Getting a job takes more work than many people think
The exasperation in the voice on the other end of the phone line
was evident. What could he do? Where could he turn? Doesn’t ANYBODY
in Hollister know what it takes to get a job? Can the newspaper
help?
Last week I got a call from the manager of a local business
that, believe it or not, is looking to hire people and pay them a
living wage. Trouble is, he said,
”
18 out of every 20
”
applications that he receives are filled out incorrectly, if
even filled in completely.
Getting a job takes more work than many people think
The exasperation in the voice on the other end of the phone line was evident. What could he do? Where could he turn? Doesn’t ANYBODY in Hollister know what it takes to get a job? Can the newspaper help?
Last week I got a call from the manager of a local business that, believe it or not, is looking to hire people and pay them a living wage. Trouble is, he said, “18 out of every 20” applications that he receives are filled out incorrectly, if even filled in completely.
“They think they can show up with a smile and get hired,” he said. “It’s amazing. It speaks to that generation.”
The manager who called identified himself and his store but asked that his name not be used in the article. He’s not looking for publicity; he just wants job-seekers – particularly younger ones, but seasoned ones as well – to understand how important presentation is in the job search. The means both the way you look in person and the way your resume makes you look.
“I’ve had applications that are 40 percent filled out,” he lamented. “Some people use crayons, green ink, pencil, goat’s blood. I’m sure there’s talent out there, but it takes me two-and-a-half seconds to say ‘OK, next’ when I see an application filled out incorrectly.”
This is a guy who wants to hire people – and pay them. He needs to hire half a dozen people for the holiday season, but he’s concerned that he may have to settle and take on people who don’t bother to take the time to make sure their application makes sense.
“It’s really troubling,” he said. “Or maybe these kids don’t know you can’t show up with hickies and baggy pants and expect to get hired.”
This isn’t a guy who is bashing teenagers. He wants them to work for him, but he is concerned that they are not being taught how to search for a job, starting with filling out a basic application.
“I have a lot of applications here that are laughable,” he said from his store, where he accepts 50 applications a month – about half of which come from people under age 20. “I’ve got to believe that people who don’t present themselves well to a manager are not going to show up on time or take care of my customers.”
This manager, who has worked at various retail outlets in various towns, said he always takes two applications home when he is applying for a job, so that he can make sure to get everything just right and have a back-up if he happens to make a mistake.
“I’m very meticulous when I fill it out because that application is going to speak about me to the employer,” he said.
He recalled receiving applications that were not filled out on the back because the applicant apparently didn’t turn the piece of paper over. There are the previous employer sections that list no address, or note that the supervisor’s name was “Max,” but Max apparently was a pop star and didn’t have a last name.
“I’m not going to look up phone numbers of previous employers and if someone fills out an application right in front of me in the store they’re not off to a good start,” he said. “I’m forced to ignore minor flaws and consider the applications with the least amount of mistakes. I’m not looking for the perfect application but it should be close to perfect – especially in these tough economic times.”
It could be that a lot of the applications he receives are from teens or others who are applying for a job just to say that they tried. At the very least, self-marketing is a skill that is sorely lacking in a time and a town where employment opportunities are precious and few.
So, what can this guy at the newspaper do? Not much, I’m afraid, other than let the manager know that I would share his story and remind teens that they have the Career Center at San Benito High School as a resource and remind adults that the county’s One-Stop Center offers plenty of help, both at its San Felipe Road site and on the Web.
Buy a belt for your pants; borrow a blue or back pen for your application; and please be more discerning about the placement of hickies. You’ve got to put in a little work in order to get work.
Adam Breen works two jobs because he filled out his applications correctly. He is a reporter for The Pinnacle and a journalism and yearbook teacher at San Benito High School. Check out his blog at http://thebreenblog.blogspot.com.
