the rules of job hunting/applications have changed

[LexiaFira]

As in what I thought i knew about applying for a job and following through have vastly changed.
Mostly due to changing times and the economy. Yeah I know thats the last thing I want to hear too.

What I THOUGHT was the proper form/etiquette: go up to store via appointment or walk in, ask for application and hiring manager or person in charge of application's name. Fill out app then and there and turn in with resume or come back application with resume as well. If not done already get the name and number of person to speak to about your ap.

Call back not the next day but when the person in charge mentioned above is in or a few days later to check on your application and go from there.

I thought i knew most of the lines of being told nope sorry don't want/need ya.
You are over/under qualified, we are not currently hiring at this time but will hold on to your application, we will call you when a position is available or some others I forgot.

What has changed is that alot of the applications are online or there is an application Kiosk. Very few places still have a paper application. A resume is still nice to have AND cover letter - not something I did, at least not for higher up jobs no offense as I don't have experience applying there.
And if you are rejected keep trying.

From what I do know if you are called in for an interview its a good chance, and when they ask for your ID and SSN card its a good possibility, but when you are filling out that tax form (i forget the name) its about as good as gold.
YES this is of course considering that you PASSED the drug test.
And that there isn't a second or third interview to ace.


also throwing in times of year, seasons, school letting out, and holidays as to when positions are available as temp hires and students often get hired first?

Last I knew all this changed!? or has it? graaaaah

[Rageaholic]

Yeah, there's so much stuff that factors into getting jobs. The online ones are the worst, taking almost an hour to fill out for a minimum wage job. I don't know if it was always like that, but from what I heard, it never used to be such a pain in the ass. Then again, there were more positions available.

[LexiaFira]

Plus the whole "personality test" that they use to profile you that way they don't have to deal with calling people in, they can just pass that up or not. And for those that don't take the test what does that mean?
An automatic over look or disqualification so to speak?

[ExRetailDrone]

Plus the whole "personality test" that they use to profile you that way they don't have to deal with calling people in, they can just pass that up or not. And for those that don't take the test what does that mean?
An automatic over look or disqualification so to speak?

I absolutely loathe those stupid 'personality tests' that some employers use on prospective employees. I took one within that last couple of months that was seriously ludicrous. It was at least 100 questions, split up in groups of 10 or less per page, and I wasn't able to go back to previous pages. I knew that many questions were repeated, but worded differently, and I could only hope that I was answering them consistently. Especially when the wording was ambiguous.

I have tried to apply to a couple of places in the past where I couldn't even get to the actual application because those 'personality tests' weeded me out. I'm probably too strong of a thinker and not malleable enough for the places I was applying, where they look for sheeple to do their bidding without asking any questions. So even though I'm a damn hard worker, I get passed over because some stupid elementary level personality test says I'm not the right fit.

[Rageaholic]

Yeah, the personality tests are the most annoying part. I've gotten to the point where I just bullshit through them, but that doesn't mean the questions don't annoy me. It's painful since the answers they are searching for go against everything I am and everything I believe in.

I hate corporate brainwashing...

[Rantsylvania 6-5000]

Amen, Rageaholic! I hate those damn things too! It seems businesses got along just fine for years without these stupid tests, and they don't really weed out the bad people anyway, because they know how to lie about the right stuff. They still end up with thieves and lazy people. I lie on those things now too, telling them what I think they want to hear. I'm not really a boot-licking, weak-willed people person who runs to management for every little thing, and I detest having to answer the questions (all 1,000 of them!) that way!

Some of these apps even have a long-ass questionnaire at the end that asks about any welfare benefits you have received! Damn!

Also, at the end, they say something to the effect of, "Don't call us, we'll call you". So is this some new rule of job-hunting etiquette, not to "pester" them? In other words, don't call or go to the location to speak with the manager to show you're interested? I'm really fed up with these games!

[guywithashovel]

One time I was online applying for one of several bank teller positions that a bank had available. They gave me a personality test, and after taking that test, I was told by the system that I wasn't a good match for the job. I was irritated at the time, but looking back, I think I agree with that assessment. Considering my personality, I would be horrible as a bank teller. Well, I would be really unhappy, at the very least. Banks probably get the worst customers of any business.

[draggar]

It's also about who you know - networking is gold. Make friends in your current job and KEEP IN TOUCH. You'll never know when they guy you used to play pranks with in the office will turn out to be a recruiter or a company's VP of something.

