05-12-2003 22:29									#1
	Are you haveing problems finding a Job? Put an end to popups!

For the past 6 months I have on search for a new job. In that time I have been 8 interviews. And so far I have not gotten a job. I hear reports every day on the news how both the economy and job markets are improving, but I still have not found a job.

Let me just go over some of the things that have happened to me when I applied for a job.

About when I first went looking for a job, I interviewed for a IT job at a hospital, which had very good pay and benfits. The guy that was leaving that job was the one doing the interviewing and hiring. I found out latter that I never had a chance at getting the job because the guy hired his friend, and it appears that he was just interviewing people for show so that he would not get in trouble or break any of the hospital rules.

Then I interview for anther position at the same place, were I would have to go to the rooms of patients that did not fill out their paper work because they were rushed into the hospital because they need treament right away. The person I interviewed with told me that if I did realy well on the customer service test that they were giving all the people they interviewed that I would be quote "at the top of the list." Then I ask her about a week latter if she had made a picked someone, and she said she had to wait for "anther applicant." Then a few days after that she said she got someone else.

An a recent job I interviewed for, I recieved a job offer, but they only wanted to give me 14,000 dollars a year to start because they would have to train me, and it is small office. I turned that stupid offer down. I cant live off of 14,000 a year.

I am not going to give up, but sometimes I wonder if I will ever find a job ever. So what kind of crap have you had to go through while you have been looking for a job?

	05-12-2003 22:39									#2
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Any one out there going through the same thing? I just dont know what to do sometimes, it gets very dissapointing to go so long with out a job.

	05-12-2003 22:44									#3
	Put an end to popups!

I don't know.. have you considered the possibility, that you just might be a loser, and it's only going to get worse?

Just kidding . I think this doesn't count, but once I searched for a job, and I was being active about it but couldn't get any job for 4 months.. but then I got one.
My dad was unemployed once for over a year...

Must be frustrating, all I can say is keep on fighting and something good will come to your way... Maybe you should recheck your CV? Maybe there's something wrong with it... maybe try to work on interview situations, so you could give your 100% best performance? You might have something that turns off the employers that you just don't see. Or you just have this phace.. I hope you get something soon.

	05-12-2003 22:45									#4
	Put an end to popups!

About two months after I was laid on in 2000' a woman called me up and started upbraiding me for the employment gaps in my resume. It was 9 in the morning and her call woke me up. She just kept acting like I was some sort of criminal because I hadn't kept a job long and I had several month gaps (one period where I was taking care of my grandmother while my grandfather was in the hospital). Finally she was like, we'll I'll see whether they'll consider you with your history. I'm too tired to think, so I'm like, fine. She calls back later and basically gives me an attitude like its all my fault that they can't hire me, and I'm like, if you are any indication of what your company is like, you did me a favor.

I had another job that told me I probably had the position, but I needed to interview with this one person, who was never available.

The worst is being told that you've 99% got the job, but then call you back to tel you the position's been cancelled.

	05-12-2003 22:48									#5
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I'm happy with my part-time internship that waived my tuition and pays me a modest living wage.

	05-12-2003 22:53									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Pekka I don't know.. have you considered the possibility, that you just might be a loser, and it's only going to get worse? Just kidding . I think this doesn't count, but once I searched for a job, and I was being active about it but couldn't get any job for 4 months.. but then I got one. My dad was unemployed once for over a year... Must be frustrating, all I can say is keep on fighting and something good will come to your way... Maybe you should recheck your CV? Maybe there's something wrong with it... maybe try to work on interview situations, so you could give your 100% best performance? You might have something that turns off the employers that you just don't see. Or you just have this phace.. I hope you get something soon.

I dont think it is my resume. I think it is the fact I dont have a lot of experience, and I am still going to school.
I think it has more to do with how I am interviewing. One job oppertunity I blew mainly because of how I did on the interview I believe.

	05-12-2003 22:55									#7
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara About two months after I was laid on in 2000' a woman called me up and started upbraiding me for the employment gaps in my resume. It was 9 in the morning and her call woke me up. She just kept acting like I was some sort of criminal because I hadn't kept a job long and I had several month gaps (one period where I was taking care of my grandmother while my grandfather was in the hospital). Finally she was like, we'll I'll see whether they'll consider you with your history. I'm too tired to think, so I'm like, fine. She calls back later and basically gives me an attitude like its all my fault that they can't hire me, and I'm like, if you are any indication of what your company is like, you did me a favor. I had another job that told me I probably had the position, but I needed to interview with this one person, who was never available. The worst is being told that you've 99% got the job, but then call you back to tel you the position's been cancelled.

Well anther job I have already interviewed for, I did not hear back from them for weeks. Just the other day I finally got a hold of them and they told me nothing has been done because they put the job on hold. So I dont know about that job. I wish I could get it because it has great pay and they pay for tution up to $3,000 dollars a year. That would really help me.

	05-12-2003 22:56									#8
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The number one way to get jobs is through other people. You need to network.

