General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTwo weeks after lay off & still no interviews....
Except for head hunters....
Very depressing.
mr_hat
(3,410 posts)Way too soon to get depressed!
peacebird
(14,195 posts)And have been fortunate enough to never have a gap on employment until now. I have been spoiled by my history of only sending out two apps before getting a job. I have sent out 12 now, with no interviews......
still_one
(92,454 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)got caught in the crossfire.
man4allcats
(4,026 posts)No. 1: Apply for unemployment tomorrow. You will get it.
No. 2: Two weeks? Try 20 months.
still_one
(92,454 posts)mrmpa
(4,033 posts)man4allcats
(4,026 posts)At 20 months, even I'm a piker. It's awful! Take care, my friend. As my religious friends say, "God will help us." I'm an atheist myself, but a part of me can't help hoping they're right.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)3 years and counting. Two college degrees. (sigh)
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)so don't despair yet. I don't know what you are looking for, but just keep upbeat. But don't depend only on the head hunters. Are there temp jobs in your field? I have had good luck with getting a foot in the door that way.
still_one
(92,454 posts)Networking is what you must do. Of course it depends on the type of employment you are looking for
Get your resume perfected if it isn't already, and consider posting on dice.com, monster.com, indeed.com, etc. but make sure your résumé is for prime time before you do that
Why linked in is so important is that it will provide connections. We're others in your organization also laid off. Make sure you keep connected with them. Associates and friends help each other, half the battle is getting your foot in the door
You must plan a strategy. Make sure you have a good recruiter, they are your path to get the interview, unless you have people you know personally who can help you
If you get the interview, prepare for it. Look for interview sample questions, they can be googled.
If it is a software engineer position, expect programming questions that you will need to work through during the interview. For example, how would you code a specific problem.
Persistence is the key, also timing, and being at the right place at the right time
Try not to get disillusioned
Depending on the situation you may have to Do a career change, re-educate, perhaps contract work, maybe even volunteer work
kentauros
(29,414 posts)thanks to contacting a headhunter I've used in the past. In my field (mapping/drafting) that's pretty much the only way to get employed. If I get accepted, it'll be direct hire, but that's rare in my field.
Go ahead and do contract. Sometimes it's contract-to-hire
What do you do for a living anyway?
DHelix
(89 posts)As somebody that's in a position to hire and hiring it does seem to be a buyer's market. A strong cover, creative cover letter that showcases that you're willing to work hard and have no illusions about the fact that you now have to start over and earn the same trust and respect that you had earned from your previous employers goes a long way.
I recently hired a guy in his 50s for this very reason. I'm in my early thirties. I see resumes from people all the time who graduated University in the 1980s and think, "Is this person up to date with the technology in our industry? Are they still hard-working and eager with hunger? Or have they settled into laziness from working at the same place for 20 years?"
I realize that probably makes me sound like some no good capitalistic jerk but it really boils down to the fact that I need to run our business for our President as smoothly and as profitably as I possibly can or I, too, will be out of work. There's a stigsma with older workers who were at a company for years: bosses can't help but wonder how hard they'll be to train or if they're stuck in their ways.
The 50 year old I hired is the oldest employee I've hired in over a year but he convinced me on his cover letter and in his interview he was different. He convinced me on both that if given a chance he'd outwork anybody and prove his worth. He convinced me that this job mattered to him and after interviewing a bunch of 20-something's who seem to leave school with a sense of entitlement in terms of employment that stood out. When I hired him I told him that the other people on staff knew our software inside and out. He stayed late to make sure he did too.
He's not my fastest employee but he's honestly become one of my most reliable (never calls in sick) and consistent. Sell these kinds of strengths on paper and in person and you'll find somebody who'll hire. Employers are looking for Easy Buttons at reasonable salaries. You convince them you're both and you'll be the one picking where you want to work no matter how old you are (assuming your skills and education are comparable)
whistler162
(11,155 posts)I found my current job, state civil service, job through the newspaper website. Also found another job, worked when I was let go from my current job due to my place on the civil service list for the job(long conveluted story), through Craigslist(with a Liberal small business owner). Also think about doing some kind of volunteer work. Might not help but would get your mind of your problems for a little bit.
good luck.
bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)resulted in offers. Edit to add: state and federal jobs are also listed there.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)I got ready to have a depressing two weeks being unemployed myself...now just waiting to past background checks, I cold called around a few contacts I have to see if they had anything...one of them called me back, they actually gave me an offer without interview...a headhunter gave me the stats on how many applicants he got for each job, it was mind boggling..
rustydog
(9,186 posts)decided to take me off their books. I looked, had to compete afainst 20-somethings.
