Application Forms

[Arlekino]

Hello comrades

Is upsetting when workers have to harder and extra harder to deal with capitalist society. I try to explain. The application forms when we have to look for jobs, we have to write about ourselves like for example “Personal specification”, we have to write all crap
Team player
Good communicator
Be able to work without supervision

If we lucky we perhaps got on short-listed for interview and than biggest panel is like magistrate court greet working class. Can you image how is intimidating.
Well if we don’t have job we have to claim benefits as well all long forms to compete.

[Lynx]

Team player
Good communicator
Be able to work without supervision
Yes, I find this sort of puffery especially infuriating.


If we lucky we perhaps got on short-listed for interview and than biggest panel is like magistrate court greet working class. Can you image how is intimidating.
Yes, and rejection does hurt. Does that mean you will curl up into a ball and die?

Well if we don’t have job we have to claim benefits as well all long forms to compete.
I don't mind filling out forms to obtain money. I wouldn't mind filling out forms for a living.

[eyedrop]

I don't see the reason to belittle his post.:sneaky:

Applying and searching for jobs is one of the more demeaning things capitalism forces you too. I'm sure most who have gone unemployed for a while can symphathise.

[Lynx]

I am unemployed. Searching for work is a means to an end. I don't find it demeaning. Should I believe otherwise?

[rednordman]

Totally agree with the OP. I have had to experience it all before. The big irony is that the job i have now and have had for nearly three years I didnt have to write a person specification.

Of course its all bullshit. But why do companies insist on using this again and again. If anything, it blocks a hell of a lot of good candidates from even getting past the opening stage, simply because they do not know how to lie properly.

Penultimatly, for alot of jobs all that represents us, is this stupid piece of paper. Its like people who actually believe in first impressions are the only way to know what someone is really like.

[rednordman]

I am unemployed. Searching for work is a means to an end. I don't find it demeaning. Should I believe otherwise?Searching for a job is very demeaning when you are still doing it after 4 months. Also if only i could describe the sheer contempt on the faces of people who I have gone and given my cv too in shops etc,.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

I am unemployed. Searching for work is a means to an end. I don't find it demeaning. Should I believe otherwise?
If you don't find it demeaning to deliberately exaggerate your most servile qualities in order to convince an employer that you'll make them more profit than anyone else, then fine, but not everyone's going to agree with you. And does saying that something's a means to an end stop it being demeaning?

[Arlekino]

I think is more difficult for us all working class capitalist decide for working class and play very dangerous game with our lives. For example we have to make sure put lair and more lair on application form just to make sure our character would be suitable for them. The questions are so hard even to answer. “ Ability work as a team, ability to do something I don’t maybe one day would be ask something ability to fly without the wings.

[blake 3:17]

That stuff is just awful, with aboslutely nothing to do with a person's capabilities to do a job.


I am unemployed. Searching for work is a means to an end. I don't find it demeaning. Should I believe otherwise? There's nothing wrong with seeking work -- that's all we folks have.

It's the hiring processes which are demeaning. Being underqualified, overqualified, living too far from the work site or too close to it, etc., is a really gross process and very very hard on people usually.

[Lynx]

If you don't find it demeaning to deliberately exaggerate your most servile qualities in order to convince an employer that you'll make them more profit than anyone else, then fine, but not everyone's going to agree with you.
The few interviews I have had involve discussing my resumé. There is some attempt to gain insight into my personality. I make an effort to overcome my shyness, that's about it as far as 'exaggeration' is concerned.

And does saying that something's a means to an end stop it being demeaning?
Viewing it this way suggests I am proceeding in a logical manner. This rationale does not lead me to conclude it is demeaning.

I think is more difficult for us all working class capitalist decide for working class and play very dangerous game with our lives. For example we have to make sure put lair and more lair on application form just to make sure our character would be suitable for them. The questions are so hard even to answer. “ Ability work as a team, ability to do something I don’t maybe one day would be ask something ability to fly without the wings.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses from life experience is more important than what you choose to emphasize, downplay or lie about in an application form or job interview.

That stuff is just awful, with aboslutely nothing to do with a person's capabilities to do a job.
In many instances it is used to arbitrarily reduce the field of candidates. There is a diminishing return on investment with regard to time spent recruiting and selecting workers.

I wonder if a comparison could be made between looking for work and looking for a relationship (love).

[Bitter Ashes]

Some of my favorate questions from application forms and interviews:

- Marital status
- Are you responsible for the care of any friends or family members?
- Are you planning on having children?
- Do you drink/smoke? How much do you drink/smoke?
- Unspent criminal convictions
- Political associations and organisations that you are a member of
- Are you a member of a union?
- How will you justify the investment in your training?
- Reason for leaving previous jobs
- Will you be joining the company's retirement fund?
- Tell us the bad things, if any, that you have heard about our company.
- How would you describe your personal health?
- Your parents' careers.
- Sexuality/religion/gender identity (NOT on the equal oportunities form that gets sent away, but with the part that's kept confidentially with the employer only)

On top of that, I've been asked for CRB's, enhanced disclosures, credit checks and even been asked for cash up front to pay for my training. At least some of the above is illegal, but as we know, that's never stopped them before.

[Sogdian]

The Boss is a customer (very few of them).

The labourer is a product (too many of them).

Now, every customer wants to get the best value out of every product they buy, especially when there is so much choice - according to age, sex, status, skin colour etc. etc. On top of it, you must show your written loyalty to the Boss (how good you are, how hard you work, how single-mindedly devoted to increase the Boss's profit...)

This reminds me of classical non-Marxist (i.e. Karl Marx) writings on labour market.