Let's talk about the job market.

24 Comments

1. Kris Mertins-ElliottJanuary 22,2022 at 12:39PM UTC

   That has to be frustrating! Have you considered working with a recruiter? Maybe your resume' needs some "spark" added to it, something to grab a potential employer's attention? There are a couple of recruiters/resume' writers that I follow on LinkedIn. Robin Storey, for one, offers great advice all the time. Maybe she, or someone in her role, could help? Best of luck to you!

2. Theresa BlackburnJanuary 22,2022 at 4:04PM UTC

   That's frustrating. I know that networking during the pandemic is challenging, but I am curious -- what are you doing to network? Are you networking on LinkedIn, for example? Have you joined networking groups her on FGB?

   Let us know more about your job hunt and your networking strategies.

3. AnonymousJanuary 23,2022 at 5:39AM UTC

   Keep trying there are some great company go to remote.com or Velocity Global it’s 100% remote they are looking some people to hire check them on LinkedIn!

4. Beth HarrisonJanuary 23,2022 at 1:10PM UTC

   I’m right there with you! I’ve gotten my resume redone (2x) I’m sharp, hard working and have 20+ years experience. So aggravating

5. AnonymousJanuary 23,2022 at 9:10PM UTC

   Let’s not forget the ageism is real problem. They shy away from people like you and me because they can hire young for cheap. I also see a trend of workplace abuse that only young people right in the market might accept and an older worker will not.

6. AnonymousJanuary 23,2022 at 1:11PM UTC

   I agree-I’m facing the same issues. And recruiters don’t call me back-it seems that if they aren’t making the first move they aren’t interested. I’m also told I have “too much experience” and am looking for too much money. Which I don’t believe because I’m being paid what I’m asking now…so someone is willing to pay that! I have set up a meeting with a career coach and am getting ready to shell out some $$$ to upgrade my resume and myself.

   I guess just keep at it. One thing I did was look at the linked in profiles of people that I knew on my field who were successful, and I tried to use the same approach that they did.

7. AnonymousJanuary 23,2022 at 1:31PM UTC

   Same problem here and I'm feeling very discouraged about it.

8. MelanieJanuary 23,2022 at 1:43PM UTC

   What industry are you in? I am sure that must play a big role in job supply/demand. For me, I was geographically challenged and simply could not move to where the jobs I wanted were located. Other than that, I’d say reach out to mentors or past colleagues that you can have a conversation with and maybe have them look at your resume.

9. AnonymousJanuary 23,2022 at 4:46PM UTC

   There are jobs out there...if you want to work in retail, distribution, industry, food service, health care...people abandoned those jobs in droves because of safety issues, pay issues, burnout, etc.

10. Joan Marie VerbaJanuary 23,2022 at 6:14PM UTC

    That's right...the "so many jobs" refers to those jobs in hospitality, health care, retail, assembly, transportation, etc. If you want a job in the tech sector, for instance, there are dozens of applicants for each job.

11. AnonymousJanuary 24,2022 at 1:37PM UTC

    i think she is saying that she is looking for a job that fits her experience and skill set. In order to get hired at McDonald’s my husband had to take his college and all job history off his resume.

12. AnonymousJanuary 23,2022 at 7:45PM UTC

    I feel that. I was out of work a year, and then I only got my current job because an old boss reached out. It’s not even a good fit for me, and I’m miserable. But I just can’t get people to bite on my resume.

13. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 23,2022 at 7:57PM UTC

    I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time. What do you do?

    If you're getting no bites, I'd start with the resume. Take a look at the job descriptions of the positions you're applying for. If you have that experience, is it reflected on your resume?

    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 date? Where are you looking for positions?

