large companies and their career web sites

LaFille · #1 10-13-2006, 12:28 AM

i was wondering if anyone knew about this. WHERE do those resumes and applications go that i have been sending in to those large company web sites? i get the feeling that no human being is EVER going to look at anything i send in that way.

i mean i KNOW that they contract this task out to other companies, but how does your resume get in front of the actual people you're going to be working for? and how are you even supposed to discuss your resume with said people (that is, if you can even get in touch with them,) if they never even see it?!?

has anyone ever gotten a job this way? i'm beginning to get a sneaky feeling that it's all for show...

gysberger4 · #2 10-13-2006, 12:32 AM

I feel the same way. I have applied for at least 20+ jobs at large companies on their websites (since it's the only way you can apply for jobs at those companies) and have not heard a single thing back from any one of them, and it's been 2 months!! I don't know if anyone will ever be looking at my resume, it's like sending it out into a big black hole.

TinyDancer · #3 10-13-2006, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaFille

i was wondering if anyone knew about this. WHERE do those resumes and applications go that i have been sending in to those large company web sites? i get the feeling that no human being is EVER going to look at anything i send in that way.

i mean i KNOW that they contract this task out to other companies, but how does your resume get in front of the actual people you're going to be working for? and how are you even supposed to discuss your resume with said people (that is, if you can even get in touch with them,) if they never even see it?!?

has anyone ever gotten a job this way? i'm beginning to get a sneaky feeling that it's all for show...

It isn't contracted out at my company. We see all resumes coming in for our location and interview AND hire from our company site. It may seem like it's going into a black hole. . . but it's not.

However, now that jobs are posted so widely on the internet rather than just posted locally. . . you definitely have more competition on those sites.

LaFille · #4 10-13-2006, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyDancer

It isn't contracted out at my company. We see all resumes coming in for our location and interview AND hire from our company site. It may seem like it's going into a black hole. . . but it's not.

However, now that jobs are posted so widely on the internet rather than just posted locally. . . you definitely have more competition on those sites.

so i'm guessing that you work in HR at one such company?

i guess that's reassuring that they actually even HAVE an HR department! i was beginning to wonder...

if you don't mind my asking... does your company advertise every single job opening? and do you guys hire only from the site applications, or do you accept resumes by mail or email or whatever as well?

TinyDancer · #5 10-13-2006, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaFille

so i'm guessing that you work in HR at one such company?

i guess that's reassuring that they actually even HAVE an HR department! i was beginning to wonder...

if you don't mind my asking... does your company advertise every single job opening? and do you guys hire only from the site applications, or do you accept resumes by mail or email or whatever as well?

We post nearly every job. . . except for those that are only open to internal applicants. Every entry-level job is posted.

Whether you're internal or external, you MUST apply online to get a job. I think that more and more companies will move to this because it's so much easier in terms of tracking applicants and fulfilling legal reporting requirements.

LaFille · #6 10-13-2006, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyDancer

We post nearly every job. . . except for those that are only open to internal applicants. Every entry-level job is posted.

Whether you're internal or external, you MUST apply online to get a job. I think that more and more companies will move to this because it's so much easier in terms of tracking applicants and fulfilling legal reporting requirements.

well i hope by then i have a job, because right now it just makes me feel unproductive... not to mention the 'online resumes' that some places have you fill out are a total pain in the ass and they make it impossible to be accurate (ok i exagerrate slightly... but i had a BAD experience the other day which resulted in me swearing at my computer and craving a cigarette.) i can understand how this makes things more efficient for the company though.

anyways, thanks a lot for the info, tinydancer! it's very helpful to at least know that somewhere on the other side, there is an actual human being!

MollyMe · #7 10-13-2006, 01:18 AM

I did that in college for internships and first jobs. Basically, I would interview on campus and they told me to go to their website to put in my information. In turn, they went to another website and put in their information about my interview. It put me on a higher rung. I did get one job interview off of that.
I hate job searching...I think I will stick with the government.

analogman · #8 10-13-2006, 04:17 AM

We have the same policy that everyone who wants a job needs to submit a resume through the website. Even if you are already talking to someone in the company, you still need to "get in the system" so to speak.

I think we also send out letters to let people know we received the electronic submission and are reviewing the resumes.

wordsmith · #9 10-13-2006, 10:21 AM

I have worked exclusively for very small companies and organizations, but recently applied with a large university system, and like large companies, everything was required to be done online. I had an inside personal contact, though, and had a preliminary interview with her prior to even applying, though, so she had a head's up to look for my application coming her way, and was the one to encourage me to submit the formal app. The position ended up being put on hold indefinitely, so it was all a moot point, anyway, but I do doubt that I'd have gotten as far in the process as I did had I not known somebody there and gotten my foot in the door through a personal connection. I think had I just stumbled across the job online, I'd have been one of the many candidates in the black hole of resumes, but because I knew the hiring person, I stood out to her.

mishl982 · #10 10-13-2006, 10:29 AM

Yep when I got my current position, I heard about it from the girl who was leaving it. Despite the fact that her manager already knew she was going to hire me, I had to go online and do the whole process in order to get the job.

My friend works for HR and recruiting and she actually gets to go through all the resumes that are submitted and then put them in for positions. So there is someone on the other end looking at your resume. It's just a matter of standing out, having the right buzz words, and being qualified.

MaxPower · #11 10-13-2006, 02:06 PM

I sent in my resume via e-mail, but I wasn't given an interview until I personally called them up and requested one.

Skyblade · #12 10-13-2006, 02:53 PM

I work for a semi-large corporation. We have about 1200 employees worldwide. I know on our website that the resumes go directly to HR and they attach a form to every one and review each one. Unfortunately, I've seen this a lot after I FINALLY got hired here, the position will change or they will hire someone internally instead...I can't tell you how often this occurs.

I think one of the main reasons I was hired was I got a referral from a manager who already worked here.

asimmy · #13 10-25-2006, 08:00 PM

whenever i do online apps, they always ask diversity questions. does your answer or refusal to answer affect your chances of getting your application looked at?

#14 10-25-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wordsmith

I have worked exclusively for very small companies and organizations, but recently applied with a large university system, and like large companies, everything was required to be done online. I had an inside personal contact, though, and had a preliminary interview with her prior to even applying, though, so she had a head's up to look for my application coming her way, and was the one to encourage me to submit the formal app. The position ended up being put on hold indefinitely, so it was all a moot point, anyway, but I do doubt that I'd have gotten as far in the process as I did had I not known somebody there and gotten my foot in the door through a personal connection. I think had I just stumbled across the job online, I'd have been one of the many candidates in the black hole of resumes, but because I knew the hiring person, I stood out to her.

Ya never know, though. My boss told me that over 500 people applied for my position via online postings -- and I got in with no connection.

PenforPrez · #15 10-25-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimmy

whenever i do online apps, they always ask diversity questions. does your answer or refusal to answer affect your chances of getting your application looked at?

It would be against Federal law if they threw out your application because you didn't answer the AA/EOE questions. But like anything corporate-related, I have my doubts as to whether they actually play that by the book.

I've tried corporate job sites in job searching, and I never find anything I'm qualified for or capable of doing. I'm sure the problem is staring me in the face, but I can't see it.

Paul