VENT: Job Hunting

[maggiest]

Hello!  I am brand new to this Board; happy to be here.

I am totally at my wits end.  I was downsized on Friday, September 13, 2002.  Since then, I've been sending out 3-5 resumes a week and have been on 5 actual interviews.  I have my resume posted on various web sites (Monster, Hotjobs, etc).  Agencies have phoned me and tell me how wonderful my resume is, how it's one of the best they've seen for an Admin in quite some time.

SO - WHY CAN'T I FIND A JOB???  

I'm willing to take a pay cut to $35,000 a year.  I'm available, I'm experienced, I know what needs to be done and how to do it.  I've had two interviews where no one has gotten back to me at all, after numerous phone calls by me to them.  

Another interviewee out and out lied to my Temp Agency about how uncooperative I was (huh???).  Another company cancelled my interview 3 HOURS before the interview...and after I went out and spent $200 that I really didn't have for a new business suit because the agency said I needed to have one.

An interview I went out on today seemd to be going well...until he said "I wish you had interviewed with us last week....We've already filled the position".  So why are you still holding interviews??

Most companies just don't have the decency to respond to your resume, not even a postcard saying "Hey, we got it".  And I've seen jobs that I've applied to weeks/months ago still advertised in the paper....and they never called me.

I just don't get it anymore.  I feel like Rodney Dangerfield, I get no respect.  

I am now totally depressed and worried how I'm going to be able to pay my regular bills along with a $1000/month COBRA bill I'll have to start paying next month.

How can I be told that my resume is so great and I can't even get companies to even call me for an interview?

Thanks for letting me vent!  

~Maggie

[Judy Loux]

maggiest

First, welcome to the Desk Demon, you will find this place a wealth of information.  Now to your venting.

Been there, done that.  I can't really answer your question except to say, many companies have their pick of interviewees because of so much downsizing.  I was out of work for 4+ months and it was my networking that got me my new position. Thank God.  It is a great job and I only had to take a $1,000/year cut from what I was asking.

I can only say Temp Agencies are not what they used to be and answering ads really was a drag because of the way they treated you.  Keep plugging and network with anyone and everyone you know to get a foot in the door.

I even considered relocating because the job market in my area had just about dried up.

Of course the time of year now is not condusive to getting a job right now.  Maybe after the New Year things will loosen up.

Good luck, and keep us informed.

Ddiva

[akara]

Hello Maggie, and welcome.

Just wanted to say I sympathise because i've been there too.  I have been laid off twice in the last 18 months, and five times in the last 10 years.

After being laid off in July 01 I found another job fairly quickly.  But taking that job turned out to be a mistake, as they laid me off in January this year.  It took me three months to find something else.  I have the skills, I have the experience, I was prepared to take a pay cut, you name it.  And yes, I had people interview me who had clearly already selected a candidate.  There are plenty of companies who I sent my resume to and never heard from again, but I also had a number of companies interview me and then never bothered to tell me I didn't get the job (this is after several chases, when I get told 'no decision has been made yet').  After a couple of MONTHS - never mind weeks - I give up and decide that the company is either indecisive or inconsiderate, and either way I'm better off not working for them.
And I keep getting told how good my resume is, too.  But I started to think if it was so good, why wasn't it getting me interviews?

I know how depressing it is.  I relied on temp work to see me through, and I know how hard that can be too when you have bills to pay and you start feeling guilty about agreeing to go out for drinks with friends on Friday, because you haven't got any work yet for the following Monday.  But patience is important, and so is a positive attitude.  The right job will come along.  Trust me.

I accepted a job in April which ended my job-hunting.  Now we are in December and I am still here.  I don't think too far to the future these days, but so far so good.

Welcome to Deskdemon.

Akara

[countrigal]

Maggie, first let me add my Welcome to those that our other members have sent to you.  It's great to have another voice in our chorus.

