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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel a bit cheated/Aggreved (Job application related)

53 replies

Summerxsunx · 02/06/2016 13:34

Basically I applied for a job the other week. It said send in your CV with a covering letter which I did.

The next day I got an email back thanking me for my application and saying that the next stage was to fill out their application form. I admit I took one look at this 5 page form (which didn't ask for any additional information that wasn't on my CV or in the covering letter) and thought 'No, I just don't have time for that at the moment' so wasn't going to bother filling it in.

2 days later ( 2 days before the closing date) I recieved a voicemail, text message and email saying that they were very interested in my CV but couldn't move forward with my application until I'd filled in the form. I thought it was a bit odd that they went through all of that and assumed that they must be interested like they said so did it.

It took me 2.5 hours and was so laborious. I got a reply confirming reciept.

Anyway, I've heard nothing, zilch. The interview's were being held on the 8th (next Wed) so I assume I would have heard by now if they wanted to interview me.

AIBU to feel a bit aggreved? That form took me ages to fill in, not to mention it got my hopes up a bit. There's nothing in the form that wasn't in my CV and covering letter so hardly like something in the form could've put them off, or id be very surprised!!!

Gah. Pointless rant.

OP posts:

JessieMcJessie · 02/06/2016 15:20

supposedto beworking by choosing not to fill in the form the OP removed herself from consideration for the job - she knew that by not doing so she would not get an interview.

The potential employer, knowing that she had stepped back, took it upon itself to convince her to continue with the application. Why on earth would it then reject her because she hadn't filled in the form till the last minute?!

swg1 · 02/06/2016 15:21

unexpsoc - Sometimes you don't want it that much. That is a valid and acceptable choice to make. It is okay to initially spend 30 minutes applying, get further into the application, realize the next step will take 5 hours and on reconsidering decide you really aren't that bothered about it for any number of reasons. Might be that on the day you applied you were pissed off with your current job because you'd had a bad day, might be that you didn't feel like you were likely enough to get it that you could be bothered spending that amount of time, or you reread the description and were feeling less enthusiastic than you were on the day you initially applied.

Not every job market is the same either. Yes, some jobs have 500 people going for every job, but there are some skills rare enough that actually applicants can pick and choose and employers need to up their game a bit if they want someone decent.

IpreferToblerone · 02/06/2016 15:21

The last time I applied for a job they wanted it hand written! Took me ages and nearly didn't bother! Glad I did though!

unexpsoc · 02/06/2016 15:26

swg1 - yes, and if you didn't want the job that bad, don't come on the internet pissing and moaning about it is my point.

If I want a job, I go for it. If I can't be arsed going for it, I don't complain about them not making it easier for me to get a job I am not that bothered about. Which is what the original post was.

swg1 · 02/06/2016 15:37

unexpsoc - no, the OP was annoyed because they had talked her in to going further and she feels they probably knew they didn't want to interview her anyway.

To break down a possible scenario:

OP: Huh, what's in Recruitment tonight? Huh, that one looks interesting, and that one. I'll send a few CVs off.

Job: Hi! Please fill in this 5 page form!

OP: Okaaaay, so I have worked a full day today and let's see, what have I got? Well, hm, I have limited time free. I need to clean my house, ooh, a couple of my jobs have replied, and I also need to actually see my kids sometime. Well, I don't have time to do everything I want so let's see. I can reply to this one quickly, I want to apply to that one because it's literally five minutes away and this one? Ughhh, that form is awful. And if I take time to do it I can't do these other important things unless I buy a Tardis. And I'm probably not going to get it anyway, I don't feel like I have enough experience in that area/it's too much of a salary bump for me to have a chance/they're probably going to give it to someone internal.

Job: Nooooo! We love you! We read your CV and you're awesome! Plleeeeaaase apply.

OP:...well, huh, if you like me that much I guess I can send the kids to their friends for a few hours and fill it out. It means juggling a few things but, eh, I guess it's worth it if I have a really solid chance.

Job: HAHA, JUST KIDDING, YOU SUCK, WE JUST THOUGHT WE'D WASTE YOUR TIME :D!!!

Jojoanna · 02/06/2016 15:45

Yanbu. I feel your pain

JessieMcJessie · 02/06/2016 15:46

Swg1

unexpsoc · 02/06/2016 16:01

swg1 - which is a lovely summation of an imagined scenario, and quite funny. But, I simply find that I agree with LC01.

It is a simple equation - I want the job, I put in the effort. I don't want the job, I don't.

An employer (which is probably a recruitment selection company now anyway) blowing smoke up your arse, and whether you have a job already are neither here nor there.

ilovesooty · 02/06/2016 16:19

I was assuming the OP had already explained how she met the job criteria in her cover letter or had tailored her CV to the post she was applying for.

deathtoheadlice · 02/06/2016 16:27

I agree with OP. Recruiters should be sensible and considerate too, even if they are the ones with the power. In fact, how people treat others over whom they have power is more revealing and important than how they treat others when they need something! It also communicates something about the institutional culture, which is a message put out to all potential candidates: we're crap with IT, inflexible, inconsiderate and we don't have any regard for your time. Still want to work here?

