So I mainly do Technical Writing for a living on contract (usually) for a decent hourly/daily rate. I got a notice of a contract at a fairly large University, simple job on first look at the promo for it. No decent indication of pay expectations (1st red flag).
I fill out the “Apply here” form with all the required info. My application must have been human resource scanned as I got a very personalized reply with a word attachment (2nd red flag). The attachment was a more in depth request for more info on my skills experience etc. Why this was not online to a proper employment application indicated they are technology incompetent to say the least. But I could accept a decent pdf document to be completed online as the basic minimum now days (I am old fashioned).
But his word document was something extra that I have never seen in my entire life.
They has used the “space bar” to lineup and align EVERYTHING! They didn't use one table when appropriate, they used the underline character “_” for input fields. I just could not believe the level of incompetence on display. Third red flag. It was designed to be completed by hand I think, but still… why?
I am out! Not even going to reply. The document indicates such poor performance by the staff and management both that they have not trained ANYONE on basic MS word skills, document proofing and control, no idea of standards or formatting etc. etc.
About a week later they called asking if I was still interested and I told them no, your word document turned me off. They didn't understand, I said get it reviewed by someone competent at word not at typing.