Job Seekers & Job recruiters Pet Peeves

[twinklebug]

Still doing the job hunt here, I know it's a bit OT, but part of saving money is making it to begin with right?

Copied from Biospace.com. Some of these are hysterical and so true. Hopefully this post will give someone else a laugh.

Job Seekers' Pet Peeves

Recruiters who don't follow up.
Recruiters who don't return calls.
Recruiters who provide poor or inadequate information.
Recruiters who mislead, or who string you along, promising a position that doesn't materialize, a salary that doesn't materialize, etc.
Recruiters who are initially really keen on talking to you, then afterwards won't tell you why you didn't get the job.
Recruiters who won't give you a chance.
Ads that say "no calls."
Employers who write vague job descriptions and then tell you that you don't meet the qualifications – how do they know?
Employers who write excessively long job descriptions that say nothing specific.
When the process moves too slowly – particularly with no explanation about why.
When you're told you're over-qualified.
When you are really qualified, had a really good interview, and have really good references, but still don't get the job. (And if you ask, all you hear is that they hired someone else.)
When you respond to a job post and are told that the position is no longer available.

Recruiters' Pet Peeves

Emails, résumés, and cover letters that make the job seekers look unnecessarily bad (e.g. those with spelling errors or grammatical errors, those using sloppy slang like "u r" instead of "you are").
Job seekers who can't spell their own job correctly (e.g. "technitions").
Job seekers who send in résumés and have no idea about the employer to which they are applying.
Job seekers who have poorly constructed résumés, making it difficult for a recruiter to read them (e.g. font size or style, clutter) or to tell what the person actually does (e.g. hiding important information, not including important information, filling their résumé with jargon).
Job seekers who don't provide contact details on their résumé or who provide out-of-date contact details.
Job seekers who are dishonest.
Job seekers who are evasive, who won't give straight answers to questions.
Job seekers who don't express their strong interest in money in a polite way.
Rudeness – particularly callers who are arrogant, rather than confident.
Job seekers who have unrealistic expectations (e.g. salary, hours, position their background merits) in general, and those who have unrealistic expectations and then criticize the hospital for not being able to meet these expectations.
Job seekers who won't take "unqualified" for an answer.
Job seekers who ask questions and then, rather than listening to the answer, speak over you.
Lack of cooperation in forwarding necessary documentation or information.
Job seekers (both qualified and not) who call a second (or third) time, pretending that they haven't called before.
Job seekers who continue to spell the recruiter's name incorrectly, despite ongoing email communications.
Job seekers who think that mandatory items on a job description don't apply to them, or that items clearly stated as non-negotiable on a benefits package can be negotiated.
Job seekers who don't return calls.
Job seekers who don't give an employer the courtesy of simply saying by phone or email, "Thank you, but I'm no longer interested."
Job seekers who call you daily (or more than daily) when you have told them that you will get back to them the moment you have an update for them. (Or who keep calling back when you've told them more than once that the hiring manager is away for two weeks so you won't have any new information for at least two weeks and a day.)
And from the international recruitment area: Job seekers who call up for information about Country X, and then say obnoxious things about Country X, and "Why would I ever want to work in Country X?!"

 

[branv]

Oh isn't that the truth. Here's a few more for you:

Job seekers who use their personal email addresses when those addresses are questionable in nature. I once got a resume for a regional manager position, the guys email address said something like "hotstuddxx@----.com" I used to get stuff like that all the time.

Job seekers who don't think carefully before writing their Objectives. I would urge anyone to rewrite their objective if it starts out, "To obtain experience..." First of all, it's "attain". Secondly, why would I want to hire you if you're just looking to get more experience...that implies you're really hoping to move on as soon as you pad your resume a little.

Don't complain about your previous job on your cover letter...or explain the dramatic events in your life that led up to your need to change jobs. Really, it's like meeting someone for the first time at a party who in the first 2 minutes wants to tell you all about their @#$@# ex husband/wife and the mysterious rash they have on their backside. You just want to back away slowly.

