Applying for a job...

Years ago, back when I first applied for work, I went into WT Grant Co (a department store long gone), asked for an application, filled it out, handed it in, was called for an interview and hired.  Over the years, the process for applying for work has gotten consistently harder and more ridiculous than I could have ever imagined.

Okay - I get the fact that automation has taken over in 97% of the job market (very few places still ask you to come in and fill out a hand-written application - Rite Aid is one of them -- KUDOS TO THEM!!!).  After years of working, and depending on the position one was applying for, a "resume" took the place of the hand written form.  Then came the "kiosk" for applying for work, complete with an idiot test to see if you were awake and had functioning brain cells.  That process took about 15 to 20 minutes (depending on how "computer literate" you were).

Now we have reached the level of insanity when applying for work.  If you don't have your own computer, or if you don't have access to or knowledge of a computer, your out of luck.  Applying for a job now takes approximately an hour and a half of your time and energy.  No more "upload your resume here" and no more "email your resume to".  These corporations now expect you to sit at your computer for 90 minutes filling out THEIR form (which requires everything from setting up an account with them to your bowel habits), then hitting the "send" button and the only thing you get (sometimes) is an auto-reply email that tells you they got your application.

Wouldn't you think that sending a resume with your qualifications would be the smarter move???  That way, once they've reviewed it, they can decide whether or not you are a possible candidate and THEN have you fill out their application.  I've spent days at the computer applying for work and the most you can do at any given sitting is 3 - after four and half hours, your rear end is numb, your brain is fried and you are exhausted.

It never ceases to amaze me that we, as a society, have complicated even the simple act of applying for a job!!!