InfiniteBento
Member
It's exhausting riding this horse. I took time away cause my best friend passed and now I'm spending every waking moment stressed the fuck out while job hunting.
Worst combination of feelings ever.
Applying for jobs is exhausting and soul-crushing
- Thread starter Moofers
- Start date
It's exhausting riding this horse. I took time away cause my best friend passed and now I'm spending every waking moment stressed the fuck out while job hunting.
Worst combination of feelings ever.
I got an email from a hiring manager for a company my friend works for, and he said he'd be calling me today for what seems to be an informal interview. He was supposed to call at 11:30 AM, but I figured something came up and he's still working on something else or is out for lunch.
I'm a little nervous. It's been years since I've done an interview of any kind. My friend gave me some tips and a bit of insight into what he may be looking for (the call might be to gauge in seeing how I could fit in with culturally within the company). I might email him soon to follow up on that call, too.
I'm a little nervous. It's been years since I've done an interview of any kind. My friend gave me some tips and a bit of insight into what he may be looking for (the call might be to gauge in seeing how I could fit in with culturally within the company). I might email him soon to follow up on that call, too.
Welp it is time for me to move on from my current company so I actively started looking for a job 2 weeks ago, reminds me how long any hiring process takes which makes me glad I'm searching for a job while still employed.
In the last two weeks since I started looking I've had:
4 Initial HR phone screens
3 Hiring manager phone screens
3 Recruiters wanted to submit me for positions they are recruiting for
I've received responses from about 25% of the applications I've put out.
Fortunately I'm lucky in regard I work in a highly in demand field (Corporate Finance) and I'm flexible on relocation.
I really haven't been pushing hard for applying for positions but now that I'm certain it's time for me to move on from my company I'll be much more active in seeking out opportunities. Had to really put in sometime and restructure and revise my resume.
For the phone interviews I found it really helpful to basically write out my whole career story/progression on a word doc and have it there in front of me so I can be sure to hit the important parts.
In the last two weeks since I started looking I've had:
4 Initial HR phone screens
3 Hiring manager phone screens
3 Recruiters wanted to submit me for positions they are recruiting for
I've received responses from about 25% of the applications I've put out.
Fortunately I'm lucky in regard I work in a highly in demand field (Corporate Finance) and I'm flexible on relocation.
I really haven't been pushing hard for applying for positions but now that I'm certain it's time for me to move on from my company I'll be much more active in seeking out opportunities. Had to really put in sometime and restructure and revise my resume.
For the phone interviews I found it really helpful to basically write out my whole career story/progression on a word doc and have it there in front of me so I can be sure to hit the important parts.
Got that informal interview out of the way, and they're looking for someone proficient with Excel, and while I do know my way around it, I'm a bit nervous at some of their minimum requirements for it.
On that note, I managed to get an interview next week. Just waiting on the hiring manager to figure out a day and time, but he told me to follow up if I don't hear from him today or tomorrow.
On that note, I managed to get an interview next week. Just waiting on the hiring manager to figure out a day and time, but he told me to follow up if I don't hear from him today or tomorrow.
Some companies will have an excel test. Just had to do one last week.
What kind of job are you applying for? There are some good resources on YouTube to teach you enough basics to get through an interview.
EverythingShiny
Member
Heard back from the person I did the phone interview with on Wednesday. They're not going to go forward with the technical interview for the position I was interested in and instead she recommended me for a more junior position that's a support role than an actual production role. Disappointing, but I sent her an email back thanking her for the recommendation and that I looked forward to hearing from the other hiring manager. I must have made a positive impression because at least she recommended me for a different position rather than outright rejecting me.
Major props to everyone else who is going through this. It's ego-battering, no way about it. So hard to keep your head up and your confidence level high when you're getting either no response or rejections.
Major props to everyone else who is going through this. It's ego-battering, no way about it. So hard to keep your head up and your confidence level high when you're getting either no response or rejections.
Program Tester. Seems like I'm working with Excel a lot, which I do at my current job right now anyway, but probably not in the same level.
Gamer @ Heart
Member
I feel so underqualified for everything that might actually be career starting, its depressing.
Sadly, going to school for marketing and my MBA, all I keep hearing back from are direct sales company and insurance agencies.
I've already wasted years of my life at my old job because I was too comfortable, now breaking out of my shell has been really tough.
