Congrats. I'm still stuck at retail and it's making my life and health worse since I work 4PM-12AM every shift 99%. 2 more courses left for my diploma and I might fail one because of this job too. I hope this pays off somehow.
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Applying for jobs is exhausting and soul-crushing
- Thread starter Moofers
- Start date
Congrats. I'm still stuck at retail and it's making my life and health worse since I work 4PM-12AM every shift 99%. 2 more courses left for my diploma and I might fail one because of this job too. I hope this pays off somehow.
legendaryskitch
Member
I will fully admit that I have made some big mistakes in my life like everyone else in the world but the fact that I stayed in my hometown after graduating college back in May and getting a crappy job delivering pizzas just because of fear of major change and losing friends is probably the biggest.
Time for me to join this thread and join in the exhausting and soul-crushing hunt for a real job. I don't know where to even start since my field isn't as desired as many (Linguistics with minor in Japanese).
In a weird way, this post is a way to admit my mistakes and get serious about this.
Time for me to join this thread and join in the exhausting and soul-crushing hunt for a real job. I don't know where to even start since my field isn't as desired as many (Linguistics with minor in Japanese).
In a weird way, this post is a way to admit my mistakes and get serious about this.
I'm an expert
Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
What area are you in? What internships/assistantships did you have? What was your overall goal, education? interpretation? translation?
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
I agree with the sentiments of the title.
I had an immigration issue looming for over a year and it actually cost me a nice full time paying job that's something that I am experienced with about a year ago.
Fast forward to this year and more specifically around a week ago, I figured out that issue and finally straightened everything out. What I've had to do was basically call the people that I was in touch with last year and tell them who I am and ask them if they had opportunity again.
I'm not saying that it was a given but I did get the job and I'm just waiting for the background check to pass right now. Yes all the stuff that is discussed about soul crushing and mentally exhausting types of feelings are true. But the fact that I kind of paid it forward last year help me out this year and landing this job was probably the easiest that I've ever had.
Luckily I was smart enough to think about this and contact the higher ups in the company and everything went unbelievably smooth including the interview and now it's just a matter of time. And the best part is that it will be the highest starting pay for any job I've ever had and has a lot of room for promotion. Full time of course.
It's easy for me to just say that you should keep your chin up and all of that but networking and being persistent and keeping options open is a key part. And if you're really desperate, you should not limit yourself to certain jobs or say you are too good for a certain kind of job. Realize that if you want one of those that is finding it hard to land the job and has college degrees and such, you will probably be looked at first before people that have not accomplished as much. Employers look for that kinda stuff even if you can't get the ideal job that your education calls for, you can damn well and a decent or good job just based on you paying it forward with your education.
I had an immigration issue looming for over a year and it actually cost me a nice full time paying job that's something that I am experienced with about a year ago.
Fast forward to this year and more specifically around a week ago, I figured out that issue and finally straightened everything out. What I've had to do was basically call the people that I was in touch with last year and tell them who I am and ask them if they had opportunity again.
I'm not saying that it was a given but I did get the job and I'm just waiting for the background check to pass right now. Yes all the stuff that is discussed about soul crushing and mentally exhausting types of feelings are true. But the fact that I kind of paid it forward last year help me out this year and landing this job was probably the easiest that I've ever had.
Luckily I was smart enough to think about this and contact the higher ups in the company and everything went unbelievably smooth including the interview and now it's just a matter of time. And the best part is that it will be the highest starting pay for any job I've ever had and has a lot of room for promotion. Full time of course.
It's easy for me to just say that you should keep your chin up and all of that but networking and being persistent and keeping options open is a key part. And if you're really desperate, you should not limit yourself to certain jobs or say you are too good for a certain kind of job. Realize that if you want one of those that is finding it hard to land the job and has college degrees and such, you will probably be looked at first before people that have not accomplished as much. Employers look for that kinda stuff even if you can't get the ideal job that your education calls for, you can damn well and a decent or good job just based on you paying it forward with your education.
Syphon Filter
Member
Happy for you. I'm still looking and won't give up.
legendaryskitch
Member
I have a bachelor's in Linguistics and a minor in Japanese. I never got any internships or assistantships (one of my obvious mistakes) and I wanted to go to grad school for a master's in Computational Linguistics but I've been on the fence about it. My Japanese is alright, I could translation but it takes awhile.
Typing all this makes me feel more like a failure after thinking about the various mistakes...
