job-seeker contacts/advice

[GAME05]

working at a park part-time now and the full-time opening closes next week, so we'll see. they have a "huge stack" of applications, but i work there already, have excessive education and related previous experience. but we'll see.

 

but what's frustrating is the full-time pay is an absolute joke. it's still a step up for me with the benefits, though. as much as i may end up liking the job, i'm going to keep looking for better opportunities just because of the pay. my coworkers get the same pay, but they get free housing (i won't).

[Dollarbill13]

Biz, that's ridiculous. I can understand people not wanting to say "No" on the spot to an interview, but why would they basically say "Yes" and not mean it. I've also had several interviews that I thought went well and ended up never hearing back, even upon several follow up calls & emails. I really hate dealing with HR departments on job searches as, in most cases, it isn't their expertise. I guess the only thing I'd ask is whether you are sending "Thank You" letters/emails within a day of your interview as some feel like this is the job-seeker's way of saying they are interested.

[Dollarbill13]

The other thing you might want to do is get a background check for yourself so you know if anything may be hurting you or if anything is inaccurate. Then, if the interview is going well, you may want to proactively address the items so they can (hopefully) get a better understanding of who you are as a person and not have them feel like they are being misled by you.

[Raw Biz]

Biz, that's ridiculous. I can understand people not wanting to say "No" on the spot to an interview, but why would they basically say "Yes" and not mean it. I've also had several interviews that I thought went well and ended up never hearing back, even upon several follow up calls & emails. I really hate dealing with HR departments on job searches as, in most cases, it isn't their expertise. I guess the only thing I'd ask is whether you are sending "Thank You" letters/emails within a day of your interview as some feel like this is the job-seeker's way of saying they are interested.

 

Yeah I do the "thank you" emails to follow up. The only time I didn't was when I received a phone call the same day after an initial interview asking for a second interview. The initial interview was with the main woman's assistant and then she wanted to interview me as well. But like I said, I emailed and called and she kept dodging me, intentionally or not. I was told twice by her that she would call me at a certain time and she never did. Then when I called back, she was busy. And she never responded to a single email either.

[mothershipconnection]

I think a big part of it is that when companies downsized, they often let go the HR people who actually knew what they were doing.

 

This seems to be spot-on. My wife lost her previous job this way. Her company basically slashed everyone who didn't directly bring in profits (i.e., didn't bill for their hours). My wife was one of those who did bring in revenue, but when the decent support staff were gone, there was nobody competent to do the billing or set things up the actual business that they would bill for. Within a few months, they were even less profitable, and multiple entire departments were eliminated, including hers.

[jerichoholicninja]

I was just told my position is being eliminated and I will be unemployed next Friday. Quite frankly, I'm glad to be leaving this job but I wish it was because I had another job lined up. When I started here in March I was looking forward to not having to deal with all the job search BS for the first time in 3 years...so much for that.

[Menotti80]

I was just told my position is being eliminated and I will be unemployed next Friday. Quite frankly, I'm glad to be leaving this job but I wish it was because I had another job lined up. When I started here in March I was looking forward to not having to deal with all the job search BS for the first time in 3 years...so much for that.

 

 

Sorry to hear that man

Good luck to you.

[GAME05]

even at age 35, i'm slightly tempted to scrap the career field my Master's degree is in and look into somewhat-unrelated work in the private sector. a few years of entry-level pay, sure, but it would still represent a much higher salary than what government work offers. i've been pretty frustrated that my Master's degree hasn't meant much in finding full-time work, and even if i were to land something, the pay being offered isn't much more than i made working in fast food 10 years ago.

 

i should be a shoe-in for a job i just applied to (that's not just being cocky), but am pessimistic because of nepotism (i hope that's ok to say since i don't believe i've ever given away exactly where i work). this week i'll be dumbing-down my resume in order to apply for about any job i can find--not including my Master's degree and substituting some career jobs for my filler ones. funds starting to run dangerously low. it's great one one hand, but also kinda hurts to hear your little brother offer to loan you money.

 

i'm willing to move anywhere fairly decent, but it's too bad that nobody's going to fly me out and i can't afford it, myself. the only long-distance option is moving somewhere and then looking.

[billyhallfan]

For the fourth time now I got a lead for a possible job opportunity and could not even get an interview. I do not know where I will end up, but as the work force moves more and more towards "it is who you know, not what you know" I will never tell someone coming out of college that "I can probably get you in" or "send me your resume" unless I'm damn sure that I actually can. As much as it frustrates me, I still consider myself somewhat lucky because I do have a job lined up, even though it is not exactly what I want to do, it should pay the bills for now, and hopefully I will be able to advance in a few years. Lots of friends that graduated this year still have no work, so I feel good that I have something, it is just frustrating how tough it really is.