Sadly, going to school for marketing and my MBA, all I keep hearing back from are direct sales company and insurance agencies.
I've already wasted years of my life at my old job because I was too comfortable, now breaking out of my shell has been really tough.
Oh yeah, didn't mean to imply that I'm just sitting around waiting. I'm definitely sending off other applications in the meantime. I just meant that I'm really hoping on that one right now, but its...well, not feeling good at this point.
yukianderson
Member
Nine months after graduation and more than three thousand applications finally have a job with the federal government. Long road and many difficult times but been working almost two months here and it's awesome. Hopefully everyone else finds something.
So, I might've lowballed myself when the hiring manager and I discussed salary expectations. Granted, it was an informal interview (as far as I can tell) and things definitely aren't set in stone yet.
Would it reflect badly on me if I tell them I make higher than what was initially discussed? I assume that salary expectations will be brought up again in my interview.
I was legitimately freaking out and sort of uttered an amount that's about a thousand or two thousand under what I make - I don't even know how this is.
I didn't want to seem like I'm asking too much, but I also want fair negotiation and to at least match up with my current salary.
On that note, I've also never negotiated salary before - this I'm interviewing for my second full-time job (as in, succeeding the first). I just accepted the entry rate at my current job since it was a lot more than what I made at retail part-time anyway.
Would it reflect badly on me if I tell them I make higher than what was initially discussed? I assume that salary expectations will be brought up again in my interview.
I was legitimately freaking out and sort of uttered an amount that's about a thousand or two thousand under what I make - I don't even know how this is.
I didn't want to seem like I'm asking too much, but I also want fair negotiation and to at least match up with my current salary.
On that note, I've also never negotiated salary before - this I'm interviewing for my second full-time job (as in, succeeding the first). I just accepted the entry rate at my current job since it was a lot more than what I made at retail part-time anyway.
Syphon Filter
Member
A way to spin this question is give a range instead. Start from something lower but not too low and another higher number. That way there are options and you don't possibly get cut off automatically if they think a number is too high.
This is what I did, but I ended up lowballing myself on the range anyway because I was a nervous tool. I'm hoping the question pops up again next week, and I can try to spin my previous answer if the hiring manager brings up what I said on the phone.
Sniffynose
Member
If you get a hire package usually they offer the pay rate and you can come back with a counter offer and give your reasoning =/ if they like you a few grand won't stop them from hiring you.
SmellyHoundRedux
Banned
Welp, I finally hid my Monster/Careerbuilder profile. I got a text last night at 11 pm from some temp company that wanted to meet with me in the morning. My personal phone number (on my resume) should not be the first point of contact, even then, don't text me, that's just kind of rude.
In the past 3 weeks, I've been on 4 interviews. Haven't heard back from any of them. 2 of them are about a week a half past the time they said they'd have an answer. I get it, these things take time, but be realistic about the time frame, please. Have the same level of respect that I've shown you and your company and get back to me when you have an answer. It's fine if I didn't get the job, but let me know. I've contacted the recruiter from both and they both said they'd call me when they had an answer. I feel like I'm wasting their time when I contact them.
The other 2 jobs were for the same company, I was over qualified for both. He said he would have a definite answer by yesterday afternoon, nothing. This is for a company that works with the government so I have to have a background check, which could take another few weeks (should I get the job).
I have 15 years experience and a college education for jobs that require no college education and at least a year of experience. Even if all my interviews were terrible (which they weren't) atleast have the respect to tell me in a timely fashion I didn't get the job. These temp companies and outsourced hr companies are so awful. They don't follow up, they don't contact the main company, all they care about is putting a name into an interview. That's it.
I gave myself a month to find a job or else I was going to take some summer classes for college, those start in a week and I'm about to just say fuck it and take those. I wanted to make some extra money for a few months but forget it. At this rate, even if I get a job, it's only going to be for 2.5 months. Sorry, had to vent.
In the past 3 weeks, I've been on 4 interviews. Haven't heard back from any of them. 2 of them are about a week a half past the time they said they'd have an answer. I get it, these things take time, but be realistic about the time frame, please. Have the same level of respect that I've shown you and your company and get back to me when you have an answer. It's fine if I didn't get the job, but let me know. I've contacted the recruiter from both and they both said they'd call me when they had an answer. I feel like I'm wasting their time when I contact them.
