Having just completed yet another job application, I'm sick to the back teeth of these stupid requirements! You'd think having a degree, studying for PhD, even having A levels would be enough to prove I'm not thick, but since age 11?!! What, do they want the results for my Key Stage 3 exams as well as my GCSEs?!! I can't hardly remember what subjects I did exactly for my GCSEs, I only know the grades off by heart, but not what grade goes with what topic! :-) It's just ridiculous I think, maybe I should stick in all my Speech and Drama and swimming certificates as well eh?!

Grrrrr!!!

I can sympathise. I feel really embarrassed when I'm asked to list my GCSE's for job applications - I was never the brightest of souls. I don't even have A Levels. I don't see the point as, however well you may have done as a kid, it hardly reflects what you are like now. I don't see how my RSA certificate in Fashion Through the Ages and my D in Technology affects my ability to be a post-doc, lecturer or whatever.

I feel the same when they ask for previous employment and explanations of any gaps. If I miss bits out because they're not relevant then it looks like I'm bone idle. If I include them then I feel daft writing down my experience working for Subway when I'm applying for academia.

I came 1st in the slow bicylce race, although I think that means I came last :-(

lol Sneaks, I think it might! But you were still the best at what was asked of you there, even if it was going the slowest, so it's still ok! :-)

I'm just really fed up with stupid sections like this on applications, i wasn't expecting it, and ended up taking so long to remember all the details for various sections that I was late getting the application in :( So, although I would be great at the job and have a good application, cos it's late it may just tossed out! Kicking myself severely here! Note to self, don't forget/leave it to the last minute to fill out forms...

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh so much! Is it for public sector job by any chance? They love all that kind of rubbish. :p

That's just absolutely crazy! Who wants that sort of information and why?
Seriously-that's a real worry.

======= Date Modified 24 Jul 2010 12:22:46 =======
Algaequeen, I totally understand your frustration. You got me worried - I was one of those kids who hated school and hardly tried to study. My aim was to get a pass and not have to repeat the year simply because I didn't want to be left behind with my friends in the year above me. It's not until my A Levels - where I could choose the subjects I was interested in as opposed to those forced upon me - that I started taking things seriously and working hard.
What I might do, now that you've mentioned that employers ask for this, is prepare a little 'talk-off' about why I did so badly at school. That way, if I ever get pulled up about in an interview, then I have an answer ready. ;-)

p.s. I once applied for a three-month temping job - in the private sector - that any monkey could have done and got asked to fill out a twelve-page application form accompanied by 6 years worth of bank statements! That's 72 bank statements in total, and they stated that they needed ALL of them or else I don't even qualify to be called in for an interview! What's the world coming to?

Jeez that's mad Baltar, why on earth would they need that kind of information?! It's worrying really, aside from the time and effort it takes to get all that crap together when you are applying or preparing for interview, to give out so much information to so many different places when you are applying is a recipe for disaster to me! They have so much personal info, it just takes one fool employee to do a bit of identity theft and you're scuppered!
And DanB, I do believe it was a public sector job, which I was hoping to avoid but there it is! I have a feeling it's just been tossed out though!

I'm stunned - 6 years worth of bank statements????? sod that! Like I'd give that kind of information to anyone - they are confidential - the darned envelope they come in says so - that's all your personal details in (was gonna say triplicate - not sure what the term is for 72 times over....) Why on earth would any employer need that?
Application forms are just ridiculous - I'm 40 now, I can hardly remember what I've done in the last 10 years let alone school back in the early 80s! I always ending up forgetting jobs lol, and so many gaps (children can do that to your cv) I tend to just scrap everything for 10 years of it and put that I was bringing up my kids lol rather than listing about 15 different temp jobs ;-)
Hope they haven't just discarded your application, but honestly, its crazy, utterly crazy. The person you are now bears no resemblance whatsoever to the 11 year old you, and the school girl you had totally different priorities in life!

I once started to fill in an application form which stated in its introduction that the post required beyond A level qualifications, only to find, about halfway through, that they wanted me to obtain confirmation from ' a suitably qualified person' that I could write an essay. how do they think I got my Fellowship then? by drawing pictures??? I decided not to bother with that one :-)

Is it me or is the new way of getting you to fill out 20 pages of an application form online is just a way of reducing the number of applicants?(and yeah, looking for information that beggars belief ... how can someone remember what colour socks they wore in 1987 :-)) It is sickening to chase up all the information, fill out the forms and then, not even to get a PFO!!!

Just make it up, if they see that you've got a Degree then they're not going to contact your school.

'a suitably qualified person' lol :-) I'm surprised they didn't give a list of suitable people just so you didn't make a mistake! Or maybe it was a trick question to see if you can select the same type of person they would, then they might hire you!

I'm thinking of adding a section to these kinds of forms in the future, called 'Alternative Career Choices' so they can really get an idea of what I'm like. I'll include the time I wanted to be a teacher, work in a post office, teacher again, astronaut, cosmonaut, dancer, teacher, party organiser, scientist...