Struggling With Job Search While Still Healing From Last Job ?

25 Comments

1. Shelly EdwardsNovember 28,2022 at 3:09PM UTC

   Job titles can be, and often times are, requested in a simple reference check so I would not embelish the title. When listing your references, I would make sure to list the previous manager (with her permission) rather than the current manager in that department so she can speak to what you actually did. I would not embelish what you did, but make it sound better. I would include something along the lines of "trusted with management responsibilities during management leave" or something like that. You may even have a separate dates section for those dates that your manager was on leave and then list the responsibilities you had during that time to further highlight it. At minimum, that would be a conversation starter for your interviews. Then use that opportunity to discuss what you actually did regardless of your title. Without completing bad mouthing the new boss, explain that after your previous manager had you on a career growth plan, your new manager created a toxic work environment that did not recognize your achievements or foster employee growth. Hopefully that will help get you to the next level.

2. AnonymousNovember 28,2022 at 3:26PM UTC

   Company policy prevents anyone at the company from acting as a reference.

   Why would I tell a potential future employer that a new manager created a toxic environment? Seems like that would do more harm than good to bring up. What is the benefit?

3. AnonymousNovember 28,2022 at 3:19PM UTC

   Any company making you an offer will check your work history and titles so I would use "interim manager" or transitional manager " as your most recent title and explain that the company was going through changes. The questions you are being asked are legitimate questions and so bring concrete examples into your answers.

   Seldom do people do jobs for extended amounts of time without being promoted so be very clear that a promotion was being discussed given your level of work.

4. AnonymousNovember 28,2022 at 3:23PM UTC

   First, don’t diminish yourself and your worth. Like you stated you have been recognized by your work peers as an excellent employee and sadly sometimes all it takes is one person to try to erase that. I have been in the same position that my job title didn’t indicate all I did so I would add all the important task you did that would align with the job you are applying for to your resume. ALSO if you look up staffing agencies they can help you find something that’s what I did when I literally was strapped for paying bills. Make sure when you do interview to ask about company culture and meet people who currently work there. Always do what’s best for YOU!

5. AnonymousNovember 28,2022 at 3:27PM UTC

   I would not suggest embellishing the Coordinator job. A quick explanation that you accepted the Coordinator job as a stepping stone or that your job responsibilities increased beyond what the original job description stated (more responsibility with same job title) would be better. Not sure which of the two options reflect the path you took. That would diffuse some of the questions of having a Controller title.

6. Stephanie LekowskiNovember 29,2022 at 8:19PM UTC

   DO NOT EMBELLISH ANYTHING. You will be looking over your shoulder, not to mention getting caught in a reference check. If you happen to make it past a reference check, if you do not know how to do a particular part(s) of your job, you will be found out and firing you immediately is the best scenario. If any recruiter encourages/asks you to lie, do not work with them! We may not be home 24/7 due to the pandemic, but there are still people hired to dig up dirt on candidates and employees.

   As for the hiring managers who act like they're trying to catch you in a lie, grilling you, etc., they are not people you want to work for, assuming as of now you're being honest as you can without doing yourself harm and not getting the job. If they;'re like this in the interview, you will be jumping out of the frying pan and into the furnace. No interview should remind you (or anyone) of a trip to the principal's office after being caught doing fill-in-the-blank.

   Good luck on all future endeavors!

7. Bradford McCormickNovember 30,2022 at 1:24PM UTC

   Toxic people hurt good people, and in today's race to the bottom economy it's not like the lifetime emploiyment age of 50+ years ago for the victims (in this case, you). I knew an hire-the-handcapped man who was both an ethical giant (I can speak because he had been my manager) and also a master of his job skill ("systems computer programming" -- heavy lifting). He literally got fired for doing the best piece of work he ever did in his life on a mission-critical project for his boss because the boss's toadies had given hmi an ultimatum: him or them, and his cardiologist had advised hi to reduce his stress level.

   There is an old Japanese film about the Japanese mafia titled: "The bad sleep well". This does not help you, of course.

   [FairGodBoss's poor text editor just ate the rest of what I had written here, so...] Try to showcase your stremgths of character and your accomplishments going forward in hopes of standing out from all the kids who are eager to multitask in a fast paced environment but who don't have a clue what to do in a tough business situation whereas you'e "been there and done that" and maybe can help where than can't yet.

8. Afo Ogbeyalu KaluNovember 30,2022 at 1:27PM UTC

   Rework your resume by listing your additional roles and responsibilities under a separate heading or section . . .

   Example . . .

   01/2020-07/2022: ACTING PROJECT MANAGER, ABC Corp, New York, NY

   Executed the Duties of Project Manager and Team Lead in the prolonged absence of Department Leader . . .

