No luck with jobs

LegacyUser

I recently graduated from college and have been applying for jobs for about 6 months now. I understand the job market is hard but had no idea how hard. I have had no call backs from my field, and only a couple of emails saying I wasnt successful. Most just ignore.

I have also been applying for a few jobs that are unskilled, outside of my expertise, minimum wage type jobs. Recently I got an interview for a sales assistant shop job (which I have lots of experience in in the past) and which is loosely related to my field of study. I went to the interview, got along great with the store manager. The following week I was called for a second round interview in their head office 3 hours away from where I live. This interview also went really well. It has now been nearly 2 weeks and I haven't heard a thing. I can only presume I didn't get the job but I can't believe they havent had the decency to even let me know. Especially since I spent about 50e on petrol getting there and back. And all for a job I'm overqualfified for.

I'm just getting depressed. I don't want to move abroad for work. I would have been better off staying in the job I had leaving school. How do people deal with this feeling of inadequacy. I feel completely worthless sometimes because of this.

dee_mc

You obviously felt the interviews went well, so why not contact the company and politely enquire as to whether the position has been filled, and if you were unsuccessful could they give you any pointers as to why, what you could have done differently etc. If the original contract fell through weeks or months down the line they might keep you in mind as a suitable, interested candidate.
It's increasingly common for interviewees to not be contacted if they haven't been successful (and it sucks, obviously), but I've never had a negative response to a follow up phone call.
Bear in mind also that many others who applied for the job were probably similarly overqualified, so try not to let it get you down.
As for the general feeling of disillusionment at not being able to get a job, I know how you feel! Some great advice I got (but didn't use because as it happened I was finally offered a job!) was to volunteer, either in a charity shop or with meals on wheels or SOMETHING, just to have something to stick on the CV and to chat about in interviews. It would probably be good to have something to focus your energy on anyway.
If you feel genuinely depressed, see your GP straight away and talk through your options. If he/she suggests antidepressants alone, ask for a referral to see a counsellor.
Also keep in mind, right now you feel you would've been better off getting a job straight out of school, but some years down the line Ireland will be out of recession and your qualifications will still be perfectly valid. Things won't always be as bad as they are right now. Try to look forward and be positive.
Best of luck, chin up!

Santa Cruz

I don't agree with all this voluntary work etc. as a means to fill your time and think that it will look good at interview.
It's time to bite the bullet and decide that if you want to work in your chosen field that you will have to try working abroad.
Two years experience in the U.K. will stand a lot more to you than working in the local Oxfam shop for nothing.
Get experience abroad and then throw your hat back in the ring for a job here.

dee_mc

Santa Cruz wrote: »

I don't agree with all this voluntary work etc. as a means to fill your time and think that it will look good at interview.
It's time to bite the bullet and decide that if you want to work in your chosen field that you will have to try working abroad.
Two years experience in the U.K. will stand a lot more to you than working in the local Oxfam shop for nothing.
Get experience abroad and then throw your hat back in the ring for a job here.

I suggested voluntary work as an option for the OP because he/she clearly states that he/she doesn't want to move abroad. Going overseas for work isn't for everyone.

Tokyo

frustrated719 wrote: »

...I have also been applying for a few jobs that are unskilled, outside of my expertise, minimum wage type jobs....

....I can't believe they havent had the decency to even let me know. Especially since I spent about 50e on petrol getting there and back. And all for a job I'm overqualfified for.

...I would have been better off staying in the job I had leaving school. How do people deal with this feeling of inadequacy. I feel completely worthless sometimes because of this....

Not to put too fine a point on it, but are you sure that this attitude isn't coming across in your interviews??? From what you've posted, you are quite negative about the whole situation, that some of these jobs are beneath you, and it may be coming to the surface more than you think...

December2012

I understand you're frustrated but it's not relevant to your application how much you spent travelling or petrol costs.

It's an employers market so getting attitude-y about how much employers respond to you is pointless and only feeds negative thought.

If you're looking at volunteering why not volunteer within your industry?

LegacyUser

mike_ie wrote: »

Not to put too fine a point on it, but are you sure that this attitude isn't coming across in your interviews??? From what you've posted, you are quite negative about the whole situation, that some of these jobs are beneath you, and it may be coming to the surface more than you think...

