A guy called us up and said “I have a story I have to tell you.”

“Tell us!” we said.


“Okay,” said the young man, whom we’ll call Jim.

“I got laid off from my job in September, but I wasn’t panicking because I got a little severance and also because I can still do a small amount of consulting for my old employer. I’ve just been applying for a few jobs here and there. Last night I saw a job ad that looked perfect for me.


“It’s a job opening for a Technical Project Manager, which is what I am, and I know there are a lot of us, but I have literally every single qualification listed in the job ad. The company makes medical equipment.

“That’s the kind of product development I’ve been involved in for ten years. I figured I’d apply for the job and hopefully at least get an interview.

“I took about an hour and a half to fill out the online job application. I hit the SUBMIT button at nine-fifteen last night and sat down to watch TV. Before I went to bed around eleven, I checked my email, and sure enough there was a response from the company I had just applied to. It was one of those auto-responder messages.

“It said ‘Thank you for your application for the Technical Project Manager job. Unfortunately, your background is not a match for our requirements. We will be sure to let you know about other openings that are closer to your area of expertise.’

“I couldn’t understand it. The application I submitted along with the resume I uploaded matched the job spec exactly. I couldn’t believe they were telling me that I wasn’t a good fit. Was there someone working in HR that late at night, or had the keyword-searching software tossed me out? If I got rejected for not having the keywords, how could that happen, considering that my resume and application had every single keyword they might have been looking for?


“I went to bed. When I got up this morning, there was a new email message from the same employer in my inbox. This one said ‘Good news! We think we’ve found a position that is a closer match to your skills.’ I was curious. I opened the message. It was a job ad for a Food Service Technician in the company cafeteria, paying eight-fifty an hour.



“Now I was curious, and frankly, pretty irritated. I’m not working, so I have all the time in the world. I got on LinkedIn and started looking for a recruiter in that company, and I found one!

“I called the company’s main switchboard and got connected to this recruiter, named Donna. She said ‘That Project Manager opening is being handled by my colleague Andrea. Let me connect you to her.’

“So now I’m talking to Andrea, who’s the recruiter in charge of the Project Manager opening. I explained my situation to her. She was silent for a minute, and then she said ‘Okay, I understand what happened.’

“I was all ears, of course. Andrea is one of three recruiters in a company with 5000 employees in one location. Andrea and her two colleagues each have over a hundred job openings to work on at any given moment. Andrea is required by her job to list every job opening on the company website. That’s where I found the opening, after being directed there through Indeed.

“The thing is that Andrea doesn’t have time to screen resumes that come through the company website. She finds her own candidates using LinkedIn, instead. So when she input the Technical Project Manager job into her company’s jobs portal, she set it up so that every candidate gets a No Thanks message, the same message I got.

“In other words, if you follow the directions in the job ad and apply through the company website, you’re guaranteed not to get the job.”

“WHOA!” we said. “But what about the Food Service job?”

“Oh, that’s the best part!” said Jim. “Of course, the careers site in Andrea’s company gets confused when you set the parameters to reject every single job-seeker. The site prompts you to give the people who fill out applications a side route, if you will – some other path to follow, since every one of them will get an instant rejection notice for the job they applied for, no matter how well qualified they are.

“Andrea set up the parameters to send those poor job-seekers every new job opening the company posts on the site, from the mailroom to the cafeteria.

“It was just a coincidence that they happened to post that Food Service job the very next morning, after I was rejected by the website.”

“Would Andrea ever have seen your application if you hadn’t called her?” we wanted to know.

“Nope,” said Jim. “She has her own system for filling jobs. The applications that come through the company website go straight into the virtual trash.”

“So, what did Andrea do once you called her?” we asked.

“She set me up for an interview next week,” said Jim, “but I gotta be honest, the red flags don’t really get any bigger than this. Can I work with such a broken organization?”

Now you know why I’m always telling you not to pitch resumes and applications into automated recruiting sites. You will never get a hiring manager’s attention that way. Send a Pain Letter with your Human-Voiced Resume directly to your hiring manager at his or her desk, instead.

Jim learned a powerful lesson about corporate and institutional stupidity today, and I am happy to pass it along to you!


http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2014/11/21/the-horrible-truth-about-online-job-applications/4/

Okay! so I guess sending hard copies of CVs is the way forward now.

I knew it! So this is how they do it. I've been wasting my time filling application forms online

CoCoLav:
Okay! so I guess sending hard copies of CVs is the way forward now.

