Job Applications Rant

[poser765]

Pfft you just look at who they worked for in the past, how long they worked at that place and what they worked on during that stretch of employment. If you want the best of the best applicant.

You misunderstand because I worded poorly. By going through I mostly meant just organizing the damn applications to begin even LOOKING AT THEM. Something like these surveys weeds out a TON of clutter automatically., thus making the job of hr far more manageable.

---------- Post added 2013-01-22 at 05:04 PM ----------

Thank you!

My BA is in English with a focus on medieval literature. And I knew the English degree wasn't going to guarantee me a career but I don't regret that. The degree has been useful and I had the opportunity to study topics I had wanted to for a very long time. Having a STEM degree doesn't make you "better" than someone who focused on humanities or liberal arts. You made your choice, I made mine and I'm happy with the results so kindly do not tell me how I should have spent four years of my life.

Exactly. Thanks.

[Reg]

probably in the 1000s for a busy store :P

at tesco in the UK when i worked there we had 5 job positions advertised for, and got nearly 800 applications. and this was in a village of about 3000 people. most of the applications probably came from the surrounding towns, but still insane. my boss there said they didn't even have the time to read half of them.

Most applications/resumes are scanned by computers now to pick out keywords. This is why I recommend everyone learn to write a real resume and now just throw some bullshit down on some paper and hope for the best. There really is technique in getting your resume to the top of a pile.

[Reeve]

Ah this. I'm just getting angry thinking about it. Yes, I might be over-qualified, but I'm obviously desperate enough to be applying for that particular job...

It's the same with 'you need to have experience'. How the hell do you get experience if you won't even give me a job to get myself experience? And it's ridiculous how much experience you're expected to have too. I applied for a simple entry level store worker job at a clothing store recently. Not only was I told I was over qualified ( I have one of these magical STEM degrees that are supposed to open up job avenues everywhere for me. NOT), but that they were only interviewing people with at the very least 5 years experience. I was gobsmacked.

I'm currently exploring the avenue of volunteering so that I can show how much I want to work for the NHS and get a job that way.

A lot of places put the experience requirements on the job posting, but don't actually require as much experience as they say they do. Obviously that wasn't true in your case, but it's often a good idea to apply even if you don't have the listed experience requirements.

[Barnabas]

probably in the 1000s for a busy store :P

at tesco in the UK when i worked there we had 5 job positions advertised for, and got nearly 800 applications. and this was in a village of about 3000 people. most of the applications probably came from the surrounding towns, but still insane. my boss there said they didn't even have the time to read half of them.

Of course you wouldn't go through all of those applications for a job at tesco especially if the jobs are unskilled.

[poser765]

A lot of places put the experience requirements on the job posting, but don't actually require as much experience as they say they do. Obviously that wasn't true in your case, but it's often a good idea to apply even if you don't have the listed experience requirements.

This is true, to an extent. You have to be kiind of reasonable about it. Some jobs do require training before you are employable. I certainly wouldn't apply for a database technician with no experience. With that said, though, a LOT of entry level mostly unskilled jobs "require" so many months of experience that can typically be waved.

---------- Post added 2013-01-22 at 05:10 PM ----------

Of course you wouldn't go through all of those applications for a job at tesco especially if the jobs are unskilled.

And that's where the survey's come into play.

[Lucetia]

You know what's worse? Spending 2 hours doing 2 applications, just to be told you're over qualified

Yup, gotta love these responses even if on your resume you show experience in the exact same field. Been apping to a multitude of jobs over the past few years and usually I either here nothing back or that I'm over qualified for the position. I've been told by a few that if you are over qualified they won't higher you and will higher someone who is less qualified as they will probably stick around and you will be moving to a better job if it comes up.

[Nengal]

I'm more annoyed that almost every place I've applied to has not allowed the uploading of any kind of resume. They force you to use their own text boxes which limit formatting and make your resume look sloppy. I took many hours to type up and finalize a resume to be easy to read and tell my potential employer about myself only to not be allowed to use it...

[Grym]

I applied for a simple entry level store worker job at a clothing store recently. Not only was I told I was over qualified ( I have one of these magical STEM degrees that are supposed to open up job avenues everywhere for me. NOT), but that they were only interviewing people with at the very least 5 years experience. I was gobsmacked.

What is your degree in?

[Dyra]

Yup, gotta love these responses even if on your resume you show experience in the exact same field. Been apping to a multitude of jobs over the past few years and usually I either here nothing back or that I'm over qualified for the position. I've been told by a few that if you are over qualified they won't higher you and will higher someone who is less qualified as they will probably stick around and you will be moving to a better job if it comes up.

That's what I've been told too. I'm in the horrible middle ground. I'm over qualified for many entry level jobs, but my grades and overall experience aren't good enough to go for higher level jobs. So the result is no-one will hire me.

---------- Post added 2013-01-22 at 05:19 PM ----------

What is your degree in?

In general terms Biology, but I did specialist modules in Microbiology, Virology and my tutors were field leaders in Biochemistry and researchers in breast cancer. I didn't get the best of grades though.

[Barnabas]

This is true, to an extent. You have to be kiind of reasonable about it. Some jobs do require training before you are employable. I certainly wouldn't apply for a database technician with no experience. With that said, though, a LOT of entry level mostly unskilled jobs "require" so many months of experience that can typically be waved.

