Are you frustrated with online application systems?
This may seem like a strange post, but I am venting for a group that I am not currently part of. The group I represent (at no charge) are those who must continually use online application systems to apply for jobs.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not about only applying on line and not networking. I am the world’s largest advocate for networking and that will not change. The issue is this, at the end of every process the applicant usually has to submit their intent through an online process that is somewhere between a swift kick in the rear and some other more descriptive terms that I will omit. Let’s put it this way; most online applicant systems are solely designed with the receiver in mind and rarely with the user, those providing the input, in mind.
How do I know this? I know in many ways. I work as a volunteer with a large career transition group in the Nashville area on a regular basis and I hear the talk from those I help each week. Every one of them can tell you who has the best and the WORST online applicant system. I realize that those dealing with the applicants have to have a system to deal with the large submission volume, but I have one question for those who are on the receiving end of the applications tha come online: Have you personally ever gone to your system and submitted the application and related documents like your applicants do? I would venture to guess that less than one-third of you have. If you had done so, you would have never put your systems into place.
Two to three years ago every employer I know would have done just about anything to make their application process easier and smoother. Those days have come and gone and many firms have paid less attention to how job seekers interface with them. This too will change.
I would be very interested to hear push back from some of you about this. Do you agree with my assertion that most online applicant systems stink? If you know of a good one, tell us who has it.
Job seekers have enough stress in their lives. Let’s not throw one more hurdle in front of them.
It is frustrating when a job is re-posted — and just because you applied for the same title in the past — sometimes several months ago — the system shuts one out and prevents the applicant from applying again. This can be maddening.
Jim Flood, SPHR
March 4, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Thanks Dan for this post. My company has an Applicant Tracking System product (ApplicantStack) that our customers use to create online job applications. It’s always helpful to step back and look at a process from the user’s point of view. We designed our system to be simple and easy-to-use, both for the recruiter AND the applicant. Hopefully this is the case in practice.
Nathan Shackles
March 10, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I am currently in the process of looking for new opportunities and I must confess, the application process for many companies, especially large, is very frustrating. I am applying for Expatriate Management roles with banks that want me to complete numerical reasoning tests. The point being?????? By not doing so well in the test, I get filtered out automatically and this by no means is representative of my capabilities within expatriate management!! Very frustrating and I wish the process is more generic and simple!
Vasanthi Ramesh
March 10, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Dan, excellent blog! I work at HR Services, the company that provides the myStaffingPro applicant tracking system. After implementing hundreds of systems, I agree that some companies choose to implement a tedious application process that can take over an hour. If the company has an in-depth process, I would suggest breaking it up into several steps to reduce the upfront applicant burden. The two step process enables recruiters to review the applicant information and only invite those applicants that they are interested in to complete the second step.
Julia Friemering
March 11, 2010 at 7:58 am
I’ve been out here for a year now. After 6 months I finally gave in and officially started a freelance business but I’m still applying for jobs. Don’t really like working alone. I’m convinced that part of the our current jobless problem (in this country) is a direct result of the online application black hole syndrome. It has dehumanized Human Resources. And blatantly DOES NOT WORK. And because it is pretty much the only way we can apply for jobs…we have no alternative. I don’t apply for jobs I am not qualified to do. By the time a recruiter gets back to me (if they ever do) I usually can’t remember anything about the application. It is a sad situation in dire times.
Alicia
March 12, 2010 at 11:49 am
I’m a help desk agent and I was at work the other day when a cusomer called to complain about the sound card in his computer. He said, “the right channel is comming out of the left speaker and vice versa” so I told him to switch the speakers and he felt so stupid he hung up on me! Humor is good so laugh. Anyone else have a good one?
Philippines Help Desk Guy
March 24, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Fantastic article, keep up the good work.
Genealogy
March 28, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Hey, great blog! I work for a company that uses HealthcareSource for all of their HR needs. It seems to be a great source for applicant tracking and talent issues. I noticed they have a new whitepaper download for anyone interested, here is the link. http://healthcaresource.com/bestpractices?pmc=SM-01
keep up the good work, and happy trails!
Sara
sara clement
April 19, 2010 at 11:05 am