Help with job search (HR question)

[matt]

Hi guys How is everyones summer doing so far? So far my summer has been one of the worst ones ever. I have given my application to at least 15 different places within the last 3 weeks so to speak and no one has called me back. I have done the usual follow up calls and they have claimed that they have not gone over the applications. Case in point I had the interview with BJ's and did the apitude test and intrerview and I never got a call back and that was 3 weeks ago. I am like what is going on here. I am at my wits end with this crazy thing. Any ideas? Matt
Thanks

[donleyk]

Hi Matt. I don't have any suggestions or help just a virtual hug for you! Good luck with the search.

[Lauren]

I feel your pain .... I'm going through the same thing. :o I've been sending out resumes for jobs that I feel I'm well qualified for, but they seem to fall into a big, black hole. :(

Since you're dropping off apps, is there a contact person you can follow up with? I have been finding that companies are in no hurry to make a decision and hire a candiate. Ugh!

[rmg_CA]

Hi Matt,
I'm an HR person, so let me see if I can give you a few pieces of advice:

If you mean BJs as in Costco or Sams Club, they probably have a corporate office that oversees hiring with the help of the store manager. I'd ask to talk to the store manager and ask them if they have current openings right now that they're hiring for. Sometimes they're just gathering applicatons for when there's a hiring need, then do it as a group hiring activity. You might be able to pry out of the manager what their hiring plans are over say 30 or 60 days, which will give you some indication of when you should either expect some sort of contact if you're going to be called for an interview, or count yourself out and move on. You might also be able to get out of them whether one application is necessary at each BJs or if they trade applications around each store and one's all that's needed for the company, that would probably increase your chances of getting called if they trade around.

It might also be worthwhile to see if you can get the name/contact of the person who handles recruiting (on the HR side) for their store. If you can get to them, they'll often tell you whether you've been knocked out by the test/assessment that you took, or if you're being considered further and just haven't heard anything yet.

A totally non-pushy question to ask the store manager would be, "Hey, I put in an application and took the assessment x months ago, and I was wondering if you could tell me about what I can expect in the hiring process, because I really would like to work here." That opens the door to other questions I noted above.

If you're submitting resumes on line to places, you might try googling "recruiter" and the name of the company or "HR" and the name of the company, etc. More and more recruiters are willing to talk to people because unemployment's low and it's competitive for talent, so if you can get a telephone number or contact person, you can usually get more info.

Finding a job is sometimes about quantity of your targets, and the likelyhood that they'll respond in the timeframe you need.

My hubby was hired last year at a place where he submitted a resume six months before. He had taken another job in the meantime, so it created a bit of job hopping for him, but they called because an opening came up and they keep resumes on file for a year. So my point is, sometimes you'll submit resumes for jobs that aren't there now, but might be tomorrow and with HR technologies these days, lots of companies are using the systems that let them bank resumes for a long time, then use them when they need them.

Oh yeah, and if you need a job like RIGHT NOW, you might explore temp agencies. They often have "orders" for real jobs with companies that want the body "yesterday" and can place you in lots of companies you might want to work for. Then you've got a foot in the door and can make contact with those who know how to get you a regular job there if that's what you want to do. I seem to remember from some of your other posts that you might be in school and maybe you're just looking for the summer so temp-ing might be a good option.

Hope that's helpful to you, good luck in your search!

-Robin:D

[beagle9]

With so many companies outsourcing and wanting cheap foriegn labor (i.e. Mexicans by the hundreds or thousands now) its so wonder that many of our citizens can even find a job anymore. Talk about pulling rabbits out of hat (sheesh). Its simply an important "economics mathmatical formula" inwhich our government and business sectors have greedily ignored, as they have gone greedily among their cold hearted way... You take away this and you take away that, and then you inject thousands of highschool graduates looking for their first time jobs, along with another competing force being ousted from closing industries, along with another force being ousted due to outsourcing, then what may I ask does one have left as their options? I hear the ilegal drug industry is thriving these days or maybe burglary and so on. These probably rank high on the thoughts of many, who are or have become isolated by all of this activity today.. Might end up thinking about Iraq or Afghanistan!!! This would help the population rebalance itself, and ultimately make room for those left in need. Yikes! Sad isn't it? I remember Vietnam being referred to as a population war. Could it be that once again a rebalancing is at hand for greed to suceed?

[mbrogier]

:rolleyes:

Matt, if you have a lot of college degrees and academia experience, you might want to leave that off of resumes/applications you give to places like BJs. They might consider you "overqualified" and usually don't consider candidates like this because you won't stay long.

I've gotten some great jobs through temp agencies. The pay was wonderful, too. I worked as a call center operator for Wilsonart laminate company. I worked the longest (6 months) for them when I temped, and they liked me so much they wanted to offer me a permanent job. I didn't take it because I moved and commuting was too far.

[saserre]

Matt,

Me too. I've been looking since April and nothing. Thankfully my best friend needed someone part time at her job so I've been doing that occasionally.

I also applied at BJs and Hallmark, no word back even though they posted they were hiring. Harris Teeter did call me back for a Deli job, pay will be real low but I'll take it since I need the money.

I've applied at six different temp agencies for office jobs, and have good hopes that one of them will come up with something for me. I've had occasional interviews but hasn't panned out yet. I might be running into issues since I don't have a degree (I'm halfway towards Associates now) I'd suggest that route might be worth a shot for you, go with lots of them so better chance they'll place you.

Good luck,
Sharon

[kim21]

Hi Matt, Well this is discouraging, I'm sure.

My experiences have been in the health care industry and there were a few jobs that often had openings and could often be managed with on-the-job training. One was answering service staff. These folks take the after-hours emergency calls and relay them to the on-call doctors/nurses/therapists, etc. Another was medical records file staff. Each of these operations is 24/7 (as are many others in the health industry) and so, there were often positions open for the night shift.

A friend, who is a college student, walked into the busy ER of our local hospital and asked to speak with the supervising Unit Secretary/Support Staff. She asked this individual if they had any openings for the night shift. The response was affirmative and she was quickly hired for a night shift as a unit secretary. She had no experience with this work and was they provided OTJ training.

Another idea is to schedule yourself for an "informational" interview, at the place you'd like to work, and if an HR rep is willing and able to do this with you it gets you in the door. You ask to come in for an informational interview and ask the HR rep to help you learn/understand a bit more about the company and to understand where it is that they really need good help. Of course, you'll do a little homework on the company before hand, too.

Best wishes, Matt, and hang in there! Kim