Online Job Applications A Pain For Companies

from the stop-applying-for-jobs-already! dept

Tue, Sep 17th 2002 11:12am — Mike Masnick

There's apparently a law that says US companies need to keep detailed records of the race and gender of people who apply for jobs. This is obviously part of an effort to fight discrimination, which is certainly a good thing. However, the rules say that everyone needs to be counted, no matter how serious the applicant is. With the popularity of easily applying for jobs online, there are tons of useless resumes sumbitted to companies who simply can't keep up with the demand to keep accurate records. Some companies say they've had to hire additional people just to check with each and every applicant on their race and gender (which seems like it could give the impression of discrimination, rather than the opposite - since many potential employees will be confused as to why they need to share such info).

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10 Comments

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digispice, 17 Sep 2002 @ 11:19am

hmmm...
I seem to remember havingthis discussion with the finance guy of the student government I worked for at school. I didn't want to mark down the info. He told me that he would then be instructed by the government to have me observed for racial and sexual characteristics. Or something like thta. Pretty creepy.
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Russ Little, 17 Sep 2002 @ 2:53pm

Online form to record info
I work for a company that had this same problem with hundreds of online applicants per job posting. It was becoming a major headache to send them all surveys. HR decided that if they apply online they can fill out the survey online. So we built a little web based database app that they can send out in response to an online application that asks the applicant to fill out all of the demographic information they would like to share.
HR can use the web based tool to view the results and download them for reporting. They estimate this has saved them thousands of dollars in postage alone, not to mention hundreds of hours to create the mailing lists and open the returned surveys and enter the data.
Pretty easy solution.

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Cathy Cooper, 25 Feb 2004 @ 7:23pm

Re: Online form to record info
I have put my application on-line hundreds of time trying to secure employment....not only have I not received a form by mail to enable the company to record my sex and race, I have not seen on on-line...furthermore I have not even had one response to my effects....Having only worked for 2 companies in 20 years and having excellent skills....I wonder if they just are just deleting the emails.
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Cathy Cooper, 25 Feb 2004 @ 7:24pm

Re: Online form to record info
I have put my application on-line hundreds of time trying to secure employment....not only have I not received a form by mail to enable the company to record my sex and race, I have not seen on on-line...furthermore I have not even had one response to my efforts....Having only worked for 2 companies in 20 years and having excellent skills....I wonder if they just are just deleting the emails.
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Smith, 26 May 2007 @ 9:47pm

http://www.jobshutt.com/links.php?sid=33&pageno=1
Up to 10,000 Latest Jobs In Pakistan Avialable. Forign Country Jobs Also Avialable.
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Mike, 10 Oct 2007 @ 9:57am

Who would have believed?
Who would have believed?
I thought it was a joke but it wasn’t.

Scenario:
I applied a Jobs using the may real name – never received a call for even a phone interview
I applied the same day with a different name, different layout same resume did received a e-mail followed by phone call

By the way I have tried this method for 3 different companies and it worked
If you do not believe me try your self- use very strange name then use the very ….. Name

Who would have thought a MBA graduate & Computer science graduate for accredited US University will first be judged by it color and the originality for even an entry level job?

Thought of changing name ---- well… no!
I will keep trying until those who believe, it is not a color or origin that define work performance
Until then I will keep try!

Anyone out there!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mike, 10 Oct 2007 @ 9:57am

Who would have believed?
Who would have believed?
I thought it was a joke but it wasn’t.

Scenario:
I applied a Jobs using the may real name – never received a call for even a phone interview
I applied the same day with a different name, different layout same resume did received a e-mail followed by phone call

By the way I have tried this method for 3 different companies and it worked
If you do not believe me try your self- use very strange name then use the very ….. Name

Who would have thought a MBA graduate & Computer science graduate for accredited US University will first be judged by it color and the originality for even an entry level job?

Thought of changing name ---- well… no!
I will keep trying until those who believe, it is not a color or origin that define work performance
Until then I will keep try!

Anyone out there!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Yunus shahalami, 2 Apr 2009 @ 7:30am

Re: http://www.jobshutt.com/links.php?sid=33&pageno=1
can you please send me the information about the jobs that are availble in pakistan and around the world please i cant access your website at the momment for some resaon
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Online Job Nepal, 15 Dec 2009 @ 12:38am

Beware of Possible Scam Form
The Internet is very convenient for job hunting because you can find vacancies in different parts of the country and even the world! You new employer can be from the USA, Canada, France or Hungary. However, the same feature makes the Internet a very effective tool for fraudulent activity. That’s why looking for decent project jobs online, you can become a victim of scammers. so be careful before filling any online forms.Online Job Nepal
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Michelle, 19 Jan 2010 @ 9:51am

Disclosing Race for Online Applications
I find it ridiculous that we have gone so far as to rquire companies to keep track of race on job applications! I want a company to hire me for my expertise, not my skin color. Online provides the best anonymity a job applicant could ask for. I mean realistically how can somone complain of discrimination by e-mail or electronic submission unless of course you are REQUIRED to tell people you are hispanic, black, or white. Without this requirement companies would be forced to chose the best candidate for the position and consider nothing else. Have we lost our senses?
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