© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
Having a tough time
I appreciate any advice, and thank you in advance. I’m having a tough time with the job search. I really don’t like my current job, but prior to this, I took 6 years off to have kids and move a few times. I was previously in medical sales, but I got tired of being “typecast” as a sales, and I wanted to move into a management type of role. I went back and got my masters in healthcare management, then had my kids. I have only been at this job 8 months, but it is not at all the position that I was hired for (a bait and switch). I have spoken to my manager and several directors about wanting to do more, or a different role in the healthcare division, but I sit at a desk doing secretarial work and get treated like the 39 year old intern.
I have been searching for another job in the healthcare field (my current title is healthcare marketing, but I work in logistics, not healthcare). I have applied to over 50 jobs, spoken to a few recruiters, have been networking and going to conferences, but the recruiters say they can’t see past my medical sales background or that most jobs are looking for 5-7 years of very specific experience. I can’t even get a phone interview anywhere.
I keep hearing about record low unemployment, and see jobs that I have applied for posted for months, but I either hear nothing or get generic rejection letters. I try to contact recruiters for the positions on LinkedIn, but none will answer my messages.
It’s really hard to not be completely depressed and defeated. I have cried leaving work more times than I care to admit, I don’t feel like they see any value in me no matter what I have done or how much I try to speak up or ask for more work, and I can’t even get a phone interview or a recruiter to stop ghosting me. What is going on? Please help.
LEANNE TOBIAS
Investment real estate/sustainability
4.08k
10/30/19 at 9:49PM UTC
af5,
I am sorry that you are encountering this situation. I understand why you are frustrated and sympathize.
1. Did you like sales? If so, why not focus on sales again?
2. Can your sales skills be transferred to another industry or company in your city? Would your knowledge of pharma/medical be useful to a hospital, bioscience, or medical device firm?
3. Are there any organizations that you can join to connect with the right people, or are there any courses that you can take in the area/s of marketing that interest you?
4. It sounds to me like you are doing all the right things, so give yourself a pat on the back. Do keep applying to the pharma company that said you’d be a good fit. The plus with this feedback is that you know that you interview well!
5. I agree with the suggestion that you build relationships in other parts of your current company and apply to any roles that might be a better fit.
6. Don’t let your career concerns dominate your life, and don’t look at 40 as “too old.” Enjoy your family and your leisure— *especially* because you feel frustrated in your job search. There’s much more to life than work, and the more areas of your life that you enjoy, the more confident you’ll be— and the more folks you’ll meet who can point you in the right direction career-wise.
Liz BuiGoal Oriented Go-Getter
156
10/29/19 at 5:19PM UTC
I hear you! I have been in my current role for over a year now and it is not something that I signed up for. I accepted an offer to be an EA but majority of my day and my work is all office management work. I have asked about this and was told that the actual office manager will be spoken to regarding me doing her things. Nothing has happened. I even asked to get the title if I am going to take on this role and no one wants to give it to me. I have been heavily searching for a job since February and want to quit my current job everyday. I have had more luck than you in a sense that I have done interviews, and my recruiters have not ghosted me (yet!), but it is still pretty upsetting when you get nothing out of all of these interviews. I wish you the best of luck and I wish there was a light at the end of the tunnel that I can tell you about but at the moment, I am in the same boat. Trying to stay positive on my end, stay positive best you can and good luck!
Carrie StilesCreate the "WOW!" Factor For Your Client
470
10/28/19 at 5:56PM UTC
Hi Megan. I was a pharma rep and a host of other jobs in pharma as well. I don't know what it is with recruiters in that industry but I got the same run around in 2013 as you're getting now. At the time I only had an AA but was very successful and had won a slew of awards over my 30+ years, but they said it wasn't enough. At one point I even told one of them that the problem wasn't I didn't have a 4 year degree, the problem was, THEY didn't know how to sell me. THEY didn't know how to use my skills and turn them into transitional skills that related to the job they were looking to fill. Nor, did they want to take the time to do it. I did end up getting my BA with honors, and starting my own business strategy consulting biz. I was toying with the idea of returning to the corporate environment after a very stressful last year. But you know what, I ended up doing a pivot in my business with the help of someone who believes in me and is helping me. My message is recruiters have boxes to check (which they told me that if they couldn't check all the boxes, they couldn't move me forward) based on the employee vacating the spot. YOU have amassed skills that can fill those spots. Take the time to read carefully to see what they're actually looking for and take your skills and accomplishments and turn them into translatable skills. I've learned that it's all in the delivery. Go deliver your genius! Good luck to you!
