It’s Time for a Job Seekers’ Bill of Rights

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Many companies are collecting and selling the information they receive on job applications - especially online job applications.
While we protest - also protest the online testing from Kenexa, Kronos, Unicru and others - all owned by the same company.
Many companies have fake advertisements for jobs - to advertise their own companies product, to get foot traffic in their company.
Human resources has to justify their existence within a company by pretending to need to hire people.
In the end companies are destroying themselves by building a bad rapport with potential customers.
I do not do business with companies that use the psychological testing or are pretending to have jobs - or use discriminatory questions or illegal questions on their job applications.

Lynn of IN 2:52PM July 13, 2011

1. Companies have a bottom line. More often than not, the company looking for a good employee is looking for a recruit that has knowledge of what his or her competition is. This includes salary.
2. If you don't think the job description fits you, either because you don't understand it, or otherwise, are you applying for several jobs a day as well?
3. I don't expect employers to call me back if they don't want to hire me. If I don't get a call back in a week or so, there is something wrong with my resume.
4. I can agree with this, but why waste your time, if you need a job, use an easier website. But if the prize is worth the effort...
5. SSN requests is illegal without a privacy act statement. I am not sure the legal implications for unfair sharing of resume information, but you might want to consider this. If you are uncomfortable with sharing this information, don't.
6. This is a good point. Unfortunately as job seekers, we have to be flexible for those last minute yucks and surprises.
7. I'll tell my employees I work for the best company in the world every day, because if I didn't believe it, why the heck am I working there?
8. Good point again, and if you get bad vibes in the interview, be professional, thank them for their time, take a breath and keep chugging.
9. One thing to consider, they probably interviewed 10 people for one position. Mistakes happen, and schedules change, but as a job seeker, should we be waiting two weeks for an answer? You need a job, go get it. And be surprised when they call you unexpectedly.
10. Very few job seekers even send thank you letters. Expect Companies to do the same?

Michael of TX 10:20AM July 03, 2011

The author Alison Green's points are well articulated. It would be well for US Congress to publish her "Bill of Rights" binding law since it will at least expose some unscrupulous companies for what they are.
One more horror story, I interviewed directly with a company who interviewed 30 other candidates for the one position opening. During my interview, as probably with all the others, they asked questions whose only purpose was for them to gather market intelligence benefitting only them. What skin off their back was for them to do this? Common decency would have demanded they screen the in-person interviews to only a handful of candidates. 29 people spent valuable time and expense to research their company and travel to their location with no result.

Marty of MD 10:15PM June 30, 2011

Employees' bill of rights is a great idea (said from an employee's point of view), but unfortunately, I don't ever expect to see it happen. In a recession, it's a buyer's market and in a boom, the employees have at least a little more leverage but companies still have all the money. When have you ever seen a customer buy dinner for a salesman?
The only way this bill of rights could be made standard would require congress to pass a law and, again, with corporations in their pockets, congressmen are not likely to breach the status quo.

Hamachisn't of NJ 12:34PM June 30, 2011

As a job seeker once again because of a company restructure and downsizing of sales force I should not be penalized for not having a job! Yes, I am a baby boomer and about to turn 60. I have high energy and work more than required hours per week. On my last interview the team leader that was to interview me remained half sitting laying on the couch, did not bother to get up or shake my hand once she saw me. I am attractive for my age, in very good shape and very professional. I was blown off like a piece of dust on the floor. I have a background earning income in the high $90's. For the last 5 years I have been offered lower and lower income, the latest salary was $30,000 a year. I have accepted previous lower pay and excelled in the positions only to have them eliminated year after year. I have decided I will no longer provide my personal information, so a company can say they are in compliance with govt requirements. I am sick of being asked if I have a work permit, if I am over 18 and I do not feel that most of the HR or employees know how to interview. We older workers certainly have alot to offer, but when a hiring individual looks at you and says do you know what a laptop is or can you work a cell phone? One has to laugh in their face! The final thought, yes I have experienced age discrimination to the max!

Sandra of VA 11:07AM June 30, 2011

I read in the WSJ that in a "normal" economy, you should expect one job offer for every six face-to-face interviews, but that in today's economy you should expect one job offer for every SEVENTEEN face-to-face interviews. Actually, IMHO even THAT ratio is far too optimistic. And employers and hiring managers are trying to drive salary levels back to the '80s levels. The supply of labor far exceeds the level of demand; employers can "cherry-pick" at will.
The "ideal" candidate in today's job market comes directly from a hated rival company in the same metropolitan area with an identical job title and job description, must agree to a 20% pay cut, be under 40, have no record of any gaps of unemployment in the past 5 or more years, doesn't have more than one dependent, absolutely no health issues, doesn't need a 401-K, has recommendations from the hiring manager's best friend or is a distant relative, and has excellent credit. If you don't meet all of these criteria, you're forced to swim upstream.

James W. Kendrick of TX 11:06PM June 29, 2011

As the baby boom generation retires, there will eventually be a severe talent shortage. Because I've had to liquidate my 401K during this recession, I will be forced to work for the rest of my natural life until I literally die while I'm still on the payroll or self-employed. When the pendulum swings back the other way in 2015 and hiring managers are begging for experienced talent, will I remember how I was treated? You better believe it. And when I have that leverage again, the worm will definitely turn.
You know, Howard Hughes used to love to buy a company that had treated him harshly just so he could then fire everyone that ever treated him badly. I fully understand that sentiment and I devoutly wish that I could do the same.
This recession would make a Marxist out of Barry Goldwater.

James W. Kendrick of TX 11:02PM June 29, 2011

I love #4 and #5.
I find it so moronically stupid the questions on some online applications.
One example I recently ran across:
If under 18, do you have a work permit. Yes No.
Since I'm over 18, the appropriate answer would be N/A, but, was not available.
This is but one example of stupidity with computerized applications.
Online privacy.
WHY on earth would a company demand a SS# when identity theft is so high? Sure, large well known corporations are one thing, but, what about "fly by night industries"?

LegendsOfBatman 9:02PM June 29, 2011

As someone who has been in the market for a position for 3 months, I have dealt with the HR mgr that never returns your call or email after they ask you to contact them to the never hear from someone again. I have spent many hours applying and researching jobs, and my time is important also. Recently attended a job fair and each company represented there gave out business cards with their website with instructions to register with them, like I could not do that on my own, they had no one to talk to about specific jobs. What a waste of time!

Renee G of MS 11:26AM June 29, 2011

I have formed a non profit- Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of Employees. The web site is being constructed currently. It will address many of the issues employees face from their employers and interviewers.

JB of CA 4:01PM June 28, 2011