Just got rejected to 3 entry-level jobs (employee, interview, profit, employers)

[randomlikeme]

Originally Posted by adams_aj

I'd start looking into applying to insurance companies (as in actuarial research). Another HUGE area and getting bigger as the months go by, would be the health insurance companies specifically. As the boomers get older and start retiring, these companies will be constantly tweaking their models to look for opportunities to increase profits, reduce costs, etc.

At the healthcare companies where I have worked, no recent graduates were hired UNLESS they have already taken and passed at least ONE actuary exam, but with a preference of THREE. Just saying this to be realistic about the path to being an actuary.

[Rich_CD]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Your other comments are great, but this one... where'd this come from?

It sure seems like it! But I've worked in IT for 20 years and some have been looking into strange occurences since the eves-dropping scandal hit the news. That has lead to wierd outcomes in the testing.

Just for discussion let's say, for example, you could see the emails coming through a company. Everyone in the company is offered a fee if they referred the hired person. Now since most people today are too lazy to bother calling or visiting potential employers. All someone would need do is ensure that emails offering a position to any candidate not referred by the person who can interrupt email are replaced by "Thanks but no thanks". HR won't be concerned if they don't hear back about an offer because that happens all the time. In other words the only offer email that gets through is the one going to a candidate referred by the person who can interrupt the emails. Sounds ridiculious until you think about what people do to get money for drugs.

Also keep in mind how many companies use outside agencies to search for candidates. Do those one to three person shops have the security of a large corporation? It's not too hard, when most people use wireless, to interrupt communications. If someone is feeding a nasty drug habit it wouldn't be unexpected for them to do whatever it takes to get their candidates picked for the job.

The OP needs to realize that electronic communications are no longer trust worthy for important processes. If getting hired is important to the OP then they should not trust the email a resume and wait approach.

[jabogitlu]

Just for discussion let's say, for example, you could see the emails coming through a company. Everyone in the company is offered a fee if they referred the hired person. Now since most people today are too lazy to bother calling or visiting potential employers. All someone would need do is ensure that emails offering a position to any candidate not referred by the person who can interrupt email are replaced by "Thanks but no thanks". HR won't be concerned if they don't hear back about an offer because that happens all the time. In other words the only offer email that gets through is the one going to a candidate referred by the person who can interrupt the emails. Sounds ridiculious until you think about what people do to get money for drugs.

Okay, this sounds more realistic now. Good points and I never thought about this way. Great idea to get as much information as you can about who's in the hiring process, their phone numbers, and check back often.

[Yakscsd]

I just recently started using www.onlinejobsearchtools.com, with a good response rate, as well as LinkedIn.

[ilovemycomputer90]

I graduated in Fall 2013. I'm still looking for a job too. It's tough out there, but you just have to keep at it. Polish the resume and cover letter, utilize any and all resources (online, college career centers, any potential connections). Networking is extremely important and might get your foot in the door somewhere.

I'm still working my high school job, though now it's just full-time since I'm no longer in school. If necessary, find a low-wage job in retail, food service, etc. to bridge the gap. Also keep your skills up-to-date. Learning doesn't stop in college.

Good luck!

[mattywo85]

Most employers won't respond to you at all, if they do it's usually some standard mass rejection email. I have gotten a few in the mail letters as well. I have heard some people have gotten rejection phone calls. I have never experienced this, and if they did call me I would assume it good news.

[Boosane]

Originally Posted by randomlikeme

Do you have a career fair at your school and oncampus recruiting? That is probably where you will see entry level positions that are truly entry level.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I plan on attending a fair later this month. I actually had an entry level campus interview a few months back...but I was unprepared - had 2 exams that day and the interviewer bombarded me with a bunch of behavioral questions such as tell me about a time when you argued with your boss..I'll be much more prepared next time though!

Originally Posted by Suncc49

Ahh economics major, ouch! Are you double majoring in finance or accounting? Otherwise unless you are Yale/Harvard etc, it will be difficult finding work in your field.

Do you want to be an economist?

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, just Econ. I attend USC, so not anywhere close to Ivy Leagues. I've always wanted to be an analyst for one of the big banks, but I HIGHLY doubt it, I applied to a few, but never heard back from them.

Originally Posted by adams_aj

Do NOT let the opportunity to use on-campus recruiting pass you by! Make sure that your COVER LETTER is individualized EACH TIME you send or provide a resume. Make sure your resume is clean, neat, etc.

Always provide a text-only version of your cover letter and resume, so that they can feed it into their automated search systems, and make sure you use every buzzword and description you can in the text-only versions so that a search will find you.

Being an economics major, you know that economics is a social science--not a business degree, or a finance degree, etc. I'd start looking into applying to insurance companies (as in actuarial research). Another HUGE area and getting bigger as the months go by, would be the health insurance companies specifically. As the boomers get older and start retiring, these companies will be constantly tweaking their models to look for opportunities to increase profits, reduce costs, etc.

