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Applying for jobs is exhausting and soul-crushing
- Thread starter Moofers
- Start date
unholyrevenger72
Banned
Apparently I'm Cursed and only people with reading comprehension problems read my Resumes and forum posts.
But to answer your questions which were already answered implicitly in my previous post
1.People not hiring me
2. I thought I made it clear in the previous post that while I went to school i was looking for menial jobs
3. No on3 will hire me.
Huw_Dawson
Member
Job train, choo choo.
The title of this thread is true, but I'm having a whale of a time reading through these adverts.
"So what programming experience can you bring to the role, Mr. Dawson?"
"I can make really rad forum signatures!"
Also of note, a search for QA, games and programming work fired back "Teacher of Dance".
If a programmer tried to teach a computer to dance, you would get the greatest Dad Dancing robot of all time.
The title of this thread is true, but I'm having a whale of a time reading through these adverts.
"So what programming experience can you bring to the role, Mr. Dawson?"
"I can make really rad forum signatures!"
Also of note, a search for QA, games and programming work fired back "Teacher of Dance".
If a programmer tried to teach a computer to dance, you would get the greatest Dad Dancing robot of all time.
Brerlappin
Member
God almighty, ive been shitting bricks all day. Waiting on a callback from my 2nd round interview on Thursday, i was told they wanted a "quick chat" with me today at 1. So i talked to them and basically it was like they just wanted to discuss this one thing i said int he interview that was potentially a bit of a fuck up (wont go into details), but it was like they were giving me a second chance to un-fuck up what i had said.
The recruitment agency person ive been dealing with met me for coffee afterwards and she says shes currently negotiating salary with them, but ive been absolutely shitting ever since that phone call as i have a nasty habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and fucking up at the final hurdle really is my style lol
The recruitment agency person ive been dealing with met me for coffee afterwards and she says shes currently negotiating salary with them, but ive been absolutely shitting ever since that phone call as i have a nasty habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and fucking up at the final hurdle really is my style lol
Huw_Dawson
Member
BTW, anyone else got experience with dealing with Universal Credit? I cannot see myself being able to fill 35 hours a week with jobhunting work, but that's apparently the requirement!
I was unemployed for a brief stint in 2011 and that was kinda my thought. I never bothered trying to sign up for unemployment because I thought filling out all the crap was more tedious than trying to find an actual job.
So that's the story of how I became a full-time freelance camera operator.
Still heard nothing back from last week's interview
We agreed to get in touch with on another starting this week. I wrote an email on Monday morning saying that I am still interested.
Not sure when and how I am supposed to ask about their decision again.
Got a call back two days ago from another big 4 asking if I am still interested in the job I applied for because the application was 1 month old. When I said yes, they said they will contact me again after talking to the department. Again, still heard nothing.
Called today and asked. He said that the partner wasn't in the office last week so they couldn't decide. They will contact me in the next 2-3 days. It didn't sound like I was their choice though...
...which unfortunately is true. Got a call 2 hours later with a rejection. Feedback was it didn't sound like I wanted to work in that line of work enough. Kind of sucks to hear that because it was exactly what I wanted to do
At least with the other rejection, I understood the reasoning.
Got an invitation to an interview this week. Wish me good luck guys.
I scratched this out a couple years ago and have it on the wall above my computer.
Glancing at it on a bad day helps me stay positive.
Bo Knows GAF
Member
Goodluck my friend, wish you the best.
I got a call from a small sales firm about 45 mins away asking me for an interview but I don't think I'll call them back. The business itself doesn't seem like it's going to grow, their track record seems to indicate it's a revolving door and most of their "employees" look like they are interns. All of this coupled with that fact that I don't want to take off from my actual job just to go there and find out I was right. I hate getting calls and having my hopes go up only to be shot down .
I am getting closer to get a nice job.
Process started in November, they got around 1200 CV's for 15 places.
Last week I made the aptitude testing with another 200 people. 6 pretty extenuating hours to be honest, I was happy about my work, but not confident in getting on the best results group.
Today I got the call, I passed to the next phase, personal interviews. HYPE!
Process started in November, they got around 1200 CV's for 15 places.
Last week I made the aptitude testing with another 200 people. 6 pretty extenuating hours to be honest, I was happy about my work, but not confident in getting on the best results group.
Today I got the call, I passed to the next phase, personal interviews. HYPE!
CreepingFear
Member
Update: I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow! I guess the recruiter was busy and just couldn't get back to me right away. I was in a very dark mood yesterday and last week. This was good news to hear this morning for me.
razgriz417
Member
Found out I got the job on Friday, I start at the beginning of next month. Down side is that 2 other temps that I worked with just told me they're fetti let go at the end of this month, kinda bitter sweet but excited I finally have a permanent position. Just waiting on the official offer letter now
Empyrean Heaven
Member
Protip: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT post your resume on a job search site. Doing so will inundate you with calls from pyramid schemes, insurance companies, and commission-based sales jobs that are looking for easy marks in a tough economy right now. Beware!
