A vent - looking for new employees

[MushyMushy]

I also think job listings are too vague as well! I have friend right now looking for a job in the medical community and she is having the toughest time trying to find anything. Plus, nobody wants a new graduate. Whats up with that?!

I totally agree!

I just applied for a job that said to see their website for a job description. I went to it and they had a bunch of bullet points about their mission statement and not a single thing about the job in question! I did go through and use some of those keywords for my cover letter, but I still don't know what they're looking for.

 

[bicker]

I just need a vent a little and maybe (hopefully) this may also help some fellow DISers who are looking for employment right now.

...

Please read and comprehend the ads for employment, we as employers design the ads in hopes that prospective employees will read them and the right candidates will apply.

Let me play devil's advocate for a minute. A few years ago, I was dissatisfied with my job and went job hunting. In company after company, the expectations of the interviewers regarding the skills of the candidates didn't even come close to what the ads for employment indicated. I cannot tell you how much of my time careless prospective employers wasted. That kind of seemingly institutionalized disrespect, on the part of employers, cannot help but prompt some candidates to return the favor, and I don't blame those who do, given how pervasive that careless disregard was, as far as I could tell.

And just one more thing while I am at it... if you are applying for a job that doesn't fit in with your work experience...

Reflexively, if you're going to call someone in for an interview, don't question the candidate about skills that they didn't claim they had on their resume. If anything, assume that people put more on their resume than they really are qualified for. Your job, as a prospective employer, is to validate the claims that the candidate made with regard to their qualifications for the job you posted.

Can you tell I've been looking through (literally) hundreds of resumes? Sorry for the rant, I'm just beyond frustrated at this point. I thought with so many people being unemployed it would be easier to find someone but its proven to be much more difficult than in the past, seems like everyone just send resumes everywhere with no idea of what they are actually applying for

As I alluded to, above, I think you're inheriting the ramifications of the sins of your forebearers.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I too will get on the bandwagon that the listings are way too vague.

For many of us that were laid off in our given fields, I would say that they are not hiring us back and we need to find something in another field or different type of position.

Just because we may not have done EXACTLY what you are looking for doesn't mean that those resume's that you are throwing out couldn't be a good employee.

That makes me upset and very worried I have only worked in the travel industry since I was 16, and loved every minute of it. So you are going to hold that against me because I am looking to be a Adminstrative Assitant in ANOTHER field? That is not fair.

Also many are looking for all of this experience and not willing to pay for it either. That is a load of malarchy if you ask me.

Bolding is mine and THANK YOU!!! This is absolutely killing me when I apply for jobs. Just because I "only" did data entry and in-house product support at my last job doesn't mean I'm incapable of being an administrative assistant! I can file, I can answer the phone and make other calls politely, I can more than adequately operate a computer and use Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, etc. My job title of "data entry/product technical support" doesn't automatically preclude other administrative responsibilities. That's why I have included a "skills" section which clearly states other duties that I performed, but may not have been directly related to my position.

It really irritates me when I read an ad for an Administrative Assistant which includes job responsibilities that I have performed and "minimum requirements, associate's degree and 5 years office experience;" I apply, parroting back the same job responsibilities, showing my bachelor's degree and 12 years office experience, then receive the answer, "You do not have the skills and experience we want." HUH???

 

[nd5056]

"Every stick has two ends..."

.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Bolding is mine and THANK YOU!!! This is absolutely killing me when I apply for jobs. Just because I "only" did data entry and in-house product support at my last job doesn't mean I'm incapable of being an administrative assistant! I can file, I can answer the phone and make other calls politely, I can more than adequately operate a computer and use Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, etc. My job title of "data entry/product technical support" doesn't automatically preclude other administrative responsibilities. That's why I have included a "skills" section which clearly states other duties that I performed, but may not have been directly related to my position.

