[bpforever1]

I have so far applied to twenty places this week and only two have responded for interviews. I have experience and certifications but the responses have been rather sparse. I know I should wait for a week or two for responses but some places have had over 500 applicants for one position. I am simply flabbergasted by this whole process. I know now is peak season for applicants so it is nothing surprising. But, it is frustrating for me to apply and receive no response. I will wait for another week or so. One place responded on the same day I applied. Weird, I thought. But, most places are not responding. I am thinking of applying to twenty more places after a week or so, then leave it alone for awhile. At my age, any response is good. I am competing against very young people so if I do receive any response, I will be surprised. It is not as if I am starving or anything. I like working as a teacher. I'm thinking of becoming an interpreter later but for now teaching is my main gig. I really like teaching but obtaining a job is like climbing the biggest mountain in the world here. I will continue trying and in the meantime gain more experience and add to my resume. What else can I do?

I hear ya. I put out over 35 applications and resumes and heard from one prospective employer. I had two interviews with them and I was just contacted this morning with news that was surprising to me. I have extensive experience in the industry including leadership and management levels. I felt I aced the interviews. But no, they said they found an applicant with more recent experience. I am pretty choked by all of this. I figure in my own case it is my age that is the problem and I have a recent gap in employment.

[bpforever1]

Yes, depending on the field, one may face much competition in applying for jobs. I have actually three interviews but will turn down one because they require a medical checkup. So, I only have two interviews for part-time positions. I am going to do my best to do well on these interviews but in the past I have been rather shy and critical of myself and this does not bode well during the interviews. I will change my attitude and see what happens. I have experience but must pass the demo lesson also. This has not been easy for me. I will re-think my teaching plan and try to be more creative and more effective in engaging the student. I am not expecting much again but am hoping for the best.

[seesaw]

bpforever and justafriend, take heart. Job searches these days take 6 months to a year, and closer to a year. I have submitted so many resumes, been on so many interviews, and still turned away, even though I have so much experience and proven results.

I am fortunate that I could turn to consulting work and now I'm committing to that full-time possibly permanently or until I figure out my next move...But, strangely enough, it looks like I will be far more comfortable financially freelancing than I was as an employee.

Keep applying. It just takes time. I know that is a really hard thing to hear, but it's true, the market out there right now, all the articles and recruiters are saying it's around a year to find a new position.

Keep your chin up!

Seesaw

[bpforever1]

I just received another interview request from a job that might be part-time or full-time. I don't know if I can handle full-time but we shall see. I'm very happy. Things are looking better.

[bpforever1]

My interview is tomorrow with demo lesson. I am hoping for the best but expect nothing. I will be upbeat, confident, and energetic.

[incogneo]

Good luck with your job interview. As seesaw so eloquently stated, it could take 6 months or longer for a job search to produce results. I've been searching since March of last year. While I did land a new job over the summer, it hasn't been what I truly wanted so I've been looking for six months since then.

[bpforever1]

I got the job for part-time initially and it may turn into a full-time job. It is a small hole-in-the-wall outfit. He wants me to come up with events and activities to sell to companies as well as teach. The pay is not great initially either because I will be on probation for two months then may get a raise based on performance. I am going to think about it. I have nothing else to do. So, I'd rather work than be idle. But, he just started this school last year and is a entrepreneur. I'm working for cheap and he is going to sell my ideas. What a riot!! I like working for business companies but these jobs are at night and I already work three nights a week. I just don't know. I know he is trying to make money but truthfully I am not an events planner. So, my ideas may be awful. He is paying me to go to meetings too so it not that bad. It might be a good experience. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be an events planner. haahahaha. So, I will think about it until Friday when he scheduled a meeting to talk about events planning. Does anybody have any advice? I would greatly appreciate if anybody could offer their two cents.

[bpforever1]

I am thinking about turning this job down because I consulted with someone who said this man is just trying to make me do all of the hard work for cheap pay. This could be true. I have two other interviews for business companies so will hope they turn out better than this deal.

[bpforever1]

I turned down the part-time cheap-paying job. I am not an events planner. I also wanted to have a job during the daytime and his job entailed working at night. I also don't want to lose focus on becoming an interpreter. I really need to focus on learning Japanese but it is not easy.

[bpforever1]

The owner sent me a message stating he would pay me more money to work with him. What??? Why did not he offer this initially? Forget it. I don't want to waste my time on doing events planning and setting up someone else's school for cheap pay. I am not trained to do so and not interested.

