So, I've been 'seriously' job-searching for about 2 weeks now....

I say it in quotes because I wonder how willing I am to jump through these hoops to actually GET said job.
Like, I really don't think I'd relocate my family to another city where I have no support system or relatives nearby to help with my kids, just for a job that may not last 6 months or more. Because so many of these employers are laying off and going unde as we continue to 'downturn'.

But, like a good prole, I am submitting to everything I think i may be qualified for, even if it is in sac or reno- most of them at least generate a rejection slip within a week anyway, or just ignore me.
And then there's the AUTOMATED APPLICATION...where you can't even really upload a resume, you have to check off all these asinine questions, and sometimes they time out in the middle for no reason. funfunfun.

Here's my big question: I know these corporations like to think they own us, but it is really necessary to allow them to run credit checks and background checks as well as offer bodily fluids to even be CONSIDERED for the job?
It galls me.
I guess I am shooting myself in the foot and will always end up at Mom & Pop companies, because I just can't bring myself to do it.
Not because I am hiding anything, 'cept maybe my medical MJ, which isn't protected anyway... but JUST on a matter of principal.

Does anyone get what I mean? :shrug:

And I for one welcome our new corporate overlords.:sarcasm:

I only had one job with a major corporation during my working years (retired). It was a fair job, at best. I worked a lot of mom/pop jobs, too, but they really didn't offer any great advancement opportunity. They did however manage to supply me with the training I needed to start my own business, and for that, I am eternally grateful! The owner of the last mom/pop company I worked for offered me a "job for life" if I ever needed one. I gave him 1 1/2 yrs notice, hired and trained a replacement, and stayed until he could handle the job!

Hopefully it won't be long until medical MJ is accepted nationwide.

invasion of privacy, but its so very widespread and has been for many years (although it's gotten worse) you or I can't change it. Especially in a down economy when there are plenty of people who are willing to subject themselves to almost anything to just get a job.

The only way I ver see things changeing in out favor is when the economy booms again and it becomes a labor market instead of the current corporate one.

I've been freelancing on & off for ten years, and the only reason I am at this point is thatr I have no more clients/income to fall back on. I have One lady that I have always helped, who has been a mentor and teacher as well as a client - she could employ me for life, if she was actually making money....

I would much rather do workshop development and human development ideally. But people stop looking at those enriching programs in times of stress and economic awfulness.

Whenever the writing boat sinks, i am back on the jobmarket. Every time i am stunned and shocked and really pissed off by the loss of rights, and how easily people hand them over. If I had a law degree, i'd be out there fighting these tactics by employers. it's just bullshit.

I've worked for myself since 1974. I haven't ever made a huge amount of money, but I've succeeded in living my life my way.

The only companies I am familiar wth processes at run them only on the final candidate (and credit checks only for certain circumstances). It costs them money for every check they run, so most companies only do those for the final candidate after a preliminary offer has been made.

it has become entirely ridiculous. Craigslist consistently has pages of bogus "sales" jobs, even the "legit" employment sites are full of nothing but scams and National Guard. For the few jobs that seem real, I've seen Controllers being wanted for a mere $8.50 an hour, I see regularly what you're seeing regarding all these tests of many kinds (like drug, credit score, etc.), but also seeing demands for proof of current employment (wtf, with so many out of work why demand someone be currently employed?) and up front references. I don't mean they want them to be available at first interview, I mean that they want them with the resume. From craigslist? I could just imagine how pissed my references would be if they got caught in a scam because I gave unknown company their contact information before I even confirmed there was a real company or a real job.

Employers are sure turning into the same kind of beasts that those college students did in the guard/prisoner experiment years back. They feel they have the power, and they're going to use it to kick and humiliate and whatever else adds to their power trip.

I've called my current lack of job freelancing to save face more than anything. I haven;t been promoting myself and really only have one or two 'regular' clients, but they have dropped off the map due to lack of funds too...

I've been looking on & off since 2008, but didn't dig in till I got told by welfare that my self employment wasn't cutting it...

I know what you mean by the scammers too...and that's one of my big issues with these applications and electronic submittals. But really I guess i am just arrogant because I think it is none of anyone's goddamn business.
Especially before they even see my qualifications!

..and even after being considered for a position, i may be hard pressed to submit to that BIG BROTHER behavior. My potential employer doesnt need to know about my inability to make enough money to pay my student loans, or my run in with ex-abusive hubby and the sherrif...nope, none of their goddamn business!
:rant:

of hurdles nowdays, because they can. They act like they have to protect themselves from the lowly mange of the street. With every job I have to sign more agreements, allow more invasive background checks, and ask for less. If I say no they just go to the next person.

that's what sucks...if i say no there's a line of 20 people behind me all too willing to sign over their firstborn to get that job.

fuck 'em...they deserve eachother!