I am starting to believe I will never find a new job…

74 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:13PM UTC

   It wouldn't hurt to have a professional review your resume especially to include a focus on the type of job and role you want to pursue. Also to use keywords for those jobs and skills so that algorithms will pick it up in the initial pass through.

   Don't get discouraged; it is a tight & competitive job market right now. Good luck.

2. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:26PM UTC

   I am in the same boat, it's so frustrating. I am starting to lose hope that I'll never find a job!

3. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:58PM UTC

   I paid a couple of hundred of dollars on a resume service that came highly recommended through this venue and I can say it was a mess. After the third reiteration from them, I gave up and began looking on linked In for people with roles that I liked. I also looked at the verbiage from postings I was interested in and used input from those avenues. I fixed up my resume and formatted it several times based on these resources and my resume gets a ton of hits daily. I recommend using the same words and phrases in postings as they are what the AI uses for sorting first and foremost. Be sure to show many accomplishments to speak to further when you interview. I know you can do this so best of luck to you!

4. Huong Nguyen-ValleOctober 12,2023 at 4:09PM UTC

   I use Sneaker Prof to help me with my resume. My resume looks and sounds so much better than it has ever. Her cost is very reasonable.

   https://www.sneakerprof.com/1on1

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 12,2023 at 4:53PM UTC

   I may have a couple of different options for you (none of them me). Please send me a message.

6. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 5:50PM UTC

   Hi! Feel free to use other’s’ recommendations but also try to go to either in-person or virtual career networking events. Also, online search and go to some virtual or in-person job fairs because sometimes it’s who you know to help you get a job.

7. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 9:27PM UTC

   Speaking as someone who was laid off in March, I absolutely know where you are coming from! I was fortunate enough to have a good outplacement service included with my severance and learned a lot from it that may be helpful:

   -First, lots of jobs that are posted are never filled. I was discouraged recently to get a swift rejection after speaking with a hiring manager, but later ran into a professional contact from that company who said they had layoffs and undoubtedly put the role on hold. It really often is them, not you, especially in this environment!

   -Second, many resumes never make it through the automated screening tools. Use a site like Jobscan.co or TealHQ to compare your resume to specific job listings and see how you measure up.

   -Third, are you using contacts to refer you for different roles? As you can imagine, that can make a HUGE difference in terms of getting through to a hiring manager.

   -Fourth, are you applying for jobs you are honestly a good fit for - not just jobs you can do? If the fit isn't strong, you aren't likely to hear back - and it doesn't seem likely you'd be a strong fit for 200+ jobs.

   -Finally, remember what your resume is for: To get you through the first stage of the process. If you are getting interviews, your resume is working so you need to think more broadly about what the issue might be - and it could simply be hard times in your industry, not anything you are doing wrong.

   Hope this helps and good luck!

8. Melissa McHughOctober 13,2023 at 12:07PM UTC

   My understanding of ATS is that they do not actually filter out resumes. Rather, they're used as a digital filing cabinet and having enough relevant keywords in your resume just makes it easier for them to find you.

9. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 12:19PM UTC

   Can confirm.

   -ATS system administrator

10. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 12:48PM UTC

    So why do they send out automatic rejections?

11. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 6:21PM UTC

    ATS Administrator here. Occasionally applications use screening questions and automatically disposition those with certain answers. It’s very clear what those questions are. Example - if the hiring department chooses to put in a question “Do you have a valid drivers license?” and you answer no, they can choose to have your application automatically rejected if the job absolutely requires a current license. If you get ruled out by those specific questions, you weren’t a good match for the job (and honestly, probably didn’t read the job description very well).

    It doesn’t have anything to do with your résumé though.

12. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 13,2023 at 4:56PM UTC

    There is no "getting through the ATS".

    I have experience with 7 or 8 different ATS and with different configurations of those systems.

    Here's what happens (on all the systems I've ever used) when a candidate applies to one of my open requisitions: I click on their name in the list of new applicants for that requisition. Their resume has not been ranked. It has not been sorted for keywords. It has not been "scored". It has not been filtered.

