Is Your Job Search Driving You Mad?

Posted by: Russ

These are good tips. I, like a lot of the people commenting, am worn down and discouraged by the process.  I have some very good people working with me to find me a job, people who found me jobs in the past.  The market stinks and the odds are against us.  It is hard not to be discouraged.

Posted by: Karen Nachtigal

Thank you to all who posted.  It is encouraging just to know that I am not alone in my frustration.  I find myself in midlife and unemployed with two useless degrees.  I know education is never wasted, but I have no certifications that qualify me to teach or to be a nurse, etc., but 30 years of work experience in a variety of venues.  Now what?  Again, I found it encouraging just to read that I am not alone.  Thank you all for sharing.  

Posted by: Abdul Rasheed

Fantastic and it can apply with my next interview

Posted by: Glenda

I too agree with Dee and Mpumi, had me holding my sides from laughter. I've been out of work for 11 months now, and have only worked two fulltime jobs in the last 16 years(Im a displaced homemaker).  It's hard to stay positive when you're doing all the "work" to find a job, to no avail. I have sat down with career counselors at the department of labor to help me write professional and targeted resumes, I attend any free job training seminar they have in the warehouse and customer service fields, I've gone on interviews- both in person and over the phone- and still nothing. I even had a counselor advise me to leave off employment dates and to use only my intial or an "alternate" (presumed male)version of my name, in the hopes of bettering my chances at finding a job in what is suppose to be an ageless and sexless hiring environment(though we all know better!!).  This article, and reading others comments have helped me gain a second wind. Armed with this information, as well as with tips from this site on updating your resume to make it stand out, Im sure that I will find a job soon.....or at least be less soured about the continued search.  Hope all find the success they're looking for.  Thanks for the ray of sunshine!!

Posted by: John D.

I must admit this is really hard to get a job these days. People tend to think that it is just a matter of finding the right job for your skills. It is not. Finding a job is absolutely not like building a car or a house. There is no recipe, no blueprint, the only rule that applies is market rule. It is only a matter of offers and demand. It has nothing to do with you or your experience. This is why networking and business trends are so important. If you have done some self-employed activity, if you have tried to invest some money on the stock market, then you probably acquired the skills to get a good job. It is only a matter of opportunity and relationships in the end. You should consider your skills and experience as assets or cards that will need to be played at the right time with the right person. Do NOT, in any occasion, blame it on you, your previous employer or the current company you are prospecting. I know how hard it is to stay committed after many months of hard work without result. Well this is the path of many entrepreneurs who get what they expected only in the long run. I loved the comment of Joey about setting the standards higher than the company you are applying for. That's exactly what it is. It may be time for a shift in your career, time to invest yourself on what you really care about, time to live to your dreams. But please, please, keep talking about it, and keep going. KEEP GOING.

Posted by: Thomas Grau

I'm seeing an increase in openings that began in Jan, and improved in Feb.  I'm much more optimistic now that I'm getting phone calls returned.  My newtork has been very supportive, and this helps me stay positive.  Sure the crankiness of HR and some hiring managers is not the behavior I would model for myself, so I just remind myself to remain polite and grateful.  The good news, you have an HR contact to email!  Sometimes, I catch myself thinking the search will never end, and wonder why I didn't see the layoff coming...but frankly speaking, this doesn't help me look ahead.  Tweaking my resume for the opportunity and composing a compelling cover letter, is the ante in the search game.  Recently, I've been working on framing my background in a crisp and concise fashion...felt I was a little too wordy (like this post).  Present yourself as someone people would want to work with, and your luck might change..just a thought.

Posted by: mark

I am so happy to hear that I am not the only one with these issues. I revised my resume at least 6 times. I have had it reviewed a few times, but imagine that you can't please these people because they want $400 to rewrite it for you. I will take may chances on my own with that rate...I just graduated with a BS in computer and electrical engineering, and I have reduiced myself to applying to industrial maint. still the phone never rings. I have had two interviews in the last two months. but that is out of hundreds of applications. I have to admit I don't follow up on most of the "mass submissions", but I do on the local stuff I am more likely to get.  But it is so discouraging. I had my last tech job for 12 years straight. go back to school just to join the unemployment lines.

Posted by: Mudd

People who are not searching, have no idea what it is like to be trying to find some work that pays.  I am starting to blame HR and their lack of even looking through their INbox to even view the resumes as well as the lazy hiring managers who rely on them to send them the resumes.  Remember in the old days you could just call the company directly or even at least talk to someone face to face or on the phone?  Nowadays everything has to be on the internet and it depends on the person on the other end to at least open up the email or database and even review the resume to even make the first step.  Second is getting follow up from the contact person and even if you get a response from them.  Nowadays the contact person is in charge to pick the correct person for the job but more like picking the right social person in a country club.   Today, You're lucky enough to even get a interview let alone a pay rate that will fit the previous job you had.  