If you want to enter a new field, don't expect to start at the top. I once had a man who worked on the line in a chicken deboning plant apply for a job as a Territorial Sales Manager (six figure job). No sales experience, no degree..all requirements of my company at the time. He couldn't understand the problem.


Here's a little tip for people though: sometimes the recruiter can't tell you why you didn't get the job b/c the hiring manager won't say. But more likely, because telling someone why they did not get a job can leave the company open for lawsuits. Only option is to hedge or not answer at all.

And the reason why every resume does not get a response is that sometimes you get 300+ resumes, and have been given neither the manpower or budget to give a response to all of them. The most I had time for was to send a letter to someone who has actually interviewed to let them know the job was filled. But for the record, I had TONS of people not respond to my calls for interviews or job offers. It goes both ways.

I would tell everyone that it is okay to call a recruiter ONE TIME to see if they received the resume and ONE TIME to follow up for an interview. If they don't respond, it's a shame, but I can tell you from being a job seeker and being a recruiter that if they don't respond to you, there's a reason. They don't want you, they don't have an answer or they're bad recruiters...and you can't change any of that. Calling them repeatedly will just ensure you won't get hired.

And if they send you an email but don't include their telephone number, please...respond via email. I always had way too many phone calls to ever be able to return them all, as much as I would have liked to.

One more bit of caution to those of you working contract...the agency is your employer, not the place you're working at....no matter how long you've been there. People always forget that and expect to be treated like regular employees. If the place you're working at wants to let you go, they do not have to give an excuse and they usually don't want to. They do not have to give you notice, and they usually won't. They will call your agency and tell the recruiter there that they don't want you back. I HATED those calls back when I worked at an agency. It's awful, but it's the reason they like using contract workers. No muss, no fuss. It's brutal.

 

[vhoffman]

Interesting thread, since dh is job hunting (laid off)

His gripe--recruiters you can't understand. He recently dealt with a guy who had such a thick accent he could barely understand him, decided to drop this guy. Dh didn't want to be represented to a company by someone who barely speaks English!

 

[ksumn1]

I disagree that you should not say to attain esperience..in a way. I wen tto technical school to get a Computer Applications and a Business Office Technology Diploma. Course focuses were on Microsoft Office Suite software usage, proper formats of business communications, machine transcription, office procedures and other office related skills. After graduation, I interviewed for many different positions. I was never hired because I had no office experience. Technically, I did have experience but not in an office environment. I was once told I lied on my resume because I had no experience. So I changed my resume to reflect that I did not have office experience, to be more honest. I have no desire to get hired and move on after I work awhile. I just want to use my education and get a stable, decent paying job where I can be happy and work long term.

 

[kandeebunny]

I love the "You are overqualified for this position" Yes I know, but I do not have a job, therefore that makes me perfectly qualified, I want to work, you have an open position...don't complain if you are paying someone $8 an hour who is worth significantly more and they WANT to work there, there is a reason!

I mean I have a BA in English Lit, I have years of retail sales, food, and education experience. If I want to work at an entry level position, for minimal money, I have a reason. Mostly that I do not have a job, and wish to obtain one.

 

[Stepht5]

I love the "You are overqualified for this position" Yes I know, but I do not have a job, therefore that makes me perfectly qualified, I want to work, you have an open position...don't complain if you are paying someone $8 an hour who is worth significantly more and they WANT to work there, there is a reason!
I mean I have a BA in English Lit, I have years of retail sales, food, and education experience. If I want to work at an entry level position, for minimal money, I have a reason. Mostly that I do not have a job, and wish to obtain one.

That is 26ds feelings right now!!!!! He would work at a fast food place flipping burgers right now..... UGH!!!!!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

The biggest pet peeve for me is:
Lack of cooperation in forwarding necessary documentation or information.

