gobsmacked by so many dreadful job applications!

[joko]

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

[tonyav]

Oi, giza job.

[ummmm]

I want it more than Tony. I am willing to learn :-)

[ttfn]

joko, I think you should give some feedback. Those who do want work should be grateful. T'others, well ... you can get some satisfaction ;)

[squarebear]

When we were looking for someone new for an IT job, they put on their covering letter, "I am interested in computers and have a Playstation. I also eat meat".

They didn't get the job.

[tonyav]

Doh theres always one smart @rse.

[Jemisa]

Phew!!! Glad I've retired...

jem

[emmie]

think how desperate some of these people must be though, bad spelling, grammar aside. Perhaps looking for any kind of job these days is a mine field. kI now from past experience that a CV should be up to date, clear, and maximum two pages long.
Perhaps some are Uni graduates, I have come across any number who couldn't spell, or string two sentences together.

[emmie]

that wasn't a deliberate mistake, my keyboard is getting rather jumpy these days.. should be I know and so on.

[jake-the-peg]

So it their fault or yours?

What I'm hearing is someone telling me that they're not able to attract good enough candidates.

Why do you think that is?

Or is it that you are getting good applications and just aren't willing to sift through the chaff that applications attract - Recruitment companies will do that for you for a price if you can't be bothered

[Stephen_G]

Sod the rest, I'm the BEST! And I DO REALLY, REALLY REALLY need a job...

[LochNessMonster]

Whit if yer a Jock like me, scallywag ! I can spoke England.

[joko]

lol - oh yes jth - its aaallll my fault ... given that these people are responding to a job app, it has nothing to do with me personally who responds.
what a stupid thing to say.

ive had plenty of brilliant responses too - thats what makes these stand out all the more ... its not hard to make a good impression yet some appear not to even try. I spend ages on my job apps and spend ages writing cover letters and perfecting them and my CVs ... its not fun but its what you have to do to be taken seriously.

i agree that the lack of jobs makes some people apparently just instantly fire off CVs to every job on the board, regardless of whether they fit the bill or whether its even for the actual job advertised - but whats the point of that? its obviously annoying and will never get you work.

[Just-Jude]

I always wanted to be an acter. I could also help to rite all those names at the end.

[joko]

tfn - i have responded to a few - the ones i felt it was an unfortunate mistake and not just sheer laziness, but also to a few of the most ridiculous ones...
i told a few that i think they may have sent their app in error to the wrong address as clearly its not relevant to my job post.
being polite of course.
i havent the time to reply to them all

daft email addresses is another one - i dont really mind them - but i know stuff like sexychick@hotma*** and spudfaceben@yah*** doesnt make them seem very professional haha

[jake-the-peg]

Right so you had good responses too

So basically you expect to advertise a job and don't expect to wade through the rubbish to get the good applications

Stupid thing to say?

Frankly it sounds to me as if you're living in a fantasy world where every application is great


Sorry but recruiting staff requires some work from you

[joko]

errr...i didnt say that jth ... of course you have to wade through the crap! have done on every job ive ever advertised -
doesn't make it all ok, or mean i have to enjoy it, or not get exasperated by it!
doesn't make it not tedious and doesnt mean it doesnt baffle me that people send this crap.
what i didnt expect, and what i havent had happen before, is the sheer volume of terrible ones...

Frankly it sounds to me as if you're just trying to be argumentative - try actually responding to the post content rather all this other accusatory crap you have decided to read into what i have said.

[dotty.]

it's the lack of attention to detail that gets me, many a time i would be reading through applications and against country of birth the applicant would have written , Wigan or Lancashire, and the number of apllicants who do not check their spelling is ridiculous,

[tenrec]

When I was in the claws of the the Job Centre I had to apply for some jobs, although I didn't want to. I wonder if that is why some applications are so bad, they just don't want that job.

[tenrec]

dotty, it is sometimes difficult to check your spelling if you don't know how to spell!

[joko]

agreed dotty. i actually mind least about minor hard to spot typos funnily enough, if the rest of their app is really good ... i know how even the most well thought out app can miss these, such as an extra l or a missing i, and especially if a spell check would miss them too ... but when its full of glaring ones such as no instead of know etc, or ones like alot, that a spellcheck would pick up, just shows lack of care.