And it's bad recruitment practice: do you actually want to put time-consuming, boring, miserable barriers between talented candidates and your positions?

scarlets · 02/06/2016 16:31

They may be in touch at the end of the day, or tomorrow. Wouldn't surprise me.

JessieMcJessie · 02/06/2016 16:35

But unexpsoc OP decided after being told about the form that she didn't want the job, so wasn't prepared to put in the effort.

When the employer came back on saying how great they thought her application was, this changed her view about the job and she then put in the effort.

Am I missing something here?

unexpsoc · 02/06/2016 16:37

deathtoheadlice

Part of the problem I am finding more and more is that companies outsource their recruiting teams with metrics around "interest in roles", "number of formal applicants" etc. - which then leads to them chasing people to apply who might not have a chance. Which also pisses off the recruiting manager.

RhiWrites · 02/06/2016 16:45

It's not at Oxford Brookes is it?

Original poster

Summerxsunx · 02/06/2016 19:39

SWG1 has got it spot on.

I already work full time and have a very hectic/ busy life outside of work. I really don't have time at the moment to be sat filling out long application forms. The job would be nice but it's not my dream job, just slightly better pay.

When I saw the length of the application form and saw that it was in an awkward, web-based format that would be hard to copy and paste into I did get put off applying.

As soon as I got those texts and voicemails I went home and completed and submitted the form. There were still 2 days left to apply for the posters saying it's because I left it to the last minute, hardly last minute. How did they know I wasn't going to fill it out? It had only been a couple of days, perhaps I was waiting for an evening/ day where I could dedicate as much time as possible to it.

I just don't get why they were hounding me with a text, voicemail and an email saying that they were really interested in my CV but really needed me to fill out the application form, if, when I did, they were just going to confirm receipt and ignore me anyway, grr

OP posts:

blowmybarnacles · 02/06/2016 19:46

Is it for the NHS or other public service? I've worked with some dreadful and some amazing HR in the NHS, the dreadful ones where they missed their own deadlines to manage the recruitment process!

Original poster

Summerxsunx · 02/06/2016 19:50

Actually, it is for the NHS yes

OP posts:

BillSykesDog · 02/06/2016 20:08

Most decent jobs for decent employers require application forms these days. It's absolutely standard for the NHS. Places that just want CVs tend to be a bit fly by night.

Incidentally, I know it's a forum so you won't be checking quite as carefully, but there are quite a few spelling mistakes in your post. Did you triple check it for errors doubling up with copying and pasting to a spell check?

That is one of the things application forms are designed to pick up.

Original poster

Summerxsunx · 02/06/2016 20:12

Sorry, I have typed all my posts today on my phone in a hurry- might be why.

Yes, I always type everything out in Word first before I submit anything. My spelling normally isn't too bad though? Believe it or not I have an English degree

OP posts:

JessieMcJessie · 02/06/2016 20:13

Billsykesdog I work for a law firm in the City of London and we only ask for CVs when recruiting. I can assure you we're not remotely "fly by night"!

BillSykesDog · 02/06/2016 21:21

Yeah, so do I. And my spelling is atrocious on Mumsnet too coz at the end of the day, it's a forum, who gives a shit?

LagunaBubbles · 02/06/2016 21:26

Pebble I know OP wouldn't have actually said it but she said it to herself - still think there's a really poor attitude to have.

venusinscorpio · 02/06/2016 21:39

and thereby show that you didn't really want the job in the first place, and it is much better that it goes to somebody who could be arsed filling in the form?

Some employers can afford to be picky, others not so much. What if no one can be arsed filling in the form? I've seen it happen a lot where employers can't actually afford to be that picky as they really need someone in the role asap but the recruitment process doesn't turn up any good candidates. Those employers can't really afford to limit their pool in this way from the start, it's totally self-defeating. If I were applying for lots of jobs, and not desperate (not every decent candidate is going to be) and it was a long and unwieldy form as so many are, I would have to really really want the job to spend hours filling in the form. It cuts both ways sometimes.

venusinscorpio · 02/06/2016 21:41

Employers are not people handing out wonderful rare gifts which the humble applicants must do everything to show their gratitude for.

YY.

swg1 · 02/06/2016 23:07

Reasons this could be happening:

1: A major decision maker is on holiday/unexpectedly away and despite wanting things done by a certain date nothing can move on without them. It's half-term so they may have suddenly discovered there is actually no day this week they can do form-sift.

2: There's suddenly a possibility funds for the role might be pulled and they don't want to hire if there is no money for it. This is VERY possible with an NHS job.

3: Someone just pointed out that they missed a fairly large part of the role requirements after they went through all the forms and realised that no applicants have it because they expected applicants to just ALL have that one thing. Much swearing is ensuing. (I have been there with a panel that happened to. Sometimes something fairly vital just seems so obvious no one writes it down).

4: The recruiter is getting paid to deliver 10 people of which they will interview 5. Therefore they will deliver 10, but 5 of them may be horribly unsuitable.

5: The recruiter actually just wanted your details in their system so they can tell future potential clients to advertise their job through them because look at all the applicants they can send it to! This is REALLY common in some industries, although may be less likely for NHS jobs. Some recruiters will make up entirely imaginary jobs just for your details. (Also for the details of the company you currently work at as they now know that company may soon need to replace you).

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