I recruit for jobs for my agency and for certain positions it is required to have transcripts and for all internal vacancies it is required that you provide us a SF-50 that states your status but no one will send it in. It is stated in our vacancy announcements 3 times that you must submit this documentation or else you will be found ineligible. The applicant even has to answer a question and mark off what documentation they are sending in...they mark it and we never get it, then they want to argue with us that they are qualified and there is no reason why they should have been made ineligible.

 

[disneymom3]

I love the "You are overqualified for this position" Yes I know, but I do not have a job, therefore that makes me perfectly qualified, I want to work, you have an open position...don't complain if you are paying someone $8 an hour who is worth significantly more and they WANT to work there, there is a reason!

I mean I have a BA in English Lit, I have years of retail sales, food, and education experience. If I want to work at an entry level position, for minimal money, I have a reason. Mostly that I do not have a job, and wish to obtain one.

Yep, DH just lost out on a job to a guy LESS qualified than he is. The reason was because they felt that since he is used to a fast paced, demanding job (read really long stinking hours and management that changes their minds at the drop of a hat) that he would be bored at their company. Well, let's see--he could work 8-5 and be paid more money than he currently makes. Not bored--thrilled!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Job hunting is a pain. I've been doing it for almost three months now (I do have a meager part time job right now so that's better than nothing). I've applied for 15-18 "no experience necessary" kind of jobs and have gone on two interviews where the interviewer has gone on and on at how great I was for the position only to never hear from him/her again and get no returned phone calls. It's frustrating.

 

[vhoffman]

Oh, yes, I've heard the "over qualified" thing before.

Actually, a friend of mine flat out lied on an application and did not state her 2 bachelors and MBA, just one degree. She was applying for a job in a library that required a bachelors degree, but she didn't want to hear the "over qualified" thing again. She got the job! Its a shame when your education becomes a liability!

 

[Bust*A*Stitch]

OK, i left a job with written notice because of some very questionable things that were going on ( illegal = jail time ). I don't want to put it on my resume, I don't even want to put it on the app, but you have to around here because they'll trash you when they do the back ground check.

how would YOU approach this in an interview?

 

[twinklebug]

OK, i left a job with written notice because of some very questionable things that were going on ( illegal = jail time ). I don't want to put it on my resume, I don't even want to put it on the app, but you have to around here because they'll trash you when they do the back ground check.

how would YOU approach this in an interview?

I think I'd make a *quick* mention of the position on the resume and when asked about it in an interview simply state that you left the position as you had a few things regarding the way the company was operated. End of story. I think a smart interviewer would pick up on the non-resentful, but firm tone you say it in (which you'll need to practice) and not push the issue.

It would only become a matter of concern to the interviewer if that position you left provides the bulk of experience you'll depend upon in the new job. In which case they'd want to talk to someone from there.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

As a working woman and a single mother, here's my pet peeve.

Women who come in and give me WAY too much information about their personal/family life during the interview process. For example:

Do not tell me when I ask where you see yourself in 5 years that you're hoping by then to have finally found a good man so you don't have to work anymore.

Do not ask me when I call you to schedule an interview how my supervisor feels about people who don't show up on snowdays because your husband doesn't trust you to drive in winter weather.

Do not tell me that you're returning to work from being a SAHM and that you don't actually think the kids are ready for you to go back but they're just so sensitive that they can't handle public school so you need to work to pay tuition.

Don't get me wrong, I don't see anything wrong with hoping to get married, being worried about driving in the snow, or returning to work to pay tuition, but sharing this much information too early is a liability and it makes me wonder about your committment to the job.

I just finished interviewing/negotiating and getting hired for a new job. At some point I did let them know that I had a child and that I wanted to know about dependent benefits, flexibility for things like PT conferences, whether or not I could make my vacations "match" my child's etc . . . However, those conversations happened AFTER lots of discussions that stayed on professional topics, and AFTER I had an initial offer.

