Has anyone encountered this addition in the job submission process....10-page form to fill out before the interview? I created a candidate profile, filled out the online form, submitted my resume and work samples and then was sent an additional form to fill out from HR.

6 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 6:43PM UTC

   I'm currently an HR manager and this is definitely not part of our process. I did interview for a position a few years back where I did have to fill out a somewhat lengthy questionnaire when I arrived for my first-round interview. I ended up withdrawing just prior to offer.

2. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 7:59PM UTC

   Nope. I did because the process was excruciatingly long. I think it started in February or March. I'd interview, got a few weeks with hearing nothing, I'd get called for another interview, and it continued. Meanwhile, I applied for position beginning of April. After a few interviews with the team over a few days, I had an offer and called the other to withdraw and started my new job end of April.

3. AnonymousSeptember 6,2024 at 9:13PM UTC

   I work within a state system and they also have a lengthy application (we cannot just submit a resume) which is odd. But there was a small space to answer why I left each position. I had a job for a long time, but then contracted, so it looked a little jacked up, but answered, reduction in force, or wrote contract ended successfully (be sure to put in positive words if you can), and another was left to pursue a role to enhance skill set, and in your case, you will have to truncate some of your answers to fit their application. Which is hard, but if you were made an offer, accepted it then they canceled it, you can write, offer accepted but company's financial situation canceled the role. It's not a red flag, it's simply what happened. I was a contractor for a while and it was normal, I was laid off in one, laid off in another, until I left the business and got a more stable job in the state system. Though it's a bear trying to apply. I hope that helps some. Remember, don't write your feelings, just facts, and in a concise manner. Keep us posted!

4. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 4:24PM UTC

   I appreciated your advice!

5. AnonymousSeptember 7,2024 at 5:02PM UTC

   Generally these types of applications are intended to screen in or out those who do or don't fit a role. Companies with limited staff often automate the process like this to eliminate the grunt work of going through tons of resumes. It's usually decided upon by the hiring managers not HR. HR is responsible for folks after hiring, I do think you meant Talent acquisition. They might have some say in things but usually get their marching orders from the operational or business side of hiring the hiring manager.

   If you cannot give the nuanced information that you shared here in the application perhaps a direct email to someone in the company, even the CEO as a follow up. That will often get you out of the pile and could be a good way to get noticed. These days almost everyone has a covid story, and while yours has twists and turns as someone in TA I would not have alarm bells going off on this at all.

6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 7,2024 at 5:15PM UTC

   You wrote: "These peculiarities would flag up issues that I'm not sure how to address."

   I'm not sure why you feel that situation would "flag up issues" - that seems like a situation I've heard many times from candidates. This raises no red flags for me.

   So I just recently read that in response to the avalanch of AI generated resumes companies are receiving that they are having to put additional steps in place to try to get to help manage the candidate pool.

   Personally, I would be more concerned about the culture of the company that they would make applicants jump through a 10 page form hoop. When I was in my own last job search, I did not have either the time nor the inclination to be filling out 10 page forms. That would be a hard no from me.