Why do they make applying for jobs so complicated?!

[growingvegetables]

We're probably at cross purposes...

Quite possibly. Though a little frightening.

As a one-time manager of fairly large entities, involved in recruiting for senior (and other!) positions, I am a little uncomfortable with the idea of my HR function deciding they are "not paid to do it". Somewhat naively, I appear to have fallen into the trap (over many years!) of expecting HR professionals to provide a professional HR support/advice service.

That's not a personal comment directed at you - but I sure as hell would want to keep clear of your employer!

 

[growingvegetables]

[What I'm trying to say is get one of your kids to do it for you.

The downside to that? You can only get a job if you have an internet-savvy son/grand-son. Sorry, but there's a few around me who don't have such resources.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The downside to that? You can only get a job if you have an internet-savvy son/grand-son. Sorry, but there's a few around me who don't have such resources.

Aye, but Sandra has 6 children, I know that, that's why I suggested getting one of them to help.

 

[PeteXXX]

I've been lucky, I suppose, that the 3 jobs I've had over the last 20 years or so have been on paper application forms.

What I had to endure for one of the jobs was 'role play' during the induction... How I didn't walk out with one finger in the air was a miracle (I needed the job/£££)

 

[TrishE]

I've just moved to a new town and found a job when I went into a shop for a bar of chocolate and the people asked me if I was local etc, they had jobs going in another part of the business. I did a trial shift and start next week. Have got form filling in to do but it's on paper not online.

I had tried to apply for a job online filled out the whole thing but it wouldn't send because it highlighted a box that needed the date I'd completed the form filling in. I had filled that box though, it was even American format for the date but it wouldn't have it so I couldn't proceed waste of time and not a good reflection on the company regarding working for them.

When I'm looking for work I look in shop Windows to see if they're advertising for staff. I saw a notice saying job available but when I moved nearer to read the smaller print I found it was on an automatic door which disappeared behind a shaded window. I tried standing as near as possible but it was faint and it was a busy shop so the door was constantly closing then opening straight away. I was going to ask inside but then thought I would actually have to work with the person who put the notice there so didn't bother. I pass regularly and the notice is still there.

 

[Sandra6]

[QUOTE 4737375, member: 45"]CVs are no good. They only include the generics, and aren't relevant to a specific job.

Recruiting managers don't want to spend days interviewing for posts and wasting time inviting people in to find out that they're clearly unsuitable . They shortlist based on specific essential and desirable criteria, and an applicant can't demonstrate these criteria on a CV so there's a need for as specific application form.

Demonstrate on an application form that you meet the essential criteria and you're pretty much guaranteed an interview. Don't, and those who spent the time filling in the form properly will get the opportunity you missed.[/QUOTE]

I do prefer a good application form, especially with the box "tell us why we should give you this job" but online the application forms tend to only ask for work history and qualifications, which is exactly the same as on the cv you upload. makes no sense to me.
I gave up on one because the "add employment" button didn't work so I couldn't tell them where I'd worked.

I think it depends. Part of the art is structuring your CV and covering letter to address the relevant key words in the job description and person spec. I think CVs have their place - but not for all posts.

I modify my CV for each job, and write a fresh covering letter each time, this is why it takes so long.
The jobs I've been called to interview for have pretty much all been paper applications so I'm obviously better at that than uploading stuff.

 

[srw]

I think it depends. Part of the art is structuring your CV and covering letter to address the relevant key words in the job description and person spec. I think CVs have their place - but not for all posts.

I think the jobs that you or I would recruit or apply for are rather different from the jobs in this thread.

I'm in a seller's market. My next job probably doesn't exist yet and will probably be created for me. I need a CV, a contacts book and a LinkedIn profile. None of which will help me get a job in retail in Cumbria. For that I'd need tenacity, a working knowledge of local shops and a tolerance for poorly designed processes and appalling interviewer skills.

 

[Sandra6]

I think the jobs that you or I would recruit or apply for are rather different from the jobs in this thread.

I'm in a seller's market. My next job probably doesn't exist yet and will probably be created for me. I need a CV, a contacts book and a LinkedIn profile. None of which will help me get a job in retail in Cumbria. For that I'd need tenacity, a working knowledge of local shops and a tolerance for poorly designed processes and appalling interviewer skills.

This is why I'm trying to get a job that's not in retail!

 

[Accy cyclist]

Stupid questions like why do you want this job? Why do you think i want it you idiot?! For the money,isn't that enough?

 

[ianrauk]

Stupid questions like why do you want this job? Why do you think i want it you idiot?! For the money,isn't that enough?

For some people, it's not about the money.

 

[swee'pea99]

Stupid questions like why do you want this job? Why do you think i want it you idiot?! For the money,isn't that enough?

I was once asked "So, why do you want to work for Concrete Monthly?" A fairly obvious question, you might have thought, but I was very green at this interviewing business and had nothing lined up, so I just sat there fishy-mouthed for a few seconds, by the end of which we both knew that was my chances gone down the Swanee.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Concrete Monthly

I might've misread this but is there really a monthly magazine devoted to concrete?!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I might've misread this but is there really a monthly magazine devoted to concrete?!

You obviously never watched Have I Got News For You in the good old days of the guest publication

 

[Bazzer]

I might've misread this but is there really a monthly magazine devoted to concrete?!

Of course @swee'pea99 may have been illustrative, but Google is your friend

http://concretehomesmagazine.com/concretemonthly/

 

[swee'pea99]

Of course @swee'pea99 may have been illustrative

Far from it. That was verbatim. *sigh*