Posted by: Rick

Boy, I agree with Karen.  I have been doing all the right things, even paring my resume down, down so it seems that I have not been doing anything in my life beyond 15 years ago, and still not a peep.  At 62 years old and out of a job, of any sort, for 32, yes 32 months. It's hard not to be discouraged.  However, I am finding its harder keeping those around me positive than it is myself.  I can't even get anyone to call me back, much less give me input about what is wrong. Color me concerned, to say the least.

Posted by: Susan

Job hunting has changed over the years. Unfortunately in this depressed market the employers have the upper hand and demand more than ever! You can't hide how many months or years unemployed, they know you're hungry to work with 100 behind you! I agree you must stay positive especially when you truly need that job to make ends meet.

Posted by: Megan Mercedes

I concur with all the above comments. I, too, have been out of work for what seems to be an eterrnity. Another thing that bothers me is other peoples' comments.  "You just must not be trying" Of course, these folks are employed & haven't a clue about today's job market.  GOOD NEWS! I JUST WAS HIRED! PINCH, PINCH IS IT REALLY TRUE? The interviewer said my cover letter stood out above all the others because it was precisely targeted to position, and not a generalization. I am proof that the above sage advice is fruitful Good Luck to you all. don't let others negate your self worth.

Posted by: Linda E

After 18 months of being unemployed, I am definitely at the 'leper' stage. Despite a stellar resume (so I'm told by employers) I have repeatedly lost jobs to candidates who have sometimes 1/100th of my experience. Why? Because I'm over 50, and apparently -to employers - my shelf life has expired. I have decided to stop the self-abuse of job searching and to focus on freelance writing.  It's not as consistent as a weekly paycheck, but at least it's not soul destroying like my job search has been.

Posted by: Nonnie

Wow...it sure is inspiring to see that I'm not the only one that is struggling looking for job. There comes time when you feel that there is no hope or lights in the end of the tunnel! But, I kept telling myself that there is someone out there that is doing the same thing that I do. It's been 2 and half years now that I've been unemployed and it's wearing me thin. I am about to lose everthing I've worked so hard for in the last 25 years of my professional career. I have four children who I absolute adore and they're awesome and smart kids. It breaks my heart to see them feeling the heat from all of this craziness. I have not been able to provide the things that I used to. However, they're resilient to the madness! I am running out of places to apply and resources to go to. It doesn't seem that people who are not in the same situation (HR) don't care one way or the other that they look at your resume.  In two and a half years that I've been out of work, I had three interviews and all were rejections.  Go figure!! So, I feel for all who are in my shoes and best of luck to all of us.

Posted by: Sharie

How timely is your article, and what wonderfully well-qualified, diligent job seekers I am in the company of!  My job search is definitely driving me mad lately, especially because I know I have been doing the usual right things for the last year and four months to find another job but to no avail.  I have had only one interview in all that time.  I have also experienced thoughtless treatment from uncaring HR people who made wonder what has happened to business etiquette.  My favorite HR questions are "why do you want to work here?" and "what have you been doing since your last job?" -- exaspirating.  I could go on and on but I'll stop here and thank you again for this very helpful and timely article.  The posts are validating.  I'm working on my BA in business thinking it will help, but I see herein why it has not made any difference whatsoever.

Posted by: Fellow Job Seeker

Excellent article – thank you!A little common courtesy goes a long way; an individual in H/R who will not provide a general response to inquiry, unfortunately, should not be in the position he or she is in.  I am a firm believer in The Golden Rule, 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'; since, one day, this person, too, may find himself or herself looking for work.As recently discovered, in some cases, lack of response may also be due to other unforeseen factors.  Please see communication, below, as forwarded to a very well known search site regarding job postings."Please Note:  Educational/Skills requirements associated with the current posting differ drastically from those on the employer's website (i.e., organization requesting bachelors degree vs. high school or equivalent, 8 years of demonstrated responsibilities vs. 5+ to 7 years, prior industry experience preferred/certification desired vs. no employer preferences specified, etc.). Only after tailoring resume detail were actual requirements vs. perceived qualifications discovered, hence, I was unable to apply.Searching for employment can be a very arduous task; a variance of this kind can cause applicants to feel extremely discouraged when "the phone doesn't ring," due to non-qualification from the beginning.Additionally, the spelling contained within the posting for the above-mentioned position is deplorable; a potential candidate would be disqualified for this type of carelessness in representation.Quite disappointed."In a week's time, aside from an automated acknowledgement of receipt, I have yet to receive a personal response concerning this matter.On a more positive note, my best of luck to each of you – take care.

