What's frustrating you the most about job applications right now?

22 Comments

1. KatApril 28,2022 at 4:13PM UTC

   The delay in getting back to me about my status. I applied to a job I really wanted. I saw that the company had checked out my LinkedIn profile, so I thought that was a good sign-then nothing. Because I followed the company on LI, I saw a number of "starting a new job" posts in their feed-including the person that got the job I applied for. Later that day, I got the standard "we didn't proceed with your application" from the company! Are you serious? If you're not interested in my application, just say so after the initial review. Don't get my hopes up that I might make it to the next round. I know that many companies are taking a long time to review applications and get more than they expect for certain jobs. But waiting 2 months (this has happened more than once) to be told you're not making it to the next (or any) round? It's very frustrating and discouraging. I apply for jobs I'm highly qualified for at companies I'd love to work with and can't get past the first stage.

2. Sarah DyeApril 28,2022 at 4:49PM UTC

   I find it frustrating when job applications ask job seekers to submit their resumes then when they fill in the job application they ask job seekers to fill in the same information that is on their resumes. It does help that some companies use software that allows job seekers to use their LinkedIn profile or resume to fill in the job applications plus I've seen companies that just ask job seekers to send a cover letter and resume instead of filling out an application. However, many still use software that has job seekers filling out the same information that was already put in a resume.

   Yes ghosting is a big frustration. I've gotten ghosted a lot during the job search plus I know more and more people who have gotten ghosted. So this makes me appreciate companies that give me transparency during the interview process and apologize if the process is taking a longer time than they say in interviews.

3. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterApril 28,2022 at 5:58PM UTC

   I'm hearing a few things from clients - one of which is the "sound of crickets" they get after applying online. Candidates would rather hear "no" than nothing at all.

   Also - the number and type of interviews they are being subjected to! I had one client who went through 10 (yes - you read that right) rounds of interviews before being told they decided to go with the internal candidate. (Not sure how I'd feel about that if I were the internal candidate.)

   Candidates are being asked to prepare case studies, presentations, take tests, watch videos. While all of these have a place, it doesn't seem like these employers are looking at their process from a UX perspective. Instead of motivating people to want to work there, it has the exact opposite effect.

4. Joanne RosenApril 28,2022 at 6:27PM UTC

   We've had discussions about this with our recruiter network. They are just as frustrated with the interview process. They work their butts off to find a purple squirrel (or rainbow unicorn) and then lose the commission because of the inept hiring department/manager.

5. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMay 2,2022 at 4:39PM UTC

   Yes! I'm actually doing a presentation for a SHRM conference next week on this topic - how, as HR professionals, they can partner with their hiring managers for clarity around the ideal candidate and also expedite the hiring process.

6. AnonymousApril 30,2022 at 2:26AM UTC

   When hiring managers are asking for these case studies, and similar roles are not, it only highlights how tone deaf they are in this current climate.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 28,2022 at 6:16PM UTC

   Bad parsing by the ATS that makes me manually enter every company name, every job title and every experience section when all that information is available on the resume you just had me upload.

   I'm looking at you Taleo, ICIMS and Workday.

8. Joanne RosenApril 28,2022 at 6:20PM UTC

   Most people have no idea what recruiters do. They are generally juggling 10 requisition orders at a time, need to reach out to 200 people for each one, and then try to find the purple squirrel (with wings!) It's why they use Applicant Tracking Systems but many don't have them set up to at least auto-reply to the candidates.

   We have a network of about 5,000 of them and it's really dog eat dog out there.

   That doesn't excuse it but, if they contact you OR you hit the easy apply button, it doesn't mean you are a contender. (Cue Rocky music.) It simply means, they have seen a possible match.

   The key to not being ghosted is to make them an offer they can't refuse (Cue Godfather music.) When your resume matches what they want, it's so simple for them to write up their Candidate Report and send it to the client/employer.

   That means, do some homework. Customize your resume before applying, even if the recruiter found you through a resume board like LinkedIn or Indeed.

