Living & Working in Great Places

The Application Process

I am in the mood for feedback I guess. We work with lots of employers who have many different ways to capture applications - on-line applications, PDFs, resumes only, faxing, mailing, etc.

I am wondering from you all, how much effort are you willing to put into an application process? Are there ever too many steps and you just won't complete the process? Are you willing to fax something to an employer? Mail?

Tags: application, process, resume

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Permalink Reply by Keith Larson on December 16, 2008 at 9:13pm: How much effort I'm willing to put into the application process is directly proportional to how much interest I have in a specific place to work and how quickly I have to find a job of any kind. In general, I am interested in more places than I will be able to work in this lifetime, and I look fairly early...so if anything starts to give me a headache I might move on to another opportunity.

A very recent example: I began the application process for a position with a company. In one of their release forms they require the applicant's driver's license number. Pretty easy for most people...but I gave up driving more than a decade ago, my latest state id has expired and I have been in no hurry to get another id card since my passport, social security card, and birth certificate is usually sufficient. I quickly backed out and went to another opportunity.

Some open-ended questions are OK for me. I can understand questions similar to those Work Arctic asks on it's application about working in very remote locations. But if I need to answer basic interview questions like "Why do you want to work for us?" or "Tell us about some recent...", I'm probably going to move on. I can tell a lot about whether a company is a good fit for me in that first interview. If that company wants to cut corners there, it's probably not a place for me.

I probably would not bother with sending a fax, but I would and have sent items through the mail. If you don't work regularly in an office environment, fax machines are not always readily available.

I tend to prefer a mix of online applications and either mailing or emailing a resume. Online applications are sometimes small. Your last three work references might be less than a couple of years and that's working complete seasons. If I had to choose only one method, I would have to pick the resume.

PDFs are sometimes are a little pain. Many times I'm using my laptop where there is a free wifi connection, but no printer immediately available.

Some companies still request a photo. This varies a lot with me. Most times I think nothing of sending one. But there are days that I just say I don't think so and move on.

All of this is based on 20 years of resort/restaurant work in the "real world" before moving into seasonal work, then several seasons now of complete seasons with excellent reviews and I'm assuming very good references. I research a company in depth prior to applying and usually feel pretty good and confident in interviews.

If someone is new to resorts or working seasonally, I would not necessarily advise them to skip a place just because of what's really just petty annoyances. I would also suggest to some people who have questionable histories to be more flexible, too.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carol J Stahl on January 6, 2009 at 2:35pm: I am having trouble finding phope # for Coolworks employment office & Xanterra, just to check and seee if they received my online application. Can you help? Carol cjstahl63@bellsouth.net; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kari Quaas on January 6, 2009 at 3:09pm: Which Xanterra office are you trying to reach? To which park are you applying?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kate on December 17, 2008 at 1:17am: Kari, I've found that online applications have been my preferred way to apply...especially when I don't immediately know the best time to apply. I found a couple of places for the winter I wanted to apply to, but by the time I got through the info, I found out that I had to either print out and snail-mail an app or they'd have to mail me one to fill out and mail back, which would have put me out of the running, time-wise. Also, I like how reasonable most employers' apps are. With one exception, they were standard, without wanting everything but your first-born and your right-leg kinda things. I enjoy the fact that they have seemed more ready to take a chance. I have a reasonable job history...I am far more personable in person and over the phone, and have enjoyed that part of the process. For me, there was one place I found the app process was just too invasive, and that was for a job in California. They wanted me to answer questions I considered personal business....just a bit too "nosy", in my opinion.
It's be nice if employers would list on their profiles when they are starting to take apps...some do and some don't. Also keeping the info updated would be helpful as well, as to when/if they have filled all of their positions. I've noticed some employers do take their info down so it can't be accessed from the national parks area (talking about National Parks jobs).
To sum up, I much prefer the speed and convenience of the online application. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Coly Hope on December 18, 2008 at 5:52pm: I prefer the online application. It's easier to fill out and gets to the employer that day.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom on December 21, 2008 at 4:18pm: Okay this question DOES need answering. We are talking about minimum wage level jobs ususally, or even below minimum wage level jobs, the kind you can get by walking into the nearest store to you that ISN'T in the middle of nowhere and DOESN'T cost you a bundle in travel expense to get there.

How much are people willing to put into a "process" is an oxy-moron. How easy are employers willing to make it for people willing to make this leap of faith is the question you should be asking. By setting up unrealistic expectations for low-paying jobs sets up people to be frustrated and disappointed before they even get there, and no one's happy.

If these employers would start by forgetting the word "process" like you're about to offer the person an actual package, like salary, benefits, vacation time, sick leave ect ect ect - then they'll be on the right track. Because they don't have ANY ONE of the above to offer, it's downright insulting to be picky about who they offer minimum wage to? Anyone here agree?? I'm sorry, but looking at a big mountain or something doesn't exactly qualify as a benefit, or make a bit of difference in the real world of responsibilities.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brenda on December 21, 2008 at 4:49pm: I have to disagree. although in this economy they do need to raise that min wage, but if you look at just seeing it as a "big mountain" or something and not the beauty, the fact that that is a creation given to all people and the sserenity that it brings instead I guess for certain few unless it's material and pays the bills it's not worth it and not considered benifits.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael on December 21, 2008 at 4:29pm: WooHooo!!!I just got done filling out my first application for Yellowstone!I'm going to fill out several more at different locations..I'm just happy that I got it done!Kinda feels like the first big step!!:):):); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by reggie on December 21, 2008 at 4:32pm: i think its just depends on the place where u apply i do know there is an few places that make u print out the app and mail it back it like westmark and i think john island club and most off the places u fill it out online which i think is alot better and faster it usally take me about 10-15mins to fill it out; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by akscootr on December 21, 2008 at 5:58pm: "Big Mountain" is a primary reason a lot of people do Coolworking. Why stay stuck in a city with all of it's expenses at minimum wage and the noise, pollution, crowds, etc? I have found many ways around the minimum wage jobs and the expense of cities all while living in areas that are breath-taking (last season I sometimes brought home 250.00-300.00 a day). Unlike a "normal" 9-5er, I am not "owned" by my employer, thus resulting in a lot of personal freedom. I have traveled extensively and I have friends from all over the world (I just re-connected with a Russian gal who now lives in England)... The benefits of a seasonal lifestyle far outweigh any of a normal city life.
With all due respect, I don't think you will do very well in the seasonal world if you retain your current attitude. It is a very different existence from the "safe" 9-5 life...and that is what you seem to be looking for in an employer. Seasonal work entails a little bit of risk and a very adventurous spirit... what Brenda said about serenity in the natural environment is on target 100%. When a person is in the woods or on the slope of a mountain, life is peaceful and blissful. That feeling can't be beat... Also; The "real world" is what you make it. An individual has that power. I spent 4 months last summer in a tent on the beach at homer Spit, and it was very "real". It was a vacation and I woke up to beauty every day; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by reggie on December 21, 2008 at 6:00pm: yeah i agree it does has its risks; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brenda on December 21, 2008 at 6:35pm: I want to add also not only is it peace but all that does have benifites in that it supply's humans with life, water, warmth beauty and much more. You just don't see it in your pocket as personal money, but if we did not have all that Mountains, oceans, forest so on we could make all the money in the world but for nothing. Everything is connected and has a purpose for being so look at it in a more broader view. Risks are apart of every day life and if I am going to take that risk its going to be in a place where I know it is rich in benifites such as peace of mind, adventure and much more.; ▶ Reply to This