How do computers complicate the job hunt for the homeless?

Many factors can and will affect a person when causing them to become homeless. However, the real question isn’t what those factors are, but more on the lines of what can cause them from getting back on their feet and prospering in today’s world.

American culture has shifted away from face to face and written interaction, and moved to interaction over the internet. This sort of change has strongly affected the ability for a homeless person to get his/ her name out to employers and to get a job. This is due to a high volume of companies moving to online applications, the long, inefficient, application process that goes along with it, and the restrictions placed on internet access to those who can’t provide internet access to themselves.

Large companies have begun to all use online applications because of how they make hiring easier for them, but they make the job hunt process a lot harder for people trying to apply. The Network Journal talks about how companies don’t read every applications or resume sent to them. Instead they are filtered through until the top 20 get chosen based off key words, and then sent to the companies to read through. This means that you need to think long and hard about how you word your resume because if you don’t your resume won’t even make it to the company you are applying to.

With how much time and thought these types of applications require makes it very hard to complete applications. Public places that allow members to use computers usually put limits on to what extent you can use them. For instance, MPR News reporter Madeleine Baran explains how public libraries but time limits on public computers at about an hour a session. Forbes Magazine also likes to add to the conversation by noting how most applications take at least an hour to complete, and some even take up to six hours. Making a clear point that with how complicated and lengthy online applications are. Which shows why they are not suitable for the homeless because they don’t have enough time or access to produce enough applications to get a job.

Whether it comes from how poorly these applications help people looking for jobs actually get them, or because of how many restrictions are put on public computers. With all that being said, it is clear that online applications have created many complications for anyone who wants to apply for a job, but even more of an issue to those without access to the internet.

Sources:

Novak, Lindsey. “Job-Hunting Online.” Network Journal; New York Vol. 21, Iss. 2, (Summer 2014): 47.

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