Why is it so hard to find a job?

[Lingering Grin]

I'm trying a bunch fo places around here and it just seems that everywhere either:

-- Is not hiring (which is understandable)
-- Gives the job to someone else... (Grr)
-- Is so slammed during the times that I'm able to get by, I'd never be able to speak with the manager/owner (Local comic book store)


I need money

[Imogene]

I need money

Same here... I'm running on trade ins as it is...
I did finally get an interview for Monday, and the friend who referred me to the job says everyone she's seen get an interview since she started gets hired.

[powerboy]

I know how you feel. I have been in that same position that you both are in. You know how anyone can get a job McD's, not me. I applied to about 6 different ones over the years & I have not heard anything back

[BrightEyedKitty]

The job market just sucks right now.

[tropicsgoddess]

The job market just sucks right now.

and the economy....I have a few other things I'd say, but it would be better to continue on Fratching. Even while I was trying to and did (by lay off) get out of the dealershit, I would apply online and call like crazy and barely get anything. I did now, it's not much in terms of hours, but the money would be way more than what I made when I was a hostess. The best part would be if things do work out, I'll register at the community college and take classes during the day.

[InsanityInc]

*Sigh* I hear ya. I've been hunting since the beginning of March. I'm not being picky other than I can only work 1st shift due to childcare issues. Problem is, a major employer in the area just closed, and there is about 300 other people looking for jobs too.

[JLRodgers]

Sadly, it seems to be that way everyone around me.
Tons of unemployed people, many, many more that aren't counted. Only "people collecting unemployment" are considered unemployed, when it runs out you've got a job according to the stats they release.

[Dreamstalker]

I've been looking since March as well. WTF is it with postings that say "person needed ASAP" and then they never get back to you?! Or places that never get back to you either way. If I'm not hired, I at least want to know so I'm not holding my breath (I swear, if I discover that Jerkboss is deciding to badmouth me on references...that may well be illegal, but I wouldn't put it past him).

I'm working with a state agency to help with job training/hunting et al. I'm on the waiting list for services until November*. For some reason when I got the short-lived job at the gaming store my case was closed (I had to raise holy hell to get it reopened when I was canned)...that's not supposed to happen until I have a job that I can actually support myself with (right now $20K/year seems like the absolute minimum I'd need).

* Which blows, as they would be paying for the certs and classes I need and have no money for otherwise.

[Mr Slugger]

You know two years ago when we'd look for help we'd put the help wanted sign out and in 6 weeks we'd get like 4 responses. If we put an ad in the paper we'd get maybe 12. And most of the ads we got were poor apps. Maybe 1 or the 12 would be hireable.

Now we put the sign up we get 50-60 apps. Ad in the paper we got like 400 apps. We were swamped with them. And now we got like 1 in four that are hirable. But on top of that 1 in 10 are WAY too qualified in a liquor store.

I definitely think it's how the economy is now.

[Rapscallion]

A newspaper advert for us raises about two hundred inquiries, which we usually pare down to about twenty-four people for group stage interviews.

We obviously pay too much

Rapscallion

[JLRodgers]

A newspaper advert for us raises about two hundred inquiries, which we usually pare down to about twenty-four people for group stage interviews.

We obviously pay too much

Rapscallion

Many years ago I was told by one place that they ran an ad in the paper for only 3 days -- they had close to 2,000 applicants (granted, it was in Chicago, and they offered green cards, relocation, etc).
Last year when I was trying to hold a job fair in town, I had many places say they weren't interested because they got swamped by so many resumes each month that they didn't even need to run an ad. The local hotel in town only advertises a job once a year (despite hiring over 30 people/year [due to 30 leaving a year, in a 12 positions place]) -- they have so much turnaround and leftover resumes, that every month they have more people still needing a job than they have positions.

[Primer]

Now we put the sign up we get 50-60 apps. Ad in the paper we got like 400 apps. We were swamped with them. And now we got like 1 in four that are hirable. But on top of that 1 in 10 are WAY too qualified in a liquor store.

Just out of curiosity, what constitutes being "WAY too qualified in a liquor store"

If I needed a job, I'd like to know what not to put down.

[ditchdj]

Reminds me of that one episode from "Good Times" when James Sr. jokes about the economy being so bad that he'll probably lose his job at the car wash to a brain surgeon! What's sad, though, is that if it happened in real life it wouldn't surprise me.

[JLRodgers]

If I needed a job, I'd like to know what not to put down.

I can say that the only times I've ever been called in for an interview in the past 10 years -- I've left off all education, and most job experience. Sad when you think about it.

[smileyeagle1021]

Just out of curiosity, what constitutes being "WAY too qualified in a liquor store"

I think what they're talking about (and my mother ran into this a lot) was employers looked at her resume and just assumed that with her qualifications she couldn't possibly be looking to stay there long term and that was just a short term until something better came along job and they didn't want to take that risk with the turnover.