It really irritates me when I read an ad for an Administrative Assistant which includes job responsibilities that I have performed and "minimum requirements, associate's degree and 5 years office experience;" I apply, parroting back the same job responsibilities, showing my bachelor's degree and 12 years office experience, then receive the answer, "You do not have the skills and experience we want." HUH???

I am so glad that I am not the only one that is feeling this way!!

During my work experience in the Travel Industry I did many things and ALOT of paper work among other things that would probably over qualify me for an Admin Asst. but that is all that is out there right now.

I just want to be happy in my job, I loved my job and am sad everyday that I am not able to continue in my chosen field. I just hope and pray that other employers will start having more of an open mind when choosing whom to interview.

I also understand how they are feeling being inundated with resume's but please cut us some slack. Many of us are desperate for work but we deserve the same respect in return.

Good Luck to all out there!

 

[mikehn]

I remember during the tech boom almost a decade ago, employers were tripping all over themselves just trying to get people to even fill out an application, offering all sorts of outrageous signing bonuses, innovative and exotic perks to recruit any warm body they could find. Now the tables have turned. And the tables will keep turning. So show a little humility. What goes around comes around.

 

[LisaG520]

My personal #1 pet peeve is people that do not dress up for interviews. I don't care if you're interviewing at a Fortune 500 company or you're looking to be the newest barista at Starbucks. Make an effort, for goodness sake!! I'm not saying you need to show up in a formal dress, but make an effort to look like you actually WANT the job. Can you tell this gets me fired up?!

Even at retail stores, I am amazed at who asks for applications. People in sweats, jammies, and girls in short shorts and bra straps hanging out. I once had a person fill out their application in marker.

My personal pet peeve: people who come in for an application and ask for a pen to fill it out with. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

While managing a video store I had a girl show up for her interview with curlers and a shower cap on her head, wearing a tank top and cut-off sweats. She proceeded to lay on the floor while we talked. Apparently the interview was cutting into her time to get ready for a date (I didn't hire her...)

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

At Worlds of Fun you fill out an application and then show up for the interview unannounced during certain time slots. I'll admit I did have to borrow a pencil to fill out an application because my pen died and the system they used for online applications had crashed (and I had filled out my initial application online.)

They interviewed us two at a time. Here I am- 24 with lost of theme park experience dressed up in my suit, and next to me is a teenager in jeans and a T-Shirt. I felt bad for the girl. It was either her first interview or she had never been taught proper interview skills. Her answers to the questions were almost comical, and they quickly told her they had their quota of 14-15 year olds. She could have been a great employee, I don't know. But she did not do a good job selling her qualities to the interviewer.

 

[kidzmom3]

I run an emergency department (admins). I interviewed someone today, who I thought was great. Was planning on the next step, reference check. As she was walking out she said to me "by having to work every other holiday, you didn't mean Christmas did you?" Yes I did. And, I just spent 10 minutes explaining the holiday and weekend rotation. She then said to me "well I will just request it off or call in sick". When I brought her file to HR, she was put into the do not call for any further open positions file. (for the ED)

 

[disney1990]

I find a lot of the employment listings don't have enough details. I especially like to have an idea about the pay, even if its just a range or general idea. I have a certain floor I will not go below and I hate to waste anyone's time.

And if you are requiring a great deal of experience, that darn well better be worth some $$$. I saw one job, I kid you not, requesting 5 years of experience for $8 an hour! Ridiculous.

Good luck finding some employees! I imagine it can be hard to find the right fit.

I'll go one better. The one I saw was for minimum wage. You needed to be bilingual, several years of experience, plus you supervised other employees -- hello???? Other employees, how much do they make?

 

[omghidanielle]

The last interview I conducted went as follows:

Older woman, did not take the time to dress nice, iron her clothes, shave her legs or even SHOWER before meeting with us (I mean she smelled. Very badly). She sat slumped in her chair, with her LEGS WIDE OPEN (she was wearing a short dress!) and her gigantic purse on her lap, holding onto it like we were going to steal it from her. When I asked her if she could define customer service, she answered with "No.". When asked where she saw herself in 3-5 years, she answered with "Your job."

the others were along the same lines. We still have an open spot.