Welcome to the working world! Also--though you may not qualify for an actual on-campus interview--find out where they are interviewing, make up some CDs or DVDs with your information on it, along with contact information on the sleeve, try to catch the interviewers coming back from a bathroom break, and slip them a disk or two.

Also, consider looking into and joining any professional organizations that you can. Setup LinkedIn account, and start following professional organizations and businesses where you might want to work. STUDY, READ, FOLLOW.

You thought that your hard work was over? Think again. Your hard work in turning your academics into the real world and $$$$$ on which to live has JUST BEGUN. Wish I could do it again, because you're just now heading into what could/should be the most exciting part of your life!

Thanks for the reply. I usually start out my cover letter by talking about how great the company is, then I proceed to talk about my qualifications and how they match up with the requirements of the job. I actually applied to an insurance company to be a claims specialist a few weeks ago, I was supposed to have a phone interview, and the moronic recruiter decided to cut contact out of nowhere. I actually made a thread about it: https://www.city-data.com/forum/work-...interview.html

Originally Posted by BigDaveyL

I would have to agree with this assessment.

There are also people who are also moving into different areas in a field, for example, from statistics programming using a more niche language to Java programming - and your Java may be a little rusty, so a newly minted grad might have a slight advantage.

Thanks for the reply. I'm actually taking a java class right now so I guess it'll come into use someday.

Originally Posted by mcq

To most of us, even the experienced worker, the job search seems to be a very long process. In 2006, when I was entry level, it took me 2 1/2 years to find my job. The one I got seemed fluky since I got it off of Craig's List and it was legit. Can't speak for how difficult an entry level search would currently be. Fast forward to now, I've been looking for my next step. Thus far, I am 15 months in. So much competition for every single opening. As you said, "Welcome to the real world". Haha. I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks for the reply and for your experiences. I wish you luck as well.

Originally Posted by vision33r

Rejections are a part of life. Get used to it and keep trying. Entry jobs are rarely about qualifications more about your personality and motivations. Employers are not looking for rock stars or the best of the best they want somebody that is reliable and won't disappear quickly. Which is why many places won't hire people with a lot of experience or somebody that is overly enthusiastic.

Thanks for the reply. I'm becoming more immune to the rejections as time goes by. My first rejection - I felt really depressed haha.

Originally Posted by Miss Crabcakes

Pretty much!

When I was fresh out of college in 2001, I was rejected by 70 places before I got my first offer.

Welcome to the real world!

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad everything worked out for you in the end! I hope I'll get my first offer after applying to around 70 places too.

Originally Posted by Bjones1976

Keep sending out your resumes. Eventually the right one will show you interest. In the meantime, have you ever thought about starting your own business?

Thank you for your reply. Will do! I haven't really thought of that, I'd prefer to gain experience working under a company first, before I ever imagine setting up my own business.

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

I'm graduating in May (2014) and just got a full-time job in my career field. I had put out about 80 applications, got three interviews and two job offers. So my success rate was about 2.5%. Don't let those few rejections dissuade you.

You'll get better at it as time goes on. Make sure you're reading between the lines to understand what the employer is really looking for, then adjust your cover letter, resume and references as required. You'll need 5-6 references, submitting 2-3 relevant ones. You'll also want multiple cover letter formats that are industry-specific, then tweak those to include personalized information for each position.

Also, make sure you run your resume by a few other people. Your college career center might help, but mine was just a waste of time. If you have any friends/parents/friends of parents with real jobs, run it by them too. Or post it here for critique.

Also, always ask WHY you were turned down for the position. I always did this, and out of 40 or so rejection letters, I got 4 or 5 emails from hiring managers/recruiters with good, solid advice.

Good luck, and get creative in your job search. With a degree in economics, are you qualified to do statistical analysis? Lots of those types of jobs out there, from what I saw in my searching. The job offer I turned down was as an analyst for a housing authority in a top 10 city. So look at government and quasi-governmental organizations as well as private industry.

Thank you. Congratulations on the offers! I'm definitely going to put your advice into use.

Originally Posted by Rich_CD

A few things to consider:

Did you apply electronically? For example by sending a resume via email or automated system. If so you can't be sure an actual person ever saw your application. You may have gotten an automated date delayed response.

Also, but unlikely, now that we know email is easily compromised. You might have been offered a job but someone interrupted your email communications and sent you a fake *denied* email for the purposes of harming you or the company you applied to.

Another thing is that you're following the send something and wait approach. Which is the same approach as many others who are getting rejection emails. Does that make you look smart and energetic? Or does that make you look foolish and lazy? Is someone who doesn't care enough to research the business and come in to apply really a good candidate? Is someone like that worth more than the low end of the pay range?

