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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

511 replies

myteenytinyteapot · 17/07/2019 09:44

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?!

OP posts:
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6
ChocolateNoodle · 23/07/2019 14:29

RighteousSista
Completely agree with you: doing temp work is a great way to find a job. While the (temp) employer is looking at you, the temp is able to see how the organisation operates; if the workforce is happy and, above all, if this is a place they’d like to work. During my 17 years as a career guidance officer I often suggested temp work to clients, giving them lots of info to enable them to make an informed choice. Doing voluntary work is also beneficial. Employers do like to see evidence of recent study too.

ChocolateNoodle · 23/07/2019 14:33

Oops, sorry! Thought I was replying to Kenny33!

ChocolateNoodle · 23/07/2019 14:37

BasketofKittens

I used to advise clients to put last 10 years of work history on their CV.
Good luck with your job search. If you google Job Applications; CVs; Covering Letters, you’ll find latest info.

ChocolateNoodle · 23/07/2019 14:37

Ricky44
Am so sorry - thought I was replying to Kenny33

tobeforgotten · 23/07/2019 15:35

"Is anyone an ex legal bod wanting to paralegal?
I'm not but I'd be happy to retrain."

A man would say "I have all those skills, yes"
And get away with it!!!
you probably need to have a fairly recent law degree.

Notcopingwellhere · 23/07/2019 17:01

@ChocolateNoodle I suspect that Kenny33 namechanged to Ricky44 before she replied to you!

Ash39 · 23/07/2019 17:25

I recruit every year for graduate level professionals in my area. I've probably received 300+ cvs over the years and interviewed more than a hundred candidates. They all have the same qualification, however, it astounds me the difference in heir cv presentation.

We have had some crackers- one candidate actually graded himself on a made up scale where he rated his own social skills, attitude and clinical skills, giving himself a 3 out of 5 in all categories.

One Cv that was sent was a bar code. Just that. Nothing else.

We've had cover photos that look like someone Instagram semi porno- not advisable in a professional role. We've had some that just pasted random photos instead, of buildings.

One that annoys me that is so common is the cut and paste "Dear ..., "
they've clearly been in a rush, sent the cv to several people and forgot to change the name of who they were writing to, on the cover letter.

My email address is different from my professional title, and quite often I'm addressed by my email instead of proper name. They've just not read the ad properly.

I've had cvs that have listed every single Duke of Ed, school art project and attendance at Brownies/Beavers as a kid. None of that is relevant to this role. I really give up sometimes. I really do. I've probably missed out on some very good candidates who sadly didn't get past the recruitment stage, because they were dismissed straight away due to nonsense cvs

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 23/07/2019 18:14

I'm a Senior Administrator with HR experience looking for a role in Essex/London Liverpool St area. I don't do any of the nonsense mentioned on this thread. I've had two interviews recently where I haven't got the job - feedback for both - you can clearly do the role, impressive candidate etc etc but the other person got it as they answered one question marginally better, or just had the slight edge over you, or similar. I'm getting depressed as the salaries locally are so low compared to what I'm currently on. Feeling trapped and depressed tbh.

tobeforgotten · 23/07/2019 18:45

it's just a competitive field user. keep going.

I still just find this all quite demeaning - as if it was a privilege to have a job. (I know, in a way it is, but it is also a privilege to get to employ someone - a massive privilege).

It all reminds me of that Frankly Mr Shankly song.

I was self-employed for 14 year and grew into the current role after meeting the current owner and swapping life experiences and philosophies. I wish it could be the same for everyone :(.

I gues the moral is - anything you can do to generate genuine track record will save you having to jump through humiliating hoops.

Anoni · 23/07/2019 19:52

How would you all recommend laying out a cv? All the advice online contradicts itself, some say only 1 page, others 2. Some say include a personal statement at the top, others say don't.

I'm currently applying for my first ever professional role in a tech company with a relaxed atmospheric and the only experience I've is retail. So I'm struggling to sell myself

ChocolateNoodle · 23/07/2019 23:08

NotCopingVeryWellHere

Lol. You could well be right!

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