Job Searching is Just Maddening

I'm looking for a job since I'm graduating in December, and I have to say it is just driving me crazy! I been applying for a couple of months and have gotten back two replies (both of which said they didn't have anything). I'm just not hearing anything. I'd like to hear something, even if the answer is no, even if it's just a confirmation that my stuff was received.

It can be frustrating especially when there is no follow up information. The headhunters recommend placing a follow-up call within 2 weeks of sending your information to human resources or whomever you sent the resume to, to confirm that they received it. Especially if it was send electronically, as there can be glitches, so to definitely follow-up.

I don't know if you've already found these or not, but there is a good book series: "Knock 'Em Dead" that has information on how to place those follow-up calls after sending a resume and after interviewing; the series includes information on writing resumes and cover letters so your resume gets read, and interviewing, etc. It is to take an active approach as persistence pays off and shows you are interested, attentive, and on top of things.

Hang in there and keep persisting. Something will come up. Good luck!

Well, I got back one more "no" today. We'll see if any of the other ones yield anything, but boy is it tiring to wait.

I know exactly how you feel, it's very frustrating. And I'm not even looking for pay, I'm looking for an unpaid intern-ship that I need for 3 months for my college course. It's now got so S**T out there people aren't hiring people who don't even want pay.

Written replies don't happen often; takes time and effort and enough personnel to have someone who can take the time and effort! You should either get called on the phone within a week or you aren't being considered.

I would look and see if your school has any jobs open; they are like little cities and need temp workers too, people to work registration and bookstore, accounting/bursar, etc. and being around people helps because people know people, etc. More possible job openings happen. Just sending letters is too far removed from any action. Go to your state and local job offices too, not because there will be any jobs (there weren't for me) but it will give you ideas and let you see what sorts of things are available so if you see there are a lot of construction jobs, for example; those companies need people in the office and managers, etc.

Think in terms too, of how you would work your way to the top if you had to start at the bottom; I took a clerk's job at Sears out of college, for example, and went through the manager training course, etc. It's easier to take jobs and move sideways, create your own learning path? I have worked mostly in administration before but I thought about a "company" and all the various departments? (sales, accounting, admin, advertising, etc.) and then deliberately looked around for jobs in each department so I could better understand the "whole". Over time, what you learn now will accrue and be very helpful in 10-20 years; think of your schooling and how you start in 1st grade knowing little but how much more you know by age 18, only 12 years later? Sure as a kid it seems a long time but the older you get, the less time it seems. Had I known, I might have planned better at age 20 than I did. It took me until I was 40 before I "got it" and worked for 5 years just getting the education/experience I wanted/needed and landed a job that was literally "made" for me as a result.

I'm not out of options yet fortunately.