tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post1412827669422360242..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: How Not To Get a JobIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11547109169940947582010-08-24T13:41:46.058+01:002010-08-24T13:41:46.058+01:00"For goodness sake, they have a degree."..."For goodness sake, they have a degree." Unfortunately reading, writing and comprehension are no longer prerequisites.Goodwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16622335283524262832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90373451604154194782010-08-24T11:52:21.765+01:002010-08-24T11:52:21.765+01:00What a sneery, nasty-minded posting.
And I was go...What a sneery, nasty-minded posting.<br /><br />And I was going to apply too, but now I won't be for sure. I wouldn't want to work for you now I've found out how you treat potential employees.<br /><br />Yes, it's all new to all of us, this type of conduct by you Iain. I for one had totally forgotten for example your outing of that young guy who was so foolishly involved in protesting outside the House during his lunch break to his employer.<br /><br />It really comes as a shock to see you behaving in this way. I have torn up my letter of application in disgust. I am also jumping up and down on a print-out of your webpage.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-69588129557824335412010-08-24T08:31:54.303+01:002010-08-24T08:31:54.303+01:00My apologies. I was thinking of the TP job salary....My apologies. I was thinking of the TP job salary. I hope you plan to pay more than that?Gawainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03187287590748938980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14200043750278159502010-08-24T01:53:13.109+01:002010-08-24T01:53:13.109+01:00Well, I have employed people, lots of people, and ...Well, I have employed people, lots of people, and the way to do it is to encourage and nurture, not humiliate. Especially if you are dealing with young people, as you seem to want.<br /><br />The advert was arrogant, badly written tosh to start with. Now all you have done is compound the original bit of wankerage with more drizzle from the pizzle pipe.<br /><br />God help the "successful" applicant.Wrinkled Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05291551539649118631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30151922373443138132010-08-23T19:26:02.622+01:002010-08-23T19:26:02.622+01:00When doing my a-levels I wrote to my then MP, Dere...When doing my a-levels I wrote to my then MP, Derek Conway, asking for an internship. He wrote back, saying that I should re-apply when I reached an age at which I was able to work. WTF! Err, on my CV I had put my DOB as 1988, which was the year I was writing in rather than the year I was born in. <br /><br />I've never made the same mistake again.Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14807834116030277436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76284144099070474942010-08-23T18:29:06.518+01:002010-08-23T18:29:06.518+01:00@Unsworth
"care to elaborate, and care to e...@Unsworth <br /><br />"care to elaborate, and care to explain how one is able to employ without looking at (and discarding, probably) many applications?"<br /><br />Of course you review and discard many. The firm I work for gets upwards of 200 applications for every post. That said I do remember a funny story about a former colleague (at a different firm) who was given a pile of applications, removed the top half and threw them away saying "I want my employees to be lucky..."<br /><br /><br />"I have employed many people from many different walks of life. In some cases it has been almost impossible not to sneer at their (misguided) attempts to impress - for a plethora of reasons."<br /><br />I think this is Richard's point. (And I agree with him). You can view someone as being unsuitable for a post or even unemployable. That doesn't mean you should sneer at him. <br /><br />Sneering/Derision/Humiliation are ALWAYS unpleasant actions - more about the demonstration of power/superiority than fair commentary.<br /><br />@Iain<br /><br />This guy clearly has made a mistake. Perhaps he is incompetent, perhaps he just scr*wed up. Either way you shouldn't hire him. Doesn't change this fact that you come across as being fairly nasty in this post.Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05944402323068719550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-50546354139561408022010-08-23T18:27:24.077+01:002010-08-23T18:27:24.077+01:00This is a bit cruel on the face of it.The poor lad...This is a bit cruel on the face of it.The poor lad/ladette. We've all been there, making daft statements. A sensitive person might write back and point out a few shortcomings. <br /><br /> What do you think he/she would feel like to be publicly used as a butt of your,unusually, PC sense of humour.<br /> Next time your on sky press preview I'll look out for your mistakes.aseerylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02038850670591961965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70859260964712342912010-08-23T17:34:09.823+01:002010-08-23T17:34:09.823+01:00Poor Iain. What a lot of berks you have to contend...Poor Iain. What a lot of berks you have to contend with, and I don't mean the applicant.<br /><br />If the young man, with a university degree of some sort, has not even the basic sagacity to send his application to the right person then what use would he be to you?<br /><br />There is obviously no cause sufficiently undeserving not to have at least a handful of hearts to bleed for it.<br /><br />PS I am fairly sure you did mention a salary for the post. Was it not about £1800 a month?Victor, NW Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778890471547456396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-10254677800530920992010-08-23T16:19:48.179+01:002010-08-23T16:19:48.179+01:00Gawain, er, I haven't advertised a salary...Gawain, er, I haven't advertised a salary...Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29613170912985283262010-08-23T16:16:55.789+01:002010-08-23T16:16:55.789+01:00I think the scathing tone is unwarranted.
