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Is anyone else experiencing significant challenges in their job search these days?

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Pierre Beaufrand

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Is anyone else experiencing significant challenges in their job search these days? As a creative director who left their job earlier this year, I've been receiving rejection emails left and right from automated systems. Am I the only one facing this, or is there something unique happening in the job market?

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  1. Amanda Salama

    I’ve never had such a hard time

  2. Miranda Hurtado

    Same here. I've been actively job hunting for 6+ months and I haven't even landed an interview yet.

  3. Danna Hinton, PMP, DASM

    Nope. You're not the only one. The market is pretty saturated right now. Plus inflation and our financial forecasting is a bit murky. Keep going, stay positive, and try to adjust your strategy wherever possible.

  4. Anonymous

    Yess. I’ve applied to over 30 jobs the past 5 months that I’m 100% qualified for and almost no call backs. I was laid off from 2 jobs the same week I started them this summer.

  5. Anonymous

    The Market is horrible. Everyone I know that is searching is experiencing the same struggles. I've never seen it like this.

  6. Anonymous

    It is so frightening right now - I’ve never seen it this bad either - I get so many recruiters reaching out to me all day long but they are so enthusiastic and I might get an interview but then nothing - ghosted! It’s horrible

  7. Anonymous

    I honestly don't know. I hear so many things. I think a lot of it may be industry dependent. Or maybe its what people are looking for (for instance, a lot of people want fully remote) that is posing a challenge. Or maybe it's how people are approaching the search. I do find it somewhat true that it is easier to find a job while employed. I am currently employed - somewhat content in my job; however, I do have fears for the future of my company so am somewhat passively looking and at least weekly I have a recruiter or two reaching out to me about positions.

  8. Anonymous

    Oh no this is very bad right now - budgets are being flattened out and layoffs are occurring everywhere. It’s getting a bit scary.

  9. Kathy

    No if you do not have the right ATS on your resume you will be rejected I learned that from a linked in document I found.

  10. Nicole Christensen

    I have received the same thing. Even though I have my resume targeted to each position and include all the correct terms to get past the ATS. I was laid off June 20th and have been applying to jobs ever since. A career counselor reviewed my resume and said it looked much better than most resumes she sees. I am also finding most places I have applied to that they want people with very specific experience in a particular sector.

    Good luck on your search!

  11. Anonymous

    Yes, it feels impossible! I have tailored my resume and followed up with contacts and potential team members, and I have a subset of very specific experience… crickets for those positions. I feel like I’m going crazy.

  12. Anonymous

    So to go around the ATS (If on LinkedIn) reach out to the person who posted the job or find the hiring manager. I’ve always had great luck getting my resume pulled and getting the interview, since I know I’m qualified. Good luck!

  13. Thalia Moshos

    They should get rid of ATS.

  14. GirlBossanova934974

    I have had 6 interviews in the last 2 weeks and have 3 more next week. I found all of these jobs online. My takeaway? After finding several jobs on LINKEDIN from 2010-2021, LINKEDIN is now vastly oversaturated with job seekers and hardly any jobs. WASTE OF TIME! You are far better off applying directly on the organizational website or through INDEED.COM. For instance, I applied for several IT related jobs at local hospitals. Much more stable employers aka they usually don't embrace "the liar culture" that many companies have these days. So I got rejected from one of those IT jobs back in late July. They went with someone else. Yesterday? I got a very nice email from the Head of HR from the hospital. Umm. You still looking for a job? Our candidate quit after a few weeks. And we were kind of wondering? So now I have the inside track on that job. Pays very well and it is very likely that I won't have to deal with "THE BRAT PACK" that I had to deal with on my last job.

  15. Anonymous

    Thankyou for the tip, Ill stop applying through linked in and apply directly through the company website again.

  16. Anonymous

    I would try indeed.com and glass door, as stated before go directly to the employer web site. I found my current job last year by going straight to the website had an interview in two weeks and a job offer in a month. There are more people searching now and more layoffs especially in IT , but keep going you will find the job that your meant to have

  17. Anonymous

    Yes. It’s been awful. I’ve been looking since Feb. I’m an HR Director with 13 years experience. I get lots of interviews but don’t get offers. Either they decide not to film the role or got with a candidate that gives them 92% to my 91%. It’s discount keep pushing.

  18. Anonymous

    Yep. It's become a game to me. Who will I be rejected by today? Very discouraging.

