Long time reader, first time poster.
I've been applying to jobs in a field for which I've recently gotten a grad-level of education for about 6 months now. It has been really discouraging. I tailor my cover letter and resumé to each job only to get “referred to the hiring manager” when the job closes and then hear nothing at all.
Today just royally pissed me off though. I submitted an application package to a job yesterday, and received an email saying my application been received but that I had to complete questionnaires on their website before I could be considered. Ok…
There were 4, and the disclaimer before beginning was that it took the average applicant 3 FUCKING HOURS on average to complete them and to plan accordingly. The questionnaires were almost like I.Q. and reasoning tests, with a test on how best to handle certain interactions with coworkers in specific scenarios. By the way, this wasn't for some upper-level job. The listing described it as a “developmental” position. I just felt insulted. There's already a computerized system in place there that determines whether or not a person has made “cert” for a certain level based upon a very short questionnaire in the application process and the screening of the applicant's resumé and whether they should be referred to the hiring manager. At least determine if I made cert before making me do what they did. It could have been a total waste of my time!
And the real insulting part? I was so desperate that I did it. I spent 3 hours doing questionnaires for job listing that hadn't even closed yet. I think the practice is fucking disgusting that early in the process for what is practically an entry-level job. Fuck the job market.