[LexiaFira]

I remember when applying for a grocery job and was called into an interview, they pulled up my app in front of me and showed me my questionnaire results and told me i didn't answer well enough retake it and answer mostly this or that to bring my scores up.
That brought to mind two things, that they want me to over ride their questions by lying so they can get another employee or that they know I'm good enough but need better test scores so corporate doesn't jump their case? Or worse they don't care just take it again and we can officially hire you.

It did strike me as odd as it sounded like cheating and it really was a good store...I just couldn't believe that I was shown this and they trusted me. I never told any other employee either. It did raise a red flag but that was the only one.

[Andara Bledin]

That brought to mind two things, that they want me to over ride their questions by lying so they can get another employee or that they know I'm good enough but need better test scores so corporate doesn't jump their case? Or worse they don't care just take it again and we can officially hire you.

Generally speaking, those psych tests are a mandate handed down by corporate, and if you don't fall within the "right range" you can't be hired. Even if you're perfect for the position, if you can't fake your way through the psych test, you're not in. If you come off as "too good," they assume you're lying and you're out.

^-.-^

[LexiaFira]

well this was a kind of well known southern food chain that starts with A
and the manager seemed somewhat laid back and ok, and him and the asst. manager wanted me to work there so I guess technically they shouldn't have overlooked the test score. Either way I got in. Sad part was the store closed down 8 months later and I was transferred so it not matter.

[DrFaroohk]

Reminds of a local chain of grocery stores - their applications have weird questions like "Imagine you're at your favorite restaurant eating your favorite meal, what makes it so special?"

And there's so many answers to that, but you have no idea what THEY want. Especially considering it's not even a restaurant business. Are they looking for me to highlight the key areas of customer service? Or do they want to see how eloquently I can write my response? Do they want proper spelling and punctuation? Do they want me to make it rhyme? I've applied there hundreds of times and I never get a call back and i know its because I don't have the "right" answers on those questions.

"What 3 items do you think should be on everyone's shopping list?"

[blas87]

I absolutely hate kiosks and online applications. I also hate personality tests. Quite frankly, in my opinion, that's a good way to ensure that all you get are pathological liars, or asskissing "Yes" men/women who will work for you.

And those questions on those tests are just absolutely retarded. The same question worded all different ways to check for consistency, to see if you're a good liar or a Susan Do Right.

Why yes, I've failed every personality test I've ever taken. That's why I'm locked away in a factory for work. Because on a scale of 1 to 10, I gave liking people a 4 or 5, and no, I would not tattle on my coworker Jimmy for smoking pot on his days off.

[Rageaholic]

Reminds of a local chain of grocery stores - their applications have weird questions like "Imagine you're at your favorite restaurant eating your favorite meal, what makes it so special?"

And there's so many answers to that, but you have no idea what THEY want. Especially considering it's not even a restaurant business. Are they looking for me to highlight the key areas of customer service? Or do they want to see how eloquently I can write my response? Do they want proper spelling and punctuation? Do they want me to make it rhyme? I've applied there hundreds of times and I never get a call back and i know its because I don't have the "right" answers on those questions.

"What 3 items do you think should be on everyone's shopping list?"

Reminds me of a question I've heard someone was asked. "If you could be a salad, what salad would you be?". I guess they want you to be a salad with everything to show you like diversity or some bullshit like that. So according to corporate psuedo psychology, the salad you like determines your personality? So I guess I have no personality since I HATE salad.

Why can't they just, you know, ask the question they're trying to ask without the disguised wording? Maybe then they'll get more accurate answers (or at least more accurate bullshit). But of course, they can't do that because the perfect way to determine an applicant is how they answer metaphorical questions.

Also, at the end, they say something to the effect of, "Don't call us, we'll call you". So is this some new rule of job-hunting etiquette, not to "pester" them? In other words, don't call or go to the location to speak with the manager to show you're interested? I'm really fed up with these games!

Actually, I prefer this since I hate having to keep calling. Otherwise, I feel like I'm begging for a job.

[RootedPhoenix]

Reminds of a local chain of grocery stores - their applications have weird questions like "Imagine you're at your favorite restaurant eating your favorite meal, what makes it so special?"

...the monkeys that flew through the room while the dragon puppet played the violin...?

*stifles snicker*

"What 3 items do you think should be on everyone's shopping list?"

*fake hearts* Their three favorite foods! */fake hearts*

I'd never be hired. I just know it. lol
But really, if they ask such stupid questions, they're gonna get stupid answers (or deliberately stupid improv comedy...sorry!).