I am struggling to find a job, and I have tried everything I can. I took person-to-person training with a job counselor for 4 months to help me write my resume and cover letter, but it didn't help. I reached out to all the people I know and to others on LinkedIn I don't know, some said they are sorry I struggle and they would try to help, but they didn't. Others didn't bother with even replying. I have submitted probably more than 1000+ applications in the last 3+ years, but no one wants to hire me. I don't even get interviews. I only got one technical interview, and they didn't give me an offer. I don't know what the problem is. No one is telling me, even when I ask for an honest feedback. I already have a 2 years gap in my resume, which is bad enough, but now I have been unemployed for the last 3 months, and I am creating more gap. I even contacted some employers telling them that I am willing to work for them for free just to gain experience as I have been working in the academia and have no industry experience, but no one is interested. What else can I do?

I know all too well hearing what you're saying. I've been to my local library several times, they have a free computer/job assisting lab every week but I don't know what their term "assisting " means. Ok, helping you with your resume and job search is what it is, that's what the description says.



They just show you how to navigate job application stuff and job boards I guess. I've been doing that forever it seems and they help you with your resume. My resume is very good in my opinion. There's not much else I can do with it honestly.


I get calls but alot are recruiters who don't speak very good English and I cannot return their calls. The staffing agencies all say "If we come across a match, we will notify you". Yeah right, where did I hear that before. Even if I went down to the local unemployment office, they just give you a sheet of job board/staffing services.

[AceRimmer]

Getting a job is the hardest thing to do imo. The only idea I have for you is to 'fake it'. Meaning lie. I hear about services that will help you fill in resume gaps by lying for you and saying you worked at a company.

Yes, I visited a recruiting agency, too. I actually emailed dozens of recruiters, and eventually one replied, and said let's meet. He said I don't have experience, and he tried to convince me to register in a course that costs 1000s of dollars for a company to get that experience. I felt he was selling that's company course. I told him, no thanks. For that money I can go back to school and get a master's degree (again). He said we will meet again, but has't got back to me.

I hear people lie about the gap. I don't like to lie at all. I say I was traveling (which I kind of was) or on leave or something, but I guess people don't like the gap for whatever reason. Also, what if they did some check on where you said you worked?

Honestly, just exaggerate experience. That's what I did when I was chronically unemployed for almost 4 years due to my MI.

Like let's say you worked at company A for 3 months and company B for 6 months. Exaggerate the time by saying you worked with each for a year that way your 2 year gap isn't a gap anymore.

Another option would be make up some B.S about a family member being terminally ill and say you were their primary caregiver. Employers can't prove or disprove it thanks to HIPPA laws. I legit did this (all be it I didn't lie because my mother DID have cancer I just left how how she was an abusive narcissist and I couldn't get away from her because of my MI). Still though, it made me look like a loyal honest person. I mean, who wouldn't respect a person that sacrificed their career to take care of a sick family member?


If you feel comfortable with it, you can take things a step further. Post fake references and get a burner phone for each "reference" and get a voice changer app (many free ones out there). Make each reference look important and relevant to the position you're targeting. Just say a bunch of good but realistic things about yourself when contacted and bam instant job if you pull it off.

Sorry to encourage you to lie but sometimes you have to lie and manipulate to get ahead. Most big corporations are the real liars anyways because you have to lie and use people to become a multibillion dollar company/person.

Also, this guide might be worth the $37.


Fake Resume - The Machiavellian Guide to Writing Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Hunting

Unfortunately, the interviewing process encourages lying, because they don't want to hear what your story is, but they want to hear what they like to hear. That you are perfect, and have been all the time. They need you to say what they want to hear. Otherwise, you don't get another chance.

Originally Posted by Sans Nom

Unfortunately, the interviewing process encourages lying, because they don't want to hear what your story is, but they want to hear what they like to hear. That you are perfect, and have been all the time. They need you to say what they want to hear. Otherwise, you don't get another chance.

Yup. This has been the hardest part of all for me.

Socializing has never been my strength. I am an introvert who is better with tech than people.

