The totally off-topic thread

[blackcat20]

I loathe doing applications and then going through the interview process with amateurs who don't know who they want or what skills they need and are too ignorant to get guidance.

Have definitely had a few of those...

 

[Mal]

Yep. Or reading fanciful requirements for candidates.
Oh you want a CISSP, CISM or/ CISA plus 10 years experience and you want to pay £29000??? Mmmkay.

 

[rogerkambah]

Back to flying and a heads up.you will have to read my TRs now so that you can recognise if I am in a security line in front of you.If so pick any other line.
monday was my first occasion through airline security since my knee replacement.I advised the person at the unit but just waved through and the alarm goes off.had to take watch glases and shoes off and sent back to go through again.Naturally the alarm goes off as I go back then when i go through again.the line is closed down until someone who is authorised to use the wand makes his way to me.This is not quick.
I doubt he had listened very well to his training as he had the wand so sensitive it was beeping before he got it anywhere near me.Finally gets it right and even though it now only goes off over my right knee and he sees the obviously not so old scar I have then got to have a pat down.meanwhile every one else waits.

Probably will now get TSA pre authorisation on all my LOTFAP flights next month.

Welcome to the fun times. One tip - wear slip-on shoes. I've been stripping off, shoes, belt, watch etc since my hip replacement 4 years ago. Its a right PITA, combined with taking laptop out of carryon, jacket off, everything out of pockets and remembering any LAG in a placcy bag, as well as watching all these items as they go through the scanner and then keeping an eye on them to make sure no low-life make off with said laptop or TAG Heuer.

On my last occasion exiting LHR forgot the LAG bag while going through this rigmarole and was told to stand to one side while they got someone authorized to do a bag search. After waiting 5 mins without the authorised person showing they allowed me to produce LAG bag from backpack. They were triumphantly vindicated though as it contained a 125ml Jean-Paul Gautier Le Male, rather than the 75ml I usually travel with. Security were a bit surprised when I just said 'Keep it'.

In Narita a couple of nights ago it took longer than usual as the pat downer was explaining the intricacies of feeling up a gaijin to a young female apprentice.

Have Fun!!!

 

[cove]

Is that per week Mal?

 

[Mal]

Is that per week Mal?

Haha. Nope, per year and overtime and weekend work is required too.

 

[cove]

Ok you won't find me in that job queue Mal.

 

[rogerkambah]

Haha. Nope, per year and overtime and weekend work is required too.

Paid o/t and w/e work?

 

[Mal]

Paid o/t and w/e work?

Lols. An employer that stingy would never pay

 

[anat0l]

Did I ever mention how much I don't like doing job applications?

Add me to it. Especially if you have to prepare statements to address selection criteria.

I also loathe online "central" job application submission systems. Not only do they make you double or triple specify a lot of information, but they usually completely stuff up the cohesion between the documentation making up your application. Don't get me started on the systems which require you to put your "cover letter" into a general text field, which completely lacks formatting and the ability to properly add line-returns.

What can you do. Have to go through the pain to get the job, unless you're actually the one being hunted rather than being the hunter. The real problem is being motivated to do it after a while (then going through a spate of doing it and firing off anywhere from a few to a few dozen or a few gross of applications!)

Oh, and when the ad says, "Successful applicants will be contacted; applicants not contacted in eight weeks may assume they were unsuccessful," that really, really annoys me.

I loathe doing applications and then going through the interview process with amateurs who don't know who they want or what skills they need and are too ignorant to get guidance.

First you have to get to an interview. To be honest, someone who can't quite drive the interview can be an advantage as much as it is annoying, unless they start fabricating **** or misrepresenting you. The main reason is that it gives you a chance to drive the interview and your case, as long as you don't overwhelm the interviewer. But if they are really hopeless then so be it.

I had an interview where it felt more like day 1 / orientation at the office than a real test of whether I was good for the position. We discussed heaps about the project, the scope, the deliverables, the timeframe, the stakeholders.... very limited talk about my skills and experience. That was weird. And then I was still short listed......

But it's SO worth the time and effort in tailoring your resume to the role (if you want it). And for me, the CV is a proof of ability to do the job in my team. I use theCV to test ability to do the job & then the interview to validate that and check for team fit. I don't like CVs that make me guess or read between lines to see why the candidate can do the job.

And don't talk to me about typos or Word docs with only Normal style - uugggghhh!!!

It's only worth it because you really want the position and that's what you usually have to do to get the position. Generic applications that look boilerplate or have been run off a broken Xerox may work for non-professional jobs, but if HR is switched on, for a professional job, it just won't cut it. This applies to both the CV and the cover letter. I certainly don't derive any particular pleasure from the act.