CreepingFear
Member
Too late, although at least I don't get calls, only junk emails. Gmail is smart enough to put most of them in spam. Fuck insurance companies and investment companies trying to hire me.
Pancakes
hot, steaming, as melted butter slips into the cracks, drizzled with sticky sweet syrup OH GOD
Damn, I'm in a strange situation.
Last month I applied to a bunch of different engineering firms ranging from small to corporate. I accepted a position in a smaller company because several weeks had passed and I needed a job ASAP. Well, now a much much larger company has contacted me expressing interesting and asking when I am available for an interview with them.
I would very much like to work for this big company because they would offer far greater opportunities for me to advance and a much higher salary. The problem is the company I work for is run by a friend's dad who took a chance on me and helped me out when I was struggling. I've only been working there for 2 weeks but he has been very supportive and has taught me quite a few things.
I would feel pretty shitty telling him I'm leaving so soon for greener pastures. As a forward, I know for a fact he will not be able to match the salary the bigger company is offering. Their experienced engineers make 30-50k while the big engineering company starts new fulltime hires at 50k.
Last month I applied to a bunch of different engineering firms ranging from small to corporate. I accepted a position in a smaller company because several weeks had passed and I needed a job ASAP. Well, now a much much larger company has contacted me expressing interesting and asking when I am available for an interview with them.
I would very much like to work for this big company because they would offer far greater opportunities for me to advance and a much higher salary. The problem is the company I work for is run by a friend's dad who took a chance on me and helped me out when I was struggling. I've only been working there for 2 weeks but he has been very supportive and has taught me quite a few things.
I would feel pretty shitty telling him I'm leaving so soon for greener pastures. As a forward, I know for a fact he will not be able to match the salary the bigger company is offering. Their experienced engineers make 30-50k while the big engineering company starts new fulltime hires at 50k.
CreepingFear
Member
Any advice, tips, or wisdom for my job interview tomorrow? It's for an IT job. I'd greatly appreciate any feedback.
KiwiLannister
Member
Take the better job and be honest with him. If he cares about you he will understand.
anonymous_abc
Member
Go through all possible questions and lay out a potential answer, yes even or especially the silly questions!
Try to construct a red line through your résumé. 'Early in my teens I realised I enjoyed tinkering with computers, so I focused on working towards a career in that. I did this because of that, found out I was better at this and worked towards that' etc.
If you write down answers, don't learn them off by heart you don't want to be a robot repeating prepared phrases.
Have a pen and paper in the interview and write down the names of people present as soon as you learn them. Everyone appreciates it if you remember their name and use it accordingly. Don't hesitate to ask for them to repeat it if you're not sure whether they said Christine or Christina.
Try to take notes during the interview it shows sincere interest and is a valuable talent to have regardless.
Have at least 6 questions laid out in your mind. Be prepared that 5 of them might be answered during the interview and you always want to be able to ask more questions at the end when the time comes!
Good hunting
This is the story of my life.
n0razi
Member
start making friends fast... most entry level jobs are made through referrals
bigwinnerx
Member
I was asked "Who's your favorite movie/tv robot and why?" as my last interview question.
Be ready to think on your toes.
(Answer was Tom Servo, obviously.)
CreepingFear
Member
Job interview is in less than 4 hours. I'm so fucking nervous.
xKilltheMx
Member
Holy shit are you Civil Engineering? Im jealous. Good luck bro!
RustyNails
Member
So here's my dilemma (I'm in IT)
Current Job:
pros: Very stress-free, easy to perform, have great relationship with everyone, commute is 5 minutes drive. Ok benefits. Very flexible.
cons: Low pay, not much room for growth, no new technologies to learn, no bonuses or goodies. Mediocre to ho-hum corporate environment.
Prospective Job (interviewing for it):
pros: High pay, new, cutting edge technologies, room for growth, challenging work pace. Casual corporate environment. Great benefits.
cons: Downtown location (1 hr 20 mins commute), unfamiliar technologies, more stressful than current job. Client facing. Less flexible.
So, what would Gaf do in this situation? Throw a 4 month old baby in the mix.
Current Job:
pros: Very stress-free, easy to perform, have great relationship with everyone, commute is 5 minutes drive. Ok benefits. Very flexible.
cons: Low pay, not much room for growth, no new technologies to learn, no bonuses or goodies. Mediocre to ho-hum corporate environment.