Definitely sis, its a smart way now considering the crowd. You will get invited for an interview with less crowd, maybe 4-10 people. Only problem is that most companies will refer you go and apply online. But if your hard copy gets accepted that's 30percent of getting a job already.

otega88:

Definitely sis, its a smart way now considering the crowd. You will get invited for an interview with less crowd, maybe 4-10 people. Only problem is that most companies will refer you go and apply online. But if your hard copy gets accepted that's 30percent of getting a job already.

Been hearing that for sometime. Will try that out during my service year.

CoCoLav:


Been hearing that for sometime. Will try that out during my service year.

Oh you not serving yet?, hum its easier to have a walk in with your hard copy CV when you have experience though, as a recent grad still serving, its best to do it online, practice loads of SHL, kenexa, gmat and gse, then assessment centers. Getting first jon isn't so easy, it becomes easier as you gather experience tho.

otega88:

Oh you not serving yet?, hum its easier to have a walk in with your hard copy CV when you have experience though, as a recent grad still serving, its best to do it online, practice loads of SHL, kenexa, gmat and gse, then assessment centers. Getting first jon isn't so easy, it becomes easier as you gather experience tho.

Will be serving this month. I know its a bit difficult to get a first job but I also think it depends on the field. I have started practicing all them dragnet and ish but I'm not sure if a law job interview will ask those kind of questions. I just practice so I'm not caught off guard.

CoCoLav:


Will be serving this month. I know its a bit difficult to get a first job but I also think it depends on the field. I have started practicing all them dragnet and ish but I'm not sure if a law job interview will ask those kind of questions. I just practice so I'm not caught off guard.

Not so sure but if you want to practice in the legal department of one of these good companies like shell, NLNG, chevron, Nestle, pwc, etc, as an entry level person you MAY be required to participate in psychometric tests, assesment centers and/or interviews

otega88:

Not so sure but if you want to practice in the legal department of one of these good companies like shell, NLNG, chevron, Nestle, pwc, etc, as an entry level person you MAY be required to participate in psychometric tests, assesment centers and/or interviews

Okay. Thanks a bunch, will keep that in mind.

Seun, Ishilove, Obinoscopy

CoCoLav:


Okay. Thanks a bunch, will keep that in mind.

Seun, Ishilove, Obinoscopy

You welcome

otega88:

Definitely sis, its a smart way now considering the crowd. You will get invited for an interview with less crowd, maybe 4-10 people. Only problem is that most companies will refer you go and apply online. But if your hard copy gets accepted that's 30percent of getting a job already.

You guys can try linkedin.. LinkedIn is a formidable professional networking platform as well as a powerful job board and search engine. The fact that a full 94% of recruiters use social media, in particular LinkedIn, to fill open positions should get you excited. 

Its mainly for professionals but I bet you can use this game changing platform to get your next job.

donogaga:


You guys can try linkedin.. LinkedIn is a formidable professional networking platform as well as a powerful job board and search engine. The fact that a full 94% of recruiters use social media, in particular LinkedIn, to fill open positions should get you excited. 

Its mainly for professionals but I bet you can use this game changing platform to get your next job. 

Human resource persons also know that people's profile on LinkedIn looks like they have turned water to wine whereas many have not held a test tube since leaving school.
No harm trying all possible angles though. LinkedIn, online applications, connections, hard copy, walk ins, recruitment agencies etc.....

otega88:

Human resource persons also know that people's profile on LinkedIn looks like they have turned water to wine whereas many have not held a test tube since leaving school.
No harm trying all possible angles though. LinkedIn, online applications, connections, hard copy, walk ins, recruitment agencies etc.....

Yeah, You aren't far from the truth. However, I've received a couple of interview invite via sms, email, calls and I got to know the recruiter saw my profile on linkedin and contacted me after going through it.

Now, this happened on Monday, A recruiter called me and it was a phone interview... After chatting at length, he said he saw my profile on linkedin and was impressed hence, he had to put a call through. It was quite interesting.

I was like, what are you offering, as in what's the pay like for the role... And he said to me, - its a NGN30,000 daily rate/daily pay.... Yeah. You can imagine!!!

donogaga:


Yeah, You aren't far from the truth. However, I've received a couple of interview invite via sms, email, calls and I got to know the recruiter saw my profile on linkedin and contacted me after going through it.

Now, this happened on Monday, A recruiter called me and it was a phone interview... After chatting at length, he said he saw my profile on linkedin and was impressed hence, he had to put a call through. It was quite interesting.

