It’s easy enough to find a dozen articles listing the mistakes job hunters make in their search. There are hundreds of experts extolling the virtue of a perfect resume. Some are even willing to write it for you for a small fee. Well gee, thanks for your commitment.
Unfortunate for all of the job seekers, it truly is an employers market. And because of this, many companies are openly taking advantage of the applicant pool. My question is, just because it’s possible at this point in time, does it make it right? Furthermore, will there be any long term ramifications to companies who are so quick to forget their pledges to the importance of human capital? When the tables are turned, will these potential employees revolt against their unjust treatment in the marketplace?
Honestly, I’m not sure, but if I were them, I would definitely keep a mental checklist of all the ridiculousness that is a job search in this recession. Regardless of current economic conditions, I believe that many (note: I refuse to believe that every company is doing this, and I would love to hear from hiring managers who are bucking this trend) companies are making big mistakes when it comes to their hiring process, and I’ve listed the four I believe are the biggest.
1) Posting Jobs To Build Applicant Pools
We’ve seen it time and time again, although we’re not always sure of what is actually happening. Company X or Recruiter Y will post a fabulous job, chalk-full of benefits and awesome job responsibilities. They will post this job across the internet. They will collect resumes, and conveniently ask about your gender, race, and any other information they can glean from your profile/resume/etc. They probably already have the candidate in mind, or they aren’t actually hiring for the position currently. But when they do, it was publicly listed, and as an EoE (Equal Opportunity Employer), they have fulfilled their requirements. This tactic is the equivalent of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires that all teams hiring for a coach must interview a minority candidate. I think the idea is necessary, but it’s practical application has been anything but successful.
So you apply for all of these wonderful jobs littered about the web and,
2) You never hear anything.
In my humble opinion, a no is a no is a no, but it’s a heck of a lot better than dead space. As much as automated responses annoy me, at least I know for sure that my application/resume/cover letter/hard work/prayers/etc. have entered into the pile with everyone else’s. That in and of itself feels like an accomplishment. Surely employers know that in today’s climate, people are applying for hundreds of jobs just to get a single interview. Why not set-up an automated response, or even better, a real hiring manager/human resources person to respond. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should exist.
And even for the few lucky enough to get that first interview,
3) Employers ignore your financial and time considerations
A friend of mine just finished his fourth interview with a company. The first, a preliminary phone interview, went well and he was excited about meeting face to face. The company was located 60 miles from his home. He drove for an hour plus to attend the interview, and the person who was scheduled to meet with him could not, so he was interviewed by another non-hiring employee. He then drove an hour plus home. He also had to utilize toll roads, and the total cost of his trip was over $20. They then called him for a second live interview, and just recently, his third. My friend has spent $60 dollars and well over six hours for the opportunity to potentially maybe get this draw against commission and no benefits position within the company. They also informed him, on his 4th interview, that there were other people applying for the position and they weren’t sure if he was the right fit. Ouch.
Even if a potential employee can navigate through this gauntlet, there is always,
4) The Lowball Offer
Company X or Recruiter Y love you as an applicant. They even want to make you an offer! Unfortunately, after all of the back and forth over minimum salary requirements, bonuses, benefits, etc., their offer comes in the (e)mail, and it shortchanges your value. They know it, and you know it. They have changed the time from, “the right fit for the right value” into “how desperate is this guy/gal.” Is that a company you want to work for, or a company you will stay with once the “market returns?” I’m not so sure companies such as this are taking a long view of their “most important resource.”
Call me crazy, but if/when I have the survive this maze of employment, I’ll remember who the honest and ethical players were, and I guarantee I won’t forget who ignored me, laughed at me, pretended to be interested, disregarded my needs, or anything else that devalued me as an employee.
I still remember Proctor and Gamble’s cumbersome online application for college interns, and how quickly I was rejected from that program. I’ve always heard how great of a company they are to work for, but I have no real interest. The application didn’t leave much room for expression of individuality, and I never made it to the interview round. It’s possible I wasn’t qualified, but I don’t think they could have known that through their limited questionaire.
I just can’t believe that economic turmoil universally equates into bad hiring practices. I would love to hear about companies who are still treating their employees, or prospective employees, the right way, and I honestly believe that those companies will emerge stronger than ever, with a more loyal following of employees, customers, and fans.
I wonder what fanship will do to the corporate landscape over the next five years. I really like Richard Branson. I think he’s brilliant, and I’m a big fan of the openness of his Twitter account. Yet I don’t think I’ve ever purchased anything that in any way helps Virgin’s bottom line. Maybe I will, just because of his tweets. Same thing with Zappos. Free Shipping both ways! They give people free shoes if there is a problem! I mean, sounds like an awesome company. I just haven’t ever bought shoes online. If I do, I know that’s where I’ll go, but it hasn’t materialized yet. I wonder.
Two of my favorites out there right now:
http://www.lifehacker.com
A great site about simple productivity.
http://www.armchairculture.com
A diverse and sometimes hilarious site about any and everything, written by a good friend.
To the blogroll they go!
I think that applying to a job should be based solely on your ability to have others prepare you resume and then pay for a recruiter to get you a job. Survival of the fittest should dominate job hunting as it does real hunting. You don’t kill a deer wiht a sling shot, and you don’t get a job without paying for it.
Signed,
Douchey guy.