Why do they make applying for jobs so complicated?!

[Sandra6]

I remember when all you did was pick up an application form and fill it in.
Now you have to go online, register for an account, upload a cv, then fill in the details that are on your cv onto an online form, and then sometimes they send you a paper application form to fill in after you've done all that!
Just attempted to apply for two jobs and I gave up because it was so ridiculous.
First one I uploaded a cv, which then copied the information over to their own format, then three pages later it asked me to fill in the same details again. Why?!
Second one, I couldn't be harrassed coming up with a password that met their ridiculous rules - no more than 3 letters in a row, one special symbol, one capital, and a number. I'd never remember the bloody thing!!

 

[MontyVeda]

...because they only want the most dedicated members of staff who'll jump through all sort of hoops for them.

 

[Old jon]

Because they can, I suppose.

 

[Drago]

I'm sort of looking for a part time position, and when I compare the effort they want me to make simply app!ying against the hourly pay on offer, I think to myself "F*** this s***".

Internal jobs within the Police were the same. It wasn't who was best suited to the role, but who was the best at playing their silly games. It did little except justify the existence of HR, who at one point had a staff member for barely three coopers.

 

[swee'pea99]

...because they only want the most dedicated members of staff who'll jump through all sort of hoops for them.

This probably isn't that far from the truth. And it's compounded by another factor: it's a relatively easy way to keep the number of applicants down to manageable levels.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

The bastards, they should be handing jobs out to anyone who happens to take a fancy to it.

 

[Drago]

Perhaps there's a sensible middle ground somewhere between dishing them out willy nilly, and making candidates play an irellevant game of Krypton Factor?

A lot of the rubbish exists to give nourishment and succour to HR, not to find the optimum candidate.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Perhaps there's a sensible middle ground somewhere between dishing them out willy nilly, and making candidates play an irellevant game of Krypton Factor?

A lot of the rubbish exists to give nourishment and succour to HR, not to find the optimum candidate.

Whilst I agree with your final sentence, it doesn't sound from the OP that the issue requires a "middle ground" being taken, just writing down the password on a bit of paper so you can easily access it if required; and repeating information already provided may be a bit of a nuisance, but hardly a deciding factor in applying for a job; surely neither are too difficult?

The OP didn't seem to have too much difficulty going online, registering and creating a password to join Cyclechat...

 

[Drago]

That's a function of then automation of the process, at which my comments weren't so directed.

 

[NorthernDave]

I remember when all you did was pick up an application form and fill it in.
Now you have to go online, register for an account, upload a cv, then fill in the details that are on your cv onto an online form, and then sometimes they send you a paper application form to fill in after you've done all that!
Just attempted to apply for two jobs and I gave up because it was so ridiculous.
First one I uploaded a cv, which then copied the information over to their own format, then three pages later it asked me to fill in the same details again. Why?!
Second one, I couldn't be harrassed coming up with a password that met their ridiculous rules - no more than 3 letters in a row, one special symbol, one capital, and a number. I'd never remember the bloody thing!!

If they give you that much grief just applying for the job, just imagine all the cr*p that they'll heap on you if they take you on...

 

[ufkacbln]

I would prefer an application form

The last post I applied for wanted a short CV and covering introduction letter

That was it

It is more difficult than a form that asks questions

But I was shortlisted so it must have been ok

 

[Sandra6]

Whilst I agree with your final sentence, it doesn't sound from the OP that the issue requires a "middle ground" being taken, just writing down the password on a bit of paper so you can easily access it if required; and repeating information already provided may be a bit of a nuisance, but hardly a deciding factor in applying for a job; surely neither are too difficult?

The OP didn't seem to have too much difficulty going online, registering and creating a password to join Cyclechat...

But I only needed to join one online forum that month.
I'm applying for several jobs each week, it's a mammoth task.
I have to register for the website advertising the job, upload my cv to that and complete their registration details.
Then I have to register with the website that it directs me to and upload my CV, before being directed to another form to complete.
I don't see why, when they have my CV , and a breakdown of it's content I then have to complete a form giving them that exact information for a third time.

I submitted my CV to one company last week who then emailed me asking for my postal address - but it was on my CV, right above the email address they found to email me on!!

Application forms or a CV submittal, not some bizarre competition that requires the information in triplicate.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

It's partly to sort the "I really want this job" type from the "I can't really be arsed, but what the heck" camp. If it was excessively simple, the poor hiring manager would have double or triple the profiles to sift, maybe worse. You do need to narrow it down. Hiring is time consuming and expensive.
Plus most hiring is administered by a semi automatic system, so the need for a profile to be created and certain fields completed is just down to how that system was designed by the vendor, not down to the company hiring.

 

[marzjennings]

But I only needed to join one online forum that month.
I'm applying for several jobs each week, it's a mammoth task.
I have to register for the website advertising the job, upload my cv to that and complete their registration details.
Then I have to register with the website that it directs me to and upload my CV, before being directed to another form to complete.
I don't see why, when they have my CV , and a breakdown of it's content I then have to complete a form giving them that exact information for a third time.

I submitted my CV to one company last week who then emailed me asking for my postal address - but it was on my CV, right above the email address they found to email me on!!

Application forms or a CV submittal, not some bizarre competition that requires the information in triplicate.

If it makes you feel any better my company makes staff use the same system as external new hires when applying for a new position in the company. Same log in and same password requirements, same CV upload and form to fill out as anyone outside the company applying for a job. When HR already has all my info on record.

 

[marinyork]

It's a buyer's market from the employer's point of view. Far, far too many people chasing far, far too few especially lower level jobs. If very serious and bureaucratic processes are required for zero hour jobs or internships/apprenticeships/work experience/volunteering then there's not going to be too much pressure on making life easier for the applicant.