  19. Anonymous

    Nope you’re not alone, exact Same here. Laid off in February, and I had pretty consistent interviews up til June, was in the final rounds for 5 jobs at one point. Since then it’s been crickets. Constant rejections, not even a call back for jobs I’m extremely qualified for (and even go as far to copy parts of the job description into my application). I think there are a lot of people unemployed and a lot of companies in my same area who’ve had lay offs in the last 6mo-year. I think there is a lot of competition and companies are getting incredibly specific on expected qualifications and background for a job. It sucks and is very frustrating. I don’t understand why I don’t hear about any of this on the news either, I know many (professional, accomplished) people struggling right now but I haven’t heard anything about unemployment rate being high. At least that would be helpful for people to know they’re not alone. It definitely was not like this other times I’ve been unemployed I was able to bounce back in 2-3 months.

  20. Anonymous

    I am sick of looking. Despite the line by line experience and WRITING a summary of my experience with theirs.... not good enough

    And the same ads appear again. Draining.

  21. Veronyka Cruz

    It’s been almost six months for me and unemployment is running out. What I don’t understand is that the last feedback I got said I have a good grasp of how technology fits into the business, but I’m not technical enough.

    I told my recruiter to sell me o. The fact that I absorb knowledge like a sponge and apply it quickly.

    we will see how it goes.

  22. Anonymous

    I've been unemployed since January and have applied to well over 300 jobs. Most are either met with rejection letters or complete ghosting. I have 17 years of experience in my field. So no, you are not alone. It sucks out there.

  23. Jeannie Marich

    Most definitely. I belong to a local Job Club where we meet once a week to network and find / share leads to help each other. Analyzing the past six months or so, those who have years of experience of their "craft" seems to have the most difficult time landing a permanent job. The "youth" group within the Job Club, those who are still in college or have just graduated, are receiving job offers. Not sure if this is a trend in the current job market, but it does show some evidence that points to companies hesitating to hire "seasoned" or "experienced" personnel.

    Bottomline, you're not the only one. Maybe we can net work right here and find ways to pivot out of this "space".

  24. Anonymous

    This is happening to everybody in such a big way it’s scary. On different boards like this one, this is the main question. It has been 9 months for me.

  25. Anonymous

    Its a VERY rough market now. It is often taking 6-12 months to find a new position. Keep applying and work your network through direct communication to get your next role.

  26. Anonymous

    It took me over a year to find my new job that was two years ago , I don’t think it’s been easy for years

    but the one thing I learned is to be patient and to keep trying even through the frustration, I feel like I went through grief stages being stuck at a job that the manger harassed me about my age, my sex everything I was so depressed

    but I kept going , I refused to believe that was all there was for me and then I applied at a company I had Been trying periodically at for years and bingo ! In a month new job so keep going try to deal with your feelings it will get better

  27. Anonymous

    Reading some of these posts actually makes me feel better. It let’s me know I’m not alone. I’ve been out of work since the end of June. I’ve done a bunch of applications & all rejections.

    My last job was terrible, the job before wasn’t paying enough. I had never jumped around before in my career & I have 25yrs work experience, I’m 47.

    The other thing I notice is the pay. Some positions start so low. It’s frustrating because I need to work, but, I don’t want to take a job, then have to look for another because the current doesn’t pay enough to pay the bills,

    However, on a positive note, at least I get a response compared to the ghosting I have noticed with agencies. You have to just keep plugging & definitely know you’re not the only one.

  28. TK

    This is exactly my experience. Very discouraging

  29. Anonymous

    Same here. I'm 50. But all eliis is the same except I'm ghosted as well.

    Seen bookkeeper jobs where they want a CPA as a bookkeeper!!! It's unreal. I'm ready to work at Costco or Buc-ees for the $$ and benefits. I'm over my career - ever since Covid hit --

  30. Michelle Dalrymple

    Yes, I can't seem to get past the resume scanners. Recently opted for someone on Etsy to redo my resume. Let see how this goes.

  31. Anonymous

    I’ve stopped putting graduation dates on any of my degrees and dropped some of my earlier jobs from my resume

  32. Anonymous

    Same here.

  33. Anonymous

    I like this tip, I will also remove my dates as I'm 40 this year.

  34. Anonymous

    Yes!!! I can get to the interview phase and sometimes the second. They tell me I have a lot of excellent experience..... yet the competition--

  35. Anonymous

    I was bait and switched too!! OMG....i could have written your comment!

    It's horrible out there. It's exhausting. My bait and switch was hired for accounting and ADDED Director of HR!! No extra money, the promised monthly bonuses taken away and, well... horrible.

    Recruiters nowadays I feel have fake ads or have to call you for a goal of calling people, not because they want you.

    I'm so over this. And yes, jobs I've been doing for years I'm suddenly disqualified for??

  36. Anonymous

    You said it well!!
    Yes!!!!

    I'm 50 and I suppose my experience and work ethic is a bunch of crap because according to some businesses, I'm over the hill??

    It's funny the adsei see: need a master's or CPA AND a HS graduate. Um.... without HS, where's undergrad?!

