I was looking for part-time work. Filled out an application for a big retail company. Got hired without an interview, WTF? I guess I missed the memo on new trends in the hiring process. It’s called “Open Hiring” and looks like it has been around for a couple of years.
Hiring trends of past
I remember the days of going through two, three, and sometimes four interviews before being offered a job. The process could go on for weeks. It was mind-numbing and tedious. It was basically to see if the next person in the food chain likes you. You would get asked roughly the same questions, maybe in a different way. This type of interviewing is costly and time-consuming. I understand it, didn’t like it but understood it.
10 years ago stories, blog posts, and videos of being asked just ridiculous questions for a position were popping up. Questions like, If you were trapped in a blender how would you get out before it turns on? These questions had absolutely nothing to do with the job you applied for. Some would argue that it was to see how you think, and how fast you could come up with an answer. Not sure if there was really a correct answer.
This pisses me off
Some hiring or not hiring trends have stuck around for quite a while. Go in for your interview, everything seems to have gone well. The person interviewing you tells you that you will get an answer by the end of the week. The end of the week comes and nothing, radio silence. You attempt to reach out to the company or the person you interviewed with and get no response. You have just been ghosted for some reason. This really pisses me off. If you do not want me, do not think I am a good fit, or are not qualified, LET ME KNOW! It is just common courtesy to give someone an answer one way or the other if they landed the job. I have seen many posts about numerous companies ghosting applicants. I have been ghosted myself.
Ridiculous job requirements
I have to laugh when I see a job posting for a job that wants, 2-5 years of experience, a Bachelor’s degree (Masters’s degree preferred). Guess what the pay is, not too much over minimum wage, in some areas, let’s call it $19-$20 dollars an hour. Some places put these requirements and have the audacity to label it an “entry-level position”. Really, 2-5 years of experience is entry-level? Missed that memo. From first-hand experience, Federal Government jobs can be worse.
Maybe you have seen a job for a govt agency and one of the requirements is a Ph.D., that’s right a Ph.D. With several years of experience in the related field. What this usually means, not all the time but a lot of times is that they already have someone picked out and by law have to post the position for people to apply for. I started a job as a govt contractor for the Army. The position was converted into an Army civilian position. So by law, they have to post it, and you apply for it even though you do not have some of the qualifications listed. The job I was essentially already working in listed needing a P.hD. When I saw that I was like WTF??? Then it was explained to me by a co-worker that was already an Army civilian. I just shook my head.
New trend?
What I have seen as a new trend is probably more disturbing than the past ways of hiring someone. It’s called “Open Hiring”. A while back when just looking around to see about a part-time job I filled out an online application with Amazon. Straight forward enough, the one thing that kills me and should have mentioned before, is why have me upload my resume only to go through and fill out my job history, etc online? I ran into this almost everywhere. Back on topic, I go through the application online and it takes about 20 minutes. Near the end it is already offering me a job!!!! Without a single interview, phone call, or email correspondence with a live person. WTF is that!!! Granted this is Amazon and I am sure they have some scary AI thing going applications but no interview, really??? Open hiring is what it was.
Hired without an interview
I go through the application process fill it out and submit it. A day later I get an automated email with a contingent job offer, with pay, position, and time of day I would mostly work. Again I was hired without an interview. Had to fill out a couple more things online and then it asked me to do a “site visit”. I set a day and time for the visit. Go in for my visit, they did not know who I was until I showed them the emails I received and looked me up. Came to realize the only reason it was a “contingent offer” is that I needed to pass a background check. Come to find out that the company switched the way the hiring process is done. It seems the stores have no input on who gets hired. They are told who they are taking. “Open Hiring”
If you are looking for a part-time or full-time job and need one fast, check out the big retailers and you will probably get hired without an interview.
