I am looking for work. Each employer has their own requirements for filing online. Obviously this means entering duplicate information. I have roboform, but find this to be of limited usefulness. How have you dealt with this problem? Surely there is a simple way to deal with this.
The simplest way is to fill out each application manually.
I suppose you could copy and paste each question into a Word document in case another company asks the same thing. Otherwise, what choice do you have?
I’m convinced that online application forms are designed to weed out lazy, stupid and impatient applicants. You want the job? Work for it! Everything from redundant questions, random logging in and out, grammatically incorrect or nonsensical questions (happens surprisingly often here, when most forms were likely written in French then translated into English), etc. It’s incredibly frustrating, but other than filling out the forms manually, I don’t think there’s much you can do about it.
I do have a text file with a bunch of paragraphs that I can pick and choose from - and then further customize - for cover letter or career objective questions. That’s about as efficient as I’ve been able to make it!
This!
Completing an online job application is actually the first step for HR to remove potential applicants from the job pool. Unless you take time to tailor your application, including checking for all grammar and typo issues, your application will never be seen by a human. Almost all online application systems automatically screen potential candidates and reject any applications with grammar and typo errors, regardless of what the applicant’s qualifications for the job may be. The online systems looks for special words and phrasing the potential employer requires. If you don’t have those special words and phrasing, the application is automatically rejected.
There is still an “old school” approach that continues to serve applicants. Contact the potential employer by phone and talk with a real human before you even apply online. Try to get to the actual person needing a position filled, and most often that means not HR people. Applicants who make a human contract with a potential employer often have a better chance making it through the automatic process because they are able to better tailor their application.
What was taught to me was to prepare a master application, describing in detail every job I’ve ever held, with all my job details, accomplishments, training, etc. Then use that master application to pull out what is required for every specific job that you apply. My master application is more than 200 pages long! From that I can create any application to fulfill any specific job requirement.
Good luck!