	05-12-2003 22:57									#9
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it doesn't help that you don't want to move and are still in school...

	05-12-2003 22:57									#10
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Jack_www: What area do you live in? Pay does change based on region of the country... But, $14K sounds extremely low for any area.

Have you used headhunters or placement agencies? There are lot of them in the DC area and I have several friends able to get jobs through these avenues.

	05-12-2003 23:11									#11
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There is a big element of luck in interviews.

Just keep trying.

If you don't do it already, try to find out a bit about the companies you apply to before you attend. See if there is anything about them on the net. Get hold of anything they put out about themselves. See how they advertise their products.

If you can get a feel for what makes them tick or what they aspire to it will often give you insight into what they are looking for in their employees.

Be confident when you apply but afterwards take no notice whatsoever of encouraging noises. No one likes to disappoint so I am afraid almost everyone interviewed gets those encouraging noises. While waiting to hear the result of one interview busy yourself with trying to land the next.

If this is your first job lower your sights. Lots of people do not make a living wage when they first start work. Getting a full year of employment under your belt - any form of employment at all - is a profit to you in itself. It shows you have what it takes just to hold a job down. And there are a bunch of skills which you can only really pick up once you start to work.

I don't know how you can make up the balance you need to live on - parents most often help out but sometimes there are supplementary state benefits which help. Otherwise just try to live as cheaply as you can.

	05-12-2003 23:19									#12
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quote: Originally posted by Japher it doesn't help that you don't want to move and are still in school...

I am trying to find a job to pay for school and so that I can live. I only have A.S degree, I can leave school now. There is nothing I can do about that.

	05-12-2003 23:23									#13
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What are you studying?

	05-12-2003 23:23									#14
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During my life I've been unemployed for total of 3 months in two separate time periods. And I must say that those months were the most boring months of my life.

I wouldn't suggest unemployment to my worst enemy well, maybe to the worst enemy, but not for the regular enemies

Unemployment sucks like a vacuum cleaner.

	05-12-2003 23:25									#15
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Don't tell them that you're looking for a job that will pay for school -- you have to convince them that you're going to be at their job for five or ten years or so. That was the biggest mistake I made when I went interviewing after graduation -- I'd ask about tuition reimbursement at the interview (for graduate school), and that always set off alarm bells in the interviewer's head, since they typically assumed that I'd dump their lousy job and move on to bigger and better things at my first opportunity.

	05-12-2003 23:26									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Shogun Gunner Jack_www: What area do you live in? Pay does change based on region of the country... But, $14K sounds extremely low for any area. Have you used headhunters or placement agencies? There are lot of them in the DC area and I have several friends able to get jobs through these avenues.

I am in california. The pay range I am looking for is 28k to 35k a year. I am sure that I can land a job with that pay range. I do have the skills for that kind of pay. The problem with that job was it was for a insurance office. Thus since I have no experience or knowledge about insurance they would have to train me. Also it is a small office, and I got the feeling that the owner of the company is just plain cheep and does not want to spend any money on people. None of his employees even get benfits, they are all independent contractors.

As for job placement companies, well I have tried that already. This one place came to my school trying to recuit people. Then I called and since I dont have experience in customer service, like handling phones and such they did not want to even consider me. That got me really mad, what they hell are they doing going to a college were most people dont have much experience in anything, and then when people call them they tell them you have to have experience in this field. If you want experienced people you dont go to a school of any kind to find them!!! Idiots.

	05-12-2003 23:28									#17
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quote: Originally posted by loinburger Don't tell them that you're looking for a job that will pay for school -- you have to convince them that you're going to be at their job for five or ten years or so. That was the biggest mistake I made when I went interviewing after graduation -- I'd ask about tuition reimbursement at the interview (for graduate school), and that always set off alarm bells in the interviewer's head, since they typically assumed that I'd dump their lousy job and move on to bigger and better things at my first opportunity.

I never ask about pay or benifits. I let them tell me about the benifits and pay, but I never, never ask. So that concern is already covered. I usually tell them I am looking for a job were I can stay for a least a few years, which is the truth.

	05-12-2003 23:28									#18
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Lord Merciless What are you studying?

Computer Science.

	05-12-2003 23:32									#19
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quote: Originally posted by East Street Trader There is a big element of luck in interviews. Just keep trying. If you don't do it already, try to find out a bit about the companies you apply to before you attend. See if there is anything about them on the net. Get hold of anything they put out about themselves. See how they advertise their products. If you can get a feel for what makes them tick or what they aspire to it will often give you insight into what they are looking for in their employees. Be confident when you apply but afterwards take no notice whatsoever of encouraging noises. No one likes to disappoint so I am afraid almost everyone interviewed gets those encouraging noises. While waiting to hear the result of one interview busy yourself with trying to land the next. If this is your first job lower your sights. Lots of people do not make a living wage when they first start work. Getting a full year of employment under your belt - any form of employment at all - is a profit to you in itself. It shows you have what it takes just to hold a job down. And there are a bunch of skills which you can only really pick up once you start to work. I don't know how you can make up the balance you need to live on - parents most often help out but sometimes there are supplementary state benefits which help. Otherwise just try to live as cheaply as you can.

