To think job applications are far too hard to fill out?

[PowerRangersGo]

I'm in tears. Spent 3 hours trying to do a job application form for a temp agency and I'm not even sure it actually went through. I had to sign the form on the computer which was not do-able as I don't have the stylus pen (who does?). It had to be signed about 12 times so looks an absolute mess and like a child has done it. I also don't have valid photo ID or a bank statement from the last 3 months. I provided full birth certificate and national insurance paper from a few years back but can't help but think I have blown it and wasted my time. Are all job applications this hard? I honestly can't see myself ever working again if they are.

OP if you make a LinkedIn (and upload a resume) there are many jobs you can apply for just by clicking "easy apply" also some companies just have you send our resume, this is more common when you search out companies rather than looking through a job board. They are NOT all this hard, don't give up!

I have to agree with @roomofrequirement

Besides which if you arent willing to overlook formatting you dont like and read the cvs, then it sounds like a lazy employer who cares more about form filling than finding the right employee. Interviewing is a two way street.

Ive been a hiring manager, and honestly whilst a basic application form is fine, some are utterly horrendous and as a potential employee it puts me off because the company comes across as looking too much like its bound up in beauracracy and strict adherence to a bunch of procedures rather than being a modern flexibke agile workplace

I don't do cover letters anymore btw! I include a project list with my resume, when you're looking for a job it's really a numbers game in terms of applications and for me cover letters just aren't worth the time since I can do ten applications in the time it would take me to do a personalized cover letter.

YANBU. And application forms are really designed for people with a traditional, linear work history. They're very unfair for people who've done patches of temp work, or part-time employment interspersed with self-employed work, or multiple overlapping jobs etc. Surely plenty of people have a "side hustle" these days that just doesn't fit nearly into an application form? That's why I think CVs are fairer as they're better for people with a non-traditional work history.

Have you a LinkedIn profile?

@Fluffywabbits

This might be an unpopular perspective but as a hiring manager I find asking candidates to fill in an apication firm helps to level the playing field a bit. When a pile of cvs arrive, there's no consistency and rightly or wrong it's really easy to be put off candidates that use ridiculous formatting, include photos or clip art ( this happens surprisingly often!). Many people submit generic indeed CVs and cover letters that make no reference to the specific role being advertise. This might be easier for candidates making loads of applications but it comes across as lazy/ that the candidate doesn't think its worth the effort to tailor their application.

So instead of doing application forms, why not just ask for CVs and reject the ones who haven't tailored it to the job? Tailoring your CV isn't that hard - you do have to fiddle about with a few bits but it's not like you need to create the document from scratch every time. It's still far easier than an application form.

You should get a photo ID. It's foolish in this day and age not to have one.

I think that for most jobs the expectation would be that if you are incapable of filling in an application you are probably incapable of doing the job.

Problem is, photo ID costs money. Can't afford to pay out for a passport right now. If there were a cheaper option of course I would do it.

@PowerRangersGo provisional driving licence is cheaper at £43.

Employers face much stricter penalities now for employing anyone who doesn't have the right to work in the UK.
The agency is trying to save themselves time by getting applicants to prove their identity - and right to work- before proceeding with the application.

Otherwise, even if you clearly state only applicants with the right to work will be considered, you will get candidates put through who actually require visa sponsorship etc

@Fluffywabbits

This might be an unpopular perspective but as a hiring manager I find asking candidates to fill in an apication firm helps to level the playing field a bit. When a pile of cvs arrive, there's no consistency and rightly or wrong it's really easy to be put off candidates that use ridiculous formatting, include photos or clip art ( this happens surprisingly often!). Many people submit generic indeed CVs and cover letters that make no reference to the specific role being advertise. This might be easier for candidates making loads of applications but it comes across as lazy/ that the candidate doesn't think its worth the effort to tailor their application.

Hopefully you proof read your “application forms” to avoid any spelling errors. 😉

provisional driving licence is cheaper at £43.

Only if you have no medical conditions which make you ineligible to drive

YANBU

Also I dont get the narrative that the prospective employee is supposed to tailor their cv, cover letter and application form to look like they want that one and only job.

I dont know if I actually want to work for a company at the point of application. My application is registering my potential interest. I certainly want to speak to you, ask questions at the interview etc to make sure that the culture and ethos is the right fit for me, that the role is the right fit for me, and that I actually want to work with you.

Why is it okay for employers to do generic interviews based on a standard set of questions? Why havent they read my application and tailored their questions to me (good companies do do this instinctively). If I come to an interview and you ask me a generic set of questions it feels lazy and like you dont think its worth your time to tailor your process....

I think some employers/hiring managers forget this is a two way street

I agree OP that application forms are ridiculously complicated. A CV and covering letter should be fine - they can ask you to provide certain information within the covering letter.

And why are they asking for ID at this stage? Surely they only need that once they have offered, and you have accepted, the job?

@Toomanyradishes

Also I dont get the narrative that the prospective employee is supposed to tailor their cv, cover letter and application form to look like they want that one and only job.