---------- Post added 2013-01-22 at 05:10 PM ----------

And that's where the survey's come into play.

I guess they serve a purpose if you want to go wild and let the whole world apply for 5 jobs you could fill much faster with competent people by other means.

[Pootis]

I am currently looking for a internship in the UK. If it's taking you one hour per application you're doing it wrong. Reaserching the company first and answering the "Why us" questions and the "projects you undertook" as well as the "voluntar work" or stuff like that sections takes ALOT of time. I'm on like 3-4 hours per application and I've been denied like 8-9 times already. What you're doing is easy.

[Roose]

I no longer waste time with those job listings. Never received call back from any of those postings anyways. I do not bother with any job applications anymore unless I have a direct line to the one hiring.

Fuck all HR departments. They have created a completely inefficient job search process.

[Reeve]

I no longer waste time with those job listings. Never received call back from any of those postings anyways. I do not bother with any job applications anymore unless I have a direct line to the one hiring.

Fuck all HR departments. They have created a completely inefficient job search process.

Yeah, the few times I've hired people, I always hated having HR involved in the process.

[Raiju]

I am currently looking for a internship in the UK. If it's taking you one hour per application you're doing it wrong. Reaserching the company first and answering the "Why us" questions and the "projects you undertook" as well as the "voluntar work" or stuff like that sections takes ALOT of time. I'm on like 3-4 hours per application and I've been denied like 8-9 times already. What you're doing is easy.

"I'm bad with a search engine, you're doing it wrong"?

[capitano666]

why would someone with a job fill out a job application? seems a bit redundant

Why? I do it all the time, always look for something better

"Do you think stealing from the company you work for is a good idea?" Why do they even feel the need to ask such a question.

Reminds me of the question to get inside the US: "are you a terrorist?"...

[Grym]

In general terms Biology, but I did specialist modules in Microbiology, Virology and my tutors were field leaders in Biochemistry and researchers in breast cancer. I didn't get the best of grades though.

I am no specialist in Science field, but your degree while it might not ensure you a position in the leading cancer research facility, surely there should be some lower ranked company/position which is still better than applying for a shop? Is the competition for that field that high? Or is there just not a very big job market in that field?

[Raiju]

I am no specialist in Science field, but your degree while it might not ensure you a position in the leading cancer research facility, surely there should be some lower ranked company/position which is still better than applying for a shop? Is the competition for that field that high? Or is there just not a very big job market in that field?

I can only speak locally as I have no personal science interests - but I know for people in my 30 mile radius (shropshire) there's pretty much only one place that will hire right now, and it's a food testing lab. A friend works minimum wage there and technically you don't need anything past GCSE to get in.

[Roose]

Yeah, the few times I've hired people, I always hated having HR involved in the process.

This is the conclusion that I have come to over the 2 years of searching.

Funny thing is many people that really need to make a hiring simply do not have the time to do all of the work to find the right person. If you can get a solid resume to them specifically that shows that you meet their needs, you will be infinitely better off than sending in thousands of applications to HR departments. Key is finding that company in that position. Much of that is social networking.

Again, I have put in over 1000 applications to these HR monsters and had 0 responses. Jobs that I am overqualified for mostly. The ONLY responses and interviews I ever got were when I had the email of the person hiring or was set up with a social contact.

This is a whole new ballgame. You can't just print a bunch of resumes and go door to door handing them out like our parents did. They will not even let you in the door. Unless you have searched for a job recently you have no idea how fucked up the job search process is now.

[Holyshnikies]

I always enjoyed the " Why do you want to work for us " question. .... Uh, cause I need money duh! - No, I want to work for you because working is super duper fun and I get to put up with your bull crap policies for minimum wage and not to mention irate customers who complain about their first world problems!

But I do agree. I think if your going to offer a position between minimum wage and $12 an hour, there should be just 1 uniformed job application that shouldn't take no more than 5 minutes to fill out. Forget all that questioner bull crap and to be honest, I don't even care about your job history. I only care if you can do the job you are applying for. If not, you won't be working for me much longer.

[Grym]

Another problem in the unskilled section is, if anyone with some sort of contacts, they probably will get the job over you.

My company a couple of months ago had an account clerk position open, while not totally unskilled, but you only need basic maths really and general knowledge in DR and CR. Over night it received over 30 applications, some of them are part AAT qualified, A-levels and such. My friend who only had GCSE level applied for the job, stated I am his reference (there is a section in the application asking if you know anyone in the company and if that person is where you heard about the job from). My manager asked me a few questions about him, and what he is like (in my opinion), and he got the job over all those people that are way more qualified than him.

I suggest you ask friends that currently employed (and preferably in a good position and in good standing with the person hiring), and see if their companies are hiring, it feels like that if you have some sort of contacts it would be better than if you have the right experience and such (for the lower skilled job anyway).

---------- Post added 2013-01-22 at 05:52 PM ----------

I always enjoyed the " Why do you want to work for us " question. .... Uh, cause I need money duh! - No, I want to work for you because working is super duper fun and I get to put up with your bull crap policies for minimum wage and not to mention irate customers who complain about their first world problems!

I got asked that too, but I answered that question in details to why I wanted to work for them, and as much as I hate to admit it I do love my job lol. While I totally understand a lot of people and a lot of situation it is merely "because I need a job?", there are also times that there are people generally wanted to work for a company and enjoy that job with a reason.