Desperately trying to leave my toxic job!

Anonymous

April 4,2022 at 2:38PM UTC

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Desperately trying to leave my toxic job!

I’ve been at my current job for over a year, and have been verbally abused and harassed by senior management for about six months. They pay me well below what I’m worth, and I am desperate to find a new job! My marketing team has dwindled down to just me. Last week, they hired a new (unqualified) person, and I am too discouraged and depressed to train them.

I have sent probably 100+ applications in the past couple months, and I’ve only had one interview. Is it my resume? Am I applying for jobs too senior?

After 7 years of being a graphic designer and marketing coordinator, I feel like applying for a Creative Services Manager, Senior Designer or Art Director position isn’t far-fetched, but I have had no luck in getting any kind of response. Please help :(

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AnonymousApril 4,2022 at 3:27PM UTC
Might be time to find a mentor or professional contact that can help by reviewing your resume and providing constructive feedback on how to improve your candidacy. You might also see if your college has alumni services that could offer support.
Additionally, I'd start hard-core networking with peers in your universe. Start spreading that word that you're looking and are trying to make the jump to more senior positions. Commit to a certain number of contacts each week and hold yourself accountable. I'd also look at professional organizations who might offer networking receptions or professional development events.
It sounds like you've been very traumatized in your current role. You're going to have to make a conscious decision to recraft this narrative as you interview with potential employers. You sounds very whiny in your post and I would urge tremendous caution to make sure this doesn't come out in your interviews.
When someone asks why you're looking after just a year, you'll need to be totally polished with a compelling narrative on looking for new opportunities, branching out in a sr. designer or art director role, and why you are qualified and capable of these increased responsibilities.
Best of luck in your search.
AnonymousApril 4,2022 at 3:36PM UTC
Thank you so much for the feedback. I definitely need to look into networking - I have always been too shy to reach out, but it’s time. Also thank you for the advice about recrafting the narrative of my current position.
Barb HansenApril 4,2022 at 3:46PM UTC
100:1 are not great odds, so it might be time for a resume review.
If you have someone in your network who is a hiring manager (not someone hiring, just someone who hires people like you), ask them to review your resume. They should be able to give you their honest opinion on if they would ask to interview someone like you if they were hiring.
Another option is to find a professional resume writer/career coach and pay them to revamp your resume.
I hire marketing and graphics people, so if you don't know someone who you would feel comfortable asking to review your resume, I'm happy to do that for you. DM me and i'll send you my email address.
I'm not an HR professional, I'm a hiring manager, so I can't speak to changing your resume to get through the ATSs but I can let you know if I would bring you in for an interview (based on your resume) and what changes I would suggest.
Best of luck.
Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterApril 4,2022 at 4:15PM UTC
As a Master Resume Writer, I would be glad to take a look at your resume. DM me if you are interested.
AnonymousApril 4,2022 at 5:01PM UTC
Yes, you need to get out of there immediately! No job is worth staying in a toxic work environment. Your health and well-being should always come first.
Does your resume demonstrate your leadership skill? Maybe you are missing some of the keywords for these management positions. I recently took a resume writing course on LinkedIn which was helpful. You might want to consider doing that as well for some additional advice.
You could also reach out to a consulting company or even consider freelance work with your skillset. There are so many options. Best of luck on your journey!
AnonymousApril 4,2022 at 5:25PM UTC
I will look into that LinkedIn class!
Kimberley Ferretti HammettApril 4,2022 at 5:47PM UTC
Some good advice here on resume review! Hard to say it's you're resume without seeing it (and still impossible to truly know for sure) but my best guess would be that you're being filtered out because the leadership competencies aren't obviously displayed on your resume.
Other than the resume piece though, how is your networking? Do you have contacts you could reach out to at some of the places you're interested in working for? Do you have a LinkedIn presence that displays a portfolio of work and interest in leadership? Are you trying to connect with employers you like even if they don't have a job posted? You don't have to be doing all of these things, but figure out a way that you can comfortably put yourself out there more. There might be roles out there that have a different title than you expect or are currently in an internal search but not doing well or even that haven't been decided on yet but would benefit the company if the right person were to come along. There are a LOT more opportunities out there than what is listed in an Indeed search. Lean into your creativity to check out other avenues ;)
Sabrina CortesApril 4,2022 at 8:28PM UTC
