What am I doing wrong?

AP007

Today an agency said they could not out me forward for a job I had applied for as I had been out of work for 6 months or more and all their clients want no one who has been out work more than 6 months

He then suggested I contact companies direct and network on LinkedIn and apply for temp work etc but I am doing this and have done this for the whole time I have been out of work and he said I must be doing something wrong since he can not believe I have no got a job offer in all this time.

Well you can not get a job offer if you can not get an interview.

If you have been out of work more than 6 moths how do you make someone interview you? You can't can you?!

How you do you even get the company to even seriously consider the application? You can't if they are not going to read all the applications and I know not everyone does. When I get turned down I ask for feedback and get told we have had too many applications so no we can not give you any. Or I get you are 'out of work' or 'over qualified'

I apply for lots of different jobs and at all at lower than I was on at my last job.

I tailor make my cover letter and I have a strong CV but going nowhere fast. He said if I had not been out of work he would have put my CV forward!!!

He gave me the impression that he thinks all the unemployed do not want to work but would not even consider me for any temp work.

What do I do? I have even applied for voluntary work and told not suitable

Dogger69

What types of voluntary work have you applied for? It might be that you need to lower your expectations, at least in the short term, just so you have something more current on your CV.

AP007

Dogger69 wrote: »

What types of voluntary work have you applied for? It might be that you need to lower your expectations, at least in the short term, just so you have something more current on your CV.

They are lowered hence applying for jobs that are 1 day a week or 2 days a week, temp/contract, NMW ones, temp, contact all sorts.

The lowering expectations gets me the reply 'you are over qualified' mainly.

Looked for volunteer work in finance and admin - nothing came of anything I applied for.

agrinnall

It's not that unusual apparently for employers to only want to receive applications from people who are already in a job, which is obviously a bit annoying if you are out of work but otherwise would be suited for the job. It's a buyer's market unfortunately and at the moment they can put whatever conditions they like on who they'll consider.

Are you not able to apply for jobs more in line with your previous position? I would have thought your most relevant experience would be in that area and you'd be more likely to have your application looked at - as you've found already, applying for lesser jobs is likely to get you marked out as over qualified.

AP007

agrinnall wrote: »

It's not that unusual apparently for employers to only want to receive applications from people who are already in a job, which is obviously a bit annoying if you are out of work but otherwise would be suited for the job. It's a buyer's market unfortunately and at the moment they can put whatever conditions they like on who they'll consider.

Are you not able to apply for jobs more in line with your previous position? I would have thought your most relevant experience would be in that area and you'd be more likely to have your application looked at - as you've found already, applying for lesser jobs is likely to get you marked out as over qualified.

I do apply for jobs at the same level as my last job but only a few interviews direct with employers and no help at all from agencies but why would they, as I do not pay them and the employer dictates to them what and whom they want and this apart from saying about the unemployed could even be illegal and they would do what they wanted.

The 'lesser' jobs I have applied for haven't read that why until they reply and say I was over qualified. I mean the one from Innocent Drinks read to be pretty senior but they wanted people with 2 years max experience!

getmore4less

networking with the people you have worked with in the past and have moved on.

They can get a CV in front of the person than eeds to read it, and an internal personal recomendation can often get you on the short list/interview.

LinkedIn may be a way to re establish contacts.

In some sectors lack of a LinkedIn is a negative.

Daedalus

Your attitude if anything like it is on here is a big negative.

Take everything employers who are not interested in you say with a pinch of salt. They will say 'experience' or any other easy answer just to get you out the door, very few will give you the real reason for rejection.

AP007

Daedalus wrote: »

Your attitude if anything like it is on here is a big negative.

Take everything employers who are not interested in you say with a pinch of salt. They will say 'experience' or any other easy answer just to get you out the door, very few will give you the real reason for rejection.

Yes cause of course on a cover letter and CV they can tell that

I had a serious melt down today and do not feel I can really go on like this for much longer

Daedalus

AP007 wrote: »

Yes cause of course on a cover letter and CV they can tell that

It influences your whole job hunting process.

AP007

Daedalus wrote: »

It influences your whole job hunting process.

Well everyone is lying to me then when they say they see nothing wrong with them apart from the time I have been out of work.

No life and no way out.

andrewjf

AP007 wrote: »

Well everyone is lying to me then when they say they see nothing wrong with them apart from the time I have been out of work.

No life and no way out.

What industry/job types are you applying for?