Dear Governor,
I am currently a student at Marshall University looking for part-time work. I am not writing to you requesting work, I am writing to you about something I think is a problem with applying to jobs. Many companies won't take an application anymore, they refer you to their website where you spend up to 4 hours filling out an application. This is an aggravating and intrusive process. Applicants are giving too much information to employers who many never call them. Three hours is the average amount of time it takes to fill out an on line application. Tonight, I just filled out an application where before I've ever met anyone at the employing location, I have given them the right to check my criminal history, my personal background, and driving record. I don't believe that you should have to give your social or the permission to vital information over the internet when you cannot be assured of who is viewing this information. There has to be some right to privacy in applying for employment on line. Also, at the end of every single application on line they always ask the tax credit questions. The websites indicate that it is not necessary to fill out the information, but if everyone is equal, why should they have this information before agreeing to hire you? In the past, I've filled out these requests for information after I was hired, or at least after a primary interview. I think there is a gross abuse of authority of employers whereby people can be discriminated against by either not being able to go on line so that they may apply; or discriminating by hiring persons whom they can get a tax credit for rather than someone who they may not receive a tax credit for.
Being a full-time student, and having made less than 3,000 last year, I still have to find a way to make 1,500 dollars to pay the balance of my tuition or I lose 9,500 and the semester towards my degree. I have 6 potential employers to which I want to apply. How can a student possibly spend 3-4 hours per application, study, and attend school full time? How can a parent afford the time with children to fill out an application for four hours?
My thought isn't to complain, although I've found it aggravating, but perhaps there has to be some balance to the equation. It used to be that you had a standard application and for prestigious jobs you also gave a resume. Now, employers want the standard application, a resume, and enough information to steal your identity without any protection for you.
My suggestion is that there needs to be various levels of standard applications, and in a general format to which you can fill it out one time, or update it as needed, and then submit it to any employer, much like a resume file.
For jobs that require a background check, or more, you should receive contact first from the company. There should never be a process whereby you dump all your personal information, putting yourself at risk, without the company first talking to you or giving you paperwork in return that your sensitive information is in capable hands. One should not have to assume that their information is safe.
The tax credit form should not be presented until offer of employment. I have filled them out because I have felt that my employment could be dependent upon them, because I need a job badly enough that I can't afford to take the chance.
The process for applying for a job has become to time costly. Please see if there isn't something that can't be done to offer a standardized method of applying on line so that people aren't forced to spend so many hours in vain.
I appreciate any willingness to look into this matter.
Posted by hawkie at February 15, 2010 12:18 AM