Still a hell of a lot of shredding! As a small community organisation (this is the only paid post) we wouldn't use screening software etc but do want to be totally fair to everyone. We did try!

mustang121

It works both ways. I don't bother applying for jobs that have spelling mistakes on the Job advertisement and / or application form.

asajj

You can always ask for CV's with a cover letter and no more than 2 pages long?

Stacemel

Depends what you are looking for. Surely you can tell by their CV if your interested in them, surely a cover letter is just full of interview speak like your a team player etc etc

FBaby

personally I couldn't give a fig about cover letters and think they are a waste of time. I haven't read one for years.

That might be the case for you, but not for others (such as me). The problem is the applicant won't know who will read it. If it's you, they saved wasted time, if it's me, they've lost an opportunity.

Surely you can tell by their CV if your interested in them, surely a cover letter is just full of interview speak like your a team player etc etc

One thing that a cover letter will give you an indication of that the CV won't is your communication style. Also it's not just about what people write, but also what they don't write. A good cover letter should give one or few examples in context. It should be concise but give a view of the ability to carry out the job. Most importantly, and that is the key aspect to me, it shows dedication and that you are an employee who will take the time to do things thoughtfully and thoroughly, and that is probably the most important quality an employer can expect from their employees, whatever the job.

Mupette

When the application form requests job history (all) and education.

So if your going to rant, think about checking the application form before,

A, Do you need a full work history
B, Do you need a full education history

if you don't then say you don't

I'd be mighty cheesed off if that's why i am not being considered for interviews if i have answered all your questions, and your saying its too much. :mad:

downshifter

No application forms, we just asked for cvs. It didn't occur to me to say don't send 8 attachments in a foreign language. I'll remember to specify that in future!!!