Star Ledger Article: Online Recruiting Frustrates Job Seekers.
Online recruiting frustrates job seekers
By Star-Ledger Wire Services
April 23, 2010, 9:32PM
Jim Gehrz/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCTJob seekers attend the 2010 Get Jobs Fair in Eagan, Minnesota, on March 25, 2010. When Becky Cole lost her grant-writing job to the recession two years ago, she began scouring job fairs. She didn’t like what she saw.
Several recruiters refused to take her résumé or give their business cards. They just referred her to the company website and told her to apply online. Others had a dish full of candy and lots of brochures, but no jobs. Several recruiters admitted they were only there to fill a quota for their marketing department.
“It annoys me to no end,” Cole said. “People come to a job fair expecting to be able to apply for a job. And if you don’t have job openings and can’t do an interview, don’t tell me to go apply online.”
Not every recruiter dismisses candidates with a swift nod to the web. But anecdotal evidence abounds that such practices are alive and well. Employment experts insist it’s simply part of a modern, high-tech, less-touch world, one in which online recruiting reigns supreme.
Human resource managers argue that the online job application process helps them manage herds of hungry candidates. It’s not uncommon for one job opening to solicit hundreds of résumés, they say.
On the flip side, however, are tens of thousands of frustrated job seekers like Cole who say they are demoralized by the faceless black hole of today’s employment hunt.
“People feel very defeated working with online applications,” said Jane Samargia, executive director of HIRED, which does job placement for the state of Minnesota.
Young job seekers recently told HIRED counselors they think online job applications “are just a big scam,” Samargia said. “They’ve never heard a response back from any employer, so they don’t believe online is a real avenue to applying for a job. They really think it’s just fiction and a way for others to get their personal information.”
Samargia’s team encourages job searchers to network like mad. “If you only use the computer, you will never find a job.”
Dakota County Workforce Development Division specialist Mike Lang agreed. “We usually see 60 to 70 job seekers coming in every week, and almost every week we hear comments about how the employers are not getting back to them. They are actually happy if they receive a rejection letter, because at least it’s something. Most of the time they apply online and don’t hear back on anything.”
Showing up in person for a job fair hasn’t netted better results, said Lang, who coordinates fairs for the county. “Last year, there were companies that signed up, but when it actually came time for the fair they didn’t have openings. So they were just there to provide information. And I do hear that (the job seekers) are told to go to the website and submit an application, even though they … come in and meet face to face.”
At the last job fair, some 3,800 people showed up with the hope of getting a real interview, and maybe a job. But they heard a familiar tune — go online.
“They are just really burned out and tired of it,” Lang said.
Employers often are bombarded with applications. Samargia said HIRED recently posted an online ad for a front desk clerk and had more than 500 applications in four days. Large corporations see even higher volumes.
“Again and again, (HR managers) say they are completely overwhelmed and defeated. They put out one job opening and their systems are quickly overwhelmed. … They don’t have enough staff to handle them. So it’s kind of a vicious circle,” Samargia said.
Some job seekers are perceiving slights when there aren’t any, said HIRED Senior Program Manager John Klem.
A representative for a hospital recently stated that its “Equal Employment Opportunity rules require all applicants to apply online and … (for) all applications to first be reviewed by someone to ensure … basic qualifications for the job,” Klem said. Even if a recruiter likes a candidate, all steps must be followed before scheduling an interview.
But Cole doesn’t want to hear it. She became so fed up with online applications and dead-end job fairs that she began hosting her own job fairs last year. She has strict rules about what she will and won’t tolerate from recruiters.
Leave that candy dish at the office and come to the job fair with real jobs, she tells companies who pay $20 to $40 to set up a booth. Her fees include lunch. She won’t give space to a recruiter who refuses to interview job seekers, look over résumés and give feedback.”When I do it, I can be more particular about who I like … and don’t,” she said. “If I host, then I can say to certain organizations, ‘No. You stay home.’ “
Nadia Petrova Eliminates Venus Williams From The 2010 French Open. It Is Time For Venus To Retire!
Once again, Venus Williams disappoints her tennis fans across the world. Nadia Petrova of Russia blasted Venus Williams 6-4 6-3 in the fourth round of the French Open.
The bottom half of the women’s draw was opened up for Venus when Svetlana Kuznetsova was eliminated on Saturday by Maria Kirlenko. Venus had an easy path to the women’s final but Venus just doesn’t have the spark of a champion anymore.
There is no need for excuses, Venus is simply old and slow she just doesn’t have the ability to raise her game to the champion level.
Venus received more media attention for her dress and underwear than her tennis. I think Venus was distracted by the media attention. Yes, Nadia Petrova is a good player, but Venus had a 4-0 lead in their head to head series.
Venus turns thirty next month, I think it is time for Venus to seriously consider retirement. Venus will not win Wimbledon this year because Serena Williams is a superior player than Venus. If Serena plays her absolute best tennis she will win Wimbledon.
I think Justine Henin or Maria Sharapova have chances to win Wimbledon as well. Venus had a decent career but it is time for her to quit before she continues to embarass herself on the tennis court.
Meanwhile, Justine Henin won her third round match against Maria Sharapova. Henin scored an impressive 6-2 2-6 6-3 victory over Sharapova.
Elena Dementieva of Russia destroyed South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-1 6-3 she moves through to the quarterfinals. Francesca Schivaone of Italy easily defeated Maria Kirlenko of Russia 6-4 -6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki outlasted Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7-6 6-7 6-2 to reach the final eight.
I know some Venus Williams fans will not agree with me, but I believe Justine is superior than Venus.
Justine is more consistent and I believe Justine will win her eighth grand slam singles title before Venus does. It seems to me, that Venus only competes at the highest level at Wimbledon.
Veuus performance against Petrova today points to the fact she is simply getting too old to win grand slam singles titles. Venus just doesn’t have the mental toughness anymore to win big matches. If you look at Venus losses this year she has embarassed herself in every single loss.
Petrova is a talented but very mentally fragile player, it is pathetic that Venus lost to Petrova.
French Open 2010 Schedule For Canadian Tennis Fans Fourth Round To The Finals.
| May 31st | 2010 French Open Tennis: Round of 16 | 10:00 AM |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1st | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals | 8:00 AM |
| Jun 2nd | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s Quarterfinals | 8:00 AM |
| Jun 2nd | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s Quarterfinals | 8:00 PM |
| Jun 3rd | 2010 French Open Tennis: Women’s Semifinals | 8:00 AM |
| Jun 4th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s Semifinals | 7:00 AM |
| Jun 5th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Women’s Final  |
9:00 AM |
| Jun 6th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s Final |
9:00 AM |
| DATE | TSN2 | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| May 30th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Round of 16 | 5:00 AM |
| May 31st | 2010 French Open Tennis: Round of 16 | 5:00 AM |
| May 31st | 2010 French Open Tennis: Round of 16 | 3:00 PM |
| Jun 1st | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals | 3:00 PM |
| Jun 2nd | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s Quarterfinals | 3:00 PM |
| Jun 3rd | 2010 French Open Tennis: Women’s Semifinals | 3:00 PM |
| Jun 5th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Women’s Final |
2:30 PM |
| Jun 6th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Women’s Final |
3:00 AM |
| Jun 6th | 2010 French Open Tennis: Men’s Final |
2:00 PM |
Gayblackcanada 