Does anyone else find looking for a job demoralizing?

IndridCold

I graduated from college with my degree in the past summer and I must of applied for fifteen jobs since then, to no avail - i wasn't even offered an interview. Of course I will keep applying but it is really discouraging to say the least. Every time i go to apply for a job i think to myself, "what is the point?", "i will only be rejected again". I guess it is normal to feel like that but i can't help but feel guilty that i still haven't got a job when the majority of the people who graduated with me are in employment.

Does anyone else feel like this?

Paulw

Only 15 applications?

Glad I didn't give up after 15.

Yes, it's a total pain. Very hard to get to interview stage. But, all you can do is keep at it.

Larry SR

Yes, anyone who has been unemployed for any period of time knows how you feel.

You need to treat looking for a job as your job until you are successful.

Step 1 would be to increase your number of applications ASAP.

IndridCold

Larry SR wrote: »

Yes, anyone who has been unemployed for any period of time knows how you feel.

You need to treat looking for a job as your job until you are successful.

Step 1 would be to increase your number of applications ASAP.

I know, i must increase that by tenfold. I must get out of the hole i am in immediately.

IndridCold

Paulw wrote: »

Only 15 applications?

Glad I didn't give up after 15.

Yes, it's a total pain. Very hard to get to interview stage. But, all you can do is keep at it.

I won't give up and i will immediately increase it but as you said it is a pain.

IndridCold

IndridCold wrote: »

I know, i must increase that by tenfold. I must get out of the hole i am in immediately.

Try an agency for contract or temporary work as a start.

Larry SR

IndridCold wrote: »

I know, i must increase that by tenfold. I must get out of the hole i am in immediately.

Loads of advice on this board as well in relation to CVs, applications, interviews, recruitment agencies etc. Just have a search and you'll find a lot of top class advice to help you in your search.

OU812

15 applications since last summer???

Try 127 since end of October. Four replies. Two overqualified, one unsuccessful, one keep on file.

Also don't get anything on the dole as I was self employed (but paid all taxes - gripe for another thread)

Advertisers not replying seriously pisses me off.

neonsofa

No point increasing your number of applications if the applications themselves aren't working. Have you had someone look over your cv and cover letter? Is it a lack of experience in the field you studied? Is there a way you could get some work experience while applying?

IndridCold

neonsofa wrote: »

No point increasing your number of applications if the applications themselves aren't working. Have you had someone look over your cv and cover letter? Is it a lack of experience in the field you studied? Is there a way you could get some work experience while applying?

That is a good point. I don't have any experience in the area of my degree and the majority of those jobs are looking for two to five years experience and they won't even look at application without experience. It is a catch 22.

neonsofa

IndridCold wrote: »

That is a good point. I don't have any experience in the area of my degree and the majority of those jobs are looking for two to five years experience and they won't even look at application without experience. It is a catch 22.

What field is it?
Could you find a way to do an internship/work experience/placement/volunteer?
Have you spoken to previous students from your course? How did they get work?

IndridCold

neonsofa wrote: »

What field is it?
Could you find a way to do an internship/work experience/placement/volunteer?
Have you spoken to previous students from your course? How did they get work?

In the business sector, anything in that sector. Some got internships in these big companies that were difficult to get into. I haven't to date but i will have to.

neonsofa

IndridCold wrote: »

In the business sector, anything in that sector. Some got internships in these big companies that were difficult to get into. I haven't to date but i will have to.

Best way to get your foot in the door would be to get an internship or graduate programmes yeah. It gives you the experience, gets you a relevant reference, bridges the gap on cv, networking with people in the sector, the list is endless so don't rule it out. You can still jobseek while interning.
Are you on LinkedIn?
What age are you? Jobbridge is gone but there is still an internship programme for under 25s I think. Don't know what industries it applies to though.
Don't give up, I was in your position years ago during the recession and thought I'd never get anywhere but I did. Took the longer route and worked ****ty part time jobs while volunteering and working for nothing just to get relevant experience, but i learned a lot along the way and appreciate it all the more, and employers see determination in someone who worked hard to get into the industry so keep at it!

Also keep doing courses that are available to you as a jobseeker. Office skills etc. sometimes have a placement included too so it keeps the cv going and builds your skills. IT skills, office skills, whatever may be relevant to the work you're applying for. Obviously job seek while doing the course!

893bet

Rather than blindly applying for jobs I would:

1) Reach out to your network (friends, family, neighbours) and your networks networks (friends neighbors a friends cousin working at X etc.). These are your most valuable source. They have the ability to get you to the interview stage at which point it is up to you then to land the job.
2) Used linkedin. Not just recruitment agents on linkedin but people who work in HR in the company you want employment. Remember of you can get in the door direct then the company doesnt have to pay the big fee to a recruiter.
3) Tailor your CV and cover letter for each role. Bend the truth as best you can but be careful....you will have to defend your CV in an interview.

For your first job number 1 about is the key.

Bandage

Some good advice here. Good luck.

Tell me how

As others have said, placements, short term contracts, volunteering are all valid ways to get in the door.

The following is easier said than done, but, it can be done.

Try to identify the ideal job for you at this point (degree related, supportive environment, not thrown in at deep end... etc)
Identify the company where such a job might exist.
Research that company, key people, practices, why you feel it would be a good fit for you and you for them.
Even if they're not advertising for roles, target that company, its website positions page, the recruitment agencies they use any contacts you have.
Be proactive in every way possible.
If you apply for a role, ring HR afterwards and ask to confirm they received your application, ask for the name of anyone who helps you and next time you ring, ask for that person. Be polite and brief with any enquiries you make and always thank whoever you talk to.