[bpforever1]

I got another phone call while I was teaching for another part-time job that may become full-time. This school has a good reputation already and is opening a new branch here in the city. I will call them tomorrow and see what they say. They pay cheaply too but they have classes during the day time and weekends. I am hoping to fill my daytime with work too.

[bpforever1]

I received three interview requests this morning. Yippee!!! They are for full-time positions too. I am very excited!! Life looks better all of the time. I want to teach medical English though and one of them entails this. I am hoping to work in the daytime too if possible. However, I'll probably just do one job and do my best at it. Medical English sounds fun!!! If this does not work out, the next best job is teaching in the mornings. I have to write an essay though before interviewing. Then, lastly the regular English conversation teaching position will be my final choice.

[bpforever1]

I did a phone interview for a part-time position and passed to do a face-to-face interview. This will be my fourth interview I need to schedule. Well, they pay well and dispatch teachers to companies. I like teaching at companies. But, I'm still working on the essay and only one of the full-time positions has scheduled me. So, I have to juggle my schedule and see where everything falls into place. I am very excited and grateful for these opportunities and don't want to waste them. I feel blessed.

[hvert]

Wow, you are getting a lot of interviews! That event planner guy sounds like a schmuck, glad you turned him down.

[bpforever1]

I actually received about 10 interviews from about 20 applications. That is about a 50 percent rate for receiving interviews. I turned down some interviews because some places want a medical check-up or were above my head. I just went to an interview today and was offered a part-time job which I will take if necessary. I have two more interviews this week for full-time jobs and hopefully one of them will be successful. I keep changing my feelings towards full-time work. I would like to work full-time but the pay is abysmal. I calculated it to about 15 dollars per hour. It is really low for 40 hour week work. I get paid about 40 dollars now per hour for part-time so if I collected enough of these I can barely eke by somehow. I like these high-paying part-time jobs but am already working for two companies and will probably add a third if I choose to do just part-time work. I will do these other two interviews and see how they go. I may change my mind depending how the interviews go. I was really despondent yesterday from my interview and after being tested for two hours on grammar. I was really exhausted and could not think after the interview and test because the owner/manager of the school was really mean and overcritical about my resume and my experiences. I felt like crap afterwards. I think his school's method is amazing but if I have to work with him, I'm going to become suicidal. So, I'm going to withdraw my application soon and forget about it. I can read about the school's method on my own. I feel really good about myself again and will go to tomorrow's interview with confidence and optimism.

Good grief. That last interview you described sounds grueling. Good thinking.

You are doing very well! Glad you have an offer in your pocket. Good luck on the remaining interviews!!

[bpforever1]

I did not withdraw my application and made it into the next round of interviews. I am happy!! I am going to develop a tough skin if I work here at this school. I want to be a good teacher and know that criticism is not personal but to see what type of character one has. I am excited!! I really want to work at his school but was despondent at first from this initial interview. Now, I feel more confident!! I am going to eat breakfast before I go and be ready for the next two hour or more interview. I want to do my best and be the best as a teacher!!

[bpforever1]

My goal as a teacher is to do this job at the innovative school with the critical manager. The job is part-time but will be semi-full time. I will also try to fill my nights with business classes to earn more money. I won't make a killing or anything money-wise but will just earn enough to get by. I will try to put plan B into place too just in case I don't make it through plan A with this innovative school.

[bpforever1]

Tomorrow, I do my interview with the innovative school. I am excited!! I'm going to remain confident and show my stuff!!

[hvert]

Good luck!

Super! Good luck, you’ll do great!!

[bpforever1]

I did not make the cut for the next round but am happy. I was told certain points and will improve on them. I am glad I made it as far as I did. I was not happy after this last interview because I was so exhausted the next day and slept all day. I had to cancel my appointment with a student and this is not good. Thus, I did not make it but am going to be ok. I will continue with what I have and be happy about it. I will probably remain part-time with jobs from several different companies. I want to work full-time but at this point don't know if it is possible. I get tired easily and have no stamina. I think it it best to remain with my part-time jobs and to eke by somehow.

[bpforever1]

I went to another interview at another school and will see what happens. I was told upfront I'm too old. I was like what?!!! So, why did you ask me back for another interview? Weird!!

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by bpforever1

I went to another interview at another school and will see what happens. I was told upfront I'm too old. I was like what?!!! So, why did you ask me back for another interview? Weird!!

Do you live in the US? They can't not hire you because of age. It's against the law.