No offense to anyone that works in HR, but the impression I am getting is that HR personnel is, generally speaking, just a robot that really has no clue what they are even looking for when they see an app or resume. I have applied for several jobs that I am more than qualified for, and just for chits & grins, applied for jobs that I am WAY over qualified for. Haven't received so much as an e-mail response. What the heck are these people looking for?? How do you get to talk to somebody when your experience is technical in nature, and the HR person doest have a clue? Whats the trick to getting around the wall and getting your resume into the hands of a manager that knows what they are looking at?
Does anyone know how to get around the wall that is human resources??
- Thread starter snoluver1
- Start date
Sno,
I might have a couple of thoughts regarding your problem but no real solutions other than keep knocking on the door. Most managers won't touch a resume or app until it's been screened by HR. I'm over simplifying this but basically there are legal implications in hiring, EOE for example. If there's any government contracts involved with the employer they're required to jump through all kinds of hoops like minority quotas, gender based directives, all kinds of crazy stuff. HR works in these areas and it's their job to keep it legal. (I didn't say right) Now to make it even worse, around 10% of the people you see on the street are out of work. Those aren't favorable odds.
Just about every one of us on this forum have been in your shoes at one time or another. I've been there a couple of times myself, it's damn humbling to say the least.
My advise is to keep after it, maybe pick up some part time stuff to stay active and around other people. If you're around other people you'll hear of openings that aren't public yet and that's a big advantage.
Good luck and stay positive, you'll do just fine!
Gary
I might have a couple of thoughts regarding your problem but no real solutions other than keep knocking on the door. Most managers won't touch a resume or app until it's been screened by HR. I'm over simplifying this but basically there are legal implications in hiring, EOE for example. If there's any government contracts involved with the employer they're required to jump through all kinds of hoops like minority quotas, gender based directives, all kinds of crazy stuff. HR works in these areas and it's their job to keep it legal. (I didn't say right) Now to make it even worse, around 10% of the people you see on the street are out of work. Those aren't favorable odds.
Just about every one of us on this forum have been in your shoes at one time or another. I've been there a couple of times myself, it's damn humbling to say the least.
My advise is to keep after it, maybe pick up some part time stuff to stay active and around other people. If you're around other people you'll hear of openings that aren't public yet and that's a big advantage.
Good luck and stay positive, you'll do just fine!
Gary
skiroule
Well-known member
Snoluver1,
I'm sure there are some very competent people working in HR but my experience with HR has been pretty disappointing.
Here's a good one for you. A friend of mine had been laid off after 20+ years with the company that employed us both. He went to work for another company but eventually some things opened up at his original place of employment and he sent in his application. He actually got a call for an interview and the HR person asked if he needed directions to the plant. He said "No, I think I can find it". They didn't even pick up on his experience there when they made the call.
In my field there is quite a bit of contract labor and contract houses can sometimes cut through a lot of HR red tape. I went in as a contractor on my current job and eventually switched over to an employee of the company. It made it much easier to get in the door.
I'm sure there are some very competent people working in HR but my experience with HR has been pretty disappointing.
Here's a good one for you. A friend of mine had been laid off after 20+ years with the company that employed us both. He went to work for another company but eventually some things opened up at his original place of employment and he sent in his application. He actually got a call for an interview and the HR person asked if he needed directions to the plant. He said "No, I think I can find it". They didn't even pick up on his experience there when they made the call.
In my field there is quite a bit of contract labor and contract houses can sometimes cut through a lot of HR red tape. I went in as a contractor on my current job and eventually switched over to an employee of the company. It made it much easier to get in the door.
I'm not in HR but I've had the opportunity to review some resumes here and there when my organization was hiring. As you probably know, any type of spelling or grammatical error makes a very strong negative impression; almost always, those resumes/cover letters went into the garbage can immediately. I'm sure I'm not reporting any breaking news, but that's my only experience with this stuff.
I'm lucky because our HR staff is very friendly and the department has always been good to me. Good luck to you!
I'm lucky because our HR staff is very friendly and the department has always been good to me. Good luck to you!
1 thing employers are not looking for unemployed people they just are not
from what I have heard you are way better off if currently employed so all I can say is time to fib and at least say you are consulting or ask a bud who owns or runs a biz to cover for you.my wife has had 2 diff interviews this mo and she has a friend with same exp only she is laid off no call backs in 3 mo.and it is not the resume my wife more or less wrote her buds.
HR in her current job is just tossing non employed apps to the side and then sorting less than 6 mo as 2 poss and more than 6mo to the recycling bin.and corps are getting fresh collage grads for not much more than they would make working at a car wash.
or move to ND they cant find people in most fields up there and you get at least 1.5 xtra mo of riding time and close to cat and poo
from what I have heard you are way better off if currently employed so all I can say is time to fib and at least say you are consulting or ask a bud who owns or runs a biz to cover for you.my wife has had 2 diff interviews this mo and she has a friend with same exp only she is laid off no call backs in 3 mo.and it is not the resume my wife more or less wrote her buds.