   *Bullet-point responsibilities and achievements in that role

   This would make it clear that though it was not your ascribed role, you rose to the challenges of the temporary role when necessary. No embellishments needed.

9. Angie MartinNovember 30,2022 at 1:39PM UTC

   You need something to pay the bills, ASAP. Why not try "gig" work and/or a temp holiday position (which sometimes can lead to FT work). All the while, keep applying to jobs in your chosen field.

   A lot of places have scaled back, which is why I think you may be struggling.

10. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 2:03PM UTC

    I would consider becoming a consultant, especially If I had your level of experience and education. You may also want to reach out to your former manager and ask for a letter of recommendation. The letter should highlight the management responsibilities that you covered. Unfortunately, she might not be able to write this since she still works for the company, but at least try asking for the letter. Good luck.

11. Liz MilneNovember 30,2022 at 2:09PM UTC

    Can you reach out to your original manager, explain what happened and ask her to write you a letter that you can include with your resume/ take with you for interviews? That will hopefully back up your experience with things outside your remit as 'coordinator' and boost your confidence too - it's always shattering when people misconstrue you/ your intentions/ skills etc.

12. Clydene HorriganDecember 1,2022 at 12:26PM UTC

    A recommendation in linkedin may help get the interview as well. It sounds like there May be several people in your old organization that may be able to make a recommendation.

13. GirlBossanova934974November 30,2022 at 2:14PM UTC

    I would concentrate on perhaps creating 2-3 resumes with slightly different variations. We have this thing in our work culture these days concerning titles and "management roles". It is like we went back to the 1950s and 1960s. The total insecurity these days is off the charts. At the very least, I would create one resume for "worker bee" jobs and another resume for "management jobs". In my view, you are not going to get a "worker bee" job if you look like you are in management because someone might feel threatened. You can settle for a worker bee job now to pay the bills. I remember many years ago, I had to strip off half my degrees and work experience to get 1 worker bee job. The pay was OK and paid the bills. As soon as I showed I knew quite a bit more than my resume would indicate, my managers all freaked out. I dialed it back fairly quickly but I had a good laugh. Wow! The insecurity was a mile thick.

14. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 2:15PM UTC

    Your resume can have your job title be anything you like. The Application is where you will have to be honest about your actual Job title.

    I would take whatever the new title would have been and use that on my resume to closer match what you did. Just make sure your accomplishments and experience are identified and you can talk to it. In all of my years, I never saw a person's application but I sure did see their resume.

    In my own company a person is called a planner and depending on the division or plant it can mean and have very different job functions/duties. We have people who are Managers but in some companies would actually be a Director or even in some cases VP's at other companies.

15. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 2:45PM UTC

    Your mission is: make money ASAP.

    I have been in your shoes. I opted for the quickest job and took on holiday seasonal work. I worked at a craft store and a coffee shop simultaneously. I was on my feet and tired every day but I was surprisingly very good at it and that boosted my confidence. I also got to learn about a different business. (In later years I applied to corporate roles at both companies and was brought in for an interview due to my “in field”experience.) In this season Amazon fulfillment enters and delivery drivers are hiring urgently. That will get you through the season. Resume wise, I’d go back to the “individual contributor” work that you were doing reliably day after day. You’ll have lots of success stories. I have found that when I have modified my resume for the next role, I didn’t have enough experience to show that I was going to be reliable in the role. Yes, I had some experience, but it wasn’t quite enough yet. IMHO you are in a regrouping phase. If you’re not getting interviews, that’s probably a good indicator that you’re not quite ready for the next role.

    You can do this! You’ve already persevered every challenge that you’ve encountered.

16. Laura BrennanNovember 30,2022 at 10:04PM UTC

    I absolutely agree. This is a great time of year to pick up some temporary work, it will take some of the pressure off of you financially, and it doesn't mean you can't continue to apply for jobs as you go. We think pressure will help motivate us, but it doesn't; you can't think creatively when you're in survival mode.

    I also agree with the "title" advice given elsewhere of putting what you actually did in parentheses next to your official title. We speak with a different authority when we speak the truth.

    Here's what I can offer outside of agreeing with other great advice: most jobs are found through your network. Which makes a lot of sense: people want someone "vetted" by someone they know and trust. They don't want to make a mistake and having a recommendation makes them feel more secure.

    This is a great time of year to network (virtually, via email, and in person) and just let people know that you're looking for your next opportunity, and specifically what that may be. I have two free videos on my website on networking -- one specifically on networking during the holidays -- and a free virtual salon every month where you can practice your networking skills.

    Just letting people who already like you know what you're looking for can be a game-changer. The problem is we mostly don't let people know because we either think they can't help us or we feel ashamed (which we don't need to feel! Nothing to be ashamed of! But we're human, so what are you going to do?) and we want to hide that we need help.