Scary, but it can be done. Keep swinging.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)going out on the market looking for similar jobs at same time. So it may take a while.
This was a very difficult time, and harder work that actually working a job. I fought depression. Tried to keep positive. What I did:
Linkedin.com - update your info and skills. If you're not on it, look into it. Networking site for businesses and employees.
Walked dogs several times a day (exercise...helps stress).
Signed up on monster.com, indeed.com, careerbuilder, etc.
Signed up with two agencies.
Got my interview outfits (2) ready.
Tried to do something with a friend occasionally, like go to the movies. (something CHEAP)
Read a lot of articles on how to construct resumes, cover letters, how to interview, etc.
Read "life lessons" type of articles on internet.
I did something proactive toward finding a job every day.
I got pen & paper & worked out three scenarios of a plan I could work on...what if I don't get a job in one month? Or two months? Or three months? I had some options you may not have (I could sell my house and move, using my savings, but moving to cheaper place or city and getting the $ back by buying cheaper house).
I read mental health type books: How to be Confident, How to Cope, etc.
I brushed on how to live frugally. Started clipping coupons. I curtailed my buying of everything to the bare necessities, just in case.
I worked out a budget, in case I didn't find another job soon. I worked out how much I needed to live on annually, if I were frugal.
I worried, couldn't sleep, and lost weight. In fact, for my 1st interview, I hadn't been able to sleep the night before & went to interview not having slept or eaten for 24 hours. I pulled it off, I guess, because I got an offer WEEKS later.
Since I had COBRA, I went for my annual exam and told my dr. how depressed I was. He prescribed a couple of medications to help, so I could sleep and start eating a bit.
I checked out http://www.healthcare.gov/ to see what ins. policies were available to me, so I could switch from the very expensive COBRA to something that costs less.
Be prepared to wait. Even if you have a good interview, it may take a week or two or three before you hear back on it.
I prepared alternate resumes to emphasize different things, and alternate cover letter forms.
I didn't have a quality printer, so I located a local OFFICE DEPOT and OFFICE MAX. They provide total services for printing resumes, letters on quality paper, etc.
CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE: http://www.lifehack.org/ There are some good articles there containing life lesson type things, including losing your job, finding jobs, dealing with stress, etc. General advice on lots of topics.
Good luck. Hang in there! I'm so sorry this happened to you. But you can find a new job. I am 58, and I finally got a new job. In fact, I was lucky enough to get two offers on the same day! And a call for an interview that same day!
bluethruandthru
(3,918 posts)I've been unemployed a year now and I've only had a handful of interviews. As someone in my 50's I do think my age is a factor. I didn't want to believe it, but it's hard to ignore the evidence.
The funny thing is, at my age I no longer have young kids so I'm free to work longer hours, I don't need to leave in the middle of the day for parent teacher conferences/school plays, etc....all the things I did years ago. I won't be taking any maternity leave.
When my kids were younger and I was working, I sometimes felt I wasn't being the best parent I could be..and I also wasn't being the best employee either. Now, I have the time and energy to devote to my job...but unfortunately, not many employers see that.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)Good luck
FightForMichigan
(232 posts)I've been where you are. I was laid off in June 2011, a victim of the dying newspaper industry and a CEO who needed to get rid of workers to justify his $37 million buyout. Like you, I'd never been without a job my entire adult life. It broke my heart and damn near broke my spirit. I felt utterly lost. I was ashamed when I saw people headed off to work in the morning. But it was not my fault. I felt worse when I heard people say things like, "The unemployed are lazy," or "Just get a job at McDonald's," when that job didn't even exist. But it was not my fault. And it is not your fault, either.
The six months between the day I was laid off and the day I went back to work were some of the hardest days of my life. But I got through it. And I believe in your strength and your ability to get through it, too.
I don't want this to be advice, but I just thought I'd share some things I learned through that hard time.
1. Job No. 1 is taking care of yourself. I've heard a lot of people say that when you're unemployed, your job is finding a job. I don't think that's right. Your first job, your top priority, has got to be taking care of yourself. Why? Because you won't be effective at finding work if you are down on yourself and don't believe in yourself. So think of what restores you - is it time with family? Time spent in nature? Being creative? Being spiritual? Whatever it is, do it. When you catch yourself saying discouraging things to yourself, challenge yourself to stop it. Be good to you. It's more important now than it ever was.
