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Neverending job search:
I have been looking for a job for 3 years. After over 200 applications (some real and some just LinkedIn apply now), I am at my wits end. I have heard that I am either overqualified or underqualified. I don't have enough experience in a particular industry to lead their marketing efforts (even though I have 20 years of overall marketing experience). I try to network and while people are very helpful and will connect with me, I still can't make it past the 1st, 2nd or 3rd round. I'm working with a coach from my MBA program and she is helpful and optimistic but I can't go on much longer like this.
If anyone can offer some advice, I would appreciate it.
KathyAnn KrajcikExecutive Assistant in NJ
255
02/28/24 at 11:21PM UTC
I am suffering from this same problem. I get interviews with the recruiter but haven't made it to the hiring manager once despite all the positive feedback. I am now starting to live off my savings and am more than very concerned. I am an Executive Assistant with outstanding background. This is the worst job market I've ever seen. I can't even land a contract role...either I never get a response from my application or the pay rate is so low that it doesn't even meet unemployment.
Anonymous
02/10/24 at 2:11PM UTC
I have been in the same boat as well. It’s infuriating. I was in 1 industry before covid 20 yrs leveraged my skills into another and got laid off after 6 mo. Been searching since for another position. I too have been overqualified and now applying for part time assistant roles. It’s demoralizing. I wish I had more advice . You r not alone. Plus in my case I am in my upper 40s so turning 50 is around the corner.
Anonymous
02/09/24 at 5:14PM UTC
Same boat - lemme share my oar.
30+ years marketing/communications in several industries from construction to software. NEW degrees (two of them!) in business, marketing, and communications.
I've been finding there is a whole lot of 'ghosting' going on right now. It is almost a full-time job to track down these recruiters/HR people to have them tell me, 'Sorry. We were highly impressed with your skills and experience, but decided to go with someone else.' I am fighting off major depression right now after 3 months of 18 hour days filling out application, tweaking resumes, crafting new cover letters, and making phone calls to 'hiring' companies across the country. /rant
I've reformatted my resume to highlight accomplishments, then list only relevant experience (especially if it is the same industry), and removed the exact date and year - I list how many years instead. I have noticed a bit more interest in this type of resume - and have better conversations than what the standard format had done.
I make sure to use keywords in my resume and cover letter (worked into sentences) to get past the algorithms in those huge application sites - and I download the 'personality tests' I've had to take for several applications. Those also provide insight and better keywords to help tweak your applications.
Most of all - I take time to do something... for me. Although I am now reaching a desperate state financially... I still make time to do something that makes me forget I am about to be homeless, lose my car, destroy my credit, and have the student-loan-sharks come after me.
Anonymous
02/11/24 at 3:16AM UTC
The ghosting is absolutely unreal. As someone in my twenties (recent college grad) with family in their 40s and 50s, they didn't quite believe how bad the ghosting was until I personally showed them how many employers ghost and they cannot believe it. I would say about 70% of the applications I send in never get any response, including rejections. That made it so much worse because I never got any feedback on why I would get rejected!
Nikki Davis
15
02/08/24 at 7:50AM UTC
I don't know if you have ever tried Never Search Alone? (phyl.org)
I'm finding it helpful. I'm earlier in my career but I see alot of VP level members on the slack channels. You might really enjoy the sharing and resources of this community.
Anonymous
02/14/24 at 12:59AM UTC
Is there anonymity in these channels? Did you join with your true name? I am concerned about my company knowing that I am looking for a job. Thanks
Anonymous
03/13/24 at 5:03PM UTC
You may "out" yourself if you post a linkedin link at some point, but if you're concerned, join with a middle name or something. When exchanging DMs with someone you can explain the name difference, i.e. if you are sending a linkedin or giving your name for a referral.
Anyone who has a problem with you doing that is not worth associating with because we've all had to play this discreet job search game.
User deleted comment on 02/08/24 at 3:02AM UTC
Anonymous
02/08/24 at 2:56AM UTC
I've been in your shoes and the job market is so difficult! I ended up taking a job the first time I was laid off in an area of marketing that I wasn't my chosen industry and I made it work for almost a year. I knew it wasn't the right fit but I needed a job. I was recently let go as like others have mentioned in their posts, 'it wasn't working out.'
In this post COVID world, we're taking jobs to make ends meet and not receiving the training needed to make it work. Make a list of what you like to do and reframe your search. What are the aspects of market that you love and what are your strengths. In an integrated field, they want marking, communications and PR and those are different skill sets including D2C, client relations, account management, strategic communications, sales marketing, promotion, event management and campaigns. Those can applied to differently to each resume. It's more work I target each resume with key words and I'm taking out sections of my resume that don't apply to the role.
I realize i need to do that again as when I obtained my job last year, I stripped away anything that didn't relate to allow what I could bring to that role rather than making HR staff have to review everything that doesn't relate. I hope this provides a few new ideas and good luck!
Anonymous
03/13/24 at 5:04PM UTC
How do you address leaving that last job in interviews when asked why you left? Asking because my situation is similar.
Anonymous
03/13/24 at 6:28PM UTC
My response depends on the company or situation. I share it was a department restructuring, it wasn't the right fit or I wanted to move back into X. I don't like to get caught up in a lie so I state what I feel is the real situation depending on that meeting. All of them are true but I want to use that negative to turn into a positive when discussing the new opportunity. Move back into the field that I'm interviewing for or, it wasn't the right fit but your culture offers what I'm seeking. Due to changes at the company, I wanted to find a better fit and or leadership structure. Good luck!