EmptySpace
Banned
gaf i need help. i have an hour long interview next week for a pricing coordinator position for a manufacturing company (for construction equipment).
what could be the questions that will be asked? i've already gone through a 30-min phone interview and the hr manager asked behavioural questions like "give me a situation where you felt pressure and what did you do?" so i don't know which types of questions are going to be asked.
i don't have any experience with pricing at all.
what could be the questions that will be asked? i've already gone through a 30-min phone interview and the hr manager asked behavioural questions like "give me a situation where you felt pressure and what did you do?" so i don't know which types of questions are going to be asked.
i don't have any experience with pricing at all.
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
Pracrice bullshit responses.
Like I would fight through the adversity & accept the challenge.
EmptySpace
Banned
what i'm wondering is whether or not there'd be job-specific questions. i'm just wondering if there are any gaf members who have or have had the same position. i just don't want any surprises.
elrechazado
Banned
Read the job description like you are cramming for an important test. Work into every answer the things you see there. Read their website and find their corporate values statement or mission statement. Parrot it back to them but in your own words.
TrAcEr_x90
Member
I've made it to the 3rd round review. I'm excited but also scared. I really want this job for the creative freedom/fulfillment but I keep stressing who I could potentially be up against. I guess all I can do is prepared and take notes for potential questions.
I've been with my current consulting company for over 8 yrs, but I'm actively looking for new jobs. My current contract ends at year-end and they're looking to place me somewhere else. My account manager just called me about a bid she wants to include me in, and asked if I could commit to being with them in January. I had to say no.
Would you have handled that differently? I didn't want to lie and screw with their relationship with the client, but now I'm not sure what they'll do with me. They let consultants ride the bench for a while, so I think it's ok. I'm technically an employee, so they'd have to consider severance costs if they want to get rid of me.
Would you have handled that differently? I didn't want to lie and screw with their relationship with the client, but now I'm not sure what they'll do with me. They let consultants ride the bench for a while, so I think it's ok. I'm technically an employee, so they'd have to consider severance costs if they want to get rid of me.
Revamping my CV and I've been thinking, does anyone include hobbies and interests? I'm needing to make my CV more compact and I feel the hobbies and interests section (swapped it out with volunteer work section) is pointless filler but on the other hand my overall CV without the section makes me look boring? I like taking part in sports and want to state that I'm part of a team but unsure where to put it. Can't be in volunteering section gah!
I'm on 3 pages atm. I dunno, what's your thoughts?
I'm on 3 pages atm. I dunno, what's your thoughts?
So, after 11 years in a well known insurance company, I'm being made redundant next week, due to "outsourcing to India"
I went for an interview on Monday afternoon, for a more basic job that pays £4k less, seemed to get every question right, yet this morning the agency tells me the feedback was "I wasn't experienced enough" The agency lady was also baffled that I wasn't at least offered it, I could've done the job with my eyes closed.
Is it a thing that companies don't want people that are more experienced than the job they're applying for? Thinking they'd want a payrise, or leave after 6 months? To be honest, I was going to use it as a stop-gap, so it's no major loss I suppose.
I went for an interview on Monday afternoon, for a more basic job that pays £4k less, seemed to get every question right, yet this morning the agency tells me the feedback was "I wasn't experienced enough" The agency lady was also baffled that I wasn't at least offered it, I could've done the job with my eyes closed.
Is it a thing that companies don't want people that are more experienced than the job they're applying for? Thinking they'd want a payrise, or leave after 6 months? To be honest, I was going to use it as a stop-gap, so it's no major loss I suppose.
Yes. Exactly for the reasons you described.
highoffcoffee496
Member
Um, most resumes should be one page...two max unless if you have a plethora of related work experience. Being that your resume is already so long adding interests/hobbies is a bad idea.
Yeah, first two pages filled with education and work experience. Page 3 was volunteer work but it only takes up half a page. Seem pointless to have if half the page is going to be white space. Will ditch it and stick to 2. Cheers
Omegasquash
Member
"Overqualified" is a thing, at least here in the states. Too much experience or certification, for example. It's painful when employers do that, since they're missing an opportunity to bring a heavy hitter on board.
Dr. Feel Good
Banned
Unless your work is specifically project based you shouldn't even have a two page resume.
Education should at most take one line for each school. High school isn't relevant. So unless you are beyond undergrad, graduate, doctorate, I have no idea how your schooling would take so much space.
