Christmas In The Good Old Days
ChatterBank19 mins ago
gobsmacked by so many dreadful job applications!
90 Answers
I am amazed how can people be so ignorant in how to apply for a job these days - there is no excuse really is there? - i mean the net is full of advice etc and most of it is common sense.
It so competetive its crazy not to put any proper effort in.
Some of it is quite comical and i'd laugh if i didnt have to wade through them and delete them haha.
My instinct is to write back and politely tell them why i will not be taking their app any further - but then it actually helps me whittle them down - makes it easy for me to see what theyre really like, so i am loathe to point it out to them ... i have for a few though, couldnt resist lol.
aside from the usual bad grammar, weird formatting, spelling errors, lack of punctuation, and obviously text speak, i have had applications for all sorts of other roles than the ones i asked for - no idea why they would think i would have any say in hiring for other depts - even got one from a director today!
Its clear many havent even read the post properly as they live in the wrong area, or dont drive etc.
ive had one or two saying they've had no experience but would like to try anything because they love films! they say, "i am willing to give anything a go"
well that fills me with confidence doesnt it!
i have had sentences in cover letters that are clearly specifically meant for other previous applications that they havent bothered to check and remove - one even blamed the website for stitching him up ...(!)
and why do so many email me just asking for more info on the project?
no cv or proper letter - just wanting me to call them or explain the project to them.
i dont think they seem to undertsand that they are meant to be selling themselves to me, not the other way round.
why would i waste my time explaining it all to them, only to then find they are not suitable - if they cant even be bothered to write a proper application then i cant be bothered to chase them up
ive had - "hi, saw your ad, tell me more" - thats is, nothing else...
also 'your ad sounds interesting, i am local, can you give me more information?' ... nothing else.
a few of them dont even sign it or use any sort of greeting.
they also keep telling me they really really want to learn, and try new things etc and are therefore perfect for the job - yet they want a main position rather than assistant!
why so they think thats what i want to hear? i am not really interested in what 'you want' - that doesnt help get the job done - i need them to be able to do the job already.
i am not a teacher and dont have time help them learn - and obviously also then have to watch over them, and correct their errors etc
you wouldnt hire an inexperienced plumber to do a proper job alone, just because he wants to learn would you?
i have even got 1 from another country saying - "i would love to work abroad, i love travel, give me a shout" ... thats it!
i am gobsmacked that these people ever get work.
(this is freelance film work by the way so a very different ball game to working for a company long term etc)
no question particularly except - anyone else had this sort of thing?
is it not a standard thing? - CV and a cover letter - that sells you to the person.
(sorry for the moan haha)
cheers
It so competetive its crazy not to put any proper effort in.
Some of it is quite comical and i'd laugh if i didnt have to wade through them and delete them haha.
My instinct is to write back and politely tell them why i will not be taking their app any further - but then it actually helps me whittle them down - makes it easy for me to see what theyre really like, so i am loathe to point it out to them ... i have for a few though, couldnt resist lol.
aside from the usual bad grammar, weird formatting, spelling errors, lack of punctuation, and obviously text speak, i have had applications for all sorts of other roles than the ones i asked for - no idea why they would think i would have any say in hiring for other depts - even got one from a director today!
Its clear many havent even read the post properly as they live in the wrong area, or dont drive etc.
ive had one or two saying they've had no experience but would like to try anything because they love films! they say, "i am willing to give anything a go"
well that fills me with confidence doesnt it!
i have had sentences in cover letters that are clearly specifically meant for other previous applications that they havent bothered to check and remove - one even blamed the website for stitching him up ...(!)
and why do so many email me just asking for more info on the project?
no cv or proper letter - just wanting me to call them or explain the project to them.
i dont think they seem to undertsand that they are meant to be selling themselves to me, not the other way round.
why would i waste my time explaining it all to them, only to then find they are not suitable - if they cant even be bothered to write a proper application then i cant be bothered to chase them up
ive had - "hi, saw your ad, tell me more" - thats is, nothing else...
also 'your ad sounds interesting, i am local, can you give me more information?' ... nothing else.
a few of them dont even sign it or use any sort of greeting.
they also keep telling me they really really want to learn, and try new things etc and are therefore perfect for the job - yet they want a main position rather than assistant!
why so they think thats what i want to hear? i am not really interested in what 'you want' - that doesnt help get the job done - i need them to be able to do the job already.
i am not a teacher and dont have time help them learn - and obviously also then have to watch over them, and correct their errors etc
you wouldnt hire an inexperienced plumber to do a proper job alone, just because he wants to learn would you?
i have even got 1 from another country saying - "i would love to work abroad, i love travel, give me a shout" ... thats it!
i am gobsmacked that these people ever get work.
(this is freelance film work by the way so a very different ball game to working for a company long term etc)
no question particularly except - anyone else had this sort of thing?
is it not a standard thing? - CV and a cover letter - that sells you to the person.
(sorry for the moan haha)
cheers
Answers
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Interesting discussion and I think at the root of it the OP is right.
My own CV has always had correct spelling and punctuation but I hadn't updated the format in years. I just added to it.
Earlier this year I looked at template styles and re-organised my CV and updated it on a well known slightly scary jobs site where it had been for 3 years unnoticed..
I have been contacted by prospective employers 3 times now in 6 months because I did that. My new job is lovely.
Yes a good CV obviously matters. 2 Pages of A4 at most and uncluttered is my recommendation. :)
My own CV has always had correct spelling and punctuation but I hadn't updated the format in years. I just added to it.
