Not long ago, websites started offering applicants the ability to have their uploaded resume scanned and magically mapped over to their site. It seemed like a terrific time-saver and an acknowledgment from employers that, yeah, the process sucks. In theory, all of your details will land in the correct boxes; in reality, this only adds yet another frustrating layer to the circus of finding work.
Here’s a better way of understanding the situation:
Employer‘s Website: “So you’re interested in our listed job? Cool! First, do you have a resume?”
Applicant: “You bet I do. Right here.”
Employer’s Website: “You have two choices. You can upload it to our site, where we’ll autofill all the boxes on our super-long application form for you… or you can manually re-key every single letter that’s on your resume into our super-long application form. Which one would you like to do?”
Applicant: “Are you kidding me?”
Employer’s Website: “Upload it and we’ll start the scan.”
Applicant: “Uploaded!”
Employer’s Website: “Oh, I forgot to mention that the autofill process is done by a second-grader. They’re going to read your resume and try to put your information in the right places.”
Applicant: “Can’t you just use my resume? It has everything you need.”
Employer’s Website: “Oh, boy. You’re going to love our second-grade reader!”
Applicant: “I don’t understand…”
Employer’s Website: “Great news! They’re done!”
Applicant: “Already?”
Employer’s Website: “Yeah, take a look.”
Applicant: “This… is a mess. It looks like my resume hit a windshield.”
Employer’s Website: “Second-graders, I tell you! But, yes, you’re correct. They didn’t understand where to put 99% of your resume details. You’re going to have to go ahead and clean this mess up. Or simply start over.”
Applicant: “You don’t have, like, a fifth-grader who can help?”
Employer’s Website: “Hi, who are you?”