Job-seeking support

Sparkle · 02-02-2012, 10:43 AM

The labour market is very very very different than it was 5 or 10years ago.

I've been under-employed (I work half-time) for the past 3 years. I have been job hunting for 3+ years and it has been rough. I have over 10years experience in my field, have worked abroad and in the states and have strong references. While I can usually land a couple of freelance contracts a year; FT work has been elusive.

You need to have a lot of patience and be able to handle "rejection" without allowing it to destroy your self-esteem. (easier said than done, I know)

You need to be your strongest self-advocate and aggressive in your search, most companies do not keep applicants informed of their process beyond a form email acknowledging receipt of the application.

It is a numbers game at the moment... employees are still scared of the weak economy and grateful for having work/benefits -- they aren't leaving their jobs (trading up, making lateral moves, trying new careers) right now AND businesses are not creating new positions because profit margins have been static or dropping in most industries. Which means there are very few openings and competition is really stiff for the available positions. I have friends that work in HR in a variety of industries and for every opening there are (regularly) more than 50 applicants - sometimes reaching in to the 100s (for one position).

My advice...

Tap your networks. Having an inside connection may be the only factor that gets you on a short list in a wide field of qualified applicants.

If you liked previous employers make some calls and see if they're hiring or thinking of hiring in the near future. Let them know you loved working with them and would love the opportunity to do so again.

If you had a great relationship with a client or vendor and your skills would be useful to them, get in touch.

Don't be afraid to ask friends or family or former colleagues to keep their ears/eyes open for you. And check in periodically.

If earning a certain amount is key to your survival, do not wait, get aggressive in your search now. Register with temp agencies. Do volunteer work (if applicable) in the industry you're looking. Make calls, send emails, find out what is happening and where its happening.

You will have the best luck applying for positions in industries that you have worked most recently. Currently, employers don't need to consider transferable skills or think "out of the box" about what you might bring to the company - they'll likely have at least 10 applicants who have done precisely this job for the last 5+ years in their pile.

Your cover letter needs to be succinct and the best of the best because it will be the first round of culling applications.

Your cover letter should be tailored to the company and the position, you should identify the core skill sets and experience needed to be successful (from the advertised job description) and clearly illustrate how your specific experience matches those core items. Dont assume they will see it in your resume, they may not even glance at your resume if its not clear in your cover letter.

I also make it a point to mirror some of the language they use in their job adverts and on their website - even if I would express my skills/experience with different words.

One of the worst trends I've seen is that an increasing number of companies are asking applicants to outline their salary requirements in their cover letter or within a data field (in an online application form). This allows hiring managers to rule out applicants based on how much they need/want to earn. This is a TERRIBLE practice! And as an applicant you can't win; if you set your requirements too high you may be culled at first round, if you set it too low you may have no leverage for earning a livable wage. My only advice here is determine what you literally need to earn to take care of yourself and don't undersell yourself, you don't want to work for a company that bargain shops for employees anyway, they will not retain their staff when the market improves.

All that said, I've seen more jobs openings in my field in the past month than any quarter of the last 3 years. I'm hoping that is a sign of an improving labor market.

I wish you all the best in your job hunt.

turasultana · 02-02-2012, 11:35 AM

Its tough out there but companies are hiring (we're having trouble hiring the right skills actually!).

I'd say to think about contractor work through an agency. It's a side door into a lot of large companies that might not hire you otherwise. You get the experience and networking oportunities of a large company, benefits come from the agency.

I started with a 6 mos contract, I said no at first cause i thought I didn't want to be looking again 6 mos later, but then figured i'd give it a go. 4 years later, still there (but full time employee).

genghisfawn · 02-02-2012, 11:41 AM

Folks, these have been so helpful and encouraging! Thanks for your support and ideas. I hope there are other job-seekers out there reading this and gaining courage and knowledge, as well.

foxyshaman · 02-02-2012, 11:45 AM

Genghisfawn, what is the job market like in Saskatchewan? What job niche/market are you seeking? I know a couple of years ago there was a movement out of Alberta to Sask. Is that still the case? I know your economy has shifted quite a bit over the last couple of years. Your housing costs were getting on par to ours, which shocked the dickens outta me.

Just asking fox curious questions.

genghisfawn · 02-02-2012, 12:08 PM

Believe it or not, the job market here is hot. It's just that people are coming back in droves to take advantage of it, so there's a lot of competition!

I just have to keep trying.

I used to work in recruitment so I have a few tricks and networking advantages up my sleeve, but those are slow to develop.

Best of luck, job-hunters!

Dude · 02-02-2012, 01:16 PM

recently, I put in a resume and application for land of lakes (they make buttah,I love cows and would have enjoyed feeding them or doing whatever for $19 an hour)
on their application ,there was a question are you gay ,lesbian or
transgendered.

it felt so odd to be able to check a box like that
I never expected to see that in my lifetime.
but still I question what is behind it because
straight people were not questioned.

Like maybe ,what number marriage are you on? Kids?

I have not been contacted but here, there are 200-300 people applying
for one job.

I think I just got a good lead on an independant contractor driving job
but considerable flow will be required to keep myself in gas and upkeep.
Which means two jobs, a whole lotta coffee but there are definately worse things.