   The average job application should take about 1 - 2 hours because you have researched the company, networked with people there, and fine tuned your resume.

   Hope this helps. It's why our clients get hired so quickly!

   Joanne

   https://www.analyticadvantagecc.com

9. AnonymousApril 28,2022 at 6:43PM UTC

   leng interviews process and worse, being asked the same questions at each interview. Not everyone can take time off to attend 4+ interviews that are each an hour or longer.

   being up front before interviews # 2 about salary range, benefits and everything employees are looking for.

10. AnonymousApril 29,2022 at 12:28PM UTC

    Filling out the same information over and over again, AFTER I’ve provided my resume and the system being used by the employer has completely scrambled all my information across the required fields via auto fill. Did everyone buy the entry-level Brass Ring, Taleo, Workday, etc. package? Honestly, there should be one damn format and the base requirement should be that it works on the most basic level.

    I don’t apply for half of what I should because of this - I’m not a fan of wasting my time.

11. Jennifer FingerApril 29,2022 at 12:28PM UTC

    That's one of them, definitely.

    Some others:

    1) ATS systems that force you to essentially retype your resume even when they allow you to upload your resume, don't allow for gaps in employment, require you to share salary histories, take too long to complete, and allow for no flexibility

    2) Excessive callback interviews, especially when they don't result in job offers or do result in ghosting

    3) Rude interviewers who are unprepared, allow interruptions during the interview, cop hostile attitudes towards applicants, show up late, don't greet applicants but move right into "interrogation" mode

    4) Bad interview questions and techniques: "Tell me about yourself/Why should we hire you?" stress interviews where applicants are treated aggressively and/or forced to defend themselves, "interviews" that amount to unpaid consulting sessions, expectations of free work on the applicant's part in order to "prove their competence" to the satisfaction of interviewers

    5) Excessive online tests and personality assessments

12. AnonymousApril 30,2022 at 2:07AM UTC

    Yes to everything you said. The online tests are ridiculous for some roles. One posting required me to complete a Microsoft word test, internet test, math test, analytics test, grammar/English reading, AND 76 question personality test. That was followed by 2 screener interviews just to tell me I won’t proceed. Another role is mandating I complete a 114 question personality test amongst other questionnaires. The results will not be shared with the candidate. It’s just absurd.

    Why not just give us the personality profiles of the hiring manager and existing team? One sided games are growing old.

13. AnonymousApril 29,2022 at 12:48PM UTC

    Ghosting is a huge issue. So are the online application platforms as stated by others below. But for me, the biggest issue are the algorithms you have to get past to even get your resume in front of a person. I spent so much time changing the wording on my resume to try and hit the "buzz words" that will get it past the computer. I know companies get a lot of resumes, but it shouldn't be a game to be considered, especially when you don't know the rules. Also, I was told by an industry vet that there is a lot of age discrimination (in my field at least) and it's based on graduation year(s). If they're too long ago, you won't get past the system. If you leave them out, you're automatically disqualified. It's super frustrating.

14. AnonymousApril 29,2022 at 1:19PM UTC

    Maybe not right now but within the last year.....

    The length of time it takes some of these places to complete the process.....I tried to pull as many of my applications as possible when I accepted an offer, but to this day I still get the occasional rejection email to a job I applied to in February-April 2021......In October 2021 I received a call about doing an interview for a job I applied for in February 2021.....

    Places I interviewed at took 3-4 weeks in between interview stages, half of which never communicated anything to you the entire time.

15. AnonymousApril 29,2022 at 4:01PM UTC

    I have definitely experienced "ghosting" from recruiters and after applying for a job. But I have to admit that I have replied to opportunities that may not be a good fit. That being said, I still would like to be contacted even if the response is "thanks but we have filled the position".

    I get it, the hiring process is very involved.....recruiting, interviewing, negotiating salaries, etc. with many eager job seekers. So I am sure it is very busy. However, I do wish there was more of a customer focused approach. I am old enough to remember getting rejection letters in the mail, nowadays it could be a simple email. That is something I would love to see return. This may be happening but it has not been my experience.

