Pet Peeve--re: Job Applications

[jjsooner73]

Why do professional job applications ask about your HS experiences? As if its relevant....I mean, if it's a job that doesn't require any college experience or degrees, OK.

I'm filling out a teaching application and it asks about my HS activities and honors. Honestly, I can't really remember much other than playing sports. Grrrr. It's a pain.

Of course, this reminds me of the time when I was finishing my MS Degree in Statistics and doing a phone interview w/ FedEx in Memphis. They asked me what I scored on my ACT. :rolleyes: OK, I've just finished 7 years of school, and you care about a test I took over 7 years ago?

[mbrogier]

I don't get that either. I don't remember all the stuff I did in high school. I know I did really well on my SAT, but I have no clue what the actual score was. :rolleyes:

[trish_ks]

Oh I agree! And it always bothers me that they want your last 5 addresses. Like I seriously remember the address of every apartment I've rented, especially when I've moved almost once a year!

[ErinM]

I think I can answer some of these!

On job applications, remember that they are created for every job a company has...from thel lowest clerical position to the highest exectuive position. So, everybody has to provide the same information, and for that clerical person, HS may be all they have. From my perspective, if it doesn't apply, or it doesn't matter in the scheme of things, I just leave it blank. If it's REALLY IMPORTANT, the HR person looking at the application should be asking you to fill it in.

As for the past addresses, some companies use that information to run background checks. I recently took that off the application at the company I work for because we don't do anything with it and our background check vendor can get that information by running a social security trace. From that information, they know which counties to search for criminal activity. But yes, the fact that you have to remember that stuff is pretty annoying, and I have a hard time doing it too!

[Peggy]

I've never heard of a company asking for high school information. :confused:

Peggy