14. RobinJanuary 23,2022 at 8:26PM UTC

    I never had a problem finding a job, this almost 5 month search, was exhausting, so many phone interviews, and teams(zoom or video) and then nothing. The ones that still went old school in person was where I shined. I was offered 2 jobs within 2 weeks., took the second one. Good luck hold your head up

15. 60isthenew40January 23,2022 at 9:53PM UTC

    I feel you. I've been unemployed for 18 months and while my job search activity went up and down (I took some time off to help a family member when her kids had to remote school then started up again last summer then took another break during the holidays), I would either be ignored or rejected. Like you, I am qualified, smart, and have tons of experience and a great employment record.

    There is a job out there for you and you will find it (me too). I know for me when I first got laid off (the company closed due to the pandemic), I had absolutely no idea how to job hunt in the 21st century! I'd worked for my last company for over 20 years and so I didn't know about getting past the ATS, etc. I'm sure the first couple dozen resumes I sent out never got seen by a human being because of this. I then learned that you had to customize your resume with keywords, format it so that it was bot-friendly, etc. and I started getting hits. Still no offers, but at least I knew it was being seen.

    I'm now at the third interview stage for a great company and while I don't want to presume that they'll make an offer, I am happy to have gotten this far with them! If it doesn't work out, however, I'll just go back to the drawing board and keep plugging away. It can be soul-crushing if you take it personally, so just recognize it's a numbers game. In the end it will be worth it when you match up with your perfect company.

    Best of luck!

16. Joanna GiordanoJanuary 23,2022 at 9:54PM UTC

    It’s not you per se. It’s probably how you’re coming across in the resume. Maybe off-target or over-qualified. Good advice in these comments: ramp up to network if you can somehow, reach out to previous contacts/colleagues to let them know you’re searching, get fresh and HONEST eyes on your resume.

    good luck! When it rains, it pours so maybe a couple offers are around the corner for you.

17. AnonymousJanuary 24,2022 at 5:22AM UTC

    Absolutely. Having the same experience.

18. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachJanuary 24,2022 at 8:35PM UTC

    see my comment above ! It may help you too :)

19. Daphne ValcinJanuary 24,2022 at 10:22AM UTC

    I believe that the most jobs available are in industries that have experienced the most stress as a result of the pandemic such as retail and foodservice. Though there might be less frequent opportunities in certain other sectors, there are still a number of people who are applying who have left other roles for various roles, which creates additional competition. I would agree with the other commenters in ensuring that your job search package is as competitive as possible.

20. AnonymousJanuary 24,2022 at 2:29PM UTC

    The job market is very different for each industry. So when they say there are "so many jobs" they are generalizing. I would start by doing job market research for your area. This can also help when you get an offer and want to negotiate salary. Some markets are hot like nursing, teaching, retail because they just cannot find enough others are not. It also depends on geographic location.

    Tailor your resume to each job description and maybe have someone else look over it. If you went to CC or a University sometimes their career centers offer services to alumni which can be a good place to start as well. Doesn't matter how long you have been gone for some.

    If your financials allow, maybe take a day or two off from looking. It can be very draining and a mental break can be good but only if you aren't going to stress more about money.

21. Karen GongawareJanuary 24,2022 at 4:18PM UTC

    Unfortunately motivated and smart do not translate well on paper. Qualified does. So, make sure you are tailoring your resume to the job and showing cross over skills too. Keep it relevant and focused!

22. AnonymousJanuary 24,2022 at 4:33PM UTC

    I am assuming that the positions are remote only in the short-term and will require in-person once things are safe. That's the issue with so many job that are advertised as remote - which can change and you may be required to move or lose your job.

23. E CJanuary 24,2022 at 8:25PM UTC

    Asking as nicely as possible. What's your professional reputation? I work in a very small field. If a person has a poor reputation, they can send all the resumes they want but may not get a reply. Do you have a trusted colleague or mentor who could give you honest feedback? Very best wishes to you.

24. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachJanuary 24,2022 at 8:34PM UTC

    Hey Anonymous! Take a look to see if your resume really shows results you've delivered in previous roles (not just tasks you were responsible for) and includes skills they are looking for in the roles you are applying for.

    What is your networking strategy like?