I feel your pain

 

[mickaholic4077]

I just need a vent a little and maybe (hopefully) this may also help some fellow DISers who are looking for employment right now.

Please - Please, I'm begging! Please spell check and grammer check your resume, emails and cover letters! I don't know where the concept of not using complete sentences in a professional cover letter came from but please do not follow in others poor choices

Please read and comprehend the ads for employment, we as employers design the ads in hopes that prospective employees will read them and the right candidates will apply. For instance, if the ad says that the hours are between 9am and 5pm Monday - Friday please do not send me your resume and tell me that you are available from 4pm to 9pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

And just one more thing while I am at it... if you are applying for a job that doesn't fit in with your work experience (you have always worked in A/R & A/P and you are applying for an office manager position) please explain why you are applying for the job or your resume will likely just get tossed in the circular file. We understand that you apply for many, many jobs when exmployment is hard to find just like we are sorting through hundreds of resumes looking for the right candidate, if you really want to get noticed make sure you write why you are applying for that specific position - not just a generic "using my skills, blah blah blah to better improve blah blah blah"

Can you tell I've been looking through (literally) hundreds of resumes? Sorry for the rant, I'm just beyond frustrated at this point. I thought with so many people being unemployed it would be easier to find someone but its proven to be much more difficult than in the past, seems like everyone just send resumes everywhere with no idea of what they are actually applying for

I don't know if this has been mentioned or commented on yet as I haven't read all the responses,but I will say this. You want people to have correct spelling and grammar;fine,but why don't you practice what you preach?

 

[ajk912]

I am so glad I found this thread, because of the stories of other people like me looking for a job. I quit my job two years to spend more time with my kids, and at the time jobs were a dime a dozen. Now I want to..NEED TO..get back in the workforce, and I can't. Job after job, nothing. And I am looking for entry level! I have tons of experience, minimum wage is FINE! I am very sorry that I can't work weekends and holidays, but I have three kids. It would cost me a fortune in childcare. Know anyone who wants to hire a 10-3 Monday through Friday person? Because I sure don't.

 

[Stacerita]

Bolding is mine and THANK YOU!!! This is absolutely killing me when I apply for jobs. Just because I "only" did data entry and in-house product support at my last job doesn't mean I'm incapable of being an administrative assistant! I can file, I can answer the phone and make other calls politely, I can more than adequately operate a computer and use Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, etc. My job title of "data entry/product technical support" doesn't automatically preclude other administrative responsibilities. That's why I have included a "skills" section which clearly states other duties that I performed, but may not have been directly related to my position.

It really irritates me when I read an ad for an Administrative Assistant which includes job responsibilities that I have performed and "minimum requirements, associate's degree and 5 years office experience;" I apply, parroting back the same job responsibilities, showing my bachelor's degree and 12 years office experience, then receive the answer, "You do not have the skills and experience we want." HUH???

I recently had this happen to me. I have been floating my resume out in hopes of finding another job. I love what I do, and where I work, but the shift I am on is killing me. There is no hope right now of changing. So I am on the hunt. I have my degree, 13 years of experience, and am currently in management. I am willing to take a lesser job in my field to get the shift I want. I sent in my resume for a clerk position. The job duties included photo copying and sorting files. I was told I didn't have the skills or experience they wanted. I started out 13 years ago sorting and filing. I just don't get it.

 

[minkydog]

I run an emergency department (admins). I interviewed someone today, who I thought was great. Was planning on the next step, reference check. As she was walking out she said to me "by having to work every other holiday, you didn't mean Christmas did you?" Yes I did. And, I just spent 10 minutes explaining the holiday and weekend rotation. She then said to me "well I will just request it off or call in sick". When I brought her file to HR, she was put into the do not call for any further open positions file. (for the ED)

I just don't get this. I've been a nurse for 32 years and I can count on one hand the number of times I have called off, including my own emergency surgery and a suicide attempt on my son's part. And I never called out on a holiday. 32 years.

