The Unemployed Persons Support Group

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 5:15pm

This thread is for recent graduates (or not so recent) who are still unemployed and need to vent.

I had my heart set on this one job (I did search for other jobs in the meantime) and did everything I could to let the company know I was interested in it. Today, I found out they hired someone else (after being called back twice for interviews). I know that's life and this happens, but is anyone else frustrated with being unemployed?

Updated On: 9/23/09 at 05:15 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 5:34pm

Yup, me. But truly, it is just a job.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 5:39pm

I hear you. I got laid off about a month ago. Just a bunch of stuff that should never have happened with our liquor license. We didn't do anything wrong, it was the landlords who were being spiteful because my boss wanted to buy the restaurant portion of the building from them. Now it's a huge legal battle and we had to close until it gets straightened out, which doesn't seem to be soon. And yes, I have been applying for other jobs and going on interviews as well, but nothing has worked out yet.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 5:42pm

I was there for a year and a half after college. I finally gave up finding something in my field and just went to a temp agency, then was hired full-time through that this past winter. It's not my life goal, but it's a job, which is better than a lot of people have right now.

Graduating during a recession takes away the luxury of being selective.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 5:47pm

I got laid off two months ago and it feels good to have time off, but quite a few people look at me like I'm a bum. I find it amusing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:17pm

Blaaagh. I just had an extremely discouraging experience about a week ago (and have been through many more!) but I guess you just have to know that in a lot of ways, it's a crapshoot, and you can't kill yourself over trying to find the logic in how it all pans out. It's tough, but all we can do is keep plugging away. I've been floating around (working, thankfully, but not permanently) for a year and a half now. It's frustrating, but something's got to give. And skittles is right; look outside of your dream field right now. This isn't the climate in which to be picky.

Updated On: 9/23/09 at 06:17 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:29pm

I have 20+ years work experience and got laid off from my great job in August due to their business suffering in this economy. At the time I was in a show that was paying my bills, but it was a very limited run. Bottom line is that I can't find an office/day job even with all my experience, so it's not about being a recent college graduate. I am fortunate to have a singing job that's paying pretty well, but I definitely need something else. I am only looking for part time work, and even that is extremely elusive right now.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:41pm

I still am in the running for one other job, or at least I hope so. Maybe they hired someone...

It just seems that no matter what I do (networking, sending out résumés/cover letters, contacting temp agencies, exploring LinkedIn, constantly looking on company job boards and career websites, following up when I do have interviews and even sending thank yous), I am at a dead end. Even finding administrative assistant or office work has been tough. Good luck to you all in finding something.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:45pm

Millie, just remember that the competition is insane right now for jobs. You're up against so many more people than you would have been just a couple of years ago even. It is so discouraging, I know, but remembering that might give you some perspective. It doesn't mean you're not deserving, or that you don't interview well. It's just that there are way too many people for each open position. Right now the entire job market is what the acting industry has been for a number of years. Too many people for not enough work.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:48pm

I tend to be very down on myself about the whole thing, because it IS frustrating; but I've had a lot of people tell me to look at every interview you have, every connection you make, etc. not as a dead end or wasted time, even if it doesn't get you a job. Think of it as practice, at the very least, or maybe of a connection that will come back to help you down the road. You never know what will happen in the future. If you even get so far as to get an interview, you're ahead of many (maybe even hundreds) of other people. If you get to go in for two or three interviews, you know you've made a good impression. You know you're doing something right. Trust me, I've been in that boat. There was a job I recently applied for that was perfect. I often feel really awkward being aggressive and I don't like to ask for favors, but I wanted this so badly. I felt like I did everything I could have done, and I didn't get the job. Point being, though, that you probably are doing everything right; there are just tons of other people who are, too, and so often, it's about timing more than anything else. And I just keep telling myself that eventually, the wall has got to come down. I know a different outlook doesn't change the circumstances, but try looking at it that way; a different outlook will at least make it feel less grim. It's tough out there, but try not to get discouraged; people can read that on you.

Updated On: 9/23/09 at 06:48 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:52pm

And what's with phone interviews? I can't get pass that stage, I find it so frustrating. I can't use my charms over the phone! Grrrrr.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:53pm

blaxx, you're probably not breathing heavily enough.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:56pm

I will just give one example about competition. My sister works part time at the YMCA in the area as a pool lifeguard. I think they advertised an opening for one a while ago, and instead of the usual number of applicants, which I think was 100 or less, my sister said they got 400. I don't think it was a full time position either.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:04pm

Lol, Rath, I should practice more of that.

400 applicants? I'm glad at least I'm getting to the first stage - that's insane!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:06pm

I will be joining you guys and gals in 2 weeks when I leave my job. I was hired under false assumptions about my experience and the position I left to come to this one, is all ready filled. So, that's it for me. But, I am taking this opportunity to try to move to Ohio, so I think all of this is happening for a reason.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:06pm

Ugh, phone interviews are so awkward!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:13pm

And remember, if an interviewer does start asking extremely personal questions, they probably aren't a worthy place to work for. Someone I know experienced that last week. She said the guy was asking her about her dating life, and if she was pregnant or planning on it or something weird like that. The position was for a dental assistant. Totally inappropriate.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:15pm

And against the law.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:17pm

"400 applicants? I'm glad at least I'm getting to the first stage - that's insane!"

I applied for one through Playbill one time and made it through two rounds of interviews (this was earlier in the summer). The guy told me there were 500 applicants narrowed down to 50, then finally about 10.

I hate phone interviews as well.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:22pm

FYI, if you are looking for a job (or have one) be careful about your social networking sites/pages. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and the like offer a plethora of information about you that an employer would normally not be able to ask or inquire about.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:24pm

One of the reasons I made my Facebook profile only visible to friends!

Millie, I'd love to know which one that was!

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:28pm

spidey you wrote:

"I was hired under false assumptions about my experience..."

I don't get that. Did you lead your employer to believe you had experience you didn't?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:31pm

My Facebook is private. I haven't looked at MySpace in forever, there's nothing on it (and it's also private), and I don't tweet.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:31pm

No no. I was under the title, "Patient Financial Service Rep." There are two verisons (for lack of a better work) of that title. One is the billing department and the other is admissions. The job I have now is on the admissions side but I have never done that. I was on the billing side of things and when the director hired me, she assumed I knew how to do the admissions side, and I don't. I just confused myself. Does this make sense? lol

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:37pm

Yes it does as I work for a hospital myself. Gotcha.