Employe...I think the scathing tone is unwarranted.<br /><br />Employers are in a seller's market. Those who wish to be employed, especially when young, generally have to send out many applications to have any hope of getting a job (leaving aside those who are hired as a result of networking). In these circumstances mistakes are not really surprising.<br /><br />Add to that the fact that employers now write such demanding and unrealistic job criteria (usually far in excess of the actual needs of the job) that few can afford to make an entirely honest application and the main effect of Iain's post is to make me devoutly thankful that I am no longer in the employment market.<br /><br />Ian's dismissiveness may have lost him a potentially excellent employee. I have to say, I rather hope so.Salmondnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04135160187810480222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87536393782788008822010-08-23T16:11:30.747+01:002010-08-23T16:11:30.747+01:00I'm with you Iain; theis displays complete lac...I'm with you Iain; theis displays complete lack of attention to detail and thus lack of either redaing skills, interest in the job or both. Unfortunately, as one who has had many of the same things and worse when advertising jobs, all-too-typical of the word-processor society and the laziness of the typical job applicant. It was much easier to get it right than do what the applicant did and still they got it wrong.<br /><br />Mind you, I think your wage offer is poor for what you're seeking. And I suspect this person, like most, applies for each and every job going - guys, it SHOWS both in your application and the interview , if you get one - and may not even notice his error.Gawainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03187287590748938980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1254029198987306372010-08-23T16:04:29.113+01:002010-08-23T16:04:29.113+01:00@ Richard
"But employing someone is differen...@ Richard<br /><br />"But employing someone is different from sneering at applications from people who don't know better or who have made a mistake."<br /><br />OK, that's an interesting observation - care to elaborate, and care to explain how one is able to employ without looking at (and discarding, probably) many applications? I have employed many people from many different walks of life. In some cases it has been almost impossible <i>not</i> to sneer at their (misguided) attempts to impress - for a plethora of reasons.<br /><br />I think a good point is made in your comment 'who don't know better'. One has to ask why this is so. True, they may be State Education Victims, but so what? Are we running businesses or charities for the incompetent and ill-educated? <br /><br />Let's remember Blair and 'Education, education, education'. What a hollow promise that was. We need the very finest intellects and competencies if we're to survive and prosper. Our young people are truly admirable in many ways, but let's not kid ourselves as to their academic abilities. After all, why do Universities have to spend so much time carrying out remedial education of their under-graduates?Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22579923058595237482010-08-23T15:54:55.738+01:002010-08-23T15:54:55.738+01:00I concede.I concede.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12090454418304272336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29839035300152656032010-08-23T15:08:26.473+01:002010-08-23T15:08:26.473+01:00Purrrlese! This applicant's clearly an idiot! ...Purrrlese! This applicant's clearly an idiot! The very definition of the good PAs and EAs I've worked with is application, organisation and common sense.<br /><br />This chap has none and couldn't follow instructions (paper based CV) nor did he use any common sense, he sent it to another company!!! This is pretty open and close - he horrendusly ill-suited to the requirements.<br /><br />I've still to see a proper argument for this being mean or "sneering". This is a funny anecdote. Fuuny. Anecdote.<br /><br />Back to wasting tax payers money (direct or indirect) in other ways town hall / quango trolls!our own correspondanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06163369583658654435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65538743566736900612010-08-23T14:52:26.403+01:002010-08-23T14:52:26.403+01:00Richard, "people who don't know better&qu...Richard, "people who don't know better"? For goodness sake, they have a degree. If they haven't got the 'competence to respond', why would I even consider employing them?<br /><br />If the chap concerned got in touch with a real mea culpa, done in a humorous way, maybe he could rescue the situation. But as someone said above, it's have to be a damned good one!Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44083150478488334142010-08-23T14:49:35.607+01:002010-08-23T14:49:35.607+01:00Iain, Reference your comment to me, yes I have and...Iain, Reference your comment to me, yes I have and do. But employing someone is different from sneering at applications from people who don't know better or who have made a mistake. <br /><br />I'm a fan of your blog generally but in this instance I think you're being unfair towards someone who hasn't the power (or the competence, perhaps) to respond. And that's the issue for me.