As one of the poster said above, companies looking for senior or leads are definitely looking for people who have work experience. They may consider someone who's an intermediate but that candidate would still need work experience. Even if company only has specific senior or lead positions listed but have a link/posting allowing general applications, it is still worth a try to submit a resume/cover letter under general applications. Sometimes company may be looking for exceptional candidates without work experience as well even if it is not in a specific posting. I am in the software industry (video games industry to be more specific) so this may not necessary apply outside that.
Applying for jobs is exhausting and soul-crushing
- Thread starter Moofers
- Start date
As one of the poster said above, companies looking for senior or leads are definitely looking for people who have work experience. They may consider someone who's an intermediate but that candidate would still need work experience. Even if company only has specific senior or lead positions listed but have a link/posting allowing general applications, it is still worth a try to submit a resume/cover letter under general applications. Sometimes company may be looking for exceptional candidates without work experience as well even if it is not in a specific posting. I am in the software industry (video games industry to be more specific) so this may not necessary apply outside that.
Using search operators on Indeed was the best thing to help my job search, as someone with little experience. Basically my go to search was, "computer science" -years, which returns all jobs with "computer science" (my degree) and filters out any with the word "years" (basically hoping to exclude anyone looking for # years of experience). The end result is mostly junior/entry/new grad computer science jobs. You might end up filtering out a job by accident ('we've operated for over 5 years') but there are enough of these jobs that a few can slip through the cracks.
cpp_is_king
Member
No you should not apply for anything that specifically says says senior or lead if you have 0 real world experience .
0 is fine.
I'm not sure if this is the case outside the UK but the general rule here is to have at least one summer internship on your CV before you graduate. Also supplementing an internship with evidence of an interest in your desired industry will give you a very strong CV upon graduation.
Syphon Filter
Member
Usually the school requires one to graduate, not sure if it is different for you. I think it's a good idea to get one while in school especially if it is directly related to your field.
Depends on what you are trying to do or what you are studying.
Anywhere between 0 to as many as possible is possible.
Dr. Feel Good
Banned
Depends on the field but should be at least one to two.
Pancakes
hot, steaming, as melted butter slips into the cracks, drizzled with sticky sweet syrup OH GOD
As many as possible.
Lil'DigiOp
Member
Back on the job market...
New job denied my candidacy after telling me to put my 2 weeks in...(fuckers) so Best Buy terminated me since they knew I was looking for something else...
Shit. Now Im assed out with nothing.
Put in for like 20 applications on Indeed. Got a grocery store interview tomm that I can probably win at least for the mean time...
Such bullshit. Do a lot of jobs look at your driving record seriously?
New job denied my candidacy after telling me to put my 2 weeks in...(fuckers) so Best Buy terminated me since they knew I was looking for something else...
Shit. Now Im assed out with nothing.
Put in for like 20 applications on Indeed. Got a grocery store interview tomm that I can probably win at least for the mean time...
Such bullshit. Do a lot of jobs look at your driving record seriously?
A place I'm trying to apply to won't accept .odt or .rtf file types for a resume so I assume they are looking for .doc and .docx.
Is Open Office the only way to save files in that format? Also, why not accept .rtf files when Word can open those just fine? Sigh...
edit: used Libre Office, I guess that worked.
Is Open Office the only way to save files in that format? Also, why not accept .rtf files when Word can open those just fine? Sigh...
edit: used Libre Office, I guess that worked.
anonymous_abc
Member
I would never send out anything that is not PDF.
I had to keep changing my file type until it took something. Apparently it only accepted .doc files.
Iron Man Cooking a Crepe
Banned
I refuse to send resumes in anything but a pdf specifically because of a bad experience with a recruiting firm. I sent them a word file and when I got to the interview with the company they sent me up with, it was a nightmare. They changed so many things on my resume and put skills I did not have and technologies I've never touched before. We were both upset and they severed ties with said firm.
They actually did end up offering me a job, but their working environment seemed too stuffy for the work (why are your Linux admins working in suits???).
Necromanti
Member
Jeez, that sounds like an ethical nightmare. And here I was thinking PDFs were standard to mainly avoid formatting issues.
Kelia
Member
Good news is that I found out Friday afternoon that I got an interview at one of the places I applied to. Bad news is that they sent an e-mail that evening with an application that requires four references. Which would be fine, except the people I contacted to be my possible fourth reference have not gotten back to me with a reply.
I'm a bit peeved I got short notice.
