I have started a job search after leaving a very challenging position.

Anonymous

February 1,2023 at 5:47PM UTC

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I have started a job search after leaving a very challenging position. I left last year and then got sick with Covid and then had an injury that I have now recovered from. I have received requests for my application for positions and have been contacted by recruiting agencies about positions but they were not always the right fit to my qualifications. I’m a senior person in my field but haven’t received any responses to the positions I’ve applied for. I had professional help with my resume so that’s good. I have even contacted previous colleagues to put in a good word when appropriate. It’s been about 6 weeks now and I haven’t had one interview besides a recruiting agency. Someone recently said that its because of salary expectations, but I’m actually looking for less than what is listed for my experience. What am I doing wrong?

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Cara HouserFebruary 1,2023 at 7:42PM UTC
Keep up the good work! Make sure your linked in profile is updated and optimized too. That's how most people will find you first.
Do some research on companies that especially fit your skills, experience, interests, and values, and reach to to 1st or 2nd degree connections there sharing what you admire about them, what you're especially skilled at/ passionate about, and how you think you can add value to help them advance their mission and goals.
Applicants need to connect the dots and illustrate how and why they can contribute to the organization, and if you can do that, it's a great way to start of the conversation.
Keep focused on shared success and take good care of yourself along the way as this process can be challenging and require a lot of energy.
All the best to you.
Michele SavinoFebruary 1,2023 at 9:07PM UTC
In my experience, recruiters are out for themselves. I have been strung along, even receiving an offer. That wasted 2 weeks just to not get the position. When I tried to contact the recruiter, she ghosted me. I am told recruiters are paid by how many people they place in positions.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 2,2023 at 5:55AM UTC
Yes, recruiters get paid for their work.
How they get paid depends on what kind of recruiter they are. Contingent recruiters (outside) recruiters are usually compensated either by full commission or by a base salary plus commish.
Internal/in-house corporate recruiters get paid a salary and typically do not receive extra compensation for positions filled.
YOU SAID: " I am told recruiters are paid by how many people they place in positions. "
So how is that a bad thing? Wouldn't that mean they want to place as many people as possible?
AnonymousFebruary 1,2023 at 10:14PM UTC
I’m not seeing any obvious errors on your part.
One obvious possibility is the economic slowdown. Companies might be opting to hold jobs vacant or to fill them at lower levels of seniority in order to save money.
As for recruiters, their objective is to fill the job for the client and move on. They do not respond to candidates unless the company has indicated interest in interviewing the candidate.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 2,2023 at 6:04AM UTC
YOU SAID: " I’m a senior person in my field but haven’t received any responses to the positions I’ve applied for."
I'm sorry that you're struggling. If you're not receiving responses to the positions you've applied for it's either the resume or the positions you're applying for.
I can't tell you how many times I've gotten to the end of an interview and said "I really like your background/experience but we have to fix this resume" only to be told "I just paid to have it professionally redone".
If you feel like it might be the salary expectations, you can try putting 0 or all zeros there.
YOU SAID: "I’m actually looking for less than what is listed for my experience."
Listed where? I'm not sure what you mean by this. And if you're undervaluing yourself that can work against you also. If I have a position that has a target salary of $150k and the applicant says they're looking for $100k, my first thought is they're probably not senior enough for my role.
What have you done so far in your job search? Where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles?
Is your LinkedIn profile filled out and up to snuff? Do you have the green “open to work” banner on your LI profile and the other “open to work” indicator that recruiters with a LinkedIn Recruiter license can see?
Are there specialty job sites you could be using? Do you have a degree? If so, are you utilizing the University's job site or alumni network?
AnonymousFebruary 4,2023 at 1:59PM UTC
What does this recruiter mean by writing “listed where?” New York City and other sophisticated job locations have a legal requirement that the salary range be posted on the job opening announcement. This is hardly uncommon. It was big, national news when the ordinance went into effect in New York City on January 1. Is this recruiter up-to-date on recruitment issues? The credibility of this recruiter’s expertise and advice comes into question.
AnonymousFebruary 4,2023 at 2:17PM UTC
There are MANY more states that don’t have this requirement. Since the person who posted didn’t mention living in NY, I don’t think we can assume they live there.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 4,2023 at 11:34PM UTC
I am most certainly up-to-date on pay transparency laws. Currently they are in effect in 7 states and additional municipalities.
The OP didn't say she was talking about the salary bands in job descriptions. She could be using a website like salary.com. That's why I asked what source she was getting this information from.
You do know that as a candidate you can find compensation information many multiple locations, right?
Asking a question hardly draws "The credibility of this recruiter’s expertise and advice comes into question."
And when I offer advice, I do it using my name.
Christi LopezFebruary 6,2023 at 2:25PM UTC
Once again, Joan, your response is on point. I love that you reply to specific statements and seek further information where needed. :)
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 6,2023 at 5:36PM UTC
Thanks, Christi!
AnonymousFebruary 4,2023 at 2:56PM UTC
It's probably not you it has been slow start to the year, but one thing to think about is asking for too little money is a red flag. Subconsciously people can think "oh wow, if that is all she thinks she is worth she must not be that good". I Just really had no idea how much I was worth or how little I was asking for. Once I readjusted and started asking for what I knew I was worth I started seeing people take me more seriously. "Oh wow, that is her number. She probably has the goods to back it up."