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I seem to have the absolute worse track record with my job searches. I average about 10 online applications a week - this has been going on for well over a year. Do the math and it adds up to over 500 applications and resumes sent. This is on top of attending job fairs as well as networking with people whenever the opportunity arises. Now I have been to resume workshops and have had my resume "professionally" reviewed and critiqued.
So far I have had zero call backs and zero interviews! I dont think I am aiming too high with my expectations, although I must admit I skipped the "entry level" jobs early on in my searches. But as recently as 3 months ago I have been shooting at almost everything out there (retail, low end minimum wage jobs excluded). Not saying I am too good for $8/hr job and will probably take one when the time comes - but wow, who would have thought that with a 4 yr college degree in Business Management, 15 years of professional experience (5 of which in a management role), it would be this impossible to find something!
Anyone else in a similar situation? I am in the Philadelphia / ABE region and it seems like the job market is pure crap and getting worse.
Whatever you are doing, its not working. You need to change your approach. Pushing out resumes is like throwing darts in the dark. By all means keep sending out resumes but see if there are other approaches you can augment applications with.
Maybe find something that you love and find a local business that deals with that. Contact the owner and ask them if they would meet you for a cup of coffee for an informational session. Talk about your passion and maybe see if there is a business opportunity to start your own business. Maybe the business owner takes a liking to you because you are like minded and offers you a job.
Whatever you do, mix it up and try some different approaches. No one wants to talk to you if you are trying to sell something or are looking for a job. If you want advice, people love talking to you then.
Something just doesn't seem right. Maybe it is the area that you live in. I live in NYC and have just one year of experience, and I have been averaging two interviews a week for the past month.
Do you know anyone who has gotten a job recently? Ask them to take a look at your resume for pointers.
Do you have any business mentors? They can also suggest a few pointers as well.
I personally wouldn't do career fairs, only for networking purposes.
Lastly, can you connect with your alumni network? Especially if its a large one. And can you possibly broaden your search?
Just a few pointers. I've been looking for a permanent job since 2009 and have gotten SO much help and assistant. Things have just started picking up for me now.
this is definitely a common issue right now so you're not alone. are you tailoring your resume/cover letter for each position?
I think I have a pretty detailed resume that *should* cover most of the jobs that I am applying to. I have been mostly targeting the mid-range $30k-$40k jobs that only call for general business/financial experience with no specialized skills or expertise mentioned (at least none mentioned in the ad that my resume doesn't already cover). I stay away from the higher level jobs that would probably require me to custom tailor my resume, but only because I don't think I would qualify no matter how I word the resume.
Whatever you are doing, its not working. You need to change your approach. Pushing out resumes is like throwing darts in the dark. By all means keep sending out resumes but see if there are other approaches you can augment applications with.
Maybe find something that you love and find a local business that deals with that. Contact the owner and ask them if they would meet you for a cup of coffee for an informational session. Talk about your passion and maybe see if there is a business opportunity to start your own business. Maybe the business owner takes a liking to you because you are like minded and offers you a job.
Whatever you do, mix it up and try some different approaches. No one wants to talk to you if you are trying to sell something or are looking for a job. If you want advice, people love talking to you then.
Good luck.
Good advice on paper, but quite difficult to apply in practice. Even if this kind of opportunity existed, the only business owners that would probably talk to me are the small mom and pop operations, so if hired the chance of getting higher than minimum wage pay will be extremely low.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nj21
Something just doesn't seem right. Maybe it is the area that you live in. I live in NYC and have just one year of experience, and I have been averaging two interviews a week for the past month.
Do you know anyone who has gotten a job recently? Ask them to take a look at your resume for pointers.
Do you have any business mentors? They can also suggest a few pointers as well.
I personally wouldn't do career fairs, only for networking purposes.
Lastly, can you connect with your alumni network? Especially if its a large one. And can you possibly broaden your search?
Just a few pointers. I've been looking for a permanent job since 2009 and have gotten SO much help and assistant. Things have just started picking up for me now.
Glad to hear things are picking up for you. What is your background and education? I imagine if you have the right qualifications it would be much easier to find something. I'm finding out the hard way that a "general" degree like business management will not do any good in this economy....everyone is looking for a "specialist" of some sort.
I think I have a pretty detailed resume that *should* cover most of the jobs that I am applying to. I have been mostly targeting the mid-range $30k-$40k jobs that only call for general business/financial experience with no specialized skills or expertise mentioned (at least none mentioned in the ad that my resume doesn't already cover). I stay away from the higher level jobs that would probably require me to custom tailor my resume, but only because I don't think I would qualify no matter how I word the resume.
Hmmm. I think you should apply the higher level jobs! Most people probably have the same mindset as you and there will be fewer applicants! You should custom tailor your resume and add "bullet points" in there with a few specialized, but general skills such as "accounting", "market research", "project management", etc, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by possibleSecondAct
Glad to hear things are picking up for you. What is your background and education? I imagine if you have the right qualifications it would be much easier to find something. I'm finding out the hard way that a "general" degree like business management will not do any good in this economy....everyone is looking for a "specialist" of some sort.
My background is mostly accounting but I am a finance major trying to break into financial analysis. It has proven very difficult since I have no analyst experience, but I have had two interviews this month for financial analyst positions in mid-town manhattan! Just had one yesterday and patiently waiting!
There is nothing wrong with having a general degree! You can use that to your advantage and tailor your resume anyway you choose. There are plenty of people with History and English degrees who have used those degrees to their advantages and work at Nasdaq, Barclays, etc. And I can't even get in with Finance! Basically, work with what you have and don't get discouraged. When there is a will, there is a way.
Good advice on paper, but quite difficult to apply in practice. Even if this kind of opportunity existed, the only business owners that would probably talk to me are the small mom and pop operations, so if hired the chance of getting higher than minimum wage pay will be extremely low..
Well you could always keep doing what you have been doing... or you could try something else. Not every golden opportunity presents itself with a high wage. The opportunity of a lifetime could come via that minimum wage job.
Well you could always keep doing what you have been doing... or you could try something else. Not every golden opportunity presents itself with a high wage. The opportunity of a lifetime could come via that minimum wage job.
Good grief, Charlie Brown.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot...
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