to think that people have no idea how to apply for jobs?!

[myteenytinyteapot]

Just that really. Hiring for a senior admin person at the moment and have had hundreds of applications but honestly only about four shortlistable ones. I have had:

• CVs which include full-length glamour model style photographs of applicants
• CVs without cover letters when the advert clearly asks for a cover letter
• CVs and cover letters riddled with spelling and grammatical errors
• CVs which are 20 pages long and go into loads of detail about the hobbies and interests of the applicant. Also hardly anyone uses page numbers!
• Cover letters which are obviously just generic copied and pasted mass send out jobs - "I am writing to apply for the position advertised". Couldn't even be arsed to put in the job title!
• People applying who don't have any of the essential requirements listed

AIBU that I'm not surprised people can't get jobs if this is the general standard considered acceptable?!

Just because I’m not passionate about distributing the post and managing the email account, doesn’t mean I won’t do it well.
This a 1000 times. Companies who want people to be in love with them AND their mundane jobs all for shite money really do want the moon on a stick.

These are brilliant.

I once got a CV from a bloke who seemed suitable enough, except for his contact details, which included an email address of [email protected]

I'm place marking here, I'm looking for a new job and need help putting myself across well. I've got loads of experience and a great work ethic, but lack self esteem and can sell anything but myself.

I’ve given up with knowing what to do. I applied for the usual 10,000 jobs with not a nibble. Got drunk on Boxing Day and sent a load of applications that were shot in the dark “I’m in no way qualified for this job, but I have enough qualifications that you can see I’m an able learning. I love what you do, I’ve stalked your instagram, let me make this plea in person” level of shot in the dark.
I now have a job which is fine and another that I’m waiting for a start date for which is my dream, life changing job. None of the interviewers mentioned my unorthodox application and I was beige and square at the interviews but should never have got that far.

I am interviewing someone on Wednesday. I am giving her every chance. I need her to be good. I already think she will be and if I like her she'll get the job.

I myself have attended so many interviews which are "competency based" which are designed to catch people out, tick boxes and cover the interviewer's back should anyone complain.

It seems people apply in order to satisfy a Universal Credit Job coach, interview many candidates because they need to show they have "advertised widely" for HR/legal/discrimination or visa reasons and choose someone that they cannot in any way be criticised for hiring whether or not they are the best perosn for the job.

And everyone is sick of it but we are all too afraid to be the first to blink.

A friend who is a university professor once suggested out of the blue that I apply for a job in her department, working directly for her.
I was eminently qualified and spent a long time on my application.
The initial sorting process for every job the university advertises is done by computer. I didn't get through and, far from my application landing on her desk, it was never, as far as she or I know, even looked at by a human being.
She ended up with six shortlisted candidates, none of whom were suitable, and had to start the process again. By that time, I had been offered my current job and was so disheartened that I likely wouldn't have applied again in any case - not even sure I'd have been allowed.
I'm not suggesting I'd have been the best applicant, but I'd at least have been suitable enough that she'd happily have hired me.
I applied for a job a couple of months ago and was called for interview, but told in not so many words not to get my hopes up because there was almost no way they weren't hiring the temp who was already doing the job.
Something isn't right with this.

please can any interviewers tell me WHAT is a good answer to ‘your struggle/weakness’

Bring up an actual weakness. Everyone has them. So long as this weakness doesn't make you unsuitable for the job ("I'm a shit cook" for a Chef job, for example) then you're not going to lose the job.
The key thing is to counter your weakness by steps you are actively taking to overcome it.

For example:
"I know that I can take criticism to heart, but I am always reminding myself that any genuine feedback is useful, and no one is perfect, and as a result I now actively try to use criticism to improve myself."

I agree with that. I'd add that you should choose a weakness which, while clearly a negative, is certainly not the worst failing someone can have.

Never say "I'm too much of a perfectionist" or any other obvious bullshit like that.

Never say "I'm too much of a perfectionist" or any other obvious bullshit like that.

There is (or was) a tv ad for cheap business cards or something that had a florist who said "I'm a bit of a perfectionist" as if she was so superior to everyone else who needed low cost business stationery

Gave me the rage anytime I saw the ad!

I’ve never had a problem getting interviews as I tailor my applications and am really good at them.

I had a great CV and tailored my applications carefully every time but had terrible trouble getting interviews. Was probably my age but also my last role was specialist and hard to come by so I was applying for roles that used the same skills but had a different job title. No one wanted to know. A number of recruitment agencies told me that if I hadn't done X job in the last 5 years no way would I get a job as one. One recruitment agency told me I was basically unemployable! However she was just unprofessional i.e. asking all about my background and wanting to know if my parents were divorced, that particular look she gave me when she realised I didn't go to University

First temp job I went into loved me and offered me a permanent role as X.

