Frustrated and need to vent....

[loser1824]

I have applied for the state jobs but basically it just means submitting their application along with your resume and cover letter, they are literally doing nothing with them. We have been on a hiring freeze for just about a year now.

The letter wasn't the normal. They usually say something like "while your qualifications and resume were very nice or while your application was impressive we have chosen to go with another candidate at this time. Please however, check for upcoming openings blah, blah, blah."



The reason I was so upset was because I was well qualified for everything they listed in the job description and requirements. So after I vented to you all (thanks for listening) I decided to write a response to the woman who had sent the letter. I was very polite and said,

Dear Ms. XXXXXXX,
I recently applied for the Resource Specialist position that was posted on the XXXXXX web site. Today I received a letter in the mail from you stating that, "After carefully reviewing your credentials, we have determined that your qualifications do not meet our needs at this time. Please feel free to apply for open positions for which you qualify at XXXXX in the future." I must say that I am a little confused, I reread the job posting and I have the qualifications that were specified. I have a Masters Degree in Human Development and two years experience within the counseling field. (I have attached a copy of my cover letter and resume that I submitted for this position, just in case you had any questions about it.) Could you please clarify what you were looking for so I can make sure to document it within my personal job search database. This will help me evaluate the effectiveness of my search and any future openings that I apply for. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth XXXXXXX


Who knows maybe I did overlook something or maybe they over looked me. But, I need to know for future references. Like I said before I just want to work.


Hope you all are having a great weekend.

 

[loser1824]

I would also have a friend (particularly one who interviews people regularly) do a mock interview with you. Go into it as if it was a real interview -- dressed and all. Your resume may be off or you might be doing something wrong and not even know it.

I have a friend who has a Master's and could only find temporary part-time positions. After years of this, I finally suggested that she come over and I would review her interview skills. On the day of the mock interview, she showed up 45 minutes late and wearing a Mickey sweatshirt and jeans. I told her that I must not have been clear and wanted her to wear what she would wear to an interview. She looked at me blankly and told me that IS what she wears to interviews! She said if a potential employer doesn't like her how she is, she doesn't want to work for them. She is currently unemployed.

While I don't mean to suggest this is you, there could be something that you are doing subconciously that puts people off. If it were me, I'd want to know.

Good luck.

This is a good resource, I used this when I went to the career center. I have done it all. I feel totally professional and confident about my capabilities in an interview. I have only gotten two interviews though. The first was last May and I was offered the job - it was not in my field and it was almost minimum wage (now of course I wish I would have taken it) and the other was for a temp job at a local school, which I got but it ended due to the need of the little ones and the school budget. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[fdimarco]

Sorry to hear about this, I hope everything works out for you It is horrible times right now. Where I work we laid off over 700 people and the rest of us took a 13% pay cut.

 

[wall*e2008]

I'm sorry - it really is tough out there right now. On the upside, almost everyone I know who was laid off last winter has found some sort of work - some of it temporary or freelance or part time - but it does seem to feel like things are looking up. So I hope something frees up for you soon.

I agree with Crisi. Right now nobody I know personally is out of a job. Some have even changed jobs in the last couple of months. There seems to be so thawing of the job market. All you can do is just keep trying. I even know college graduates who got jobs this year. Many did not.

 

[marlynnp]

After carefully reviewing your credentials, we have determined that your qualifications do not meet our needs at this time. Please feel free to apply for open positions for which you qualify at XXXXX in the future.


I'm sorry, I fail to see what was so rude about this. Maybe they think you are over qualified.


It sounds like a standard letter, albeit not the greatest. Mine is quite similar, "Thank you for your time in applying for the xxxxxx position with our company. However, we have identified another applicant whose qualifications better suit our needs. If another position which you are qualified for becames available, we may contact you."