Smiley face on a job application.

[RunBackwards]

Please, just don't

Probably don't mention twice how good your "banter" is either, it distracts from the fact that actually, your experience could be just what we need.

@Neitherupnordown Agreed, it is a game. It reminds me of school when people were chosen to be part of the "in-crowd" and others were "unpopular" for random, unspoken reasons. Work is a lot like that.

My favourite interview experience was the woman who, when asked what her weakness was, said “shoes”.

I actually thought it was quite brilliant but I was overruled 😬

All these things are useful, surely, makes it easy to decide which ones to bin.

@SinkGirl

My favourite interview experience was the woman who, when asked what her weakness was, said “shoes”.

I actually thought it was quite brilliant but I was overruled 😬

😂I like that answer!

@kleanex Yes I do my best to tailor my CV and cover letter. I read job descriptions thoroughly and address the person spec. Has still made no difference. Employers seem to only want people who have done the exact same job they're advertising, right down to minor details that can easily be learned (like a specific software that is actually very basic) and for at least 3 years. Transferrable skills don't seem to count for much. So why not just headhunt from your direct competitors rather than advertising publicly.

A CV isn't reflective of that though, they are different scenarios. They probably have been advised to put in 'jargon' to demonstrate an understanding, if they met the criteria otherwise and reached interview, they may have gone on to explain that they have experience of explaining tech matters clearly and concisely to a wide range of stakeholders with different levels of knowledge

The problem with that is that they should have the sense to realise that the person doing the first sifting is likely to be someone in HR who doesn't habitually use the industry jargon.

Or at interview, down a can of red bull and then burp in my face

Surely this was someone that did not want the job! 

@TheSeedsOfADream nooooo that's so grim!

These are hilarious and making my toes curl!

I was once involved in interviewing someone who had sent in what on the face of it was the perfect application. When he turned up, he could not have looked less interested when shown around and was silent the whole time. When asked about something that the job spec had emphasised was one of the most important aspects of the job, he simply sighed.

I've never forgotten it because it seemed so odd, given that he'd taken so much trouble over the application. Did he think he was a shoo-in for the job and being interviewed was beneath him?

I'm interested to know whether those jobs where you have people applying without addressing the person spec, directly ask people to do so.

I want to employ people who use their common sense. If a candidate doesn't realise that in order to be employed to do a job they should show why they suit the job, they are unlikely to be up to scratch.

On a different note... if you're interviewing for a job in the City, don't tell me that you hope capitalism is about to collapse.

Don't tell the interview for a high tech computer company your hobby is knitting, and you knitted the sweater you're wearing!

Yes I do my best to tailor my CV and cover letter. I read job descriptions thoroughly and address the person spec. Has still made no difference. Employers seem to only want people who have done the exact same job they're advertising, right down to minor details that can easily be learned (like a specific software that is actually very basic) and for at least 3 years. Transferrable skills don't seem to count for much. So why not just headhunt from your direct competitors rather than advertising publicly.

I find this too. I have an english degree and would love to try get into an industry thats not bloody retail. It kills me that no matter how much effort i put into applications im always always rejected due to no experience in the industry. Im 29 and dont see that changing now ive been trying 9 years.

goinggreyer "I'm a stickler for detial"...😉😀

@goldenharvest

Don't tell the interview for a high tech computer company your hobby is knitting, and you knitted the sweater you're wearing!

If asked about your hobbies, why wouldn't you say this? Why is an ability to knit incompatible with a desire to work in IT?

Could it perhaps be because knitting is traditionally seen as a feminine pastime, and we don't want pesky women anywhere near our high-tech computers in case they break them?

Knitting is a skill that requires diligence, persistence and attention to detail. All excellent transferrable skills.

Also:
-Don't have a job description and an essential criteria list as long as my arm, demanding a degree, 3-4 yrs experience and total flexibility for a job paying £23k. It's so off putting and makes me scroll right past because although I'm hardworking I'd feel like you'd want the moon on a stick... loads of unpaid overtime just to get the long list of duties done, stress and no work-life balance, for a "meh" salary.

-State the salary range in the advert so people can decide whether it's worth investing the time to apply or not. Don't make me go through 2 interviews and a written task only to find out you're paying £19k.

• Offer a salary that actually reflects the cost of living in 2020, not 1997 when you were doing the job in your 20s.

Don't throw a tantrum, yelling that the person is lucky to be offered the job when they politely try to negotiate for a little bit more (happened to a friend of mine...professional job in London requiring experience, pay was £21k. She was earning £2k more and could just about afford to rent a room in a house share).

-Don't keep me waiting for 30mins because you thought the interview starts later, even though you're the one who chose the time and it's there in writing in our email correspondence.

