# Job Applicants - Try not to be an idiot on your first impression **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257 "2009-02-24T19:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/121 "2009-02-26T02:43:22Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Heaven forbid that an employer treat me as a person, instead of a worthless replaceable cog. Ayn Rand is full of shit. Thanks for once again displaying your vegetablian reasoning ability. 1. We are talking about how potential employers treat job seekers, not how employers treat employees. Therefore, your post (much like all your other posts and probably similar to your life outside the SDMB) is completely irrelevant. 2. Neither Ayn Rand nor Objectivism require or specifically condone treating an employee badly. In fact, by emphasizing the exchange of value between people (as opposed to the forced extraction of value) and the inherent worth of the individual, Objectivist business practices actually would treat employees better than typical liberal douche infantile coddling business practices. 3. I wouldn’t hire you to sort my socks, not even the dirty ones. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/122 "2009-02-26T03:45:31Z")
A few years back, after reviewing a really bad application for a part-time retail job, I posted a thread about how people really need to use a more professional email address for work-related things, and so many Dopers posted to say they thought they should not be forced to give up an email account they’d had since highschool and pretend to be “someone they aren’t” just to get a job. I was really surprised with the number of people who said they didn’t want to have to check a second email account, even for the chance at earning a living. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/123 "2009-02-26T04:29:26Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > Yes, you are correct, I DO feel entitled. I’m the one who shelled out thousands for a college degree. I’m the one who IS smart enough to write a resume/spellcheck the resume/brush my teeth for the interview/dress well for the interview. In return, I expect to be able to get a call returned by a human being. In short, I expect to be TREATED like a human being, not an interchangeable machine. > > People who tolerate being treated like shit (which is how applying online is treating them, as posters like **Quintas** have pointed out) will never be treated any better. More people should feel as entitled as I do. If you mkae it to the interview stage, I’d suggest you tell them all about this. Really. I’m sure it’ll make a great impression. /just got 2nd job //applied online ///was overqualified ////treated quite well, thanks ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/124 "2009-02-26T04:32:36Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > This was reported, but it’s too mild to constitute abuse. > > **Gfactor** > General Questions Moderator FYI if anyone’s curious, I didn’t report this post (even though I was the screwee, as it were). I don’t care for the new rules, so I’m not going to report posts where people may violate them. (And this post is probably a violation of the new rules for all I know. You’ll never take me alive, coppers!) ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/125 "2009-02-26T17:31:17Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I thought that was legal in Yemen. It depends who they are and which tribe they are affiliated with (You think I’m joking, don’t you? I’m not entirely sure myself, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was true.) ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/126 "2009-02-26T17:38:42Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > I was really surprised with the number of people who said they didn’t want to have to check a second email account, even for the chance at earning a living. It’s rather impractical, really. I check my main account religiously–anything sent there will be seen within hours unless I’m out of town. If I created a second account just for job-hunting any replies might not get seen for days, if at all, because I’m likely to quickly fall out of the habit of checking it regularly. You want to get in touch with me promptly, right? Then you’re getting my current address in my contact info. (Of course, if its something truly offensive, you might want to rethink that whole second account thing.) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/127 "2009-02-26T17:47:53Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > It’s rather impractical, really. I check my main account religiously–anything sent there will be seen within hours unless I’m out of town. If I created a second account just for job-hunting any replies might not get seen for days, if at all, because I’m likely to quickly fall out of the habit of checking it regularly. Is it really so taxing to have an email client running, so that all messages from multiple accounts (including Google Mail ones) are ready and waiting for you? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/128 "2009-02-26T18:06:49Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Is it really so taxing to have an email client running, so that all messages from multiple accounts (including Google Mail ones) are ready and waiting for you? How dare you imply that a job seeker should expend effort to find employment! An employer is just supposed to hire any bum on the street and then keep him employed for life even when it is no longer profitable to do so. You, sir, need to find yourself a new message board with that attitude. ---
**Author:** ![DogMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/129 "2009-02-26T18:35:00Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > It’s rather impractical, really. I check my main account religiously–anything sent there will be seen within hours unless I’m out of town. If I created a second account just for job-hunting any replies might not get seen for days, if at all, because I’m likely to quickly fall out of the habit of checking it regularly. > > You want to get in touch with me promptly, right? Then you’re getting my current address in my contact info. > > (Of course, if its something truly offensive, you might want to rethink that whole second account thing.) FYI, Google Mail now has the ability to view multiple accounts from a single account. I’ve set that up and anything sent to my “job hunting” account shows up in my “home” account with a label tag automatically affixed to it that says it’s from the Job Hunting Account. And, with the new feature, you can also set it up to send from ANY of the multiple addresses, so that you don’t even have to leave your “regular” account to send an email from your “professional” account. Nifty feature. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/130 "2009-02-26T18:45:18Z")
Just to note that while I got one job interview off Craigslist, I had more issues with sending a resume to a gmail address only to have them attempt to send me to a phony “SuperJobCareerSite!” website that was merely a phishing scam. After a while I just automatically assumed that any job asking me to send a resume to a gmail address was a scam. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/131 "2009-02-26T19:33:46Z")