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12090454418304272336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57818266732948124782010-08-23T14:42:14.171+01:002010-08-23T14:42:14.171+01:00You know, I hope he does. Because he won't do ...You know, I hope he does. Because he won't do it again will he? <br /><br />Maybe a valuable lesson learned.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30319020123225172112010-08-23T14:38:45.668+01:002010-08-23T14:38:45.668+01:00"This is a snide, arrogant and grotty little ..."This is a snide, arrogant and grotty little post from an equally snide, arrogant and grotty little man."<br /><br />Now that's just downright untrue: from his photos, Iain Dale isn't particularly little. Nonetheless, although it isn't Post of the Year, Mr Dale does have a point. If the poor sap has been able to identified himself from this post, he could consider it useful feedback.<br /><br />The advert asked for 'exceptional' organisational skills. Sending your application to completely the wrong address is rather ill-advised way of demonstrating this. Makes you look a plonker, in fact. <br /><br />(Mind you, anyone genuinely meeting such a long list of exacting criteria really ought to go and find a much better job elswehere)Dave Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02330412326038302877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48339841433723882372010-08-23T14:34:11.245+01:002010-08-23T14:34:11.245+01:00You make me laugh. Of course I was sneering. With ...You make me laugh. Of course I was sneering. With a good bit of derision thrown in as well.<br /><br />You seriously think I would consider employing someone who was incompetent enough to send the application to the wrong person in the wrong company? Come off it.<br /><br />Dear oh dear. How standards have slipped.<br /><br />Have you ever employed anyone?Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36882636654084265742010-08-23T14:29:35.689+01:002010-08-23T14:29:35.689+01:00I think you've rather misjudged this one Iain ...I think you've rather misjudged this one Iain - you've come across as a bit sneering. Not nice.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12090454418304272336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53744834380030010462010-08-23T14:13:13.110+01:002010-08-23T14:13:13.110+01:00The Purpleline said "The Grim Reaper [ - what...The Purpleline said <i>"The Grim Reaper [ - what a] proper little pedant, it was obviously a fat finger job, but anyway who cares you complete waste of space. What a pity your mother never went for the morning after pill."</i> <br /><br />Aww, how sweet. Grammatical mistakes aplenty followed by a third-rate insult which proved my original point.<br /><br />Still, at least you've got the keyboard fixed now. Or did you just nick another one from the computer shop?The Grim Reaperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15190441504002736960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84440402206618015572010-08-23T14:11:38.425+01:002010-08-23T14:11:38.425+01:00I think this post was beneath you, Iain.
You have...I think this post was beneath you, Iain.<br /><br />You haven't named the chap involved but he'll recognise himself from your rather snide remarks and feel deeply embarrassed. The (presumably) young man has made a mistake which has cost him the chance of a job. We all make mistakes and it's rather unnecessary and unseemly to broadcast his.<br /><br />Perhaps, as somebody else here said, it's a fortunate escape for him if this reflects your attitude to employees.Westbury-on-Trym Lib Demshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09800439494786450484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30015993897097388612010-08-23T13:54:02.761+01:002010-08-23T13:54:02.761+01:00I'm afraid I don't have much sympathy for ...I'm afraid I don't have much sympathy for the applicant. Given that Iain wants someone who apart from anything else will be preparing briefs accuracy will be important - we can't have Iain going on air and saying something palpably wrong such as "only one country uses AV". If someone cannot either read instructions, or perhaps makes the error of putting two separate applications into the wrong envelope, then their ability to get other things right is suspect.Thorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937013013431307255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1588972316075205022010-08-23T13:48:44.560+01:002010-08-23T13:48:44.560+01:00@The Grim Reaper
"Why did you suddenly start ...@The Grim Reaper<br />"Why did you suddenly start typing IN CAPITAL LETTERS MID-SENTENCE?"<br /><br />Upper case is cruise control for cool, as any fule kno.Dazzlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10487973757192021825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82451617899192273382010-08-23T13:44:16.140+01:002010-08-23T13:44:16.140+01:00My mum works for an organisation that provides sup...My mum works for an organisation that provides support for carers. She gets letters from people who either want help with their careers or, better yet, would like to help other people with their careers on pretty much a weekly basis.P. Stablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09657721343030685167noreply@blogger.com