Advice needed!

Anonymous

October 30,2023 at 7:13PM UTC

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Advice needed!

I feel stuck. I am 31, and have had 4 jobs in my working career. I spent 8 years with a company that I planned on retiring with (from 20 to 28 years old). I moved to a new state with this company on the promise that I could transition to a new field in order to continue my growth with them. I was successful in my position, had proven success in the field I wanted to transition to without the title, but after picking up my life and moving to a new state with this company, they would not let me transition until after I spent another 4 years in my current position. This was not what I was promised before moving and my manager at the time gave me zero support in adapting to a new environment. I was struggling to keep going, and ended up leaving them a mere few weeks before Covid initially hit in 2020. I was sad to leave, but I was unable to continue with the lack of support and broken promises.

After that, I found a new position with a different company I ended up loving. I had no issues adapting to the new job and had hoped it would be a long term investment. The downfall was that pay was well below market value and I was unable to pay my bills monthly. I built up debt working with them from putting bills off as long as I could, but ended up having to leave due to the financial issues it caused me.

I then transitioned into a company, who I am with now, and I am miserable. This company is an absolute joke and has no care for their employees at any level. My boss is not efficient in his position and he prefers to pretend issues don't exist until they explode in your face. This company is in 4 different countries and has 70+ locations, but the corporate side runs it like a small mom and pop business. It is disorganized, has no training system, communication is terrible, and the different organizations within the company do not coincide with each other. It's utter chaos and I hate working there.

I'm at a point where I am searching for something better, ideally long term as I hate job hopping. I have been searching for months and have found nothing that will meet my current pay rate (which really isn't that much). I have a degree, I have shown long term employment when I have room for growth and development, and I have experience in different fields now. And yet I cannot find a job. Can't even get calls back for interviews. I have updated my resume and am active on a handful of different job boards. I have physically visited places and spoke with management in house for inquiries, but still no luck on anything. I am getting very discouraged and am beginning to feel like I am going to be stuck at this crap-tastic company forever. How do I gain an edge over other applicants to up my chances of getting a better position?

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AnonymousOctober 30,2023 at 9:27PM UTC
It's a horrible market right now but networking and patience pays off long term.
Unfortunately we are all struggling so be thankful that you remain employed and keep at it.
AnonymousOctober 31,2023 at 12:06AM UTC
It might help to reframe the situation a little bit. It is not unusual for people to change jobs a few times within a decade or so, especially early in one's career. Your concern about job hopping does not seem warranted. Also, although you have been searching for months and taking steps toward your goal, there might be other strategies you might consider.
To echo what is in another comment, networking and patience go a long way. Having full awareness of your desired end goal is key, too. It sounds as if work environment, compatibility with your manager, longevity with an organization, career advancement options and salary are your priorities as you job search. Are you keeping these wish list items in mind as you network? Are you targeting specific roles within specific organizations, or are you more broadly job searching? If the latter, perhaps you can reexamine what you truly want in a new job and a new employer and what approaches you are utilizing to find a new job.
It is unclear if you are dropping in unexpectedly to speak with management. If this has been one of your strategies, shifting to scheduling appointments for a limited time, 10 to 20 minutes, at a mutually agreed upon time and place, might lead to better outcomes. What are your expectations for these meetings? An informational interview be considered an opportunity to request introductions to others to expand your network, to learn more about the person you are interviewing achieved a level of career success you aspire to and to determine if there are any gaps in your skills that will hold you back from landing your ideal job.
You might benefit by talking with a career counselor. There are free services available within high schools, colleges and universities, nonprofits and job centers.
Good luck!
AnonymousNovember 1,2023 at 12:51PM UTC
I'm not sure what your degree is or what industries you have worked in, but it sounds varied. You may need more focus within your resume content when applying for jobs. Highlight the transferrable skills that apply to all the places you have worked (customer service, software used, that type of thing), and weed out "fluff" that doesn't apply to the job you are applying for. Many jobs are looking for specialized skills, which makes it hard for someone who has been a "generalist." You may want to seek out a career coach and have them review your resume.
AnonymousNovember 1,2023 at 2:27PM UTC
Well first things—stay positive!! You sound like you’ve gotten some really good experiences, and bad jobs teach you a lot about how to find good ones. 4 jobs in that timeframe isn’t much at all. You’ve stuck with companies probably longer than you needed to but it sounds like you’re well aware of your value and are looking to be paid what you’re worth—good on you!
This time of year hiring can really slow down so don’t be too discouraged. But make sure your resume is not just updated but also polished. Dont just talk about what you did at a previous role talk to the value you added and the impact you had while in your role. And don’t be afraid to look to move up a bit in terms of title and pay. Women so often sell themselves short when applying because they don’t have all the qualifications listed in the job description. Or maybe you’re ready to earn more and you should be considering a title/responsibility bump. Apply for some roles outside of your comfort zone that may push you a bit.
Try to remain possitive and hopeful. The right role will come along. And when an opportunity does make sure you examine it against the lense of everything you’ve learned from past roles. Ask the tough questions and make sure it’s a good fit for you to grow professionally. Wishing you the very best in your search.
AnonymousNovember 1,2023 at 5:08PM UTC
Take time when you are not working to do some training and remain positive. The job search these days even for stable productive folks like you can be up to a year. Don't take your baggage into conversations and never badmouth a former or current employer. Always write a cover note that aligns your experience with their role and use your network for getting in the door. Never hang a price tag over your head and be prepared to take less if it means being in a better place. I know this might not seem like good advice given what you have shared but just applying these days is not enough. Balance out the applications with things to feed your soul and mental health and if your current company has an EAP with free counseling use that for additional support. Good luck!
Kimberly AnneNovember 1,2023 at 6:51PM UTC
And who knows maybe even each other. Lol
Joann S. LublinNovember 3,2023 at 12:13PM UTC
You also should consider seeking a part-time consutling contract with next potential employer so both sides can kick the tires and see whether it's a good fit. But. you also need to make sure you don't accept another permanent gig without first doing a deep dive to learn more about the corporate culture by reaching out to former staffers for insights. Let us know how it goes!
ny2phillyNovember 3,2023 at 12:39PM UTC
I don’t know where you are living presently but there are jobs to be had. Your resume or LinkedIn profile may not be aligned to the positions you are applying to since you’re not even getting any bites!
ny2phillyNovember 3,2023 at 12:45PM UTC
Others have left great advice. And hiring does really slow down in Nov/Dec.
Christi MillerNovember 3,2023 at 9:51PM UTC
I have seen many you tubers lately that offer resume advice to use different AI tools based on the job you are applying for. The AI tool takes the job you are applying for and creates a custom resume to match.
Maggie StoneNovember 4,2023 at 11:54AM UTC
Now seems like the ideal time to explore what you really want in a career.
The primary question is does your career line up with your values, strengths, and interests? Keep in mind career development can be lifelong. What Color is your Parachute? Is a great timeless timeless resource that provides a a ton of information on navigating changes. Also, here’s a link to some free career assessments: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/best-free-career-assessment-tools. Best of luck in your next adventure.