I'm a bit peeved I got short notice.
In the future, Google docs can hook you up as well.
opticalmace
Member
How do you get past the anxiety of applying when you feel not super qualified? I'm finding it discouraging and it's making me not want to apply, though I know I should. I've applied to a few and didn't hear back, makes it hard to stay focused.
I've heard the opposite, actually, that PDF's don't quite cooperate with automated personnel software and there's half a chance the software will simply read it as blank, and that you should always go for doc or docx with as little special formatting as possible (enough that it doesn't look like ass for actual humans who read it, but little enough that it won't confuse a bot and leave you out to dry in many situations).
mhayes86
Member
You can get by with zero, unless your university requires that you have one in order to graduate. With that said, it's recommended to get as many as you can within your major. It won't hurt anything and only improves your resume with some real world experience.
I graduated with only one 3 month long internship.
Re: internships, it's really about the skills you get, i've found. If you can say you've done certain tangible stuff, like accounts payable or use of some in-demand software system, then one semester could be all you need. If you're just doing "generalist" stuff like basic admin work or research, then two years of internships might not help you.
Of course anything is better than nothing for references and work history purposes.
Of course anything is better than nothing for references and work history purposes.
Going to start interning under an artist--- who owns two start ups--- for another artist tomorrow who's social media campaign she wants me to cover. Punctuality and flexibility is going to be a must (I'm scared about that to be quite honest). I mean an opportunity to work under two artists let alone one in the city rarely comes along even if it's not necessarily in my area of interest (illustration) and a socio-political issue at the heart of this that's incredibly important to this artist.
I have my concerns about it interfering with my other passion--- volunteering/working at cons/events around the city as well work I'm doing for another employer--- but as long as I let my new boss know ahead of time, things should be fine. At least, I hope she's cool with it. *fingers crossed*
Going to be doing a whole lot of running around the city and learning a TON of new things I've never thought about so we'll see how it goes but it sounds pretty damn promising. Did I mention that I'm scared about the punctuality thing? I'm in for one hell of a rabbit hole but as long I arrive early, things will be fantastic. We'll see where that goes so here's to a new experience...I hope. RIP wallet and schedule.
I have my concerns about it interfering with my other passion--- volunteering/working at cons/events around the city as well work I'm doing for another employer--- but as long as I let my new boss know ahead of time, things should be fine. At least, I hope she's cool with it. *fingers crossed*
Going to be doing a whole lot of running around the city and learning a TON of new things I've never thought about so we'll see how it goes but it sounds pretty damn promising. Did I mention that I'm scared about the punctuality thing? I'm in for one hell of a rabbit hole but as long I arrive early, things will be fantastic. We'll see where that goes so here's to a new experience...I hope. RIP wallet and schedule.
Dreamwriter
Member
Just think of it like this: they are listing their ideal candidate. If other people who are more qualified apply, then yes you might not get the job, but you may be better qualified than everyone else who applies. Also, a common problem these days is people who don't feel qualified for the jobs they actually have and are doing - so if people who *have* the job feel that way, then you might be qualified just the same as them.
As for hearing back, I don't hear back from the majority of the jobs I apply at, even if I *am* well qualified (grumble grumble...). So don't let that affect your job hunt.
Royal_Phalanx
Member
If a job description mentions 'proven customer service experience' as part of the minimum skills and experience required (this is for a customer adviser role at a bank), should I still bother applying? Lack of experience is really killing my chances in the job market. If I end up going back to university again I will not make the same mistake of not taking full advantage of all the opportunities offered, in terms of extracurricular activities and part time campus jobs (with free job advice services too) ever again.
Every application you send out is an opportunity. Use the opportunity to express your strengths and don't concentrate so much on your weaknesses, real or perceived.
This doesn't work if you're just spraying and praying. I know some people swear by the technique, but I've always found it better to send out fewer résumés/cover letters and tailor both to the particular company and the job.
Oh yeah, and you're most likely going to have a bunch of places either reject you outright or not even bother to reply. It's just the way things are, and not necessarily a slight against you. Persistence will pay off.
Good luck.
That's a great idea, thank you for telling us.
