What's with the loooong online applications?

32 Comments

1. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 26,2025 at 8:39PM UTC

   Don't even get me started on the parsing. When I was in my own last job search, I would groan every time I was taken to a company that used Workday, iCIMS or Taleo. I knew I was going to have to manually copy and paste every single company name, every single title and every single experience section. Some nights, I'd be like I just don't want this job bad enough to do this again. And I had the most boringly formatted resume posslble.

   But none of that is the company's fault - that's on the vendor that designed it.

   Regarding the questions, part of this is due to the auto apply tools that jobseekers are using - where they are auto-applied to possibly hundreds of positions, overwhelming the system. In this very tough job market, companies are strugging to work through the avalanche of applicants so the pre-screening questions are a way to narrow down that pool.

   For example, I had a Real Estate agent apply to one of my positions that required a very specific advanced degree, a very specific State license and a very specific national certification (all clearly laid out in the job description) - they would not have been able to answer questions set up for that position.

2. AnonymousJanuary 26,2025 at 10:35PM UTC

   Oh I have applied within my own org and the system will not parse it nor keep any formatting. What feels like a waste of time could be your ticket in. So hang in there because I think like another poster mentioned it’s set up to weed out the wrong candidates. Make sure your resume or whatever manual entry has the key skills (this should help you get noticed). Like you it’s exhausting to search, fill in forms but these days it’s how people get noticed unfortunately. Hang in there!

3. Amy Miller, Psy.D. - Career CoachJanuary 27,2025 at 1:53PM UTC

   I agree, I know how frustrating it is and just seems like a lot of work for potentially no pay off. It's best to have the information that comes up often saved in a document so you can copy/paste and adapt to each job. I think that people hiring are so tired of being flooded by non-serious applicants. Every actual job, even good ones, includes some tedious work that feels "extra" so just think of this as part of that general category of work. You are showing them you have patience and that you are confident in talking about yourself, which are more relevant to the world of work than we like to think it is.

4. Megan LeasherJanuary 27,2025 at 1:47PM UTC

   This is definitely so frustrating! I feel like these questions are better suited for an interview conversation, yet many companies are including them in the application nowadays. And the parsing is downright frustrating and hilarious at times! Hang in there and do your best to get through the applications for the roles you truly care about. Sometimes when we want to abandon an application it tells us we didn't really even care about the job! Also, copying and pasting answers you wrote for potential future use is a great idea; I agree with other comments on this.

5. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 4:28PM UTC

   I'll add to this. I have applied to state (government) jobs where these types of questions were asked on the application, and when I got to the interview, the questions were also asked there, with the preface that all applicants were asked the same questions to make the interview process "fair." Therefore, it is always a good practice to review exactly what you said on the application before you go into the interview, and even take notes to the interview if you need to so your answers are consistent.

6. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 2:15PM UTC

   As Joan said below, blame it on the software they use, not the company. I agree, that unless it is part of the standard government application, to pass if they ask for references until the final rounds of the interview process unless you know the company well and really want to work there. Even then, be careful, because a lot of software and places will sell that information to people who end up scamming you with emails. I am personally not a fan of the "outsourced" recruiting software (like Joan also mentioned), because even the company doesn't know for sure what that company does with their applicants' information. If you provide references at this point, your references also get blasted with emails.

   Personally, some to the parsing is so bad, I expect to add my own "bullets" to the job information through a cut and paste, so that I can highlight accomplishments that are aligned with the job I am applying to.

   The bottom line is, how much effort you are willing to put into the application process (including the research of the company before you apply) reflects how bad you want the job. Companies are often trying to weed out the "resume mill" types of applications with the customizable questions to reflect true interest in the company and position (my opinion).

7. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 4:52PM UTC

   I too am not a fan…..

   be different

   mail them your information in an appealing professional manner ?

8. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 1:39AM UTC

   Literally unable to accept a mailed anything. The only thing that will tell me is that you're uncomfortable with an online environment (and likely iffy on technology in general) and that's not something I can work around.

9. AnonymousJanuary 29,2025 at 5:23PM UTC

   I guess at the end of the day - if it’s a position you feel is something you get excited about the possibility of working for them - I’d (personally) do everything they request and then some…..

   if it’s just something to hold you over, skip to the next one - either way - I wish you much luck

10. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 4:52PM UTC

    I'm with the OP on this one. First of all, how would anyone have their answers written down prior to opening a specific job application since you don't know that writing essays to questions is part of the application until you're in it? If you can't be helpful, don't say anything. And definitely, keep your insults to yourself.

11. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 4:53PM UTC

    How are you supposed to copy & paste answers when you don't know the questions ahead of time? Please do explain.

12. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 4:56PM UTC

    Red flag when professional references are being asked for on an application. I never provide their information unless I'm in the process of interviewing. It's also a red flag when these online applications are asking questions that should be conducted DURING an interview. I agree-no one is reading cover letters nor 3 pages of answers for online applications. You're lucky if someone scans your resume. That's it.

13. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 8:22PM UTC

    Yeah. You’ve got to at least have a first date before you give up all the info. You don’t know who these people are.

14. Marie MahonJanuary 27,2025 at 6:48PM UTC

    Agree! Especially on the Cover Letters. I feel like I have to write SO many and I know literally NO ONE is looking at them. Can someone tell me if I am wrong here and should be putting a bit more time into that part of an application?

15. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 28,2025 at 12:42AM UTC

    Are you submitting coverletters because the company requires them?

16. Marie MahonJanuary 28,2025 at 2:25PM UTC

    Yes, it is listed as part of the process when I am filling out the online application. Sometimes it is listed as optional, but often it is mandatory to submit.

17. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 29,2025 at 2:03AM UTC

    If companies require you to submit a coverletter, they need to be reading those.

    I don't read coverletters nor do I require them. Coverletters are opinion pieces - your resume should be a factual document. I'm interested in facts.

    A coverletter is never going to make someone who isn't a fit for one of my positions be a fit. Jobseekers have enough hoops to jump through as it is. When I was in my own last job search, I refused to do them 99% of the time.

18. AnonymousJanuary 27,2025 at 9:28PM UTC

    The amount of data requested comes from the software platform the company has purchased/ licensed.

19. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 28,2025 at 5:43AM UTC

    That is not true.

20. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 28,2025 at 12:45AM UTC

    I meant to add that's a hard no from me on the request for references. I haven't worked for a company that checks references in years. We do employment verification. If someone is requesting references, it should be because they'r making you an offer - until then, your references are none of anyone's business. That would be a red flag for me.

    And jobseekers - please don't put your references on your resume.

21. Janice MasonJanuary 28,2025 at 5:03PM UTC

    I agree to wait on putting references. I always put, at the bottom of my past employment page, “References Available Upon Request.”

22. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 28,2025 at 10:22PM UTC

    I would strongly recommend you remove that line - you are dating yourself by including it.

23. Gee EmmJanuary 28,2025 at 11:46PM UTC

    Really? How?

24. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 29,2025 at 1:57AM UTC

    There's such a thing as "style" in resumes. And that changes over time. Like how typically an Objective is no longer recommended at the top and instead a Summary or something similar should be used.

    Like how you don't need to number the pages of your resume because they are being looked at on a computer typically.

    Like how Times New Roman used to be the the standard font for resumes and now more modern options like Ariel, Tahoma, Calibri, Aptos, etc. are recommended.

    It's pretty much a given that if someone is asked for references, they will supply them.

    By not keeping up, you're dating yourself.

25. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 1:20PM UTC

    Perhaps a test to see who can complete all the steps and questions and to see if candidates can follow directions.

26. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 2:58PM UTC

    LOL! What a weird way to think they're assessing a candidate. Let's find the people who will waste hours on an application that we'll glance through so we can maybe invite them to speak with us and waste more time repeating what they took the time to already tell us. Seriously?

27. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 2:46PM UTC

    You perfectly actioned the reasoning. . . .to limit the number of submittals for recruiters to sort.

28. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 3:38PM UTC

    Both Fortune magazine and the Wall Street Journal have done articles on this. It's the software platforms the companies are using. They are designed to capture data in volume.

29. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 6:01PM UTC

    So frustrating, I know!!

    My previous employer's application did a whole personality type questionnaire [in 2010]. Very long and tedious!

    They apparently haven't changed the software, as my best friend is now in my old position there, and she went through the same crazy process.

    I just applied for a new position with a different company and the application was brief and a breeze! The recruiter called me and scheduled an interview. No phone screening, which was interesting.... we shall see how it pans out.

30. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 6:33PM UTC

    We switched our software and this version does the same. Super long and tedious. Our team doesn't use half of the functionality or data. The volume of non-relevant info or duplicate information captured is so insane on these interfaces its crazy. My company is global but we hear the same complaints across the board.

31. AnonymousJanuary 28,2025 at 8:24PM UTC

    The reason is most companies have decimated their Talent teams and are automating things using AI and yes, using the responses to those inane questions to grade your application and decide if you move ahead. Take the time if you truly have interest in that company to fill these things out because if you do not then you will be eliminated from consideration. Do I agree with this nonsense, definitely no as I have worked in Talent for many years. If only we could go back to great interviewing and treating candidates with respect and taking the time to learn about them in person. Alas, those days are long gone...

32. Stephanie OakleyJanuary 29,2025 at 3:44PM UTC

    My experience is that the application is actually an assessment to gauge your composition skills and how well you follow directions. As a manager who is involved heavily in the application process, I read cover letters and applications and just give resumes a quick glance. On another note, one of the most glaring mistakes I see in application packages is attaching the resume twice instead of the cover letter and resume.