MsRachel2020Human Resources
50
10/26/19 at 5:23PM UTC
NETWORKING. As previous commenters said, your resume and linkedin has to be top notch, (professional pics) I invested in Topresume for their expertise and have had positive results such as being contacted by recruiters, in addition, connect to professionals in the field that you desire on linkedin, you dont have to know them. Google linkedin alegorithm.
Nicole FarrVirtual Admin | Remote Project Manager
119
10/25/19 at 11:51PM UTC
I feel your pain! I’ve been in your shoes, took a job that resulted in something much different and remedial than I had bargained for, I ended up leaving and going back into my side gig as a personal trainer. It pays the bills but not where I want to be forever so I continue to look. One thing I keep reading and do tend to agree with is that only about 20% of jobs available are posted online in job boards. It takes personal connections to get the other 80%. I still apply on job boards as well but I am trying harder than ever to leverage my personal connections and their network. Yes, where I live they love talking about available jobs but they are all entry level, it’s hard to go back there with a degree and 15+ years professional experience. I know it’s not the biggest help, but you’re not alone. Keep pressing on, you’ll find your job. We all will!
Amy W I’m a teacher embracing a career change! ❤️
16
10/25/19 at 7:54AM UTC
Sending virtual hug. It is very difficult to re-enter the workforce after being a stay at home mom. When I returned to work, I felt the culture had changed and felt disconnected from my colleagues. It was a mental adjustment period. Xo
cynthial
99
10/24/19 at 7:16PM UTC
I find a lot in common between sales and sourcing or supply chain. See if you can find something there and enhance negotiation and contract skills on your resume.
Anonymous
10/24/19 at 1:01PM UTC
I think the problem, when people can't look past your resume is to start making friends and contacts who can help you. I've done it after moving to cities where I didn't know anyone, but you have to think about it as making friends, not strategic networking. So if you make ONE friend per networking event, it's a success. I'd also advocate telling your current circle of friends and family about what you're looking to for; you never know who's connected to who!
Ami KumigaHealthcare marketing and communications
41
10/24/19 at 1:56PM UTC (Edited)
Thank you so much. I have been doing that for many months. My old neighbor works at the local pharma company that I interviewed with and would love to work for, and I found my other contact that works at the same pharma company through a friend-of-a-friend. I have joined a local working moms networking group, and a healthcare businesswoman association local group (the first meeting I plan to attend is next week). I have been making friends at these trade shows I’ve gone to, and have been adding to my network both in person and online on LinkedIn. I met a woman for coffee last week to network/become friends with her.
I’ve spoken to two women through a local networking group that are recruiters (but not for what I do; they recruit for nurses and physicians), and they both have helped me further tweak my resume, but they said that my resume is non-traditional, and that it’s going to take a while for me to find a job.
I’m just trying so hard not to get discouraged; it’s been so much harder than it ever was in the past to find a job, even though I’m older, have more education and experience, and I’m not completely transitioning my career from medical sales to a finance banker or something crazy. I’m trying to go from medical sales to marketing (the position I’m supposed to be doing now) or something else closely related, but not sales, in the healthcare field.
Bennette CustodioImpacting decision making
15
10/24/19 at 3:02PM UTC
Hi. When you say marketing, which area of marketing? Is it SEO? Is it social media marketing (SMM)? Is it Search Engine Marketing (SEM) a.k.a. paid search? Is it event marketing? Is it content marketing? Is it marketing analytics? Is it product marketing? In marketing, when just starting out, it's okay to be a generalist. Eventually, you'll need to specialize in an area of marketing. This is how you become recognized as an expert in your area of marketing. But while specializing in an area of marketing, you'll still have work experience in the other areas to be able to relate and collaborate with other marketers who specialize in the other areas that you're not.