2. Perfect being unemployed. It sounds counterintuitive, I know. But if you have to be unemployed, do it the best way possible. Right now, you have a gift you didn't have before: Time. You have more time to decide how to use now than you did when you were working. So the question is, what will you do with it? I became heavily involved in volunteering, and that activity led to two job interviews, including one that ended in a job offer. By the end of my six months of being out of work, I think I really got into the swing of being unemployed the right way. I wasn't despairing. I was busy. I was doing good things and helping people in my community. As a plus, it's hard to let someone's hurtful words, like "Get a job," get to you when you know you are contributing to the world around you.
3. When it comes to the job search, celebrate the little things. Did you find some good job leads and send out a resume and cover letter? Celebrate it. Get a job interview? Call up friends and family and rejoice. Each time you do either of those things, you come one step closer to the job lead and the interview that will be the right one for you. Even each job interview that doesn't end in an offer brings you closer to it. So celebrate being one step closer.
4. Anticipate opportunities everywhere. Yes - use all the Internet job boards, a state job bank, Craigslist, whatever else is out there. But don't discount word of mouth. I got the job I have now through a long series of strange events that started with me being interviewed for a news story and ended with someone who read the story recommending me to someone else looking to hire. And that job was never posted on any job board. You never know what chain of events will lead to your big opportunity. Use the job boards, but don't discount word of mouth, or even serendipity.
5. Don't be desperate. I know it's easy to fall into that. When you're in the middle of it, it can feel like unemployment will be forever and it can get hard to imagine a way out. But that probably isn't the case. Your time will come - have faith in that. And that's important, because desperation can lead to some pretty bad things, like being taken advantage of by scam artists with fake job offers, depression and substance abuse. If you feel yourself slipping into desperation or depression, speak up. I bet anything that there's someone near you who cares, and who will want to help. Now is not the time to say no thanks to help. Let them help and love you.
I know you didn't ask for advice, and I really hope this didn't come across as preachy. It's just that I remember so clearly how hard it was for me a year ago, and I hurt for anyone who is going through it now. Your time will come. I believe it.
peacebird
(14,195 posts)hr paycheck.
Now I WILL take time out each day to go for a bike ride, and to work on my nature journal, play with my chocolate lab and my hubby!
All the stuff I didn't have time for on the last 3 years.
Norbert
(6,041 posts)Last edited Sun Oct 28, 2012, 05:46 AM - Edit history (3)
-I got my job through a recruiter. It was temp to hire. I was converted to perm just after four months and I love it there.
-I know by being in your position that this is hard to do but be patient. You will find another job, even if you are an over 50.
-I don't put too much faith in Monster.com and Careerbuilder. Once a job hits these two you will be among a tsunami of resumes and human resourses will be flooded. Then your resume will be subject to the ten second read or a program will weed out resumes with not enough "key" words. The key is building your network and finding these jobs before they hit monster and CB. Often companies will opt to advertise on their own or on their website in order to skip the ton of resumes that flow.
-Don't shy away from temp or contract work. Fact is you ARE working, keeping your skills fresh and keeping up with the job routine even if there is an aparent end date. Also it doesn't prevent you from finding that permanent job that you are seeking.
-Even if you think you have a strong resume and cover letter have at least a couple people read it over to get their opinions of them. If you know a human resourse person they would be great for this. I have a friend that one of his jobs was to proofread news stories for one of Gannett's newspapers. Even though I thought I did well on my resume and cover letter he was all over them with a red pen. Half of it was stupid little things that I never thought about but made a ton of sense.
-If you are bitter about your last job or the way your dismissal was handled talk it out and speak to someone. Get it out of your system even if it means seeing someone professionally. Life can be unfair sometimes but you need to move on. I know that somehow the interveiwer could sometimes see through to my bitterness. My old boss was a bully and I couldn't stand him. My time there is done and I've changed for the better. Yes I needed to see a clinical psychologist and it did me a world of good. I hope my old boss has changed too but if he hasn't there is nothing I can do about it.
-Lastly don't believe the doomsdayers. This economy IS improving. Things are getting better. My unemployment was mostly in 2009 and into 2010 and it was an absolute bitch to even get an interview. The present day even though it isn't yet where it should be is a whole lot better than 2009. Even today I get an occasional recruiter wanting to set up an interview for me even though I have been off the market for quite a while.