Let's face it - looking for a job sucks in every way possible. It sucks all of your time. It sucks all of your energy. Finally, it will suck every last bit of self-confidence you have. The longer it takes to find a job, the more you feel like you aren't worth hiring.
As many of you know, I was laid off some time ago. It was a blessed relief because I really hated what I did for a living even though I made really good money doing it. In the end, I truly believed that my daily grind wasn't worth the salary, and I would be more than happy to work somewhere for less, as long as it was something I at least kinda liked. I guess it sounds pretty corny, but I feel I'm better off happy than making a ton of money.
I still feel that way - I really do. I am standing my ground, but lately, it hasn't been that easy, and it seems the longer it takes, the more pissed off I am and the more likely I am to go fucking insane. I know it's tough out there for many people, and I am not the only highly educated and experienced unemployed person in the mix. Jobs are scarce and I have never felt that I was above certain types of jobs or more deserving than the next guy. I have happily sent resumes to a variety of companies for a variety of positions. Some of them are only part time. Some of them offer awful pay and the bare bones benefits - like the If you cut your arm off, maybe we'll pay for it type of benefits.
I am also fully aware that it is definitely an employer's market out there. For every one position that opens, there are a hundred people who need the job, and the employers now have the upper-hand. The have the freedom to be much more demanding and finicky about who they want for that job.If I'm not exactly what they are looking for well, sorry to hear about my bad luck.
That doesn't piss me off. That's just the nature of the beast. What really frosts my cookies is the overabundance of rudeness I have encountered. I have sent out countless resumes and I have only received three...count them...THREE responses. What. The. Fuck. That is just shitty and offensive. I spent a lot of time tailoring my cover letter and resume to "apply" for the job. The least a perspective employer can do is send you a thanks, but no thanks letter so I know they at least read the friggin' thing.
Nonetheless, I must keep my nose to the grind stone, ear to the ground and all that shit while I continue my quest. I'm not a quitter...just a bitcher. Putting the rant down in words just relieves a bit of the pressure. Anyone have any employment-seeking horror stories? I'd love to commiserate with you.
Not to be a smart-ass or anything, but in my opinion at least, it's because you're doing it the old skool way, and that way just no longer works. Sending resumes is the way to at BEST a "low quality" hire, for exactly the reasons you cited above. And there are just too many people for those "low quality" positions.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, a different approach is needed. Networking, social media, some way of distinguishing yourself from the thousands of people that need jobs. Education ain't enough, you have to market it correctly. Sending resumes is a "buggy whip" approach in a "car" economy.
Of course, I quit my job, so what the heck do I know? :P
HA HA HA...how did I know you would find a way for it to look like I was in the wrong? :P Am I supposed to direct potential corporate-type employers to my blogs? I'm sure they would be less than impressed. :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you are a smart-ass, but it is part of the whole charm thing, right?
ReplyDeleteOK, at the risk of not being a smart ass, I'm actually not saying that you're in the wrong. I just said basically that the way you're doing it, the way MOST people are doing it in fact, is a way that no longer works. Now, true, there may still be a million to one shot that it'll work... but most people don't get to be millionaires by playing the lottery, they get to be millionaires by WORKING for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not necessarily prescribing definite actions, but actually directing potential employers to your blog might (in the right circumstances) be exactly what is in order. After all, I'm sure they'll google you anyway, and try and find it. Do you really want to work at a place that would be that disapproving of how you really are?
That's really the root of what I'm saying, the underlying mechanics of the economy have changed/are changing/will change more, and if you're not adapting to those changes, but instead just trying to make it work like it always has, you'll (in the general sense, not you specifically) get left behind (or at least the ODDS are stacked against you).