Jurassic World: Candidates Loose in the Theme Park

Amidst all the information we read and see about the death of the resume and candidates being able to apply with the one-click sharing of a social profile here in Jurassic the real World job seekers encounter some decidedly archaic practices.

A friend recently alerted me to an organization’s career site and encouraged me to click the “Apply Online” button.
Doing so brought up a non-fillable 4 page PDF that needed to be printed out and completed with a pen. Or a typewriter I imagine; if anyone can actually find a typewriter in 2015.

I decided it might be fun to test this out to see if, perhaps, it might be a shorter or more pleasant process than some of the actual online applications with which employers torture applicants.

It was not.

Once I moved past the basics (name, address, phone, email address) I was asked for:

• Spouse’s name

• Spouse’s Employer and Occupation

• If I own my home or rent

• The year and make of my car

• If I financed my education and, if so, what percent

• Hobbies, interests and sports

• My current (employer-provided) benefits and how much I contribute to the cost

• How many scheduled days of work (not vacation) I have missed in the past 2 years

• My educational goals for the next 5 years

• 3 things I would change at my current job

• My greatest strength

• My greatest weakness

• The primary reason I’ve accepted positions in the past and what must be offered to motivate a career change

• 3 adjectives that describe me   –    (1) Annoyed (2) With (3) This

• Words-per-minute speeds for typing, shorthand and 10-Key

• Other companies with whom I have interviewed (space for five)

• Other resumes I have mailed (space for five)

Whew.

Look, I’m not trying to shame this particular company. Well…maybe a little; although you notice I’m not naming names. I will, however, let you know that this team of recruiters touts its specialized and comprehensive recruiting and screening process. For, believe it or not, technical positions.

But this, my friends, is the reality for numerous job seekers in small towns and big cities the world over.

When I get to contemplating such things I wonder why some organizations and recruiting teams continue to operate in such a manner?

Are they not paying any attention to research, insight and trends to get an understanding of how job seekers expect to apply for jobs in the year 2015? Do they not realize there are numerous inexpensive and easy to use cloud-based Applicant Tracking Systems in the market that will allow them to ditch the PDF application form? Do they honestly think it’s wise to gather, on an ‘official’ document, a candidate’s marital status? Do they even worry about the potentially stellar candidates who are dropping off as soon as they click “Apply Online” and are faced with this monstrosity of an application?

Do they just…not care?

So many questions. So many mysteries.