I have enough tech knowledge where I could probably get a high paying job now if I didn't have piss poor social skills.

So yeah, I understand what you're going through.

[AceRimmer]

George from Seinfeld was the master of it. The latex salesman from Vadnelay:

Originally Posted by Sans Nom

I hear people lie about the gap. I don't like to lie at all. I say I was traveling (which I kind of was) or on leave or something, but I guess people don't like the gap for whatever reason. Also, what if they did some check on where you said you worked?

Actually saw this work before.

The person who had the job before me listed the "consulting firm of Jane Smith, LLC" for two years. The person who had the job before me was Jane Smith. Not sure if you could make up some "jobs" that you did during that time.

I would also note that everything where I am dies for almost all of December. So it could really pick up come January.

I’m sorry you’re having a hard time finding a job. It has been my impression that employers are often looking to pay the lowest they can while maximizing work loads. Hang in there. Something is bound to come along eventually.

Employers want to see on your resume that you have done the same exact work before so that they don't train you, or you take the time to teach yourself. Sometimes they ask for something impossible, like a PhD degree with 20 years of experience!! I really came across an opening with this requirement.

[Little Lulu]

So sorry you are struggling and trying so hard to get a job!

What about volunteer work, not working for free for a potential employer, but just regular old volunteer work? You could add that to your resume and you might make a contact that could lead to paid employment, especially if you look for something somehow related to your field (even if remotely). I have done lots of volunteer work and am amazed at the variety of people I've met and what they've done.

Plus, it might help lessen your frustration. Best wishes to you!

[sarahsweets]

Sometimes its not just looking for a job but the types of jobs you are looking for and applying for. I havent worked for a long time due to disability but I have worked with a lot of addicts looking for jobs and my son- many of the people had an idea of what they wanted to do but applied for jobs that had less to do with their skill set and what they wanted to do. So it was like being qualified and wanting a certain job but applying an interviewing for the wrong type of job, if that makes any sense.

I am considering different options especially survival jobs to pay the bills, although I am not sure what I can do, as I don't want to have any direct contact with customers for many reasons. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[AceRimmer]

Originally Posted by Sans Nom

Employers want to see on your resume that you have done the same exact work before so that they don't train you, or you take the time to teach yourself. Sometimes they ask for something impossible, like a PhD degree with 20 years of experience!! I really came across an opening with this requirement.

They did that kind of thing when looking for a program chief at my workplace. After 2 years they found someone. He left after 1 year then they looked again for another year. Then they gave up on getting a PhD to take the job.

I don't think any position in the world requires a PhD with 20 years of experience. This is ridiculous. The problem with these requirements is that they close the door for many otherwise qualified applicants. This is true for many job postings. They set impossible requirements, and then they complain that there is no talent!!

Originally Posted by Sans Nom

I don't think any position in the world requires a PhD with 20 years of experience. This is ridiculous. The problem with these requirements is that they close the door for many otherwise qualified applicants. This is true for many job postings. They set impossible requirements, and then they complain that there is no talent!!

They do this so they can get H1B visa holders that will take the job for less money and zero rights.

Originally Posted by AceRimmer

Getting a job is the hardest thing to do imo. The only idea I have for you is to 'fake it'. Meaning lie. I hear about services that will help you fill in resume gaps by lying for you and saying you worked at a company.

I wouldn't lie, it's not worth it!

[hvert]

Originally Posted by Sans Nom

I don't think any position in the world requires a PhD with 20 years of experience. This is ridiculous. The problem with these requirements is that they close the door for many otherwise qualified applicants. This is true for many job postings. They set impossible requirements, and then they complain that there is no talent!!

Not only that, but they want to pay high school wages. They complain about talent shortages where I live, but it's no wonder given what they pay.

[saidso]

I got a survival job through an employment agency. I was hungry and didn't care. They were desperate for someone to fix a system that former employee left in the lurch so they didn't care either.

It sucked horribly. All my friends told me to leave. But looking back it was at the job that I learned skills and made contacts that helped me to move up a level later in life.

