Scream !!!!!!! Who invented forms? They need hanging!!

[matriarch]

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And, of course, there are the forms. The damned forms. And now I've come full circle.

Mat
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I saw that grin!!! I have two more to complete, but at least I have the weekend this time. They are the same goddam forms, local government, for positions within the social services directorate. They are even worse. I applied for a post with them, many years ago, was shortlisted....went for the interview, and despite the fact that virtually every organisation was using computers and windows-type software.....I HAD TO COMPLETE A TYPING TEST........ON A TYPEWRITER !!!!!!!

I flunked the interview, but mainly because my husband had had an accident on his bike (as in pedal power, not motor) that morning, before I had to leave, and as I couldn't drive at that time, a friend had taken him to hospital to have him checked out. He (hubby) insisted I carry on with the interview, but it was pointless, my head just wasn't playing the interview game. I must have been a pathetic candidate. I remember very little of it.

(the accident? Broken elbow, which meant a stay in hospital for surgery to insert a piece of metal in the joint, and leave a still visible scar on his arm, resembling cartoon style stitching around Frankenstein's neck. Appallingly difficult place to stitch, apparently.)

 

[Weird Harold]

Exactly! I generally write in small caps. (all block capitals, but with the letters that would not normally be capitalized smaller than the ones that would) My handwriting leaves plenty to be desired and that is the most legible way for me to write.

Because I spent 20-some years filling out aircraft maintenance forms -- which require printing instead of cursive -- I'm another who habitually prints things instead of writing them.

I once submited my signature to a handwriting analysis machine at a carnival. Then on a lark, I submitted my name as I would print it on a form. The analysis was virtualy identical!

It wasn't just a random sort of output either -- my buddy did the same -- written signature and printed name -- and got two contradictory analyses.

I seldom actually "write" anything because my handwriting is atrocious and almost totally illegible. However, my printing is a distinct enough style with mixed case and style that it can't be considered "Block Printing" either. I don't know if it's distinct enough to pass as "handwriting" for the purpose of Ogg's form or not, but it's what he would have gotten on it from me.

 

[snooper]

... I was complying with the UK's employment legislation by using a demonstrably fair process. ...

So were we. The UK legislation only bars discrimination on certain grounds (eg, sex, colour, religion on the mainland). It does not bar a truly random lottery and interviewing only the first n qualified candidates so selected.

 

[oggbashan]

So were we. The UK legislation only bars discrimination on certain grounds (eg, sex, colour, religion on the mainland). It does not bar a truly random lottery and interviewing only the first n qualified candidates so selected.

True. I was having to work in a large company that had Personnel Rules six inches thick. Even my process broke many of the 'Rules'.

The later process broke almost all of them but not the legislation and was effectively the same as yours - restrict the candidates by a lottery.

My unit expanded to recruit for many other departments because we were cheaper, quicker and more effective. My directors backed what I did otherwise I'd have been fired. The personnel 'experts' wanted me outsourced because I was taking away their so-called expertise.

As for 'block capitals' - the company wanted legible handwriting and people who could follow simple instructions. Now they would be more interested in keyboard skills. It was a long time ago.

Og

PS. As for Matriarch's interview - if the interviewers had been good at it they should have noticed something was wrong and compensated for it or offered another interview date. I did that for a candidate whose mother had been mugged the night before. He came to the interview straight from hospital but wasn't performing as expected. Eventually he admitted what had happened. We aborted the interview and gave him another one a week later. He seemed to be a different person the second time. He was recruited but if we had accepted the first interview we wouldn't have hired him and would have missed a good employee.

 

[GingerV]

We shouldn't hang the form makers, they deserve a long slow death by papercut. If the form extends more than 4 pages, we soak the paper in lemon juice first.

I'm dyslexic. Take my keyboard and spellchecker away from me, I look like a moron. I regularly get 4 copies of any form I have to fill out by hand, and curse my way through every one. I figure the folks who turn me down based on nonsense like using capital letters or blue ink just lost an intelligent, motivated, dedicated, talented potential employee. But hey, if part of the job is being able to fill out lots of little boxes and follow didactic instructions, they saved themselves a headache. I'd not suit them no matter how brilliantly I can interview. Little boxes and detailed instructions aren't something I'd do well.

I was going to wish all the best to your husband's elbow, Mat...but I think on rereading that the interview and the typewriter test were both past horrors. Ah well, what the hell, I hope he's recovered beautifully , and that your job hunt ends before you run out of black ink.

G