todays youth...

[jlb001]

not long ago we had a position open for a lab tech at our plant... we had about 50 applications for the one job... in about 3 days time.

the lead tech asked me to sort through them and narrow the list to about 10... then he would go through and interview those 10... the plant manager actually does the hiring, but in that he knows how closely we work with each other, he leaves the screening to us.

heres a sampling of the fine young folks in this area.... and some suggestions for all of you.

how do you misspell in NAME OF THE TOWN that we live in?

when about 50% of your words are misspelled... how can i feel confident that our paperwork will be filled out well enough to be understood by those that have to read it?

the letters..... "N/A"..... are not applicable..... NOR accepted... on an application for employment as an answer.

in the "why should you be hired for this job" section.... they are asking you "what do you have that will benefit this company"

THIS IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER...

"i work well with others, AS LONG AS I'M RESPECTED."

just when did "references provided upon request" become fashionable? ..... do you NOT SEE the friggin blocks FOR THE INFORMATION ON THE PAPER?!?!

[meadowsmay1130]

i agree with all except the N/A part.. as i have filled out applications where they want you to fill out EVERYTHING and they state in bold print DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BLANK! and commenced to say if you do your application will automatically be rejected.. and if N/A is not acceptable then what do you put in military if you have never been in the military? or previous employment if its the first job you have ever applied for?

[jlb001]

i agree with all except the N/A part.. as i have filled out applications where they want you to fill out EVERYTHING and they state in bold print DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BLANK! and commenced to say if you do your application will automatically be rejected.. and if N/A is not acceptable then what do you put in military if you have never been in the military? or previous employment if its the first job you have ever applied for?

good points.

however.... when all you HAVE is name, address, phone and name of high school filled in.... and EVERYTHING else is a big "N/A" .... youre just wasting my time.

and yours.

not that i care about your time, so much.... just saying.

 

[jlb001]

the end result.

i asked jim what his decision was.... he told me he narrowed it down to two.

a female 22 year old with one kid... and a female 34 year old with two.

i said.... "hire the 34 year old."

he told me he had told the 22 year old to come in.

"ok, we'll give her a shot. but i've dealt with enough college aged kids to know... its not gonna work out for what we need here."

well, the first couple weeks went fine.... THEN THE MOST CURIOUS THING HAPPENED!

every friday.. for that next month.... something just would magically come up that friday morning before she was to come in that night!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!

so, now we have that same 34 year old..... you know, the one i recommended?... yeah shes with us now and guess what?

no missed days, hasnt been late..... isnt talking on her cell whenever i (or my lab partner) comes to work.... doesnt leave a mess for others to clean up, paperwork is straight and all of the processes she starts up are running with no problems.

isnt that odd.... it just boggles my cat-like mind.

 

[Administrator]

ageism is cool  congrats bro

[jlb001]

ageism is cool  congrats bro

thank you, sir.

i do pride myself on my ability to think for myself.... based on personal experience, rather than allowing myself to be influenced by "group thinking".

the "political correct" movement.. born from marxism... is just about as anti-american as one can be.

no, sir.... i choose the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through the ability of "self-thought"... no matter how much the PC crowd beats us over the head with their nonsense, lies, partial truths and deceptions.

 

 

[Administrator]

I'd contend that relying on only your personal experience to paint a picture of a large and diverse group of people is short-sighted... but you clearly just don't "get it"

edit: And discriminating against someone under 40, if you are talking about employment, may be illegal in your state.  It is in California.

[Kohler]

Not all mid twenty somethings are stupid, lazy, and have no worth ethic. Actually, I thinking of two people right now who A) make more money than most people double their age and B) have more desire to work than those older people.

[MystedMoon]

i agree with all except the N/A part.. as i have filled out applications where they want you to fill out EVERYTHING and they state in bold print DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BLANK! and commenced to say if you do your application will automatically be rejected.. and if N/A is not acceptable then what do you put in military if you have never been in the military? or previous employment if its the first job you have ever applied for?

When I worked for someone else, I too had filled out applications where it asks about Military background. And every application I've filled out where it asks such, there is a box to check for either Yes or No.

While some people do not want to take the time to fill an application out because a lot of it doesn't pertain to them, it looks very unprofessional to a potential Employer to see, "N/A" all over an application. It makes the Employer think that if you're that lazy on your application, then how would you really be at performing duties for them.

While N/A is faster and more convenient for some, a simple, "Does not apply to me/my situation" or a simple, "No" or perhaps another explanation, will look more professional to a potential Employer.

I know I would hire the one who actually took the time to fill their application out thoroughly over someone who put N/A to questions that didn't pertain to them.

Also, N/A has several different meanings:

The characters N/A (sometimes n/a) are an abbreviation that is mainly used in information tables. It stands for one of the following:

Not applicable: Where three or more elements are not compatible, it is said the resulting data is not applicable. For example, in a sport results table, where all teams are columns and rows, those cells which would show a team versus itself are usually marked with a symbol or with N/A.