Expecting cover letters to be specifically written for every single job is ridiculous (they can be quickly edited to appear so, though).

Of course you have to tailor them to each job. If you don't want to then fine but then don't be surprised if you don't get interviewed.

Another one: massive gaps on CVs with no explanation.

Nautiloid - I had similar once!

I applied for a job, got to final interview stage after phone/cv/on-line tests/group interview and then got turned down because someone did slightly better. Fair enough. I got told to apply again in 6-12 months. I did, (having gained even more relevant experience). Didn't even get to the first stage.

Later a friend who worked for them told me that my cv would have been dumped by computer on application because I had applied before.

@RaininSummer I never include O’levels and dates in my CV. They’re pretty irrelevant when you’ve got higher qualifications and years of work experience.

Agree with the ‘tell me about a weakness’ suggestions above - choose a real weakness of yours (but not something career destroying) and say the steps you w taken to address it.

Of course there’s a balance between spending too much time on one application vs not tailoring at all. You don’t start with a blank page but with a generic CV (maybe a really long one that you cut down depending on the job) or your most recent CV, you compare with the advert / job description and dial your relevant skills and experience up and down from there.

I know it’s a pain taking time on applications when you don’t know if it’s going to get you anywhere. But my experience from the other side is that if you just bung in your generic cv and one line cover letter you probably won’t get anywhere.

And as I’ve said before, good luck to those looking for work. I’ve been there and I know it’s tough to keep your chin up in the face of rejection.

Please do an AMA thread!

Expecting cover letters to be specifically written for every single job is ridiculous (they can be quickly edited to appear so, though).

I’m interviewing this week for a position that got over 100 applications. When short-listing there was a good cover letter, which ended with “id relish the chance to work in the higher education sector”. We’re not a higher education provider. And one which said “HR admin ties in with my qualifications”. It was not a HR admin role.

So if you’re going to adjust your generic cover letter make sure you’ve taken out details of your last application.

myteenytinyteapot ooh I'm looking for an admin role and have lots of experience in the voluntary sector. Whereabouts are you based if you don't mind sharing?

I have recently been offered an interview for a job, interview is Monday.

They asked for a small cover note to explain why the job was a good fit for you. I did this. She mentioned out of the 40 applicants 7 wrote a cover note - she thanked me for doing it! I am one of just 3 shortlisted for interview.

When she rang me it was a long the lines of 'you've applied for a position on indeed, I know people just send their cv out to hundreds of jobs so we are...' I thought are there really that many people who don't keep track of their applications that she thinks I won't know who are they are!? I only apply for jobs I want and that I think will be a good fit for me. I know every job I apply for and I follow them up too.

Erghh the keyboard on my phone is so slow.

Tailoring a cover letter is essential - why? Because most people don't bother.

It doesn't need to be fancy, it doesn't need to be long. It can be a generic cover letter that has simply been edited to fit the job - it just shows that you actually know what you are applying for, setting you apart from the HUNDREDS of candidates who have blind-applied.

Thanks to those who have answered about the weaknesses The ‘organised/perfectionist’ one is always the top suggestion when i google interview tips, and it makes me cringe!

I try to use a real one, but I do worry I’ll shoot myself in foot. I have actually used similar to AppleKaties suggestion, as it’s true, so I’m glad that has been suggested.

Of course you have to tailor your cover letter. In theory your CV is generic (although I still tailor that to emphasise different parts dependent on the role) the cover letter is what you are writing to the employer about the specific job. That simply can't be generic.

May I add people that use email addresses like '[email protected]'?

Worst I’ve ever seen was [email protected] 😳

Could someone with experience in writing job ads advise why candidates are asked what their salary expectations are? I presume it's a test to check you're applying for a job at the right level of seniority. Am I right? Presumably there's a budget based on an appropriate salary for the role so why ask?

@WineIsMyCarb I work in the public sector so salary is always up front and prescriptive, I hate how mysterious it is in the private sector. I won't go to the palaver of applying for a job unless I have an idea of the potential reward!

ould someone with experience in writing job ads advise why candidates are asked what their salary expectations are

Even more annoying - asking you what your current salary is. None of your business. Pay me what you think the job is worth, not what I am being paid now. I might have taken a lower paid role for any number of reasons (location, nice manager/colleagues, good hours, interesting job content to name but a few) but all that matters is what you are going to pay for the role concerned.