Most ridiculous job interviews (red flag?)🚩

tortfeasor · Jan 24, 2022

Kittypops said:
Just spent four hours doing two applications, they must all go out of their way to make their individual application forms different so you can't just cut and paste say, your job history. Fucksake, this is severely testing my dry January.

Good news @Inforapenny really pleased for you!

Which sites are you looking on out of interest @Kittypops? Hope this doesn’t come across as me trying to teach you how to suck eggs but have you been looking on the Reed and Totaljobs sites? Only ask as from experience most ads on those only require you to upload a CV and sometimes a covering letter.
I try and shun applying for jobs with the employer’s own application forms for the very reasons you describe.

Moonflower said:
It's ridiculous isn't it! It was like a full time job doing a the stupid forms.

I had one job (a charity), who asked me to print their paper application form and complete it by hand and scan it and send it back. Had to be handwritten, no exceptions! I didn't bother as that was a red flag right there that they'd be very paper based and a bit set in their ways (been there, done that, never again)

I had that very same experience when I applied to do voluntary work. Rubbish charity too as it turned out and completely put me off working in the voluntary sector again.

emm · Jan 24, 2022

tortfeasor said:
Which sites are you looking on out of interest @Kittypops? Hope this doesn’t come across as me trying to teach you how to suck eggs but have you been looking on the Reed and Totaljobs sites? Only ask as from experience most ads on those only require you to upload a CV and sometimes a covering letter.
I try and shun applying for jobs with the employer’s own application forms for the very reasons you describe.

I had that very same experience when I applied to do voluntary work. Rubbish charity too as it turned out and completely put me off working in the voluntary sector again.

The charity sector seems particularly bad for this, totally ridiculous.

tortfeasor · Jan 24, 2022

emm said:
The charity sector seems particularly bad for this, totally ridiculous.

The interview I had for what was ultimately a voluntary role was ridiculous too. The one lady came across as hostile and seemed to not trust me that I genuinely wanted to offer my services for free. I felt like I was being grilled. I was 22 though; nowadays I’d just say, “look, do you want my help or not?”

Kittypops · Jan 24, 2022

Also noted on both job applications, neither specified the salary but each asked my expectation.
Fuckers.

Rxt156 · Jan 24, 2022

Kittypops said:
Also noted on both job applications, neither specified the salary but each asked my expectation.
Fuckers.

Don’t agree with this approach at all. Sneaky! It’s like they’re playing a game of “how little can we get away with paying someone”

tortfeasor · Jan 24, 2022

Rxt156 said:
Don’t agree with this approach at all. Sneaky! It’s like they’re playing a game of “how little can we get away with paying someone”

I remember a few applications in the past asking you to put your current salary - and I bet most inflated their answer anyway, so what is the point in asking it - but I disagree with being asked what your expected salary is!

annanuttall · Jan 25, 2022

Has dodgy MLM/Pyramid Jobs been discussed yet?

Kittypops · Jan 25, 2022

tortfeasor said:
Which sites are you looking on out of interest @Kittypops? Hope this doesn’t come across as me trying to teach you how to suck eggs but have you been looking on the Reed and Totaljobs sites? Only ask as from experience most ads on those only require you to upload a CV and sometimes a covering letter.
I try and shun applying for jobs with the employer’s own application forms for the very reasons you describe.

I had that very same experience when I applied to do voluntary work. Rubbish charity too as it turned out and completely put me off working in the voluntary sector again.

They're both private company sites @tortfeasor (I'm all for any hints and tips though, no egg sucking skills detailed on my CV!) with each asking that you input hour experience and education separately, then ask you to upload your CV too. And your expression of interest letter, It's so time-consuming. I know some will say you've got to be in it to win it and be super-competitive, but I just feel worn down by it all.
I feel everyone's pain here, I love hearing when one of us has secured a good job!

Flowergirl14 · Jan 25, 2022

I got one of my previous jobs, whereby the company contacted me via LinkedIn. Can be useful to switch on that you are looking, if you are not in work or do not mind your current employer seeing it!!

Scotch Mist · Jun 17, 2022

I work for a public body and we had an email sent round saying that in future when we are looking for new staff that anyone reviewing the applications would not be able to see personal details. Well that's fair enough I thought, they want to eradicate any potential bias regarding sex ethnicity etc

It then went on to say that education would be removed as well as job experience! That sounds like a step too far. If you can't see the person's previous work experience and qualifications then how on earth are you selecting?

Given that ageism is rife and we're all expected to work until we drop these days having experience is the only advantage left to older candidates.

Does anyone else think this is odd? Or is it just me?

rosemarina · Jun 17, 2022

Sounds like they’ve over-corrected a bit?

Rxt156 · Jun 17, 2022

So what are they basing it on if they’re not using work history pot luck?

Scotch Mist · Jun 17, 2022

Rxt156 said:
So what are they basing it on if they’re not using work history pot luck?

I don't get it either. I guess they will be going by the statement you make in the box about how your experience matches up with the job spec.
In my view a lot of people claim that they can do something when they can't, or they certainly exaggerate. Surely you need some work history to back up claims.

rosemarina · Jun 17, 2022

Oh, no need for a medical degree. Reckon I can interview to be a brain surgeon then, no worries.

tortfeasor · Jun 25, 2022

Scotch Mist said:
I work for a public body and we had an email sent round saying that in future when we are looking for new staff that anyone reviewing the applications would not be able to see personal details. Well that's fair enough I thought, they want to eradicate any potential bias regarding sex ethnicity etc

It then went on to say that education would be removed as well as job experience! That sounds like a step too far. If you can't see the person's previous work experience and qualifications then how on earth are you selecting?

Given that ageism is rife and we're all expected to work until we drop these days having experience is the only advantage left to older candidates.

Does anyone else think this is odd? Or is it just me?

I think it’s odd and have come across something similar in the Civil Service where they use those ridiculous competency statements. Considering some jobs are going to be quite specialist, to me it seems daft that you wouldn’t want to assess someone’s actual work experience history to gauge whether they are going to fit the requirements for the work they do.

Most ridiculous job interviews (red flag?)🚩

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