Prospective Job (interviewing for it):
pros: High pay, new, cutting edge technologies, room for growth, challenging work pace. Casual corporate environment. Great benefits.
cons: Downtown location (1 hr 20 mins commute), unfamiliar technologies, more stressful than current job. Client facing. Less flexible.
So, what would Gaf do in this situation? Throw a 4 month old baby in the mix.
Roland_Gunner
Member
I assume you already know this but do as much research on the company as possible. Employers really notice it if you have a decent understanding of their business. Also have a couple of company specific questions ready to go, not just 'how do you like working here?'
bigwinnerx
Member
I had job #2, had the kid, and changed to job #1 before letting #2 get too crazy.
Honestly, if your partner has the kid stuff down, and on second thought to how I did it, I'd take the other job with the thought that if it doesn't work out (too much time away, partner needs more help), you still have the ability to back out of it. At least you gave it a shot.
Now I have an 8 and 6 year old. When they were really little, I missed the kid more than they missed me. Though if you end up away for longer times, make sure the free time you do get and they're awake you do spend with the kid. (end dad talk)
Purple Cheeto
Member
Yeah I haven't updated my Monster.com profile in 5 years. I never got a single good hit from it.
RustyNails
Member
My wife got the baby thing all figured out. I only rock him to sleep once every day or two, which is no biggie. I also work from home on wednesdays, when my wife goes to work for 5 or 6 hours. I'm planning on continuing that. So your advice would be to go for #2? I also have a mortgage as well.
Your current work situation sounds like my own, and your prospective job sounds like what I'm looking for. Go for the interview and, if successful, take the job.
Obviously it depends on the manager, but my experience is that people are pretty understanding when they see a good opportunity for you that they can't provide. Especially if it's a family friend. People don't expect you to work at the same place forever.
That said, you might be getting ahead of yourself if it's only an interview. Take the interview and I think being straightforward about it is your best bet.
bigwinnerx
Member
I think I just wouldn't say no to the opportunity. And who knows, maybe you can work in work from home in the offer, like you said.
It certainly helps to have help at home. But, it sounds like the new job sets you up for future jobs as well w/ new technologies and experiences. IT isn't the place where you want to remain stagnant.
Pancakes
hot, steaming, as melted butter slips into the cracks, drizzled with sticky sweet syrup OH GOD
Thanks, and no, I'm electrical engineering.
Yea, I'm sure he'll understand I plan on going to the interview. I have high hopes since they hire mostly from my university and I've had 3 friends work there before who all were willing to give me a referral. But yea I'm not doing anything until I get an offer letter regardless.
Huw_Dawson
Member
Got hit up by a recruiter yesterday who claimed to have my CV and wanted me to send my CV to apply for a job. I'm all "okay...", open the job application and it's for a £30k a year position a rank above my level.
I fired over an application anyway just to be polite but I cannot imagine I have a shot at all.
I'e been job hunting for a month now and I've not heard anything back from a single application.
I'm sincerely hoping that it's not down to the whole "oh, your QA experience is in video games so you're not qualified to work in normal software..."
I fired over an application anyway just to be polite but I cannot imagine I have a shot at all.
I'e been job hunting for a month now and I've not heard anything back from a single application.
I'm sincerely hoping that it's not down to the whole "oh, your QA experience is in video games so you're not qualified to work in normal software..."
xKilltheMx
Member
Ah a EE brother. Much respect, my friend was EE. He's working at Ford now.
CreepingFear
Member
Job interview went okay, not good or great. I couldn't give her a command line for Linux even though I put Linux on my application. I've played with Linux on virtual machines, but I never memorized the commands. I think she will give me a job, but at $14 instead of $15.50 that my recruiter told me about. The job would be a entry level job, which I thought I was applying for in the first place. I can get a raise in six months if I show them my hard work and skills. I just suck at job interviews. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be, but I was mentally drained from the last day and a half being nervous about it. I still really want it at $14 an hour, but $15.50 would have been a lot better for someone as poor as me. The positive is that I wouldn't have to work in the food service industry like I am now, and I can get some experience so that in a year or two, I can get more money with experience and more certifications. What do you guys think?
Today, I decided to have a look on LinkedIn and see who got all the various positions that I didn't over the last six months. Eight positions. These were all Coordinator or equivalent (entry-level or just higher than entry-level) in Communications/PR, which I have just over a year of experience doing already.
In every case, I lost out to people who had over 4 years of experience (some as much as 8 - !!) and every one of them had 1-3 years of experience at a Management level or higher.
What in the actual fuck.
I don't know how I'll ever compete.
I mean, I'm getting interviews. I'm starting to wonder if they've made the decision to hire those with management or higher experience ahead of my interviews though, and I'm just to fill an interview quota. I know I'm doing well on these interviews some of them are even slam dunks.
