I received an automatic message from a job applied to 28 months ago. I am no longer being considered for the position. If this does not prove that the recruitment system is broken, I do not know what more proof you need:
Thank you for applying for the position of SharePoint Application Architect. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we will not be taking your application forward as we have had other candidates that match our requirements more closely.
There are so many problems with recruitment systems. If “people are our most important resource”, why do companies treat people trying to enter through the front door so poorly? Instead of improvements, I have only seen the situation become worse and worse. I have been on both sides of the hiring game and could not come up with a worse system if I purposely set out to do so. Since I cannot change these systems, I have designed steps that in a normal world would provide validation of my claims. I can report that none of my efforts have been successful. Of course, if you go “off the reservation”, I do not believe that will not receive any better results. I am referring to “pain letters” that are sent that identify a managers problem and how you are the solution.
I think that the only path to success is to make personal contact with the decision-maker. It is difficult to get that resume on that person’s desk and get that person to pick up the phone and call. Remember, this is just one of many of his current priorities. Also, realize that his criteria is logical from his perspective. In most cases, he wants to fill the current position with the least amount of effort and lowest cost. The greatest selling point of a candidate may be that he submits his timesheet on time!
My conclusion that I am guilty of as any other person. We do not try solving the fundamental problem. We only continue doing the same thing that is not working.
reilingh 