[RockCoCougars]

For the fourth time now I got a lead for a possible job opportunity and could not even get an interview. I do not know where I will end up, but as the work force moves more and more towards "it is who you know, not what you know" I will never tell someone coming out of college that "I can probably get you in" or "send me your resume" unless I'm damn sure that I actually can. As much as it frustrates me, I still consider myself somewhat lucky because I do have a job lined up, even though it is not exactly what I want to do, it should pay the bills for now, and hopefully I will be able to advance in a few years. Lots of friends that graduated this year still have no work, so I feel good that I have something, it is just frustrating how tough it really is.

 

 

It's very hard to get your nose in the door these days without elbow rubbing, butt kissing or, ahem, 'networking'. You are learning fast. All that I can say from my experience is that the buddy system is alive and well. I can't remember the last time that my department had a job opening in which someone's friend/former co-worker, etc. didn't get an interview. Often, that person ended up getting the job over someone more qualified, sometimes this was to the detriment of the company. Even if they didn't get the job, the politics involved throw a real wrench in the hiring process.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm about to apply for a job that requires me to mail a resume and salary expectations. Now I've never had a salary before nor do I have any clue how to figure that out. Also, how does one include this information in the package?

[nate82]

I'm about to apply for a job that requires me to mail a resume and salary expectations. Now I've never had a salary before nor do I have any clue how to figure that out. Also, how does one include this information in the package?

 

I use http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm for salaries. That should give you a ballpark figure to ask for.

[GAME05]

It's a trap! ask for to much and they won't consider you; ask for too little and you'll be making less than your peers. delay salary stuff for as long as possible. "I expect a salary commensurate with my experience, the responsibilities of the position and the current market rate."

[jerichoholicninja]

It's a trap! ask for to much and they won't consider you; ask for too little and you'll be making less than your peers. delay salary stuff for as long as possible. "I expect a salary commensurate with my experience, the responsibilities of the position and the current market rate."

 

The job posting said I'm required to submit salary expectations at the time of applying.

[TooLiveBrew]

It's a trap! ask for to much and they won't consider you; ask for too little and you'll be making less than your peers. delay salary stuff for as long as possible. "I expect a salary commensurate with my experience, the responsibilities of the position and the current market rate."

The job posting said I'm required to submit salary expectations at the time of applying.

I think this requirement might be the employer's way of finding out if you have a knowledge of the field as it currently operates, or at the very least that you were willing to do research on it.

 

I hope you're able to do a little digging and find what seems like a reasonable salary for yourself (if you haven't already). To your "how does one include this information in the package?" question, I think you could work it in nicely with a paragraph that would talk about how you researched the field and found that a normal starting salary is [X]. I would place this paragraph towards the end of the cover letter I'm assuming you also need to submit, and bring in the positives about you as a candidate that you've already described.

 

If the posting doesn't call for a cover letter, you might be able to make yourself stand out with a concisely written one. It would probably be best to keep it as brief as possible, since 1) they didn't ask for it, and 2) you don't want to go on at length if you don't have a large knowledge base of the field in which you're applying -- my apologies if #2 isn't the case. In lieu of a cover letter, perhaps typing out a paragraph describing your salary expectation and why you feel it is accurate (outlining your skills, training, etc.) in the email you submit with your resume would suffice... kind of a mini-cover letter.

 

Just my thoughts, I'm by no means an expert.

[rwa12]

I don't really view it as a trap. They are ruling out those who are out of their range. I wish more companies did it. I recently did a great phone interview with a company who had a position that was intriguing. I was referred for it, hit it off with the hiring manager, and they were ready to offer...at 50% of my current salary. It was a waste of time, they had salary commensurate with experience in the listing. What they meant was, entry level salary for an experienced professional. I'm friends with a few recruiters, and they have said that companies are getting unrealistic in their salary structure with the new economy. They want $100k people for $50k. Those that are desperate jump on the positions, and then burn out quickly; as the ratio of work:pay is not worth it.

[jerichoholicninja]

They didn't ask for a cover letter and I don't think I've used one when applying for a job in at least 3 years. I think I'll just write "Salary Expectation: Yes" on a ripped up piece of paper and include it. It's for a graphic design position, they should appreciate the creativity.