    I agree with you: isn't wisdom supposed to come with age and experience?!

  37. Anonymous

    I recently got hired for a computer job. After signing the paperwork, I was told I would get paid such and such amount.

    Despite having the education and credentials, I got baits witched from working full time to working part time.

    I decided it was time to quit since I was working for peanuts despite having the right education and related work experience.

  38. Anonymous

    I feel better reading all these comments. I’ve NEVER had a hard time finding something. I’m also 50…years of high tech experience (an industry with so few women…(should be easy to get back in). So discouraging that I’m considering buying a small business and creating my own opportunity because it feels like corporate America is done with me. Keep going ladies..it has to get better, right?

  39. Benjamin Farber

    Yes I have—I’m a mid career Senior Graphic Designer. I’ve been ‘stuck’ in financial services for over 15 yrs, trying to pivot is hard, I’ve got a lot of bot emails saying my ‘impressive background‘ was not quite a match.

  40. Lori Nestor-Ramsey

    Absolutely! I have probably applied for 70 jobs and had 2 interviews. One they decided not to fill and the other I got a rejection letter. I have 39 years of quite varied experience and it's very disheartening.

  41. Anonymous

    Exactly!! I get invited to be a security guard at a mall but not an accountant - been doing this for years. They won't hire for a bookkeeper either because they said I'd quit.

    At the job I was bait and switched - they gave my accounting role to the receptionist so they didn't have to hire anyone. She also helped with the HR along with this other woman (they had people to interview and cancelled)

    I found out they are shutting down 12/31 this year. Good.

    I feel bad for those not working there but company ownership i have no pity for

  42. Anonymous

    I am a marketer and just recently was laid off a little over a month ago from a director role. Have applied for probably 60-70 jobs and have had four interviews. Half of them were through connections, but still didn't pan out. I am working with three recruiters, apply for jobs daily, created a portfolio, message hiring managers for jobs I've applied for on LinkedIn, and even rewrote my resume a couple of weeks ago again. It's rough out there right now. I feel like i can't even get an interview without having a connection.

  43. Trie Angeleva

    Hi - I'm sorry to hear of these challenges you are having. You mention you've had four interviews (which is excellent) but not offers -- rather than spending time reworking your materials and approach, it sounds like you may benefit from honing your interviewing skills. When clients come to me with this problem, they too think they need to rework a lot of things, but we analyze where the roadblock actually is and focus exactly there. While sometimes there is a mismatch between their strengths, resume and the jobs they are getting interviews for, 95% of the time all they need is a handful of laser coaching sessions to nail the interviewing process, and they proceed to land the job they really want.

  44. Anonymous

    Over the past year I've watched the hiring manager let resumes sit on their desk, for positions we desperately need filled, without contacting the candidates in any way. After weeks/months of current employees begging for help, the hiring manager reaches out - once. When the candidates don't respond immediately, they are judged for their lack of enthusiasm. It's awful! To top it off, candidates who are not selected, aren't even notified.

    I don't know when this rude trend started.

    Fortunately, I've found another position and I'll be transitioning to a more thoughtful and polite organization in just four days. Their hiring process was quite long, but they were polite and communicative throughout.

  45. Anonymous

    Congratulations. Please pray for rest of us.

  46. Rose Natalie Mosquera

    I’ve been looking since June. I’ve been experiencing this since. It’s tough.

  47. Anonymous

    I am sorry to hear that. Just keep applying.

  48. Moni J.

    I know HR uses ATS software that will kick you out if your resume doesn't match up to what they are looking for in the system. I had to research how to make your resume passable in the system with the hopes of getting it in front of someone.

    It's very annoying..sorry to say but I miss the old days when a person would actually review your resume and then you get a call. This new process just makes it harder for anyone looking for work.

  49. Peggy Peterson

    I've been seriously looking for a job for several years. I thought the rejection was due to age discrimination. The only jobs I have been able to find have turned out to be scams.

  50. Anonymous

    There could be some legitimate age discrimination. Yet, it seems like a number of job postings are filled internally.

  51. Anonymous

    I am feeling the same way. It is so hard to prove age discrimination but I believe there is some truth to it. I have been hitting one wall after another trying to find something and also had my share of interviews where I thought it was leading somewhere only to end up being a scam to steal my identity. It is so frustrating but in a way good to know I'm not alone.

  52. Jeannine Rutledge

    Yes. It's crazy. I've never had this in all my 25 years of working professionally. Even opting out of automated resume readers doesn't work. I think these jobs are fake. I think recruiters are creating these jobs for positions they never plan to fill or don't belong to them. These auto search engines are BS. Something is not right or suspect over all these jobs open but not filled.