    I click "download resume". It downloads in whatever format - Word doc or PDF - the candidate uploaded it. I look at their resume. With my eyeballs. Every single resume.

13. DeBorah WalkerOctober 13,2023 at 12:25PM UTC

    I empathize with your frustration because it's also mine. The thing about having experts look at your resume it's costly, and there's always someone else who's going to tell you you should do this and you should do that. Unless you are focused on the position that you're applying for and you know exactly what you need then you can have an expert structure your resume with your qualifications for that specific position. I know that sounds easier said than done, but there's a lot of resume experts out there and it's always a money thing. Sometimes you could even go online and pull up a sample of a resume of a position that you want and compare and contrast and you would know how to redo your own resume. Also stop applying for positions that you're overqualified for, because did the same thing, and unless you're writing a good cover letter to each over qualified explaining why you feel you would be a good fit for that role, don't do it, because it makes you appear desperate when you could do better. I learned the hard way.

14. Jennifer coppolaOctober 13,2023 at 12:27PM UTC

    My suggestion- if it hasn’t already been mentioned; apologies if this is redundant- is to take the time to tailor your resume to the job description. By using their own keywords, you will more closely align with what they are looking for right from the jump. This not to say you fabricate anything, but rather let their wishlist and expectations guide the verbiage you use to describe your matching skill set and relevant experience.

    Same goes if they require a cover letter.

    A tip I received from an HR friend: the “good stuff” on your resume should be above the fold; they didn’t want to read a novel. I know this isn’t easy for many of us who’ve been doing our roles for a long time, but worth the two cents.

15. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 12:29PM UTC

    We just had a class at work about hiring the right people. I will share what we learned.

    Limit resumes to the last 10 years of work experience. Be honest, your resume and "accomplishments/responsibilities" will trigger questions and if you can't answer them, it will just put a negative mindset on the interviewer.

    Job hopping and no experience is not necessarily a terrible thing as long as you can explain and walk through your resume. For example. You started at a gas station as a clerk. Three months later you got a job as an assistant manager at Ractrak, then 6 months later you were offered a manager role at Quik Trip. Yes it is 3 jobs in less than a year but you progressed with each job change.

    On the no experience thing. If you can somehow show your willingness and desire to learn, skills can be taught. Work ethic and willingness to learn can not be.

    Customize your resume and your cover letter to what the job is about. Try to stay away from standardized answers.

    Good luck - I hope you find the perfect job!

16. Cecilia HolmesOctober 13,2023 at 12:50PM UTC

    I used Fiverr and found someone to do my resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile for $125. Got a job after so who knows? I thought it was worth it just to up my game, even for the future. Good luck!!

17. Erica LanyonOctober 13,2023 at 12:58PM UTC

    Hi April, I have assisted many people in improving their resumes. You can connect with me on LinkedIn at Erica Lanyon, and get my help for free instead of spending money on it. If after that you still feel that you need further assistance, then you can consider spending the money.

18. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 12:59PM UTC

    You don’t need to pay someone to look at your resume. There’re are a few good resume writers, but most of them just prey on desperate job seekers. A lot of them have no idea how to write a decent resume, so please don’t spend money on one of these folks. You’ll waste money that could be allocated toward something useful like groceries, and you want to minimize that as much as possible, especially if you’re not earning an income.

    I’m assuming you’ve tried tailoring your resume, but that’s not working. One issue that may be the case with your resume is that you don’t have a job that you’re currently doing. That can deter companies from hiring you. To address the gap (if there’s one on your resume), you could add volunteer work, freelance work, self-employment, anything. Just don’t put a gap there, or else these people will think you’re unemployable.

    Have you tried looking at staffing agencies? They have plenty of temporary jobs available that could suit your skillset. Oftentimes, a temporary job can be a good way to renter the workforce.

    Good luck! You’ve got this.

19. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 3:24PM UTC

    Thank you for this post, I am in the same boat. It's a horrible economy. I finished my Masters Degree 6 months ago and have applied to over 700 jobs and all I get are rejections. I think we just have to stay positive. Good luck!

20. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 13,2023 at 4:49PM UTC

    Recruiters do not think you're unemployable because you were laid off. Recruiters, maybe more than most, understand because many times, we're the first to go. We have gotten creamed in the layoffs this last year with entire Talent Acquisition teams being laid off.

    I would never hold someone being laid off against them. I can't say the same for not telling the truth.

21. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 7:18PM UTC

    Nope, it’s well-documented that recruiters have a bias against individuals who are unemployed, especially long-term. It’s one thing if you have been recently laid off; then, they MIGHT cut you a break. It’s quite another to have been unemployed for 3+ months due to circumstances outside of your control (ex: slower hiring, months-long interview processes that end with a rejection, hundreds of job rejections that come months after you’ve applied with seemingly no end in sight).

    Oftentimes, a job gap practically destroys your resume, unless you insert self-employment, volunteer work, freelance work, etc into that gap. That’s why, for example, women who leave the workforce to care for children tend to find it difficult getting a new job after spending years raising kids instead of being in the workforce.

    Maybe you personally won’t deny an interview or even a phone screening to someone who’s been unemployed long-term. Other recruiters sure will and do that everyday. That’s what leads to people having giant gaps on their resumes.

22. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 13,2023 at 8:53PM UTC

    Nope.

23. AnonymousOctober 17,2023 at 8:25PM UTC

    Yep.

    https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2919-unemployment-bias.html

24. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 18,2023 at 12:44AM UTC

    LOL. Do you even read your own citations?

    An internet survey is not a study. Which is why it's referred to as a survey - see right below - and does not prove anything. But the survey says 74% of hiring managers are open to hiring unemployed candidates.

    "That said, the hiring managers Indeed surveyed ultimately remained open to interviewing unemployed job candidates. Specifically, 74% of hiring managers said they’d hire unemployed candidates – but only if they briefly addressed their unemployment during their job interviews."

    It certainly doesn't prove that recruiters have a bias against individuals who are unemployed because recruiters aren't even mentioned in the article you linked.

    And it's written by someone who apparently doesn't have a recruiting background.

25. AnonymousOctober 18,2023 at 6:40PM UTC

    https://www.npr.org/2010/12/14/132056874/the-hard-truth-companies-don-t-hire-unemployed

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/11/09/millions-of-americans-face-discrimination-for-being-long-term-unemployed-heres-how-to-fight-back/?sh=5c73ca704fe0

    https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/employers-disregarding-jobless-candidates/CEsNCEXqhncwtSyskCtTEJ/

    Dang, someone’s real mad that I’m telling her that she and her ilk suck at their jobs. That’s not my fault. That’s yours, ma’am.

26. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 18,2023 at 7:00PM UTC

    LOL. Double fail.

    Reading is fundamental.

    Nowhere in any of these articles does it say one single thing about recruiters having a bias against individuals who are unemployed.

27. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 1:03PM UTC

    https://earnbetter.com/

    Use this website. You upload your resume and copy and paste the job description and it tailors your resume to the description. Same goes for cover letters. It helps to go past the ATS system.

28. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 3:17PM UTC

    It’s FREE TOO!! I’ve been using this website too! Since starting to use this website for my resumes and cover letters, I’ve at least gotten some calls for interviews instead of the non-stop emails saying they are moving forward with other candidates.

29. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 6:03PM UTC

    There is no such thing as “getting past the ATS system”. ATS is a file of applicants. Recruiters look at the resumes for matches, not a system.

30. GirlBossanova934974October 13,2023 at 1:22PM UTC

    3 suggestions. A) Since you have stated that you are overqualified for the jobs you are applying to, that may be a problem. To be candid, overqualification in some circles mean you will require more money and/or will become bored aka quit fairly quickly. So I would stay away from entry level jobs if you are mid level. B) Stay off job sites where they are too many applicants and too few jobs. LinkedIn comes to mind. Indeed is much better. C) Try government jobs or health care employers or education. Government and health care and universities are hiring fairly strongly right now. You don't have to be a doctor, nurse, professor etc.. Last, keep in mind that posted government jobs are less likely to be fake jobs aka fake postings to cover the fact that the current employees are the only ones being considered. Good Luck! You can also go directly to state and country government sites and look at their careers section. Governmentjobs.com is a decent starting source.

