Tired of interviewing and getting no offers

[Redguitar35]

My solution was to work for myself. Best decision of my life.

That's not exactly an option for me or most people. I don't have the credit to get a small business loan, and I don't know what product or service I'd want to sell anyway.

[Els]

That's not exactly an option for me or most people. I don't have the credit to get a small business loan, and I don't know what product or service I'd want to sell anyway.

 

It is an option for a lot of people - many businesses can be started from home and require almost no starting cost. But it isn't an easy option for most, and might not even be the best option for some.

 

That being said, your opening post really makes me wonder how badly you want a new job. You turned down a job offer because you thought it would be TOXIC to work with someone whom you don't even know personally, just because he beat you at getting the other job??? If that person had been your ex or something, fine, but just because he won??

 

C'mon, dude. Learn some sportsmanship (and some priorities while you're at it). Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. No point harboring a grudge for losing. It's like you never lost in anything before you went into the working world, didn't you play games or anything as a kid?

 

FTR, masters degrees generally don't confer much of an advantage in work if you have no relevant experience, barring in a few specific fields. Most people get a few years of relevant work experience under their belt first and then get a masters for the boost AFTER that, unless they're aiming for academia (or are in those few specific fields). Your masters degree may not help you now, but after 5 years in the field or so, it may. My masters degree was absolutely irrelevant in getting the job I currently have (and enjoy). Still don't regret doing it, it opens up a few more options to me in the future possibly.

Edited July 28, 2017 by Elswyth

[Redguitar35]

It is an option for a lot of people - many businesses can be started from home and require almost no starting cost. But it isn't an easy option for most, and might not even be the best option for some.

 

I've thought about freelance speechwriting. Don't know how practical that is, but it might be worth a try.

 

 

That being said, your opening post really makes me wonder how badly you want a new job. You turned down a job offer because you thought it would be TOXIC to work with someone whom you don't even know personally, just because he beat you at getting the other job???

 

Yep. I don't want to work with the person I lost that job to, and possibly have to take orders/instructions from her. Respect my feelings on that.

 

FTR, masters degrees generally don't confer much of an advantage in work if you have no relevant experience, barring in a few specific fields. Most people get a few years of relevant work experience under their belt first and then get a masters for the boost AFTER that, unless they're aiming for academia (or are in those few specific fields).

 

I agree, and that's what I did. I had seven years experience in a related field before I finished my masters. I mainly got it to justify a pay increase . Honestly, Im beginning to doubt whether even experience matters. Things like connections and how sexy/attractive one looks seem to matter more.

Edited July 28, 2017 by Redguitar35

[d0nnivain]

In 3 months you have had a 6 interviews & you are complaining you are tired of having to go through the process. It makes me Q your work ethic.

 

At the very least you need to be sending out enough resumes & job applications to get 1-2 job interviews per week. Assume you will only get offered an interview for less than 5% of the positions you apply for. Are you going to job fairs? Are you networking & by that I mean going to at least 1 event per week where you can meet people face to face who have the potential to hire you? Have you spoken to any headhunters? Have you submitted your name to any employment agencies? Have you done any mock interviews for pointers on how you can present yourself better in person?

 

Getting a job can be more work then having a job. Keep plugging along.

[Redguitar35]

In 3 months you have had a 6 interviews & you are complaining you are tired of having to go through the process. It makes me Q your work ethic.

 

At the very least you need to be sending out enough resumes & job applications to get 1-2 job interviews per week. Assume you will only get offered an interview for less than 5% of the positions you apply for. Are you going to job fairs? Are you networking & by that I mean going to at least 1 event per week where you can meet people face to face who have the potential to hire you? Have you spoken to any headhunters? Have you submitted your name to any employment agencies? Have you done any mock interviews for pointers on how you can present yourself better in person?

 

Getting a job can be more work then having a job. Keep plugging along.

 

I send in resumes every single day. Sometimes three a day. I did have two interviews this week but I dread the idea of doing any more of them. I truly hate doing job interviews. Job fairs are a waste of time. Headhunters in this area are mostly just looking to fill low level office assistant jobs or trade jobs I'm not qualified for.

 

The whole thing seems hopeless at this point. Hopeless.

Edited July 28, 2017 by Redguitar35

[d0nnivain]

Interviewing is no fun; you're right but at least you are getting interviews. Some people don't even get that.

 

Have you considered joining a support group for people looking for work?