The other 2 jobs were for the same company, I was over qualified for both. He said he would have a definite answer by yesterday afternoon, nothing. This is for a company that works with the government so I have to have a background check, which could take another few weeks (should I get the job).
I have 15 years experience and a college education for jobs that require no college education and at least a year of experience. Even if all my interviews were terrible (which they weren't) atleast have the respect to tell me in a timely fashion I didn't get the job. These temp companies and outsourced hr companies are so awful. They don't follow up, they don't contact the main company, all they care about is putting a name into an interview. That's it.
I gave myself a month to find a job or else I was going to take some summer classes for college, those start in a week and I'm about to just say fuck it and take those. I wanted to make some extra money for a few months but forget it. At this rate, even if I get a job, it's only going to be for 2.5 months. Sorry, had to vent.
Dreamwriter
Member
Yeah, don't sweat it, if they decide to hire you they'll of course name a number at that point then and then you can negotiate it. Just have a good argument as to why you are worth a little more money, how you can help them out.
I really hate it when they ask for a number ahead of time, I never know what to answer. I don't want to scare them off with too high a number yet I don't want to go too low.
Dreamwriter
Member
There is none. Some companies are really quick, some really slow. They may be interviewing only one person at a time so only need to get together to discuss you, or they may be interviewing a dozen people and won't give an answer until they finish all those interviews and then discussing the pros and cons of each one. And I had one place just get really busy all of a sudden so they took 3 weeks just because they were trying to ship a product. I had another that gave me an offer the same day as the interview. And one place that only liked calling people and telling their results on Fridays - but I saw that the hiring manager personally reposted the job opening less than 2 hours after my interview
Yeezus H. Christ
Banned
Is Indeed the best job site? It's just so intuitive and easy to use, especially on mobile. Perfect user interface, better than any other I've been on, is always updated, etc.
esmith08734
Member
Anyone see my post yesterday? Had an offer and the whole 'we look forward to working with you' and then got the 4:59 email on Friday saying they are taking back the offer. Unreal.
Syphon Filter
Member
wow, sorry to hear that. That is pretty messed up.
Jesus. Garbage behaviour.
Transistor
Banned
It's where i found my job. I definitely recommend it.
I like it enough, especially because I don't need to register to apply for applications with their Easy Apply button.
For some of the listings. A lot of them redirect you to the company website where you have to enter everything manually. A pain in the ass.
esmith08734
Member
Yeah, for sure. One of the biggest kicks to the stomach in some time.
EverythingShiny
Member
Every job posting I've found through Indeed I've had to apply on the company's website. I've never been able to take advantage of the Easily Apply button.
I'm so sorry. I saw your thread; you had a really shitty day. I hope you're treating yourself with kindness right now. At least you made it that far with the company - that speaks highly to your abilities.
I'm so sorry. I saw your thread; you had a really shitty day. I hope you're treating yourself with kindness right now. At least you made it that far with the company - that speaks highly to your abilities.
My company's going to cut health benefits (right now they pay 100%, they'll switch to 90%, but according to them that'll be $1000/year or more that we'll have to kick in for that 10%, which means the full price must be insane), at the start of the new year, so i guess it'll be time to start looking after Thanksgiving. I'll have been there 6 months come November and getting benefits cut (tantamount to a pay cut in this case since i have to have health insurance) is a good reason to look for other work that other employers won't wonder why i'm leaving so soon.
That sucks, I actually posted about this on the last page, sounds like you're ok but always wait until you have a signed contract before you quit or spend any money on plans. I have a colleague that went through the same, except he actually quit his job. Shit situation.
Question, when do you update your LinkedIn profile, when you start working or after the probation period?
Also, how to tell your interviewer that s/he's wrong? I've had this happen a couple of times. One was especially annoying because I knew for a fact I was right (it was a tangentially related subject). But the guy was the IT Director for a company with 20k employees.
And, how do you deal with inappropriate work experience? I just say "anonymous client", but there really isn't an NDA. I just don't want to advertise that I worked on a Porn/sex toy web app.
HR loves to ruin weekends. I've not had an offer taken back, but I have had a rejection email on a Friday from a position I had two interviews for and that was perfect for me with my experience.
Say you worked for a novelty company.
psynergylover
Member
Where I found my job! Dude called me back 3 hours after sending my resume!
That being said my boss already had me working full time! Worked 44 hours last week and already have 41 hours this week! With today and tomorrow to go!!! Getting that work in!!!