Posted by: Karen

Walk a mile in my shoes!  I send targeted cover letters; professional resumes; dot the I's, cross the T's; speak well and have been unemployed for one year. I find it hard to shrug off the lack of response when I email someone in HR and they ignore my message! Whatever happened to proper business etiquette? I'm not asking for the job, just a simple question like what can I improve to get hired by your company?   Thanks for this forum!  

Posted by: shratha

excellent article.

Posted by: Frank Waldes

I have to say that being out of work for a long period wears you down. It's as if you have acquired leprosy, and you keep getting told that the longer it takes, the less desirable you are as an employee. The truth is that your capability, capacity, intelligence and resourcefulness are the same as they have always been. It is those that are employed that are sometimes insensitive because they haven't been through the process in a while. I've got a degree and 15 years management experience at the same time, and I've been out of work 7 months now. It's not me, and it's not you, employers are afraid to grow and we are the ones having to deal with the repercussions. Keep  your chin up.  

Posted by: Mpumi

I'd like to stay positive even though it is very hard to find a good job, but to stay positive is the right way to go.. THE REALITY IS:Whenever I find the key to success, someone changes the lock. The road to success ??.. Is always under construction.Fact is alcohol doesn't solve any problems, but if you think again, neither does Milk.All the desirable things in life are either illegal, expensive or fattening or married to someone else.Since Light travels faster than sound, people appear brighter before you hear them speak.You can never determine which side of the bread to butter. If it falls down, it will always land on the buttered side.If you have paper, you don't have a pen??. If you have a pen, you don't have paper?? If you have both no one calls.Irrespective of the direction of the wind, the smoke from the cigarette will always tend to go to the non-smoker

Posted by: Joey

The standards and tips for getting a job seem so much higher than the ones at the companies you are applying to! I feel for all of you trying to maintain this sunny upbeat attitude especially in the face of people(with jobs!) who don't look at apps unless you are referred internally, treat you rudely on the phone, don't reply to a courteous well timed email etc. etc. Or being interviewed by naiive 25 year olds who ask why I would apply to a job I was overqualified for!  I was lucky enough to save my sanity with a small artisan business which relies on me alone. (To supplement I teach adjunct courses.) I have side stepped the bitterness I was feeling and now can be pleasant and positive but my pay is 1/3 what it was unfotunately and I may be ending my career on a low note.

Posted by: Sue

I agree with Dee the person who is excited, could not be possibly be in the real world . I have been unemployed for 24 months now. I have sent out countless resumes specific for the position. I have only had two interviews in the last 24 months. It is getting tiring, and each day I am less and less motivated to network (people are tired of hearing from me), submit resumes and be just down right positive. Before my company downsized, I had only been out of work twice, it took me less than 60 days to find work. This time it is daunting. Im not sure even if the advise here is helping or making me feel worse. I am doing the "right " things!  Thank goodness I had the forethought to save! I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be out of work over 2 years!

Posted by: kannan rangaswamy

Your ideas are quite appealing and informative.

Posted by: Nancy Scheibel

I too would like to know why I do not get a reply from any of the companies I have applied to. As a job seeker we spend a lot of time on resumes and filling out applications. A word of Thank-you sometimes goes a long way to keep on searching.

Posted by: Thomas Garnett

I've worked 102 days out of the last 30 months. I can't even get an interview.  90% of my applications don't even generate a "No Thank You".  The company that hired me for 102 days gave me a great severance package including the services of a coaching company to help.  I'd appreciate feedback from companines that are specific as to why I was not chosen so I'd know what to work on.

Posted by: John

I found the article insightful and true.  An open mind and positive thinking can go a long way too.

Posted by: Dee

The "young" person who says that she is motivated by all the sites and is excited to be searching for a job - must of just got laid off and still living with her parents.The search is NOT fun when you have been out of work for 5-11 months..

Posted by: sukhdev s grewal

Excelent tips,I appreciate it, because they are most useful right now.

Posted by: search weary

Timely article since I am in this exact situation.  Good to know there are others feeling the same and going "mad" waitng for the next big job. Describes it perfectly.

Posted by: willie

No,actually my job searched doesn't make me mad, it only motivates me more and more to look for more sites, its so exciting to be hooked in job searching...

Posted by: Ross Ditner

Helpful to remember these simple strategies.