I already did this. I have had a few jobs in the past, so I do have some experience, but not that much. Most of what I did was being a tutor last year, but they laid me off because they did not have the money to keep me on.

Right now I am living with my parents, that is how I am getting by right now with no money to speak of myself. And because I am a dependent of my parents which make pretty good money I will not qualify for any state benifits. I want to be on my own now. I am sick of living with my parents.

	05-12-2003 23:34									#20
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quote: Originally posted by Jack_www I usually tell them I am looking for a job were I can stay for a least a few years, which is the truth.

That's just as bad as (if not worse than) asking about tuition benefits. Don't tell them that you're going to dump their crap job for bigger and better things after a couple years. If that involves bending the truth, then so be it -- don't volunteer information about how long you're going to stay at their job, and if asked say that you're looking for "steady, long-term employment" (which is half-true, since presumably you are looking for steady, long-term employment, you just won't be looking for it for another couple years).

	05-12-2003 23:36									#21
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quote: Originally posted by loinburger That's just as bad as asking about benefits. Don't tell them that you're going to dump their crap job for bigger and better things after a couple years. If that involves bending the truth, then so be it -- don't volunteer information about how long you're going to stay at their job, and if asked say that you're looking for "steady, long-term employment" (which is half-true, since presumably you are looking for steady, long-term employment, you just won't be looking for it for another couple years).

Ok, I shall be more carefull about that. I have not been ask that a lot.

	05-12-2003 23:36									#22
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Look for internships through your CompSci department.

	05-12-2003 23:41									#23
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Look for internships through your CompSci department.

I have thought about that and looked. The problem is that right now I am going to a community college and they dont have a lot of interships. I am transfering to a better school next fall and I am sure they have such internships. But I will have to wait about 8 months for that.

	05-12-2003 23:45									#24
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chegitz guevara I know that you are looking for anther job. Have you found any yet?

I have one oppertunity that might work. There is a company near by that outfits cars with all kinds of stuff. They want to build a website so that they can sell parts to customers that have had their cars outfited by them or anyone else that wants a part they have. After it is finished they want the person to be the webmaster for the site. I hope I can land that job. It would give me a lot of experience that I am looking for.

	05-12-2003 23:47									#25
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara The worst is being told that you've 99% got the job, but then call you back to tel you the position's been cancelled.

It's even worse if you quit your POS job because you're 99% in for a better job only to hear that there has been a hiring freeze and you're out.

	05-12-2003 23:51									#26
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With the website Job, I think they are going to give me a second interview. Any tips as to what I need to say to get the job? I am going to send a thank you letter with a couple of ideas I have for their website today.

	05-12-2003 23:55									#27
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I was unemployed for 2 months last summer, and Che is right, it really helps to network. I got a job back home from a friend of mine, and picked up some extra money by helping some of my mom's friends do yardwork and the like.

It's kind of neat right now, since I'm in the position to help my girlfriend get a good intership this summer , one that I am overqualified, that I never got to go do myself.

I'm afraid I can't really help with computer science. I'm just an artsie.

	06-12-2003 00:00									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi I was unemployed for 2 months last summer, and Che is right, it really helps to network. I got a job back home from a friend of mine, and picked up some extra money by helping some of my mom's friends do yardwork and the like. It's kind of neat right now, since I'm in the position to help my girlfriend get a good intership this summer , one that I am overqualified, that I never got to go do myself. I'm afraid I can't really help with computer science. I'm just an artsie.

The only person that I could that with is my mom. But everyone else I know is a student at my school and none of them have jobs they could get me.

	06-12-2003 00:07									#29
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The tough part about landing an IT job is that having IT skills only is sometimes not enough. Specific subject matter expertise is also required to round out the candidate.

Recently we hired some recent college graduates, but only because they had specific experience in business lines we work in. In one case, the young lady interned at a company where she gained specific subject matter experience relevant to my company's product line. That put her qualifications above all the other candidates - despite some of the other candidates have higher GPA or a degree from a "more impressive university". GPA and what school attended rarely matters by the way.

	06-12-2003 00:20									#30
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Sometimes, it really does help to do volunteer work in which you gain experience and skills for a possible internship in the future.


For instance, last year I volunteered for about seven months at a local history museum in eastern Iowa while in undergraduate school -- without knowing exactly where this will help me in the future, but I wanted to gain experience.


And behold -- I competed against three other well-qualified applicants for the valuable internship I have now. The one thing that I gave me the edge over the others -- the other three did not have any prior work experience in archives.


So take up a volunteer opportunity -- even if you don't know at the time, how exactly it will help except that for the time being, you gain experience in your related field.

(although I plan to become a professor, this internship has helped me dramatically with my finances)