Obviously I have not come across like that in interviews. I've been if anything overly enthusiastic because I really do want to work. I have never said any job is beneath me, I've merely pointed out that they are jobs I'm overqualified for. Which is true. Yet I have no problem with doing them. I am feeling quite down about the situation because of the job market, that does not mean I'm coming across like that in interviews.

I know its an employers market but to bring somebody in for 2 interviews, one of which is the other side of the country, and then not even send a courtesy email to let them know if they got the job, I think that is bad form. That does not mean I have an attitude, and it does not mean I am letting employers know in any way that I am negative about them. I imagine a lot of people are in a similar situation and yes, after a while it does begin to get people down, so I don't see your need to blame me.

I don't particularly want to move abroad and away from my partner and family. Maybe I'll end up on jobbridge.

clairefontaine

frustrated719 wrote: »

Obviously I have not come across like that in interviews. I've been if anything overly enthusiastic because I really do want to work. I have never said any job is beneath me, I've merely pointed out that they are jobs I'm overqualified for. Which is true. Yet I have no problem with doing them. I am feeling quite down about the situation because of the job market, that does not mean I'm coming across like that in interviews.

I know its an employers market but to bring somebody in for 2 interviews, one of which is the other side of the country, and then not even send a courtesy email to let them know if they got the job, I think that is bad form. That does not mean I have an attitude, and it does not mean I am letting employers know in any way that I am negative about them. I imagine a lot of people are in a similar situation and yes, after a while it does begin to get people down, so I don't see your need to blame me.

I don't particularly want to move abroad and away from my partner and family. Maybe I'll end up on jobbridge.

If you feel you are overqualified then remove some of your qualifications from your cv.

The fact that you are getting your foot in the door for interviews would suggest that they do not think you are over qualified or they would just bin your cv.

There is something happening in the interview. You need to find it and fix it.

LegacyUser

Hard to know what's going wrong without having sight of your CV / the job specs that you are going for. Are you just sending the same CV for all jobs, without tailoring it?

It is disheartening, but I'm afraid the way things are now, you just won't get acknowledgement of receipt of your CV / not making the cut for a job. You're just going to have to suck that up and get used to it.

Tombo2001

An employer is right not to employ someone that is overqualified.

However, not being smart, but I think overqualified is the wrong word.

As a college graduate, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news here, you are not qualified for anything, never mind overqualified.

However there may be some jobs - the ones you want - where your degree acts as a platform that an employer can use to to train you up to do a job. Only then are you qualified to do a job. This is the sort of job you want.

And there are other jobs that are unskilled, that anyone can do, but that you feel you are overqualified for because you have a degree and you (rightly) think you should be doing better. And employer will (rightly) feel that if I employ this person, they will leave after 6 months.

Getting a job is an art in itself.

OP, without telling us what your field is, all one can give is general pointers.

Lux23

Listen OP, I had my 23rd interview since April yesterday, I have lots of experience but I honestly think my confidence took such a knock in my last job that I'm just not capable anymore. I keep putting my foot in it in interviews, even cried in one! All I can say is the only thing that keeps me going is a very deep feeling that something will turn up eventually.

Just keep applying for jobs and if you get something in a shop, take it as I feel the busier your life is the more motivated you will be.

Greyfox

Tombo2001 wrote: »

An employer is right not to employ someone that is overqualified.

I'm currently pulling my hair out with frustration because so many employers believe this. My last interview I failed to get the job as they felt I had too much experience and may leave in the future. Funny thing is it would have been a dream job for me and if I got it I could see myself staying their for the next 20 years if I could.

Been overqualified is a big problem for me but I've learned that you have to tailor you CV exactly right. if its for a job that doesn't require a qualification it's better to remove it, make sure anything you can think of that could be relevant to the job spec is in your cv, in OP's case expand on your sales experience and have as little as possible on your CV that's not directly relevant.

Unfortunately employers can be ridiculously choosy with who they hire. All you can do is keep applying, just keep thinking of all the great things you'll be able to do once you get a job. Also make sure you reward yourself with something every now an then for all the effort your putting in. (these rewards don't have to cost much money but their very important for avoiding frustration). Your in a horrible situation but theirs loads of others in the same boat, don't give up OP