It would have never occured to me to call off on Christmas, although I did work with someone who did that. She had a just-turned-2yo and this woman was completely STOKED over the "first real Christmas." Our holiday schedules were made almost a year in advance which gave us plenty of time to swap holidays if we wanted. Noooo, this woman waited until Dec 23 then announced that she had a "hangnail infection." I am not kidding you. A hangnail infection. We worked in teh NICU, so obviously she couldn't be at work with an infection on her hand and therefore, got both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. Of course, by the time the holiday was over her finger was "healed". I don't think I've ever been so mad in my life.

 

[NMAmy]

I don't know if this has been mentioned or commented on yet as I haven't read all the responses,but I will say this. You want people to have correct spelling and grammar;fine,but why don't you practice what you preach?

In the OP's defense, there's a big difference between posting on a message board and preparing a cover letter and resume. With a resume, I proofread and then have someone else proofread it for me. On a message board, I skip those steps.

I am so glad I found this thread, because of the stories of other people like me looking for a job. I quit my job two years to spend more time with my kids, and at the time jobs were a dime a dozen. Now I want to..NEED TO..get back in the workforce, and I can't. Job after job, nothing. And I am looking for entry level! I have tons of experience, minimum wage is FINE! I am very sorry that I can't work weekends and holidays, but I have three kids. It would cost me a fortune in childcare. Know anyone who wants to hire a 10-3 Monday through Friday person? Because I sure don't.

Most businesses don't need part-time employees during the middle of the day like that. I know I need part-timers that either work either 7:30-3:30 or 9-5 for four days a week. I understand that 10-3 works great for moms but that doesn't cover the hours my office is open.

 

[bicker]

When I brought her file to HR, she was put into the do not call for any further open positions file.

For which reason? Inability to understand simple principles? Obstinacy? Refusal to consider herself as part of a team? or Stupidity (in telling an interviewer of her intention to lie)?

 

[MushyMushy]

I just don't get this. I've been a nurse for 32 years and I can count on one hand the number of times I have called off, including my own emergency surgery and a suicide attempt on my son's part. And I never called out on a holiday. 32 years.

It would have never occured to me to call off on Christmas, although I did work with someone who did that. She had a just-turned-2yo and this woman was completely STOKED over the "first real Christmas." Our holiday schedules were made almost a year in advance which gave us plenty of time to swap holidays if we wanted. Noooo, this woman waited until Dec 23 then announced that she had a "hangnail infection." I am not kidding you. A hangnail infection. We worked in teh NICU, so obviously she couldn't be at work with an infection on her hand and therefore, got both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. Of course, by the time the holiday was over her finger was "healed". I don't think I've ever been so mad in my life.

My mother was a nurse too and she worked many, many holidays throughout my life. Guess what -- we lived. I think any hospital worker who thinks they are above working weekends and/or holidays will soon find herself without a sympathetic friend in the lot and won't have too many people volunteering to cover her in real situations.

Same with my sister. She works in the hospital pharmacy and doesn't bat an eyelash at working holidays. She's just got that kind of work ethic.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I hope you can take this in good fun, but it makes me laugh to read what you're venting about when you have spelling and grammar mistakes in your first three sentences.

I always try to take the DIS in good fun My spelling and grammer get even worse when I get aggravated, thankfully I spell check at work

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

A co-worker of my DH's sent her daughter into the bank where I work to see about getting an application. The job is actually at another branch but DH told her I could help her. So she comes in at 10:00 am in jeans and a dirty t-shirt and wet hair. I told DH later to let her know that when she goes to pick up an application she shoud dress like she's getting an interview. First impressions mean alot!