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Some job search annoyances

Over the past year and a half, I’ve applied to a lot of jobs. I’ve also encountered a lot of annoyances when applying to said jobs, from the big to the small to the ones that make me question the competence of the person posting the job. So with this in mind I’m going to list some of my annoyances in job applications.

* Typos in the job descriptions. I am always tempted to call the employers out on the typos, especially when the job calls for attention to details. If they can’t be bothered to proofread the job descriptions, what kind of coworkers can I be expected to work with?

* Autoreplies that state that no more applications are being taken. Why leave the position online if you’re no longer taking applications? This one irks me because I’ve encountered it multiple times this week alone, and I know the positions were posted that day thanks to my RSS reader. I can understand having a lot on your plate at work, but taking down a job description takes one minute, if that.

* Brassring. The job application site, that is. I have had only negative experiences with this site over the past six months, and it has become a pain in the neck. The page doesn’t load when I try to submit something, and I know it’s on Brassring’s end. This all but eliminates many sites to apply to.

* Uploading your job openings as a .doc file. Doing so as a .pdf is only slightly less annoying, but at least you’ve chosen a standard format. I shouldn’t have to download a file in order to read a job description. Just take the info and put it on the web site or job board. Problem solved, and you’ve saved the job seekers the trouble of downloading and opening the file. This is especially important for .doc files because you’re assuming the recipient can read it in its original format. And that doesn’t even get into the security concerns of a Word file.

* Dropdown fields that don’t also provide an Other option or a fill in the blank so you can write in your choice that doesn’t appear in the options. This happens to me often enough that it’s annoying, and it’s the only annoying thing about graduating with multiple majors (math and French, for those who don’t know). When I can’t fill in the blank for my majors, my next option is to enter Other because I earned both of those majors. Both of them should count. If the Other option is unavailable, I usually choose the major that’s more relevant to the position. Interestingly, French is available only about half the time in the drop-down menus, and it’s not a newfangled specialized major.

* Sites that only let you use a certain browser, usually Internet Explorer. I’ve encountered this outright only once, thankfully, and I was only checking the company for job opportunities and not applying to a specific position there, so I let it go. This one’s the fault of the webmaster, who apparently doesn’t realize that many people these days don’t use Internet Explorer. I look at people funny when they tell me they use Internet Explorer, but that’s the geek in me talking. Especially if they’re still using IE6.

* Employers who want a salary requirement or a salary history. I’m a recent grad; I don’t have much of a salary history in the first place. As far as a salary requirement, the first person who says a number loses. There’s little reason for me to put a number in the original email and risk losing the ability to negotiate later. I can understand having a tight budget for a position, but asking a candidate to state a salary and then finding out they’re a) too costly and therefore out or b) below your budget and therefore good means that the candidate loses the power later.

* Emails that bounce back. This should speak for itself.

What annoys you about the job search?

2 replies on “Some job search annoyances”

I definitely feel your pain on some of those things. The salary issue is one of my biggest things, not really an annoyance, but just like you, I’m a recent college grad…you can pay me in gift cards and a daily stipend and I’d consider it. lol

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