16. AnonymousApril 30,2022 at 2:22AM UTC

    Thank you for asking!

    1. Hirevue/Modernhire interviews without follow up. One recent interview took 70 minutes to complete (11 questions!) Candidates are people. Our time is just as precious as the hiring manager’s.
    2. Personality tests. Many psychologists perceive these to be junk science. The hiring manager should profile themselves and their team with the help of a mental health professional then work with that professional to identify the right fit for their team. Instead of requiring a test for every candidate that applies and withholding what the team is looking for. I would not pursue roles if I knew certain cultures or mindsets existed on teams.
    3. Aggressive interviewing and stupid questions. Yes, I said it. Stupid questions. “Why are you leaving your last job? [holier than thou tone]” How about - none of your business? Because I feel like it? Because this is what works for my family now? Because it’s a free country and I am a human being who doesn’t need to justify having employment for basic financial wellness?
    4. The baiting and switching. The role they describe to you ends up being significantly different from what you were told. I’ve witnessed this occur so much and is heart breaking to watch valuable employees turnover. It hurts the business and morale.

    ok rant over.

17. Jocelyn LyonsApril 30,2022 at 3:24AM UTC

    To me, one of the most frustrating parts is when an employer does not post the salary. I understand the nuance behind this tradition, but in most cases, it wastes the company's and the candidate's time.

18. Shanita Taylor BSIS, BSc (Psyc), M.A.E.LApril 30,2022 at 7:53AM UTC

    Having to do double the work. For instance, after submitting via one platform, they want you to fill out information pages via their platform. Considering the length of some people's resumes, that takes up a lot of time and can be irritating, considering the amount of time spent looking for employment opportunities.

19. Joanne RosenApril 30,2022 at 6:27PM UTC

    Finding a job is "work", literally. They want to hire people who will go the extra mile. I've had clients who are upset because they applied for 200 jobs in the past 2 weeks and got zero responses. Ummm, yes, because you didn't actually apply. You hit a button.

    Applying means reading the whole job description, checking to see if your qualifications match, tweaking your resume to have the key skills they want. Researching the company, finding the recruiter, and actually applying through them.

    We teach all that and our clients get jobs in 4 - 8 weeks. (Hiring processes are generally at least 4 weeks long.)

    Cheers

    Joanne

    www.analyticadvantagecc.com

20. AnonymousApril 30,2022 at 2:35PM UTC

    As a recruiter in the UK, that they are generally so poor! People don't spell, or punctuate accurately. They do not fill in the whole form. Often they send a generic letter rather that reading the person specification. For our last role, we had over 40 applicants, but struggled to shortlist 6 who appeared strong enough to interview.

21. Joanne RosenApril 30,2022 at 6:23PM UTC

    That's why my company is thriving. People don't know HOW to apply for jobs anymore. They used to send their resumes with job duties performed. Often, there would only be a handful of applicants.

    Now, with digital everything, they just assume you can look on LinkedIn or whatever. Almost like somehow, there is digital fairy dust that makes them sparkle. With all the texting now, the language has changed to something often unrecognizable. "Ur gr8"

    We write resumes that are packed with achievements and teach our clients to customize it for each position. Our clients often have to turn down multiple interviews.

    Some might think having a professional write your resume is cheating, but it's not. I can't do Front End coding, but I have a website. (I also suck at Math so that's something I leave to people who are good at it.)

    We tried to branch out into the UK but people there don't seem to see the value.

    Cheers

    Joanne

    www.analyticadvantagecc.com

22. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMay 2,2022 at 4:36PM UTC

    So true, Joanne! We are willing to pay for plumbers, electricians, and auto mechanics... professional resume writing is no different.

    As with these other professions, it is up to you to do your due diligence to make sure you find a resume writer who is experienced in your field, whose resume samples you like, and whose process works for you.