Only enlightened HR staff need apply

I am not looking for a job. But every so often, I thumb through the employment pages. Some things, alas, have not changed. I am not amused by the practices and neither, it appears, are the readers who write to the letters page of newspapers.

I am talking about the way our employment and recruiting agencies, masquerading as human resource (HR) professionals, style their ads.

It's unimaginative, it's patronising and, most times, it's dull.

Companies which run their own in-house advertisements do no better. Government bodies, it seems, use a common set of templates.

Whatever happened to creativity, innovation, maybe a bit of fun too... and, yes, a touch of empathy?

First things first. Revealing your colour, creed, race and religion is not a prerequisite when applying or obtaining a job in a multi-racial society - at least as far as I know.

Several years ago, I was asked in a telephone interview for my bad points. Without hesitation, I replied, 'That's easy, I'm a workaholic.' (Needless to say, I got the job.)

Our recruiters, in their small-mindedness, ask for family background, family history, financial status and even intention to marry. Some have been known to ask if one is expecting a baby or is likely to get pregnant.

The next question is: How can we tell if all this personal information is safeguarded? Is there a strict HR code that is enforced islandwide?

I doubt it. How else can we explain junk mail arriving with our name spelt in the full form (and with NRIC number) that we state in job application forms?

Also, for the life of me, I cannot understand the reasons for requesting job applicants to attach a photograph of themselves. Okay, I accept there can be some instances - Singapore Airlines' flight attendants come to mind.

But what does it matter if someone has a face only a mother can love, but has the qualities and qualifications for the job of, say, an accountant or, heaven help us all, a journalist?

Right attitude, aptitude, motivation and experience should count more. Our recruiters might consider getting to the point by taking a leaf from the farmer in a village who placed this ad in a local paper.

It read: 'Wife wanted. Must have tractor. If interested, send photo of tractor.'

By Reggie J - The New Paper

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