Are you doing a blog on economics? Are you getting articles published on sites that deal with economics? Have you written a book? Are you networking at events related to the field of economics?

In other words are you letting someone else have control of your career or are you taking control yourself?!

thank you. I haven't really did anything in regards to writing blogs or articles, etc, but I am involved in research with my professor right now. I applied everywhere electronically, I will give the rejections the benefit of the doubt and just assume they didn't want me, because that would suck.

Originally Posted by randomlikeme

At the healthcare companies where I have worked, no recent graduates were hired UNLESS they have already taken and passed at least ONE actuary exam, but with a preference of THREE. Just saying this to be realistic about the path to being an actuary.

Thank you. I've been seeing many firms requiring the Series 7 etc and they're considered entry-level. A competitive world out there!

Originally Posted by Yakscsd

I just recently started using www.onlinejobsearchtools.com, with a good response rate, as well as LinkedIn.

Thank you. I'll take a look! But I've been primarily using my school's career website, since I'm assuming they want students from my particular school..but I see the same postings on Indeed and Glassdoor too.

Originally Posted by ilovemycomputer90

I graduated in Fall 2013. I'm still looking for a job too. It's tough out there, but you just have to keep at it. Polish the resume and cover letter, utilize any and all resources (online, college career centers, any potential connections). Networking is extremely important and might get your foot in the door somewhere.

I'm still working my high school job, though now it's just full-time since I'm no longer in school. If necessary, find a low-wage job in retail, food service, etc. to bridge the gap. Also keep your skills up-to-date. Learning doesn't stop in college.

Good luck!

Congratulations! It's good to know you got something to do while you're waiting for something good to happen. I definitely need to utilize my career center before I graduate. I wish us the best of luck!

[Boosane]

Originally Posted by mattywo85

Most employers won't respond to you at all, if they do it's usually some standard mass rejection email. I have gotten a few in the mail letters as well. I have heard some people have gotten rejection phone calls. I have never experienced this, and if they did call me I would assume it good news.

Thank you. I interviewed on campus a few weeks back, I was told I would eventually get a yes or no, a few weeks passed, and I assumed I got dinged. A month and a half later, I received a voicemail from some hiring manager, stating I wouldn't be moving on to the next applicant pool. So I called, and wanted to ask if I could get some feedback in regards to the rejection. She sounded condescending and really disgruntled, she came up with some excuse and hung up. I've applied to about 25 places now, and it seems if they're interested, they'll get back to you within a few days. I'm gonna assume I got rejected from the other 24 places and keep on applying!

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by Miss Crabcakes

Pretty much!

When I was fresh out of college in 2001, I was rejected by 70 places before I got my first offer.

Welcome to the real world!

Amusing (and grim), because in grad school not too many years ago they indicated it was an average of 80 contacts prior to a job offer. Though that's a bit different from what you've indicated.

In my case, "Contact" being arbitrarily defined as an actual conversation, beyond initial screening. That is, you've applied or they've found you, and you're having an interesting conversation with either a hiring authority or a gatekeeper. Including sit-down informationals and (of course) actual interviews. Some say "contact" is only in-person, but I disagree with that. The interesting stuff gets done in person, true. Almost always.

A networking conversation with good give-and-take dynamic is also a 'Contact', note. Everyone in the working world should be doing tons of those, often as feasible, frankly. While OT to the OP , the IT biz in particular is a volatile business: I'm astounded when people are at a company more than five years anymore. There are exceptions: the exceptionally cautious, and exceptionally good, being two types. I like taking more risks to advance my career.

I've found this "80" number to have some truth. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Like all such numbers, it is far from absolute and has very many assumptions (quality of presentation, quality of school, experience, enthusiasm, etc.)

if you had 70 rejections, assuming a 15% response rate (earlier post from another person), roughly five hundred attempts at specific roles? Just curious. That would drive me insane, indeed.

[ditchlights]

"Although your experience is very impressive, we have received a tremendous response for this position and have subsequently identified individuals with experience more closely aligned with our requirements."

You know, I'm thoroughly convinced at this point in my life that your resume could say that you flunked out of school in the 7th grade, and since them have performed work as a professional dog poop picker upper and a midgit porn actor, and you would get the same response as shown above. This is how you know you have been eliminated by a software program.

On the other hand, I've applied for many a job where my experience and academics meet or exceed 100% of the job posting's requirements, and I have gotten the same response. It's nothing more than a canned rejection letter.

It's a cop out reply and downright insulting to a person who spent over 90 minutes creating a "profile", uploading resume and cover letter, and in some cases, even having to take IQ/Psych/Personality exams while applying. Man up and give the applicant the REAL reason for their rejection.