 

Try making it an adventure. Build something into the interview for yourself. Perhaps try a new restaurant near the job or scope out the area / scene.

 

Seriously, though. Hang in there.

[Redguitar35]

Interviewing is no fun; you're right but at least you are getting interviews. Some people don't even get that.

 

Have you considered joining a support group for people looking for work?

 

Try making it an adventure. Build something into the interview for yourself. Perhaps try a new restaurant near the job or scope out the area / scene.

 

Seriously, though. Hang in there.

 

No support group, but something that makes me feel better is that I have my resignation letter typed up ready for the day when I get to hit send. Most would say I should be grateful that I have a job, but I have come to hate where I work because I do not feel appreciated and the pay sucks.

[gaius]

I don't think you're gonna feel appreciated anywhere if you're so vulnerable to perceived slights, to the point where you don't even want to work with someone who beat you out for a job. With that mindset it's only a matter of time till you feel the same way at whatever new job you end up getting. =/

[staggerlee71]

if your getting interviews, your resume is good

if your not getting the job, you need to review your interview to see why that is happening.

 

your interviewing for a position your qualified for on paper. that's why they brought you in. your disqualifying yourself in the interview...why?

 

find out why, you will get the job

[jonathanhayashi]

Redguitar35, sorry to hear about that frustration that you’re going through.

 

I think I know where you’re coming from. I had an master degree, in fact I actually was pursuing a Phd degree and in the process of looking for a job, I actually took 10 months to find the current job that I’m in. Applied for the field that I was looking for 100 plus jobs and only heard about 2 jobs that at the end came with an offer. (FYI: 100 jobs were those who even were willing to have an interview with me. So I’ve send more than 100 application outs)

 

I too was in a toxic work environment that chewed up my marriage and physical health from depression and anxiety. But I do think the work place is hard and it’s hard to get a job today. I even saw a stat that you’re not really able to get a job with the field that people often majored in college or even with their master. I in fact am not quite in the field that I have studied and prepared myself for.

 

I will say keep applying and wait on the Lord. There’s an old proverbs it says, “Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and He shall direct your path" (Prov. 3:5-6) I will take time and on God’s right timing, everything will come to flourishing.

 

Praying for you.

[Redguitar35]

I don't think you're gonna feel appreciated anywhere if you're so vulnerable to perceived slights, to the point where you don't even want to work with someone who beat you out for a job. With that mindset it's only a matter of time till you feel the same way at whatever new job you end up getting. =/

 

How would you feel? Those jerks passed on me for a job then came back and offered me another that not only pays less, but where I would potentially have to take orders from the person I lost that job to. I did not appreciate that. They can go **** themselves.

[Redguitar35]

Redguitar35, sorry to hear about that frustration that you’re going through.

 

I think I know where you’re coming from. I had an master degree, in fact I actually was pursuing a Phd degree and in the process of looking for a job, I actually took 10 months to find the current job that I’m in. Applied for the field that I was looking for 100 plus jobs and only heard about 2 jobs that at the end came with an offer. (FYI: 100 jobs were those who even were willing to have an interview with me. So I’ve send more than 100 application outs)

 

I too was in a toxic work environment that chewed up my marriage and physical health from depression and anxiety. But I do think the work place is hard and it’s hard to get a job today. I even saw a stat that you’re not really able to get a job with the field that people often majored in college or even with their master. I in fact am not quite in the field that I have studied and prepared myself for.

 

I will say keep applying and wait on the Lord. There’s an old proverbs it says, “Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and He shall direct your path" (Prov. 3:5-6) I will take time and on God’s right timing, everything will come to flourishing.

 

Praying for you.

 

Thank you. It really is taking a toll on me. I almost never get a full nights sleep anymore. I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about the bills and whether I'll ever be able to get a better paying job.

[d0nnivain]

How would you feel? Those jerks passed on me for a job then came back and offered me another that not only pays less, but where I would potentially have to take orders from the person I lost that job to. I did not appreciate that. They can go **** themselves.

 

I had a similar thing happen I applied for a job that I was qualified for. I didn't get despite having what I thought was a great interview. They offered me the job as the assistant to the person who got the job I wanted. My ego would not let me take the letter position. I wasn't angry at the people who offered me the lower job; I just knew I couldn't do it. When I declined, the manager making the offer tried to sweeten the deal saying that the other candidate the one who got the job had more experience but he offered me this because he didn't want to lose me; he thought another position would open up soon & that since he knew I was self employed he thought he might be able to lure me away with the benefits, including health insurance. I thanked him but explained that IMO if I took the lesser job, even if I got the other job 6 months later I would never have the respect of my peers because I had been doing the job for which I was over qualified temporarily. It's been years & that company has never had another opening for the job I wanted.

