Soooo disappointed in job applications!

[SnowfallSnowball]

Hi
I am currently shortlisting for a role and the level of applications are so disappointing. I totally understand that nowadays applications are a task in themselves but if you’re not going to take the time to read the application guidance, JD and PS why bother applying at all?

I have already seen a high number of people who have just wrote a cover letter and attached their CV when we specify no CV’s and to write a supporting statement abiding by items on the PS. Many of these applicants are already in a job so they must have applied properly to posts in the past, I don’t get it!

Any other recruiters have these issues?

[quote SnowfallSnowball]@SpringRainbow it’s very clear, there’s also separate guidance but I don’t think it’s being read by some.

I had a similar experience to you with completing applications and getting zero response, so disappointing especially with the amount of time and effort it takes. I mean do employers think we are doing this for a jolly![/quote]
I hope you find some suitable applicants soon!

It’s probably just a case of people just firing off applications here there and everywhere and hoping something sticks.

I think that given so many people are applying for tens and hundreds of jobs they are demoralised and at the end of their rope tbh. They probably assume no ones bothering to really look at their application anyway, and most cv’s have a personal statement on them anyway?? I think making applying a painful
Process by making each application different and making applicants jump through hoops is quite unfair. They just want money to pay their bills and feed their kids. So they want any job, any where. I understand your frustration but I’m
Guessing as an applicant you teach a point where you just can’t cope with it anymore.

Is this for a junior or senior role? Are online applications the norm in your sector?

I’m going to be honest, your process sounds ridiculous tedious and unnecessarily wasteful of candidates’ time. Unless you’re offering something amazing (salary well above standard? A role in an industry that is super hard to get?) you’re either going to get (a) people who are desperate, and probably not high quality or (b) people who will apply but were borderline about not bothering due to your process.

Also, if an applicant is sought after and there is plenty of good work going, they may not even bother going through your process. From my experience many roles that have hoop jumping HR that’s not respectful of my time, turn out to generally be not places I want to work.

I would do CV and covering letter first, then either interview or ask them to submit some more detailed written answers. But the first stage is often a punt (unless you’re talking about a grad scheme or something like that).

It’s a two way street—clealry either your job or your process is not getting the amazing candidates to want to apply.

I stopped completing long application forms years ago.

Why?

Due to the industry I'm in and the fact that I have recruited people into teams I work with or alongside, I have been made more aware of discriminatory recruitment practices that put people who are carers or have young children so are mostly women at a disadvantage.

So I agree with Flowers500 either ask for a CV and covering letter OR ask for a CV and detail responses to at most 2 questions.

I haven't interviewed for a while but last time I did there were dozens of useless applications. All of which I had to score and keep a record of (NHS) until someone was appointed.

I'm self employed now so I constantly apply for new positions and its not that hard to have a recent example of the most common criteria ie communication skills that I can paste into a job application then check the spell count. I even put in headings to make it easier for recruitmentors.

My CV, I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth keeping it up to date because no one ever asks for it.

Query for anyone who sets up an online application, can you not ask for the exact date for jobs please. I just can't remember some of them anymore, just the month and year.

So many jobs only require a click of "quick apply" on linked in or other job sites that people see a lengthy process and they can't be bothered. Being rigid about what you expect from an applicant will only hinder your chances of finding the right person

@Flowers500 I’m in Higher Education and that’s our process. I’m not in a position to change that unfortunately but have suggested the person spec is shortened!

I guess it depends on whether it’s a job/industry you really want to be in as I’ve discovered different industries have varied application processes. Obviously even then there aren’t any guarantees. I hear what you’re saying though!

Yes and recruiting for higher education?

Sounds really annoying. Don’t know why people bother sending CVs if you ask them not to. Applications are very time consuming. Normally takes me days to do one. Does the online form have a separate section for each but if the person spec? I’ve seen some have that before.

When you have to apply for several jobs a day and each company is so special you have to complete their unique forms etc, it is a massive pain. So maybe they're just getting in their quotas? How difficult can it be just reply "thanks but no thanks" and bin them? It's basically doing your first bit of weeding for you

We ran a recruitment campaign last year - we asked for a CV and a covering letter explaining why you would be a good fit - included salary on the ad too. The quality of applications was truly awful - many showed little evidence of reading the job description beyond the title. These were people educated to Masters and sometimes Phd level. Neither CV or covering letter showed any signs of being tailored to the JD, often full of unnecessary jargon from a different industry so it was barely comprehensible - it was seriously depressing to see how badly well educated people communicate, when it really matters.