I can't advise you to get a job that sucks because that's crazy. But sometimes doing what has to be done for survival can have unintended good consequences. One reason that I learned so much on that job was that everyone knew that my boss was horrible so other senior staff went out of their way to help me.

The other thing that I'd recommend is being honest with yourself about your intentions, and hold onto that if the s-stuff begins to fly. I stuck at that job because I needed to eat, period.

Work is not focused on your personal space like therapy. Work is an exchange made with people who have something that we need. Get good at something useful. Useful stuff can be practical/ social/ or bloody minded obsessive as well as academic or technical.

Working is hard, so please take care of yourself!

I mentioned that I visited a recruiting agency for a part-time, contract, or full-time jobs that I can do, and I felt they tried to take advantage of me by trying to convince me to take courses that cost 1000s of dollars with an employer whom they seem to collaborate with. I told them I can do an internship with the employer, but they didn't seem fond of the suggestion. Other than that, I am not aware of any other resources that can help me. Do I need these agencies for a survival job? For me a survival job is to do something that doesn't require high skills and university degrees. I thought these are easier to get. My issue is what survival job I can do. I am not good with customers, and I need to have time to try to work on myself and develop technical skills and apply to other jobs (sometimes I need as long as 2-3 hours to prepare a job application), but at the same time I need some money to pay the bills, or a large part of them.

Originally Posted by Sans Nom

I am not aware of any other resources that can help me. Do I need these agencies for a survival job? For me a survival job is to do something that doesn't require high skills and university degrees. I thought these are easier to get. My issue is what survival job I could do. I need to have time to work on myself and develop technical skills, but at the same time I need some money to pay the bills, or a large part of them.

Not sure but I went to a temp agency to get work. I got like a 16 week job and then I qualified for unemployment based on that "temp job" and kept doing that. I could have gone on like that for weeks.

Try Temporary agencies even if they aren't in your field.

[saidso]

Hi Sans Nom
My experience is that there are good and bad employment agencies. The bad ones weren't hard to identify: they spend hours getting you registered and then people call you about improbable jobs without having even read your resume. The good ones only take on applicants who they can place: that means you send in your CV and you call them first thing next morning, ask politely for the person who deals with the type of job you are looking for, sound enthusiastic, give them a 3 liner about what you want and what you are good at. You don't waste their time and they don't waste yours.

Get a 3 liner ready before you call them. Good agencies don't waste time messing with people. Calling someone after you send in your CV gets your CV to the top of the pile on their desk, sounding enthusiastic and informed makes them want to meet you. "Informed" means looking online and seeing what jobs that agency specialise in, noting down names people dealing, asking practical questions about money, location, hours and whether they think you would be suitable.

All that is just my experience at that moment in time... I can't say that I won any jackpots but through working a lot of hours I earned enough to buy a house.

In your post, you talk about "I need" but not about what you an offer. Think about yourself: are you meticulous and accurate for example? Have you solved practical problems or fixed things? Are you patient? You don't have to be any of that, it's just about identifying what you can offer another person commercially - at a push.

It's ok to know what you need, but jobs are about selling what you can offer. If you were going to pay someone to do work for you, that's what you would be asking them so try seeing it from that point of view.

You might be surprised at what you are good at. There are some things that I'm good at that were given to me, some qualities that colleagues observed that I didn't know that I had, and some things that I've patiently learned so as to have something to offer in a certain field. Not expensive intellectual things: there is always a market for people to do practical stuff, and that's a good test of motivation.

When you call agencies, talk/ listen/ note the name of anyone who seems helpful, send then a brief thank you!!! Work can be abrasive, so please be gentle and encouraging towards yourself in this process!

Perhaps Emily can offer a different perspective on all of the above .

Honestly, it might be worth it to just freelance instead if you are in a field that has freelance work.

Regular jobs just aren't worth it these days. It is too much of a hassle just to get a job, only to become an underpaid and overworked employee that has to put the company's needs before their own.

Also might be worth it to sell online on eBay or Amazon. Here's a guide that could help you out:


Sell It Now! How to make money on eBay in just 37 minutes

E-commerce is a tried and true way to make money that is only growing thanks to more and more people shopping online.


Just a thought.