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I think you're just shooting darts, spinning your wheels, dealing with HR depts. and online applications. Waste of time since you haven't made any progress. Frankly, you need to bypass HR altogether.
Considering your age and the number of years you've been working - at various places - you should know a lot of people. Are any of your relatives/friends/acquaintances in a position to hire or to help you get a foot in the door?
Have you tried doing some research on your own to find the NAME of someone who has the authority to hire, contacting that person to ask for an information interview and to let them know how you would be an asset? (no strings)
It's a small world......any past conflicts with bosses or co-workers which might be haunting you without your knowledge?
May I ask your age? You said 25 years of experience? If you are 45-50 or older, it is NOT your imagination why things are different on the hiring front for you..
my advice to you. Is pack up your car and move. Go to a city that has jobs. Some parts of the country got hit hard back in 08 and they never fully recovered.
When I lived in Illinois. It was hard as hell to get a job. In Texas. I landed multiple interviews in one week.
Did you not read what the OP wrote?
They already did the move to Texas scenario, it didn't pan out.
You do realize you need money behind when you move? Have to either stay in a motel or rent an apt? How do you rent an apt if you don't have proof you can pay for it(as in a job or extensive savings which the OP doesn't have). Unless you have family or good friends who will let you stay with you at the new location, you need to have at least 6 months of living expenses(including car insurance) behind you.
You can't just get in the car and go, this isn't the Old West where you loaded up the covered wagon.
OP, sorry for your troubles. There definitely is age discrimination. It does sound like though you have family support, which is something.
The market doesn't favor the "jack of all trades" anymore. Online systems have made it easier for employers to be bombarded with 100+ applications for each available position. So, if at least 5 of those applicants have direct, related experience and education, why would they bother to interview someone who seems to hold multiple degrees and apparently can't keep a job for more than 1.5 years on average (I do truly hope that you have left everything but the last 2-4 jobs off your resume!).
Yes, your age is a barrier. Part of that is not understanding how technology has changed the way hiring works. It also means that what was okay in interviews 10 years ago, isn't good enough anymore (I am 32 and when I got my first professional job at 22, I can even see how different it is today!). You aren't looking at this from the perspective of an employer and that needs to change. You KNOW the system isn't going to change - it's time for you to find your way around it.
Also, you've had 24 interviews and only one offer? That's an obvious sign that you are not effectively marketing yourself in an interview. You could benefit from interview coaching. I get it, you're discouraged, it's everyone else's fault (companies) and not yours, but 24 interviews and 1 offer speaks for itself. I do hope you can take constructive criticism wisely and improve from here.
I think you're just shooting darts, spinning your wheels, dealing with HR depts. and online applications. Waste of time since you haven't made any progress. Frankly, you need to bypass HR altogether.
Considering your age and the number of years you've been working - at various places - you should know a lot of people. Are any of your relatives/friends/acquaintances in a position to hire or to help you get a foot in the door?
Have you tried doing some research on your own to find the NAME of someone who has the authority to hire, contacting that person to ask for an information interview and to let them know how you would be an asset? (no strings)
It's a small world......any past conflicts with bosses or co-workers which might be haunting you without your knowledge?
Something's def amiss if you're 24-1. I def feel your frustration. Times have changed, systems have evolved, the old ways of job searching are null. Sounds like your resume is getting lost in the ATS vortex. Applicant tracking systems are becoming super sophisticated. The way to get around these is to use key words properly in your resume and keep the format simple.
Additionally -
•When listing work experience, list the company name first followed by dates. Dates appearing to the left of the company will not register.
•Avoid special characters, strange symbols, and accent marks as they can be misinterpreted by an ATS. Stick to standard “typewriter” keyboard characters.
•Omit any graphics or logos. These embedded images will cause software glitches.
•Always use a standard, sans-serif font as they are unlikely to be rejected by some screening software.
•Include standard section headers to make it easy for the ATS to categorize information.
•Place your name on the first line of the document – nothing else. List credentials (MBA, CPA, etc.) on a separate line.
•If you are working towards a degree or certification that is a requirement for the position, include it on the resume using a clarifying phrase such as “Pursuing (name of credential)” or “Degree anticipated (date).”
•This is a biggie! Use an intentional file name, including your name and a keyword in the file name (ex. “JohnJonesSalesManager.doc”) instead of the generic “Resume.doc.”
•Do not submit multiple resumes to the same company. Applicant tracking systems have a memory and all previous submissions remain.
You know, 24 interviews and one job offer is pretty damn good in this economy. The days of "gee, I don't know if I want to interview there because I'll get the job" are OVER. We are in the age of "PERFECTISM." You best be the perfect candidate or it's curtains for you. What is perfect? Whatever you are not. That's it.
I especially hate those people who have had one job (or should I say sat in their seats) for 15-20 years and lecture other people on how to get a job. Really? Things are alot different than even 5 years ago.
The market doesn't favor the "jack of all trades" anymore...why would they bother to interview someone who seems to hold multiple degrees
Hold on! Multiple degrees is a detriment? Really? You might want to tell all the colleges that. They shove degrees as the secret to success down everyone's throats. Now when you get more than one degree it's a sign of flightiness and unemployableness (not I word I get it). Sheesh. I would interview of a jack of all trades over a seat-sitter any day. At least you would know things would get done, and maybe even things you didn't even know needed to be done. Initiative and creativity trumps same old, same old any day with me.
Hold on! Multiple degrees is a detriment? Really? You might want to tell all the colleges that. They shove degrees as the secret to success down everyone's throats. Now when you get more than one degree it's a sign of flightiness and unemployableness (not I word I get it). Sheesh. I would interview of a jack of all trades over a seat-sitter any day. At least you would know things would get done, and maybe even things you didn't even know needed to be done. Initiative and creativity trumps same old, same old any day with me.
Initiative and creativity don't necessarily pay the bills.
If applying for lower-level jobs (customer service, clerical) and retail or restaurant/fast food, those multiple degrees would be a detriment in getting hired......especially if boss is high school grad or maybe attended a community college for a year.
Those colleges that shove degrees as the secret to success aren't making hiring decisions in this awful job market.
Last edited by applej3; 03-09-2017 at 07:07 PM..
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