4 ms·

The hiring process in America is broken. I agree completely. I'd like to see startups address the broken-tech aspects, and hiring managers address the cultural

The hiring process in America is broken. I agree completely. I'd like to see startups address the broken-tech aspects, and hiring managers address the cultural factors. Even the "best" offerings like Taleo are highly lacking IMHO. Then you have custom sites that have horrid designs, like USAJOBS.gov - used by thousands and thousands of people. Why in this era of LinkedIn should anyone ever have to retype a resume into individual form fields? Insane.

pw0ncakes 16y ago
The hiring process in America is broken. Although far away from relevant machinery, social class stratification is the root problem. Very few people have substantial money or power. Since the middle and lower classes have more people, and talent seems to be fairly evenly distributed among social and ethnic groups, most of the talent is in these relatively powerless classes-- separated from the means to get anything done. Back doors (social connections, informal gatherings, elite colleges) are always going to be more effective for hiring and job-seeking than front doors (HR). I think it's doomed to be that way. Back doors are in a miserable state now because of the social entrenchment, gated communities, invitation-only events, that reinforce the power of the hereditary aristocracy and marginalize 99+% of the talented (the young and poor++). ++ Here I define "poor" as anyone who would face financial ruin in event of long-standing (several years, plus a need to go back to school) unemployment or an unfortunate event (e.g. uncovered medical expenses). So the vast majority of people, even those we'd consider "middle class", qualify as poor by this definition. With social gaps widening and "back doors" in a state of general failure, it follows naturally (in my estimation, although I admit I've made no case for it here) that front doors are going to fall into an even sorrier state.

pw0ncakes 16y ago

The hiring process in America is broken. Although far away from relevant machinery, social class stratification is the root problem. Very few people have substantial money or power. Since the middle and lower classes have more people, and talent seems to be fairly evenly distributed among social and ethnic groups, most of the talent is in these relatively powerless classes-- separated from the means to get anything done. Back doors (social connections, informal gatherings, elite colleges) are always going to be more effective for hiring and job-seeking than front doors (HR). I think it's doomed to be that way. Back doors are in a miserable state now because of the social entrenchment, gated communities, invitation-only events, that reinforce the power of the hereditary aristocracy and marginalize 99+% of the talented (the young and poor++). ++ Here I define "poor" as anyone who would face financial ruin in event of long-standing (several years, plus a need to go back to school) unemployment or an unfortunate event (e.g. uncovered medical expenses). So the vast majority of people, even those we'd consider "middle class", qualify as poor by this definition. With social gaps widening and "back doors" in a state of general failure, it follows naturally (in my estimation, although I admit I've made no case for it here) that front doors are going to fall into an even sorrier state.