Job hunting.... Application forms.

So it turns out I'm still job hunting. Why? Well, quite frankly, the current economy simply sucks. Every time I see the count of the number of applicants being on 40 or more for a simple temporary administration assistant job, I get a little depressed. I apply anyway, because what else can i do?

I've tried handing out CVs in shops, but that is about at useful as straightening your hair just before you walk out to a rainstorm. No reply at all. So there does not seem to be an easy shortcut to a money earning job, even if it is a job every 15 year old could do (actually, that might just be the problem).
Next step; filling in application forms. I found the website of each store in Leeds from a chain and downloaded or filled in every application form I could find. Were these gonna be my big solution? Well, no. Why? Most of them seem at the least a bit odd. And by odd I mean for example that Costa Coffee wanted an example of a time I made a difference with my outstanding costumer service (I've never seen any of their employers make any changes of such caliber?), because apparently that is what comes with making coffee. Starbucks wanted to know how working there would influence my life and my career (in their defense, being able to pay my rent is a good influence on my life). Because making coffee at Starbucks is apparently a great career move. Boots wanted me to fill in a 88 question long survey about how often i lie, am late or how much I respect my colleges (or maybe it was just to see if I actually read the questions, because there was a suspicious amount of repetition). After that I finally got to fill in some profile questions and it turned out I was not even eligible for the job. Kudos for picking that order Boots!
Then there are the forms where you can apparently only be of white ethnic background if you are from a UK country. Or the ones that tell you to hand write the form and then give you 2 square centimeter to fill in your former employer, their address and your tasks. Seems like they are not actually interested in reading this information (or they can read very tiny handwriting).
Then there is always the handing in of the form, where they ask you if you want to work full-time or part-time, while you have already filled that in on the form. I secretly feel like this is a trick question. When you say full-time, they say they are only looking for part-time employers and the other way around. I mean, what other reason could there be for this useless question?

Well, it is clear that application forms did not work for me either. So I'm back on the track of writing cover letters for vacancies that are more popular than water in the dessert. I did make an improvement though. I now spend my time on vacancies that I actually like and that really match my experience and education. This way I might get some actual feedback rather that the standard "not enough experience". So by now i applied for some pretty awesome things. Fingers crossed!