Kiley asks:
“What am I doing wrong? It never tells me what I did wrong, it just tells me “Sorry! Not good enough.” This is getting very frustrating, I put down I was able to work all the time, and the costumer always comes first, and everything else you are supposed to say. So why aren’t they sending it through?”
That’s a good question, Kiley; when employers post a job through Snagajob or in their own applicant tracking system (the name for the online system that processes and tracks your application) they can set filters to allow only applications that meet their basic requirements to reach hiring managers. I know that’s really frustrating, but it’s meant to benefit everyone; with the market as tough as it is, hiring managers can get swamped by people applying to every job, not just the ones they are qualified for.
Imagine that you’ve finally finished the perfect application for the perfect job. You’re a super fit. Your application is an error-free picture of awesomeness. You click “Submit” and never hear a thing. The hiring manager didn’t see it because he or she get stuck under hundreds of applicants that didn’t meet the requirements but still landed in the same inbox as yours.
That doesn’t make your situation any less frustrating, but filters vary from employer to employer. Depending on your age, licenses, experience and assessment answers, you’ll receive different results when you apply. If you’re continuing to fill out applications and finding you don’t pass the employers filters, you may want to:
- Review your information to ensure it’s all accurate
- Be extra careful when answering assessments
- Try another industry
- Try applying in person
I hope that answers your question; good luck with your job search!
About Amy White
you rejected my application to kohls. this is not your place to do this. it’s up to the client to decide if I’m qualified for the job.
Hi Robert, Kohl’s sets their application filters, not us, so it was the employer’s decision. I’m sorry your application wasn’t accepted, if you’re looking for a position in retail keep looking! Seasonal hiring is just about to hit full swing and it’s a great time to search for a retail position.
Change the SNAGajob application to exclude the illegal age bias questions
ie: date of birth,
year of High School graduation.
SNAGaJob is aiding in the commission of a crime.
You can help many job seekers by eliminating this form current and future application.
Hi Erin! We’re asking to determine whether applicants meet the minimum age requirements set for by the employer (i.e. 16, 18, 21) and to determine whether they have a high school diploma, which is also required for some positions. I’ll edit the post to clarify!
I have yet to get any response from the 50 job postings that I applied for. Apparantly your web site is not recognized by the companies that you are posting on your web site- as recently stated to me on one I applied for.The company said it wouldn’t accept any jobs thru this web site.
Which employer mentioned that? We’d definitely like to follow up! That said, I’ve been hearing from members who are getting hired, so be sure to follow up on your applications – if you’re qualified for the job following up can really help improve your chances of getting an interview!
I am always told that I am overqualified!!!! Do I have to lie on my applications to get a job. I have been unemployed for 4 months, and am willing to do anything, but the only response I have gotten is you are overqualified for any position that we have available, even though I said I am open for anything. Frustrating!!!!
Hi Jody, check out these tips for dealing with being overqualified: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/being-overqualified. Hope they help!
In reference to your reply above about why some applications submitted don’t seem to produce any feedback. You mention age as one of the filters. I thought it was against the law to discriminate because of age.
Hi Shirley, we’re referring to minimum age requirements 16,18,21 etc. Hope that helps clarify – I’ll edit the post too!
snagajob what a p you are.People don’t have time for this bs. You need to go fah and get another job
How do you know if you passed the employers filter if you never hear anything back? If the applications get backed up, what is the point of filling an application out over the internet? Majority of all jobs don’t have in store applications, so they give you a website to fill an application out, but never respond, what is the purpose of it when they never even call to let you know the status of your application and when you call them all that they can say is it will be kept on file, That is not telling people nothing, applications online to me is just a waste of time.
Hi Takeacha, if you don’t get notified your application was declined you have passed the initial filters, and from there it’s up to the hiring manager to decide which candidates to contact for more information. I know it’s frustrating not to hear back, but there are a lot of people applying right now so in many cases hiring managers simply can’t respond to everyone. If you haven’t heard back from employers, make sure you’re following these steps: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/whos-really-hiring-ive-applied-to-tons-of-jobs/
I went to one place for an application and they said they only do it on the computer. It does get very upsetting.
You get to the point you want to give up.
You work in one field for over 10 years and they won’t even give you a chance to try something new.
Hi Natalie – if you’re trying to change careers you might find this helpful: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-to-change-careers/ Good luck with your search, and don’t give up! Whether you find something on Snagajob or through another resource, we want you to find a new job!