Yeah, I could've hit the ground running, but then perhaps they didn't want that, and in the long run neither would I. Time to set my sights higher. The agency I went through are keen to sign me up properly, so that's positive. In the mean time, a well deserved break over Christmas.
Thanks for the replies, I've been out of the job hunting game for a long time!
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Finally got a job this week, as a software developer, after having been looking for one for quite some time. I've been studying pretty much non-stop all my life up until this point (got my computer science degree this spring), so this is my first "real" job. Feels good!
I've made it quite far in several other recruitment processes before this, but I've always JUST fallen short. Perhaps someone else had more experience than me (I really have none in this field outside my studies and various hobby projects), perhaps I just didn't have the exact expertise about certain things they were looking for. It did start to feel slightly hopeless for a while. But this time I finally made it all the way through, after four interviews with different people (five, if you count the initial short phone interview).
So yeah, don't give up, being rejected a few times doesn't mean you always will be!
I've made it quite far in several other recruitment processes before this, but I've always JUST fallen short. Perhaps someone else had more experience than me (I really have none in this field outside my studies and various hobby projects), perhaps I just didn't have the exact expertise about certain things they were looking for. It did start to feel slightly hopeless for a while. But this time I finally made it all the way through, after four interviews with different people (five, if you count the initial short phone interview).
So yeah, don't give up, being rejected a few times doesn't mean you always will be!
Napoleonthechimp
Member
I got a 16 hour a week job as a Stock Controller at Tesco (supermarket).
Even if I worked full-time I'd never make enough to pay off my debts and build a future for myself. So, I'm already looking for another job even before I officially begin my first day.
Even if I worked full-time I'd never make enough to pay off my debts and build a future for myself. So, I'm already looking for another job even before I officially begin my first day.
Kotetsu534
Member
I've essentially given up on becoming a solicitor, which is a bit of a bummer to say the least since I've spent 5 years studying towards it. Currently working part-time in Sainsbury's, similar to Napoleonthechimp above (but on checkouts instead of stock). Good news is I have a final interview tomorrow for a tax/accountancy position with a large accountancy firm and I'll be hearing back from a bank about an entry level analyst position this week.
Will be a big set back if both of these opportunities come to nothing - I'd really like to start my career before I turn 24.
Will be a big set back if both of these opportunities come to nothing - I'd really like to start my career before I turn 24.
Squall5042
Member
I didn't want to start a new thread for this, though maybe I should?
I'm looking to make about 800-1000 a month, in a fun, low-stress job. I have a college degree and I would be really appreciative of any suggestions!
I'm looking to make about 800-1000 a month, in a fun, low-stress job. I have a college degree and I would be really appreciative of any suggestions!
Napoleonthechimp
Member
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: When I had my induction at Tesco I noticed that a couple of the managers were people I knew from school.
There is no way I'm staying in a place where I have to be subservient to people I know. It is just too weird.
There is no way I'm staying in a place where I have to be subservient to people I know. It is just too weird.
I've applied to 25 different software developer positions and have not heard anything from any of them (Except 2 "No" emails, one cancelled the position all together, the other took someone else). No interviews. No responses. Nothing.
I've had a few people look over my resume, and they all think it is great. No one can understand why I'm getting 0 response to anything. Really frustrating and bringing me down a ton. I have a 4.12 (out of 4.2) GPA and I finish in early December. My lease ends at the end of January and I'm worried I'll have no place to go. I don't want to move back home, as there's NO relevant work there. I have a years worth of experience from 3 co-op placements that I had no trouble getting, and I excelled at.
I keep applying to things, but... I wish I knew what was going on?
I'm looking for jobs in a town an hour away, could that be it? Could it be that I'm applying when I haven't graduated yet (Graduation is guaranteed. I could stop going to all my classes/stop handing everything in and I would still pass everything).
I've had a few people look over my resume, and they all think it is great. No one can understand why I'm getting 0 response to anything. Really frustrating and bringing me down a ton. I have a 4.12 (out of 4.2) GPA and I finish in early December. My lease ends at the end of January and I'm worried I'll have no place to go. I don't want to move back home, as there's NO relevant work there. I have a years worth of experience from 3 co-op placements that I had no trouble getting, and I excelled at.
I keep applying to things, but... I wish I knew what was going on?
I'm looking for jobs in a town an hour away, could that be it? Could it be that I'm applying when I haven't graduated yet (Graduation is guaranteed. I could stop going to all my classes/stop handing everything in and I would still pass everything).
