Many Jobseekers fail to read and follow instructions when applying to jobs. Is it due to inability, incomprehension or indifference? Is it important? Does it affect their consideration?
After 20+ years I've found that the failure of most jobseekers to read and follow instructions is most often due to indifference. As such, I admittedly place a great deal of importance on it, but sometimes wonder if I'm being unfair. This, along with my empathy for and true desire to be helpful to jobseekers, is why I'm seeking to get and share the opinions of others on the subject, be they recruiters or hiring managers.
As much as I would like to believe in my own professionalism and my ability to rise above what many might say shouldn't be a big deal, I have to admit that unless the individual is a stellar candidate, not reading and properly following instructions will normally result in his or her candidacy being terminated, even where I sometimes [used to] commit the sin of going through the motions anyway.
These days, now that I’m wiser and much too lazy to go through the motions anyway, and maybe in an effort to be helpful, I will, where the opportunity exists, notify individuals of their errors and that they are not being considered as a result, all the while knowing that either by email or verbally, instead of the thanks and showering of praise and gifts I think I so rightly deserve for the lesson learned, I'll often be treated to some very colourful (it’s not spelled wrong, I’m Canadian) language and helpful advice on where I can stick or shove a variety of objects including my own head; something I find to be quite amusing as I’ve never been part of Cirque du Soleil and am not a contortionist. Fortunately I’m not one to hold a grudge, which is good since over the years I’ve found that I come across many of these same people and am often impressed by how well they follow instructions ;)
So tell me, am I being unfair in disqualifying candidates when they fail to read and follow instructions? In your own experience is it due to inability, incomprehension or indifference? Is it important? Does it affect their consideration?