Hi Amy,
I have read your replies today and suggestions about how to land a job. I am currently at an age where it is a factor in most companies in my area. Even though I have had some interviews in the past and currently, the hiring manager or human resource directors have told me at times that I was over qualified or under qualified or did not have a collage degree in a field of work I was applying for even though I have done that job in years past and well qualified by actual work experience. I even told the potential employer I am willing to learn and be trained for that job, but was still denied. What can be done?
HI Kenneth, if employers are telling you you’re overqualified, here are some ways you can work around that obstacle (who ever thought being awesome would be something you’d have to work around?) http://www.snagajob.com/resources/being-overqualified If hiring managers are unwilling to overlook lack of a degree in favor of years of experience, there isn’t much you can do aside of having a stellar resume that lists your accomplishments for past employers clearly. If they aren’t willing to bite when they see how much you bring to the table, it may not be a place you want to work anyway. Hope the article helps, and good luck with your job search – let us know how things go!
I have been looking for a job over a year and i know they are looking at my age .I started looking at the age of 60 & now at 61 well i am not that old to work i have been working retail all my life so far all i want is a part time job.I am not asking for much. They are saying the older people are living longer you know why cause we are frighters not losers Our system needs to change alot.
I’m sorry you’re having such a tough job search Judy – we’re discussing age discrimination over on facebook today if you want to join in! http://www.facebook.com/SnagAJob
I think another form of discrimination that needs to be addressed is the “assesment questionire” everytime I fill out an application online I run into that crap,and they say there is no right or wrong answer,( WRONG!WRONG!!WRONG!!! ) and if you believe that,I’ve got some swamp land in arizona you might be interested in
Hi James, great question – I’m answering in-depth in a blog post, once it’s published I’ll share a link here for you!
AMY, I HAVE GONE THRU ALOT OF LISTINGS THAT YOUR SITE HAS SENT ME. ALL I CAN FIND IS THE SAME OLD LISTINGS AND NOTHING VERY NEW, OF ALL THE APPS THAT I HAVE PUT IN I HAVE YET TO RECIEVE A REPLY, AS FOR THE REPLIES THAT YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO ABOUT WHAT WEB SITE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE IS EVEN LOOKING AT THEM. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE FULL OF IT , ALSO HAVE A NICE DAY PLAYING WITH THE DOG
Hi Tom, we have some listings that companies keep open for long periods (see this article for a breakdown of the types of posts you may encounter on our site:http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-old-are-the-job-postings/ ) but if you aren’t hearing back from employers I encourage you to check and make sure you’re doing these 4 things: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/whos-really-hiring-ive-applied-to-tons-of-jobs/
As for whether anyone’s looking, it can take longer to get hired when applying to those larger companies that are “always hiring”, but it does happen. We heard from a member last week on Facebook who’d heard back from 2 of those of applications. Hope that answers your question, let me know!
Can you update the site to do the entire application for the person applying? This would enable users to fill out twenty applications in like give minutes, ensuring they applied to every possible location. That way they could focus on walk-in and applications which are not on your site
Hi Phillip,
We’re working on ways to make applications easier, but it takes time (and some super smart developers we’re fortunate to have!). It’s tough right now since most employers have unique application requirements, or if you try to pull in the information dynamically it usually gets messed up somehow (have you ever tried uploading a resume to complete a profile? It usually is pretty hit or miss and requires a lot of editing). That’s what we’re trying to avoid while we look for new solutions – but rest assured we are definitely looking for a solution!
I’ve been applying for jobs for over a year now and it does get very frustrating. I’m a more mature worker and I’ve been with the same company for over 20 years, and I want a change in career. I have alot of customer service experience, so I’ve been applying at call centers, office work and I’m even applying at food places. I got rejected by Boston Market of all places…all the customer service experience I have and I’m not good enough for a restaurant/fast food organization?? Maybe it’s my age or the fact I’ve been too long at my present job?
Hi Cindy – it may be that employers are considering you overqualified. Check out these tips for how you can work around having an awesome application (sounds odd, I know) http://www.snagajob.com/resources/being-overqualified
Well hello Amy the problem that I see with this web site is everytime you apply for a job it seems to me that the companies you apply with never look at the application. I have applied for jobs with customer service fast food and they never seem to call. sometime I think that if you don’t speak spanish and most the cases that’s what there looking for and. I don’t think that right because some companies that’s the first thing they ask you. and the jobs I have applied for on this site I have worked in over the years and have the skills that there looking for. I truly think they should go back to paper applications I think people would have a better chance at finding a job
Hi Faye, I’m sorry you’re not hearing back from employers – there are some basic tips that can help (especially following up!) http://www.snagajob.com/resources/whos-really-hiring-ive-applied-to-tons-of-jobs/ The problem is that there are so many applicants for each position that if employers already can’t respond individually to all the applicants, digital applications let hiring managers find the best-suited candidates more quickly, and if they were trying to go through the same process with paper applications it would take even longer (and I know it already feels like it takes way to long to hear back!).