Purple Cheeto
Member
Become an Uber driver?
Might be the cover letter. I've been having a similar problem in another field, except I've also got a pair of internships under my belt. I almost got a job the other week but they called up saying they didn't have the money to hire me and I should check back in three months.
Had a phone interview and two in person interviews at a great company where I would have been making much more than my current job, and I didn't get the job. :/ oh well, back to my shit job in thirty minutes and back to applying at new places of work after. It's easy to get down on yourself, but those who stay positive will always prevail.
Hmm. I've applied to a few places that only accept resumes. And have you fill in a form. I was thinking of booking a meeting with my schools co-op/career services dept. I definitely think I will. I mean. When it came to co-ops, I was 9 places top pick. I had 9 offers waiting the moment co-op offers went out. Now? I can't even get an interview. Really dragging me down.
Try posting a redacted copy of your resume on r/cscareerquestions. They usually have a weekly resume critique/questions thread, so you should be able to get some feedback quickly. If you want, you can send me a redacted copy too and I'll give you feedback on it(been in software development for 7 years now).
Just some quick advice:
* get a copy of cracking the coding interview for when you do get some interviews, also consider using the resume template they have available
* make sure you've got some projects listed on your resume, as well as a well designed resume
* try and go "beyond" the simple e-form applications, as most of those will just shitcan your resume if they don't meet filters(simple if statements for years of experience etc.), by this, I mean try and reach out direct to HR/internal people(easy via linkedin), try and get networking via meetups/groups, or try and "find" positions(think up places you'd like to work/companies in a certain sector, then go to their site and find some contact info)
* keep trying, as a lot of the positions out there are for mid-senior level(at least that I've seen from a quick glance)
* not having graduated isn't a huge issue; just put your estimated graduation date on your resume; experience is WAY more important than a degree right now in the industry, so try and show off any internships/coops/projects
* applying to a distanced job(in your case 1 hour) shouldn't be a huge deal breaker, but depending on company size, they might have some strict policies for screening(ie: no relocation, therefore no "outside" candidates)
* a LOT of positions are internally filled, so don't get down
* when you do start getting interviews and you make it to the final stages, if you don't get it...don't fret, as they wouldn't have brought you in if they didn't think you could potentially do the job. Count yourself lucky to have gotten that far, considering how much time it takes for those "panel" interviews(when we interview folks it's usually 4-5hrs...which is a fair chunk of our day for one person, so if you make it that far...good job)
So I graduated with a bachelors in accountancy last December. Couldn't find any full time employment in my field so I went back for my Masters. Got 4 full time job offers within weeks after starting my masters. Its really due to the program and the connections it gave me. Feels good GAF to now have a full time, well paid, job set up when I complete my masters. I can't think of another program where 100% of the graduating class gets job offers.
Pimplitosaurio
Member
guys guys
I finally got a fucking job!
fuck yeah
It's been eight freaking months without job, I usually got like two interviews per month even when I sent like 10-15 resumes a week, but finally I got something. It pays a lot less than my previous job, but unlike my previous job, I have LOTs of room to grow(at my last job, my boss said to me: "your job has ZERO growth, be it in skills or money, if you stay you will do this same thing forever") and it's really close to my house and has good hours.
To all of you without job: hang in there, I made it I know you can, I have a(IMO) a shitty resume, and still I got a job. A fucking job! wooohoo!
I finally got a fucking job!
fuck yeah
It's been eight freaking months without job, I usually got like two interviews per month even when I sent like 10-15 resumes a week, but finally I got something. It pays a lot less than my previous job, but unlike my previous job, I have LOTs of room to grow(at my last job, my boss said to me: "your job has ZERO growth, be it in skills or money, if you stay you will do this same thing forever") and it's really close to my house and has good hours.
To all of you without job: hang in there, I made it I know you can, I have a(IMO) a shitty resume, and still I got a job. A fucking job! wooohoo!
See. I wanted to put that I will be immediately moving to the area after graduation etc. to let them know I'm not looking for them to relocate me. But couple people said that was a bad idea. I'll whip up a redacted resume and send it off. Really appreciate the help.
I bet a big part of it is filters trashing my resume, now that you say that. A lot of places I'm applying for want a couple years experience and I apply anyhow, hoping to get a chance. But maybe no human even sees my resume?
