Has anyone been successful on their job search?

32 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 8:15PM UTC

   Unfortunately, there are many factors affecting today's job search market. Employers, job seekers, and those in the hiring process are ALL responsible. Maybe not everyone, but everyone in their sector gets lumped together. Hope that made sense. It's a "bad apple" kind of thing.

2. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 9:45PM UTC

   I have to agree. The economy and company landscape has drastically changed during the past year. Companies are very hesitant and skittish so to compensate they are conducting 8 interviews with 12 people involved instead of your usual 3 or 4 very focused rounds.

   Job descriptions change mid interview, no one wants to move forward and the salary bands are very low.

   This all points to fear and uncertainty on the part of employers.

3. AnonymousJanuary 21,2023 at 5:57PM UTC

   The market is flooded with high quality talent. It's hard everywhere. Work your network and be honest about what you can do but not desperate and don't lose hope or badmouth previous employers. It will take longer to find the right home in this market.

4. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 1:34PM UTC

   I’m 60. Left a toxic work environment & Took 7 months off last year to decompress and have knee replacement surgery. Now it seems ageism has descended upon me. It’s real, and it sucks. They want to pay $20 for 23 years of experience. All I can say is keep at it! And good luck!

5. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 1:35PM UTC

   It's mostly $15 for me...

6. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 1:43PM UTC

   I’ve found it to be difficult. I have stayed in a toxic environment for far too long believing that it would get better and it never did. Now I’ve found I’ve turned into the escape goat for them - (I’ve been bullied And name called. When I ask for documentation to support acquisitions - all I get are - these are generalizations). the added stress is not helping the search.

7. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 3:28PM UTC

   It's what happens when you are the official "office old bag." You can forget about ever being treated with an ounce of respect. And even when you suck it up and accept rotten treatment (in the interest of getting paid), it does not matter.

8. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 2:13PM UTC

   I was termed in March of 2020 - right when the world shut down. I took a few weeks off to re-group, then found a great contract role, which led to another great contract role, which led to the permanent role I’m in now. It was two years, but I never gave up hope. BTW, I’m 53 so ageism is definitely there.

9. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 2:20PM UTC

   I felt the same way , I worked for a company I liked but a boss that would make fun of me, stop me from moving into any other position basically it was horrible made sick for a year ,but finally I was able to turn my attitude around ( he never changed at all) something had to I was making myself sick with the stress

   it took me over a year so many applications so many many interviews so many times I wanted to give up ,

   but I stuck with it and pictured myself getting the job offer everyday sometimes 3-4 times a day lol

   finally I got the new job offer , I fought my manager over the notice period and I won .

   I am so much happier now!! More money ( not a lot more but enough) and my new manager is so much better the team is fantastic and the company encourages you to learn new skills and move around if you want to ,

   I am female over 60 , yes you can find the perfect job I’m learning some new skills and I love it my advice change your resume , talk to a career counselor if you need to but start believing it’s possible and be yourself during interviews once I decided it was possible and I stopped worrying about my age and relaxing it startled to come together

10. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 4:32PM UTC

    I am also over 60 and I start my job on Monday. Your message is to believe in yourself, don't focus on your age, focus on your skills and do give up! Great advise!

11. AnonymousJanuary 24,2023 at 1:49AM UTC

    There will be tough days, but don't you dare give up! You've got this!

12. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 3:00PM UTC

    Don't lose hope! I'm 56 and I was downsized in May, and landed a full time job offer at a higher level and a great company in October. I was very fortunate to have received a generous severance package with the layoff so I took a couple of months to take care of myself, including getting therapy because the previous environment was very toxic and I didn't want to take that trauma into my new workplace. Once I seriously started looking for work, it took 2.5 months to land a new FTE role. Some of the things that I think led to me getting the role were:
    1. Being clear with myself and potential employers about what I'm looking for. There were some great roles that I screened out because the salary or level was way too low.
    2. I had a multi-level strategy for job hunting. I set up multiple job alerts on LinkedIn, Google searches on desired job titles, Indeed searches, and notifications at companies where I really wanted to work in my industry. Every single day, that was my job to carefully review the results and submit my applications.
    3. I compelled myself to apply for at least two to three jobs everyday.
    4. I took mental breaks on Saturdays because job hunting IS scary and taxing especially as a mature worker.
    5. I used the discreet "open to work" setting on LinkedIn/No green banner for me. I still got many recruiters in my inbox. I set up screening interviews with them for relationship building and other potential opportunities.
    6. I connected with headhunters. 7. I didn't waste anyone's time including my own if I knew the company or role was not going to be a match for my professional goals. While some may say that's risky, for me, it was a matter of trying to set myself up for success versus desperation.
    By the time I got the job offer, I was still in the interview process with destination companies. I even had one company insist on interviewing me even though I told them I already accepted another offer! I don't want to make it sound easy because it wasn't. I personally just grounded myself in my faith, made sure that when the opportunities came, I was mentally and professionally ready to be on top of my game. Sending you light and love for the best as well!

13. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 4:26PM UTC

    You are so inspiring and you have a great success plan that will help so many other people with their job search!

14. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 6:06PM UTC

    Thank you <3 I don't want anyone to give up because they don't readily see a path forward. There's always a path.

15. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 10:31PM UTC

    Thank you for the positive notes!!

16. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 3:24PM UTC

    You are getting old AND it is ten thousand times harder. I have not had a full time job in over 12 years. The people in charge of hiring are all forty years younger than me. I was given the boot at age 40. I was given the excuse that "you will just leave when something better comes along." If they had hired me then, I would have stayed 20 years because there is quite literally nothing better.

    They say it takes an average of 7 months of continuous searching to get a job. I WISH!!!! I HAVE BEEN BASHING MY BRAINS OUT AGAINST A SOLID CONCRETE WALL FOR OVER 20 YEAERS AND I HAVE ABSOLUTE ZERO POINT ZERO TO SHOW FOR IT.

    Sorry to be such a debbie downer, but it is the absolute 1000% truth. I was literally about to go to ChatGPT to write my cover letter because I feel like I have nothing to lose (who better to write for an AI chatbot that another AI chatbot). But of course everyone in the entire world has the same idea right now after the feature story on CBS.

    Who cares about learning, or perfect when we have a chatbot to do it all. SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!

    I am all for kids using this crap to write their term papers. Why the EFF not?

17. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 3:30PM UTC

    I’m experiencing the same. Being thrown out like expired milk

18. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 4:19PM UTC

    Yes, I am near retirement age. I continuously applied for jobs and had some great interviews, which I thought would result in a job offer. The outcome was always: "You were a top contender, however we decided to go with a candidate who's skills were more aligned with the position." After about eight months, I was about to give up, when I interviewed and received a job offer for a position, that pays 25% more, along with competitive benefits. Was this luck or a blessing, I'm not sure, however I applied for twice as many jobs and my resume spoke for itself. I think what worked for me, is I applied for all sorts of jobs and this particular position was different than my last couple of jobs. I'm going to quote Oprah Winfrey from many, many years ago and it stuck with me: "Luck is when preparation and opportunity comes together". My advice, (1) apply for two or three times the number of jobs; (2) apply for jobs that you may not totally qualify for, but have some of the skills and pays a competitive salary; (3) creative several different search criteria through job boards, my favorite is indeed.com; (4) try to apply through the company's website (if possible), and attach a customized cover letter for each job. I know this all sounds so daunting, however as you know it's a competitive job market and you have go outside of your comfort zone. Don't stop applying, because there are currently "five generations" of people working in the workforce today and many people are working until they at their full-retirement age. My very best wishes are for you and all of the older workers, who feel they will not find a job. You will, don't give up!

19. EPJanuary 23,2023 at 5:46AM UTC

    Yes, going a bit outside your main experience got me the job too. It wasn’t far out but I sold myself with a cover letter that was great if I say so myself. I know it was that cover letter that did it. Full of enthusiasm, why and what I can offer despite experience not wholly targeted to the position but mostly. Im 60 so it can be done. Be positive and be prepared. Don’t leave any stone unturned. Ask friends or other people who have been successful in their job hunt to help you interview or review your resume etc.

20. Rita PalanjianJanuary 27,2023 at 4:57AM UTC

    Thank you for uplifting post. Did you tailor your resume to match each of the roles you applied for?

