How many 2nd year apprentices have a fax machine?

[peter]

I saw a help wanted ad in the paper and they wanted 2nd and 3rd year apprentices to send their resume by fax. In this day and age, e-mail has taken over that function.
I can see an office still using a fax machine to send in purchase orders, but how many ordinary electricians -- not foremen [they might fax in time cards] -- would have a fax machine?
~Peter

 

[resistance]

I'm sure not many, but what stops them from going to Kinko's (or the like) to fax in a resume, if they want a job! The subject is not limited to the electrical trade....

 

[BryanMD]

Then there is the "show some initiative and get the job done whatever and however you need to" that is demonstrated.

Or it could just be a lazy and clueless office manager who posted the job ad.

 

[ultramegabob]

dont most scanners have a fax option on them these days?

 

[SmithBuilt]

http://www.send2fax.com/index.jsp

There are plenty online services like this one.

 

[zog]

How many have the drive to figure out a way and how many are just going to whine about it, that is what this guy is trying to figure out.

Either that or the manager is a moron.

 

[mdshunk]

I dunno, even the cheapest printers seem to have a fax built in now. When I click 'print' in MS Word or Adobe Acrobat, I'm have an option in the printer menu to fax it instead of printing it. I'm sure I didn't install something special to do that, so maybe most people have this option too?

In any event, many corner pharmacies will send your fax for about a buck.

 

[peter d]

I am pretty much computer illiterate and technology illiterate in general (even though I'm under 30 yrs old :roll , but I agree that having to fax in a resume is ridiculous in this day and age with email.

 

[resistance]

If you want the job, then faxing shouldn't be a problem. If you aren't the owner, then why should you care about how they are running their business!

 

[mdshunk]

If you want the job, then faxing shouldn't be a problem.

I agree. This might be their way of sorting the wheat from the chaff.

If you aren't the owner, then why should you care about how they are running their business!

Oh, my! I hope you care. Beggers can't be choosers, but if you're not a begger, you want to work for a well-run company. At least, I hope you do. The ideal job interview consists of the candidate asking as many questions about the company as the interviewer asks the candidate about himself.

 

[acrwc10]

NEWS PAPER , WHO READS THE NEWS PAPER, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT READ THE NEWS PAPER ARE THE GUY'S THAT STILL USE FAX MACHINES.

Seriously I am amazed how many contractors are still not using e-mail. I have a GC I deal with that only recently started to use e-mail ( because it was the only way one client would communicate with him.) You would think he just discovered the automobile. Maybe one day I will try that new INTERNET thing, although I hear it's only good for video games and gambling.

 

[iwire]

If someone can not figure out how to send a fax how can they be expected to put their pants on and get to work?

Have we really exhausted all other things to whine about?

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

I saw a help wanted ad in the paper and they wanted 2nd and 3rd year apprentices to send their resume by fax. In this day and age, e-mail has taken over that function.
I can see an office still using a fax machine to send in purchase orders, but how many ordinary electricians -- not foremen [they might fax in time cards] -- would have a fax machine?
~Peter

It's possible what you're seeing is a business looking to fill a position with an H1-b visa employee. They usually demand faxes because that will result in the least number of responses. And this is what they want. When they petition for the exemption, they'll claim the position was advertized for X number of weeks in X number of venues, with little to no response. Typically, the ads will also request outrageous qualifications, and not mention any salary numbers. (Fax qualifications and salary requirements to...)

 

[nakulak]

I think all 2nd yr apprentices should be required to have a fax machine. In fact, I just finished updating the tool list for our apprentices:

 

[kpepin]

I didn't take the poll because my answer wasn't listed. It should have asked how many have access to a fax. You can go to any kinko's or staples or one of those mail/packaging stores that ship stuff for you to send a fax. If they own a computer and have a phone line, they can send a fax. My answer would be 100% or applicants would be able to get to a fax machine. If the couldn't, it means they don't have transportation and could not show up for work either.

 

[wptski]

I dunno, even the cheapest printers seem to have a fax built in now. When I click 'print' in MS Word or Adobe Acrobat, I'm have an option in the printer menu to fax it instead of printing it. I'm sure I didn't install something special to do that, so maybe most people have this option too?

In any event, many corner pharmacies will send your fax for about a buck.

Interesting as I just ran into a situation where I needed to send a fax the other day. I used a online service that allowed two free faxes per day.

I just followed MS Word like you said but it ends linking you to some online pay to fax with a 30 day trial period. I used this one: FaxZero

 

[nakulak]

come to think of it, as long as apprentices are going to be required to have a fax, maybe we will start requiring jmen to have supercomputers:

 

[George Stolz]

If someone can not figure out how to send a fax how can they be expected to put their pants on and get to work?

Have we really exhausted all other things to whine about?

I can come up with all sorts of other things. I only have two pairs of work pants, I need new boots, I can't use the elevator on the job without it being cardboarded off and asking permission, there's no free wi-fi access in the parking lot, I can't get cell reception in the basement...

Edit to add: Kind of a goofy poll, Pete.

 

[peter d]

Edit to add: Kind of a goofy poll, Pete.

I think that was the point.

But at any rate I still say that email would be the preferable method to communicate something like a resume in this day and age, but it could very well be that the company receiving these resumes by fax doesn't own a computer.

 

[dcspector]

I think that was the point.

But at any rate I still say that email would be the preferable method to communicate something like a resume in this day and age, but it could very well be that the company receiving these resumes by fax doesn't own a computer.

Peter I agree and if a company does not have a simple computer then I would not even waste my time with a hand written application. Hello this is 2008.