Maybe Kiley is having issues because she spells simple words like “customer” wrong. Either that, or she really wants to work in costumes:)
I would like to know more about the personality testing on these applications. Are they really effective? How can you anwer “do you do drugs?”….(no I do not) wrong? Or do you steal from your employers (no I do not). I am well qualified for many of these jobs and I am turned down. They have never said I am overqualified, what am I doing wrong? We are talking about simple retail jobs. Help!
Hi Melissa, if you’re having trouble with retail assessments it may be a subtle customer interaction issue – those can be tricky to spot. Do you have any friends who work in retail? Maybe you can take an assessment while they watch and they can point out trouble spots that you could work on to improve your suitability for the position?
Hi Amy! I just wanted to say thanks for what you do. There are a lot of people, it seems like, that get frustrated with you because of employers decisions. I just wanted to say i appreciate the help you provide. keep up the good work and good luck to all those job searchers!.
Thank you so much Erin, that means a lot
What a wonderful way to start the week!
Snag-job.com rejected my application to Kohl s for the second time. I just hate it. I will never fill out my application on this website. It SUCKS!!!!!!!
Hi Rsha, I’m sorry you feel that way, but it’s not us rejecting your application; Kohl’s sets up application filters based on your answers to their questions and if you do not meet their requirements they decline your application. If you find that you are frequently rejected based on retail or customer service assessments, you might want to consider brushing up on your skills or applying to different positions. Hope that helps, and good luck with your job search!
I have a job Interview from khol’s less than two days of filling out the application.
Now my question is, How do I answer those tricky questions they ask? oh yeah and khol’s gives group interviews. my experience with them with blockbuster not pleasant they make you stand in a circle for 4 hours hopefully khol’s isnt like that,
P.S. Any feedback on how too answer the questions would be great
Hi Rolitta – Congratulations on the interview! I’ve done my share of group interviews and know they can be scary, I think this article can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-to-stand-out-in-a-group-interview/. Make sure you are early and do not chew gum. I only say this because I have seen this happen on the group interviews I have attended. As for the questions, we have a few articles on common interview questions we see: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/where-do-you-see-yourself-in-5-years/, http://www.snagajob.com/resources/what-are-your-weaknesses/, http://www.snagajob.com/resources/why-do-you-want-to-work-here/. Let me know if there is a question you can think of that they may ask and we haven’t answered! Good luck and keep us posted!
Everytine I try and apply for a job on the site it says we’re sorry! Wth does that mean this site is rediculious and I’m not getting anywhere with it!
Hi Laquasia, I’m sorry to hear that! Have you tried following our basic job search tips? They might help you hear back from more employers.
Who's really hiring? I'm not hearing from employers: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/whos-really-hiring-ive-applied-to-tons-of-jobs/
Snagajob member Ashley shares how she got hired: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/the-job-search-tips-that-landed-ashley-3-interviews-and-a-job/
Also, if you’re struggling with those assessment questions, there are employers who don’t use them. Look for small businesses, they are less likely to employ assessment filters.
Hi Amy,
I’ve been looking for work for several months now, and it is so frustrating! Every time I apply somewhere in person I feel so much more fulfilled and productive, even if I don’t get called for an interview, but everywhere nowadays wants online apps only. It’s impossible to make an impression! I keep getting rejection letters before any interviews, and each one is like a nail in the proverbial coffin.
You have some good advice regardless. Not to mention you’re such a trooper putting up with some of these comments!
Thanks Kate! I’m sorry to hear your job search is so tough, and I understand why you prefer to apply in person. Have you tried following up in person for positions you apply for online? If you have a letter of reference you can share with employers, dressing professionally and stopping by to share that with the hiring manager is a great excuse to get some face time and shake hands (I’ve used that one myself!) Following up is the most common shared piece of advice I hear from our hired members. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you with your job search – we’re here for you and want to help you get hired and celebrate your success!
why cant i get job =( I have been applying like crazy, and yet nothing. i thought this site was suppose to help you out a little more but I’m not seeing that =(
Hi Denisse – I am sorry you’re frustrated. Be sure you double and triple check your applications for spelling and grammar mistakes. It is always a good idea to have someone else look them over, you might not have realized you missed something! Also, are you following up on your applications? That is a key step that can really make you stand out: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/interview-tips/interview-follow-up/.
