Is anyone else so frustrated with the job market here?!

[pippy2011]

Oh Ladies and Gentlemen, I am ready for the hills! I did a Master's in 08-09 and have been looking for a job for coming on 13 months now. But friends, don't you find the job questions you are asked so frustrating?!!!!!! Forms in 2010 ask you: your sexuality, your religion, any criminal offences, motoring offences, your ethnicity, age, gender, disabilities, sick days, references for the past five years...and at this very moment I am applying for a very basic job in a school and there is a page on illnesses which I have to tick.

[sara3]

it's an employer's market.. why wouldn't they ask those questions?

[4getmenot]

makes me laugh how they say they are equal opportunities and then ask your race.

[WhiteBears]

its also funny that theres option for British Black, British Asian but theres no option for British Chinese, only Chinese as an option, i usually tick prefer not to answer or other

[boxtops]

There often white British or Scottish but never Welsh.
Perfectly normal equal opps questions pippy, and they need to know you are not off sick all the time. This is just the world of employment! However - they shouldn't be asking your age or religion, we'e not allowed to ask those questions in case of discrimination. Sock size, yes, those things, no.

[bednobs]

that's because Wales isn't a country

[woofgang]

In the NHS we are required to ask race (ethnicity) but a) you can choose not to respond and b) its the ethnicity you feel yourself to be so basically choose what you want. Sexual orientation is required if working with children or vulnerable adults and has been for some time (like you are going to put "paedophile" in the box lol) Age and gender not allowed but if you apply as "Jane" we might guess lol again....Then again.....

[bednobs]

that is not right woofgang. What does sexual orientation have to do with anything? What had paedophilla to do with sexual orientation? I think you'll find they ask so they can check they are not discriminating against groups of people. Plus, you don't have to answer

[squarebear]

I don't see the problem with asking your illnesses. If you have loads of sick days, they are hardly going to be begging you to join?

[woofgang]

Do you mean not morally right or incorrect? I agree not only is it not morally right, its stupid.

[MrMister]

I can't stand the job market either...pants!

[tweenyb]

thats nothing unusual for 2010 or 1990.... in fact if you only have to give 5 years qorth of references then thats good my last 2 jobs required me to give 10 years.
they ask your age/creed/colour/disabilities etc for equality purposes as they are monitored and also have to employ a percentage of people with every kind of background