HR in her current job is just tossing non employed apps to the side and then sorting less than 6 mo as 2 poss and more than 6mo to the recycling bin.and corps are getting fresh collage grads for not much more than they would make working at a car wash.
or move to ND they cant find people in most fields up there and you get at least 1.5 xtra mo of riding time and close to cat and poo
Last edited:
Depending on the type of companies you are applying to they may actually have your resume electronically screened before it even gets to an HR person. There are programs that look for key words or phrases in your resume and depending on the hits you get that can dictate if an actual person even looks at your resume. The real challenge is guess who is inputting the key terms they are looking for...
Your best bet is to try and find someone you know that works at the company to hand your resume to the HR person and hiring manager. Even though it is unlikely the hiring manager will contact you directly you have a better chance of getting a call if the hiring manager gives the resume to HR. Also if you are sending out lots of resumes with no response it may be time to get some help with the format and key words you use. It is amazing what a few tweaks to a resume can do to your response rate.
Good luck
Your best bet is to try and find someone you know that works at the company to hand your resume to the HR person and hiring manager. Even though it is unlikely the hiring manager will contact you directly you have a better chance of getting a call if the hiring manager gives the resume to HR. Also if you are sending out lots of resumes with no response it may be time to get some help with the format and key words you use. It is amazing what a few tweaks to a resume can do to your response rate.
Good luck
Might I suggest that since you have had this issue with multiple companies, the problem might be in how you are presenting yourself as a candidate?
My wife IS this HR person. Her job is to find the absolute best candidate for that position. Her job is NOT to find you a job!
She doesn't know you. You may be the best qualified and most charming person in the world, but all she knows about you is that resume, and since she has to go through a few thousand every week your resume will get the same 30 seconds of her time as every one else's.
Do you know how to go through a thousand resumes?
"Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope
Yup
Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope..."
If you try to go around HR you will fail, because that indicates you cannot follow procedure and process and she will toss you.
Not knowing you at all, I would guess that since you are getting no reaction from multiple companies you have a resume problem. Invest some time and possibly some money in researching how to improve your resume.
Is it clear?
Is it error free?
Does it make grammatical sense?
Does it adequately represent your goals and experience and objectives?
IS IT SCANNABLE?
And most importantly, did you write this one resume for this one job, incorporating the key words from the posting in the resume? If you are sending the same resume to different jobs you will not get a response.
Finally, you asked "what the heck are these people looking for?" Well, they want what is in the job posting, word for word. Example-
Midwest paint manufacturer looking for aggressive self starter to manage yellow paint operation
Your resume must not say 20 years experience manufacturing paint. It must say "I am an aggressive self starter with over 20 years experience manufacturing yellow paint" And if the next company is looking for someone to manufacture blue paint, rewrite the resume.
Send their words back to them!
Good luck!
snow_monkey
New member
Doughnuts!
This is exactly what I have done with my resume, esspecially when applying to a large companies. I immedately starting getting more call backs and interviews.
polarisrider1
New member
Doughnuts works for me. I found a Benjamin Franklin works well also. One on the way in and one on the way out (if you get an interview on the spot). send the nice person in HR a big screen at Christmas if you get hired. My thought is it is an investment in your future. Morals you ask? The bank has none when they come for your car or your house, get that job.
Thanks! That is exactly what I was looking for. An insiders view of how it works. So now its time to probably cough up the cash and get a professionally written resume by someone more in tune with what HR is looking for, since they obviously couldn't care less about qualifications. Their just looking for grammar, format and key words. Check!
Now Now...I didn't imply they weren't looking for qualifications! The lack of a cohesive format, grammar, and key words will not even get your qualifications looked at.
The resumes in the "NO" pile just get tossed
The resumes in the "YES" pile get their qualifications considered.
Your resume has to be done in such a way as to get past the first cut to the "YES" pile where you will be considered, and that is more packaging than product.
As to having a professional resume written, well, it sounds like you're still thinking that you need only one resume. I would pay someone to evaluate the resume you have written and coach you in the process so that you can crank out resumes that work. Probably could even find a book or stuff on-line.
This is not a battle, it is a game.
Good Luck!
snow_monkey
New member
X'2
jim_golding
New member
Having been on the hiring side before, I agree with the need to have resume that is well written and the individual has the skills needed for the job. On the other hand I do know that HR can be a bottle neck for getting the resumes to the person doing the hiring. Therefore if you have an inside connection that can get your resume to the person doing the hiring as well give a recommendation you are most likely going to get an interview. Once you get the interview it is up to you to sell yourself as being what they need. Is it frustrating? Yes for both the person doing the hiring and the person looking for the job.
Cover letters, A THING OF THE PAST! Make your resume speak for itself, short and sweet. Your background and experience will speak for themselves, at least when I read a service oriented position resume that’s what I am looking for and I've been training and hiring in the engineering industry for over 20 years.
You say no cover letter, but everything you read on the subject says cover letters are absolutely crucial? I suppose it must depend on personal opinion/preference, which kinda sucks, because then it just comes down to luck of the draw. You either found a person who wants a cover letter or you found a person who doesn't want to waste their time reading it, and pitches your resume in the garbage.