I can't go lower than these positions. I'm qualified for them. I just can't intern again, not again. I've done so much free work off and on over the last five years .
In every case, I lost out to people who had over 4 years of experience (some as much as 8 - !!) and every one of them had 1-3 years of experience at a Management level or higher.
What in the actual fuck.
I don't know how I'll ever compete.
I mean, I'm getting interviews. I'm starting to wonder if they've made the decision to hire those with management or higher experience ahead of my interviews though, and I'm just to fill an interview quota. I know I'm doing well on these interviews some of them are even slam dunks.
I can't go lower than these positions. I'm qualified for them. I just can't intern again, not again. I've done so much free work off and on over the last five years .
Just finished failing a test for a chance at a job interview.. A program made for people like who are stuck in Housing/PJ's to help poorer people. So many hoops even if you pass with so much chance. Came home to my mother upset saying im the only one in the world who can't get a job...I'm the one that should be upset not her. I'm the one that can't help with bills and feel like a worthless human for sitting down while filling out so many applications that get me no where...
I don't understand the process of hiring someone. It's either they have the skills or they don't. Tired of these pointless phone screenings and interviews where you seem like you did well, but end up without anything. Like seriously do you have to kiss someone bare ass for a gig these days or what.
Well, usually, loads of people have the skills. But do they have the skills, the aptitude, the attitude, the personality and the experience?
unholyrevenger72
Banned
Skills are ultimately irrelevant in getting a job (they're important for keeping the job mind you), who you know is more important and people skills are more important in the getting aspect of work.
Vicetrailia
Banned
I get interviews, problem is I can't land a Manufacturing job that pays over $11 an hour.
Like I hate manufacturing I need to get out of this shit. Feelin' stuck yo. When I get back in school I'm certainly changing my major.
Like I hate manufacturing I need to get out of this shit. Feelin' stuck yo. When I get back in school I'm certainly changing my major.
megarockexe
Member
It's more hopeless when they just skip it and decline you outright. I haven't had an in-person interview since November. Only rejections since.
No.
Your skillset and experience gets you the interview (regardless of who you know).
Your personality, attitude and aptitude in applying your skills and experience get you the job.
Simply knowing people is not enough to get a job. You need to know people AND have the correct background and skills.
bigwinnerx
Member
Yeah, I'm with this response. The job I just took, my interviews were close to 3 hours in total. I didn't have any kind of technical test or really any deep technical questions. But it was long conversations about work environment, scenarios, what you've worked on, technology you've used, etc. And to keep that up for 3 hours, you can't bullshit the years of experience.
Then the second interview (maybe an hour of that 3 total) was with the VP and it was a walk and chew gum interview. Does this guy gel in the group? Does he seem to be bullshitting us? Does he fit our culture?
FWIW, I didn't know a soul at the company. Job is Systems Engineer IV.
When I'm hiring we do a couple of interviews (maybe 3 depending on the role).
First interview is the tougher "is this guy legit - is he bullshitting us?" interview.
The second is "we like this guy, he seems legit, we're now going to see whether or not he fits in with culture and learn more about him personally".
A lot of the responses in this thread ask questions regarding to their lack of follow through on interviews or "Why dont I get a job despite having lots of interviews".
In my personal experience of hiring/managing people it's not because you lack the skillset it's because you're not a fit on culture.
I'd rather hire someone I know has the aptitude to the job but requires a little help and assistance than someone who has the skillset to do the job but might not fit with what we actually want them to do on a day to day basis.
It's a thin line.
Huw_Dawson
Member
I am wondering if it is worth it to apply to a low quality retail job which is a step down in my career path.
Pros: Money in bank, food on table.
Cons: Stressful retail job, position looks poor on the CV, the job will not help me get a better job, I don't want to work in retail, opportunity cost in job applications and self study time lost due to working.
What really sucks is that I spent three years at university and now I am stuck thinking about finding another minimum wage job after being in the market for two and a half years...
Pros: Money in bank, food on table.
Cons: Stressful retail job, position looks poor on the CV, the job will not help me get a better job, I don't want to work in retail, opportunity cost in job applications and self study time lost due to working.
What really sucks is that I spent three years at university and now I am stuck thinking about finding another minimum wage job after being in the market for two and a half years...
CreepingFear
Member
The more I think about, the more I think I might have blown my interview yesterday. I might have fought too hard for the $15.50 and rubbed her the wrong way. I should have just acted more excited at the $14 and worked my way up instead of sounding ungrateful. I guess I had a little too much pride or something. I hate my current job more than I need the extra $1.50 an hour. Ugh, fuck me and my fucking life.