Venting...
The job market is so messed up! Jobs that don't really exist are posted. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can't understand that MS Word = Microsoft Word. Yesterday I had an application for a contract position rejected because the recruiter forgot to include a coversheet. I keep hearing that organizations are having trouble finding qualified people and yet I know people who are highly experienced with recommendations from others I trust who have spent over a year, applied for hundreds of positions, and still can't get a job - even when they're willing to take a pay cut or apply for a lower level position (as well as the ones they qualify for).
Anyway thanks for letting me "vent". I hope you're having a better day, but if you want to add your frustrations, know you're not alone.
Good morning!
I feel just as you do. We keep hearing about hundreds of thousands of jobs being created--for whom? My friends and I do not see any improvement in the quality or quantity of jobs offered. Occasionally, I will find a position I am well suited for, begin the application process, and receive a message that the job is already filled. It is very frustrating.
Quite often I will receive an email response that does not reference the organization responding. This causes extra "search" work and time better spent moving forward. I have applied for jobs and been rejected before anyone even contacted me.
I do not know who chooses employees who are the contacts for job application. Many of them act unprofessional, uninterested, and sometimes clueless.
We are professionals, and it's not too much to expect savvy people on the other end of the line. It's scary to realize that these people have power over our progressing in a job hunt.
Please pardon my rant. I just dealt with two more of the above referenced issues. I value you all and I count on your input to keep me positive.
You all rock!
Leslie
Yes - job boards (and the recruiting process) are broken. Here's one tip from a Master Resume Writer: always spell out AND abbreviate things on your resume to make sure your qualifications are scored properly by the ATS. For example:
Master of Science (MS), Chemistry
Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute (PMI)
Happy to be here for the vent. It's a jungle out there!! Good luck!