Sadly, a lot of times that's the case, which is why it's extremely helpful if you can find applications that have email/form approaches(rather than the, create an account and fill out all your information so we can harvest it, variety).
That's a bummer. But. I'm not being exactly picky with where I'm applying. If I think I can do the job, I apply. The main things I don't apply to are SR positions wanting 8+ years experience, or ones that want skills I don't have and the only way I'd get the job is if they were misled/misunderstood the level of expertise I have in that area. So hopefully something sticks eventually. I've been applying to anything I can find within a certain geographic area since the beginning of Nov.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
I've been through pretty much exactly what you're going through, with not getting any response at all much of the time, or just a short "thanks, but no thanks" email, even though I've felt like I'm qualified. It brings you down for sure, and makes you feel like you're never gonna find anything. But eventually you'll get that interview. Maybe you'll land the job, maybe you won't, but at least you'll know you've made someone interested enough to give you their time. And given enough tries you'll find that position that's just right for you (and you for them), and you will make it all the way through. Finally happened for me last week. I'm starting my new (first, really, in this field at least) job this Wednesday. And I'm now actually glad I didn't make it all the way through any of the previous recruitment processes I entered into, because this job really does feel like a better fit for me than any of those ones.
So yeah, I get what you're feeling, but I now also know that even after what can start feeling like an endless series of rejections it can suddenly work out just right. So don't despair!
The worst part is the silence. I get WHY they don't personally explain why they didn't hire everyone. But it just makes me paranoid. Is something wrong with my resume? Is my email wrong in my header? Has their reply gone to junk mail and I missed it? etc. etc. etc. I'm trying my best to keep positive.
Congrats on the job though! That's awesome news.
J
Jotamide
Unconfirmed Member
I've been lazy with my job applications and it's come to bite me in the ass. I went on a 2-month trip after grad (May of this year) and on my return I landed an interview less than a week after coming home. "This is pretty easy, huh?" my stupid brain tricks me into thinking. Turns out that my mind was in party mode still for most of August and September. Only last month I realized that I basically had only sent around 1 application per week with no follow-ups or anything. Fast forward to today and the anxiety is starting to settle in. After checking the individual websites of around 100 companies in my field, only 10 are hiring for entry level positions and I've only heard back from 1 of them for an interview perhaps. 1 in a fucking 100. Feels bad man. 
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Yeah, I've felt the same. Not getting any response at all makes you feel like your application is worth absolutely nothing, or maybe you're doing it wrong, or whatever. But that might not be the case at all. When you don't have much (if any) prior work experience you're simply not gonna have companies throwing themselves at you from all directions, you have to find that one position where you can make a compelling case for why you'd be a good choice anyway. That was certainly the case for me. No response or just brief rejection emails most of the time, a few interviews that didn't lead to anything, and then BAM, suddenly everything just worked out. So just keep at it!
And thanks!
anonymous_abc
Member
Don't think too much of it, it's always a bad time of year for job hunting.
Good luck nevertheless.
the_firewithin
Member
3 weeks back on the hunt I'm starting to lose my mind already. It's all I think about and just depresses me
Got a really promising lead on a job at a company I'd really like to work for.
A family friend knows the president of customer relations there, so he's putting a good word in for me with him. But he also knows someone at the company I used to work for, so while he was at it he asked for references for me (had I known he was looking for references, I'd send off my letter of recommendation from my manager) and got really good ones from old co-workers. So idk. Sounds really promising, that he put a good word in for me with one of the execs. Ahhhh. Exciting. He said his friend will be giving my resume etc to HR on monday.
A family friend knows the president of customer relations there, so he's putting a good word in for me with him. But he also knows someone at the company I used to work for, so while he was at it he asked for references for me (had I known he was looking for references, I'd send off my letter of recommendation from my manager) and got really good ones from old co-workers. So idk. Sounds really promising, that he put a good word in for me with one of the execs. Ahhhh. Exciting. He said his friend will be giving my resume etc to HR on monday.
Good luck!
I've just started my job hunt for May in San Francisco. Fell in love with the city.
BearFlexington
Member
A lot of great companies in SF and working in SOMa kicks ass. I was really sad when my company relocated.
Kotetsu534
Member
Well the analyst position was a no. There were 5 spots to be filled from 16 candidates and the recruiter said I was 6th/7th among them. Still waiting to hear back on the tax job. Should get an e-mail today or tomorrow.
For now, I man checkouts.