21. AnonymousJanuary 23,2023 at 2:20AM UTC

    I'm having the same issue. What makes it worse is I had asked fir personal leave from my last job long story short they terminated me. Already going through alot and now this. I'm sure i5s going to make it that much harder for me to find a new job. Well good luck to you. I'm sure you will get something soon.

22. Sabrina CortesJanuary 23,2023 at 3:54AM UTC

    I think the market is much more challenging, especially since so many of the large corporations (Google, Amazon, and now Microsoft) are having mass layoffs.

    I'm a professional Resume Writer and want to encourage you to tailor your resume to each job you apply for. Tailoring your resume means that you include the actionable keywords, skills, and phrases in your resume and cover letter. This significantly increases your chances of passing the ATS (applicant tracking system) scanning process AND recruiters finding you when they search the terms and keywords.

    I'm always available if you'd like me to take a look at your resume. I'll give you a free review with some other helpful tips. If you're interested, you can email me at sabrina@writewithsabrina.com. I'm not spammy because I don't like spammy emails, so I don't do it to others. :)

    If you have any questions, I'm here for them too. I hope this helps!

    Sending you positive vibes!

23. Vanda LeeJanuary 23,2023 at 3:55AM UTC

    Lots of good advice on here. My only addition after looking for 6 months - is NETWORK! Don't be afraid to reach out and connect on Linkedin to people who work for companies you are interested in or apply to. I also looked at the people tab and connected to industry peers that had connections as well. I was at first and my job coach basically said - why? what do you have to lose? I think it's human nature not to appear vulnerable but there are so many in the same boat! Don't give up - stay focused and persistent. I just landed a great position that is better than I expected. Best of luck to you.

24. EPJanuary 23,2023 at 5:37AM UTC

    I have not networked and I’ve had good luck with employment. Targeted Experience and stellar references speak volumes.

25. Vanda LeeJanuary 24,2023 at 2:52AM UTC

    I have 35 years of experience & probably that many stellar references....guess it depends what industry you're in.

26. EPJanuary 23,2023 at 5:36AM UTC

    I live near in the Bay Area and I’ve had no problem over the years and I just turned 60. It took me a few months to find a job and I start Monday and had two offers. I had speCialized over the years so they had a tough time finding someone with my skills. Present yourself well, sell yourself, don’t apply to any job that isn’t targeted to your experience. If I was in a small town then it would probably be difficult but I’ve always been with in Boston or SF. Makes a big difference.

27. AnonymousJanuary 24,2023 at 8:15PM UTC

    Not yet BUT, today I did a google search for resume examples in my field and it confirmed what I already knew. My resume needed a makeover. This one site walked me through it in 30 minutes and cost less than $3.00! Then, to my delight a job posted on Indeed for a part-time position (I’m 60, partially self employed and only looking for PT work) in the next town in an industry that happens to be a passion of mine! Fingers crossed to all of us!

28. AnonymousJanuary 25,2023 at 12:35PM UTC

    I will be 62 next month and I'm a licensed clinical social worker. I was just hired as a clinical supervisor for a small agency for a fully remote job (exactly what I was looking for). I'd been looking since the beginning of October and had numerous interviews that went nowhere. I was considering positions that were outside of the original parameters that I had set for myself because I was getting so discouraged. Don't give up. Keep pursuing the job you want and be persistent. Good luck!

29. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 5:05AM UTC

    i’m 60 and have been in search for two years. I did not have clarity from the start of what I wanted to do. I’ve hired coaches. The point that I blow my chances is during interviews. It’s difficult for me, and I feel like I have to fake being positive and happy. There are days the discouragement is a bit much; I’m moving forward.

30. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 2:49PM UTC

    You blow your chances because they are staring at you and judging you on your age. Just because some 60 year old got a job does not mean it is not damn near impossible for the rest of us.

31. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 7:12PM UTC

    Don’t give up! Keep the fait and keep trying.

    I haven’t gotten an offer yet. But I have been successful networking so that if/when the right job opens up. I’ll be networked in.

32. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 11:59PM UTC

    I am about your age it took me months to find anew job however once I relaxed an didn’t worry about my age or what they thought and just became myself and relaxed I had two great interviews and a job offer, I now have anew job and am happier than ever. Relax, be yourself and be positive it makes a difference