Are job seekers desperate, careless or clueless?

[ErVikingo]

must blow off steam

I have placed ads on a couple of reputable outlets (Monster and a local newspaper) searching for employees for my company.

My ads are VERY specific on the requirements and even go as far as indicating that "only candidates meeting these requirements will be considered".

We have been bombarded with resumes and out of over 150 only 3 meet the requirements or are for the position/profession we are looking to fill.

I can see desperation but this is ridiculous. The position is for accountants and I have received resumes for teaching positions, nursing, engineers, sales persons, etc. and this is from direct applications as I decided to bypass Monster's automatic candidate referral since it is notorious for spamming with endless unrelated resumes.

If the candidates don't even read the ads carefully how can they expect to be taken seriously?

I feel better now...... thanks!

[Dueller]

I think there is a trend in guerilla job hunting to send resumes to companies that advertise in the hopes they may be hiring for positions other than those advertised. I've noticed in many companies signs posted they are taking no applications for any position.

Lot of desperate folks out there looking for anything. And a lot of folks that are so discouraged they've just about given up.

[ramonesfreak]

desperate. ive been out of work 12 months this month. im an attorney with 11 years of experience. the only adds i see local, if at all, say "newly admitted attorney" or "recent graduate."

unemployment has run out. i think people are desperate. im getting desperate to the point of doing WHATEVER it takes to put food in mouth

[VaSteve]

I have read job ads that are so chock full of internal buzzwords and gibberish I assume a machine wrote them. Sometimes as the applicant you can't tell if it's because the person who wrote it has no clue (or HR has no clue)....and you often think that maybe someone will accep you with less than all the requirements because certainly some are more relevant than others (at least immediately).

I'm an accountant....PM me a link to your ad, I'd be interested to read it.

[LeeH]

I wonder if you're receiving responses directly from individuals or from submission services that promise to distribute resumes to a high number of companies.

FYI: I ran an ad for accounting help on Craigslist and had a great response - and it only cost $25.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

When you're on UI you're required to send X number of resumes per week - doesn't matter who they're to. Given how few places are hiring, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that people are just shotgunning resumes to whomever they can in order to keep themselves eligible and meeting the requirements - the ones that are even still getting it.

Not to be a jerk, but has your company considered whether or not it's absolutely necessary to restrict the pool of applicants so much? There's a lot of really good talent out there for the taking and not all of it lies along the conventional paths for a given position.

[BeyGon]

I send resumes to places like that, I read their add and know I can do the job, know the job and think the HR people must be on crack when they write things.
But then I buy lotto tickets every week too.

[legion]

HR departments are pretty flaky.

They want people with 20+ years accounting experience with previous security clearance to run a cash register.

[Aurel]

The other day, I applied for a job online, just to try. They had an automated screening question to weed out dumb people. The question: what is the angle between the two arms of a clock at 3:15 pm? I failed first then got it right. Let us see who can figure it out...

[legion]

0º

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Aurel

The other day, I applied for a job online, just to try. They had an automated screening question to weed out dumb people. The question: what is the angle between the two arms of a clock at 3:15 pm? I failed first then got it right. Let us see who can figure it out...

Well, that's a fairly complicated question. I'm gonna take a WAG and say 22.5 degrees.

Originally Posted by BeyGon

I send resumes to places like that, I read their add and know I can do the job, know the job and think the HR people must be on crack when they write things.
But then I buy lotto tickets every week too.

You're out on the use of the word "add" which is a verb. "Ad" is a shortcut for advertisement.

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by legion

0º

Wrong, smart guy. But that was my first answer too. And it ain't 22.5 deg. either.

[legion]

Eh. I've lost interest.

The answer is clearly something designed to make the interviewer feel smart.

Edit: And the answer depends on the type of clock motion.

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by legion

Eh. I've lost interest.

The answer is clearly something designed to make the interviewer feel smart.

There was a multiple choice drop down menu that came up when you hit the submit button to send your resume. About 15 choices, pretty sneaky...

[dentist90]

7 1/2 degrees. When do I start?

I agree with the unemployment insurance hypothesis. Up here you must show that you are making an effort. If you like receiving the UI cheques without having to actually work, applying for a job you have no hope of landing is the way to go


edit: or it could be 352 1/2 degrees if you measure the other way 'round!

[R K T]

the company I work for hired over 40 people this Spring. Half are gone already because work schedules conflicted with their personal life. They chose to quit!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

7.5

[TechnoViking]

Ahhh. The hour hand is 1/4 of the way between 3 and 4 at 15 minutes after.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

LOL! You could have just as well said the clock has a liberal bias.

Originally Posted by legion

Eh. I've lost interest.

The answer is clearly something designed to make the interviewer feel smart.

Edit: And the answer depends on the type of clock motion.

[Aurel]

Yep, we have two winners: 7.5 degrees was the right answer.