Support thread for job hunters...anyone else losing their mind?!

[Wiggle975]

As the title says, is anyone else worn out, and starting to lose their mind through job applications and interviews?

I am exhausted and starting to get very fed up with it all. The wasting of time.

Good luck dancingunicorn5.

I've had a rethink after losing out on the job I wanted. I had been applying for jobs for various roles (I've had a varied career) But after realising how disappointed I was I have decided to focus on the job I really want to do (project management). I figured if I'm being turned down for everything anyway then clearly not being focused wasn't working. I've also had 2 interviews where I've been told that I am too skilled, so I've decided to apply for the more senior roles that I didn't think I would get.

I've also realised that there are a lot of tech jobs in my area, that I have been ignoring because I'm not a programmer, that match up with many of my skills.

So I revamped my CV (for the upteenth time) making sure this time that it could be read by ATS and adding in my tech skills (I put knowledge of so not lying). Send out 4 new applications on Wednesday evening, and I've already had a (very positive) telephone interview. The bar it seems is lower than I had thought for the tech knowledge required and I have more than enough experience.

I think I have been guilty of the same problem many women face, underselling myself. Just because I'm in a low paid job at the moment doesn't mean that is all I am worthy of.

Sorry for the lecture!

@Trumpetoftheswan2 don't write yourself off as being too old. My interview today asked me my age, and then said oh good they want someone with a bit of maturity!

I'd like to join in here as i'm currently job hunting and currently out of work (winces).
I left my employer of 15 years in January. I had an extremely varied role, but i'd liken it mostly to an executive assistant role. By December last year my role had started to change and a few things just didn't feel 'right' anymore. But overall, it was a great experience over many years.
I took a month off and started looking again. In my mind I wanted something local, as I was feeling burnt out, but had petty much zero success, so decided to look at roles in my city instead.

In February interviewed for a great and very unique sounding role which I was very keen on, but then they went deadly silent. They eventually told me they were pausing their general recruitment process until they'd hired a new area manager and would get back in touch.

In the meantime I got swept along in an interview process for an admin role in a financial services company and when they offered me the role at the end of March I almost said no....but I accepted. It had amazing employee benefits but the hours were more than I wanted. I did the role for almost 4 months and really didn't enjoy it, and after a particularly awful week I handed in my notice. I left last week with no other job to go to. Crazy, but I simply couldn't apply for other things whilst I was there as I was working very long days and did not get a minute to myself.

The craziest thing is, the role I applied for back in February got back in touch in June and I attended 3 further interviews with them on my lunch breaks and was offered the job. I verbally accepted.... then got cold feet, panicked and declined it thinking i'd over-sold myself and wasn't good enough for the role. In hindsight I was being ridiculous. I am kicking myself every day now over that.

So I am now out of work, full of regret and looking again and it has only been a week but I am panicking already! Indeed is not giving me much hope so far, and I really don't fancy going with an agency as I signed up to so many earlier in the year and every call was just a waste of time.

Hoping something else comes along soon, for everyone looking.

@Definitelylivedin Having only just googled ATS (I feel so out of the loop!), how do you make sure it can be read by those systems? Is it just about making sure you use the right buzzwords or can they not read certain formatting?

There are websites you can put your CV into. I'm no expert but apparently anything under 50/100 will get immediately rejected without anyone actually looking at it. Mine came out at 29! It couldn't even pick out my name properly !

Got a rejection email from my local supermarket this morning. At least they let me know quickly. I'd spent ages doing the bloody assessments though!

Back to the search.

Sorry to hear that Ragdollmother.

I also got yet another rejection email today. I wish I knew what I was doing wrong.

I’m still waiting to hear from about 8 job applications. Think all closing dates have now past so hoping to hear in the next few weeks. I have learnt that some companies contact your super quick and others take weeks before saying no or invite you to interview

A job I missed the closing date for last month has readvertised. Not sure if it's a good or bad sign that they couldn't source the right candidate, either employer is super fussy or the market is not awash with great candidates.

Anyway, May as well put my hat in the ring seeing as I thought this job was no longer available.

Best of luck. Another 'didn't even make it to being shortlisted' email rejection for me today.

