22 things HR won't tell you - some are messed up

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/...a-job-2461178/

The one about stereotyping and using tricks to find out about kids are are pretty sleazy.

[Sheldonrs]

One thing you have to remember, each of these rules was written by ONE, individual HR person or hiring manager. It doesn't mean these are hard and fast rules for ALL HR depts., etc.

[Raveni]

There are plenty of ways to find out if the applicant has kids that it's not funny. If it doesn't come up when checking references, it didn't make a big impression on the job performance at the last job, so it doesn't matter.

[Antisocial_Worker]

I apparently have not had time to become evil quite yet in my h.r. position, although I'll agree that nobody gives a rat's ass about cover letters. Nor your "objective" for that matter. In fact, an objective that talks about how you want a fulfilling job will give me pause, because nobody ever has nor ever will be fulfilled by factory drudge work.

[Chromatix]

Length of resume... the most important rule is to include *all* of the completely relevant information, readably. The next most important rule is to make it concise.

By all means fit it on one page - but feel free to use both sides of that page.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I apparently have not had time to become evil quite yet in my h.r. position, although I'll agree that nobody gives a rat's ass about cover letters.

Ok, have to ask. If no one cares about cover letters why do so many job postings REQUIRE them and why do so many job coaches stress the importance of them?

[mattm04]

22. “I once hired someone, and her mother didn’t think the salary we were offering was high enough, so she called me to negotiate...

Um...wow. I'm not sure why they thought that would work. It didn't.

[Raveni]

Ok, have to ask. If no one cares about cover letters why do so many job postings REQUIRE them and why do so many job coaches stress the importance of them?

Job postings require them to see if you can follow directions after being only told once. I rarely read cover letters, but if I ask for one, and don't get it, I usually just file it.

[fireheart]

I'd have to wonder if there are laws covering the thing regarding finding out about children. Discrimination laws in Ausland cover "carer responsibilities" meaning that you can't refuse to hire someone because of their carer responsibilties, which includes caring for kids or a parent.

[Raveni]

Absolutely, it would be against the law. Which is why you would list another reason for not hiring them.

For example, if they write on their app that they want $10/hour, but you only pay $9.50, you reject them because the position didn't meet salary requirements. If they left one space blank on the application, you reject them for not completing the application. Or, what happens the most, is you hire someone else, then simply say that there are no open positions.

[MoonCat]

“Once you’re unemployed more than six months, you’re considered pretty much unemployable. We assume that other people have already passed you over, so we don’t want anything to do with you.”

How encouraging, especially for someone whose unemployment benefits have run out.

And the one about not giving the year you graduated if you're in your 50's or 60's. Even Botox isn't going to make a 60 year old look like someone in their 20's.

[Teysa]

That whole passing you over if you haven't had a job in six months is just stupid. They make it sound like new jobs grow on trees and if you don't have one you're just too lazy to pick one.

[NorthernZel]

That whole passing you over if you haven't had a job in six months is just stupid. They make it sound like new jobs grow on trees and if you don't have one you're just too lazy to pick one.

Yeah, and <Deity Of Your Choice> forbid that you take a couple of short-term temp jobs instead, then you're labeled as "erreaneous/unstable workforce". Damned if you do, damned if you don't
(Yes, yes, I did indeed got some of my job applications rejected for that very same reason... sheesh)