31. Darla VannOctober 13,2023 at 1:29PM UTC

    Hello, one thing is to never give up on you, and all the qualifications you have work so hard to gain. The right work will come, scale your resume to the positions, by simply adjustment to it based on the position. However making sure you have the skill set for the role. you may need to have several resumes depending on the position in which you are applying to. Never sale yourself short. Speak positively into your own life, knowing words carry power. Best to you in your endeavors.

32. JuaNovember 2,2023 at 9:18PM UTC

    This is quite lovely and encouraging to read, thank you!

33. Crystal WhitcombOctober 13,2023 at 1:52PM UTC

    OMG same! I can't believe how hard it is to find something.

34. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 1:53PM UTC

    I say do it. I always felt I was really good at writing my resume but when I was laid off due to COVID after 11 years at the same place, the trends were very different so I felt very unsure at that point .

    I spent about $250 for a professional resume review and for a new one to be written and I think it was worth it. The people doing this work know the language that employers and resume scanners are looking for and used a lot of "dynamic" wording that I personally would not have used. Heck, I don't even like the way my resume reads because it doesn't "sound like me" but it garnered great results. I had a LOT of interviews and had 4 job offers in 1 month's time--and I'm 50+!

    This was around spring 2022, so ChatGPT wasn't such a "thing" yet and the job market was slightly different then, but I am about to pay to have someone update it again because I am feeling a little insecure and need to find something that pays more.

    I will also say that outsourcing this to a pro was a LOT of stress taken off my plate, wondering if I was doing it right, and that alone made it worth it.

    I basically contacted several resume companies listed on Indeed and decided on one based on pricing and their pre-signing review of my current resume. The process involved a lot of emailing back and forth and then 1 live call with the person doing the work. They also wrote a general purpose cover letter and an updated LinkedIn profile.

    So worth it.

35. Miesha AgrippaOctober 13,2023 at 2:07PM UTC

    BEFORE SPENDING $$$ on professional services, there’s a great website that helped me edit my resume point by point, it’s called resumeworded.com and I think it is $40 a month but sometimes they have promotions. It was worth it for me (you only really need it for a month)

36. Johanna LymanOctober 13,2023 at 2:10PM UTC

    I have applied for close to 600 jobs in the last 2 years after being laid off!! I did have someone (from LI) do my resume for $250 and it didn't help. I've heard that 85-90% of new hires are done through networking, and that a lot of the jobs we see on Indeed or LinkedIn aren't even legit. It's so frustrating!!

37. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 2:23PM UTC

    So true. I applied for a great position. Only to discover it wasn't a real one... Very irritating.

38. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 13,2023 at 4:43PM UTC

    That is absolutely not true that 85 to 90% of positions are filled through networking.

    Networking is great. Referrals are awesome. But applying absolutely works too.

    Almost 100% of the positions I've filled in the last 2 years have been from people who either applied or who I sourced. I think ONE was from networking or referrals.

    Every company had a referral bonus program in place and I also ask for referrals. The number of referrals that were hires throughout a 20+ year recruiting career is also very small.

    This tracks with the other recruiters that I know and network with.

    If companies were able to fill the majority of their positions by networking, they would not need to employ the teams of recruiters and sourcers and outside agencies who spend all day, every day working to fill their positions.

39. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 3:20PM UTC

    Take the job posting and ask ChatGPT to build a resume based on the job. Then put in your job history, education, etc. you don’t need someone to write a resume for you when you need to tailor your resume to each job posting.

    Be sure to connect with hiring managers and recruiters on LinkedIn in the companies you are targeting. Comment on their posts, share their posts, etc. get your name out there.

40. Emilie XidiasOctober 13,2023 at 3:44PM UTC

    Use Skillsyncer or ResumeWorded to optimize your resume for the posting. Many companies use ATS and it scans your resume for keywords that match the job description EXACTLY. most resumes get rejected outright if they’re below a certain % match.