Dreamwriter
Member
Bleh - so I need a job, and have been applying to a number of them. I got an email back from one to take a 3-hour screening test, but looking closer at that company they do things I don't approve of - they are a game developer that makes exact duplicates of other games, but with different art. It's an ethical dilemma - I need a damn job, and this is a potential one I could get, but I don't want to support or be involved in that behavior. But so few companies have responded to my applications, I'm starting to get desparate.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Look like I may be having a social media intern interview soon... wtf is an internship anyway sometimes its a job sometimes its not
Ah I see what you're getting at, but its not illegal what they're doing. And you need a job right? If you feel you have the potential to get something better than go for it and keep applying. It depends how you see it... Should you be grateful for just being to able to even have a job or should you keep pursuing a job thats more inline with what you want?
HarryHengst
Member
If you can get the job, take it, work there for 6-12 months and look for something else. At least you get some relevant working experience that you can use to get a better job.
Schweinehund
Member
Came back from an interview last week that I felt I did really good on.
Now I'm waiting to hear back and I hate that. Causes you to think about everything you did wrong on the interview and focus on the negative. FIgure I'll call them at the end of this week to see if I'm still under consideration.
I also have to say I absolutely hate dealing with staffing companies. Recruiters are so flakey. I've had one setup for an assessment test, I took it, did well (it reported the results), called back, never returned my calls. I'm guessing they found a more experienced candidate and just cold dropped me? People are so rude, atleast tell it to me straight.
Now I'm waiting to hear back and I hate that. Causes you to think about everything you did wrong on the interview and focus on the negative. FIgure I'll call them at the end of this week to see if I'm still under consideration.
I also have to say I absolutely hate dealing with staffing companies. Recruiters are so flakey. I've had one setup for an assessment test, I took it, did well (it reported the results), called back, never returned my calls. I'm guessing they found a more experienced candidate and just cold dropped me? People are so rude, atleast tell it to me straight.
Dreamwriter
Member
Well, while not strictly illegal, they did get sued over the practice once because of copying one game way too closely, and ended up eventually settling out of court. One thing I worry about is, what if I work there for a while and then later apply at one of the companies they ripped off? That won't look good...
Do you have any experience at all? That job title basically sounds like a glorified teller where you'll be expected to upsell products like brokerage accounts. So they are usually not super picky about particular experience, if say you were a cashier at Wal-Mart, that's probably enough. Even not, it never hurt to try. Again, since it is basically a sales job, they will usually bring in a wide variety of candidates. A friend of mine had zero real world experience besides a couple of waiter/bartending gigs and he got a teller job at Wells Fargo, and was able to move on to working international markets at their corporate HQ because he turned out to be a good salesman.
That's common for staffing/temp companies. Most reps are under a quota system, so they will just bring in people to fill in applications and do the tests to keep their numbers up. It got to the point where I asked specifically if they had a job for me and what it was, otherwise I was not going to waste another 3-4 hours doing a bunch of BS testing and paperwork. Most times they admitted there wasn't one.
That1BlackGuy
Member
One of my old clients just referred me to a company looking to fill a temp Data Entry position (from home naturally haha) and the pay is pretty damn good so I am considering it and weighing it against my current earnings. While I've done Data Entry as a part of many tasks, I've never had a dedicated Data Entry job. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with a Data Entry job:
-What was/is it like (the day-to-day)?
-What skills or experience if any do you need?
-Is the job particularly difficult?
-What kind of questions should I prepare for if I take the offer?
-What was/is it like (the day-to-day)?
-What skills or experience if any do you need?
-Is the job particularly difficult?
-What kind of questions should I prepare for if I take the offer?
Schweinehund
Member
blegh, that's pretty crappy but I know how that is, when I worked at a call center.
They did have two positions but I don't know if she made it up or what. They seemed awfully generic.
Most of the positions staffing/temp agencies post aren't specific jobs. Notice how most of them say "a major employer in xxx field". Unless a specific employer and position is mentioned, they're trying to get you in to fill out apps and do tests.
One of my contract jobs was working for the payroll department of Target updating tax information for employees. It lasted a couple of years. I also had a few other shorter contracts where I did stuff like update client data, databases, etc.
-What was/is it like (the day-to-day)?
Boring. You are doing the same thing hundreds of times a day. Usually you are left to yourself though, especially once you prove you can produce your quota per day. Most places were ok with using phones/MP3 players to listen to music/podcasts, so that helped.
There may also be downtime where you are waiting for files/paperwork, so don't be like that person who quit after not having anything to do for 2 1/2 hours
If that happens, be proactive and ask your manager if there is anything else to do. You may be pulled to do grunt work like filing in that case.-What skills or experience if any do you need?
