Losing all hope

Ambassador9

I work in IT on a contract basis for one of the US multinationals. I've been told that there is 90% chance that the contract will expire and will not be renewed in the next 3 months.

I work in an entry level IT admin/devops/analyst role for over 2 years. I had my CV reviewed and approved by hiring manager (I got help but I'd like to leave it at that not to compromise myself). So far I've applied for 30 jobs.

I've been rejected for an internship by a major multinational (lol) with 2 years of professional experience. Didn't even get an interview, that was a punch in the gut.

In positions that I'm 100% confident that I'm qualified for I get the usual generic response "While you are highly skilled, we have decided to move on with a different candidate"

Vast majority of the time I wouldn't even get a response. Now I feel like I'm an impostor and got my job purely by luck. I have also lost motivation once I've seen that all jobs get 100+ applications. I think I've been living a delusional life and now realising that you need 5 years of experience to even be considered for a role that pays €30k. Looks like I'll be going on the dole soon.

With a qualification and the two years experience you'll most certainly get a job/contract as good as your current one over the next 3 months IMO or very shortly after you become available.

You've huge things going for you......... experience ...... ambition........ you'll be grand

fergald

Keep trying, their is a huge demand for IT staff, just bad timing with covid. Things will improve soon, the only thing i would say is keep doing courses, cross train in as many areas as you can and then you will never be out of work.

Ambassador9

Ambassador9 wrote: »

I work in IT on a contract basis for one of the US multinationals. I've been told that there is 90% chance that the contract will expire and will not be renewed in the next 3 months.

I work in an entry level IT admin/devops/analyst role for over 2 years. I had my CV reviewed and approved by hiring manager (I got help but I'd like to leave it at that not to compromise myself). So far I've applied for 30 jobs.

I've been rejected for an internship by a major multinational (lol) with 2 years of professional experience. Didn't even get an interview, that was a punch in the gut.

In positions that I'm 100% confident that I'm qualified for I get the usual generic response "While you are highly skilled, we have decided to move on with a different candidate"

Vast majority of the time I wouldn't even get a response. Now I feel like I'm an impostor and got my job purely by luck. I have also lost motivation once I've seen that all jobs get 100+ applications. I think I've been living a delusional life and now realising that you need 5 years of experience to even be considered for a role that pays €30k. Looks like I'll be going on the dole soon.

Applying for 30+ jobs is demoralising so I suggest you adjust your tactics.

Aim instead for 2-3 a week, but really go to town on the applications. Customise your CV and cover letter with the role in mind. So when the job spec says "Experience with blah a plus", in your cover letter include, "I recently finished a project involving blah".

If you don't get a response after 2 days follow up with them: "I wish to draw your attention to my application for the role of Blah Specialist".

I once nearly missed out on a contract because the person who dealt with them went on maternity leave and forgot to redirect the emails. I've also dealt with numerous HR/Recruitment who were shockingly bad at getting back to people.

Jim2007

Ambassador9 wrote: »

I've been rejected for an internship by a major multinational (lol) with 2 years of professional experience. Didn't even get an interview, that was a punch in the gut.

Are you sure you're applying for the appropriate type of job? Because the above sentence would suggest you're not!

You're not internship material, so you should not be surprised you were ignored.

Jim2007

Jim2007 wrote: »

Are you sure you're applying for the appropriate type of job? Because the above sentence would suggest you're not!

You're not internship material, so you should not be surprised you were ignored.

I agree with Jim, you're not intern material.

Why give up hope, you don't need to work for a massive multinational, work for a smaller company and learn and grow far more. Your job isn't your worth

Aleece2020

Like you OP, I have had a very demoralising run with applications.

I graduated March 2019 with a Masters Degree. I was very ill afterwards and ended up needing surgery in October of that year. Once I recovered, things had gone south because of COVID and a lot of my options were suddenly gone. I was due to start in two separate places in early 2020 only to have both programmes cancelled due to COVID.