  53. Anonymous

    Temp agencies are the worst!!! I'd apply for a new role, call them to follow up immediately after (immediately!!!) and they'd say that the role was filled 5 minutes ago. Once I called a recruiter put on this and she said "all roles are legitimate and I was the problem". Role was NEW.

    Employees are a dime a dozen.

  54. Anonymous

    What would the benefit be of fake job postings? I've seen similar comments in this vein, and I'm genuinely curious to know what the driver behind that would be. Thoughts?

  55. Anonymous

    I think they are fake because they want a talent pool in front of them in case something happens to an employee, so they keep up the posting of jobs. I’ve seen many that are the same one several times a year and it doesn’t make sense unless they just have a very high turnover rate. Regardless, they like to constantly keep resumes on file as a backup plan. At least that’s my theory.

  56. Anonymous

    We're in the same field, I hear it's rough out there, sorry you're going through it. Personally, I'm consulting/freelancing and I am turning projects away. I don't know your full situation, but I know a lot of people are doing this to ride things out and it seems to be the way others are hiring at the moment. I totally get it if that's not what you're looking for as well, not revolutionary, but may be helpful.

  57. Anonymous

    Same boat since 7 months. It's crazy. Most postings are fake.

  58. Anonymous

    Agreed and it's aggravating!!!

  59. Anonymous

    I agree with you. Although, it does depend upon the particular job you are applying for, your qualifications. Yet, it may perhap depend on whether or not if "you know someone" in the company or organization.

  60. Anonymous

    It's definitely real. I've ventured off onto my own field. I was hired as an independent consultant to work in healthcare to help keep seniors at home instead of going to a home. I also know it's not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it's worth pursuing and two months later I am about to get some clients and income. It's a different world from anything I've ever done. Yes, I dealt with so many rejections and then I went down an avenue I did not expect. And sometimes, an old application comes through and I get a rejection letter that seems automated. Maybe, if you can do it, freelance is a better option. I realize it's not always possible or for everyone, but this newer system certainly seems very robotic in it's approach to job seekers.

  61. Rebecca Ruettiger

    It has everything to do with the ATS.

  62. Trie Angeleva

    Yes, ATS does play a role; more so in large organizations. Smaller organizations tend to review applicant materials the traditional way, which allows applicants to craft a resume that is more robust and creative.

  63. Anonymous

    I had a similar experience, so I dissected my resume and LinkedIn profile. I looked at job descriptions I was qualified for and added keywords from them to my LinkedIn and job site profiles, and resume. As a result, more recruiters reached out to me and I was offered a job in less than a month. Don't get discouraged, it's all about the ats scanning for keywords now. Good luck to you!

  64. Jodi Lawaich

    Story of my life since February (I'm a copywriter). I think I may have finally landed something. I am wondering if AI has anything to do with it, as more & more companies are using AI to screen resumes.

  65. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    As a general rule in the US, companies are not using AI to screen resumes.

    I and every recruiter I know and network with look at every single resume that applies to our open requisitions.

    It's literally our job.

  66. Gina

    You're not alone. I've been on the hunt since May as a UX designer / researcher. It's been a while since I've been in this position so I didn't realize how different the landscape has changed. Apparently tailored resumes to each job application is now a thing? No more cover letters? It's all so strange...

  67. Crystal Whitcomb

    yes! it's been challenging. I feel like I have hit a major wall.

  68. Heather (she/her)

    I think it's particularly tough for marketing/creative roles because the rise of AI is continuing to allow some leaders to devalue and/or underpay these positions.

  69. Trie Angeleva

    Finding work that's a great fit can often be super stressful and challenging. Some fields are hotter than others, per usual, and the economy is still adjusting to post-pandemic shifts.

    However, trust me, there are still many opportunities to land work you will thrive in!

    When a client comes to me frustrated with their job search or career change, 99% of the time, there is one of two challenges at play: 1) They are either stuck somewhere specific in the process or 2) They aren’t making much headway at all and are focused on tactics versus taking the right steps in the right order.

    So, we analyze precisely where in the process they are hitting a roadblock, and we get them unstuck. For example, if they are getting interviews but not offers, we focus on upping their interviewing skills. If they aren't getting called for interviews, we focus on their branding, resume and alignment with the jobs they are pursuing.

    If the challenge is bigger than that, we look at what they have done to find new work up to this point, and we work together to identify all the right steps they need to take in exactly the right order. Happy to share more info if you like.

    Wish everyone the best!

  70. Anonymous

    Unfortunately we cannot use the same resume for the same job type. It requires tweeking the resume with words used in each job posting. Cover letters are still required. It us a good idea to include because it shows effort. I noticed that many jobs posted on Linkedin doesn't allow to add a cover letter. I usually apply through the employers website so I can add.

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