Now that I am done snarling, Hire Me!

Sometimes, RantWoman really likes her Make your own job status but now and again for various reasons RantWoman takes it into her head to apply for actual salaried positions. Today is such an occasion and RantWoman feels rants coming on about some recurring themes in such ventures.

First, the organization has the usual peppy diversity statement about welcoming diverse applicants while the application process poses some big accessibility challenges. Sorry the exact text is omitted and the organization gets to stay anonymous. The problem is ubiquitous, and if you worry that the problem affects your organization, it probably does.

The job description includes nothing in the essential job functions that would explain why having a driver's license is a job requirement. Happily for all concerned, RantWoman does not have a driver's license and persists in having an active functional life regardless. This does not mean RantWoman does not get annoyed to have to put formulaic legalistic language about the whole topic into the application process!

Second the required application documents are PDF files with no way to save changes. RantWoman does not have a printer but goes a couple places to print. Obviously editing the document at home and then reviewing / printing it elsewhere would be good. Being able to save an electronic copy would be desireable regardless. RantWoman has filled out and saved personal copies of tax forms and other well-designed PDF files, so she is aware that such is possible.

RantWoman is also aware that she is not necessarily the most sophisticated user of screen reader software on the planet so it is possible there is some key piece of knowledge she is missing.

RantWoman does not own either a scannor and OCR software or a copy of the whole Acrobat program but knows of a few different ways to convert PDF files various ways. Some are more suitable than others for job applications, and RantWoman will probably do plan B first. Knowing this does not reduce the annoyance of having to invoke these methods as one more gosh-darned step in the application process.

RantWoman is also aware that there are a zillion ways to generate PDF files through other software or available on the internet. Generating PDF files with anything but actual Acrobat software produces highly variable results as far as whether the resulting files can be updated within Acrobat Reader.

Finally, RantWoman is aware that figuring all this stuff out should be something normal people get paid for even though it is pretty far out of scope for the specific underfunded nonprofit where RantWoman is considering applying.

Now RantWoman will shut up and attempt to resume normal life with a few other considerations on the horizon.