Ami KumigaHealthcare marketing and communications
41
10/24/19 at 9:18PM UTC
The big corp that I work for calls it marketing, but it’s really more marketing analysis (hence the bait and switch, and why I’m so unhappy), but I do update sales sheets, work with the comms team on some email marketing (but I don’t actually do the work on them, just the strategizing and finding the customers to add to the email campaign). It’s more of a project management position, with account analysis, and almost more of a sales ops role (our corp has a weird animosity between sales and marketing, so we do a lot of what the sales team does, but for the field marketing managers and not directly for the sales reps) but the title is healthcare marketing strategy. The only plus is I can tailor it to the position that I’m applying to, but the bad news is that I am not getting any specific experience in SEO or SMM, that is what the comms and PR teams do.
See other replies
Ami KumigaHealthcare marketing and communications
41
10/24/19 at 12:59PM UTC
Thank you. That does help a lot. It is difficult not wanting to seem too eager when there are a very limited number of jobs/employers in the healthcare field in the city that I live in. It’s not a mecca for healthcare by any means. If I was in finance, banking or IT, I would be set, but there are a very limited number of employers in the area I’m looking, and they post jobs that I would be a good fit for (but may not match the exact background that they are looking for). I’ve even applied to go back into sales or healthcare insurance sales/admin out of a feeling of hopelessness about any other job that someone would be willing to take a chance on me (it seems like no company is willing to train and they all want the perfect unicorn, but then they complain that they can’t find employees - what??)
I paid someone to rewrite my resume and LinkedIn profile last year, when it took me 9 months to find the job that I have now. At that point, I chalked it up to having been out of the workforce for 6 years and having that gap on my resume. I interviewed for a local pharma company that I loved (one of the only ones in this city), and did very well in the interview (the hiring manager wrote me a personal email telling me all the feedback was excellent, that she thought I would be a great fit at the company, and strongly encouraging me to keep applying). I have two acquaintances that work there, and have applied for several more jobs after receiving that email that encouraged me to keep applying, and I haven’t been able to get anywhere.
I’m trying to keep things in perspective, and to be patient and just bide my time at my current job, gaining more job experience on my resume, but there are days I get so depressed sitting at a desk doing nothing all day, hating my job. I’m almost 40, and I feel completely stuck in a bad place, but I already went back to school and got a masters six years ago. I would like to get more certifications or something else that might help, but I don’t want to waste my time being overqualified but lacking the actual work experience or specific skills that all of these jobs want. Half of the jobs that I’m applying to don’t even require a masters (it’s preferred, but not required), and even if I got a certification, if I have 0 years experience, no one will hire me as a recruiter, or HR, or anything related in the healthcare field.
Megan PfeifferI live to craft, upcycle, create and freelance.
23
10/24/19 at 5:41AM UTC
I've been where you are! Im endlessly researching the job market and career infographics, and I've found A TON of information. To start, resumes, and resume format and presentation have changed DRASTICALLY, AND VERY RECENTLY. So you'll want to RE-VAMP your resume, along with having a cover letter for every job you apply for.
The 2 links ive pasted here are helpful. Ialso HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYTHING ON THEIR WEBSITE
www.thebalancecareers.com
ITS AN AMAZINGGGGG RESOURCE
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-use-linkedin-2062597
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/tips-to-make-a-better-linkedin-profile-2062332
I know its a lot, but if you are serious about a certain position you are applying first, tweak the cover letter for that job/position and company. It'll get you more noticed. Also, online job boards that are larger, mesning indeed.com and linkedin, careerbuikder, ziprecruiter, monater, simplyhired (etc)Have systems/software called ATS(Applicant tracking system) which kesns, whether you are qualified or not, you're resume won't even SEE a hiring manager, unless you're resume has SOFT AND HARD SKILLS (KEYWORDS) listed. This is why your resume should have the skills needed for the jov, so the software can pick up this "keywords" when scanning your resume.
LinkedIn is GREAT, when you are USING and utilizing it correctly. Make more connections, you don't have to know these people personally, but if you're in marketing look for similar minded/career people. You also want to follow certain companies, have a complete profile, along with your blog, Pinterest and other social media connected(shows you are interet saavy((and if you're not
learn to be)) which is increasing more and more as a wanted skill). When these steps are taken, recruiters will be contacting you. You don't want to seem to eager by messaging them too often.
I hope this helps, there's plenty more. Hope to talk soon!
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.