Is anyone else job searching? Do you find it as difficult as I do?

I am one week away from completing a non-profit funded call center job certificate.

I've also had two phone interviews for an at home remote call center job, and for a front desk role at a chiropractor. I wasn't offered either job.

Then today, a recruiter called me to offer me a paltry one-day assignment next week. When I asked her why she didn't consider me for the three admin roles posted as direct-hires on her company's website, she had no response. When I turned down the one day role, I justified it by repeating that I need to find a direct hire or temp to hire role and wasn't willing to jeopardize my paltry weekly unemployment amount for a one day role.

The way it would have jeopardized my weekly state unemployment: after I report the income, it is deducted from the previous week's state unemployment. In my case, it would cancel out the amount as the one day assignment after taxes would net the exact amount I get every week (which is scarily under $200 a week). So, there is financially no reason to take a one-day temp job that will pay me less than what I get weekly for the next 2 months that would mean I'd lose a week's worth of state unemployment. It's just not worth the risk.

Right now there seems to be a plethora of call-center remote jobs b/c everyone is stuck at home and companies are not really hiring (as far as I can see on Linked In etc.).

Anyone else have any job hunting tips for this pandemic we're in?

Even if our gov't gets their act together, states will not be able to retro pay the PUA because they didn't with the CARES act. I didn't get my PUA until one month after it started and I was NEVER retro payed for those first 4 weeks when it was rolled out.

This is just so aggravating. I also do not like recruiters in general as they make a commission on collecting your resume for their metrics. They don't get a commission if they place you -- just if they have your resume on file as "active." It's such a scam for job seekers, the way that temp agencies operate.

[WastingAsparagus]

Yeah, job searching is a pain sometimes.

Have you tried searching for a job without a recruiter in the middle? I mean, just contacting a company directly? I found one call center work-from-home job at Walgreens that you can do from anywhere in the US -- I don't know if you'd be interested in something like that?

Anyway, job hunting is hard, especially in these times. I got a job during this pandemic time, though, through looking at a website called The Penny Hoarder -- they have some job postings on there that might be worth seeing.

Hopefully this helps.

Hi Wasting Asparagus. I am deflated because it seems like ALL companies use recruiters now as their gatekeepers. Even human resources departments use them. If I could bypass the horrid recruiter, believe me, I would.

I will check out The Penny Hoarder. I have been watching YouTube videos that suggest side gig jobs but lots of those websites require you to pay a joiner's fee. No thanks. I have to penny pinch. If I can't join the website for free to do gig work, then I feel like that website is just like a recruiter -- taking a commission from the job seeker without the promise of connecting the job seeker to a job.

[WastingAsparagus]

Originally Posted by Motts

Hi Wasting Asparagus. I am deflated because it seems like ALL companies use recruiters now as their gatekeepers. Even human resources departments use them. If I could bypass the horrid recruiter, believe me, I would.

I will check out The Penny Hoarder. I have been watching YouTube videos that suggest side gig jobs but lots of those websites require you to pay a joiner's fee. No thanks. I have to penny pinch. If I can't join the website for free to do gig work, then I feel like that website is just like a recruiter -- taking a commission from the job seeker without the promise of connecting the job seeker to a job.

Yeah, the part that's helpful about the Penny hoarder is their section on remote work. It has a bunch of ideas. I hope it helps. Of course not all of them apply to everyone but such is the case with job searches.

I would prefer a job that would not involve a recruiter. I mean perhaps recruiters are fine, but just don't pay them a fee to get a potential job for you. That's at least what I would think. The employment search should be entirely free, in my opinion.

[browneyedgirl20]

Originally Posted by Motts

Is anyone else job searching? Do you find it as difficult as I do?

I am one week away from completing a non-profit funded call center job certificate.

I've also had two phone interviews for an at home remote call center job, and for a front desk role at a chiropractor. I wasn't offered either job.

Then today, a recruiter called me to offer me a paltry one-day assignment next week. When I asked her why she didn't consider me for the three admin roles posted as direct-hires on her company's website, she had no response. When I turned down the one day role, I justified it by repeating that I need to find a direct hire or temp to hire role and wasn't willing to jeopardize my paltry weekly unemployment amount for a one day role.

The way it would have jeopardized my weekly state unemployment: after I report the income, it is deducted from the previous week's state unemployment. In my case, it would cancel out the amount as the one day assignment after taxes would net the exact amount I get every week (which is scarily under $200 a week). So, there is financially no reason to take a one-day temp job that will pay me less than what I get weekly for the next 2 months that would mean I'd lose a week's worth of state unemployment. It's just not worth the risk.

Right now there seems to be a plethora of call-center remote jobs b/c everyone is stuck at home and companies are not really hiring (as far as I can see on Linked In etc.).

Anyone else have any job hunting tips for this pandemic we're in?

Even if our gov't gets their act together, states will not be able to retro pay the PUA because they didn't with the CARES act. I didn't get my PUA until one month after it started and I was NEVER retro payed for those first 4 weeks when it was rolled out.

This is just so aggravating. I also do not like recruiters in general as they make a commission on collecting your resume for their metrics. They don't get a commission if they place you -- just if they have your resume on file as "active." It's such a scam for job seekers, the way that temp agencies operate.

It is the same in the UK, always recruiters as third parties. Really frustrating!

I hope you find something soon

[Open Eyes]

The job market is definitely tough right now as for every job that opens there are typically several individuals applying. So companies have their pick from many and those with experience and willing to accept less pay get hired.