-Simplify the application process. A cover letter, CV and interview used to be enough, why is it not good enough now? There's no need for an online form asking me to write an essay on my experience when you can easily see that from my CV. It takes days just to fill in these forms, on top of my existing full time job, only to get a generic "thanks but no thanks" response. There are then multiple interviews on top of that, requiring people to take time off work and attend while not letting on to their employer that they're going to an interview. And yours isn't the only job they're applying for so they need to do that multiple times.

Can you tell I'm fed up and done with job hunting!

Don't tell the interview for a high tech computer company your hobby is knitting, and you knitted the sweater you're wearing!

Another one who doesn't understand why this is a no-no. Would you have preferred them to say their hobby was a Black Hat hacking into the MOD systems to start WW3?

Don't tell the interview for a high tech computer company your hobby is knitting, and you knitted the sweater you're wearing!

I don't understand what's wrong with knitting as a hobby either. Was it that they were wearing a jumper?

Also:
-Don't have a job description and an essential criteria list as long as my arm, demanding a degree, 3-4 yrs experience and total flexibility for a job paying £23k. It's so off putting and makes me scroll right past because although I'm hardworking I'd feel like you'd want the moon on a stick... loads of unpaid overtime just to get the long list of duties done, stress and no work-life balance, for a "meh" salary.

Although better they told you about the meh salary so you wouldn't bother applying. If they can get a good candidate for that money good luck to them!

@goldenharvest

Don't tell the interview for a high tech computer company your hobby is knitting, and you knitted the sweater you're wearing!

Why? Are you only supposed to have IT related hobbies if you're applying for a job in a computer company? I'd give the applicant credit for liking a creative, skilled hobby that also helps to foster good mental health.

Don't describe yourself as a contentious person when you mean conscientious like I did.

@MoonJelly That's not necessarily obvious though. I have no idea who reads my CV, I'd have thought HR would forward all CVs to whoever I'd be working for. But maybe not? It's never occurred to me that the person reading my application doesn't have knowledge of the industry language, when that language is used in the job advert itself.

@Shaniac The grass is always greener on the other side. I often wish I'd stayed in retail. Clearly defined expectations and targets, and you can earn fairly decent money as an area manager if you work your way up. My manager wanted to promote me but I left to do a "proper" job. Incidentally, it attracts a lot of English graduates. But it's very difficult to work your way up. No clearly defined path, lots of big egos and you're judged more on image than your results.

@Shaniac

Yes I do my best to tailor my CV and cover letter. I read job descriptions thoroughly and address the person spec. Has still made no difference. Employers seem to only want people who have done the exact same job they're advertising, right down to minor details that can easily be learned (like a specific software that is actually very basic) and for at least 3 years. Transferrable skills don't seem to count for much. So why not just headhunt from your direct competitors rather than advertising publicly.

I find this too. I have an english degree and would love to try get into an industry thats not bloody retail. It kills me that no matter how much effort i put into applications im always always rejected due to no experience in the industry. Im 29 and dont see that changing now ive been trying 9 years.

Could you do a Masters and get on a Grad programme? Or get some experience as an Intern - lots of positions pay at least minimum wage. You also might be able to get a shoe in via an employment agency - it might be doing something basic but when you are in a company you can often apply for internal positions and/or impress your manager - who might be able to find/create a more permanent role for you.

Which industry or role are you interested in?

Don't ask a disabled interviewee

"do you really need to take your service dog everywhere?"

Replace the words "service dog" for "wheelchair" to get your answer,

It's not a pet, its a disability aid. And there are around 8 types of recognised assistance dogs, not just guide dogs for the blind.

Interviewers should have the decency to inform candidates when they’ve been unsuccessful. It’s not on to leave them wondering, especially when they’ve invested hours of their time on the application process and on researching the company. It’s basic manners...

[quote oncloudnine]@Neitherupnordown Agreed, it is a game. It reminds me of school when people were chosen to be part of the "in-crowd" and others were "unpopular" for random, unspoken reasons. Work is a lot like that.[/quote]
The CV and the interview are 2 different games though, as this thread reveals. The recruiters clearly have the power in the interview one though, and that's still seemingly with better knowledge than most of the law surrounding protected/unprotected characteristics.

Sounds as if the only acceptable ghettos for many people with spectrum conditions are the IT and coding fields, because there's obviously no way of learning or improving other knowledge or skills that may not be present or developed at the 60 minutes of the interview stage? I know a lot of academics, my family included, who have been very successful, and successfully supervised students for years, because they have played to their strengths and made the spectrum work well for their work area. This is respectively in mathematics, art and architecture, so not one stereotyped pigeonhole.

Even though I don't think it's the best way of working either, I have to say that I hope we see major changes very soon in the way that people with spectrum characteristics are employed and respected, not least because of the more pervasive and non-negotiable role of technology in all parts of life (to which many are already contributing in spades).