AIBU to think onboarding forms for new employees should accept the original digital CV?

[Alphabet1spaghetti2]

Omg. First world problems and all that. But really?
Filling in job applications - please can employers just accept the original digital cv? I’m talking about after you’ve been offered the job - and then have to do the onboarding paperwork, which seems to always include their own version of an application form in a different format. Why? They’ve already seen the cv or application form which led them to offer an interview and ultimately the job. It’ll undoubtedly never be read and filed in the darkest recesses of a hard drive.
Frazzled having attempted to fill in such a form which of course my iPhone and email have decided they don’t support that format and 24 hours later have finally sent back some mangled version of pdf/google docs/word. Just accept the same indeed cv you originally read - it’s just a midday supervisor job not CEO of an international company.

If it's a school job (sounds like it is?) it's a Safer Recruitment requirement that an application form is completed, it makes it easier to check for gaps in employment.

They're not actually supposed to accept CVs at all, so it sounds like they've made the recruitment process more straightforward for applicants, but once a recruitment decision has been made still need complete paperwork for safeguarding. This is the first thing Ofsted checks. Literally the first thing when they walk in the door, a check of random HR files.

Their own form means they get the information they want not what you present. If you have done something bad you can often design it out of your CV, their form will ask you and reduces the risk to children.

I get the reason for it. However the dbs is designed to do just that - (and a whole other rant on why the hell don’t any employers or volunteer positions accept the update service? I have so many edbs on there it’s like a deck of cards). I guess my real annoyance is the formatting. This particular one in word and author protected. As I only have an Iphone, pages and documents and files didn’t like the format. Neither did a download app for Microsoft word. Google documents half arsed it and I’ve no idea if it’s even readable.
Sometimes I long for the old version of pen and paper.
As for getting what they want - I literally just typed what was already on the cv which I had originally submitted. Just a lot more jumbled and in very tiny print. So exactly the same info.

No, DBS doesn't. It only tells employers about things you've been caught for, and whilst your CV might cover everything many don't, it's all about a standard process to avoid things being missed.

If you're going to work in school, you'll have to get used to doing things to make sure safeguarding processes have been followed, rather than because there is an obvious real benefit.

What is more annoying is that every school seems to have its own form, and some of them are really not well designed as a piece of electronic data and ease of updating.

Thank you ! This is it.

@Pinkbus I’ve worked in schools and social care for decades so yes I am well aware! The forms formatting does not need to be so difficult that you need a degree in it skill to fill it in.

An actual use for AI and they don't bother

@araiwa I’m am curious never having used AI. How would AI help? If it would make these different formats that documents come in easier to complete rather than wasting an entire day I’m all for it!

It will be because the admin people at the other end of the form either don't use it, so don't realise how cumbersome it is, or because they're muddling through using what's always been used, without the skills to improve it.

Schools get so little LA support now, so every school really does have to reivent the wheel on these things, and training for admin staff is often very low priority, lots have been in the role forever without ever developing the IT skills they had prechildren/previous career.

It's better in the large academy chains, but they have different issues.

@Pinkbus thank you. I hadn’t actually thought of that - so yes very good point! You couldn’t pay me enough to deal with it on a day to day basis.

It's HR they are all powerful and no one dares question what they do but they never take responsibility. Take ages to do anything but expect you to reply immediately.

I’m applying for jobs at the moment and get really irritated by having to send my CV in as well as fill out the application form that asks for the exact same information. It’s such a waste of time!

@Rantypanties wishing you good luck with your search.

oh god yes, the absolute waste of time for the same info in a pdf instead of docx or some other wanky format known only to someone in HR. Waste of time and energy and emotion. But, in the spirit of looking at it from a different angle - it weeds out some applicants.
I cannot help but think it also weeds out those who would be great at the actual job, but just aren’t great at tech- which probably isn’t even part of the job. So the employers maybe shooting them ever in the foot here.
Bring back the pen and paper and good old photocopier!!!