[jerichoholicninja]

So my wonderful former employer has yet to pay me for my last two weeks of work. My last day was July 20. I've contacted them twice about this. The first time I was told they would send the check out next week. After a week had passed from the time I was supposed to receive the check I contact them again and was told the payroll person was sick all last week and they would mail it Friday (as in this past Friday). No check in the mail again today. If I don't get it tomorrow what are my options? I feel like writing them a scathing, sarcastic email making light of their financial troubles but there must be better options.

[chuckiehacks]

I would politely let them know you're filing a complaint with the state. In Wisconsin, it's the Department of Workforce Development, the complaint form is here:

 

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/forms/ERD/pdf/ls_119.pdf

[jerichoholicninja]

Is it just me or are staffing agencies just a huge con? I've been registered with basically every one in northeast Wisconsin for 3 years and never here from them even when I see they jobs that I am quite qualified for. I've gotten two interviews through them and neither job was anywhere close to what they described to me.

[nate82]

Is it just me or are staffing agencies just a huge con? I've been registered with basically every one in northeast Wisconsin for 3 years and never here from them even when I see they jobs that I am quite qualified for. I've gotten two interviews through them and neither job was anywhere close to what they described to me.

 

For the most part yes. Most of the people doing the recruiting for them are just old used car salesman who know nothing about HR or the jobs that they are trying to get people for. Most of it is a sales thing so they do good at that but the majority of them are extremely horrible at the HR side of things. Basically they know the job description and that is it and sometimes they don't even know that. If you are seriously interested in a position that a staffing agency has you basically have to call them a lot and do not leave a message as they don't normally call back. You just have to keep on contacting them and reminding them you are interested in a certain position that has been posted.

 

On the recruiter side as I know someone who works at a staffing agency she has told me that about 95% of the applications she receives for jobs are people who are not qualified at all for the job. They are just basically submitting their paperwork to get their unemployment check. Of the 5% who are qualified for the job only about 2-3% actually call her back and the ones that do call her back the company finds a problem with them and wants someone more experienced who is willing to take less to do more.

 

My advice again is to just keep on hounding the recruiter and trying to get in contact with them. Just putting in an application or submitting your resume is not enough.

[GAME05]

a year of identical previous experience, a Master's Degree, and i'd even been working there part-time for three months--yet i didn't even make the cut for the in-person interview round for a job that paid $23,000 per year. what's a guy gotta do?

 

but i have an interview coming up for a good job. admittedly it's a bit over my head, so i'm not expecting anything to come of it (though i'll still be prepared and all that stuff). but still, my last three interviews were essentially jobs for 1) cleaning bathrooms, 2) mowing lawns and 3) emptying trash; so at the very least, it's still nice to get this interview to know where i stand in the marketplace and that i'm at least competitive for higher-level jobs in the field.

 

i'm still working to boost my resume, but at least it's good to know it's not entirely me, but that it's just a really lousy marketplace right now.

[rwa12]

You're right, staffing agencies, for all intents and purposes, are worthless. They get a HUGE pool of applicants, some serious, some looking for unemployment (as was mentioned above). They don't typically turn people down, as I believe the recruiters are paid at least somewhat on the number of people they sign. Really, your only shot at getting something out of them is if it is right after you sign up. Give it a week and there are 100 newer people, and you are old news (if you were ever news in the first place). It's basically a live version of monster.com. If you are going to seek help, get a headhunter. At least those guys have specific jobs to hire, and they benefit from placing the right people.

[torts]

theres a difference between a staffing agency recruiter and a recruiter for a hospital or bank or some other type of corporation.

 

recruiters for banks/hospitals/ect get paid a salary plus bonus on the number of people they hire/positions they fill.

 

recruiters at temp/staffing agencies get paid a salary, and generally dont get a bonus on how many they hire, and they (the company) gets paid a % upcharge on the hourly rate from the employer, so they ONLY make money (the agency) when they fill positions for an employer.

 

headhunters are similar, except they get paid a flat rate by corporations/businesses to find them employees, and are generally only for those who have experience or work in an industry that is in demand, but with low supply of educated applicants.

 

just to clarify a little of the difference of the three in how they usually get paid.

[GAME05]

my Manager interview today went surprisingly well. a lot of preparation brought a lot of confidence, few nerves, no stumbling and a lot of good answers--even a couple of "that's just what we were hoping to hear." so even if i don't get it, i've become much better at interviews. though if i do get it, i'm suddenly wondering about the support network available (would be a lot of new responsibilities, yet they want someone who "knows everything")

 

nodded to the next interviewee as i was leaving--younger than me and wearing a polo shirt to a managerial interview.