What the Hell's Wrong with HR Departments, Part II

OK, so I accepted a contract position with an amazing company in Research Triangle Park near Raleigh, NC and turned down a position with the Somewhere University of North Carolina because it was two jobs at an entry-level salary.

This is the second rejection-email I get AFTER I politely told them no,

"The Somewhere University of North Carolina would like to thank you for your application that was submitted for the specific position listed above. We appreciated the opportunity to review your application and were pleased that you were interested in employment with The Somewhere University of North Carolina. The hiring department, however, has selected another candidate whose background more closely matches the requirements of the position.

We welcome the opportunity to consider your application for future employment opportunities that match your education, skills and experience. New positions are posted daily and we encourage you to visit our website at https://sunc.edu. You may also view openings at our job listing board just outside of the Office of Human Resources at 104 Tabacky Lane in Somewhere. Again, thank you for your interest in the University."

Now, a few things come to mind about these letters.
1) The HR people are trying to hide that they're incompetent and are losing candidates because the salary for doing two people's jobs is ridiculously low.
2) They have to fill out a form saying a rejection letter was sent.
3) They live in a fantasy world in which no candidate ever turns them down.
4) A combination of all of the preceding.

Well I'm Back At It Again Rant

Unfortunately, my most recent position didn't work out and since because Florida's a work-for-hire (aka screw the workers) state. I didn't get any explanation.  Honestly, I'd really like to know what it was with details that I did that warranted being let go.  On a side note, I'm a bit relieved as the company is massively disorganized and middle-school, popular-girl cliquish and I can resume searching for something in a better state (anywhere else).

So, I'm rambling around the job sites again and wanted to list the top things that aggravate me in job searches:

1. Taleo: I hate this system.  It involves entering and reentering the same damned information over and over again,  each Taleo application site takes FOREVER to get through.  Since I'm playing a numbers game also, I need to be able to search, read the job posting as quickly as possible, decide if I'm a fit, customize my cover letter and submit as quickly as possible.  Taleo slows this process down enormously.  I've also never gotten any hits off anything I submitted through Taleo, so I just don't bother applying to any company that uses it.

2. Salary history. Sorry, I'm not giving this out.  My salary negotiations depend on what the job entails, my experience and the location.  I refuse to let a company start negotiations based on a freelance gig I took to pay bills.  Salary.com allows people to search for free on the job title and market.  I am not going to accept an offer at Orlando rates if the position is in an expensive city like San Francisco or New York.

3. Local Candidates Only.  Ok, I get it.  You need someone to start in two weeks and don't want to pay relocation.  Then effing say so in the job posting.  It's very easy, "Local Candidates within 25 miles only!" and  I won't apply or waste my time..  This is a sign of a really lazy HR department.

4. Crappy benefits.  OK, your job posting says your offer competitive benefits but what it really means is there's a $5,000 annual deductible that has to be met first. Don't even bother listing this.

5. 90-day benefits waiting period means cheap bastards.

6. Job seekers know you don't respect us.  You know what?  That works both ways.

7. We are looking for the best salary and benefits.  If you can't provide, we'll continue looking or take the job and continue looking.

8. We know you think we're all disposable "resources".

Well having said that, I back to trying to find a job.