Can't get interviews

[Anonymous]

Some parts of the civil service have hiring freeze waivers for selected positions. Check USAjobs.gov, but also check specific agency/office web sites.

Right now, many of these active openings are STEM positions requiring specific STEM skills.

Acquisition/contract specialists is another area where some hiring is happening via limited freeze waivers.

[Anonymous]

is it ALWAYS ok to reach out to non-professional contact for job searches? not former boss/co-worker but people you know through activities like a fellow soccer mom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me too. I've had one interview after 200 applications since July.

Are you serious? Is that even job hunting if unemployed? July is 150 days ago. I used to apply or reach out a minimun of ten a day. Average 15-20 a day. At begining I was reaching out to 200 people a day. I think by end I applied or reached out to 5,000 people.

Some jobs have a 1,000 applicants. Do the math. 200 is not doing much. I would job hunt 10 hours a day M-F and on weekends, only if someone responded or prep for interview.

DP. Reaching out to 200 people a day sounds absolutely insane and miserable. There is a lack of real jobs being posted right now, variable by field of course. You can't apply to jobs that don't exist. I applied to only about 50 over the course of 8 months and got 5 interviews and one offer.

No it is not. I have 5,000 LinkedIn Conections. In begining reached out to 75-100 of my LinkedIN connections day, wrote a nice note that I could use again and again and just changed names and a detail or two. Then I apply all job posted that day. Then reach out to 5-10 recruiters. I also had a long list of recruitrers and industry recruiters I got from outplacement I hit up 10 a day. Then I hit up old friends and coworkers. Took me around 10-12 hours a day of job hunting for 5 months. This guy is already at 5 months.

More amazing the job I got I met a random person on line in Beligum, who recomended me to a guy in NY who knew a guy in Luxembourg who needed help who hired me for a big job remote. From there a guy in London who knew guy in Luxembourg hired me to be part of new division in the USA.

All from cold emails and linked

[Anonymous]

It feels like that they are no jobs around. I see the same job postings being recycled over and over again. I've tried networking, I've revamped my resume, I've severely lowered all of my expectations and NOTHING. Now, my DH also lost his job and it's getting quite scary for us. We can't survive 3 more years of job hell. I just started a minimum wage job just to pay some bills. It's hard to keep my head up. I've done all the things you are mentioning and crickets...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me too. I've had one interview after 200 applications since July.

Are you serious? Is that even job hunting if unemployed? July is 150 days ago. I used to apply or reach out a minimun of ten a day. Average 15-20 a day. At begining I was reaching out to 200 people a day. I think by end I applied or reached out to 5,000 people.

Some jobs have a 1,000 applicants. Do the math. 200 is not doing much. I would job hunt 10 hours a day M-F and on weekends, only if someone responded or prep for interview.

DP. Reaching out to 200 people a day sounds absolutely insane and miserable. There is a lack of real jobs being posted right now, variable by field of course. You can't apply to jobs that don't exist. I applied to only about 50 over the course of 8 months and got 5 interviews and one offer.

No it is not. I have 5,000 LinkedIn Conections. In begining reached out to 75-100 of my LinkedIN connections day, wrote a nice note that I could use again and again and just changed names and a detail or two. Then I apply all job posted that day. Then reach out to 5-10 recruiters. I also had a long list of recruitrers and industry recruiters I got from outplacement I hit up 10 a day. Then I hit up old friends and coworkers. Took me around 10-12 hours a day of job hunting for 5 months. This guy is already at 5 months.

More amazing the job I got I met a random person on line in Beligum, who recomended me to a guy in NY who knew a guy in Luxembourg who needed help who hired me for a big job remote. From there a guy in London who knew guy in Luxembourg hired me to be part of new division in the USA.

All from cold emails and linked

What’s your job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it ALWAYS ok to reach out to non-professional contact for job searches? not former boss/co-worker but people you know through activities like a fellow soccer mom?

I mean basically yes? At worst they don't respond. I wouldn't repeatedly follow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me too. I've had one interview after 200 applications since July.

Are you serious? Is that even job hunting if unemployed? July is 150 days ago. I used to apply or reach out a minimun of ten a day. Average 15-20 a day. At begining I was reaching out to 200 people a day. I think by end I applied or reached out to 5,000 people.

Some jobs have a 1,000 applicants. Do the math. 200 is not doing much. I would job hunt 10 hours a day M-F and on weekends, only if someone responded or prep for interview.