To date, I have filled in hundreds of applications, I’m estimating around 400 now. I have been through the whole process of self-doubt and can safely say that I have experienced a complete and total collapse of my self-esteem and mental health. I have no confidence anymore. I feel like I’m being punished for having the audacity to remain alive.

Most of the time I don’t get a reply, but like you other times I get the same generic rejection of “we went with a more suitable candidate.” I have done everything; did volunteer work to get workplace skills, had my CV professionally reviewed, did the whole “networking” thing, called recruiters directly, attended career fairs, got help with cover letters etc.

Every job I’m qualified for gets hundreds of applications. I don’t think my application even gets read 90% of the time and I’m just rejected automatically by a computer program. I am absolutely tired of putting in applications consistently, doing everything the “experts” say works and getting no results out of it. I do it because I don’t have any alternative but to keep trying and hoping that someday I might get lucky.

You’re still doing applications OP, which is better than doing nothing. If you want to win the lottery, you have to have a ticket. The only thing I can offer you is to tell you to not beat yourself up like I do to myself. You’re going to get a lot of rejections and get flat out ignored by the majority but once the pandemic is over chances are there will be an opportunity out there for you.

Aleece2020

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Like you OP, I have had a very demoralising run with applications.

I graduated March 2019 with a Masters Degree. I was very ill afterwards and ended up needing surgery in October of that year. Once I recovered, things had gone south because of COVID and a lot of my options were suddenly gone. I was due to start in two separate places in early 2020 only to have both programmes cancelled due to COVID.

To date, I have filled in hundreds of applications, I’m estimating around 400 now. I have been through the whole process of self-doubt and can safely say that I have experienced a complete and total collapse of my self-esteem and mental health. I have no confidence anymore. I feel like I’m being punished for having the audacity to remain alive.

Most of the time I don’t get a reply, but like you other times I get the same generic rejection of “we went with a more suitable candidate.” I have done everything; did volunteer work to get workplace skills, had my CV professionally reviewed, did the whole “networking” thing, called recruiters directly, attended career fairs, got help with cover letters etc.

Every job I’m qualified for gets hundreds of applications. I don’t think my application even gets read 90% of the time and I’m just rejected automatically by a computer program. I am absolutely tired of putting in applications consistently, doing everything the “experts” say works and getting no results out of it. I do it because I don’t have any alternative but to keep trying and hoping that someday I might get lucky.

You’re still doing applications OP, which is better than doing nothing. If you want to win the lottery, you have to have a ticket. The only thing I can offer you is to tell you to not beat yourself up like I do to myself. You’re going to get a lot of rejections and get flat out ignored by the majority but once the pandemic is over chances are there will be an opportunity out there for you.

Two people I know have changed jobs during the lockdown, both in IT related jobs. Personally, I've never been busier and my colleagues would say the same. IT in general is booming and loads of places are hiring. Don't demoralise the OP further by saying "once the pandemic is over".

Also, I would say applying for 400 applications sounds like you are using the shotgun approach. Sending your generic CV and generic Cover letter. You will never get a job that way.

Aleece2020

Aleece2020 wrote: »

............
I graduated March 2019 with a Masters Degree.......................

May I ask what the degree is in?

Mrs OBumble

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Two people I know have changed jobs during the lockdown, both in IT related jobs. Personally, I've never been busier and my colleagues would say the same. IT in general is booming and loads of places are hiring. Don't demoralise the OP further by saying "once the pandemic is over".

However hardly anyone is going to hire at entry level at the moment, cos those people are too hard to supervise remotely.

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

However hardly anyone is going to hire at entry level at the moment, cos those people are too hard to supervise remotely.

The OP has two years experience. they are no doubt well able for many roles that are not at entry level.

Jim2007

Deleted User wrote: »

Two people I know have changed jobs during the lockdown, both in IT related jobs. Personally, I've never been busier and my colleagues would say the same.

But you and your colleagues are not actively looking for a job right now....


I'm more or less retired now, but because of the way Swiss social welfare contributions are calculated I need to continue to generate some income each year until I reach the official retirement age in 12 years time, so I keep an eye on the jobs sites for a likely gig now and again.