 

My point is stop being so angry. It was an offer. That is hardly as insulting as you make it out to be. It wasn't the job for you & if you didn't want it, you were right to turn it down but let it go already.

 

Is there any chance that the anger & resentment which shine through in your posts are visible during your interviews? If a potential employer sees this, your attitude alone could be what's sabotaging you.

 

I am not unsympathetic. The stress & worry are awful. I am simply postulating a possible explanation for your situation. It can be tough to put on a brave face when the wolf is at the door

[Redguitar35]

 

Is there any chance that the anger & resentment which shine through in your posts are visible during your interviews? If a potential employer sees this, your attitude alone could be what's sabotaging you.

 

I am not unsympathetic. The stress & worry are awful. I am simply postulating a possible explanation for your situation. It can be tough to put on a brave face when the wolf is at the door

 

I think my coworkers definitely know I'm not happy there, and some of them have been discreetly helping me quite a bit, working with me to polish my resume, cover letter etc.

 

 

There's a question on the job application form that asks "why are you leaving your current job?" and I don't lie. I write that I'm leaving because I desire a higher salary. I get called in for interviews anyway. But I think I'm pretty good about leaving my frustration with my pay situation at the door when I walk in for an interview. I try to focus on coming across as friendly and easy going and I try to make a personal connection with the interviewer.

[d0nnivain]

Change that answer to something like

 

I'm leaving to pursue new & more challenging opportunities that will reward me intellectually and financially.

[mrs rubble]

How would you feel? Those jerks passed on me for a job then came back and offered me another that not only pays less, but where I would potentially have to take orders from the person I lost that job to. I did not appreciate that. They can go **** themselves.

I think you were wise to turn that job down.

I was on the other end of a situation like this, I got the job and another woman who was more qualified than me, got a lesser position. Not long after I started she confronted me and demanded to know why I got the job. It was because of my previous experience and knowledge of the workplace.

She moved on and up through the ranks eventually but she held this over me the entire time she was there and bullied me repeatedly. Fortunately for her and sadly for me the bosses didn't take my complaints of her bullying seriously and it went nowhere.

I celebrated hard the day she left and the bosses have noticed how much happier I am these days.

[gaius]

How would you feel? Those jerks passed on me for a job then came back and offered me another that not only pays less, but where I would potentially have to take orders from the person I lost that job to. I did not appreciate that. They can go **** themselves.

I got passed over for a management position a few months ago, along with 2 other guys, for one of the worst workers in the office. He's literally so bad he's never earned a raise in all the time he's been there. There were 4 of us able to apply and he was the only one I counted out right off the bat. But they promoted him to manager anyway. Why? I don't know. I don't really spend a whole lot of time thinking about it.

 

What I do know is that the world is filled with people and organizations who have their own biases and motivations, other than creating a utopian meritocracy. It happened when I got promoted over another guy who probably deserved it more a few months before this. It's not something you should take personally. Just business really.

 

Now your bitterness and take everything personally attitude does make you less ideal for certain roles than other people. But they probably didn't know you well enough when they interviewed you to learn that. So whatever reason they didn't hire you for probably wasn't personal. I have no hard feelings against the guy at my office that got promoted. I follow his orders (when they make sense, but that's normal for me with everyone). And I support him in public, even when some others rag on him. I genuinely have no hard feelings. It wasn't personal. And for that reason, and many others, I am the best person for the job. Whether the world figures that out or not is really up to them though. They usually do at some point fortunately.

 

So in closing Red, all you can really do is improve you weaknesses, be the best person you can be, work hard and eventually someone will figure it out. Even if it's not immediately. Good luck.

[knabe]

The reason you are not getting hired is because they can sense your attitude, and no hiring manger wants to deal with someone who is negative and has a chip on their shoulder. I would suggest learning some emotional intelligence and perhaps get some counseling. That will probably help you more than anything.

[Rockdad]

It's not that so easy being the employer searching for help either.

