Am I doing something wrong on my applications?

I've applied for jobs in the past, and I've never gotten an interview, or any sort of thing to say sorry we're just not interested, and I realize the last isn't all that important and isn't probably done by anyone, but what I want to know is why I can't even get an interview? The jobs I've applied for require no special skills, and is just something to try out to help me switch from my current job which is a part time job in which most people I know who work there, have other full time jobs, so why not me? Why can't I just get a foot in the door? I'm almost about to just give up on ever having anything other than the job I have now, which isn't enough by a long stretch.

Hello Fleury29: Well... this is sort-of up my alley, as the saying goes... since... back when I was a real person... I was a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Yes, it certainly sounds as though something is wrong. Basically, job applications are used to screen people out... not in. So, presumably, there's something about the way you're completing yours that is causing you to be screened out repeatedly. This, of course, assumes you're applying for positions for which you're qualified... which it sounds as though you are.

Of course the question is... what is it you're doing. And this I cannot say. Is there, by any chance, a job seeking skills class in your area you could take? I don't know where you live, but in the U.S. these are sometimes offered by state job services offices. Community colleges also sometimes offer these. I think, in some way, what you need to do is to find an employment counselor or job seeking skills instructor who can look at how you're filling out job applications & offer some suggestions as to what it may be that is causing you to be consistently screened out.

Would having 16 years at one job be helpful or hurtful to getting a job? I have always put however long it has been with my current job which at the moment is 16 years, and it's what I put on my last application. My dream job would be working as a music writer either in the film or video game industry. I can't for the life of me figure out an in here, so I will continue looking for normal jobs until I can find someone to just talk to about what I'd really like to do.

Could you see if your other coworkers would recommend you for a job? Having a personal introduction can make a huge difference.

i don't agree with the reply that you might be doing something wrong. are you filling out applications or are you mailing your cover letter and resume? do you format your cover letter the way articles online tell you to? (format like a letter, dating, tailoring each one to each position, addressed to hiring manager.) do you make a case for why you would be a good employee for that specific position? does your resume have good formatting and punctuation? does your resume include bullets, because people don't like to read anymore? have you looked up a list of "keywords" that resume-reading software looks for for specific types of work and have you included words from the job ad into your resume? those are the types of things i did not know about. gosh five years ago i actually included hobbies on my resume -- that is stupid, don't do that. i have learned a lot since then

there are so many sources of advice -- like one reply said, you could go to a resume writing class (i dunno if AARP has this or if a college near you has it open to non-students or alumni). you want to find one that is minimally detailed...when you search for resume writing be sure to put "2016" in there because old stuff like "references available upon request" are useless. resumes now are files that don't get looked at by a human until software parses them. no typos. no bad formatting. save as .doc and .pdf, use .doc when that is an option because apparently the software reads it better (this is still up in the air for me -- i have not tested it and have no idea how to find out, but when i copy/paste stuff from word instead of .pdf, it does come out more legible, so that is what my theory is based on and what resume helping articles have mentioned). and if you made it that far, they're going to already know you will give them references if they ask.

references don't matter as much as knowing someone already there or knowing the hiring manager. it is all about connections -- connections are a thing that people with mental problems don't usually have or maintain on the same level as people without. this is DESIGNED to exclude us, so we have to work super hard. i am low on totem pole so i have never had coworkers in high places -- i have to ask my parents' friends or my therapist's friends or someone i just accidentally ran into that has more status than people my level. older people will know people.

how you're filling out application is a silly concern. copy/paste job descriptions from resume. they should ask for you to attach a resume and cover letter if they actually care about your skills. entry level, that is ridiculous. if you are illiterate then i guess they'll know not to employ you, but i don't know how someone can fill out an application wrong...unless you say you can't commute when it is a job where you have to commute sometimes, or something. if it is a personality test, well, then that as well is one way they single out people with mental disorders, and i have no advice for passing other than hogan and hogan personality test dude deserves to shovel coal with satan for many eons after he dies... they do people with mental problems no service by making sure entry-level jobs use personality tests to screen people for possible personality disorders (something that is not technically a disability but often accompanies other mental problems). i use this absolute hatred of the system to motivate me into applying more places. find something like that, because you are gonna have to submit dozens of applications and custom cover letters until you get a response. don't be like me and wait until you are unemployed to start applying, because it is four months later now.

can you go on your company's web site and look at jobs you could transfer to? a lot of companies like to keep people around. i know this is an older post and you've probably thought of this by now.

jobs are a lot harder to get than 16 years ago. i really hope you have heard a response by now from one of the places at least!! have you????