I'm really getting tired of online job applications

[Vinsanity93]

...these online job applications . It feels like whenever I tell the truth on the questionnaire, I don't even get a chance with an interview. I read somewhere that if there are "wrong" answers that it won't ever be seen by a human. Guess I have to start lying on all the questions then...

 

[ebusinesstutor]

Try freelance work. Thousands of projects out there and you can work from home.

 

[Kamau]

Then be dishonest. It may not be the best policy, but if you have a family and bills, then go for what you know. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, it's just the way things work nowadays.
As they say, "I didn't make the rules. I'm just playing the game".

 

[Kelmar]

I'll be the one to say it. Don't be dishonest on the application. I've had the unfortunate responsibility to fire MULTIPLE people after finding out they lied on their application and resume. In EVERY single one of these circumstances they have all said it wasn't worth lying about... it just postpones the damage and makes finding a new job even harder.

 

[gbiggie]

It IS very frustrating especially when you don't receive any indication that your application was even considered.
The last time I was looking I flooded the job market with maybe 50-60 apps for jobs in my field. After about a week of no replies I ended up setting up 4 interviews for the following week.
Persistence pays off! Keep pushing on:thumbup:

 

[Kamau]

All I know is that my last job, I held for 13 years before I was laid off, and I did lie on my application. But when they found out 2 months later after I hired in that I had lied, they measured that against the type of employee I was and how well I did my job.
When I was in charge of my section, and did hiring/firing, I did the same thing. I looked at the job performance of the person. I also took into account the job market and how sparce jobs in my area were/are.
Bottom line: sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. In the end, I'm not telling the OP to do it or not. As I tell everyone about making the wrong decision, be prepared to take either the rewards or the punishment.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Try freelance work. Thousands of projects out there and you can work from home.

Depends on the kind of work and the pay. Opportunities abound but the rate is quite often so horrible, I cannot see why any fool would think these offers are worth a damn.

My rates are high, and I do OK. I seldom use the web to whore for work; my jobs come to me and the pay is far greater than the 1.50 or so for 500 words many people want to pay "writers" or people want to pay.

Mind your rights and read the TOS.

Freelancing is fun but often fraught with danger, low pay, a loss of rights no "real" writer would tolerate. There are many things that make me avoid many/most freelance job sites.

 

[Bob Maxey]

All I know is that my last job, I held for 13 years before I was laid off, and I did lie on my application. But when they found out 2 months later after I hired in that I had lied, they measured that against the type of employee I was and how well I did my job.
When I was in charge of my section, and did hiring/firing, I did the same thing. I looked at the job performance of the person. I also took into account the job market and how sparce jobs in my area were/are.
Bottom line: sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. In the end, I'm not telling the OP to do it or not. As I tell everyone about making the wrong decision, be prepared to take either the rewards or the punishment.

I think most people pad their applications and perhaps a few lie or they stretch the truth a bit. I think most hiring managers expect a 'creative' resume.

The problem with lying is it gives an employer a great excuse to fire you at will. You can be the best worker in the company and still, sometimes you are fired for reasons that make no sense.

A lie can bite you later so avoid them at all costs.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Then be dishonest. It may not be the best policy, but if you have a family and bills, then go for what you know. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, it's just the way things work nowadays.
As they say, "I didn't make the rules. I'm just playing the game".

WOW, how I so disagree with this.

Lying is never a good way to get a job or anything else. I can see why some people feel the need to lie, but I also know that qualified people are sometimes not hired or even considered because they do not know how to prepare a resume that today's hiring people will even look at.

I know some hiring managers Google you and perhaps the OP was Googled and something was said that upset someone. Perhaps it is your Facebook pages or Twitter? Perhaps there was a typo in your application or your resume was two pages long or you did not follow the application process properly or you spelled the manager/company wrong.

I have helped manufacturers eliminate jobs and I just went through the great American employment hunting process and I learned what not to do when you prepare your resume. I posted a few tips on the forum.

 

[Bob Maxey]

...these online job applications . It feels like whenever I tell the truth on the questionnaire, I don't even get a chance with an interview. I read somewhere that if there are "wrong" answers that it won't ever be seen by a human. Guess I have to start lying on all the questions then...