No particular experience, data entry is basically entry level stuff. Most places will want you to have basic computer skills (especially MS Office) and be a decent typer (at least 50 WPM). It is common for you to have to do tests like accuracy, typing, etc before you get an offer.
-Is the job particularly difficult?
No. Most people end up leaving because they get bored.
-What kind of questions should I prepare for if I take the offer?
Is there any opportunity to advance/move up.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
I'm really hoping that I get this call this week.
Not sure if going to an interview with long hair is such a good idea but I did my best to clean it up and make it look neat. Interview in a few mins. Feeling all right about it. It's a bit jarring to be in NYC's Chinatown waiting.
Got another interested party for another internship of the similar vein (social media) so will let this person now that I'm keeping my options open. Phone interview with that person is at 3.
Got another interested party for another internship of the similar vein (social media) so will let this person now that I'm keeping my options open. Phone interview with that person is at 3.
Interview this morning for local Ronald McDonald House Charities. I wasn't sure of the mood in the room, but the woman interviewing me was more professional than most i've done, so that's probably why i detected more coolness than usual.
I clearly have no skill for reading an interviewer anyway, so what do i know? She was helpful in that she said i was one of 12 candidates, of which 2 would make it to round 2.
I clearly have no skill for reading an interviewer anyway, so what do i know? She was helpful in that she said i was one of 12 candidates, of which 2 would make it to round 2.
That1BlackGuy
Member
One of my contract jobs was working for the payroll department of Target updating tax information for employees. It lasted a couple of years. I also had a few other shorter contracts where I did stuff like update client data, databases, etc.
-What was/is it like (the day-to-day)?
Boring. You are doing the same thing hundreds of times a day. Usually you are left to yourself though, especially once you prove you can produce your quota per day. Most places were ok with using phones/MP3 players to listen to music/podcasts, so that helped.
There may also be downtime where you are waiting for files/paperwork, so don't be like that person who quit after not having anything to do for 2 1/2 hours
-What skills or experience if any do you need?
No particular experience, data entry is basically entry level stuff. Most places will want you to have basic computer skills (especially MS Office) and be a decent typer (at least 50 WPM). It is common for you to have to do tests like accuracy, typing, etc before you get an offer.
-Is the job particularly difficult?
No. Most people end up leaving because they get bored.
-What kind of questions should I prepare for if I take the offer?
Is there any opportunity to advance/move up.
Seems a lot of my prior experience carries over well and I've worked a conveyor belt before so handling boredom certainly isn't a problem haha. Thanks a lot fam, much appreciated
Camp1nCarl
Member
Hey GAF, I need some quick advice since I'll probably be responding in a day or two.
I got my first job offer, and the pay is pretty terrible TBH. I'm not currently working but I do have some saved up. Considering I don't have anything else lined up I most likely need to accept it. The job is 7 hours from where I currently live so I have to pick up and move as well. Since the salary came in so low I'm thinking I'm going to start looking for work somewhere I actually want to live with a decent salary too in about 8-12 months.
Will taking this job hurt my chances of getting a decent salary in a year or two elsewhere? Mostly I just need experience right now. Thanks.
I got my first job offer, and the pay is pretty terrible TBH. I'm not currently working but I do have some saved up. Considering I don't have anything else lined up I most likely need to accept it. The job is 7 hours from where I currently live so I have to pick up and move as well. Since the salary came in so low I'm thinking I'm going to start looking for work somewhere I actually want to live with a decent salary too in about 8-12 months.
Will taking this job hurt my chances of getting a decent salary in a year or two elsewhere? Mostly I just need experience right now. Thanks.
Dreamwriter
Member
You should ask for relocation assistance at least, they may kick in some money to help you move since you can't do a 7 hour commute. And maybe ask for a higher salary as well, for most companies they won't be offended unless you are *way* off from what they want to do, salary negotiation is actually normal. The fact that you made it this far means they want you, and to revoke the job offer entirely would mean more hassle (and more job-finding cost) for that company.
Where taking a low-salary job will hurt your chances in the future are cases where you can't avoid the question "What did you earn at your last job?" because they will most likely use that as the start of their salary negotiation.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Have you worked social media before... and doing what if I may ask?
I have an interview friday.. have any interview questions tips?
This is wrong in my opinion.
I am pretty sure my lack of experience was one of the reasons I was unemployed for so long. I sucked it up and did an internship after I graduated, which wasn't easy to do so because in my country most bigger companies only accept students as interns, and out of the sudden I got a lot of job interviews.
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