I get worn out from reading applications from unqualified people. The job requirements are spelled out including years of job experience required. Numerous people come in or call are "just giving it a shot"

 

Very qualified applicants often accept the position to be never seen again. A couple reasons for that. 1. They are positioning themselves to get a raise where they currently work. 2. Where they work offers them more money when they give their quitting notice.

[some_username1]

It's not that so easy being the employer searching for help either.

I get worn out from reading applications from unqualified people. The job requirements are spelled out including years of job experience required. Numerous people come in or call are "just giving it a shot"

 

Very qualified applicants often accept the position to be never seen again. A couple reasons for that. 1. They are positioning themselves to get a raise where they currently work. 2. Where they work offers them more money when they give their quitting notice.

 

As a job hunter myself I totally fail to have any sympathy with an employer!

 

I am currently trying to move into a different specialisation in my industry and all I am seeing are 'junior' or 'entry-level' positions that require a crazy amount of experience. I have numerous years experience in a field that is a natural progression to the one I want to move into so whilst I am not qualified on paper I absolutely will apply for those roles. How are people supposed to get the experience in the first place? Most people will have been given a break at some point and will have been hired on their enthusiasm moreso than their experience.

 

That is what your hiring process is there for after all: to weed applications out, so it sounds like you are complaining about having to do your job!

I would also put money on it that we spent more time trying to win you over with our desire and enthusiasm than you did giving our application a cursory glance before throwing it in the trash!

[Els]

 

I am currently trying to move into a different specialisation in my industry and all I am seeing are 'junior' or 'entry-level' positions that require a crazy amount of experience.

 

How much is this 'crazy amount of experience' that they require?

 

IME most people do an internship in order to get the experience needed for an entry-level role. It does happen that people get hired for roles with zero experience, but in specialized fields it is fairly rare. "Junior" is very different and, yeah, I usually see "junior" roles requiring 1+ year experience.

[Redguitar35]

As a job hunter myself I totally fail to have any sympathy with an employer!

 

I am currently trying to move into a different specialisation in my industry and all I am seeing are 'junior' or 'entry-level' positions that require a crazy amount of experience. I have numerous years experience in a field that is a natural progression to the one I want to move into so whilst I am not qualified on paper I absolutely will apply for those roles. How are people supposed to get the experience in the first place? Most people will have been given a break at some point and will have been hired on their enthusiasm moreso than their experience.

 

That is what your hiring process is there for after all: to weed applications out, so it sounds like you are complaining about having to do your job!

I would also put money on it that we spent more time trying to win you over with our desire and enthusiasm than you did giving our application a cursory glance before throwing it in the trash!

 

I've been on some interviews where it seemed like the hiring manager hadn't even read my resume. All the answers to their questions about my qualifications were right in there if they bothered to look.

[basil67]

I've been on some interviews where it seemed like the hiring manager hadn't even read my resume. All the answers to their questions about my qualifications were right in there if they bothered to look.

 

Some people lie on their resumes. Having a face to face conversation which goes over what is in the resume would be partially about attempting to weed them out. Also partially about engaging in conversation about those qualifications.

 

Unless you have exceptional deception skills, getting cranky about employers doing their due diligence would be showing through in your interview. And it will stop you getting a job.

Edited August 4, 2017 by basil67

[gaius]

How much is this 'crazy amount of experience' that they require?

 

IME most people do an internship in order to get the experience needed for an entry-level role. It does happen that people get hired for roles with zero experience, but in specialized fields it is fairly rare. "Junior" is very different and, yeah, I usually see "junior" roles requiring 1+ year experience.

When I was job hunting I saw a ton of pretty much entry level jobs that wanted 2+ years of experience. It's funny, you can go to a lot of restaurants in my city and when they're hiring you'll see an "Experienced servers wanted" sign in the window. And these aren't even fancy places. You can't even get a waiter job anymore unless you're a career waiter or you know somebody.

 

Makes me feel horrible for how boxed in a lot of people are when it comes to getting work. Not you though Red, you bring these situations on yourself.

[knabe]

Shrug...I don't always get the job i WANT right off the bat, but I can always find SOME job. It's not because I am a wiz at every skill and non-skill. It's because I have PEOPLE skills, know how to get along with people, and don't have a chip on my shoulder. I'm a team player even if I don't personally always like everyone on a team.

 

AND I take care of my side of the street. What other people are paid or what they do or don't have to do is none of my business. My business is to do MY job.

 

I'm not a victim, and I have emotional intelligence.

 

These are the things you are missing, OP. They just are.