An open letter to prospective employers

[ArenaBoy]

Hi! I'm a 20 year old college student who has been unemployed for a year now. How have I been getting through you ask? Well playoffs at sports arenas pay rather handsomely believe it or not. But that's not the point of this.

I write this because as I start job hunting again, I then remember the frustration and annoying hell that is job hunting. I always hate the fact that I could send in 10 applications and not get a response from any one of them. To me it's annoying and pointless. As the song goes, "Is it worth the aggravation to find yourself a job when there's nothing worth working for?" Okay, it's a little negative but my attitude is starting to go towards that, but when you have periods of time when you can't hunt (School) it gets frustrating.

To the outdoors store that I applied to, I hope you call back because you guys seem relaxable and a cool place to work for (Any application that asks if I went to grad school and have the caption "Smarty pants" under it is awesome).

And to any other places I apply to: For the love of all that is holy to Odin, HIRE ME! I'm getting frustrated and am very close to just saying "fuck it" and living on the streets of Detroit and make a living as a street musician. It's getting incredibly annoying at the moment and I'm ready to snap.

With that said, I thank my computer for playing Stereolab's Margerine Melody and the fact that Grant was sacked from Chelsea today so I can chill out a bit.

Regards, Arenaboy.

[RetailWorkhorse]

What I want? Is just to be called. Even if it's to tell me to bugger off, CALL ALREADY.

[BlaqueKatt]

yup the joys of job hunting-sent out over 30 resumes in the last month-and hav heard nothing-good to know I totally wasted my time.

[ditchdj]

Heh. I've had my teaching license for nearly three years and I just got as far as getting a long-term substitute teaching assignment. And I only got offered it because they were gonna give it to another woman but she took another teaching job somewhere else. Still no job prospects this way either. There's just too many people looking for work right now and not enough to go around. Seems like the best thing to do is just take ANYTHING you can get, no matter how bottom-of-the-barrel it is. Work your ass off, take pride in it, keep your mouth shut and ask for feedback from your boss. That's pretty much all you can do, and if anything, you'll have more to add to your resume later.

[powerboy]

Back then, I wished that they would call me back to atleast tell me, that I am not hired. I swear that in one month, I put in about 12-15 applications and resume's, every day. Well except for the weekends.

[tropicsgoddess]

There's more dogs than bones out here unfortunately. I just took my job at the dealership because it's the closest. Another reason is because it 's permanent and full-time with benefits considering the fact that I had bad luck for little over a year with landing only the temporary, 30 hours a week or less jobs with really crappy pay and no benefits. Despite some of the bullshit that's been going on at the dealership, I'll stick with it until (God forbid) the . ArenaBoy, , stay strong and don't give up the search.

[Gerrinson]

Yeah, job hunting blows chunks. I think the worst lack of response I've received was from one of our 'sister' companies, as it were.

They're all owned by the same family and there's a lot of back and forth between us, including them having some employees permanently stationed in our offices.

So, when I put in an application for a position there (with experience in the field and recommendations including the then Director of Finance at my current company), I expected a response. Well, to be honest, I expected at least a courtesy interview, even if they didn't really want me. Which is all I need, as I've been offered every job for which I've interviewed. Except for being a sales clerk at the porn shop. Maybe I'm not pretty enough?

Digression over, sorry. Anyway, I got no response from our sister company at all. When I heard through the grapevine that they were scheduling interviews for the position, I called over to confirm they had received my resume. They said yes, they had it. I called a few days later to schedule an interview, if possible, and was told "We'll call you in a few days." The Director here called over to find out about getting me an interview, mentioning to them that I was a 'stellar candidate' (she let me listen in. ) and they should definitely talk to me. Instead, they told her they weren't interested as they had a college freshman who was majoring in the field that they wanted to hire.

I guess my 2 years of accounting courses and 2 years on the job experience didn't mean much to them. And despite the close association of our two companies I didn't get one phone call or even a note saying 'Thanks, but no thanks.'

And then there are the dozens of other companies I applied to who also couldn't be bothered to respond. I mean, honestly, a nice form letter saying "Thanks, but you're not the candidate we are looking for" would be nice...