    Here's the link to the webinars; if you want to pop into the salon, it's free and the next one is this Saturday, just click the "Salons" tab on the website for more info. https://www.pitchingperfectly.com/free-webinar

    Sending you good vibes, and a reminder to look at all those awards daily. You are good at this stuff!

17. Katherine Metres Akbar, Interview Coach & Resume ExpertNovember 30,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

    I'm sorry you are struggling. Here's the thing I've learned as the head of a career success company: Candidates rarely understand why they are not getting offers, and they usually fill in the blanks with whatever is their greatest fear: "I'm too old, fat, Black, gay, was fired," etc. None of these is usually the reason. Usually the reason for not getting interviews is you're not tailoring your applications enough to match the job description keywords. A second reason that could be applicable to you is that you've lost confidence, and this could be making you apply for jobs that are beneath your level (which will only make it harder to get a new job--hiring managers shy away from the overqualified).

    In terms of the job title and resume, you absolutely do not want to embellish. This will only make you feel like a fraud and undermine your confidence (and theirs) further. What you can do, however, is choose a more apt and searchable title for what you did and put it in parentheses after your official title. An example might be Coordinator (Project Manager).

    Now, not getting offers when you interview is due to interview skills that need to be up-leveled. And emotional baggage from a situation you're not over yet can definitely contribute to not connecting to hiring managers. I recommend the following: (1) Take two days as a personal retreat of some sort. Go to a friend's place or a hotel or stay home alone and cry as much as possible, laugh as much as possible, journal as much as possible--try to get the whole thing out of your system and come to a place of peace about it. Tell yourself, and really work on conjuring up the emotions to believe it, "This seems like a tragedy, but what I don't realize yet is that it was a blessing in disguise, because a much better job is waiting for me."

    Once you have completed that step and feel in a psychologically good place, not a place of desperation (remind yourself that a new job with a much better salary is right around the corner), start working on your interviewing skills. You can schedule time with an interview coach ideally. Practice telling stories that have happy endings. You will use these for behavioral interview questions. Practice talking about why they should hire you in terms of three keywords from the job description that you have. Practice a brief, honest, professional, and not depressing explanation of what transpired at your last job.

    For more help with interviewing, check out this video I made of my best advanced interviewing techniques: https://www.yeswriting.com/interview-coaching/May God bless you at this tough juncture of your journey!

18. Jessica WeaverDecember 8,2022 at 4:03PM UTC

    Wow, thank you so much for this -- it's really, really helpful for me as well!!!

19. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 3:55PM UTC

    The best advice I ever received during my lengthy job hunt was to include my official job title on my resume with my unofficial title (what I really did) in parentheses and then detail in the bullet points my accomplishments. I was getting next to no interest with my official job title because it was very specific to the company and not the industry. Once I included what I really did that was more industry specific (and to the role I really wanted), I started getting more interest, interviews, and eventually landed the role I wanted. I 100% believe it was because I included what I really did. And by including both, I was not lying or embellishing and it was easy to explain in an interview - this was my title, this is what I actually did and should have been called.

20. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 7:05PM UTC

    Excellent advice. Titles like principle consultant, solution architect and coordinator aren’t particularly descriptive. My title was one of these terms and I chose to put “strategist” and received a great deal more success.

21. Lara Ivey KauchakNovember 30,2022 at 4:40PM UTC

    The other thing which is unfortunately working against us all right now is timing. I went through this 2 years ago and right before Thanksgiving until after new years is really quiet for getting new interviews. If you are already mid process, you might get an offer, but companies are trying to finish their year end, everyone is taking vacations, and re-evaluating budgets for the new year. We just have to be patient at this point....

22. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 7:02PM UTC

    I’d like to share a counterpoint. I interviewed for a tech company in November last year and they were keen to move the interview process as fast as possible. It’s worth noting they had a huge team of interviewers to pool from. November doesn’t always mean slow. I chose to hit it hard in November, figuring many would find it “slow” and would not be active lLet looking.

23. AnonymousNovember 30,2022 at 7:07PM UTC

    In addition to all the great advice below, I also suggest learning more about the recruiting process via YouTube videos. We often have misconceptions that can impede our job search. Watch videos from *practicing* recruiters in your field.

24. misskelleypNovember 30,2022 at 7:42PM UTC

    I would reach out to your former "friendly" manager for advice and to ask if she would be wiling to be a reference for you, as she is uniquely qualified to speak to your skills and job performance. She may also be able to help you out with networking in your field. Good luck.

25. Shelby CNovember 30,2022 at 8:17PM UTC
    • Never lie on your resume
    • Network, network, network
    • Augment your resume for the job you are seeking

    Best of luck!