This is simply a preview of the real world. As someone who has just gone through the agonizing process of filling in multiple, often horrifically-designed online job applications, I wonder how perfecting a 'Common Application' for colleges serves to prepare students for the future job market.

I've found Phil Agre's tips http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/how-to-help.html to be extremely useful. I re-read it every 6 months just to be sure I'm headed in the right direction.