Unicru, how I hate you.

So online applications suck. Mostly because of the test they force you to go through at the end of the process that "decides" whether or not you're potential employee material or not. But this attitude test is miserably broken and extremely impersonal.

First off, the test asks you to "Strongly Agree", "Agree", "Disagree", or "Strongly Disagree" to each question - and "Agree" and "Disagree" are automatically wrong. From there, it's simply a yes/no matter if you understand that there's no room for grey on their test. I approach everything I do honestly, so it's no wonder that I fail this dumb thing every time I take it - I read each question and ponder not what they want me to say, but what I feel is honestly my answer.

...but that's sort of the problem. On paper, I'm not very impressive; and on these tests, I usually end up in their "yellow areas", if not outright in the red. But once an employer actually sits down with me and takes the time to talk on a personal level, they usually see that I'm a great candidate. But web applications usually weed me out before that interview, and that feels very unfair to me (not that life's fair or anything - actually, it's unfair to that business 'cause it means they're losing one hell of a good employee by ignoring me).

I understand why they want to use this process - it means they don't have to deal with all the actual candidates; just the ones that seem like a good match. Saves time and they don't have to hire, train, and retain an HR person that only does hiring. Maybe this is a sign that I should stop applying to these places and start focusing more on career jobs - one where I don't have to ask if they want fries with their order.