Modern job hunting

JonnyHistory

JonnyHistory

Well-known member
I was made redundant in November last year and have been looking for work since.

I have noticed a big change in recruitment processes (certainly within my current field marketing) and it slowly grinding me down.

Most notable changes I have seen are:

1. Recruiters next to impossible to speak to and when you do they are not as proactive as they used to be.
2. Video submissions, or asking for "creative videos" unrelated to the role you are applying for.
3. Companies asking you to complete tasks and create presentations on them (essentially getting work for free before you have even interviewed.)
4. Lots of bait and switch advertising of the roles. Specifically, specifying the job is remote (I need this as I have my autistic son 50% of the time and have no childcare or support network to assist with childcare) and then in interview saying its in office or hybrid.
5. Application forms sent to you asking for you to essentially write the same details that are in your CV, why not just specify that this is the process to begin with?
6. No salary range on job advert or some asking what my salary expectations are. This is a clear way of trying to minimise compensation for the role.

There are more but those are the most egregious that I am finding the most frustrating.

I have 20 years of experience and have other transferable skills from other job types I have done sporadically (financial research and teaching) and I am being asked to do a video submission showcasing how I am "different or a creative superstar" like I am trying to get on a reality TV show or just outright lied to about what the role is. I have never been this long without work and becoming more disheartened each passing day.

Am I just being left behind and not changing with the times?
Are other job seekers finding similar changes in their respective industries or is this just a marketing specific trend?
 
GibbosEmpire said:
When you apply for a job online and it says full-time but you go to the application process and it says its zero hour contract or part time really gets on my t*ts, waste my F***ing time
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Yeah have come across this too! The bait and switches are rife on all the job boards!
 
I've been with my company over 26 years and want out, but this kind of thing scared me sh1tl355. I had a peek and I have seen part of what you are saying. I've worked with dozens of recruiters over the last 10-15 years and hired boat loads of staff from them and lining their pockets. When I go calling, for me looking for a role, I get fobbed off. So much for me making their lives easy all this time. to55ers!
 
sadgit said:
I've been with my company over 26 years and want out, but this kind of thing scared me sh1tl355. I had a peek and I have seen part of what you are saying. I've worked with dozens of recruiters over the last 10-15 years and hired boat loads of staff from them and lining their pockets. When I go calling, for me looking for a role, I get fobbed off. So much for me making their lives easy all this time. to55ers!
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I have moved around but always to another role, in marketing the best pay progression is made through switching jobs unfortunately as success is usually just rewarded with more work and responsibilities and no increase in compensation. This time I was blindsided and company was in trouble and was given my 2 weeks notice and see you later.

Since then its just been a slog. over 300 applications sent and just 2 interviews! I asked fro feedback on a role I was massively over qualified for expecting to be told "you are just to senior for the role" and they said "on our advert we asked fro specific skills you should have tailored your CV to match that" when I replied and asked specifically what was not there they said "you made no mention of your IT proficiency with things like word and excel" I HAVE WORKED IN DIGITAL MARKETING FOR 20 YEARS! I figured I was past the point of proving I can use a spreadsheet or word processor!
 
JonnyHistory said:
Since then its just been a slog. over 300 applications sent and just 2 interviews! I asked fro feedback on a role I was massively over qualified for expecting to be told "you are just to senior for the role" and they said "on our advert we asked fro specific skills you should have tailored your CV to match that" when I replied and asked specifically what was not there they said "you made no mention of your IT proficiency with things like word and excel" I HAVE WORKED IN DIGITAL MARKETING FOR 20 YEARS! I figured I was past the point of proving I can use a spreadsheet or word processor!
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Unfortunately that's the pi55 poor state of recruitment these days - as I have to go though the rigmarole regularly for my contracts, I'm exposed to it quite often, both when I'm looking and while being cold called when I'm in a contract - getting your name from LinkedIn is the absolute pits for this

Too many "number crunching" companies employing (and giving "stretch targets" to) kids to process "names" to spam potential employers with, regardless of suitability, whilst also not understanding the requirement and/or having the skills or ability to develop a relationship with either the employer or the candidate.

Rant over

I'm lucky that over the years I've managed to build a relationship with two or three decent recruiters in my specific field who will always look out for me and suggest roles, but won't put me forward for anything they don't think I'm suitable for because that would impact on their reputation as well as mine
 
Malaguena said:
Unfortunately that's the pi55 poor state of recruitment these days - as I have to go though the rigmarole regularly for my contracts, I'm exposed to it quite often, both when I'm looking and while being cold called when I'm in a contract - getting your name from LinkedIn is the absolute pits for this

Too many "number crunching" companies employing (and giving "stretch targets" to) kids to process "names" to spam potential employers with, regardless of suitability, whilst also not understanding the requirement and/or having the skills or ability to develop a relationship with either the employer or the candidate.

Rant over

I'm lucky that over the years I've managed to build a relationship with two or three decent recruiters in my specific field who will always look out for me and suggest roles, but won't put me forward for anything they don't think I'm
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Yeah, I think the diminished role recruiters play is whats surprising me the most, once a recruiter had a chat with me in years gone they would ring me with suitable roles and even advise on CV tweaks were needed. Now nobody seems to understand what my skills are or what they are recruiting for, that's if you can get them on the phone at all. I spent 3 hours yesterday trying to be proactive and ring recruitment firms to discuss several roles, I spoke to 1 person who said they would email me within the hour about an opportunity ... not heard a sausage since and he blanked my call today!
Did not expect to be in this position in my 40s!
 
