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?!

Seriously, if you receive 2 applications for a job, one has a covering letter containing a bit about the applicant and why they are interested in the role, what interests them in the brand or company they are applying to, and the other applicant just sends a bog standard covering letter, not tailored at all, surely it is not rocket science that the tailored, personalised covering letter is going to be better received?

Also for those with problems putting together a CV, Word has loads of templates to make them look sharp.

And also this is a really interesting read about what not to write on your CV.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/victoria-mclean/what-not-to-write-on-your_b_14765426.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

I'm totally with you OP. You want the job, spend a little time researching the company you are applying to.

I've just had a Joiner apply for a Chef job! Just a cv, no kitchen experience and no covering letter to perhaps suggest he may have some experience!

And there was a young girl who enquired about a waitress job, on 4 occasions she didn't turn up for an interview but I still keep getting an email from her most weeks saying 'have you got any vacancy's?' I'm really tempted to explain to her why I would never give her a job.

Wouldn’t the CV do that? Assuming an applicant is applying for a role they’re experienced in

Doesn't tell me why they want this role specifically in this organisation, no.

I would explain to the girl- you’d be doing her a favour long term.

I think you should. Politely.
Tell her that unfortunately you will not be hiring her as she failed to turn up and you need someone reliable.

I think people should get an honest feedback.

But that is the correct formal salutation when you do not have a named person to address.

Except there was a named person to address.

Doesn't tell me why they want this role specifically in this organisation, no.

Sometimes it’s just to get paid

I would like to put a different spin on this. I am leaving my company after 30 years in a middle management position. I have managed and recruited for people over the years.

I am now in a position of applying for a role 'outside'. I recognise the importance of a covering letter, of tailoring your response to the job description etc. I am sadden and shocked regarding the responses (or not) I have had. Its mainly all on line now. If I find an ad stating that you can speak to the recruiter informally I will always try that route.

I get:

No responses one way or the other

I have to chase for a response to find that the role has been filled. It would be nice to be informed. Its not as though letters need to be sent. Its just an email!

On one occasion I spend ages applying for a role. I tried to speak to the head teacher as suggested in the ad. She never responded. I applied, I heard nothing, eventually someone did respond spelling my name wrong, the vacancy mentioned was not the one I applied for and thank you was spelt as one word!

Another one (a very well know university) told me that I was on short list. That was weeks ago. I am still waiting for an interview. When I chased I was told that the recruiter was 'very busy'. So why put an ad out when you know you don't have the bandwidth to respond in a timely fashion.

Good people (and I am not suggesting me particularly!) do not hang around for weeks/months on end.

boringly

That's fine but then they shouldn't be surprised if they don't get shortlisted, because I'm looking for people with demonstrable interest in the role.

It really, in my opinion, does not take much effort to put together a cover letter. If you're applying for jobs you will have most of the component parts already, you just need to put them specifically together for that role.

I don't doubt there are some bloody horrendous recruiters out there but that doesn't mean that candidates don't have to put the effort in when applying. I mean, if you don't want to, that's your look out, but don't be surprised when you don't get interviews.

That's a good point actually. I've withdrawn from an application before because I got another offer while they were pissing around and I cba with the uncertainty. I may well have been a better fit for the role than whoever eventually got it.

Horrid - my feelings exactly. Its insulting that no one comes back to you. You can have a pre-written email for people that are not successful.

That school in particular who didn't respond until I chased and then got it all wrong - these are the people who are teaching your children.

When I have been responsible for recruitment I have jumped on good candidates and got the role filled VERY quickly. I am also aware that if I am not careful the role will be withdrawn due to cost cutting etc etc. Its hard enough to get a role signed off - employers - please don't mess it up by not responding properly.

When my brother recruits for his firm he can't believe the number of CV's done in a nearly unreadable medieval-style Italic font.......straight to the shredder!

you do know that the company will know your exact salary when they get your P45 don't you.

That may be an issue in a 25-person company where the finance person signing off your salary will see your P45 personally, but in a large company the chances of anyone involved in your hiring process actually seeing your P45 are minimal.

Apply on-line or use a black pen (never blue).

And be careful when dipping the quill. Always keep plenty of blotting paper nearby.

Alternatively, apply for a job in 2019.

Check your privacy settings on your own social media. Employers routinely do this & ditch candidates based on what they see
Get a good friend to google your name on their own PC/device & see what comes up......can be scary

Excellent advice right there, Mylittlepea. It's hard to believe the things that some plaster all over Facebook, and how little they consider the impact it can have ...

I’m really shocked that some places have application processes that take two hours. The longest it should be is 12 minutes - candidates start to disengage at 12 minutes and some don’t bother. A two hour application process will ensure that you are losing good applicants.

I meant some don’t bother continuing with the application after 12 minutes.

I genuinely don't see how it could take two hours to put together a job application. OK fair enough if you're starting a brand new CV and cover letter from scratch but if you're in the midst of job hunting you'll already have a CV and you'll have already written loads of cover letters you can borrow from.

My favourite was the guy applying for a job as a MFL teacher who sent me some colour photocopies of his watercolours. They were completely shit

Thanks for the feedback on my comments. Message received loud and clear that I’m out of date re helping unemployed people apply for jobs. I retired in 2011 so will refrain from offering IAG on this topic.

12 minutes?

I think this is massively industry dependent.

It takes 2-4 hours min to put together a decent application for a teaching job imo. More if you haven’t done a similar one recently to borrow from.

Some of the online applications can be very long

Especially retail for some obscure reason

@applekatie

My MSc dissertation on recruitment and selection was based on the private sector. I read a lot of research on the topic prior to writing 30,000 words on it.

I can’t comment on the public sector as I’ve never had any interest in working in the public sector - the 20 page job descriptions put me off!

@StillCoughingandLaughing

I see your point but there is no need to say it so nastily.

@ChocolateNoodle

I don’t think there was any need for stilllaughingandcoughing to be so nasty.