I am getting so discouraged with the job market.

20 Comments

1. Lesli HomrighausenFebruary 4,2023 at 1:58PM UTC

   First, what type of employment are you seeking? When you say you've submitted 200ish applications, do you mean actual paper applications, online applications or a combination of, or do you mean resumes? It's important that you not have gaps in employment. Even if you fill the space with the fact that you were devoted to being a SAHP and returned to college to continue towards your goal of x, y, z. If you did any volunteer work during any of the gaps, took care of an ailing parent, did you travel anywhere? Did you learn a new language? Did you open a small business? Did you intern anywhere? Did you write a book? Did you go on a mission somewhere, donate time to the Red Cross during a disaster, serve jury duty, move across the country, learn how to code? Anything at all that was something you did to better yourself or for the benefit of others.. the point is to fill the gaps with something positive, some skill that could be used to your advantage and help the company in some way, anything that would make you stand out or be memorable as they're going through hundreds of thousands of resumes and applications. You don't want to be put in the pile of no's right off the bat, because they aren't even given a second look. Even if you don't necessarily have everything they're looking for, if there's something else that stands out, and you can at least make the maybe pile, you're at least going to have a chance and get a second look. If nothing else, you might just get an interview because they find something interesting about you, and want to talk more about it, or ask you something about it. If you can score an interview, then you just have to sell yourself. Getting your foot in the door is the most important part.

2. utpala deviFebruary 4,2023 at 8:58PM UTC

   Pls match ur resume to the words in the job description to avoid being overlooked.

3. AnonymousFebruary 7,2023 at 2:01PM UTC

   Can a functional resume work? You don't have to be out of the work force for years to have a gap in your resume (or more than one). I've heard mixed/negative things about that resume format, but if people are being encouraged to put Available for Work on Linked In, why is the functional resume format taboo?

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 4,2023 at 11:02PM UTC

   If you're getting no response, it's typically either the resume or the positions you're applying to.

   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? Are you utilizing the University's job site or alumni network?

5. AnonymousFebruary 5,2023 at 1:47PM UTC

   Not the OP, but having the same exact problem: yes to all of the questions you just posed. What now?

6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 5,2023 at 7:00PM UTC

   Sorry to hear you're having a hard time. Not sure what you do but as I mentioned, if you're getting no response, it's typically either the resume or the positions you're applying to.

   Where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles? Where are you searching for jobs?

   What do you do?

7. AnonymousFebruary 7,2023 at 11:43PM UTC

   I'm also having the same problem and when I do make the Best qualified category for either the state or Federal government, I don't hear anything back. I follow up on alot of the jobs that i have applied to as well. I have a Bachelor's degree and ive worked in more contract jobs than I have permanent jobs. Permanent jobs seem really hard to find too. Ive had my resume tweaked, edited and modified by managers, career coaches, and people who work for the federal government. I am currently working for a temp agency right now on a temp assignment with the County government and my hours just got reduced from 40 to 20 a week. What do you suggest I do now?

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 8,2023 at 7:24AM UTC

   I can't really speak to the government hiring that you mentioned, as I've never worked in that space. It sounds like you've only worked/are interested in the government space. What do you do?

9. AnonymousFebruary 7,2023 at 5:18PM UTC

   enoughIt’s a broken employer problem and their lack of understanding and not enough staff to properly manage applications.

   I know this for a fact because I’ve worked as a recruiter in several large corporations, and many times the jobs are already filled before the posting is launched.

   Legally, they have to be posted for five days.

   I have quit being a recruiter because it became so disappointing and frustrating begging for feedback on candidates and uncooperative management when trying to schedule interviews.

   It was maddening.

   something that gave me great pleasure over the past 30 years started to give me nightmares and a lot of dissatisfaction in my ability to bring closer to things.

   The recruiter is ghosted just as much as the applicants and the candidates that interviewed are, but if you want to work, you’ve got to go through this horrific ridiculous process.

   I myself was applying for a job and was asked for graduation dates for high school and college, which is not supposed to be asked until after you’ve accepted an offer and a background check is going to be launched so that which I’ve seen many times is breaking the law, go figure how the employers are getting away with this as that information clearly will tell your age.

10. DFebruary 5,2023 at 8:35AM UTC

    Have your resume reviewed by a professional.

    Invest in Grammarly - the paid version.

11. ChrishoggFebruary 6,2023 at 3:38PM UTC

    Not enough information to offer any suggestions or advice, other than this:

    If your job search consists primarily / mostly / only in submitting applications to advertised jobs, that may be an issue.

    My approach to the job search is 95% or more networking and informational interviewing, and whatever time / energy is left over, directly applying.

    But again, not enough information to offer advice.

12. RichFebruary 7,2023 at 5:19PM UTC

    The studies consistently show that for a mid-career professional, applying online has a less than 3% probability of getting an interview, and a fraction of that of getting the job. That's because that's not how those positions are filled. They are typically filled from within, or by networking. Your best bet is to reach out to former co-workers and see if they can direct you to someone who knows what's going on so you can get their advice.

