I have to say, so far this has not only been the most unrewarding thing I've done this year; it's also a task that seems like a burden to do.
I don't think I had the mentality that many university graduates get that there will be people jumping from all over to give them work. It seems like its just a necessary evil if anyone ever wants to get a job; at least if you don't know someone. Which is where I fit in.
The last 3 or 4 Jobs I've had were all on referral. I didn't give anyone a resume, I barely had anything that can be called an "interview," and since maybe 2008 I haven't actually had to "Job hunt." Now, coming back to this process has been very frustrating. I feel like from the beginning the job application process is gamed from both sides. Which is why the entire framework for an application I think needs to be reconsidered and reworked. Especially with the new tools that both employers and job-seekers have at hand.
Below I'll flesh out a couple of my grips with this process and what I think can be done about them...
In a perfect world, you have a best friend that works at company XYZ that has an opening for your position. You mention to your friend "Hey, I'd love to work for XYZ..." they then mention it to a supervisor and have you brought in for an interview. Now you are happily employed.
Now why can't everyone just find a friend that works at a company and get them in? Well, you might be specialized or just not have that many friends; or you are all unemployed waiting for one of you to get in somewhere. In any case. This is the beginning problem from which the current application process stems from.
From the employers perspective: "How can I advertise this job opening?". "How can I filter the 10 000 applications down to a few I can interview?", and "How do I get the best person?".
How do they advertise the job? They post it somewhere. Be it internally to the company, in a newspaper, on their website or on a generic job website. This gets their needs posted somewhere that potential job seekers can find the position.
Now you: the job seeker, have found that posting and say: "That sounds great! Let me apply!". What do you apply with? Well today's absolute minimum required is usually a tailored resume. Then a level above that is a custom resume and a nice cover letter. If its your first time there might also be transcripts and references involved. Further on you might have a work portfolio that you also apply with.
Job applications from my (read: unsuccessful) understanding of them are a lot like trying to an online dating profile. You want to give out enough information they know a little about you, but you want to also leave enough out that on the first date you are still new and interesting. So for applications unless its specifically stated resume only. Usually one puts forward resume and a cover letter stating that more is available on the employers request.
1) Too Formalized.
Which brings me to the first gripe I have with this process...its far too structured to get anything meaningful out of it. (The next little bit isn't researched, so don't hold me to it if its wrong but tell me so I can fix it). Way back when, say 40 years or so ago. You'd walk in to the company you want and physically hand them a resume. You met the HR people and one of the people you might be working with. They saw your face and you are golden.
Some time went by and more people were doing this. So many so that when the time came to actually select people, the hiring team forgot who was who. "Was that Johnny that came in, he was the accountant? No, that was Jenny. John was the other guy for an Engineering position." So what happened after that was people would bring in letters attached to their resumes telling the team who they were, and why they thought they were a good fit. That worked well and still does today to some extent. Then this little thing called the internet came along. It allowed people to apply for positions in places they may never have heard of before. And because the norm was to give the employer your resume and CV already, people added on things like online portfolios, websites, and other things to help differentiate them from the other applicants.
Now, were left with me sending some documents online with some links and hoping to hear from them about an interview. Seems a little odd. I suppose that before I go into what needs to change we need to establish what the pieces of an application are supposed to be for (as far as I know..)
Resume - This is the critical list of skills and traits that you possess that make you right for the job. It also shows qualifications from previous work experience. This allows the hiring team to assess how qualified you are and to some extent your personality.
Cover letter - This is for listing the skills you have specific to the position you are applying for. Supposed to make it easier for companies to find people, as well as showing off some of the other soft skills (You can use a word processor and spell check, etc.).
Transcript - Rarely used now, but its meant to assess your ability for critical thinking or something. It's a really bad metric in my opinion.
With those things they are supposed to figure out if you are a good fit for the company. Are you? I don't think that gives a full enough picture. I was told in school personality holds 50% at an interview along with your qualifications. If that's actually the case then why isn't it reflected in the application?
Something needs to be put in place that can give the employer a list of your vital stats (a baseball card of you) in qualifications and your soft skills before they interview you. My solution right now would be to say hand over some of a dating sites questionnaires and merge them with a job profile site (i.e. LinkedIn). That gives the employer everything they ought to need to qualify/disqualify someone on the spot. I suppose people could game the quizzes too, but then if they get an interview they have to prove themselves there also. Not a perfect solution, but if everyone was 100% honest we would all have nice things. ...
2) No Feedback from Employers.
If you haven't seen these on almost every posting in the last little while, you are either under a rock, or happily employed.
[Image Thanks for the application but only people selected for interviews will be contacted. ]
And its something that as someone who has been off the hunt for a while bothers me. If I just made a new resume, great cover letter for you, got my transcripts in order, polished up a website. And I hear nothing back from you. I'm at an absolute loss. Was it me? Is there someone wrong with my resume/cover letter? Were there so many applications that you just tossed a bunch out randomly? Were there applicants much more qualified than I? A friend of mine said "just apply to places, the worst they can say is no." I had to reply with: "No, the worst thing a company can say is nothing. You can't tell if you weren't selected on purpose, or if they forgot you, or even if you were considered. They leave you completely in the dark on it.
This is one part that needs some reworking. I've thought for a while now that because all of these company's make you go through their careers section of their website. They should have an automatic reply stating that:
- They have received you application
- They are in the process of reviewing X job and you will hear from them in Y days/weeks regarding an interview if selected.
- If not selected, you will be held on file for future applications that may fit similar criteria.
Would that be too much to ask? I know it gets there and will -probably- be read. I have a solid timeline on how long I should hold my breath. Then if future positions open up I'll be in the pile for those too. Great! You know I have at least some interest in working for your company. Consider me again in future opportunities.
Final Remarks:
That's where I stand right now, although companies don't have to go out of their way for you. I think it would make a world of difference to job seekers if they gave you a little more than absolutely nothing in return. I also think that there should be a better way to filter people while looking. Maybe also holding more interviews. The amount of boot licking that has to be done just to get your foot in the door (Maybe I'm doing too much of it?) seems absurd. I think having a mixed job/personality/dating site would make the most sense. If LinkedIn had a personality testing section where it grades your on some already defined standard (there has to be one) then the company gets a good head start on whether you will work in their company well or not.
[Did I miss something? Comment or send me an email so I can fix it!]
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