Can you post a few examples? There are ways to honestly answer the questions and not lie. When you lie, you are subject to termination. Like I just posted, I might like to see resumes/applications with a few lies; it gives me a chance to fire you at will some where down the road. Sounds bad, but there you go.

So how is your resume looking? Do you use power words and phrases? Is your resume one page or is it a novel? When you make a claim about job performance, can you explain what you did, how it impacted the company and so forth? Or did you attach a resume at all?

Did you Google yourself and see what others will see when they Google you? And they will, this is just a fact. If you hate republicans with a blind passion and you say so all over the web, some republican hiring manager might just toss your app or delete it.

Assuming you attached a cover letter/resume, are you using words in your resume that are in the job posting? Some people use Crawlers to make sure your resume contains skills that they are looking for.

How many resumes do you have? I have resumes created for specific industries, jobs within the industries I want to work and in a few cases, resumes specific to one company. I also have a general resume for other jobs I might find interesting as well as ten different cover letters and a special email account just for job related stuff.

Perhaps if you provide a few examples and more details, we can help you.

What field are you interested in? Are you applying through a recruiter or employment agency? Are you applying for jobs you are not qualified for? This often happens.

We need more info.

Let me give you a simple fact: if you approach the process properly, if you present yourself properly, if you do not lie and if you are qualified for the job, you will find work. The economy sucks, but companies still need people. They just want the best people.

Here in SLC, there are open positions for fine pitch solder techs. One manufacturer simply cannot find qualified applicants. I would be hired if
I applied because I can solder fine pitch SMT components without a microscope.

It is my opinion that companies demand more these days and they want specific skills and employees that can adapt. I think so many are having trouble finding work because they apply to companies they really are not qualified to work for or they do not impress the hiring manager/HR or they have killed their chances to get the job because they do not know how to apply these days.

I certainly learned lots of things about job hunting in the last few weeks and I am a smart guy with monster skills in all phases of high-speed, high volume production. I am a treasure.

I do wish you luck, it is tough but not impossible to land a job.

 

[breadnatty08]

Had to do a generic phone interview with the Ritz to work in pastry. I was plenty qualified but don't think I answered their questions right, mostly about guest services. They never called me back. Ugh.
Best of luck to you.

 

[saptech]

The current job market is a different beast now days then in the past. It's a companies market and they call all the shots, including being very picky on who they interview and hire. Of course, alot of them want to underpay you also.

I've been in myself for over a year after being laid off a job I had for 15 years. And I guess my age didn't help either. Companies are age discriminating but it would be very hard to prove it in court.

Just keep looking and the best of luck on finding a good job.

 

[Kamau]

The current job market is a different beast now days then in the past. It's a companies market and they call all the shots, including being very picky on who they interview and hire. Of course, alot of them want to underpay you also.

I've been in myself for over a year after being laid off a job I had for 15 years. And I guess my age didn't help either. Companies are age discriminating but it would be very hard to prove it in court.

Just keep looking and the best of luck on finding a good job.

That's me in a nutshell, only in reverse. I've been out for a little over a year after holding the last one down for over 13. I'm 55 and are experiencing the age discrimination thing too. I went to college, but have always preferred the labor jobs. But realistically, my age makes employers hesitant to hire me (that, and I'm a union man).
The job market is a whole lot different as you say. That's why I say do what you have to do to get a job, but be prepared for the outcome, good or bad.

 

[FredParks]

I use to work as a recruitment consultant and would set these online job apps up pretty much all the time.

These short questions are often things requested by the hiring company. If you don't have them, you simply won't have the experience or skill set to get and KEEP the job. The market is very competitive for jobs right now, and has been for a while. This means that these companies can be extremely picky when hiring and they will be as well.

If you end up leaving in 3 months after somehow getting the job, your CV will look terrible and you'll up making yourself unemployable anyway.

I wouldn't recommend the lying route. Most interviews will catch you out, and that doesn't - the job will.

 

[Vinsanity93]

Well, right now I'm looking for a job not a career and the online apps I filled out didn't have a place to upload r