I dont know if I actually want to work for a company at the point of application. My application is registering my potential interest. I certainly want to speak to you, ask questions at the interview etc to make sure that the culture and ethos is the right fit for me, that the role is the right fit for me, and that I actually want to work with you.

Why is it okay for employers to do generic interviews based on a standard set of questions? Why havent they read my application and tailored their questions to me (good companies do do this instinctively). If I come to an interview and you ask me a generic set of questions it feels lazy and like you dont think its worth your time to tailor your process....

I think some employers/hiring managers forget this is a two way street

Totally agree. I think the public sector is worse for this because they've got this idea that everyone has to be asked the same questions to be fair. I start a private sector interview with a set of questions, but let the conversation develop naturally. I usually have a grid of info I need so will steer the interview to get that info, but don't ask an artificial set of questions. I have been to an interview like that and it was so boring and stilted. Needless to say I didn't take things further.

And I also agree that employers need to get out of the mindset that they are doing people a favour by offering them a job or even interviewing them. No, you need talent, and I am potentially that talent, so treat me as such until you know otherwise, at which point you say "thank you for your time, you don't quite meet our requirements but we loved meeting you".

[quote MojoMoon]@PowerRangersGo provisional driving licence is cheaper at £43.

Employers face much stricter penalities now for employing anyone who doesn't have the right to work in the UK.
The agency is trying to save themselves time by getting applicants to prove their identity - and right to work- before proceeding with the application.

Otherwise, even if you clearly state only applicants with the right to work will be considered, you will get candidates put through who actually require visa sponsorship etc[/quote]
Pretty sure this is against GDPR - you are only supposed to collect personal data that you actually need, and when you need it.

Applications are sometimes deliberately made to be difficult and time-consuming, that way it weeds out a lot of applicants who get bored or otherwise give up. The idea being that applicants who jump through the hoops and get the job done will bring that mentality to work if they actually get the job.

Job application forms certainly favour those with more time on their hands.

They are stressful and time consuming, and whilst it could be argued that if you want a job bad enough, you will suck it up and get it done, it's hardly a level playing field. I often think employers end up with the candidates with the most time to complete the application, and when it comes to interviews, the ones who don't get nervous - not the best person for the job.

Oh, and job descriptions are so generic now..in the ' desirable qualities' bit the same criteria is asked twice or three times, just worded differently. I really think some big organisations don't put enough effort into their job adverts.

Applications are sometimes deliberately made to be difficult and time-consuming, that way it weeds out a lot of applicants who get bored or otherwise give up. The idea being that applicants who jump through the hoops and get the job done will bring that mentality to work if they actually get the job.

Alternatively, what this sometimes means, is that the company has a rigid approach that means tasks are more convoluted than they need to be and employees will have to jump through hoops to get their work done as the company isnt flexible enough to amend their procedures. 'Thats the way its always been done so thats the way we do it', ' oh we tried change before but it didnt work so we are doing it this way' etc. Making application forms harder encourages dogmatic employees which actually might not be the best result.

Im not saying all application forms are bad, just if they are being made deliberately difficult maybe that signals a culture where work is harder than it could be?

Is the job one where you will be working on a computer as if so filling out the application form shouldn’t be a struggle. It could be worth oooking for a different type of manual role instead where they may accept CV’s?

Is there a jobs centre or somewhere you can go where they help people who aren’t technologically literate to job hunt or if there was a course you could do to help you?

You will need to check as well. Proof of address usually needs to be a formal utility bill or bank statement. I don’t think they would accept an Amazon order.

No one has stylus pens. You’re supposed to either type it or take a picture of your signature and copy and paste it into the box each time.

YANBU at all. Application forms are horrible. Especially those that aren’t fillable online.

So many adverts on Indeed say “apply online” and then you realise you have to download and print a Word document from Office 1997. Ughhhh

I actually think it says a lot about the employer. But then, I’m in a backwards part of the UK and many employers dislike women and ask “is your husband ok about you working?”

Yanbu. Job hunting has become a full time job itself.

I hate them. I've spent ages filling out NHS job applications where you have to write a personal statement, but you can't just copy and paste it, you have to tailor it to that specific job. It takes hours, and to not even make it to the interview list sucks. Mind you, I've been a sahm for ages so my CV would be full of not a lot. I'm not sure that'd make a good application either.

@Autismandgin

YANBU at all. Application forms are horrible. Especially those that aren’t fillable online.

So many adverts on Indeed say “apply online” and then you realise you have to download and print a Word document from Office 1997. Ughhhh

I actually think it says a lot about the employer. But then, I’m in a backwards part of the UK and many employers dislike women and ask “is your husband ok about you working?”

This. Then spend more time configuring tables and sometimes tables within tables so that it's coherent. I assume it's a test to see if you're as IT savvy as you say you are

No it was for a care home. I have been given the hours and a contract but do not think that they properly checked all my forms. Am concerned as I have no photo ID yet have been told to turn up with it on my first day at the care home in an email just now. Not sure they will let me work and will turn me away.