Online applications fair?

do you think online applications are fair? i mean i guess applicants don't really have a say in the matter, but they seem to make my life alot harder. a few years ago when i filled out paper applications, i actually heard back from people. by applying online, you don't know that it's actually being recived by anyone. with all the silly tests, it can take an hour per application without the promise of so much as a phone call, and your denied the chance to make a good impression. i remember how i got all of my previous jobs, being a friendly 19 yearold girl...i would just go in, smile, speak enough to show i'm approchable and well spoken and somtimes that was enough for the person to say "well...come on back and i'll interview you". these days...i send out a dozen online apps and just don't hear back. thats like 12 hours worth of time that i will never get back. is anyone else pisssed by this? anyone else think online apps are making it harder to find work?

Online applications fair?
It depends on where you are applying.





Small businesses tend not to have online applications - larger companies do have them





The reason the larger companies have gone that direction are really two.





1. They can track their applicants for legal purposes to prove that they're not discriminating agaist anyone.





2. They can pre-screen all of the applicants for minimum qualifications before they make actual interviews





It does take the personality out of the process but it also can make things much more fair and it certainly makes it more efficient for the employer.





If you have had that many applications you've filled out with no response, you probably need to be either looking more closely at the position description (and how you're responding to what they're looking for) or you need to do a better job of describing your skills.





Good luck and I hope this helps some!
Reply:I think online applications make it easier for more people to apply (which makes the whole process more competitive) and makes it easier ffor the companies to sort out the applications. However, easier does not necessarily translate to "people friendly"





But you are not obligated to submit your application electronically. if you prefer to fill out applications in person, you can still do so.