What have you done today to be a better job applicant? (apply, unemployed)

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by Hiring Manager

I get so sick and tired of all the moaning and groaning from the job hunters on this board who can not understand why they do not get hired. I got the answer! YOU WERE NOT AS GOOD AS THE OTHER APPLICANTS!!

This is not the Bill Clinton Economic Boom when basically anyone who had a breath could get a job. This is the GREAT RECESSION. The worst economy and job market since the 1930s.

Face it, you have to be much better to get a job now days. Any job, even minimum wage positions have maybe a 100 applicants.

Then why doesn't the typical person do something to make them a better applicant? What have you done this week to make your self a more competitive applicant for employment? Even if you have a full time job today, that means nothing. You may be laid off tomorrow.

What have you done to make your self a more competitive applicant for a job? Tell us?


(Hiring manager, who has lots of good jobs to fill, but you better be good!)

I doubt any minimum wage jobs have 100's of applicants.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

I doubt any minimum wage jobs have 100's of applicants.

I have to disagree. A local job fair for a new TJ Maxx generated over 2000 applications--for 65 mostly minimum wage jobs. The new JC Penney's had over 2200 applications--for 120 mostly minimum wage jobs. The new BJ's had over 1800 applications--for 100 mostly minimum wage jobs.

A friend of mine works at the local Carrabba's, they get two dozen applications a week for minimum wage dishwasher positions, and they aren't even hiring right now.

[Chromekitty]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

I doubt any minimum wage jobs have 100's of applicants.

I would encourage you to take a stroll down to local unemployment office. You will find that there aren't 100's applying but 1000's.

People are scrambling for work. ANY work.

[WestPhillyDude75]

Originally Posted by annerk

I have to disagree. A local job fair for a new TJ Maxx generated over 2000 applications--for 65 mostly minimum wage jobs. The new JC Penney's had over 2200 applications--for 120 mostly minimum wage jobs. The new BJ's had over 1800 applications--for 100 mostly minimum wage jobs.

A friend of mine works at the local Carrabba's, they get two dozen applications a week for minimum wage dishwasher positions, and they aren't even hiring right now.

Yeah most of those applications are probably there to be a second job. I doubt if anyone is looking to work for minimum wage as a only source of income.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

Yeah most of those applications are probably there to be a second job. I doubt if anyone is looking to work for minimum wage as a only source of income.

Wrong answer, as usual. I happen to be friends with teh HR manager at Penney's, the majority were 100% unemployed and looking for ANYTHING.

[WestPhillyDude75]

Originally Posted by annerk

Wrong answer, as usual. I happen to be friends with teh HR manager at Penney's, the majority were 100% unemployed and looking for ANYTHING.

Well mininum wage wouldn't keep me in this neighborhood so I had no choice but to hold out

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by Chromekitty

I would encourage you to take a stroll down to local unemployment office. You will find that there aren't 100's applying but 1000's.

People are scrambling for work. ANY work.

Collecting unemployment is a better option for most then working for minimum wage.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

Collecting unemployment is a better option for most then working for minimum wage.

You obviously don't live in the State of Florida where the MAX u/e you can receive is less than minimum wage. If you've only been making $8/hr, your weekly u/e check is going to be under $100.

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by annerk

You obviously don't live in the State of Florida where the MAX u/e you can receive is less than minimum wage. If you've only been making $8/hr, your weekly u/e check is going to be under $100.

1. If you were working for $8 an hour before being laid off, then you pretty much were already working for next to minimum wage before you started. However, the reason why there is an abnormal number of people applying for minimum wage jobs is because people who were making much more at higher paying jobs have shifted down to those jobs.

2. Florida is a poor state for unemployment benefits (one of the worst in the country actually, only 4 states have a lower max benefit) . In Virginia, you could easily take home more in unemployment ($363 max) then a 40 hour minimum wage week ($290). The average max benefit across the country is around $400 a week, and gets as high as $900 in Massachusetts.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

1. If you were working for $8 an hour before being laid off, then you pretty much were already working for next to minimum wage before you started. However, the reason why there is an abnormal number of people applying for minimum wage jobs is because people who were making much more at higher paying jobs have shifted down to those jobs.

2. Florida is a poor state for unemployment benefits (one of the worst in the country actually, only 4 states have a lower max benefit) . In Virginia, you could easily take home more in unemployment ($363 max) then a 40 hour minimum wage week ($290). The average max benefit across the country is around $400 a week, and gets as high as $900 in Massachusetts.

And in order to be making those high u/e rates, you needed to be a high income earner to begin with.