Testing online job application systems this past week out of total curiosity and to be able to write knowledgeably about them, I applied at a bank and at a retail establishment.
In each case, I never made it past the prequalifying and screening questions. They never even got around to asking about me (other than basic data) before I was finished. Flashing a thank you, but you are not qualified for the job opening, they shut my application down.
I never had the chance to tell them how smart or experienced or degreed I am. I failed in the screening questions and never even reached the job experience segment of the online job application. I am sure that my lack of experience in either field (they asked for number of years and no support data in the screening questions) made me a less than desirable candidate for both companies. (Next time, I'll apply at a restaurant or a manufacturing company.)
But, I have a sneaking suspicion, that I will never be able to confirm, that I was way too empowered for the bank. I actually said I'd make my own decisions about how to deal with irate customers. And, I said I'd change a policy to satisfy and retain a treasured customer without checking my actions with the branch manager. Bad, bad, I suspect.
My experience echoes a bit of reality. Online job applications with the prequalifying and screening questions are the way to go today for employers. Why tussle with reams of paper that need storage and are potentially not retrievable for positions for which the applicant qualifies? I blanch every time I used to tell an applicant we'd retain their job application for a year. Even the best filing system does not hold a candle to today's applicant tracking systems.
While sometimes frustrating for job searchers, online job applications are the way to go for employer efficiency, accountability, responsiveness to regulations, and actually tracking potential talent. I am a fan. Think they offer no positives for job searchers? Think again. Alison Doyle, About.com's job searching expert has tips for job searchers about filling out online job applications.
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Thanks for information, truly helpful.
It’s true that the applicant experience is often ignored in the online job app process. I have an ATS client called nowHIRE that works really hard to make sure their customers’ applicants have the best experience possible when applying to jobs via career sites. So there are people out there thinking about the applicant! Just not enough, apparently.
I applied for a job online with the nowHire applicant tracking system. The job was a great match for me and I had over 10 years of experience in the required field. It has been over 5 months since my application was filed so you can imagine my suprise when I received an email today stating that I had not been selected. Wow – what a great system!! I’m glad I didn’t hold my breath waiting for a response.