The vacancy announcements are the coming of Dashain for those shoppers.

I usually flip through the newspapers, not only to look for the news update, but more importantly, to scout for different opportunities, which could be for myself or for someone else I know. On one such occasion, I found there was an exciting job opening in one of the national dailies recently. It was a "government job" but "on contract".

The former pumps one with air while the latter one pierces one with a nail within flatting effects.

"However, a government job is something that I can brag about at least until I last there," I thought.

Filled with enthusiasm, I started the preparation. As I double checked the vacancy announcement, I found that the application required furnishing the academic credentials, experience certificates and, most importantly, the bank voucher of the prescribed fees. I did all that.

As I approached the office to file the application, I saw youths sweating and standing in a serpentine queue. All were looking at each other trying to guess who could be better positioned to grab the job. In the queue, I overheard some saying they would have to request their close relatives to assist them in being shortlisted for the job. As I had no one to request, I thought I could be a mere witness to someone being awarded with the dream job.

Anyway, I still wanted to move forward with the queue, this to test myself and to test if what I heard still has any basis.

As I approached the application assessor, my heart started to race. As she flipped through my application, she found the papers okay to allow me to sit for the exam.

What I submitted was whatever I had gathered till date. They would always ask for every document one possibly collects from school to university, including citizenship, as customary requirement in hard form. I have done that plenty of times, but I question why all that is needed. Nobody would ever bother to review the documents submitted by the applicants, or they don't have time for that, yet they continue asking to furnish all the photocopies.

Knowing this, the photocopying and printing shops nearby were seen thriving. The vacancy announcements are the coming of Dashain for those shoppers.

Though the photocopying and printing costs may deem to be minimal, it is not worth it if alternatives are viable. I always wonder when these offices will digitalise their job application processes.

With the introduction of Digital Nepal Framework in 2019 aimed at digitalising government services, one would expect a fully digitalised application process so that the job seekers are respected, facilitated and encouraged.