> [@DogMom](#): > > FYI, Google Mail now has the ability to view multiple accounts from a single account. I’ve set that up and anything sent to my “job hunting” account shows up in my “home” account with a label tag automatically affixed to it that says it’s from the Job Hunting Account. Hmm. Looks like Hotmail has a similar feature. Go figure. I may have to fiddle around with that. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/132 "2009-02-26T19:36:01Z")
Disturbingly enough, I’m going to agree with Rand Rover. Employers have to cut down the applicants _somehow_, they don’t have time to allow a full vetting process for each one, not when they can simply eliminate those severly unqualified/unmotivated with a simple online hoop. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/133 "2009-02-26T19:54:12Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > FYI if anyone’s curious, I didn’t report this post (even though I was the screwee, as it were). I don’t care for the new rules, so I’m not going to report posts where people may violate them. > > (And this post is probably a violation of the new rules for all I know. You’ll never take me alive, coppers!) I reported it. My opinion on the new rules is well known. Did it to make a point. Will likely continue to do that sort of thing. As a result, we now have precedent that “Screw you” is not warnable under the new rules. Odds are good someone will earn a “Screw You” from me at some point…and when I give it, I’ll be linking to **Gfactor** ’s ruling in the event another mod sees it differently. It’s part of the Snuggly Puppy Rebellion of 2009. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/134 "2009-02-26T20:26:03Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I didn’t misconstrue shit. I think it’s bad enough he demands a nondemeaning way to get a job. 'Cuz self-respect is just so overrated. :rolleyes: To quote e.e. cummings, there is some shit i will not eat. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/135 "2009-02-26T20:26:40Z")
I understand the cog people (when I was in the position to hire, I found reading resume after resume dull) and I understand the I don’t want to be a cog people (companies can be terrible at the way they treat prospective employees). Bottom line is, online applications are a waste of time. Don’t call and annoy a stranger though, if you want the position, find someone you know on the inside. Ask all your friends if they know anyone who works at the place where the job is (Friend of a friend is probably the limit of how far you want to go). Get that friend of a friend to hand deliver your resume to the hiring manager. In other words, skip to the good part. Of course hiring procedures vary depending on position and industry, but if you can skip over HR and get to the person who will make the ultimate decision, then you’ve spent your time much more wisely. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/136 "2009-02-26T20:31:27Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I think it’s bad enough he demands a nondemeaning way to get a job. Um. Wow. God forbid anyone should desire not to be demeaned. :eek: Did you seriously just post that in public?? > [@](#): > > We are talking about how potential employers treat job seekers, not how employers treat employees. Therefore, your post (much like all your other posts and probably similar to your life outside the SDMB) is completely irrelevant. Gee, and here I thought we were talking about how people treat other people. I didn’t realize someone becomes sub-human and worthy of being demeaned when looking for a job. Seriously, you just overloaded my brain circuits. You think it’s **BAD** to not want to be demeaned? To expect respectful treatment? _Really??_ Good lord. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/137 "2009-02-26T21:52:08Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Um. Wow. God forbid anyone should desire not to be demeaned. :eek: > > Did you seriously just post that in public?? > > Gee, and here I thought we were talking about how people treat other people. I didn’t realize someone becomes sub-human and worthy of being demeaned when looking for a job. > > Seriously, you just overloaded my brain circuits. You think it’s **BAD** to not want to be demeaned? To expect respectful treatment? _Really??_ Good lord. Yes, that sounds silly, but the context of the whole discussion with **Rand Rover** (whom I actually agree with, more or less, in this thread) is that emailing a resume is seen as demeaning. Really? Emailing a resume is demeaning? I’ve only once had to deal with emailing a resume (at the University of Chicago) for a job, and they promptly called me in for an interview. Didn’t think there was anything demeaning at all about it. In fact, I kind of liked it. (I didn’t get that job, but it worked out well, in the end.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/138 "2009-02-26T22:00:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes, that sounds silly, but the context of the whole discussion with **Rand Rover** (whom I actually agree with, more or less, in this thread) is that emailing a resume is seen as demeaning. Really? Emailing a resume is demeaning? I’ve only once had to deal with emailing a resume (at the University of Chicago) for a job, and they promptly called me in for an interview. Didn’t think there was anything demeaning at all about it. In fact, I kind of liked it. (I didn’t get that job, but it worked out well, in the end.) I’ve been reading the thread in fits and starts, but as far as I’m aware what’s being called demeaning is the cheapass online application systems many companies use now in lieu of resumes. They’re fine for entry-level positions, but not so much for mid and upper-level. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/139 "2009-02-26T22:32:39Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > 1. [Blah blah blah.] > > 2. [Blah blah blah.] > > 3. I wouldn’t hire you to sort my socks, not even the dirty ones. You really seem to have several demeaning, mundane jobs that you need help with. Do you have an online application somewhere that I can fill out? Personally, I agree with **Lizard**. I worked hard for my education and experience, and object to the fill-in-the-blank application process that any resu-bot could complete. Do I feel I’m entitled to more of a human approach? You’re damn right, I do. I deserve it. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257/140 "2009-02-26T22:39:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes, that sounds silly, but the context of the whole discussion with **Rand Rover** (whom I actually agree with, more or less, in this thread) is that emailing a resume is seen as demeaning. Really? Emailing a resume is demeaning? > ) Yes, that’s what I meant. I should have put “nondemeaning” in quotes in that post above. Also, to the Rand Rover detractors: 1. You should read (and understand) the maserati example I posted above. 2. I wouldn’t hire any of you to return my videotapes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-applicants-try-not-to-be-an-idiot-on-your-first-impression/487257.md?page=8)