Reply to: crap that permies put up with

[Spacecadet]

my wife is applying for a job at the moment. the application form is horrendous: you're expected to tell them your previous salary (that's their business why exactly?) and provide examples of "analytical thinking", "results orientation" and "resilience".

personally i'd like to give them an example of the back of my hand!

When I finished uni I quickly realised I hated filling those forms in, they were time consuming and a drain on mhy energy.
So I only applied for jobs which only asked for a CV

[MaryPoppins]

Make sure she knows her 'strengths and weaknesses'

I got asked this in a contract interview once ('and, so..what are your weaknesses?'). My mind went blank (not having encountered this sort of HR mumbo in a while) and I muttered "chocolate?" in response.

I then completed my humiliation in the reception area (of the large financial organisation) by getting my stiletto heel caught in the doormat, hurtling forward trying to recover myself and leaving my shoe behind in the carpet. Wrenching my heel out, while bemused interviewer greeted the next interviewee, did not stop me from being determined to shake his hand goodbye (offending shoe in hand, me looking very lopsided and harrassed).

Got the job though!

[Turion]

Make sure she knows her 'strengths and weaknesses'

[Joe1978]

I have been told to "slow down" and have had people say wow when i finished my work, i have since lernt to pace myself.....

permie job applications are ridiculous......."please give an example of when you have overcome a problem"

get bent!

[Mich the Tester]

Except for some contractors on this board, apparently...

It’s called ‘adapting to the needs of the client’. If I work even at 50% of my speed and ability, they can't keep up.

[d000hg]

That is definitely true for HR. They always seem to have the best office, longest lunch and shortest working hours too.

Except for some contractors on this board, apparently...

[Sysman]

A good 70% of people working in offices in large companies are just overhead Im sure.

The overhead, inefficiency and waste seems to get worse the closer to HQ they are.

[ace00]

A good 70% of people working in offices in large companies are just overhead Im sure.

That is definitely true for HR. They always seem to have the best office, longest lunch and shortest working hours too. Then they outsource any remaining work to contract agencies.

[bobhope]

Do they still have those kind of application forms?

I remember graduate job forms that would take hours to fill out and then you'd never hear back from them (bahh, Logica)

Personally, for that and the 360 degree assessment things, I'd want to be paid
more than contracting rates.

[threaded]

This is the kind of crp people who work in HR departments dream up. I hope the whole system collapses and we can get back to people doing actual valuable useful work in exchange for money. A good 70% of people working in offices in large companies are just overhead Im sure.

The permie lead architect at one of my clients had never heard of patterns before I mentioned them.

I know, silly me, shouldn't go educating them because it only comes back to haunt you later.

I digress. Now for the vent: how the fsck did they ever get hired?!

[shoes]

provide examples of "analytical thinking", "results orientation" and "resilience".

This is the kind of crp people who work in HR departments dream up. I hope the whole system collapses and we can get back to people doing actual valuable useful work in exchange for money. A good 70% of people working in offices in large companies are just overhead Im sure.

[lambrini_socialist]

Well you'd think, wouldn't you. In my permie days, I went for an interview. They offered me the job but wanted me to take 10% cut, while moving from public to private sector. Apparently they had great development opportunities . I went on to contract for their public sector client instead and play out my petty little grudge.

a heartwarming tale.

[Old Greg]

The salary is to give them indication of whether she would fit on the pay scale for the job that she is applying, and how senior she is. They will presume that she does not want a pay cut, therefore if her current/last salary is higher than they can offer, they will not consider her for interview.

Well you'd think, wouldn't you. In my permie days, I went for an interview. They offered me the job but wanted me to take 10% cut, while moving from public to private sector. Apparently they had great development opportunities . I went on to contract for their public sector client instead and play out my petty little grudge.

[Turion]

The salary is to give them indication of whether she would fit on the pay scale for the job that she is applying, and how senior she is. They will presume that she does not want a pay cut, therefore if her current/last salary is higher than they can offer, they will not consider her for interview.

[scooby]

my wife is applying for a job at the moment. the application form is horrendous: you're expected to tell them your previous salary (that's their business why exactly?) and provide examples of "analytical thinking", "results orientation" and "resilience".

personally i'd like to give them an example of the back of my hand!

as a perm i use to increase my previous salary by about 30% and haggle down to 15%+. worked each time.