Earlier this year I looked at template styles and re-organised my CV and updated it on a well known slightly scary jobs site where it had been for 3 years unnoticed..
I have been contacted by prospective employers 3 times now in 6 months because I did that. My new job is lovely.
Yes a good CV obviously matters. 2 Pages of A4 at most and uncluttered is my recommendation. :)
its pathetic isnt it bednobs?
another person who obviously hasnt even read the post, or any others, yet thinks they know all about it, and is still harping on about something i have cleared up quite a few times now.
i cannot be bothered to explain - yet again - to people who cannot be bothered to read what they are replying to - still laughing at the irony really.
oh and could you point me to any section of any of my posts that is just a 10 line row of words, with no breaks, or punctuation at all please?
oh and freel free to write without capitals letters if you want!
its totally fine on an informal, unimportant internet chat room - on which we we are chatting to each other, not writing formal documents - and i guarantee everyone will be able to read it.
another person who obviously hasnt even read the post, or any others, yet thinks they know all about it, and is still harping on about something i have cleared up quite a few times now.
i cannot be bothered to explain - yet again - to people who cannot be bothered to read what they are replying to - still laughing at the irony really.
oh and could you point me to any section of any of my posts that is just a 10 line row of words, with no breaks, or punctuation at all please?
oh and freel free to write without capitals letters if you want!
its totally fine on an informal, unimportant internet chat room - on which we we are chatting to each other, not writing formal documents - and i guarantee everyone will be able to read it.
At one time I would automatically discard any application that had spellings mistakes or typos; just before I retired it got that if I did this I would have every application in the bin and none left one my desk!
You only have to see the people auditioning for the reality programmes on tv to see that they think they just have to plead long and hard and they will get what they want. The rot set in when supermarkets removed sweets from checkouts so parents were spared the task of saying no to whingeing, whineing, brats.
Now interviewers have to say no to those same whiners!
You only have to see the people auditioning for the reality programmes on tv to see that they think they just have to plead long and hard and they will get what they want. The rot set in when supermarkets removed sweets from checkouts so parents were spared the task of saying no to whingeing, whineing, brats.
Now interviewers have to say no to those same whiners!
'oh and freel free to write without capitals letters if you want!
its totally fine on an informal, unimportant internet chat room - on which we we are chatting to each other, not writing formal documents - and i guarantee everyone will be able to read it'.
I quite agree joko but it's just sloppy and, I'll repeat again, especially considering the subject matter of your post. You just don't get it, I'm afraid.
It's OK, this is my last posting on this matter. You won't convert me to your style and I don't think I'll convert you. Good night.
its totally fine on an informal, unimportant internet chat room - on which we we are chatting to each other, not writing formal documents - and i guarantee everyone will be able to read it'.
I quite agree joko but it's just sloppy and, I'll repeat again, especially considering the subject matter of your post. You just don't get it, I'm afraid.
It's OK, this is my last posting on this matter. You won't convert me to your style and I don't think I'll convert you. Good night.
agreed mojo and mad maggot - and yes i know what you mean about the sense of entitlement and thinking they only have to ask.
they always say in these shows that they 'deserve' it - for no other reason than they want it the most.
although bad spelling and grammar etc. annoys me - i am more shocked at all the other stuff i mentioned ... it just baffles me that, in their minds, that is the way to get a job,that these things create a good impression.
i mean in some ways i can understand why spelling and grammar is bad for many - because most of use texts etc and kids learn how to spell things wrongly 'rightly' if you get me - and many forget that, and forget that, as with anything, theres a time and place - and they need to learn that.
saying that these are not all from young people.
as a freelancer i regularly rewrite my cv and cover letters and send them out week after week and every time i care about how it looks, I am very polite, i ensure its all well written and formatted and check it meticulously - i know that from being on both sides of it many times, that i am not the only one binning their CVs
they always say in these shows that they 'deserve' it - for no other reason than they want it the most.
although bad spelling and grammar etc. annoys me - i am more shocked at all the other stuff i mentioned ... it just baffles me that, in their minds, that is the way to get a job,that these things create a good impression.
i mean in some ways i can understand why spelling and grammar is bad for many - because most of use texts etc and kids learn how to spell things wrongly 'rightly' if you get me - and many forget that, and forget that, as with anything, theres a time and place - and they need to learn that.
saying that these are not all from young people.
as a freelancer i regularly rewrite my cv and cover letters and send them out week after week and every time i care about how it looks, I am very polite, i ensure its all well written and formatted and check it meticulously - i know that from being on both sides of it many times, that i am not the only one binning their CVs
lol naomi, youre right some of the courses they do these days equip people for nothing but failure.
when i did my degree we had a module of how to apply for jobs, we talked about it, mocked up letters etc - and i have never forgotten it... most of it was common sense and manners etc of course, but it was useful.
i have all sorts of software and ebooks about this subject - free from the net. you can even download templates of cvs and cover letters that you just adapt - so even more reason why im so suprised. its all there is they cared to look.
i received another one earlier - just said
check me out - www.joebloggs.comb
happy to check out a website of course, very helpful - but only if attached to a proper letter - this is just rude.
when i did my degree we had a module of how to apply for jobs, we talked about it, mocked up letters etc - and i have never forgotten it... most of it was common sense and manners etc of course, but it was useful.
i have all sorts of software and ebooks about this subject - free from the net. you can even download templates of cvs and cover letters that you just adapt - so even more reason why im so suprised. its all there is they cared to look.
i received another one earlier - just said
check me out - www.joebloggs.comb
happy to check out a website of course, very helpful - but only if attached to a proper letter - this is just rude.
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