to get frustrated by this?

[HomityBabbityPie]

I'm leaving my current job and assisting with the recruitment of my replacement. I really care about my boss and the role so really want to get someone good.

I'm really shocked by the quality of the applications. We've had 35 so far and of those maybe only 2 are even vaguely interviewable. The vast majority have just sent in a CV, ignoring the fact the job ad specifically requests that an application form should be filled out. Of those who have filled out the application form, most haven't bothered to fill in the personal statement part where you are meant to state how you meet the person specification. Of those who have filled it in, it's just a small generic paragraph.

Do they not teach this in schools any more?!

A lot of high quality applicants won't bother with the faff.

They won't be getting any jobs then, not in this particular sector.

Intriguing thanks Alyosha

Aside from anything else, we have to have a fair recruitment process and that means assessing people against the same criteria. Can't do that without all the info requested.

I get frustrated by people who just send CVs and at most a one line note with it. The CV is an edited highlights of what you've done so far; the cover letter goes into more detail and is tailored towards the role you're applying for. It is absolutely required.

OP apols if I misunderstood but you didn't advertise anywhere?

I had to fill in a form, comprehensive statement etc for my job. It was in the Guardian so there was a lot of interest.

I have had a few recruiters tell me they are having issues with poor quality applicants but they've all had one thing in common - no adverts. Even Twitter and LinkedIn will help.

Homity, what's the job situation like - i.e. is it a buyer's/seller's market?

Perhaps the salary/benefits aren't reflecting the market?

I know a lot of people are very wary of changing job at the moment, what with Brexit. Might mean you aren't getting as good applicants as you would otherwise do.

I've never written a covering letter! It's not been a requirement for any job I've gone for. All professional & well paid though. They all just needed a CV.

it's incredibly annoying that jobs expect you to fill out endless application form and write personalised letters when you're applying for multiple roles.
Companies tend to prefer people who are keen on working there - or at least pretend to be, why would they be interested in you if you are not bothered in the first place? It's time consuming and expensive to recruit, ideally you want to retain staff.

A lot of high quality applicants won't bother with the faff.
Pretty much all the applicants who will get to the interview stage will.

There are not many uncompetitive sectors unfortunately. I can think of a couple, completely different sectors than yours, but it's more head hunting than traditional recruitment.

I've almost always gone through agencies though - does that make a difference?

Application forms can be a loathsome experience tbh. They are often so badly set out, use HR jargon, repeat themselves that by the time you get to the personal statement you've lost the will to live.

Although I appreciate that I wouldn't want to recruit someone who doesn't look they have read the spec, or been bothered to comply with the outline.

Agencies are not all the same, some will plonk 100 CVs on the client's desk - and you wonder why they get paid sometimes, others will only forward the best 3 or 4 CVs of the lot.

They tend to be more CV orientated, but ultimately they will follow the clients requirements, which can vary greatly. If a client wants a covering letter, he will only get the applicants who sent one.

I've just got a new job so applications have been a large part of my life recently, unless you are just filling up an application quota or are lazy I can't see why you wouldn't read an job description fully and apply appropriately.
Even on the online 'one click applications' sites like indeed you still have the option of doing a personal statement/covering type letter.
Lots of the jobs I have been applying for have been highly competitive (hundreds of applicants) and even if it was just a 'send us a CV' type of advert, unless specifically requested not to, i would at least put a paragraph or two about why I was applying, why I could do the job etc, seems rude not to, doesn't have to be a life story.
I guess the good news is for serious applicants is if they make a little effort in their application then they will have some notice taken. If all it takes is to fill in a form or write a covering letter to set you apart from the masses it's not really that much trouble.
I think what is more worrying is that OP said it's a role that requires a degree and applicants at this level cannot read a job description properly or apply adequately! My uni had a mandatory unit about finding and applying for graduate roles, was irritating at the time but has stood me in good stead over the years.

My sector must just be averse to covering letters & application forms!

OP - YANBU, hold out for someone who fits the bill.

Might be worth looking at salary/benefits & where the job is advertised.

If it's standard to fill in application forms in your sector I suppose the candidates won't find it that annoying.

Sorry - we have advertised, I just meant all our adverts link back to our application form iyswim

And salary wise it's pretty good compared to other roles of the same level.

I really don't understand it.

I can only think there's a timing issue with candidates not bothering to look at Easter or something....? Especially if it's senior and requires long notice periods.

Yes I do think Easter is a factor. We may have to extend the deadline.

It's not a senior role.

it's never a good sign when people can't be bothered to apply because of Easter...

But good luck, most employers prefer candidates already in a job, and there's less pressure to find a job when you already have one.

Employers have to show fairness so a set form ensures the same opportunities for each candidate to get across the info the employer requires and the personal statement gives a candidate the chance to demonstrate how they meet the person spec

Exactly this. We are stripping out a lot of personal info to try and judge only on the key stuff without class or other biases. So we have got to use a standard application form.

I'm shocked that people send out their cv without a covering letter and equally shocked by comments like 'Personal statements are new and fucking irritating as are cover letters.' and 'It's incredibly annoying that jobs expect you to fill out endless application form and write personalised letters when you're applying for multiple roles.' and 'A lot of high quality applicants won't bother with the faff.' I'm assuming you aren't serious about wanting the job - just as well since you're unlikely to get it.

Applying for a new job is almost a job in itself; to be successful you really need to put in the effort - learning about the company and targeting your cv and cover letter to each individual vacancy.

xForsythia agree about agencies, I used to be sent piles of cvs which bore no relation to the vacancy. I was recruiting once for a senior manager's secretary. His spelling and grammar were bad so needed someone with excellent English which I impressed upon the agency. Waiting for a candidate to arrive for the interview, two appeared in my office. It transpired the second girl was the applicant's cousin and came with her to translate because the applicant could barely speak English . Agency struck off my list.

I know recruiters use CVs only because they tend to have conducted an informal telephone interview after receiving someone's CV - there is no need for a cover letter as (if they are any good) they can provide the information to the recruiting party as to whether candidates fit the bill.

OP I don't know that extending the deadline will help much if it didn't get seen much initially. If you do extend it I wonder if you should run it again? I don't have kids but everyone I know who has them vanishes on to another planet from last week of term, whenever that was. Just a thought.

I recruit for Big 4 graduate schemes and rarely do I get a candidate whose form disappoints me to find they interview well enough to progress. Most with a disappointing application form are a disappointing interview.

Rorty, I have never filled out an application form or written a covering letter, mainly because the agencies only ever ask me for a CV.

I then usually have a telephone interview, which presumably acts as a covering letter as JalFrezi says.

In fact this is probably bad in terms of diversity tbh, so hopefully it changes in my sector.

I agree about cv's from agencies Aoysha I was talking about applications received in response to an ad etc, when I would have expected a covering letter.