DP. Reaching out to 200 people a day sounds absolutely insane and miserable. There is a lack of real jobs being posted right now, variable by field of course. You can't apply to jobs that don't exist. I applied to only about 50 over the course of 8 months and got 5 interviews and one offer.

No it is not. I have 5,000 LinkedIn Conections. In begining reached out to 75-100 of my LinkedIN connections day, wrote a nice note that I could use again and again and just changed names and a detail or two. Then I apply all job posted that day. Then reach out to 5-10 recruiters. I also had a long list of recruitrers and industry recruiters I got from outplacement I hit up 10 a day. Then I hit up old friends and coworkers. Took me around 10-12 hours a day of job hunting for 5 months. This guy is already at 5 months.

More amazing the job I got I met a random person on line in Beligum, who recomended me to a guy in NY who knew a guy in Luxembourg who needed help who hired me for a big job remote. From there a guy in London who knew guy in Luxembourg hired me to be part of new division in the USA.

All from cold emails and linked

What’s your job?

It’s J1 J2 guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It feels like that they are no jobs around. I see the same job postings being recycled over and over again. I've tried networking, I've revamped my resume, I've severely lowered all of my expectations and NOTHING. Now, my DH also lost his job and it's getting quite scary for us. We can't survive 3 more years of job hell. I just started a minimum wage job just to pay some bills. It's hard to keep my head up. I've done all the things you are mentioning and crickets...

Can you pivot and do your own thing? Consulting or contract work? There is a dearth of roles in my sector too and I see local colleagues really struggling they have been out of work for nearly two years now. Meanwhile there are small companies popping up everywhere and they want help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR here - if you aren’t getting a 5-8% positive response rate on your resume, - so a recruiter response out of every 20 applications or so - there is something ‘off’ about your resume and role you are applying to. Not saying it’s bad. But you should customize resumes to each role you apply for - ESPECIALLY in this tight labor market. Here’s one tip - Fold your resume in half. From the visible top portion alone a random stranger should be able to discern the exact role you are going for.

This is the most generic drivel yet. Of course most people are doing that - especially those with advanced degrees.

What are you HR for? Fast food management? Uber contractors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It feels like that they are no jobs around. I see the same job postings being recycled over and over again. I've tried networking, I've revamped my resume, I've severely lowered all of my expectations and NOTHING. Now, my DH also lost his job and it's getting quite scary for us. We can't survive 3 more years of job hell. I just started a minimum wage job just to pay some bills. It's hard to keep my head up. I've done all the things you are mentioning and crickets...

Same. Some on and off consulting gigs do not make a dent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR here - if you aren’t getting a 5-8% positive response rate on your resume, - so a recruiter response out of every 20 applications or so - there is something ‘off’ about your resume and role you are applying to. Not saying it’s bad. But you should customize resumes to each role you apply for - ESPECIALLY in this tight labor market. Here’s one tip - Fold your resume in half. From the visible top portion alone a random stranger should be able to discern the exact role you are going for.

This is the most generic drivel yet. Of course most people are doing that - especially those with advanced degrees.

What are you HR for? Fast food management? Uber contractors?

Nice. F500s actually. I think most people know they Should customize their resume. I think most people fail at knowing How Much and Where to customize - per the follow up question from the OP. Thank you for your valuable contribution to the thread though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:is it ALWAYS ok to reach out to non-professional contact for job searches? not former boss/co-worker but people you know through activities like a fellow soccer mom?

I mean basically yes? At worst they don't respond. I wouldn't repeatedly follow up.

I feel like it’s less awkward in person. Mention you’re looking, see what they say. You can read body language. Not everyone would be happy to receive an ask like that from a social or kid connection.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to go off topic, but I think we are being lied to. The data being published regarding jobs and inflation may be underestimating the true state of the economy and job market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk to former coworkers and/or bosses. Let them know you are looking. Network with your friends. Put the word out there that you are looking for a job. Gone are the days of submitting a random résumé for an online position. Those seem to go into some black hole.

How are introverted people,and people with weaker networks supposed to find a job? If your best bet is through referral, we are f**d because a lot of people will never find jobs then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR here - if you aren’t getting a 5-8% positive response rate on your resume, - so a recruiter response out of every 20 applications or so - there is something ‘off’ about your resume and role you are applying to. Not saying it’s bad. But you should customize resumes to each role you apply for - ESPECIALLY in this tight labor market. Here’s one tip - Fold your resume in half. From the visible top portion alone a random stranger should be able to discern the exact role you are going for.

I have a friend who works in HR and she told me that all resumes go through an internal system that automatically reject 99% yes I typed it correctly 99% of all resumes received.