Not available: Where there exists a lack of data. It also means a temporary unavailability of that piece of data (although TBA or TBD is often used instead). For example, in a price table, when new articles have arrived but the price is not yet available, it is usually expressed with n/a. In Microsoft Excel, the function NA() or special entry #N/A may be used.

No answer: Refers to something that has no known or available answer.

Not announced: As in the title isn't announced yet.

And while N/A put onto an application usually means, "Not Applicable", it could potentially confuse the Employer in whom you are seeking Employment with. All the more reason to be as descriptive and thorough as possible even when something doesn't pertain to you!

 

[joclt22]

i'm 25 with 4 kids. no where near lazy, and work very hard.... my sister in law is 33..... never home, goes to work when she feels like it, leaves her kids with anyone to go out parting.... now what does age have to do with anything? also.... n/a can be used on a app depending on the company. i have used it many times and guess what.... i did'nt get turned down the job cause i put n/a.... lol for anything that you don't have, or have not done. you ether part n/a or none. you can't leave it blank, and you don't wanna go into a 3 page book on way you can not answer that question. so i'm sorry but i feel it's wrong for you to down grade people, and to say what can and can not be used on an app just because that is how it is for your company..... sorry but the world does not revolve around them.... my sister paid 200.00 for a resume writing class, and for apps.. and wow.... they used and had her use n/a quite a few times.

[jlb001]

I'd contend that relying on only your personal experience to paint a picture of a large and diverse group of people is short-sighted... but you clearly just don't "get it"

edit: And discriminating against someone under 40, if you are talking about employment, may be illegal in your state.  It is in California.

yes, its illegal here as well.... thats never bothered me.

still doesnt.

i'll say all that "we are the world" thinking is GREAT... on paper.

in the real world..... i want people who are on time, do the job for which theyre hired with as minimal problems are necessary.

so, one position.... two applicants....

1) an 18 year old living at home.... 1st job.... whose main concern is buying the new $2000 rims for his car. (a car thats worth $800.... MAYBE!)
2) a 40 year old with two kids who has been laid off and gained work AND life experience due to age.

you can only hire one, admin.

who will it be?

tick, tick, tick. (sound of clock ticking)

Not all mid twenty somethings are stupid, lazy, and have no worth ethic. Actually, I thinking of two people right now who A) make more money than most people double their age and B) have more desire to work than those older people.

there exceptions to every rule.... one of my best friends was a self made millionaire at 24... through HARD work. (starting and owning a landscaping company at 16)

he and your people are the rare few.... then there is a larger group... but small in number.... who do as they should... BUT the LARGEST group of todays youngsters have wasted more of MY time than i care to talk about.

[Administrator]

so, one position.... two applicants....

1) an 18 year old living at home.... 1st job.... whose main concern is buying the new $2000 rims for his car. (a car thats worth $800.... MAYBE!)
2) a 40 year old with two kids who has been laid off and gained work AND life experience due to age.

you can only hire one, admin.

I can't answer that, because I wouldn't hire either without an in-person interview.  I'd go with my gut feeling based on the combination of the application and the interview, and take into account our corporate culture and a number of other factors in deciding.  In short, it could be either of them depending on a whole bunch of unstated factors in your little setup.

the LARGEST group of todays youngsters have wasted more of MY time than i care to talk about.

Pretty high and mighty from someone who needs

at least 2 cups of coffee when i wake up just to remember my name.

[jlb001]

***weak answer***

ok, buddy.... when we die lets meet and talk about which system was most effective in gaining dedicated employees.

the LARGEST group of todays youngsters have wasted more of MY time than i care to talk about.

Pretty high and mighty from someone who needs

at least 2 cups of coffee when i wake up just to remember my name.

[/quote]

hey, thats almost the truth.... although i did stretch it a bit for comic effect.... BUT, my friend.... my time is my time.

while i'm sure the actual number jumps a bit... remember the old saying in sales.... 20% of your customers will take 80% of your time?

that saying seems to hold up some with employees as well... and you know what? odds are.... it'll be the younger ones on your crew.

 

[meadowsmay1130]

well all i have to say is you guys need to talk to the people who give classes on how to fill out an application. because i was told to write N/A buy a teacher while learning how to fill out applications and write resumes... so if this info i received is incorrect and it is prohibiting me from getting the best job that i can get, please write a sample application so we can all see from the pro how it is done "correctly"

[jlb001]

well all i have to say is you guys need to talk to the people who give classes on how to fill out an application. because i was told to write N/A buy a teacher while learning how to fill out applications and write resumes... so if this info i received is incorrect and it is prohibiting me from getting the best job that i can get, please write a sample application so we can all see from the pro how it is done "correctly"

allow me to reiterate....

good points.

however.... when all you HAVE is name, address, phone and name of high school filled in.... and EVERYTHING else is a big "N/A" .... youre just wasting my time.

and yours.

not that i care about your time, so much.... just saying.