 

[seashoreCM]

My pet peeve, and also what I believe was the motivation for this entire thread: "Why is it always an employer's market?"

Think you (as a recruiter) got it bad? Here's one and I'm (as the applicant) was the guilty party.

Now this was in an earlier lifetime, before Epcot.

1. I went to a recruiter.
2. I was thinking $18K salary (gives away the era) simply because my also graduating classmates were getting offers like that, and told the recruiter so.
3. Recruiter suggested putting down $15K to $17K which I (stupidly?) did. Or did the recruiter "know" something I "didn't"?
4. Went on an interview.
5. Got an offer for $16K.
6. Cat got my tongue and all I said was I didn't want the job.
7. Recruiter expressed extreme disappointment.

In 20/20 hindsight I should have counteroffered with $18K. Come to think of it I would have had a good chance of getting close to it, with the client company perhaps splitting the difference with the recruiter's commission and everyone would be at least half happy.

Live and learn. (Sorry that others suffered from the faux pas')

Fast forward to today (2007). I advocate talking to recruiters and going on interviews to gain practice interviewing. Also to play the numbers gaime i.e. the more tries the greater the probability of success. Should a negative attaboy (I won't mention the profane synonym) occur that is bad enough for the recruiter to act uneasy from that point forward, just stop dealing with him

 

[barkley]

some more from the 'hiring' side-

follow the directions on the application-if it says to handwrite the information-do so. failing to follow simple instructions at the application stage can indicate you may have issues following complex instructions if hired.

if you are giving a phone number with a voice mail or answering machine while job searching consider changing any unusual or obnoxious outgoing messages. it's not a great reflection on you if a prospective employer calls and has to listen to your 'personalized' greeting which you've recorded with the song 'i like big butts' loudly playing in the background nor is it easy for me to determine if i've reached the right number when it's someone's 3 year old's voice giving a non sensical message.

don't lie or mislead on an application. if we catch you in one it calls the rest of the info. into question. it can also be used as a reason to terminate you down the line. you probably also want to find a way (if you're still working) to take the time off for the interview without lieing to your current employer. i know of one situation where a candidate was seriously considered for hiring until the interviewer called the employer to get a reference. the interviewer called within hours of the interview (same day) and found the employee had lied to thier current employer by calling in sick that day. not only did the person not get the job (if you'll lie to them what's to say you won't to us?)-when they returned to work the next day their final check was waiting for them for lieing about the 'illness'.

 

[twinklebug]

... you probably also want to find a way (if you're still working) to take the time off for the interview without lieing to your current employer. i know of one situation where a candidate was seriously considered for hiring until the interviewer called the employer to get a reference. the interviewer called within hours of the interview (same day) and found the employee had lied to thier current employer by calling in sick that day. not only did the person not get the job (if you'll lie to them what's to say you won't to us?)-when they returned to work the next day their final check was waiting for them for lieing about the 'illness'.

Excellent advice. It's always best to tell your manager you have an appointment, you don't need to elaborate on what sort of appointment. Besides, the sick day bit is intended just for that... if you or a family member you take care of is sick or needs to run about for emergency reasons (dental, medical etc). <mini-rant> I've never understood why people abuse sick days. Do they think they're imune? Interviews, fun days, going to see the Red Sox -- that's what personal & vacation days are for. </mini-rant>

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I love the "You are overqualified for this position" Yes I know, but I do not have a job, therefore that makes me perfectly qualified, I want to work, you have an open position...don't complain if you are paying someone $8 an hour who is worth significantly more and they WANT to work there, there is a reason!

I mean I have a BA in English Lit, I have years of retail sales, food, and education experience. If I want to work at an entry level position, for minimal money, I have a reason. Mostly that I do not have a job, and wish to obtain one.

