is the job market that bad?

[Dear Summer]

I've been looking for a job since January and shot off resumes on a nightly basis to job openings. I have not received a single call for an invitation to interview. I've always thoughts that my resume was not bad and I have had good luck in the past getting calls. I've been changing my resume over and over and I'm wondering if I made it worse from looking at it so much.
anyone else having similar bad luck?

 

[Platypus]

What are your skills?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Yes

 

[Dear Summer]

What are your skills?

nothing too technical. I've been more on the functional side but I have an engineering master's degree.

 

[Platypus]

nothing too technical. I've been more on the functional side but I have an engineering master's degree.

What kind of jobs are you applying for?

You have to remember that you're now competing with a shitload of people who probably are way more technical than you are and don't come with a high price tag associated (your master's degree) with them.

 

[Ns1]

how bad the job market is is inversely related to how many people you know

 

[Matthiasa]

Yes it is.

 

[child of wonder]

The market overall is still pretty bad. It depends on what your skills are and what kind of jobs you're applying for.

Virtualization is hot right now and since I'm a VCP I had 2 offers within 5 weeks of being laid off. For others, it's a lot harder out there right now.

 

[tk149]

Unemployment is still above 10%, and you're now competing with the graduating Class of 2010 who are cheaper and more malleable than you are.

Good luck

 

[JEDI]

I've been looking for a job since January and shot off resumes on a nightly basis to job openings. I have not received a single call for an invitation to interview. I've always thoughts that my resume was not bad and I have had good luck in the past getting calls. I've been changing my resume over and over and I'm wondering if I made it worse from looking at it so much.
anyone else having similar bad luck?

havent noticed.

contract ends in 2012

company have to declare bankrupcy in order for me to be unemployed/unpaid b4 then

 

[RaistlinZ]

If you're just sending out resumes you stand no chance. You need to network to find a job.

 

[ChaoZ]

It especially sucks when jobs you apply for turn out to be spam.

 

[pontifex]

the job market sucks here in central pa, at least for IT field. Generally I can't even find jobs to apply to and the jobs I do apply to rarely ever call me.

The only job that actually wanted to hire me is this shitty one i have now. I got laid off December 23rd 2008. Was on unemployment for 2 months before interviewing for this job. they called the next day to hire me. they pretty much take anyone off the street, it seems. Been looking since January 2009 and if I didn't take this job, I'd still be looking.

 

[BoomerD]

Officially, we have about 20% unemployment rate in my county...unofficial rate is closer to 30% according to the EDD.

Last year, after I graduated from the community college with 3 degrees in business admin, accounting, and bookkeeping, it took me nearly 6 months to find 2 part-time temporary (tax season) jobs. Things here have only gotten worse since then...Fewer and fewer jobs to even apply for, plus the competition is fierce.

 

[Cattlegod]

you are doing it wrong.

you need to network. +1 to Ns1's point.

 

[Anonemous]

Need to network, go to career fairs, industry fairs in your field. Get your name out there and get contacts to the companies you are interested in. This includes temp agencies. Look into doing contractor work.

 

[rcpratt]

It's amazing how many kids in my graduating class (NukeE) are struggling to find jobs as well. Pretty fortunate that I will be able to work where I interned for the last two years.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Networking = #1. I just got a buddy of mine in with my company even though his qualifications were not in line with what the posted job was. He applied and the hiring manager (who is a good friend of mine) said he was about to throw his resume out because he didn't fit. I told him to give him a chance. He did, and after three rounds of interviews, just called me to tell me he got the job.

Granted, I didn't put him in the position without him working at all to get it, but knowing someone to put your resume on the top of the pile, so to speak, goes a LONG way.

 

[CraigRT]

Gotta be honest, I totally agree with the networking thing.

I only got one job by just sending in a resume, and it wasn't a great job... (retail, when i was younger) but I also knew (from going often) the ppl in that particular store so that probably also helped me get the job.

I got my current job through a friend of the family.. She knew I was out of work and offered to take my resume and almost guaranteed me an interview.. Landed it, no problem.

 

[Bateluer]

Networking = #1. I just got a buddy of mine in with my company even though his qualifications were not in line with what the posted job was. He applied and the hiring manager (who is a good friend of mine) said he was about to throw his resume out because he didn't fit. I told him to give him a chance. He did, and after three rounds of interviews, just called me to tell me he got the job.

Granted, I didn't put him in the position without him working at all to get it, but knowing someone to put your resume on the top of the pile, so to speak, goes a LONG way.

Definitely, networking is how I got my current job. A good friend of mine was able to hand my resume directly to the hiring managers, went through two interviews and got a phone call with an offer.

You have to network and speak with people, let your friends know you're searching for a job, speak with people at job fairs, etc. Be prepared to take a lower paying position or a slightly different position than what you wanted. These jobs get your foot in the door, let you meet more people, and increase your knowledge and experience as well.

 

[CRXican]

Yes it is. LOL at "since January"

Took me from April 2009 until March 2010 to find a job. Wasn't looking the entire time but when I did, yikes, not many bites.

 

[JMapleton]

OP initial post is not very useful.

You have to list, what is your profession. Where you are located. And what jobs you are applying for.

To just say, "I cannot get a job" is not accurate. You can get a job, somewhere, doing something.

 

[Imp]

Took me more than 9 months to get a job in my field after school, and I'm still underemployed. Applied for a Masters though, might screw me if it means I'm "too expensive".

 

[KillerCharlie]

I'm so glad I didn't get a masters degree in engineering. All of my classmates that did can't get jobs - I got in while the market was good.

 

[Lanyap]

Network, like the others said. Get some business cards at vistaprint.com. Keep the card simple with your contact info on it and give it out when you network. According to the career counceling outfit i'm working with about 80% of the people who gets jobs these days is through networking and not posting on job boards or sending out resumes. There are currently 5.5 people for every job vacancy and 250 people who are as qualified as you for each vacancy. Good luck.