At the beginning of October last, there was about 3.5k IT jobs listed for Switzerland on Jobserve. After keying in my skill set I was down to maybe 300 jobs, after weeding out all the multi postings over the various agencies that number was down to less that a hundred jobs. Of that there were 16 that looked like a seriously good match. I ended up doing 5 interviews in the end and not one panned out. Not because they went with other candidates, but because all five companies decided to hold off until they see how the next six months or so goes.


Now I've already done my gig for this year, but if I was struggling right now I doubt I'd land something for the rest of this year or even early next year.


It seems to me that the people telling us that it's booming and there are plenty of jobs etc... are people not actually seeking a job right now and their experience is of a different time and place.



I think right now there are very few companies genuinely committed to recruiting staff right now. And the market is to some extend distorted by the multi postings from the agencies.


I had one agent call me last week and spent nearly half an hour of the phone for no reason other than she lives alone, working from home and was looking for someone to talk to!

Aleece2020

Augeo wrote: »

May I ask what the degree is in?

International Law.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Two people I know have changed jobs during the lockdown, both in IT related jobs. Personally, I've never been busier and my colleagues would say the same. IT in general is booming and loads of places are hiring. Don't demoralise the OP further by saying "once the pandemic is over".

Also, I would say applying for 400 applications sounds like you are using the shotgun approach. Sending your generic CV and generic Cover letter. You will never get a job that way.

I’m not in IT, so I don’t know how well it’s doing. All I can say is that things have slowed down because of the pandemic in general.

I am not using the shotgun approach. I write a fresh cover letter and tailor my CV to match the job description. I’ve got templates yes; but I never send out the exact same CV and letter every single time. I mention the company by name, talk about what I know about them, how I can provide what they need, how I match the job description etc.

In addition to this, I usually have to answer specific questions on online application forms so obviously those all have to be customised.

I don’t know what it is that I’m doing wrong and nobody will give me feedback beyond “we picked someone else” even when I ask for more feedback.

Mrs OBumble

Aleece2020 wrote: »

I
I don’t know what it is that I’m doing wrong and nobody will give me feedback beyond “we picked someone else” even when I ask for more feedback.

You likely aren't doing anything wrong.

It's just a particularly horrible time to be jobhunting if you're a graduate.

But you and your colleagues are not actively looking for a job right now....

Me and my colleagues. No, not to my knowledge, but as I said, two friends of mine were and got jobs.

dpforce

As some people already said - it's a bad time for job hunting. Especially if you've got no experience. Our place recently hired entry level quality assurance person. More than 100 CVs received, just 15 were invited to do some online tests and only 4 made to the interview stage.
My advice - don't give up.

Jim2007

Had an agent ring me up yesterday and as I was waiting for a bus I let her ramble on....

She is working from home, lives alone with her cat - Billy-Bob! That was the kind of conversation it was - she needed someone to talk to!

In any case she told me that she only had two jobs on her list for which her company was the sole agent, everything else was with multiple agencies, which is what I suspected in any case.

Jim2007

Jim2007 wrote: »

Had an agent ring me up yesterday and as I was waiting for a bus I let her ramble on....

She is working from home, lives alone with her cat - Billy-Bob! That was the kind of conversation it was - she needed someone to talk to!

In any case she told me that she only had two jobs on her list for which her company was the sole agent, everything else was with multiple agencies, which is what I suspected in any case.

So thats two recruiters who rang you because they were looking for someone to talk to? You mentioned another one last week.

You seem to be a magnet for lonely recruiters...

I work in IT Security and get about one email a day regarding roles that are open - one which may be of interest to the OP. Details sent via PM.

OMM 0000

Ambassador9 wrote: »

I work in IT on a contract basis for one of the US multinationals. I've been told that there is 90% chance that the contract will expire and will not be renewed in the next 3 months.

I work in an entry level IT admin/devops/analyst role for over 2 years. I had my CV reviewed and approved by hiring manager (I got help but I'd like to leave it at that not to compromise myself). So far I've applied for 30 jobs.