I was like, what are you offering, as in what's the pay like for the role... And he said to me, - its a NGN30,000 daily rate/daily pay.... Yeah. You can imagine!!!

Awesome, I like that. Probably because you are a specialist at something. For a recent graduate it will not be so easy. Also be careful, some hungry scammers are doing that too, but I'm sure you are smart enough to know.

Ok. I don hear

otega88:

Awesome, I like that. Probably because you are a specialist at something. For a recent graduate it will not be so easy. Also be careful, some hungry scammers are doing that too, but I'm sure you are smart enough to know.

Am not a specialist pe se, I am an HSE supervisor/support/coordinator with hands on experience in providing professional services in HSE Management System..... (Offshore - rotational basis)

I'll advice you equip yourself with valuable certifications if you can.

donogaga:


Am not a specialist pe se, I am an HSE supervisor/support/coordinator with hands on experience in providing professional services in HSE Management System..... (Offshore - rotational basis)

I'll advice you equip yourself with valuable certifications if you can.

Lol, and you say you are not a specialist?,..lol,..I work with a good IOC myself, got in via normal GT recruitment after test, test, test, assessment center, medicals. LinkedIn is another awesome way though, but.....

please house, when sending hard copies of CV, can it be attached with a cover letter?

donogaga:


Am not a specialist pe se, I am an HSE supervisor/support/coordinator with hands on experience in providing professional services in HSE Management System..... (Offshore - rotational basis)

I'll advice you equip yourself with valuable certifications if you can.

bro, I have the HSE certificates, level 2 and 3, but I don't have any experience in the field, and am job scouring.
Any little help will be appreciated.
thanks.

Daluuzor:
please house, when sending hard copies of CV, can it be attached with a cover letter?

This takes a lot of work. Obviously, It can make a very positive impression to show up in person, well dressed, and hand deliver an envelope containing your CV and cover letter, using a friendly demeanor and excellent interpersonal skills with the employees you do encounter.

Kind regards.

Daluuzor:

bro, I have the HSE certificates, level 2 and 3, but I don't have any experience in the field, and am job scouring.
Any little help will be appreciated.
thanks.

Are you referring to Level 2 (NISP-HSE Appreciation) and Level 3 (NISP-HSE supervision?). If that's the case, you can kick off your career from there.

Send me your email id.

donogaga:


Are you referring to Level 2 (NISP-HSE Appreciation) and Level 3 (NISP-HSE supervision?). If that's the case, you can kick off your career from there.

Send me your email id.

thanks bro
chazzy135@yahoo.co.uk

donogaga:


This takes a lot of work. Obviously, It can make a very positive impression to show up in person, well dressed, and hand deliver an envelope containing your CV and cover letter, using a friendly demeanor and excellent interpersonal skills with the employees you do encounter.

Kind regards.

thanks bro, but I thought when a cover letter is involved, there must be a position/post you are applying for? and in this case, you don't know of any available opening in the company/organization.
so pls, what will be the content of the cover letter?
thanks for your time bro.

Daluuzor:

thanks bro, but I thought when a cover letter is involved, there must be a position/post you are applying for? and in this case, you don't know of any available opening in the company/organization.
so pls, what will be the content of the cover letter?
thanks for your time bro.

Well, In making your decision, consider:

1) Is there someone you can ask? Would a simple phone call solve the issue?..... and

2) Do you know something about the organization or person to help you decide? Have you received a job notice via e-mail? If so, the sender may expect responses via e-mail. Is the organization very formal? Perhaps a hard copy document on good quality paper might appeal to a formal organization.

Daluuzor:
please house, when sending hard copies of CV, can it be attached with a cover letter?

Definitely, it should be, the cover letter defines what you can do, and department(s) you are best suited for

wow. really eye-opening

I think linkedin is the best in terms of jobsearch, but the only problem is the payment...

KHAYGOLD:
I think linkedin is the best in terms of jobsearch, but the only problem is the payment...

Lol... Nothing of value is free.

KHAYGOLD:
I think linkedin is the best in terms of jobsearch, but the only problem is the payment...

what do u mean by payment?

donogaga:


Am not a specialist pe se, I am an HSE supervisor/support/coordinator with hands on experience in providing professional services in HSE Management System..... (Offshore - rotational basis)

I'll advice you equip yourself with valuable certifications if you can.

Bros i have certification on HSE level 2 & 3. I would love your assistant to get hands on experience in this field. You can reach me through pm.ubreye@gmail.com . Thanks