For Civil Service jobs, often the hiring agency has to offer to the “least bad” candidate even if no applicant really has the needed skills. (This is an area where the current administration’s OPM head could help by changing the rules, but so far has not.)

Agencies hate this. So some will only post an official job opening after they have at least one qualified candidate who is interested. In my experience, in normal times (even now, but less so now - because many civilian agencies have a flat hiring freeze), there are lots of agencies with budget and authority to hire quietly looking for qualified applicants with particular skill sets. One’s professional network and former colleagues are ways to tap into such non-advertised opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:I have never gotten a job without having some work-related contact who could point me to the opportunity. Sometimes that contact was an actual insider. Other times that contact forwarded my resume to a hiring manager. Yet other times, the contact introduced me to someone at the hiring organization. Building and maintaining professional contacts is essential.

PP again. The first job out of grad school, a helpful faculty member volunteered to send my resume to 3 of his contacts. I had interviews all 3 places and landed at one of them.

I have never gotten a job without having some work-related contact who could point me to the opportunity. Sometimes that contact was an actual insider. Other times that contact forwarded my resume to a hiring manager. Yet other times, the contact introduced me to someone at the hiring organization. Building and maintaining professional contacts is essential.

I agree with those promoting networking. And those suggesting a resume overhaul are also correct. On resumes, spend maybe a sentence or two stating what your job role was. Then insert a lot of bullets on what you actually accomplished ("Created a strategy that increased sales by 20% in one year." or "Successfully managed over 200 accounts with a 80% retention rate."). Use stats to your advantage.

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.

Maybe there aren't 5,000 jobs in their field?

Anonymous wrote:Read out to your network and if you can maybe attend a conference just to make connections. Talk to your former boss/colleagues at previous places of work.

I always try and keep in touch with former bosses/coworkers. We send an email or message a few times a year and I send them an end of year card. My spouse texts a few of them. Always good to have in case you need to ask for reference or networking help. You're asking, but you have kept in touch.

You also get what you give. When you have a job and people reach out, even if you can't help, reply kindly or offer to talk for 10 minutes, because that could be you one day and people remember how they were treated.

+1

Great advice above. These current times in particular illustrate how much all of us need these networks (and that it’s always ok to ask for help). I’m in the fed milieu and haven’t been RIFed (yet) but all of us have been trying to help each other out, forward postings, make introductions etc.

Read out to your network and if you can maybe attend a conference just to make connections. Talk to your former boss/colleagues at previous places of work.

I always try and keep in touch with former bosses/coworkers. We send an email or message a few times a year and I send them an end of year card. My spouse texts a few of them. Always good to have in case you need to ask for reference or networking help. You're asking, but you have kept in touch.

You also get what you give. When you have a job and people reach out, even if you can't help, reply kindly or offer to talk for 10 minutes, because that could be you one day and people remember how they were treated.

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:I can't get any first-round interviews (after a few a few months ago), between jobs, it's been about 6 months, late 40s. What would you do? I've not had this experience before; good resume, I'm told. This is more about the bad job market we're in, am I right? Are other people experiencing this too? Feeling defeated and want to work smartly on where I put my energy. Any tips/insights (especially from HR professionals) appreciated. Thanks.

You're in your late 40s, and you did not have a good network, it is almost impossible to get a job. You will be looking at long term unemployment. I turned 60 last month, and I got a 200K/yr paying job last month after being layoff with 10 months severance. The only reason I got the job is because the hiring manager knew me two jobs ago. It comes down to connections and networking. My 48 year-old neighbor got layoff from Bloomberg in July 2023 and he is still looking for work. I know you don't want to hear but it is the sad truth.

Anonymous wrote:I can't get any first-round interviews (after a few a few months ago), between jobs, it's been about 6 months, late 40s. What would you do? I've not had this experience before; good resume, I'm told. This is more about the bad job market we're in, am I right? Are other people experiencing this too? Feeling defeated and want to work smartly on where I put my energy. Any tips/insights (especially from HR professionals) appreciated. Thanks.

Trump's economy
Republican economy

Sorry that is the truth.

It is not you.

Biden left us with low unemployment MAGA was too dumb to get that.

Project 2025 says cut the workforce by 70 % and that is coming ....

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you can identify the recruiter for the role, you can send them message on Linkedin, highlighting briefly why you're a great fit, and asking if they're open to a quick call to discuss the role. Some people don't reply but occasionally they will (at least in my DH's case, who is also searching in this awful job market). It can help get your application get looked at by a human rather than weeded out by a bot. Good luck!

oxymoron

OP, if you can identify the recruiter for the role, you can send them message on Linkedin, highlighting briefly why you're a great fit, and asking if they're open to a quick call to discuss the role. Some people don't reply but occasionally they will (at least in my DH's case, who is also searching in this awful job market). It can help get your application get looked at by a human rather than weeded out by a bot. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:What is your field? Do you use LinkedIn?
Update your status in LinkedIn, reach out contacts there. If you worked with someone in the past, let them know you are looking if someone knows your work ethic, they want to help!

DH just got an old co-worker an interview after being out of job T+1!

what T+1 mean?

What is your field? Do you use LinkedIn?
Update your status in LinkedIn, reach out contacts there. If you worked with someone in the past, let them know you are looking if someone knows your work ethic, they want to help!

DH just got an old co-worker an interview after being out of job T+1!