I'm honestly at a loss as to know what to do. Spending my evenings and weekends job searching and completing applications to get nowhere is so disheartening.

It is disheartening but don't give up.

I had a zoom interview today, went ok but not brilliantly. They called me this evening to invite me for a second interview on Friday at the office with the technical director 😄

Well done @definitely

Keep going @Trumpetoftheswan2 easier said than done I know

I'm awaiting feedback on a 2nd stage interview yesterday, I believe I was the only candidate. Wasn't sure about the job to start but it's grown on me now. Annoyingly, I missed the recruiters call earlier and she has busied my last 2 calls so I'm in the tenterhook limbo land. Trying not to check my phone every few mins and forget about it. There's a further 'chat with the ceo' stage so no offer today but I think if they liked me yesterday and no one else in the running it'll be pretty much in the bag.

Aaargh the tension!

That sounds promising Rainbows. Three out of three didn't even make it to shortlisting from my last batch of applications now.

Well, recruiter was supposed to be speaking to hiring manager at 5pm then phoning me straight after with an update.

She hasn't phoned me. I'm beyond livid.

This does not bode well does it.

Hate this shit. I can see now why people get tempted to take any old thing just to get off the job hunting treadmill.

I hate the wait too. One more sleep. No news is no new though 😊

I'm beginning to think maybe the meeting didn't go ahead at 5 as planned. That would be better than, the feedback was that I was not right for the role but she cba to have that convo with me late in the day!
Now I've calmed down I can see that it's not so important in the grand scheme of things. If I don't get this job another opportunity will come along. Maybe a better one.
But, it's not over yet as that famous 90s dance song ( olive?) said.

Crossing my fingers for you 🤞 🤞 🤞

Had the interview - it was strange. Very focused on the processes and logistical stuff within the role, with no focus on stakeholder engagement or outcomes (focus of the role according to my reading of the role remit). I find out late next week if I'm onto the next stage (interviewing 4, will invite 2 to next stage so 50% chance) Not too bad.

Didn't get the job... apparently my technical skills were not in doubt but I didn't display enough 'passion' for their brand/ industry. I'm in a support function ( HR) so I'm not really working with the brand! But if they weren't feeling it, they weren't feeling it. A bit gutted as it's not often you're the only candidate in the running at final stage, usually it's a case of being pipped to the post. Ah well, back to the drawing board. Hoping my luck will change soon.

Anyone else feel like it's so much harder to get a job these days than when you were younger. I don't even think it's an age thing, employers seem so much fussier now.

Not for everywhere obviously but I think that generally across the board there are more people involved in hiring now, more middle management, more involvement from HR, senior management want to be 'engaged' and get more involved in things, and it's much harder for 5 or 6 people to agree on a candidate than 1 or 2. Gone are the days when a hiring manager looked at a CV, did a quick interview and thought 'yep this one seems a good fit, I'll hire them'. Good in some ways (equal opportunity, less nepotism etc) but it does make walking straight into a job much harder!

Very true winter as I have seen in a tight market ( ie lots of candidates, few jobs) some employers being v fussy and taking on no one when you'd think they'd have the pick.

Eg the role I just lost out on, I was surprised no one else had got through to round 2 as it's one of the few advertised in my area paying a decent rate, share scheme etc. Yet they are now back to the drawing board.

And another role I got knocked back after interview recently... still looking.

I get employers want the right person especially for perm, but this fussiness when there are plenty of candidates available seems unprecedented.

Agree. This 'committee approach' also leads to multiple stages in applications, a ridiculous number of 'essential criteria' and very convoluted processes. I had an hour 'meet the team' with a presentation to prepare that wasn't even scored in my last interview.

Additionally, online applications especially 'quick apply' and using AI means that employers often get tons of applications, so they can always think that someone better will come along.

Whether this leads to better recruitment decisions... I don't know.

Well it's all keeping someone in a job (just not us 🤣)

Additionally, online applications especially 'quick apply' and using AI means that employers often get tons of applications, so they can always think that someone better will come along.

Yes I've seen a similar theory about online dating. Inability to settle on a choice because there might just be something better at your fingertips so may as well keep endlessly looking. And that humans are not programmed to deal with the huge range of options we have available to us via technology.