Why looking for a job sucks
Remember the good old days when you would walk in, ask for an application fill it out and return it. Then you would stop by periodically to check in or call to see if they were still hiring. Those days are gone my friend. Today you go online and maybe you submit a resume or maybe you fill out an online application. Then do not even think about stopping by or calling them. Your lucky if you actually applied with the company you want the job from because now most large employers use a recruiting company. Recruiting companies definitely do not want to hear from you.
The part of this new and improved process that sucks the most and is the most inconvenient is the personality test. You know the one where half the questions are repeats and only a moron would actually answer honestly. Seriously do these companies really think that people are going to tell them that they get angry easily. Even if they let you paste/upload your resume they still want you to fill out the employment history part of the online application complete with addresses phone numbers and names of every one you have ever worked for. The one part that makes the least amount of sense is when they ask you for your addresses over the last 5 years. Can some one please explain to me why they need or would be entitled to that information.
The most challenging part is when you live in a smaller area. I live in a small college town north of Sacramento, Ca. Living in a college town means that 80% of the work available is in retail and pays minimum wage with 10-12 hours a week. College kids that have their parents paying for school get these jobs for extra beer money. People that actually put them selves through school here do it while working 3 or more jobs and build up a huge debt in student loans.
I was looking for a job today and it took me 3 hours to apply for 11 jobs. 8 of them I was able to use our www.chicohelpwanted.com to apply since I have already registered and have everything stored there. The other 3 took 2 and 1/2 hours. One of them gave me the option of pasting my resume into a text box but there was no text box on the page. This was irritating. I sent them an email letting them know. I doubt I will get a response other than the automated response they sent me.
So what is the point to this other then complaining? Well there isn't one. Besides what else is a blog good for if not venting ones frustrations. Which has been a common theme for me lately. If you want advice on how to apply for jobs in this online era of application submission then here are a few.
1. Prepare - Have Word open with a copy of your resume and a second page with whatever addresses phone numbers and names you have. If you don't have that information find the companies website and look for a corporate information link. You can also use the contact us link and send them email asking for it.
2. Caffeine - This exercise is just mundane enough to put you to sleep. Have a soda or a cup of coffee or something.
3. Take breaks - Give yourself a chance to shake out the cob webs Get up and walk around or make a phone call. Otherwise you run the risk of becoming apathetic during the process which can lead to clicking the wrong things.
4. Turn off your phone - At least until you need it.
This will help you go through this process and advice I have yet to find on any website. Really if you are going to blog you should really try to avoid topics everyone has covered and have your blog become a regurgitation of information you can find in so many other places. I hope this helps some one and if not I still feel better. In closing must quote Socrates who said "I drank what?"
A golden cookie to whoever guesses the movie that quote came from and using imdb.com is cheating.