Companies are also cutting back and letting go of higher paid workers and hanging on to others getting paid less. So seniority isn’t even a job security anymore. It helps to be flexible in having the ability to do more than one job function at a company. It’s definitely a case of many willing to compromise just to have the work.

[Open Eyes]

It used to be that you could get dressed nice and go into a company and ask to submit an application (now there are other methods to self promote). Yet, that isn't as helpful as with the social distancing a lot of people are working remotely so that important personal presence dynamic isn't there. Also, due to the economic down turn a lot of companies are cutting back. It's true that recruiters are basically just sales people and they tend to say there is a job opening when in reality there isn't but they want to get you hooked. I have a friend that was a recruiter and listening to how that works from her side of the equation was very eye opening.

Someone I know got their job through networking and got job offers due to someone in a company knowing them and suggesting them as a good fit for a job opening and how that person would do well in the company due to being very productive and professional and having the right personality that would be a good fit. So a lot of jobs are filled by recomendations from within a company itself which is nothing someone not knowing anyone within a company can really compete with. Yet, now with the cut backs taking place, most people have been quiet and are not doing much in the way of recommending. It's not unusual to not get feedback or call backs right now. I am saying this only so you don't get depressed thinking you are not good enough because it's more about the overall job market. Also, from what I am hearing, a lot of people are nervous about their own jobs so they tend to be thinking more about themselves right now. Recruiters won't tell you that, as they need flow themselves and yes they tend to say there are jobs when there aren't. Yup, as always it's a number's game and with so many out of work companies have a very large pool to pick from and they know they can pay less too, so often jobs available are not paying as much as they used to.

[Open Eyes]

People are actually getting creative though. My husband was telling me last night that a friend of his's wife got a job paid cash under the table to tutor/homeschool for parents who want to keep their child out of school longer to see how things go with schools being opened in limited ways. I guess she does this a couple days a week.

[GodzillaBBQ646]

The whole job hunt stinks. I need wfh. I look and I am not qualified for much and they don't pay much. No unemployment. This is as depressing as the mental health issues with my wife. I want to just scream sometimes.

Thanks for the replies to my thread!

I tried to network with my community radio station that had an opening for a fundraising position as I'm an active volunteer there. However, the former news director who HATED ME was recently asked to help rebuild their community radio news dept. and when they told her of their plans to hire me as a freelancer, she immediately threw me under the bus so they passed on me. I found this out from one of the volunteers who is hiring the fundraiser. She told me that the news director wouldn't give me a good review so that is why they passed on me.

I agree that its better to get a job through networking. And, when you don't have a network, you literally have to build one from scratch. I'm doing that now. Contacting people on LinkedIn, asking them for informational interviews about their roles. Then, I add their name to my "network spreadsheet." It's time consuming, but I'm 100% done with third party recruiters b/c they are inept salespeople whose only goal is dollar signs. They lie 100% of the time too. I hate recruiters. If you are a recruiter reading this, I hate you.

Yes, job hunting during the pandemic sucks big time. 500 people for every 1 job application practically.

[WastingAsparagus]

Originally Posted by Motts

Thanks for the replies to my thread!

I tried to network with my community radio station that had an opening for a fundraising position as I'm an active volunteer there. However, the former news director who HATED ME was recently asked to help rebuild their community radio news dept. and when they told her of their plans to hire me as a freelancer, she immediately threw me under the bus so they passed on me. I found this out from one of the volunteers who is hiring the fundraiser. She told me that the news director wouldn't give me a good review so that is why they passed on me.

I agree that its better to get a job through networking. And, when you don't have a network, you literally have to build one from scratch. I'm doing that now. Contacting people on LinkedIn, asking them for informational interviews about their roles. Then, I add their name to my "network spreadsheet." It's time consuming, but I'm 100% done with third party recruiters b/c they are inept salespeople whose only goal is dollar signs. They lie 100% of the time too. I hate recruiters. If you are a recruiter reading this, I hate you.

Yes, job hunting during the pandemic sucks big time. 500 people for every 1 job application practically.

I recently read something that might be of interest. It says something like the fact that you should ask really direct, to-the-point questions in job interviews. This is not to just show that you are a good candidate who is prepared, but it actually helps see if the job is a good fit for you.

For example, it suggested that you don't ask things like "what is the job like?" because they will give you really vague, uninformative answers, or answers like "oh, the job is great", which is somewhat meaningless in terms of assessing a potential job.

But if you ask something more specific, like, "What can you tell me about the person I would report to?" then they'll have to give you a more specific answer. Also they said to talk to as many people as you can from within and outside the organization.

It was kind of interesting to me though because I thought that asking really pointed questions shows disrespect. But I guess maybe it doesn't...

Originally Posted by WastingAsparagus

I recently read something that might be of interest. It says something like the fact that you should ask really direct, to-the-point questions in job interviews. This is not to just show that you are a good candidate who is prepared, but it actually helps see if the job is a good fit for you.

For example, it suggested that you don't ask things like "what is the job like?" because they will give you really vague, uninformative answers, or answers like "oh, the job is great", which is somewhat meaningless in terms of assessing a potential job.

But if you ask something more specific, like, "What can you tell me about the person I would report to?" then they'll have to give you a more specific answer. Also they said to talk to as many people as you can from within and outside the organization.

It was kind of interesting to me though because I thought that asking really pointed questions shows disrespect. But I guess maybe it doesn't...

I agree. It is smarter to ask interviewers specific questions rather than vague questions. Or you are just setting yourself up for major letdown, once you get hired and find out its not what you were told.