Feel for you Johnny. Not a nice place to be.

Thankfully I will never have to go through that process again, probably. 59 and been with Infosys 12 years. If I was made redundant I would just retire, I think.
 
Laughing said:
Feel for you Johnny. Not a nice place to be.

Thankfully I will never have to go through that process again, probably. 59 and been with Infosys 12 years. If I was made redundant I would just retire, I think.
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Thanks buddy, its a strange feeling and not one I am accustomed too.

I am sure something will land eventually but as I said in op the climate and culture of recruitment in my industry just creates frustration in me and I am having to fight hard to go through the processes as they want me too.

I have drawn the line at producing work and presentations though prior to interview, happy to discuss theoretical work or strategies in an interview but the majority of the requests have been very specific to their business and one thing I believe is working class people like myself have one thing to make money in this world and that's our labour. I value that to much to give away for free.
 
Laughing said:
Feel for you Johnny. Not a nice place to be.

Thankfully I will never have to go through that process again, probably. 59 and been with Infosys 12 years. If I was made redundant I would just retire, I think.
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I don't think you should admit to helping Sunak fill his wallet.
 
JonnyHistory said:
"you made no mention of your IT proficiency with things like word and excel" I HAVE WORKED IN DIGITAL MARKETING FOR 20 YEARS! I figured I was past the point of proving I can use a spreadsheet or word processor!
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Having been on the other side of the table recently, for 1 day of interviewing you've got 5-6 spots to fill. You've received 25 applications, 10 have sent a CV when the advert said fill in the application form, Line 1 of the scoring matrix "Fully completed application form, score 0-3" they get a 0 & on the first zero you can stop marking, great we are down to 15. 5 haven't provided copies of their certificates, Line 2 of the scoring matrix "Have provided evidence of qualifications" boom, 10 left.
Now the hard work begins of reading the application forms, & if you've got 2 applicants for 1 spot that is when the nit-picking 'the advert said knowledge of Excel is essential but candidate A hasn't mentioned it' starts.

Daft way to recruit someone imo but it keeps HR happy.
 
newusername said:
Having been on the other side of the table recently, for 1 day of interviewing you've got 5-6 spots to fill. You've received 25 applications, 10 have sent a CV when the advert said fill in the application form, Line 1 of the scoring matrix "Fully completed application form, score 0-3" they get a 0 & on the first zero you can stop marking, great we are down to 15. 5 haven't provided copies of their certificates, Line 2 of the scoring matrix "Have provided evidence of qualifications" boom, 10 left.
Now the hard work begins of reading the application forms, & if you've got 2 applicants for 1 spot that is when the nit-picking 'the advert said knowledge of Excel is essential but candidate A hasn't mentioned it' starts.

Daft way to recruit someone imo but it keeps HR happy.
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I have spent much of my career on that side of the table also. I appreciate recruitment is hard to get right but for me that kind of algorithmic paint by numbers approach like you say is daft!

Looking at the CV for me was like 10% of hiring someone, the work didn't start until the interview, are they a personality fit, and also can they talk about the things they have on their CV or have they blagged it ect. It seems like industry after industry are removing human interaction for "efficiency" reasons or to tick boxes and I am not able to adapt right now I think.
 
newusername said:
Having been on the other side of the table recently, for 1 day of interviewing you've got 5-6 spots to fill. You've received 25 applications, 10 have sent a CV when the advert said fill in the application form, Line 1 of the scoring matrix "Fully completed application form, score 0-3" they get a 0 & on the first zero you can stop marking, great we are down to 15. 5 haven't provided copies of their certificates, Line 2 of the scoring matrix "Have provided evidence of qualifications" boom, 10 left.
Now the hard work begins of reading the application forms, & if you've got 2 applicants for 1 spot that is when the nit-picking 'the advert said knowledge of Excel is essential but candidate A hasn't mentioned it' starts.

Daft way to recruit someone imo but it keeps HR happy.
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Reminds me of looking for a UNIX sysadmin. When I sat down to go through the requirements, the first thing I got was "degree". After we finished arguing, the agreement was that if we had two equal candidates, we would take the one with the degree. Needless to say, the new recruit did not have a degree.
 
NYboro said:
Reminds me of looking for a UNIX sysadmin. When I sat down to go through the requirements, the first thing I got was "degree". After we finished arguing, the agreement was that if we had two equal candidates, we would take the one with the degree. Needless to say, the new recruit did not have a degree.
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Yeah agree with this sentiment, you need to recruit the right person and having a degree does not necessarily make them the best fit. I have two degrees (neither related to my field) and some of the most talented people I have worked with in my industry are entirely self taught.
 
Too many recruiters are sending blanket emails out to companies even when it's obvious that the candidate(s) they are looking to place work in a totally different field or are looking for work in Bristol even though we're based in NE.
Probably the biggest use of the mark as junk button in my inbox.
 
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