I worked in a customer service center for a natural gas company. My company downsized and closed the doors. Yet I was in need of money and I became unemployed right after 9/11 happened and the economy was not looking good.
So during my job hunt I applied at a cleaning company and was told I was over qualified to clean houses!
So I went home and told my family I was over qualified to clean houses - I guess I don't have to clean my own house anymore!

 

[crazelion]

I love the "You are overqualified for this position" Yes I know, but I do not have a job, therefore that makes me perfectly qualified, I want to work, you have an open position...don't complain if you are paying someone $8 an hour who is worth significantly more and they WANT to work there, there is a reason!

I mean I have a BA in English Lit, I have years of retail sales, food, and education experience. If I want to work at an entry level position, for minimal money, I have a reason. Mostly that I do not have a job, and wish to obtain one.

You hit the nail on the head.

 

[branv]

I truly understand the frustration of being told you are overqualified. For so many people who want to change careers and have years of experience/education in another area, this can make it difficult to get that entry level experience you need.

However, you have to look at it from the companies perspective (not to defend them per se, I have alot of beefs with the way corporations, red tape, etc work), turn over costs them a lot of money. You'd be surprised how much it costs to have a position stand empty on top of the costs of recruiting and processing the hiring for a new employee. It can be in the thousands for even what you might think of as small jobs. Companies want to find someone they feel will want to stay in this job. If you have alot of experience or alot of education, and this is a minimum wage/entry level job, the company knows you will be out the door as soon as you find something better. You are only accepting this job because you have to...not because you are yearning to have a fulfilling career in that field, resulting in no fidelity or stay-put'edness (I know, I know, given the state of lay-offs it's unbelievably hypocritical, but it's the way it is) Of course it's a shame that you can't find work, and you're willing to do anything, but they don't feel it is their job to hire you because they sympathize with you. Their goal is to meet their objectives/the bottom line, and they can't do that if they are dealing with a revolving door of employees (don't get me started, however, on how little companies do to retain good employees ).

The corporate world is not fair or just. Employees have no loyalty to their companies anymore because we've learned the hard way that in good times we are part of a "Family" and in hard times (or just "the stock went down even though we made a profit, so lets lay some people off to make our stock go up") we are just another piece of office equipment.

Companies gripe and moan about the high cost of turn over and the inability to keep employees. They have no foresight OR hindsight as to how their business decisions have created that environment. SO, they control turn over the best way they can, and one way is by screening for the "over-qualified." They want YOU to be in a position to really commit to this job...though the company will not do the same for you.

And there's my little rant.

To be fair, some companies are perfectly nice and ethical, but they've done this a loooooong time and though you don't know how miserable you'll be doing the job, they, from many years of dealing with unsatisfied employees and correlating what results in that, do know there's a 90% chance you'll be miserable. So if it makes you feel better: if a company considers you to be too good for them, they're probably right Something better and smarter is around the corner.

 

[Aristomommy]

I find it very interesting how companies view their employees based on the job market. My chosen field has a lack of licensed employees and I get weekly offers by mail, e-mail and phone from recruiters and companies trying to entice me to become a part of their "happy family". Interviews are all about them trying to convince me how happy I would be at their company, all I need to do is bring my license and I'm hired. I changed jobs about a year ago and went through this with several companies before deciding which situation was the best for me. It's very surreal situation, as it is not the norm.Once there, they offer bonuses and raises to keep up with the other companies so I don't even think about changing jobs again.

For DH, it's the opposite. He sent hundreds of resumes to jobs posted online, by recruiting companies and professional contacts he had. He was careful to craft the cover letter to reflect the posting, tweaked his resume to highlight the skills and certifications requested and only applied if he felt he was qualified and perform all job duties. Out of those resumes sent, he received maybe 10 interviews, most of which said they weren't sure when they were filling the positions as they are "feeling out the market" (how cheaply they could get someone). It was very disappointing as he is highly qualified, hard working professional. This really shows that companies will do whatever they can get away with.