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This is getting beyond ridiculous I've been out of work 6 months now, by far my longest period, and I'm basically at my wits end here. I've applied for hundreds of jobs, gotten some interviews, taken their battery of tests, answered their questions, asked a few more, worn proper attire for the position, taken classes, workshops to improve my skills and interview techniques, had my resume evaluated, gotten follow up interviews at a few places, gotten very positive feedback.............. NOTHING!! NADA, nothing but unreturned phone calls, generic emails/letters saying they went with the ever-popular "more qualified candidate" I've applied for jobs at my career level, a lot more at lower-level lower paying.
A lot of posters here have given excellent advice, and I';ve listened It has helped, but still nothing. I ask, rhetorically, AM I THAT BAD?????????????
I wish these high and mighty arrogant hiring managers could be on the other side of the table and feel how I'm feeling. Maybe they wouldn;t be so quick to try so hard to find negatives with me and my work history and skills. It's like they enjoy the power and "game" of "let's try to find a way to NOT hire this person" I don't know what else to do.
God help me because nothing seems to be working. My friends and people who I've been networking with and those who have critiqued my resume and interview skills are also puzzled. I don;t expect to get every job, but c'mon, I KNOW I can do these jobs I apply for.
I don't think it has anything to do with you at all. There are just too many people competing for the same job. If it helps any...if they didn't pick the right one...the job opening will be available again. I know this doesn't help you any....and I'm sorry you're having trouble finding a job. Remember though, for each person that gets the job....there are many that didn't.
It is the economy and the companies themselves.
For too long, companies have made poor hiring decisions: if you could type you got a job, if you had a college degree they hired you.
Also, don't confuse politeness and congeniality. Although, I'll never forget that interview where the hiring guy was so upset that HR didn't screen me properly. The guy made it clear that I wasn't suited for this position and I would never want to work for that company either!
SO don't keep your hopes too high, unless you get major clues.
You were scheduled for 1 person, but you had an extended interview with others.
They scheduled the 2nd interview with you during the 1st.
They discussed other forms of compensation.
Don't confuse the salary question, they may ask it just to confirm you are in the same ball park, with out any real consideration, they may not ask it because it's too early in the interview process, or they may not actually have the full budget for the position.
I've been searching since June. To say I'm getting depressed is an understatement. If I don't find a job in August, I'm not sure how we'll make September's rent. I'm at the end of my rope.
Like I keep saying, there are just so many less jobs now that everyone is applying to them.
I bet for any administrative jobs you get this pool applying: 1) recently unemployed office workers (clerks, secretaries, accountants, anyone who worked previously in an office), 2) people who want to trade up jobs to a stable 9-5 one 3) new graduates desperate for some experience 4) people who USED to work in office and are trying to get back into it. And don't forget people who just hate their present jobs and want to do something else...
So the job candidates are numerous...the managers/whoever/can play head games. Hire Mickey, and he sucks? Well, they can get 6 other people, cheap...
I could ride around 4 or 5 places in my area where I interviewed this year and see the people who got the jobs over me...but, what's the point?
Good luck to everyone. I am going on nearly a year out of work. My self esteem is pretty low some days...yeah, I get really upset, and yes, my husband thinks I 'should do anything' to work (yet I have a laundry list of limitations), so yeah, this recession bites.
And can you believe there are still some stuck up people who I just read that deny there is any trouble out there? Because they have a job then everything must be ok.
So far America has lost over 6 million jobs. Maybe half that to overseas outsourcing. We are losing 60,000 jobs a month according to the crooked feds.
I sure hope Nobama can save the world as promised because he sure has his hands full. There is going to be a whole lot of homeless and hungry people in this country in very short order do to no jobs. I personally do not see this economic depression ending any time soon.
I was in this situation when the economy was much better although the unemployment rate where I was living at the time was 12%. I held out for 2 months and it was a very emotional time. Anger, depression, tears. I finally took a job as a retail clerk for $6.75/hour working with a bunch of young kids. I really had to suck it up to do that as I felt it was beneath me. Turned out it was the best thing I could have done at the time. My self esteem picked up and I had a ball working with those kids. 3 months later I finally got the job I was looking for and am still doing it 16 years later.
What worked for me was to lower my standards and accept the job but continued looking for the job I actually wanted. This won't work for everyone but it certainly worked for me.
There is still a shortage of people who know how to find a job. I talk to people every day of the week as a recruiter and while many folks try hard and seem nice they do not know how to interview. It sounds like you are trying harder than most because you are talking to people about job hunting and reading books on the subject and are taking classes. Good job.
To get a job today you have to be much better than before. I teach classes in job hunting and I recommend everyone take a public speaking class, an acting class, get involved in Toastmasters and go to a communications consultant that I know who will work with them on their interview skills. Only a handful of the people take me up on my advice. They would rather just sit and complain.
If you want a job today, you have to be twice as good as before. What are you doing to make your self twice as impressive?
I was in this situation when the economy was much better although the unemployment rate where I was living at the time was 12%. I held out for 2 months and it was a very emotional time. Anger, depression, tears. I finally took a job as a retail clerk for $6.75/hour working with a bunch of young kids. I really had to suck it up to do that as I felt it was beneath me. Turned out it was the best thing I could have done at the time. My self esteem picked up and I had a ball working with those kids. 3 months later I finally got the job I was looking for and am still doing it 16 years later.
What worked for me was to lower my standards and accept the job but continued looking for the job I actually wanted. This won't work for everyone but it certainly worked for me.
Excellent point!
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I've been out of work 6 months now, by far my longest period, and I'm basically at my wits end here. I've applied for hundreds of jobs, gotten some interviews, taken their battery of tests, answered their questions, asked a few more, worn proper attire for the position, taken classes, workshops to improve my skills and interview techniques, had my resume evaluated, gotten follow up interviews at a few places, gotten very positive feedback.............. NOTHING!! NADA, nothing but unreturned phone calls, generic emails/letters saying they went with the ever-popular "more qualified candidate" I've applied for jobs at my career level, a lot more at lower-level lower paying. 
It has helped, but still nothing. I ask, rhetorically, AM I THAT BAD?????????????
