Job-search Hell!

CNNMoney ^ | 05-06-03

[Brian S]

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - More months pounding the pavement, less pay offered than you had in your prior job, reduced negotiating leverage and fierce competition with those as qualified as you. Welcome to the perils of job-hunting 2003.

Those perils exist across the board, experts say, whether you hail from an industry coming down from unnatural compensation highs (Wall Street) or where jobs simply are disappearing (manufacturing).

[conservativeinbflo.]

This couldn't be more true. Finding a decent job is next to impossible, and now with people hellbent on "quotas," well-- fuhgettaboutit!

My husband graduated from one of the top law schools in this country a couple of years ago. He interviewed for a job, didn't get it, but found out who did-- a guy who graduated WITH him the *same* year, from the *same* school, with subpar grades-- but he was a subcontinental indian. go figure. it's bullpucky.

[bankwalker]

Do the American thing. Start a business.

[Tacis]

If you think it is bad now, wait until he is over age 45. Nobody will hire him, for anything.

[conservativeinbflo.]

well, i don't really understand that, either. I'm only 24, and consistently turned away because I don't have enough "experience." Well, how the hell am I supposed to garner experience when no one will hire me in the first place??

[BrooklynGOP]

Johnson said it used to be companies never made an offer to someone if it was below what that candidate used to earn. But now, he said, the thinking is, "if they want it, they'll take it. If not, there's someone else outside the door."

It's going to bite them in the ass. Once the economy picks up all these people will get up and leave. Turn around is costly.

[Brian S]

Exactly! If you are in the position for a new startup, refer back to the article where it is stated that "there are so many good people out there".

You can acquire top of the line, experienced employees at nearly half the cost as the same people three years ago.

Of course, as your business grows, eventually you try and elevate their wages and benefits to its previous level which in itself will foster innovation and motivation in your staff.

I have had two experiences with working for 'startups' and in both cases, they were a hell of a lot of work and fun. Pay was low at the start, heck the first one was through a temp agency until I was hired, but within three years my salary broke through 6 figures.

My advice is if you are looking for work, don't forget to market yourself to the little/new businesses. Also, signup at your local temp agencies. Pay is rock bottom, however it opens doors to companies and contacts that you could never obtain otherwise. I have 'discovered and groomed' three people throughout my career through 'temp agencies' that are now top-notch professionals in their field.

[Black Agnes]

ping.

[upcountryhorseman]

In the "global economy", you are competing with workers
in China and/or India who are paid a fraction of our
salaries. It seems like it can only get worse.

[lewislynn]

I'm only 24, and consistently turned away because I don't have enough "experience." Well, how the hell am I supposed to garner experience when no one will hire me in the first place??

Well I'm 56 and I used to ask the same questions when I was 24. So now I'm over 20yrs. self employed with my own business in a volitile industry, rarely had no work through those yrs. and I've never filled out a resume, ever...I don't think I'd even know how.

BTW, there was a time when the nation was considered fully employed when the unemployment rate was at 7%.

[lewislynn]

Also, signup at your local temp agencies. Pay is rock bottom, however it opens doors to companies and contacts that you could never obtain otherwise.

Exactly. Get your foot in the door, get the job, you can talk compensation later after you've proven yourself.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[NYC GOP Chick]

Exactly. Get your foot in the door, get the job, you can talk compensation later after you've proven yourself.

Or, they will hate the fact that they had to pay huge hourly rates to the temp agency, and try to bargain you down to a lower salary than you deserve -- even after having proven yourself.

Or, get a temp-to-permanent position with a company, work your ass off to "prove" yourself for crap wages and then when the three-month trial period is up, you find out that they have a history of crying poverty, thereby dumping you and going to another agency and pulling the same crap.

[Eala]

If you think it is bad now, wait until he is over age 45. Nobody will hire him, for anything.

Not necessarily. Was talking to an engineer yesterday who is well over 45 and he says he's received some pings from other outfits about coming to work for them. But that said, yes, it is generally difficult for engineers over 40.

[Indrid Cold]

I often found that temping is a great way to get paid for getting experience, as well as a flexible work schedule. Plus, the client company where you work usually expects you to to be a thickheaded flunky, so if you you have any amount of initiative, you can often impress the hell out of them. If you find that you like the company you're working at, you can often parlay it into regular employment.

[1stFreedom]

Well,

If you are over 40 then hide your age this way:

Trim your resume.

Got stuff from the 1970'? Drop it off of your resume. Why? It's probably not relevant work. If it is, then try to keep your resume to one page. (This excuse works when pressed during an interview why you left it off the resume.)

Odds are the really old stuff won't fit. Sneakly leave off your year of graduation from college -- it's easy to explain this mistake at the interview.

Odds are that at the interview you'll have to fill out an employment application. Don't leave out job information here.

Once you are in the door sell yourself. If you do a good job, you'll overcome the age factor.

Dye your hair, kill the beard, loose weight, use wrinkle cream, hair transplants, face life, etc. Do everything possible that you can to look younger.

And when pressed about your age, say you are uncomfortable about the question and don't see it's relevance to the position. (I was recently asked what I was [race] during an recent interview. I simply sidestepped the question by answering that I was from Los Angeles. he he he.)

Finally, remember, turn the interview around. Get them to talk about the job. Ask them questions. Ask them why they like working there. Take *notes*! (A very effective technique).

If you made it in the door to an interview you are a good candidate. But interviews are really to feel your personality out. Don't let it turn into a quiz about you ( but be prepared if it ends up being that) Establish a repoire early on. Ask the first question before they ask about you. Get them talking about the job, etc.

Like I said, if you make it in the door, you have a really good chance of getting a job.

[dark_lord]

If you are over 45, you have 2 types of roles you can go for.

1st, a more "hands on" role via contracting. Make sure you keep current on skills. If IT related, get 2 machines at home - one to run .NET and one to run Linux. Build language and architecture skills on each. Contracting jobs are less concerned with where you worked or your previous title than they are that you have the real skills. Also, make sure you have good references.

2nd, a senior "director level" type role. That role hires people who have the skills to do the work, manages budgets, does lots of meetings, presentations, and interpersonnal communication. There are about one of these slots for every 1000 contractor slots. But on the other hand, they only want people with lots of experience. So the younger folks simply aren't qualified. These are roles for those who are 35 or older.

[1stFreedom]

Out of nine jobs I've interviewed, I won eight of them.

The one I lost was doomed from the beginning. I almost walked out of the interview to begin with. A temp who was part of a team interviewing me as a real jerk in his attitude and questions. I later found out that this wasn't a set up -- he really was a jerk and people didn't like working with him. I know he voted against hiring me.

I have not won three other jobs due to the fact that the client was fishing for the best rates and my firm was too high.

Believe me, it's all about the interview. The trick is getting there!

[1stFreedom]

You know what? I'm gonna start a business coaching job hunters. I have an almost perfect track record in winning jobs. (I've worked in over 20 jobs/contracts in 10 years.)

[mhking]

"Companies are cherry-picking. They can be very selective,"

No s#it....

I'm chomping at the bit and pounding so much electronic pavement that my keyboard is wearing out...

Feh...