I'm Here To Tell You That Online Job Hunting Sucks!

[ProudLib72]

Just had someone blow off a scheduled phone interview. Waited around all afternoon getting ready. Nothing. Still unemployed. Still looking. Still applying. What's the point?

[Cary]

1. All job hunting sucks

But we gotta do what we gotta do.

Hang in there. It's a numbers game. You have to get jerked around before you get to where you belong so look at it this way: you are one step closer to where you belong.

[ProudLib72]

2. But after eight months?

I have two master's degrees and nearly two decades of experience! It's ridiculous!


Sorry, I know you mean well. I'm venting.

[Callmecrazy]

3. Call them up...

See if they made a mistake. Then read them the riot act for being so disrespectful of someone with your qualifications and education.

Stand up for yourself and give them hell. Who knows? It might even help. What have you got to lose? Your job?

[LuvLoogie]

5. What's your profession?

You ever try meet up in your city. Face to face hanging out and networking with people who share your interests. Have your elevator interview ready, but don't sweat it. Meet new people and have some fun.

https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/il/chicago/

[ProudLib72]

10. Yep, I'm on meetup and have been to some professional networking events

I'm an English professor. I'm trying to get into high school teaching. Been to two job fairs, had a dozen interviews, sent about forty applications, connected with people on linkedin, etc.

[raccoon]

18. Care to move to SC? We could use another Dem. Tons of teachers are retiring and there are lots of

openings.

[ProudLib72]

19. Do they offer alternative licensure? I do not have a teaching license

I'm actually way over qualified to teach in high school: master's in content area, 18 years experience, PRAXIS score that's off the charts. But I have to go the alternative license route or go back to school.

[raccoon]

20. I don't know. Maybe someone on SC forum could tell you. Nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. Sign up with Teach For America

They'll fix you up with alternative licensing. Take whatever assignment they give you for the first 2 years. Then you can pick and choose.

[ProudLib72]

25. I tried to. They rejected me

I think it's because I'm too old for them

[Chin music]

27. Any job Ive ever gotten was OLD SCHOOL. Walked in and sat w a resume

until I talked w someone. Still works sometimes. NEVER EVER got a job online.

[ProudLib72]

28. I realize that is the absolute best way to do it, but TFA doesn't allow for that

Besides, TFA is really more interested in taking newbies from undergrad. So what I've been doing is going to job fairs where I can sit down with the school for at least 15 minutes and tell them all about how wonderful I am... ok, maybe what I can bring to their school.

[Chin music]

29. That's a long time teaching, and, a noble profession.

Keep on trucking teach.

[AJT]

4. Maybe the person found an online date.....

[Karadeniz]

6. That is so rude of them. You don't want to work for people who don't respect.

[Major Nikon]

7. That's not always true anymore

Most large companies delegate all the hiring to HR and it’s getting more common that the initial screening stages are done by contractors.

So the person disrespecting (or respecting) you is often very far removed from the people you’ll actually be working for.

[ProudLib72]

14. I emailed the company and told them what happened

I said that I wanted to reschedule the interview. Best practice to go straight to the higher ups.

[Major Nikon]

15. Nothing ventured...

It just depends on the company. Where I work as management we have zero contact with prospective employees until HR screens them and narrows down the list and does the initial interviews. Even (and perhaps especially) if we want a particular applicant, they still have to go through that process. We are fairly typical in that regard. Smaller companies will typically have more control over the entire process.

[Yavin4]

8. May I ask where you live and what your experience and degrees are in? n/t

[ProudLib72]

11. Degrees are English undergrad, Irish Studies first master's, Comparative Literature second master's

18 years teaching experience, mostly freshman college, but also six years of Hebrew school kids.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. You might be able to teach at a private or charter school

without a state license.

[ProudLib72]

26. Yes, I can. I've been applying to charter schools as well

In fact, I just applied to one about three minutes ago. They still like it when you get your alternative license, but I think they are more amenable to teachers not having a license when they begin.

[Generic Brad]

9. Hang on there. Phone interviews sometimes work out

Last year I found myself severanced and was feeling the same way as you. Over a nine month period I applied for more than 200 positions in my field and even explored some career changes. I had countless face to face interviews and flew across the country for an in person that turned out to not be a good fit.

Then it happened. Over a two day period I received three job offers from different parts of the country - one was in Minnesota with the company that let me go. Another was in Florida. And another was in Tennessee. I had the best vibes from the place in Tennessee and I accepted their offer sight unseen. Within three weeks of that I sold my house in Kansas, found an apartment in Tennessee and moved. Today, incidentally, is my one year anniversary and I love it here!

I wish you all the best in your search. Persist even when it feels pointless. You just may land something awesome and fulfilling like I did.

[ProudLib72]

12. Thanks man! That's just what I needed to hear

I bet I've put out 200 applications by now. I had a very close call, but it ended up falling through. I was about to just throw in the towel today.

[customerserviceguy]

13. I haven't had to find a job that way

but everybody who I've talked to who tried, say the same thing you do.

In my case, the answer was going to work for a temp service. That way, someone gets to "try you" before they "buy you." Good thing I'm retired now, and don't have that problem any more.

[Fla Dem]

16. Good luck with your job hunt. Don't give up.

[bif]

17. I'm in the same boat. Just lost my job too.

I'm an advertising copywriter. I signed up for a bunch of sites that post jobs daily. I can't believe the jobs that they post. Like truck driver. Or heavy machine operator. WTF!?!?

[Demsrule86]

21. We got a job offer from indeed and a recruiter too.

[HipChick]

22. Hang in there...

It sucks...had a scheduled phone interview yesterday, guy was 30mins late, no apology..no nothing....definitely takes the wind out of your sail...