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Well, now I've heard it all. Without going into a lot of detail at this point, I learned today the employer to whom I had submitted an application for a job tailor-made for me, received so many applications (300) that each was given a number and run through the computer which randomly chose 50 applicants for interview and written examination. The other 250 applicants got letters saying they were not moving forward in the recruitment process. I was one of the 250.
Before I learned of this lottery, I had raised cain with a few people I knew because I could not understand how my qualifications could be ignored to the point I wouldn't at least be granted an interview, and threatened age discrimination. These people made inquiries and told me about the lottery. HR Dept. at this employer has approximately 2 people, is under severe budget pressure and could not review 300 applications, as this is not the only open position they are dealing with. At the suggestion of one of my contacts, I left a VM for the HR person tonight telling them in a very pleasant tone of voice, among other things, this method certainly did not assure them of the best candidate. One of my contacts, an EEOC trial attorney with connections to this employer, said the job was tailor-made for me. Then he asked me if wanted to file a complaint. Haha. I said, no, I just wanted the job.
I am not letting this die, because this is a perfect position for me. Permanent part-time - and I want it.
Last edited by Ariadne22; 01-31-2011 at 08:34 PM..
Sad, but I'm so not surprised at anything anymore. I can't tell you how many resumes and applications I've sent over the last 2 1/2 years that I thought I was a shoe in for the job, most times I didn't even get an interview. I do hope your perseverance pays off.
Maybe you can push past this "lottery", by sending an articulate letter to the appropriate person. If you state your case as to why you're the perfect candidate for the job, that effort alone might distinguish you enough to at least grant you an interview. In any case, it won't hurt to try.
Call the local news. Let them know that this is the kind of stuff that is happening now. It seems like it could very well be skirting the line of legal, certainly of ethical. Good luck to you.
Maybe you can push past this "lottery", by sending an articulate letter to the appropriate person. If you state your case as to why you're the perfect candidate for the job, that effort alone might distinguish you enough to at least grant you an interview. In any case, it won't hurt to try.
I doubt that sending a letter will help. If this company is engaging in these kinds of shenanigans, then the applicant should just move on. Why should he or she waste anymore of their precious time, on a company that practics such lunacy in their hiring process??
Call the local news. Let them know that this is the kind of stuff that is happening now. It seems like it could very well be skirting the line of legal, certainly of ethical. Good luck to you.
I'd do this and move on, sadly. What is wrong with people and why do such knuckleheads have high-paying jobs with such little decision-making ability?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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There's really nothing anyone can do, an employer can choose their new hires any way they want as long as they don't discriminate against a protected class. Still, that's ridiculous, they could be missing out on the best
people by not even looking at the applications. My most recent opening resulted in just about 100 applicants and I personally reviewed them all as the hiring manager, and then discussed my decisions with HR. We'll end up interviewing 10, which is every one that met the minimum requirements.
Well, this was municipal civil service. Had a long talk with HR manager ten days ago who couldn't have been nicer and said she would send me a registration form. They often use temps and it isn't necessary to use the civil service protocol for that. (No discussion of how I, as an individual, could work as a temp, btw, without a lot of paperwork.)
She also said there was a good probability the job I had applied for would be filled internally, but they have to go into the market for candidates to compare them to the internal candidates. I told her using the lottery system certainly didn't do that.
When I hung up, I knew she was blowing smoke. Nice as pie because I'm a taxpayer after all. But NOTHING has come in the mail and I don't expect it to.
And, I'm paying her salary. I am writing the Alderman/EEOC Atty again to let him know his and my efforts accomplished nothing.
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. I can't tell you how many resumes and applications I've sent over the last 2 1/2 years that I thought I was a shoe in for the job, most times I didn't even get an interview. I do hope your perseverance pays off.
