Finding employment is a full-time job

_And this time, it’s impersonal
By Jacey Gibb

person that likes job hunting. Sure,

there’s the excitement of being a
rookie in a strange new world but the
whole search process is a minefield of
first impressions and guides on what not
to say. Unfortunately for me, the end of
semester meant it was time to trim my
beard and redecorate my resume in order
to woe/trick a potential employer into
hiring me instead of Joe Necktie over
there. Whenever I print out a fresh dead
tree’s worth of resumes and cover letters,
I always prepare myself for the self-
identified stigma that comes with it.

I can’t help but feel fourteen again
as I stroll through the mall with my folder
of resumes eagerly in hand. If only there
were a real life copy and paste function
for when I offer my resume and am dealt
back an application form in response.
How many different pieces of paper do
you need my name and address written
on? Do | laze it up and write “see resume”
when the form asks for my references
or do I take the extra couple of minutes
to transfer the exact same information?

[== think you can find a single

Could I have a dictionary to double check
my spelling?

A problem I’ve recently encountered
is the effect technology has had on the
application process. Almost every major
company I’ve gone to apply at, I didn’t
even get something to fill out but was
instead greeted with a post-it directing me
to their website in order to apply online.
Thanks guys! I don’t think I could have
found Starbucks’ homepage without your
assistance. Web addresses on post-its
could be the new Google!

In one way, making the application
process solely online and not even
accepting resumes in person makes sense.
It means no more token stack of neglected
and outdated resumes sitting in the office,
but it also removes the important and
often crucial first impression. This is
the impression that will be associated
with your resume when the manager
is arranging for interviews and it’s
impossible to make when you’re just a
name on a computer screen. “Yeah, Jacey
Gibb. Man, judging by that name I bet
this guy has the people skills of a king!”

Gone are the days of spending hours
wandering around, deploying resumes to

Qiaro

comfort of my own home and not have to
worry anymore about putting on pants!
God, I need to find a summer job...

anywhere with a “Help Wanted” sign and
I guess I should embrace the ‘innovations’
to the application process. Hey, at least
now I can search for a career from the

 

 

 

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