I've been rejected for an internship by a major multinational (lol) with 2 years of professional experience. Didn't even get an interview, that was a punch in the gut.

In positions that I'm 100% confident that I'm qualified for I get the usual generic response "While you are highly skilled, we have decided to move on with a different candidate"

Vast majority of the time I wouldn't even get a response. Now I feel like I'm an impostor and got my job purely by luck. I have also lost motivation once I've seen that all jobs get 100+ applications. I think I've been living a delusional life and now realising that you need 5 years of experience to even be considered for a role that pays €30k. Looks like I'll be going on the dole soon.

Your CV was reviewed, but what about your cover letter?

You can get or lose an interview based on your cover letter only.

Your cover letter needs to be tailored for each job.

PM me an example one you sent and I'll give you feedback.

Ambassador9

fergald wrote: »

Keep trying, their is a huge demand for IT staff, just bad timing with covid. Things will improve soon, the only thing i would say is keep doing courses, cross train in as many areas as you can and then you will never be out of work.

There are a lot of jobs in areas such as IT support. I am very well qualified with a few relevant certifications so I don't know if there is much else that I can do apart from having more years of experience. There are many jobs advertised but they all get mobbed by 100+ applications so to even have your application viewed is like winning the lottery. When you apply on Indeed, you can see whether the employer viewed your application or not and in more than half of the cases it's "Pending employer review" forever.

Deleted User wrote: »

Applying for 30+ jobs is demoralising so I suggest you adjust your tactics.

Aim instead for 2-3 a week, but really go to town on the applications. Customise your CV and cover letter with the role in mind. So when the job spec says "Experience with blah a plus", in your cover letter include, "I recently finished a project involving blah".

If you don't get a response after 2 days follow up with them: "I wish to draw your attention to my application for the role of Blah Specialist".

I once nearly missed out on a contract because the person who dealt with them went on maternity leave and forgot to redirect the emails. I've also dealt with numerous HR/Recruitment who were shockingly bad at getting back to people.

Thanks, you're right. It's just been demoralising tailoring your CV and cover letter for a couple of hours only to get a generic response the next day or no response at all even though you know that you can do the job and not "chancing" by applying there.

Deleted User wrote: »

Two people I know have changed jobs during the lockdown, both in IT related jobs. Personally, I've never been busier and my colleagues would say the same. IT in general is booming and loads of places are hiring. Don't demoralise the OP further by saying "once the pandemic is over".

Also, I would say applying for 400 applications sounds like you are using the shotgun approach. Sending your generic CV and generic Cover letter. You will never get a job that way.

I agree, there are lots of jobs but also they get overwhelmed with applications so the chance that your CV will even be viewed is like winning a lottery.

Ambassador9

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Your CV was reviewed, but what about your cover letter?

You can get or lose an interview based on your cover letter only.

Your cover letter needs to be tailored for each job.

PM me an example one you sent and I'll give you feedback.

I usually don't send a cover letter. When I applied to Google, there was a message along the lines of "We don't need your cover letter, we believe that you CV speaks for itself."

OMM 0000

Ambassador9 wrote: »

I usually don't send a cover letter.

That's your problem.

If a company is receiving 50 applications, they need a way to get rid of some of them, so an easy filter is the people who couldn't be bothered writing a cover letter.

Your cover letter is as important as your CV. It enables you to sell yourself in a few sentences and get the recruiters attention.

Don't listen to Google's advice, their hiring practices are totally weird.

OMM 0000

Btw, reapply for all jobs but include a tailored cover letter for each one. Sell yourself.

Mrs OBumble

Ambassador9 wrote: »

I usually don't send a cover letter. When I applied to Google, there was a message along the lines of "We don't need your cover letter, we believe that you CV speaks for itself."

Do whatever a company says, if they give specific directions.

But if they don't specify, send a cover letter and CV.

Assume that both your CV and cover letter will be read by computers long before they are read by humans.

My employer announced 4 new roles today including a junior position with 2+ years experience.

PM me for details anyone interested.