I'm a professional Resume Writer and would love to offer you a free resume review! If you're interested, feel free to email me at sabrina@writewithsabrina.com.
In the meantime, make sure you're tailoring your resume to EACH job posting that you apply for. This increases your chances of passing through the applicant tracking system (ATS) scanning process. Once your resume gets past these software systems then, Recruiters and Hiring Managers see your resume. If it doesn't meet the criteria to pass the scanning process, then your resume isn't passed on. This is why I always emphasize to my clients the importance of tailoring your resume.
I hope this helps and best of luck to you!!
AnonymousApril 5,2022 at 1:21PM UTC
I recently changed roles and had a hard time as well. To put it in perspective, I sent out 100s of applications and only received ONE call back for an interview, which also happens to be my current role. So hang in there!
I happen to know a bit about keywords so I did optimize both my resume and LinkedIn for those. I also submitted a cover letter, but what ended up landing me my interview, and ultimately my new role, was I added a sample of work PowerPoint.
Structure was:
1) Cover with the company logo I was applying for and my headshot with 3 core skills related to the role next to it. I wanted them to see me as part of their company :) while also showing them that the deck was intended for them
2) About me page beyond my resume: awards, volunteer experience, advocacy, cool tidbits with some photos to showcase my bullets. I kept it professional but also wanted to be more than black and white copy on an 8.5x11 page.
3) A progression chart of my experience. I made a visual to show how each role I've had was a n advancement in my career, highlighting a few key skills I developed with each
4) Samples of work. I'm in marketing so I included samples of key types of programs I knew were related to the role with visuals and KPIs included. This is definitely something you could easily do to showcase how dynamic your design skills are: html, print ads, digital ads, designing for UX, meeting accessibility requirements, font knowledge, etc.
I was lucky enough that my application went directly to the hiring manager, so you never know who's on the receiving end once you hit submit. Good luck and hang in there!
AnonymousApril 6,2022 at 6:32PM UTC
I love this idea!!! Thank you so much
Ashley KingApril 7,2022 at 4:07PM UTC
This is great advice!
Kala Kincaid CallahanApril 8,2022 at 2:36AM UTC
Excellent advice
AnonymousApril 5,2022 at 1:57PM UTC
100+ applications? Your resume is not communicating your value and expertise. You could benefit from some coaching and a rewrite to get you where you need to be.
Sophie JoernApril 6,2022 at 3:35PM UTC
I am sorry about your situation - you do not deserve to feel unsafe in your work environment. Searching for a new job can be daunting, but right now is not a bad time to be looking for a new opportunity. Per the comments below, sometimes the way your resume is structured can be the first sticking point, especially if it is not ATS friendly. Never fear though, this one is an easy fix! There are a lot of resources out there to help. Also, I would consider the roles you are applying for. I know you had mentioned you are wanting to apply for a management role, but I would be open minded to other roles in marketing that are of interest to you. With the right organization, you may have the opportunity to move into a management role! Keep your head up and eyes open and the right opportunity will come your way :)
MarlainaApril 7,2022 at 1:23PM UTC
I totally feel this frustration! It def could be your resume. I learned a lot taking a career boot camp with Erin Thomas- she’s amazing! And I found her on here through another recommendation. Sadly can’t “tag” on here but If you search you’ll find her ! Highly recommend! She helps with mindset shifts too which I know I’ve needed in these positions and searches . Good luck and try to keep your head up- and yes totally easier said than done!
froerden@yahoo.comApril 7,2022 at 1:33PM UTC
I hate to say it but maybe it’s the company you work for that is on your resume. Word gets around so quickly and easily that this is a toxic place. It’s possible that hiring managers don’t even want to give you a shot once they see you’ve been there for 7 years. They may assume you’re part of the toxic environment at your company. I don’t know how to counter that but I hope others offering advice here can help address this. I say this because it happened to me. I got past it by going into a different direction. Good luck.
Abbie MunafoApril 7,2022 at 1:44PM UTC
It could definitely be your resume (e.g., are there typos? Is the experience you list not fully capturing the depth of your expertise? Are you including strengths related to their industries?) but it could also be the roles you're seeking. 7 years of combined graphics + marketing coordinating seems like potentially a level below Manager or Senior Designer at any medium-to-large company. Maybe aim for roles at a smaller company, or aim for a less senior role at a larger company. Good luck!
C AllenApril 7,2022 at 2:07PM UTC
Sounds like it would be worth your money to hire a resume writing service. They don't just do the writing for you, they also consult so that you are conveying the best attributes.
Mary JohnsonApril 7,2022 at 5:34PM UTC
Not sure if this is allowed, so apologies if not. There is a group on a certain social media site called Women in Marketing. If you can find it you could post your CV on there and ask for feedback.