Assignments to get to the interview stage

[lizzieoak]

I’ve been applying for entry level jobs to a large sector where I live. The unemployment is at record lows, many sectors are struggling to find staff.

Today I got sent 3 “assignments” - answering scenarios, doing actual assignments, etc. I figure this will take minimum of an hour. This is after writing my cv to the company so that they’d send me their postings, then writing my cc to their job description (they use word search technology so if they say 4+ years experience & you say “over 5 years”, you won’t get through), after taking tests, after writing a cover letter. And the assignments would maybe move me forward to an interview.

Is this serious piss-taking? At such low levels of unemployment, after all the cv hurdles and testing do they really need to whittle down further via the assignments? Is this a bit over the top, or is this normal for entry level? £22000 pa.

Some companies just seem to do this and yes it seems unreasonable but if you want the job you just have to jump through the hoops. My ds had to do this for his current job similar salary big firm; final interview at regional centre 2 hours away 3 people elderly man young girl and him. Almost as though they ticked the right box but no thought given to would they actually be able to do the job. I think big companies do this so there can be no accusation of excluding 'minorities' etc.

They say 4+ years experience in an entry job but they really want young recent grads as these roles will often have longer hours and require more energy. Recruiters will often ask recent grads to include uni experience in the ‘4+’ - so a recent grad would have 3 academic years plus 1 year experience. If you have actual job experience amounting to more than 5 years you should go for a job that requests that.

We are considering something similar at our work - Although possibly not pre the interview stage.

Our entry level roles are generally aimed at recent grads or post-a level and their often isn't an awful lot to pick the candidates apart.

In recent years we've felt that the majority of the interview pool could do the job based on their cv/interview - which doesn't necessarily translate into practice.

It would hopefully also give an opportunity for an applicant who is perhaps less 'polished' to demonstrate competencies rather than relying solely on the interview - which for a myriad of reasons, few which have anything to do with ability, some people are advantaged at and others less so.

Really raving? 4+ years means 5 years or 20 years surely. How are you meant to know this 'code' unless the job description states suitable for recent graduate for example?

This which doesn't necessarily translate into practice.

We use these types of activities to help pick people with the right attitude, as well as experience and qualifications. Recruiting the right people is really difficult, and recruiting the wrong people is a very, very expensive mistake. Even if they are 'just' entry level roles, we want anyone we recruit to be good to work with, as well as capable of doing the job. It makes life better for everyone, when we get the right people to join. Most people will have had experience of working with difficult people and would agree that, if you have something that needs to get done, it's better to have a smaller team with the right people than a large team which includes some that are not do great.

It is why there can simultaneously be vacancies and unemployment. Just having a role open doesn't mean that an organisation, and the people who already work there, will welcome just anyone who applies. Its about finding the right people, not the old fashioned way of the old school tie, but a good cultural fit for the organisation.

If 'jumping through the hoops' in the way specified is not to your taste, then you may not be the right sort of person for that role. It sort of self selects the people who might be right for the role. There may be a better role for you somewhere else, it just be a matter of finding that role.

I’m awake! Not in your time zone.

The job is unionised, there is no overtime allowed in this sector (nor energy only suitable to young people, it’s bums at desks). It’s entry level in so far as it’s the first pay grade, they actually do expect a lot of experience. For example they say “preference given to people with experience in” & then they list 3 in-house software systems.

So to get to this stage, in addition to all the cv writing, and testing I’ve already done to get to this point, I have a lot of experience (which happens to be the right amount for this work). Hope that clears that up (I may not have been clear in the first post).

I get that they want the right people, but given that they post over a dozen jobs a week (within the larger organization) & I’ve only seen lengthy assignments once before, well, I think they are forgetting the time it takes to even get to this stage. It’s quite a high pressure environment and so at this point I would prefer they whittle down by interview and then if flummoxed assign tasks. It feels like doing unpaid work (which isn’t necessary to get a job in this sector as given the unemployment rates something will come up eventually).

I suppose I feel that some of these practices started when people were desperate for jobs and now the power balance is shifting a bit and employers have not caught up.

Younger people quit jobs with gay abandon and move across the country for cheaper housing, so employers may have to go through a period of trying to attract staff, versus assuming the job is attractive enough that people will do anything to get it. Though you’re right, it’s not for me (nor I for them) if I don’t want to put yet more time into applying for it. I’ve figured that by the time I start a job in this sector (I’ve been working on contracts then leaving when hours don’t suit etc) I’ve put in at least 6 hours, so another hour or two pushes it over the top.

And Raving, they certainly do not mean recent grads! Going to classes and working in the service industry does not in any way qualify you for my work! And our degrees (Canada) are four years.

Basically you work outside of this employer and build up your cv till you have enough to join them. Their pay and conditions mean they can ask for a more experienced workforce. The only students I’ve ever seen have been on Work experience placements, the rest are at least a couple of years out (the requirements vary from posting to posting, some days 2+ years, some 3, some 4).