You've just defined what a CV should do, let alone the interview that follows it (after short listing). I don't quite understand why people would make "vague" CVs, though there is a very undefined line between a CV which is too brief and one which is too long, especially if you have a varied or extensive experience track record.

I think when you're in a position to review CVs, your perspective of the job application process changes considerably. Same thing as when you are an examiner or instructor compared to when you were the student being lectured or doing the exams.

Typos for sure are not on; awkward or poor grammar in the cover letter for a position which requires "excellent written and verbal communication skills"... well, you work it out. Not sure what you mean by Word documents with only Normal style. Do you mean... no bolding, no italics, no underlining, no headings or variance in sizes, no formatting at all? Knowing the corporation you work for and the kinds of people you work for and with, it would surprise me that anyone applying to be a prospective colleague or subordinate of yours would dare submit such an unrefined application.

 

[anat0l]

Haha. Nope, per year and overtime and weekend work is required too.

Obviously if it's for an IT position, they're probably that kind of company where the management has very little respect for the value of the IT division.

Wait... that's actually a lot of corporations... gah.....

There may be some other factors at play (not that that justifies the pittance remuneration). One is if the market is flat and the employment pool is somewhat saturated, I suppose companies will happily lower their rates because they may be playing to the captive market. Depending on the demographics, some may have "standards" and won't apply, whilst others will want the break (this includes cadets as well as the experienced) and will happily sign up. Cruel, but playing the market.

The other factor could be that there is a perception that "everyone has those qualifications" or they can be obtained without 'considerable effort' (e.g. unlike a university degree, undergraduate or postgraduate). Since "everyone" may have it, including it in the application is mostly just to filter out those who are wasting time trying to wing it.

 

[rogerkambah]

Lols. An employer that stingy would never pay

Owwwch!!!!!

 

[rogerkambah]

The worst situation is where you are unsuccessful and someone who doesn't know how to set up a system is given the job (presumably by a mate), and then the interviewer approached my boss to get details from me on how to do it.

You can imagine my reaction, but my boss was surprised. This in a large organisation.

 

[drron]

Another long day at work.20 admissions.
It was infection day with lots of the usual suspects but a tropical trio of melioidosis,dengue and malaria to keep the interest up.Working around the country certainly keeps you on your toes.I am really enjoying working in retirement.

 

[anat0l]

The worst situation is where you are unsuccessful and someone who doesn't know how to set up a system is given the job (presumably by a mate), and then the interviewer approached my boss to get details from me on how to do it.

You can imagine my reaction, but my boss was surprised. This in a large organisation.

Were they looking for details to pass onto the new recruit, or did they want to ask for your active assistance to get the job done?

Either way, mega sigh.

 

[Mal]

As some of you know, I ended up in admissions last night. Was the victim of assault with intention to rob (or maybe just attempted robbery. Or whatever charge fits best). Could be simply described as an attempted mugging with assault thrown in really.
There are many morons in this world...

 

[rogerkambah]

Were they looking for details to pass onto the new recruit, or did they want to ask for your active assistance to get the job done?

Either way, mega sigh.

Details to give the new recruit, as I had explained at the interview that I had set up and operated a system very similar to their spec. Approaching through my boss really p***ed me off.

 

[rogerkambah]

As some of you know, I ended up in admissions last night. Was the victim of assault with intention to rob (or maybe just attempted robbery. Or whatever charge fits best). Could be simply described as an attempted mugging with assault thrown in really.
There are many morons in this world...

Hey, that's not good, hope you are on the mend. Unfortunately there are plenty of a/hs around.

 

[Mal]

Hey, that's not good, hope you are on the mend. Unfortunately there are plenty of a/hs around.

Yeah I'm OK. Black eye, three stitches below my eyebrow, some other minor scratches, and other brusing around the face.

Could be worse, and I'm back out today making the most of the beautiful sun

 

[anat0l]

As some of you know, I ended up in admissions last night. Was the victim of assault with intention to rob (or maybe just attempted robbery. Or whatever charge fits best). Could be simply described as an attempted mugging with assault thrown in really.
There are many morons in this world...

Did you end up having anything taken? So hopefully just bruised up. I take it you were attacked in a fairly remote or area with not many people (either at all and/or at the time).

Darwin, if you're up there, you're due for an appraisal...

 

[rogerkambah]

Yeah I'm OK. Black eye, three stitches below my eyebrow, some other minor scratches, and other brusing around the face.

Could be worse, and I'm back out today making the most of the beautiful sun

Ouch, but could have been worse, like laying into you with boots. I just don't understand some people's mentality.