Bleh. They have a stricter dress code anyway.

[BlaqueKatt]

Seems like the best thing to do is just take ANYTHING you can get, no matter how bottom-of-the-barrel it is. Work your ass off, take pride in it, keep your mouth shut and ask for feedback from your boss. That's pretty much all you can do, and if anything, you'll have more to add to your resume later.

I would gladly take anything-but I'm not even getting called for anything-3 years in a call center and the 5 call centers I've applied to have not even said "nope sorry" How long does anyone last more than 6 months in a call center-people that have worked at my center for under 2 months are having no trouble finding jobs, and they are all on final written documentation for attendance-I have 3 years worth of perfect attendance and over 150 hours of vacation time banked due to never using it, and I'm number one in the site's stack rankings(means I'm the best worker they have-period, there is no one better-I trained management)

The companies are being downright rude-I took the two hours to fill out your online application, and passed your tests with flying colors-you can at least take the 30 seconds to send me a form letter via e-mail for fuck's sake!!!!!!!

[Delphae]

Internet websites help a lot. I have been doing most of my searching on Monster.com and CarreerBuilder.com. It really cuts down on the amount of applications as about half of the places will just take the application or resume that you posted there.

[Ronald]

Feel sorry for you guys... the U.S. economy appears to be tanking right now. I live in Western Canada, and we can't find enough people to work... Kids from the high school are making $ 12 an hour at Subway and A&W, and running the grocery stores after school. Massive boom out here mostly caused by the oil and minerals development. I want to hire some students for the summer, but the mines in the North are advertising $ 22 an hour for summer students plus a completion bonus, so I can't even try to compete.

Just can't find enough people. On Friday I put an ad in the paper for 8 people and then one quit on me after that making it 9..

[JustADude]

Just can't find enough people. On Friday I put an ad in the paper for 8 people and then one quit on me after that making it 9..

What are the immigration laws? I can have a half-dozen wannabe-ex americans be up there in jig time.

[Format C]

A little something that may get you flying higher on the radar: Ask for business cards of places you apply to, write on the back of them when you stopped in and ask whom you can talk to for a follow-up.

[HawaiianShirts]

Back then, I wished that they would call me back to atleast tell me, that I am not hired. I swear that in one month, I put in about 12-15 applications and resume's, every day. Well except for the weekends.

yup the joys of job hunting-sent out over 30 resumes in the last month-and hav heard nothing-good to know I totally wasted my time.

I'm there, too. I'm sending out about 5 resumes every day, including weekends. I have been for over a month or so. I've had a few "you're-not-the-droid-we're-looking-for" letters, but mostly these prospective employers are giving me the silent treatment.

The one that really bothered me, though, came from a company in Portland. It really made me wonder what kind of idiots they have screening applications. I live in Utah. I want to live in the Pacific Northwest, so that's where my applications are going. My financial situation and the broad nature of my search area make it so that I have to find a job before I move. Well, an email from that Portland company informed me that they were rejecting my application because I "must have made a mistake" in my job search and selected Oregon instead of Utah, pointed out that Utah to Oregon would make for too long of a daily commute, and suggested that I look for something closer to home.

Yeah, job hunting sucks.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

A lot has to do with your approach, I once used a creative application method and sent the applications to six Presidents of advertising agencies I was interested in. Of the first six I sent, I got three repsonses (that's a 50% response rate, try getting that with a standard resume) which led to two interviews.

I didn't get either of the jobs (I was fresh out of college and the other applicants were more qualified) but the approach was certainly effective.

Do a google search for "Creative resumes" or "Creative job applications"

It certainly helps to find some approach that will put you above the rest and garner you some attention. Different is good.

[XCashier]

What are the immigration laws? I can have a half-dozen wannabe-ex americans be up there in jig time.

Don't tempt me!

I've been looking for a job for far too long, now. Temp work helps, but assignments are few and far between, even when working with several agencies. And because it is an employer's market, they want the most qualified applicants for the least amount of money. They're demanding Bachelor's Degrees for file clerk jobs!

I love this town, love this climate, love the people...but hate the lack of jobs.