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Make sure you keep resubmitting for jobs you've already applied for (unless the online system prevents it). Many HR departments tend to "run" on monthly cycles. One month your resume may be tossed for whatever reason. And then another month, your resume will be flagged as a potential candidate.
Like others wrote, tailor your resume for each specific job. HR folks can tell when you have a "one size fits all" resume. If you can't take the time, why should they, or so I've been told.
Oh, that's just fabulous. I will have to check out that WSJ piece -- can't believe it -- another highly trained PhD here -- also looking for a job -- fortunately I have one for several more months anyway. And I know lots of others, PhD scientists and engineers. Most of the "jobs" are turning out to be term positions, too, so they aren't real career positions. And, I have plenty of foreign-born friends, educated here, and they can't find jobs either. Or, they are in positions where they are exploited -- working highly skilled jobs for very low pay, renewable year to year.
If you are unemployed, please don't hesitate to file for unemployment! When I became unemployed (i'm a teacher) folks were surprised that I would collect benefits (because that is only for the needy? I'm not sure why).
The money helps, but there are also employment programs available. The unemployment office also provides job search services which I have found to be very helpful, and they do direct me to leads I had not found elsewhere. Also, the Workforce Initiative Act provides federal funding to be used for job training. http://www.ncesc1.com/individual/training/trainingmain.asp It isn't much, but I am applying to use the funding for a second teaching certificate in a high demand field. You have to be persistent in following up when you hear about these kinds of things. Ask LOTS of questions.
And also, we need to be counted...many people are not filing/getting by---the more of us who apply for benefits, the more accurate the picture of true unemployment is.
so a little update for my personal situation, apparently the Pfizer - Sanford site is losing its R&D (that I'm in) over the next 6 to 12 months or so, as a phased withdrawl. Not sure what it means exactly for me, other than that I have a little time to be looking for jobs. about what i expected, but still not great.
I have a PhD in your field. I actually gave up looking after 3 years of looking (for industry positions), here and in another biotech hub. PhD and BS are very different worlds, and it's actually a heck of alot easier to get a job at the BS/MS level. Once you get to a PhD you actually are overqualified for a bunch of jobs. For example if I ever want a career in science I just couldn't take a technician job, because I am trained to be a research scientist, who supervises techs. And also for some jobs you are just not going to get it without a PhD. But dont make the mistake of thinking all you need is a PhD to become marketable, you would educate yourself out of more jobs than would become open to you.
Maybe what you need to do is visit the universities and go to the labs and see who needs techs. Turnover is high and recruitment is hard, every university has less than stellar HR departments. Go talk to the bench scientists, see if they need people. Some jobs just aren't really advertised.
(Unemployed for coming on 5 months now)
I'm curious, gibbie99. When you say that you gave up looking after 3 years, what changed? Did you eventually find a job in your field, or go into another field? I see you mentioned that you are currently unemployed. I'm in the IT industry, went for an MBA and am now trying to find a job here in the triangle. It's frustrating that I can't even find many jobs to apply to. I'm networking as well as looking online. I'd really like to hear more about your experience.
I'm curious, gibbie99. When you say that you gave up looking after 3 years, what changed? Did you eventually find a job in your field, or go into another field? I see you mentioned that you are currently unemployed. I'm in the IT industry, went for an MBA and am now trying to find a job here in the triangle. It's frustrating that I can't even find many jobs to apply to. I'm networking as well as looking online. I'd really like to hear more about your experience.
For IT jobs you really should be talking to headhunters. THey have jobs available that you don't always see online.
We recently hired 2 IT guys through a headhunter, the boss wants to give them a trial run before hiring them perm.
I've been looking all over, all the website, I have 3 recruiters helping me, every single day and still nothing. I'm a research scientist (tons of protein chemistry experience) and it seems as though I'm perceived as overqualified, even for contract work, which I totally do not understand!
I'm a BS with alot of experience but evidently at my level a Masters or a PhD is required. Ok, fine, but then there's this huge jump from PhD/Masters down to entry level lab technician with not much in between. I would consider something like an entry level salary if it were a short term contract just to learn more job skills or just get my foot in the door but I can't even get considered for stuff like that.
This really sucks! I'm so discouraged I almost feel like dumbing down my resume just to get some entry level lab tech job and then I still might not even get a job. Thanks for listening to me vent.
I think it is about time for the Triangle to be on another best place for jobs list.
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