    The situation gets worse if you apply "too often without being considered." In that case, the ATS will set the "do not contact" flag and you will never be seen again. What constitutes "too often" is something only a few top level HR people ever know. I have managed to talk with 4 of them, and the safest numbers are applying more than 6 times in a 4 month period. To get it changed, you need to get to one of those top HR people and get them to change the flag on your record.

    The problem that we see with Ph.D. graduates is you have to also have certifications relevant to your industry. Once you get them, your odds improve dramatically. It's the certifications that get you past the ATS and the junior HR rep sorting the applicants.

    Meanwhile, you need to be practicing self-care at least 25% of the time. "Self-care" activities are things that you do, which you enjoy, that make you feel better about who you. Done well, they make you feel valuable. They include exercise, hobbies, family time, pets time, religious time, volunteering to help others, reading, writing, improving your skills in some area, classes, anything that you complete and can take pride in doing. These are all things that make you feel better about who you are. They do NOT include alcohol, drugs, porn, binge-watching, or binge-buying or other things that will make you feel bad about yourself later on. Self-care will not get rid of all the negative, but it will moderate it to a large extent. Further, when you feel valuable because of what you're doing, you will interview better.

13. AnonymousFebruary 6,2023 at 5:59PM UTC

    Try volunteering or signing up with a temp agency for admin work. Getting in the door and spending time showing people what you are made if is a good way to get going. Additionally, it is at the current time taking 3-6 months for the average job seeker to find a new role. Don't get too discouraged its happening to everyone. Explain the gaps for raising your family in a cover note and don't hide what isnt there. The right one will come along.

14. AnonymousFebruary 8,2023 at 9:38PM UTC

    I do volunteer and have for the past 6 years. I am the executive director of a non profit and a board member of another non profit. I have included these in my resume and still nothing

15. Liz MilneFebruary 7,2023 at 2:34PM UTC

    Speak to your uni about employment chances: once you have a PhD, there should be a whole new world of work opening up for you, and they work more on recommendation and work of mouth, not the CV-mill of 'regular' employment - you're probably being passed over because you are more educated than the hiring manager/ recruitment officer/ others in management, and that scares them!

16. AnonymousFebruary 7,2023 at 8:40PM UTC

    Assuming you're a US citizen, try pathways programs with the US government.

17. Rika M PhippsFebruary 7,2023 at 11:25PM UTC

    Are you refining your search, or are you splattering applications/resumes all over? Make a list of places you'd like to work, and keep the list relatively short. Then focus your resume to fit that company culture. The ATS can be a bear to go through. For an affordable fee, I'm open to have you send me your resume & 3 places you'd like to apply, so I can cater it specifically to those positions, and you'll at least get an interview (possibly 2).

18. Rita PalanjianFebruary 8,2023 at 2:07AM UTC

    I haven't had a chance to read others' comments. Have you thought about working with a coach? Someone who can help you with branding specifically and give you direction and roadmap of how you can move your career forward.

    I am part of a coaching program, there are few PhD's, Sr. VPs, CEOs and high level members. Please feel free to email me or if you want maybe there is a way to DM me here.

19. Laura BrennanFebruary 8,2023 at 11:18PM UTC

    You're getting lots of good advice about your resume, and I have nothing to add to that. But what it does not sound like you're doing is tapping into your network -- which is not quite the same as "networking." It's a deliberate marshalling of everyone you know to help you with your current quest, which is finding a great job.

    Your network can help you with everything; not just finding a job, but getting informational interviews (which are a great first step), helping with applications, giving you insight into different companies, opening your eyes to new opportunities, and, yes, letting you know about job openings before they're posted or helping you get an interview.

    Personally, I would take a month and stop applying all over the map and instead focus on building, supporting, and tapping into your network.

    I have a replay of a webinar on jump-starting your network on my website (free, no opt-in, hope it can help), which I'll link to in a second. But the other thing you could do that is absolutely invaluable is put together a core group of about 15 people committed to moving forward in their own careers and to helping each other do the same. Ideally, it's a mix of ages/genders/ethnicities/backgrounds/industries. Everyone will bring their own particular genius to the group and you can all learn from each other.

    In the business world, these are called Mastermind Groups, but you can call it anything you want. Commit to meeting as a full group regularly (monthly is good, quarterly is okay, and Zoom is gold), partner up with different people as accountability partners every month, hold each other to the fire and support each other. If you and your three best friends each invite 3-4 other people, you'll all have "new blood" -- new people to meet, new approaches to old problems. It can revitalize not just your job search, but your entire career.

    Here's the link to jump-starting your network (which is more 101, but still useful): https://www.pitchingperfectly.com/free-webinar Good luck and congratulations on your PhD!

20. ChrishoggFebruary 9,2023 at 7:47PM UTC

    Laura --- outstanding and solid, solid advice.

    The key to an effective job search is to begin by answering these three, connected, questions: Who am I, What do I want to do, Why do I want to do it? Until we have the answer, all the resume work, number of applications submitted, and all the rest is just running in place.

    And if we don't inherently know the answers to these questions (some people do), networking and informational interviewing is an effective way of moving toward the answers, along with some serious reading and personal reflection.