Recruitment websites - any actual jobs?

Timd77_2

Hi

I've been wanting to find a new job for a while now and signed up to total jobs, monster and jobsite. Every day I'll have a look on them and just seem to see the same job re-posted, sometimes more than once a day.

When I do apply for a job, nothing ever comes of it. I must've applies for hundreds in the last 8 months and I've had 1 interview. I have a decent career history and I'd say I'm pretty employable, so I'm coming to the conclusion that something isn't right.

Anyone else had a similar experience? And can anyone recommend a website that's user friendly and has real jobs on there?

[Deleted User]

Linkedin is the place to be. I would never bother with any of the job-hunting websites myself.

Build up a network of people you know, put your full CV up on there, look through the job section. If you have a desirable skillset, recruiters will find you and contact you.

I'm contacted a few times a month for jobs through this.

lisa110rry

Our recruitment person uses LinkedIn and cv-library(dot)co(dot)uk to good effect. Sometimes we interview a particularly good person when we haven't got a position for them immediately, but always make that clear.

motorguy

Timd77 wrote: »

Hi

I've been wanting to find a new job for a while now and signed up to total jobs, monster and jobsite. Every day I'll have a look on them and just seem to see the same job re-posted, sometimes more than once a day.

When I do apply for a job, nothing ever comes of it. I must've applies for hundreds in the last 8 months and I've had 1 interview. I have a decent career history and I'd say I'm pretty employable, so I'm coming to the conclusion that something isn't right.

Anyone else had a similar experience? And can anyone recommend a website that's user friendly and has real jobs on there?

I'm an IT contractor and i use those job boards regularly.

I am quite selective about what i apply for - a scattergun approach usually yields little results.

Typically when i'm looking for work, i'll log on monday wednesday friday to the sites, see whats new, and apply for jobs i've at least an 80% skill match for (and that i want to do and are in the right day rate region).

That usually works out at maybe 10-15 per week. Typically i get 1 call back for every 10 applications, and 3 call backs usually yield 1-2 interviews.

Typically, i have one general CV, and maybe another 3 that are tailored to highlight particular skills.

If you're applying for hundreds of jobs and no responses then your CV is too general for the job role, and its not getting picked up by keyword checkers at the first stage. You may wish to look at your CV in more detail and revise.

Also, i would definitely avoid the scattergun approach.

I quite like https://www.reed.co.uk as you can restrict to jobs posted in last day, 4 days, etc.

I'm not even on linked in and i havent been without work at the end of a contract for more than a fortnight - last time it was 2 days.

[Deleted User]

Afraid I know of an employer with a job posting as 'just looking what is out there'... rather cruel really

It isn't just agencies taking the michael

Andypandyboy

I think that the recruitment industry is the old Emporer's New Clothes syndrome. They post jobs, reel you in and then nothing for months when suddenly they are beating your door down. All smoke and mirrors.

DKLS

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Linkedin is the place to be. I would never bother with any of the job-hunting websites myself.

Build up a network of people you know, put your full CV up on there, look through the job section. If you have a desirable skillset, recruiters will find you and contact you.

I'm contacted a few times a month for jobs through this.

This+ I posted that I am looking forward to attending a conference this week on Linkedin, from that 10 people wanted to connect and two of those want to talk about a couple of projects so have set up a meeting for friday at the conference.

[Deleted User]

DKLS wrote: »

This+ I posted that I am looking forward to attending a conference this week on Linkedin, from that 10 people wanted to connect and two of those want to talk about a couple of projects so have set up a meeting for friday at the conference.

At my son's nursery a few years ago, I met a guy who'd been out of work for 18 months. He was previously an estate agent. I told him to register for Linkedin, and within a week he'd got an interview, and 2 weeks a job. It is the go-to website for recruiters.

I've actually got a second phone call today with a firm that contacted me yesterday via Linkedin (and i should prep for it since it is in an hour)

edit: now they want a face to face meeting..

Commenting in groups also tends to get you noticed i've found

timd77

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll definitely give LinkedIn a go. I am on there but haven't updated it for years and I've never really looked at what's in there.

I don't so much as scattergun, more apply for jobs that sound interesting and my experience matches to.

I joined reed and cv library this week so maybe they'll yield a bit more success!

xapprenticex

Bit different with me, i used all the sites, job centre site, totals jobs, reed and the other main ones. None of them got me a job (none i applied for) but an agency called me about a finance role after seeing my CV for a job i applied for and didnt get....

Anyway, from that I got the job so my guess is they put up fake jobs, see what comes in and they work with the best CV's they get. NO idea what site they put their job on or what job i applied for for them to get my CV but heyho. Now over 3 months later, the org asked my agency to do-one as they wanted to take me on so it worked out.

For whatever reason, never bothered with LinkedIn but ive started to use it now as i have loads of experience so i can actually populate the thing and too many people telling me to sort myself out and get on it. Id stick with LinkedIn.

lauren_hb

Is linked in any use for people with a lack of employment history though? Not 100% sure now it works