02-02-2012, 10:43 AM	#1
Sparkle Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, please Relationship Status: Loved Up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western MA Posts: 2,183 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,001 Thanked 6,553 Times in 1,552 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	The labour market is very very very different than it was 5 or 10years ago. I've been under-employed (I work half-time) for the past 3 years. I have been job hunting for 3+ years and it has been rough. I have over 10years experience in my field, have worked abroad and in the states and have strong references. While I can usually land a couple of freelance contracts a year; FT work has been elusive. You need to have a lot of patience and be able to handle "rejection" without allowing it to destroy your self-esteem. (easier said than done, I know) You need to be your strongest self-advocate and aggressive in your search, most companies do not keep applicants informed of their process beyond a form email acknowledging receipt of the application. It is a numbers game at the moment... employees are still scared of the weak economy and grateful for having work/benefits -- they aren't leaving their jobs (trading up, making lateral moves, trying new careers) right now AND businesses are not creating new positions because profit margins have been static or dropping in most industries. Which means there are very few openings and competition is really stiff for the available positions. I have friends that work in HR in a variety of industries and for every opening there are (regularly) more than 50 applicants - sometimes reaching in to the 100s (for one position). My advice... Tap your networks. Having an inside connection may be the only factor that gets you on a short list in a wide field of qualified applicants. If you liked previous employers make some calls and see if they're hiring or thinking of hiring in the near future. Let them know you loved working with them and would love the opportunity to do so again. If you had a great relationship with a client or vendor and your skills would be useful to them, get in touch. Don't be afraid to ask friends or family or former colleagues to keep their ears/eyes open for you. And check in periodically. If earning a certain amount is key to your survival, do not wait, get aggressive in your search now. Register with temp agencies. Do volunteer work (if applicable) in the industry you're looking. Make calls, send emails, find out what is happening and where its happening. You will have the best luck applying for positions in industries that you have worked most recently. Currently, employers don't need to consider transferable skills or think "out of the box" about what you might bring to the company - they'll likely have at least 10 applicants who have done precisely this job for the last 5+ years in their pile. Your cover letter needs to be succinct and the best of the best because it will be the first round of culling applications. Your cover letter should be tailored to the company and the position, you should identify the core skill sets and experience needed to be successful (from the advertised job description) and clearly illustrate how your specific experience matches those core items. Dont assume they will see it in your resume, they may not even glance at your resume if its not clear in your cover letter. I also make it a point to mirror some of the language they use in their job adverts and on their website - even if I would express my skills/experience with different words. One of the worst trends I've seen is that an increasing number of companies are asking applicants to outline their salary requirements in their cover letter or within a data field (in an online application form). This allows hiring managers to rule out applicants based on how much they need/want to earn. This is a TERRIBLE practice! And as an applicant you can't win; if you set your requirements too high you may be culled at first round, if you set it too low you may have no leverage for earning a livable wage. My only advice here is determine what you literally need to earn to take care of yourself and don't undersell yourself, you don't want to work for a company that bargain shops for employees anyway, they will not retain their staff when the market improves. All that said, I've seen more jobs openings in my field in the past month than any quarter of the last 3 years. I'm hoping that is a sign of an improving labor market. I wish you all the best in your job hunt. __________________ I am made of stars

02-02-2012, 11:45 AM	#4
foxyshaman Member How Do You Identify?: spiritually minded dirt dog Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: canada Posts: 898 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,957 Thanked 2,592 Times in 663 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Genghisfawn, what is the job market like in Saskatchewan? What job niche/market are you seeking? I know a couple of years ago there was a movement out of Alberta to Sask. Is that still the case? I know your economy has shifted quite a bit over the last couple of years. Your housing costs were getting on par to ours, which shocked the dickens outta me. Just asking fox curious questions. __________________ Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Muriel Strode

02-02-2012, 11:35 AM	#2
turasultana Member How Do You Identify?: Queer Femme Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: spoken for Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 432 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 226 Thanked 713 Times in 249 Posts Rep Power: 2043785	Its tough out there but companies are hiring (we're having trouble hiring the right skills actually!). I'd say to think about contractor work through an agency. It's a side door into a lot of large companies that might not hire you otherwise. You get the experience and networking oportunities of a large company, benefits come from the agency. I started with a 6 mos contract, I said no at first cause i thought I didn't want to be looking again 6 mos later, but then figured i'd give it a go. 4 years later, still there (but full time employee).

02-02-2012, 11:41 AM	#3
genghisfawn Member How Do You Identify?: Femme/Gentlewoman Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Relationship Status: Happily married 05/17/14 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 561 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,056 Thanked 2,158 Times in 403 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	Folks, these have been so helpful and encouraging! Thanks for your support and ideas. I hope there are other job-seekers out there reading this and gaining courage and knowledge, as well.

02-02-2012, 12:08 PM	#5
genghisfawn Member How Do You Identify?: Femme/Gentlewoman Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Relationship Status: Happily married 05/17/14 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 561 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,056 Thanked 2,158 Times in 403 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	Believe it or not, the job market here is hot. It's just that people are coming back in droves to take advantage of it, so there's a lot of competition! I just have to keep trying. I used to work in recruitment so I have a few tricks and networking advantages up my sleeve, but those are slow to develop. Best of luck, job-hunters!

02-02-2012, 01:16 PM	#6
Dude Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Relationship Status: Perusing Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: exit 5 with an exit 21 goal Posts: 1,725 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 15,351 Thanked 10,605 Times in 1,477 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	recently, I put in a resume and application for land of lakes (they make buttah,I love cows and would have enjoyed feeding them or doing whatever for $19 an hour) on their application ,there was a question are you gay ,lesbian or transgendered. it felt so odd to be able to check a box like that I never expected to see that in my lifetime. but still I question what is behind it because straight people were not questioned. Like maybe ,what number marriage are you on? Kids? I have not been contacted but here, there are 200-300 people applying for one job. I think I just got a good lead on an independant contractor driving job but considerable flow will be required to keep myself in gas and upkeep. Which means two jobs, a whole lotta coffee but there are definately worse things.