It was clear that making the application process simple was attracting more applicants - but not attracting the right sort of applicants.The process was very expensive and delivered very few appropriately experienced candidates - we will not advertise again - it just doesn't work for us. We're picking applicants out from linkedin and inviting them to apply - the hit rate it much higher.

@Brefugee

When you have to apply for several jobs a day and each company is so special you have to complete their unique forms etc, it is a massive pain. So maybe they're just getting in their quotas? How difficult can it be just reply "thanks but no thanks" and bin them? It's basically doing your first bit of weeding for you

This.

Good candidates neither want nor need to write endless bullshit.

This. I think poor managers substitute bureaucracy for judgement and leadership.

@FlowerArranger

... people who have just wrote...

This jumped out at me too! It should be people who have just written.

[quote SnowfallSnowball]@SerenShine same, agree that naivety has definitely played a part.

Don’t get me wrong I realise applications are long, I even mentioned this to the recruiting manager but the guidance is very clear and specifies what we will/will not accept.

Hopefully we’ll end up with some good candidates though! Did you manage to find some to interview at least?[/quote]
It's been a struggle to be honest. We've looked at our recruitment process and where we advertise, but are being told that lots of agencies are experiencing a shortage of good quality candidates at the moment.

I don't think it's too onerous to expect a candidate to be able to complete an online application and tie it in to the JD & PS.

Good luck!

I recruit in education, schools don't accept CVs, always need an application form.

The quality of applications, even for teaching posts is shocking. I have a very old school HR Officer/PA who used to do an initial screening by getting rid of any with poor grammar and spelling. We'd have no one to interview if we did that now for teaching posts

I don’t know why people bother sending in applications they couldn’t be bothered to do. Having said that, having recently gone through the job hunting process, it is a lot of effort when each company is asking you to list how you meet about 25 criteria within some stupid character count or where you have to fill in each individual employer and every duty which is written on your CV anyway (can you not just ask for a CV) ? These applications literally take hours and when you don’t even hear back it’s so demoralising

I’m in HE and at least half of applications for any post are totally lacking any mention of the role and many lack the specified essential qualifications for the role. I always presume they are from ‘job hunters’ who are forced to apply or don’t really want the role.

The lack of care that goes into some applications is astounding and the positions I recruit for are quite niche and sought after, we have applications from all over the country. If you are actively job hunting for a professional job in a specific field then I don’t think it’s too much to have the basics (communication, time management, specific skills etc...) ready to go in a statement and to tailor it for the job spec/organisation you are applying to.

Annoying as it is, at the end of the day if you actually want the job you need to jump through whatever hoops (as stupid as you may think they are) you are asked to.

My experience is variable from excellent applications and interviews who get employed, to zero attention and effort who get nowhere. People who don’t listen to instructions e.g. no supporting statement (it’s a standard thing in my industry) and just submit a cv -we don’t accept cv’s. Then we bin their applications and that’s that. They clearly don’t listen or follow instructions. Who wants an employee like that

Its nothing new.
Just toss every " non compliant with the application procedure" in the bin, and consider it a useful filter.

Many of these applicants are already in a job.

You mean, they say they are in a job. Some of them are lying, as you'll discover when you follow up the fake references.

@2bazookas

Its nothing new. Just toss every " non compliant with the application procedure" in the bin, and consider it a useful filter.

Many of these applicants are already in a job.

You mean, they say they are in a job. Some of them are lying, as you'll discover when you follow up the fake references.

You would left with zero applications.😁

It’s a candidate led market at the moment - the good ones, anyway.

Don’t put barriers in place if you want to attract the best people. Not the best from an inclusivity perspective either, especially with a long person spec. Highly likely to discourage applications from women and other underrepresented applicants, this might not be an issue in your sector but it’s worth keeping in mind.

@DoThePropeller

It’s a candidate led market at the moment - the good ones, anyway.

Don’t put barriers in place if you want to attract the best people. Not the best from an inclusivity perspective either, especially with a long person spec. Highly likely to discourage applications from women and other underrepresented applicants, this might not be an issue in your sector but it’s worth keeping in mind.

I agree but that’s the problem fewer barriers opens the flood gates to the very unsuitable just need to make x applications a day candidates - it’s like dating 😅

@PegasusReturns

I think it’s a big ask to request a personal supporting statement.

In my industry (law) there are simply not enough candidates with the desired qualifications and those that do exist are often interviewing with multiple others.

Good candidates neither want nor need to write endless bullshit. Their qualifications and employment history all speak for themselves and are what will get them through the door. The interview is not about establishing skills or experience, it’s about establishing whether they fit on a personal level.

What area of law is this if you don't mind me asking?