What's the point in applying for jobs and attending interviews.....

Truegho

i can certainly empathise with you here. I too am fed up with sending off CVs to numerous employers and either receiving a knockback or no reply at all. It's horrible.

wantsajob wrote: »

When the answer is always "you were unsuccessful on this occasion" - or more likely no answer at all? Other than keeping Jobcentre happy of course. Particularly if (like me) you are nearing 40, have never been offered a job of any kind, and have a disability that makes interviews go like a lead balloon...

Have 4 weeks unpaid work experience lined up in a Government department. But yet again, it's further proof employers do not want to pay for my time. Plus I believe it's only a token offer in light of my disability. Previous experience has shown that voluntary work does not help, and merely adds further drain on my already weak financial resources.

Even though a first class honours degree came with relative ease, there seems no hope of achieving anything worthwhile. Been wondering, for a long time, whether life is worth continuing with.

dizzyrascal

text deleted, site had a blip and my post ended up in the wrong thread!!

Marie88_2

It's such a joke how bad the job market is at the moment. Sometimes I just try to laugh at how pathetic the situation is, as otherwise it would drive me insane, like it did in my previous patch of unemployment. You just have to think that the situation is not your fault, and it isn't you!!

Spending loads of time filling out tedious application forms, and adjusting CVs and profiles, for a job which pays crap money, and company you don't even want to work for when you know you have a 1% chance of even getting an interview If you are lucky enough to get an interview, you have to somehow muster the ability to feign interest and either become an actor or !!!!!!!!ter, even though the money is crap, the job is crap, and there is nothing positive about the job.

Voyager2002

wantsajob wrote: »

When the answer is always "you were unsuccessful on this occasion" - or more likely no answer at all? Other than keeping Jobcentre happy of course. Particularly if (like me) you are nearing 40, have never been offered a job of any kind, and have a disability that makes interviews go like a lead balloon...

Have 4 weeks unpaid work experience lined up in a Government department. But yet again, it's further proof employers do not want to pay for my time. Plus I believe it's only a token offer in light of my disability. Previous experience has shown that voluntary work does not help, and merely adds further drain on my already weak financial resources.

Even though a first class honours degree came with relative ease, there seems no hope of achieving anything worthwhile. Been wondering, for a long time, whether life is worth continuing with.

I empathise, but there is a lot you can do about the situation.

For a start, I suggest you seek help from your university's Careers service (many jobs advertised at the Job Centre would reject anyone who had a degree for being over-qualified). You need expert advice on your disability and work: what jobs would it prevent you from doing; what jobs are there where it would make no difference; are there any jobs where it could actually be an advantage?

Obviously you need advice on your CV: both on how you present yourself, and also on any gaps (skills and experiences that would go well with your background but that at present you lack). Then explore things like voluntary work or training courses that would help fill those gaps. Make sure that any volunteering you do will really help to build your CV.

If you are getting interviews then that is good. Request feedback after attending interview, but don't waste your time asking employers who didn't interview you.

londoner1998

Hey

I was made redundant in February and this is the longest I have gone without working... however, I thought I would post because in response to your question, there IS a point: just keep going, be resilient and it will happen. When you get rejections after interview, ask for feedback. Be really honest with yourself and apply only to things you know you have a chance of getting shortlisted, don't wast your time. If your CV is not attracting interviews, like the above poster said, get it checked by someone else who can give you an objective opinion. Tailor to each application. And don't give up hope: it is a matter of knocking at enough doors and preparing yourself as best as you can when you go in for interview. I can't stress this enough.
Also remember that many times is nothing to do with you. Sounds silly, but that is the way it is. I have been for interviews for jobs that then disappeared (management decided not to hire after interviewing people), others that although open to externals were already ear-marked for internal candidates, others that simply were not for me...

I was feeling deflated and defeated two weeks ago: I just got an offer for a job that had me going through three interviews and four tough tests/exercises over a month.... so it can be done.

And of course, take advantage of your Uni Careers service, they are there for you. Incidentally, my job is now with one of those and I can't wait to start helping people on their search for work...

an9i77

The other thing I did which helped me, was set myself targets. I targeted myself to apply to enough jobs (most jobs in my field are via agency) to have my CV forwarded by agency to 8 employers per month. The first month I got 7. Of these I got three interviews, none of which led to jobs. The next month I had three put-forwards by the middle of the month, at which point one of these had led to an interview and to an offer! So I got lucky at this point and stopped, but if I hadn't I would have just kept going, using this same approach month after month, until it worked.
Antoher thing, which helped somewhat, was to do a real PR job with all the agencies in my area. I made sure I rang them all, and made an appointment to go in and see them where I had an indepth chat so they understood my skills /experience. With 150+ applicants for every post in my field, and this is qualified, experienced jobs, I needed to stand out from the crowd.

Good luck, keep going, you'll get there in the end

Dunroamin

LadyMissA wrote: »

and if it doesn't get read as the employer has far too many applicaints, that's another or you are over qualified, or not from the same industry etc

The whole point of an appropriate CV is to make you stand out from other applicants and illustrate how your experience (however gained) is relevant to the vacancy. If you have more qualifications than are being asked for these can be downplayed or even left out.

LadyMissA

Dunroamin wrote: »

The whole point of an appropriate CV is to make you stand out from other applicants and illustrate how your experience (however gained) is relevant to the vacancy. If you have more qualifications than are being asked for these can be downplayed or even left out.

If they are getting up to and over 300 applications a lot of companies will not and do not (I have repsonses from lots to say so) read all the applications. How do you get your CV to stand out if you have little chance of it being read?

Even my old company recently advertised for a junior and they had near on 400 people apply and the boss stopped reading at 120.

I am talking about experience and if the advert reads the same as my last job I apply. I am not to know they then deem my CV as having too much experience.

Marie88_2

LadyMissA wrote: »

If they are getting up to and over 300 applications a lot of companies will not and do not (I have repsonses from lots to say so) read all the applications. How do you get your CV to stand out if you have little chance of it being read?

Even my old company recently advertised for a junior and they had near on 400 people apply and the boss stopped reading at 120.

I am talking about experience and if the advert reads the same as my last job I apply. I am not to know they then deem my CV as having too much experience.

Sometimes I wonder whether it is worth !!!!!!!!ting or lying on your CV/interview. It seems being honest about things doesn't really get you anywhere, and I wonder how difficult it would be to put fake positions on your profile? If you put on your CV you did something much more advanced, or a significant qualification in another area, it doesn't help you; but if you leave it blank so it looks like a period of unemployment, that doesn't help you either. Maybe lying seems the way forward? How easy would it be?

Horace

Lying on your CV is a huge no no and could get you sacked for gross misconduct if you are found out. If you have a gap in your CV then explain why you have a gap.