Don't apologize for not having any experience, you can sell it as you've no bad habits.
Nobody is born with experience and you can't just download it. Every company knows this, I've yet to meet someone who'd rather a person with a bad attitude and 2 years experience than someone with a fantastic attitude just out the door of college.

P.S. I've ripped the above from a book called "What colour is your parachute" I read about 16 yrs ago. Think they've updated editions.

IndridCold

Tell me how wrote: »

As others have said, placements, short term contracts, volunteering are all valid ways to get in the door.

The following is easier said than done, but, it can be done.

Try to identify the ideal job for you at this point (degree related, supportive environment, not thrown in at deep end... etc)
Identify the company where such a job might exist.
Research that company, key people, practices, why you feel it would be a good fit for you and you for them.
Even if they're not advertising for roles, target that company, its website positions page, the recruitment agencies they use any contacts you have.
Be proactive in every way possible.
If you apply for a role, ring HR afterwards and ask to confirm they received your application, ask for the name of anyone who helps you and next time you ring, ask for that person. Be polite and brief with any enquiries you make and always thank whoever you talk to.

Don't apologize for not having any experience, you can sell it as you've no bad habits.
Nobody is born with experience and you can't just download it. Every company knows this, I've yet to meet someone who'd rather a person with a bad attitude and 2 years experience than someone with a fantastic attitude just out the door of college.

P.S. I've ripped the above from a book called "What colour is your parachute" I read about 16 yrs ago. Think they've updated editions.

Thank you, Tell me how, for your kind, well intended and well thought-out post - I sincerely appreciate it. I shall listen to your advice and implement it - again, thank you. That would be great to quote at an interview if i were ever to get one! They would be speechless, ha!

An Ri rua

You need to decide which companies you want to work for also.

Then send 100 Cvs and put a proper amount of thought into your cover letter. Make it 'sell' your cv. But succinctly. i.e. why should they even read it?

You really have no right to feel sorry for yourself when you have not put in sufficient effort to land your first job. Its the New year and you've sought to correct that. Which is great.

Now put in some seriously hard work (think, think, think) and ensure that your cv and cover letters are of a high standard. In 3 months, you'll have a paying job and, who knows, maybe in your chosen field.

Buy (or library) '60 seconds and you're hired' . You need, in writing or face to face, to be able to 'sell' yourself in 60 seconds.

In addition to sending a cover letter (customised for each advertised job, customised for each speculative 'sector' you apply for), also send a 'skills map'. 2 columns. 1 for what they have listed they need, 1 for where you believe you've shown it or can show it. i.e. have you the aptitude/competency? They'll give you the experience if you have

Why should they interview you? Why should they take a risk and hire you? I bet you have great answers and I bet you will land a good job inside a few months and come back and tell us all here.
Dont make the mistake of taking a sales job unless you're cut out for it. It can seem an easy way into a business career but its not for many.

Apply to companies where no jobs are advertised. That's how I landed my first major sales role in a blue chip company. Months, and i mean months, after I speculatively applied.

Very best of luck. But you must knuckle down now. No more despondency

doc11

were are you applying ? Dublin

893bet

For your first role CV is almost a waste of time. Without experience they are not even getting looked at unless you get extremely lucky.

You need to network! Fast way to get to where you want to be.

JoeyPeeps

IndridCold wrote: »

I graduated from college with my degree in the past summer and I must of applied for fifteen jobs since then, to no avail - i wasn't even offered an interview. Of course I will keep applying but it is really discouraging to say the least. Every time i go to apply for a job i think to myself, "what is the point?", "i will only be rejected again". I guess it is normal to feel like that but i can't help but feel guilty that i still haven't got a job when the majority of the people who graduated with me are in employment.

Does anyone else feel like this?

Make it a news years resolution and plan to move abroad. It's the only way you will find a job. UK isn't exactly abroad but you should find a job pretty easy there. 
Ireland is a basket case. It's been in the same state since 2006 when I left uni. Long gaps in employment aren't attractive to any employer so I would get out asap. 

I applied for a job once and was told I didn't apply myself because I had a one year gap between graduation and my first job. Didn't apply myself. I was like huh? Have you ever been to Ireland?

Tell me how

JoeyPeeps wrote:

Make it a news years resolution and plan to move abroad. It's the only way you will find a job. UK isn't exactly abroad but you should find a job pretty easy there. Ireland is a basket case. It's been in the same state since 2006 when I left uni. Long gaps in employment aren't attractive to any employer so I would get out asap.

Come on now. Have you listened to the news in the past 10 years?

Ireland has definitely not been in the same state since 2006. It was high then, then it went down, wayyyy down, starting in 2008 and has definitely come back quite a long way since then.

Unemployment rates are half now what they were 5 years ago according to the CSO.

I'm not saying it's easy, or perfect but it is far from as bad as you describe.

As for the UK, they are sitting on a powder keg since Brexit and no one knows how to handle it or what exactly is going to happen but the signs for their economy are not positive. Sterling is down 20% from where it was at before the referendum.

neonsofa

JoeyPeeps wrote: »

Make it a news years resolution and plan to move abroad. It's the only way you will find a job. UK isn't exactly abroad but you should find a job pretty easy there. 
Ireland is a basket case. It's been in the same state since 2006 when I left uni. Long gaps in employment aren't attractive to any employer so I would get out asap. 

I applied for a job once and was told I didn't apply myself because I had a one year gap between graduation and my first job. Didn't apply myself. I was like huh? Have you ever been to Ireland?

Had you done any additional short courses, internships, work placements or volunteering within the year?