Showing posts with label HR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HR. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2012

The day I got hate mail at work...

Today, like most days this month, I spent the morning going through applications.  However, something new happened that I've never experienced before....I got Hate Mail.

It wasn't directed at me but at my company for an open job position that was posted on craigslist.  The position is a dual position where the employee will be working two different classification depending on the need for the day.  The position is an entry level position and pays $8.25 an hour as one classification and $11.00 an hour as the other classification.

The person was mad at the low wages a classification one gets paid.

Here is a synopsis of what they said:

"At first I was interested, I find the activities of a 1st class company exciting and the your industry very rewarding....and then I saw the hourly pay rate; $8.25 is insulting and frankly a slave's wage.  You expect your employees to jump when customers say jump and bow when management sneezes and you offer $8.25/hr??? And how much is your product sold for? What is the average annual salary of someone in management or the average guest? Does your company want under-paid, money-hungry, lower-class citizens serving their patrons???
Do you realize how much rent is in California?
Do you expect teenagers still living with parents to take these positions?
Honestly, who do you expect to live with these wages?
-Totally unacceptable-"


I was shocked because this is a union position that gets medical benefits and a lot more benefits that have been negotiated through the union.  It is a tipped position where the employee can make a lot more than minimum wage.  It is also an entry level job that does not even require a high school education.

Entry level jobs are typically lower paid jobs and I would think that, since it does not even require a high school education, the pay would be minimum wage.  This position can also make $11.00 an hour if there is need for the second classification for the day.  We also received around 1100 applications around for 5 jobs that I posted.

In some ways I could see where this person is coming from but without the full story of the position and all the benefits known about the position, they shouldn't be quick to judge.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The day I sifted through a thousand resumes

Today, I brought my personal laptop to work which gave me the ability to go through applications from recent job postings from my work.  I was surprised to see that I had around a thousand applications (its a sad reflection of our economy).

Here is what I saw:
  • The local professional sports mascot applied.  I thought it was funny.
  • I'm not the grammar police but please proofread your work.
    • I saw the statement "Served guests, poor drinks".  I'm sure they meant pour instead of poor.  It had me laughing all day.
  • Don't include your picture especially if it is a sexy personal ad picture.  I don't need to see it and it easily gets you rejected.
  • Please add a cover letter or something to your email instead of just a resume.  I'll admit I probably wont read it but it shows me you at least spent some time on the application email.
  • A lot of jobs start to blend together when viewing tons of applications. Things that stood out to me were people who have worked in airlines, casinos, amusement parks, and jobs I've never heard of.  It made me do a double take on the applicants resume.
  • There are a lot of state workers, construction workers, and mortgage workers applying for jobs.
  • I probably will not call you unless you are called for an interview.
  • Do not print out your resume, white out part of it, write something new in, scan it and email it as a submission.  It looks really really bad.
I've still got 250 applications to go through. I might add more later.