snagajob——-check your spelling——-oh now something is wrong with your age——–
bs- ha-YOU NEED TO GO IN ANOTHER BUSINESS
I have great customer relations, great inter-personal skills and everything else ideal to make me the perfect employee. My background is all volunteer through a disability program through high school (an internship type program that helped you get different jobs in fields that were usually volunteer). The same thing happened when I was working with my disability services provider, after graduation. (The same search for a job that was generally in a field you were interested in. However, this time you may not have a choice, but to find a job you hated and/or wasn’t suited for you and your requirements in order to keep the services they provided.)
Anyway, I have since I have stopped working with them I have decided to look for more paid employment in-order to keep my SSI. (To keep SSI they must see you working a paid post, where-as my state funded disability support needed to see you working volunteer and/or paid. However, paid at the time would have been a plus because I could have put it towards trying to keep my SSI.) I know that volunteer is great to show that you have done some good in the respective field(s) you are applying for, but I want to make the switch to true paid employment. (I have only ever gotten three or four paychecks and those were for doing three weeks of Lawn Crew, which was a program they had in my disability program where we basically went around the school and did various activities to beautify the schools grounds, such as weeding, hedging, re-painting the numbers and lines for parking spaces, etc. We also went around to working other lots around the town. The other pay check was a couple weeks working for my father when the file clerk/secretary for his doctors office was on vacation and putting parents down as a reference, especially for something that trivial, is never a good idea.) My volunteer experience was as a Teacher’s Aide in Early Childhood Education (kindergarten and 2nd grade) and more of my work has involved secretarial, data entry, clerical, mail room, filing and office type work and my skills set is very broad in both the education and office settings, with high computer skills, tech skills, etcetera.
However, since I do not have any paid experience and I have a resume with experience that is sparse with job experience that covers several areas of skills I feel as though I shall never get employed. Especially, due to the fact that I am a high school student who was made to take a break from college courses to focus on keeping the state funded job coach who was more of a hindrance instead of the dream one might feel it would be to have their “extra-help”.
So, I was left stuck in the same rut of too much bad information and little, if any good answers, by them and fell into the same job search Hell spiral that everyone else did by their dreaded suggestion of search engines alone. What made it even worse was when they suggested I don’t even bother applying for jobs like receptionist and/or secretarial which would be perfect for me all because I don’t have the typical slim body type of the “a-typical” receptionist and/or secretary, so they discouraged me even more. I mean employers aren’t supposed to discriminate based on looks, even if theirs a “typical” personality/”look” they want seen when the clients walk in the door. I know volunteer reception work is different than paid, but that was still office setting, even if I was working in a kennel and they never discredited me nor declined me for the job due to my “stature”.
So, should I let jobs like that pass me by due to appearance or do employers not care anymore because they are looking for most qualified? I know it is still a guessing game once you get pulled in for the interview in person and all, but still. I think them telling me not to apply for such jobs has held me back and has kept me from success. I cannot even get the clerical jobs I apply for even though I am overly qualified for basic office work jobs for a kid just out of high school, with a year to two years of filing, mail room, secretary/receptionist, some basic IT, web design, proficiency with Microsoft OS 95-2007 (all the programs that they supply, as well), multi-line phone, etcetera. I have seen me doing nothing wrong on the apps and am so desperate that I have applied to Harris Teeter and McDonald’s and even they have said that I am not qualified!!!!!! If you have any suggestions I’d love to hear them.
Hi Jessica! It sounds like you’ve got some great volunteer experience behind you. You should list your volunteer work on your resume as “Relevant experience”. You want to make sure your resume contains everything you’ve accomplished, including volunteer work. I am sorry to hear that people have discouraged you from applying to jobs you feel would make a good fit. I say, go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you will be discriminated against. First, it is illegal. Second, you shouldn’t let this hold you back. With your volunteer experience and positive attitude, it seems like you would make a wonderful employee. Good luck with your search and please keep us posted. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am rooting for you!
I have a question: I filled an application out here on this site. I got an email the next day from the store manager asking me to come in and fill out an application in store. Is this a good sign, or something standard?
If it’s relevant, it’s for Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
Hi Patrick! It may mean they saw something on your online application and want you to come in and fill out another version of their application. Be sure when you go that you are dressed as you would be for an interview! Good luck and let us know how it goes!
