j4: (dodecahedron)
j4 ([personal profile] j4) wrote2007-02-21 03:08 pm
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What's it(s) mean?

I asked AQA: "What's the average length of time for which UK jobs at AQA are advertised on the website? i.e. How long does it take for all/any positions to be filled? Thanks!"

AQA replied: "There's no average length of time, it just depends on the number of vacancies and the response. AQA advises applying immediately when they're advertised."

Now, call me a pedant, but I don't believe it's technically true that there's "no average length of time". I can entirely believe that they don't set a maximum or minimum length of time, and/or that they just don't want to tell me, but that's an entirely different kettle of question marks.

[identity profile] imc.livejournal.com 2007-02-21 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The fact that they don't suggests they don't know or don't care or think it detrimental to do anything other than say "Go! Apply! Roll over! Beg! Apply as fast as possible"

I expect it was answered by an individual who doesn't know the answer and that it therefore doesn't suggest anything about their corporate attitude. However, if the question was sent to a recruitment or management address then it does indicate they have sloppy procedures.

On the other hand, if the question was sent to the usual text number (or via the "ask a free question" page) then it doesn't entirely surprise me that a precise answer was not forthcoming, because those questions go to people who aren't involved in recruitment or company management. A case of "you got what you asked for", although not literally, obviously.

I do tend to think that AQA's advertising makes a lot of promises that they can't actually keep.