    Also, if you’re overqualified, that may be why you’re not getting called. I would think you were only applying out of desperation and would likely leave as soon as you found a better job. If you’re purposefully looking to take a step back long term, include a cover letter stating why.

41. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 6:01PM UTC

    This isn’t true. An ATS system is a file system. It doesn’t “read” your resume.

42. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 13,2023 at 8:58PM UTC

    That is not how it works.

    I have experience with 7 or 8 different ATS and with different configurations of those systems.

    There typically is no sorting involved with the application process - which is where keywords come in.

    Here's what happens (on all the systems I've ever used) when a candidate applies to one of my open requisitions:

    I click on their name in the list of new applicants for that requisition. Their resume has not been ranked. It has not been sorted for keywords. It has not been "scored". It has not been filtered. Applicants are listed alphabetically by their last name.

    I click "download resume". It downloads in whatever format - Word doc or PDF - the candidate uploaded it. I look at their resume. With my eyeballs. Every single resume.

    Keywords are just skills or experience that we use in our search strings to find candidates (which is different than applying). Ideally, they should just be an organic part of a person's resume. Loading your resume up with words you think recruiters or hiring managers want to see may get someone to click on your resume but if the experience isn't there, it doesn't matter how many "key words" you stuff your resume with.

    There's no need for me to search by keywords for new applicants because you are sitting right there in the list of new applicants.

    Please let me know if you have any questions.

43. Kate DeyOctober 14,2023 at 4:13PM UTC

    This is 100% how it works!

44. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 5:34PM UTC

    Oh, April -- I empathize with you on this so hard! I completely understand what you are going through. Please know you are not alone and you are more than worthy for all of those jobs you applied for. This market is just awful right now. I am here if you want to chat further!

45. ToddOctober 13,2023 at 5:55PM UTC

    This is not what you want to hear, but I am in the same boat, and sinking $$$ (well into four figures) into resume rewrite AND career coaching has not helped so far.

46. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 6:55PM UTC

    It is taking 6-9 months for most people to find a job. Many companies have also gutted their talent teams and are using junior level staff to sort resumes or just keyword on the resumes in ATS. Recommend that you use your network, blog and share, openly communicate on linkedin and always get referred in if you can. I don't think just applying and waiting is going to do it you have to be creative in how you reach out. Apply to anything that seems close up or down the level you want.

47. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 8:40PM UTC

    No, don't spend money! Go to a career center in your area for this and get some informational interviews with those who have a job you want. Tell them you are struggling. People want to help. I'm so sorry this has been so hard. It will get better and you will get a good job. I promise. You are not alone in your pain and frustration.

48. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 11:40PM UTC

    Honest I don't remember but each one when you contact will give you some basic feedback on your resume, typically before you even commit to working with them. I picked the one who I felt had made the most valid points, had a decent turnaround time, and was in a reasonable price range for what I needed done. I will see if I can find the name of the company this weekend and will reply back if I find it. Either way, again the feedback you get from several can also be helpful.

49. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 7:22AM UTC

    You are not in this alone. There are so many of us who feel the same. It is so frustrating. But we are in this together. So it’s not you or me or the other person, it’s just the way it is now.

50. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 8:25AM UTC

    I found a wonderful coach through Career Contessa. She helped me rewrite my resume and update my LinkedIn profile. She was very thorough and because she was a recruiter, she could offer feedback from that perspective.

    Sessions were about $225 and on an "as needed" basis. This was well worth it to me.

51. Laura SayersOctober 14,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

    It’s not your resume. I’ve been applying for 500 jobs every week for 3 months now. Just keep being diligent in applications. It’s all you can really do in this market. A recruiter told me - you can do everything right and still not be contacted right now with the volume of job seekers. Keep trying and try and stay positive. I’m with you. ❤️

52. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 12:49PM UTC

    I am with you too. I recently found a temporary contract work job and while fulltime would be ideal, I would just try to find something to get your foot in the door. I understand how frustrating it is becauseI have been there ever since covid. Good luck!

53. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 12:57PM UTC

    Yes, definitely have someone who’s qualified to look at it. Practice interview question and answers. If you can reach back out with a thank you despite you weren’t hired and ask for feedback reasons for decline and what the areas of opportunities are. Best wishes. You got this.

54. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 12:59PM UTC

    I am in the same boat, getting rejection for couple of months. Going through job drought condition and witnessing downward progression of my bank balance. I know how terrible is to walk through a path full of potholes of disappointment. Though, I always talk to my inner self and boost it to be ready for a better future, "Tomorrow will bring a good news, just hold on."

55. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 1:39PM UTC

    I had the same experience until I dissected my resume and LinkedIn profile. I updated them with keywords from jobs that interested me. Within a few days a recruiter contacted me and I signed on with them as a Consultant in just about a month. I have a short term contract that could be extended unless they offer me a permanent position, which they have. Taking a day or two to just focus on that totally paid off. I also added a detailed "About me" summary on LinkedIn. I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me! Best of luck to you and all those who have been searching. Your new job is out there waiting for you!

56. Nicole NeighborsOctober 14,2023 at 1:52PM UTC

    I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. The job market absolutely sucks right now.

    I don't know if you ever go on Reddit, but there is a subreddit called r/resumes that is full of great advice. I followed a lot of suggestions from several of the posts and revamped my resume.

    Google ATS resume templates so you can make sure your resume is in scannable format. I used one of the templates, then created a master copy of my resume.

    When I found a job I wanted to apply to, I would make a copy of the master resume and make sure my experience section contained keywords from the job posting.

    I hope this helps a bit. Keep your head up!

57. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 2:11PM UTC

    I paid for a professional resume service to review and redo my resume. It’s worth the money! They also can revamp your LinkedIn profile.

58. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 2:27PM UTC

    Hi! What service did you use?

59. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 9:58PM UTC

    TopResume.com

60. Estela JavaheriOctober 14,2023 at 4:26PM UTC

    I took myself off of lazy mode. I set aside some time on the weekend to regroup and edit my resume with more detailed important and relevant job functions and skills included in the resume to resonate with any job. I have lots of callbacks for interviews. You all can do it on your own, just focus it's like writing a story. There is no such thing as " over qualified", on the employer side that just means they wont pay you what you worth is.

61. Courtney CooperOctober 14,2023 at 8:03PM UTC

    I disagree with your point about over qualification. There are many reasons one might apply for a less demanding position. I am in that boat, as I have gone from senior marketing manager to caretaker. My mothers Alzheimer’s requires that I be at her home, but does not require my constant attention. I could get a remote managerial position, but I don’t want the stress and overtime I used to brush off. I prefer a specialist position, but I have 30 yrs experience and that’s a problem. Ageism (54) aside, I have been told repeatedly that the concern is an overqualified worker will have her own ways of doing things and may want to change strategies or tactics that the manager doesn’t think need changing—potentially upsetting the dynamic of the department. And, you’re correct that the typical perception is that overqualified employees won’t be satisfied with less responsibility and lower pay. Too risky with a stack of resumes available.

62. LORI-ANN BURLINGAMEOctober 14,2023 at 6:56PM UTC

    It is always a good idea to have your resume reviewed by someone else. Call and check with your local unemployment office before speaning any money. They often have specialist that can help you with this.

    Why are you applying for jobs you are over-qualified for?

    Job hunting is a full-time job and can be very frustrating. Have your listed with contractor/temporary agencies? What are your expectations? Do you have a plan or a list of objectives that you follow?

    Applying for jobs in the newspaper or posted online is the easy (lazy) way out. And, if it is not working for you -- why haven't your changed your strategy?

63. AnonymousOctober 16,2023 at 6:43PM UTC

    How else are you supposed to look for a job? "Pounding the pavement" doesn't work anymore.

64. Monica BencaOctober 15,2023 at 1:04AM UTC

    I completely understand. It's hard. It's even more difficult if you're unwilling to accept just any job.If you haven't yet tried Higher Ed. Or Public Sector take a look there. But, keep trying. We'll find something.

65. AnonymousOctober 15,2023 at 2:23PM UTC

    i am in a similar position. At 70, I am an NP with years of experience. I’ve applied and applied, I’m told my resume is being forwarded to the hiring manager , then nothing, nada, zip …how do I get around the age issue..?

66. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 16,2023 at 1:25AM UTC

    No one should be able to tell how old you are or how many years experience you have from your resume. It's common practice these days that anything over 10 or 15 years gets lopped off the resume.

    An NP - like a Nurse Practitioner? Have you signed up with nursing staffing firms? Or travel nurses? They make bank.

67. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 15,2023 at 11:17PM UTC

    I'm currently using Avature - which I have used before. This version is so different, it's basically a different system.

    The one I liked best was Invenius - but I don't think it would be a viable option for my current company.

    Truthfully, I pretty much hate them all. Every time I start a new job, I'm like "please let this one be better, but it never is".

68. AnonymousOctober 16,2023 at 2:03AM UTC

    I've reviewed resumes recently for a handful of competent, educated people who were discouraged at the lack of interviews. They've been varying degrees of terrible. Mostly they are focused on what they've done, without any connection to what they're trying to do. If you have a resume that focuses on how much you've done in a specific space or role, but that's not the role you're applying for, you aren't going to get a callback.

    You don't need to list specialized software unless it's directly relevant to the current job application. You don't need to do more than gloss over standard duties for well-known positions (we know that receptionists answer phones or teachers write lesson plans - toss it into a general job description, but don't dedicate a line item to those types of tasks). Less is more. I've got 25 years of experience across 8 jobs on a single page. The longer ago or less-relevant the job, the shorter the description or explanation.

    I personally don't care about the objective statement (or executive summary or whatever else people call it). It usually wastes space. You're applying for the job I posted. So your objective right this minute is to come work for me. Anything else needs to be in the cover letter. Use the cover letter and targeted resume to connect the dots for me in case I don't immediately understand how your previous (and usually in another field) jobs make you a good fit for THIS job.

    I hear people say they don't have time to curate their resume. I don't understand how curating 5 (or 12 or 20) resumes that are more likely to make it past a quick triage is somehow more of an effort than submitting 100 generic resumes - especially when the generic ones aren't resulting in interviews anyway. It's just screaming into the void when it should be a purposeful activity.

    Don't know if any of this applies to you, but everyone I've helped in this kind of situation has said they ARE targeting and customizing and from the hiring manager side, I 100% see why they haven't been getting any followup.

69. Teena JonesOctober 17,2023 at 12:18PM UTC

    thanks for actually explaining the difference.

70. AnonymousOctober 17,2023 at 11:28PM UTC

    Is it really worth it to list a job that has no reference to the one you are applying for? For instance, 7 years ago I worked as a home health aide, but, my current & relevant experience is as an Administrative Assistant.

71. AnonymousOctober 18,2023 at 11:48PM UTC

    I work for a state agency and HR determines the hiring rate partially based on your total years of work experience. People who don't list absolutely everything in my space are leaving money on the table. Plus, you often don't know what's going to stand out to someone. I didn't know one of my own staff had software background (because that's not our field and she didn't list it on her application) and wouldn't have offered her a promotion to a new position if one of my other staff (they became close friends) hadn't suggested her and explained the background when I was talking about the new role. I turned down one applicant because she'd never had a customer-facing role and those soft skills are critical in my office, even though she had the technical background nailed. If she'd spent some time in retail or waiting tables, I might have been more interested. In that case I asked, but a lot of hiring managers would have just moved on. In your specific case, the home health background (presuming it was longer than a few months) heavily implies you know about documentation, the importance of following detailed regulations, and you have substantial soft skills. You also likely actually care about your fellow humans. I would consider that very relevant experience in a customer-facing position.

72. eperry98661@gmail.comOctober 16,2023 at 6:07PM UTC

    Spend the money as an investment in yourself! It's totally worth it, and especially with AI assisted resume parsing these days. Also, be sure that you are getting a LinkedIn redo and a cover letter template along with the resume.

73. AnonymousOctober 16,2023 at 6:36PM UTC

    Absolutely. People come to this site for help, not criticism.

74. AnonymousOctober 18,2023 at 9:30PM UTC

    Took me close to 500 before getting my job.