I have a huge gap between my last job and now. After I left Best Buy a family member fell ill. I was out of work so the family put me in charge of being there. After 4.5 to 5 years the illness ran its course. But companies just see the lenght of time between jobs and I do want to use a family members death as the excuse, that just seems to me to be rude. What do I do?
Hi Joseph – I am sorry to hear about your situation. You can be honest and said you had to stop working to take care of an ill family member. You do not need to go into any specifics and they will probably not ask you for any more information. Also, check out this article: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/being-a-caregiver-can-lead-to-a-career/ with ideas on how a caretaker can lead to a career. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO GET ACCESS TO JOB
Hi there! Snagajob is a free site for job seekers. Let me know if you have any questions
Seems that employers, job boards, and our whole system in general is out of touch. People are living longer instead of dying at an economically responsible age, idiots with a college degree who went on mommy and daddys dime are outnumbering intelligent people with years of experience, and most HR departments are filled with people who wouldnt know genuine if it walked up and punched them in the face… This economy is a joke and the only way its going to get better is to destroy to rebuild.
I don’t understand, me with years of work experience, 4 years university education have to get rejected ! and people that are working in the same place that I’m applied to cant even speak English ! even tho i put 7.25 for hour rate! lowest wage. I’m sure something is wrong or its fake job, because they would love to hire someone like me …i don’t have money to pay my rent and you and them wasting time of people like me.
Hi Kim! First off wow am I sorry some people are obnoxious enough to post things on a specific post that should go to an inbox! Secondly I had a question that confounds me! I just got done applying to a job at a local pub. While taking the questionare it went into math problems. Now with basic everyday math I excel! My brain is super fast at calculating! However when it comes to more complex math problems I am horrible! But I do not understand for the life of me why a local pub hiring servers would ask such questions! I am convinced that this is why the businesses filter sent me an auto decline. I have held a management position for a long period of time and also have 7 years in at my last job as a server at a local family diner in a different town. I am going crazy being jobless! Any tips?
hi my name is Brittany and I am having troubles finding a job. I have been applying everywhere since the age of 16. Now I am 20 years old and still without a job. I attend college, and need some cash to cover gas food and classroom materials that my scholarships does not cover. I have applied once again everywhere around here. In person and online. The only job i was able to obtain was for a one day job in russelville working crowd control. And there are no work study programs available.
Hi Brittany! Try using our keyword search tool to look for jobs in your area: http://www.snagajob.com/job-search. Also, have you thought about looking into your college’s work study program? They will have positions available where you can be flexible with your schedule. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
HEEEELLLPPP NEEED JOB!!! college student need job but cant seen to get one and no workstudy program available at school
I’m beginning to say, “screw the job market.” I’m not good enough for any employer. They probably think my application is so bad, they don’t want to interview me. I guess I’ll be jobless forever, all because the job market is collapsing. Following up proves ineffective to me, it doesn’t matter how I fill out applications, no matter what I do I can’t even get even ONE call back from somebody. I didn’t realize it was this hard just to make money.
Hello, I have come across on-line applications through recruiters and directly from the company that ask the date of high school graduation. This is a required field and I cannot proceed without it. Now, if I answered that question I would be telling my age. I thought that was illegal and could only be asked after a job offer was made and a formal application is completed.
Hi, I just submitted my job app to Kohl’s and realized that I made a typo by putting the wrong year in for what day I can start. I typed in 2012 by mistake instead of 2013. Will this cost me a potential job and ruin my chances of working at kohl’s because of that typo?
Hi Stephen! This is a great excuse to follow up on your application. Check out this video: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/video-how-to-follow-up/?ref=soc_fbf_res where we break it down for you
.
Is there a way to see jobs that meet my age requirement? Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi Neil! What are your age requirements?
Hello Amy! I just signed up and your process STILL asks illegal information. DOB: and Year Graduated high school. These questions are directly violating SEC. 623. [Section 4] of the Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.
BEG:
(a) Employer practices
It shall be unlawful for an employer-
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's age; END
The LEGAL forms of the questions you have asked:
Are you at least 16 years or older ?
Are you at least 18 years or older ?
Are you at least 21 years or older ?
I personally, believe you are doing this for a competitive advantage. Allowing employers to discriminate in their favor entices them to use your service rather than another online application.
If anyone over 40 years of age is reading this and has gotten their application turned down buy this site, then, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE EEOC.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION website
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/age.cfm
-Carlton
HI Carlton – Maintaining legal compliance is of upmost importance for Snagajob. I'll have the right folks look into this and get back to you if we have any updates. Feel free to review our terms of use and privacy policy found here: http://www.snagajob.com/security/. Let me know if you have any other questions!