As for your situation... have you followed up on any of those that  you didn't hear from to find out if the position was filled and ask for feedback on your resume?  It sounds like your resume might be too good, and could be writing you out of jobs you're applying for.  Are you applying for jobs that will stretch your skills or for those that you could generally do blindfolded, in a brand new company, with no training, almost from the beginning?  It might be a case of you're too qualified for some of the positions you've applied for and therefore were not considered.  One of our other members had a similiar problem, I believe.  I would suggest trying to get feedback from those who aren't selecting you (but hadn't filled the position as of the time they received your resume) and see why you weren't.  Also (again, only a suggestion) look into expanding your job search into an area that will test your skills and challenge you to grow.

In addition, I would definitely be checking out your networking contacts.  Is there an opening in any of their companies?  Some positions never get posted in any way because they are able to get them filled without posting to the internet or papers, so you're missing out on those.  Look around you, which companies would you like to work at?  Take your resume in to their HR/hiring offices and let them put them on file.  They might not have an opening right now, but in a week or more they might.

Keep your chin up, keep positive, and let's hope that the New Year will bring a change to your situation.  And please let us know periodically how your search continues.  You never know when an update might remind someone else of advice/suggestions that might help even more.

A big Welcome and wishes for all the best...

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[msmarieh]

Hi Maggie,

I agree with Countrigal. It is likely that you are being written off as overqualified by the interviewers and being willing to take a pay cut doesn't help (in fact, it likely makes it worse!). Most companies believe (and HR studies bear this out, I think) that if you take a job with a paycut just to take a job, you will end up continuing your job search and leaving within 6-12 months when something better comes along.

You either need to be applying for higher level jobs or you need to "dumb down" your resume for the lower paying positions. (I'd hate to see you do that, but sometimes the reality is we have to do what we have to do to get the job).

Make two versions of your resume and start doing comparisons for response rates. Tweak it as necessary.

Good luck!

We are here to help!

Marie

[bethanial]

You could try checking your local unemployment ofice.  They have great resources, even if you're not actually filing for unemployment.  They may even be able to hook you up with more networking possibilities.  I know when I went, I was referred to 2 different networking groups.

Peer Moderator

[jadegrniiz]

You know, they say that when you are out of a job, it's harder to GET a job. I've found that out quite a few times in the past couple of years.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but.... are you including your salary requirement ($35k) in your cover letter? I don't know where you live... so I could very easily be out of line here.... but in my experience as an Admin, anyone not willing to start from the bottom of the salary barrel, and as so much said so in a resume went into "file 13".

Can you instead say that your salary is negotiable? I mean, you can always turn it down if it's too low. Make sure when asked in an interview that you answer with a salary history, and that somewhere in that ballpark is what you are aiming for.... but that really you need a job and would "consider" any offer.

Where I live (central Florida), admins don't make $35k right out of the starting gate with a new company. While I know you have experience, and a history at that level.... I don't think it's realistic to aim so high if all you are really looking for is a job.

Welcome to DeskDemon, and best of luck on the jump hunt!

Jadegrniiz
Peer Moderator

[maggiest]

Most ads I've replied to insist on you stating salary requirements.  When I asked for $30K they wanted to know why I went so low; why was I underpricing myself.  So, I put down $35K.

I really have absolutely no idea anymore what "they" want from me.

Today, I went to another company...after they insisted that I had to come in today as they wanted to make a decision...and the manager I'd be working for was "to busy" to interview me...said he'd do a telephone interview later in the afternoon.  

Needless to say, he never called.

I'm taking the rest of the year off from looking!  

~Maggie

Edited by maggiest on 21/12/02 05:45 AM.

[peana]

Sounds like you're having a really hard time.  I think interviewers sometimes forget that they're playing with peoples lives, not just filling a vacancy.

I'd consider tring the 'dumbing down' trick though - in a similar position I was turned down loads of jobs with comments along the line of 'we wouldn't stretch you enough, and could see you leaving after six months'.  However, I got a job within 5 days of dumbing down!  I had to start on slightly lower wages, but proved myself and am now on excellent terms.

Just a word of caution though - our HR dept. have strict rules for managers when it comes to pay increases.  My boss really had to fight to get me the wages he thought I deserved.  If you do 'dumb down' you might want to check at the interview what opportunities for progression exist.

Good luck with your hunt.