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Damn, someone here with a Master's and still can't find shit. That's scares the fuck out of me. I was thinking about getting my Master's and that what was I was afraid of.
This might be a dumb thing to ask since this is a thread full of other people who can't find jobs, but are there any decent paying jobs out there for peeps with college degrees that are constantly looking for folks?
This might be a dumb thing to ask since this is a thread full of other people who can't find jobs, but are there any decent paying jobs out there for peeps with college degrees that are constantly looking for folks?
Dreamwriter
Member
Software Engineers / Programmers. Especially non-gaming ones, for some reason game jobs have been having high turnover, so while there is a lot of need, there's lots of times when an entire company lays off all their staff who immediately start filling those needs elsewhere.
Software Engineers are in high demand these days, and they'll probably get more desired over time as more things get automated, more industries start needing programmers.
crazy monkey
Banned
hello,
Are tables in resume good idea or not?
I am using invisible tables for formatting in resume. Are there any issue with software that weed out this kind of things?
Are tables in resume good idea or not?
I am using invisible tables for formatting in resume. Are there any issue with software that weed out this kind of things?
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Well I guess I'm fucked cause I'm not an engineer and me and programming don't get along.
If they invisible you should be straight and there shouldn't be any formatting issues if you're saving as pdfs.
HarryHengst
Member
Programming, data science, statisticians, econometrists are all good and fine. Hope you got a masters in like math or physics or so!
EverythingShiny
Member
People in this thread have mentioned that tables can trip up the automated software scanning resumes, but if you're using a PDF I don't see the harm if they're invisible!
This might come off as a really dumb question, but how do you present your references?
Include it on the resume, separate page (would seem wasteful on paper), or tell the hiring manager that you'll email it to them?
Got my interview for tomorrow morning, just wasn't sure how to go about this. On one of my old resumes, my references are on the resume a the bottom of the page.
Include it on the resume, separate page (would seem wasteful on paper), or tell the hiring manager that you'll email it to them?
Got my interview for tomorrow morning, just wasn't sure how to go about this. On one of my old resumes, my references are on the resume a the bottom of the page.
Syphon Filter
Member
I usually send them in a separate paper but if you have the space and it doesn't look like a mess then it is fine to leave it on one paper.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Every online application I've filled out had a place for references, so I add them to that. I do not include them on my actual resume however.
entremet
Member
I once received a call of rejection lol.
I thought WTF is this shit? Everyone emails those these days.
I thought it was an offer then I detected the tone and BS immediately--"We want to thank you for your effort etc"
It was 5 rounds lol.
Syphon Filter
Member
Hey guys, just posting this link here as I found it to be an amazing article regarding questions to ask in an interview. Hope it helps!
http://www.job-hunt.org/onlinejobsearchguide/article_job_interview_questions.shtml
http://www.job-hunt.org/onlinejobsearchguide/article_job_interview_questions.shtml
I ended up just putting it on a separate sheet. I have six to choose from, but I'll maybe take one or two out, or just keep all six.
Unfortunately, I didn't have this luxury save for one job I applied for.
EverythingShiny
Member
I just applied for 6 positions with a new resume template and customized cover letters. Hopefully I'll have a bit more luck.
Also, I think I may have mentioned it before in this thread, but if there are meetup groups where you live for people in your industry, go to them! They're fantastic for networking. I've gotten several introductions to people in my industry through people I've met at meetups.
Also, I think I may have mentioned it before in this thread, but if there are meetup groups where you live for people in your industry, go to them! They're fantastic for networking. I've gotten several introductions to people in my industry through people I've met at meetups.
Had my interview this morning. It ended up feeling more like a formal conversation than a Q&A session with two department heads (I think). It was within a pretty relaxing environment, and I think I presented myself well enough, and I'm really crossing my fingers for this job.
No Excel test today, but I'm assuming this will come up if I move forward. One of the interviewers did ask about my comfort level with Excel, to which I replied that I use it everyday and what common tasks I do use it for - I hope this was good enough.
They said I'd hear from the hiring manager next week about the position and any further steps to be taken.
No Excel test today, but I'm assuming this will come up if I move forward. One of the interviewers did ask about my comfort level with Excel, to which I replied that I use it everyday and what common tasks I do use it for - I hope this was good enough.
They said I'd hear from the hiring manager next week about the position and any further steps to be taken.