Anyone hate job hunting as much as I do?
 

I finished my internship about four weeks ago, and I'm now looking for "real work." I've had about one interview per week, with companies as well as with a recruitment firm. No luck yet, though I'm tutoring a kid. However, he's my only student right now.

The week I quit United I had 3 interviews lined up. Out of the 3, I got 2 offers which I declined because the job looked good on paper, but I just wasn't feeling it.

I've had about 2 interviews a week since then, one resulted in a call back, so we'll see.

I've submitted my resume to a bunch of companies yesterday, one of which I'm really hoping for, so I'm crossing my fingers for that too. I just wish Hawaiian and/or Aloha Airlines were hiring!

I am thisclose to picking up nights at the bar again. The money's just too good.

But yes, it has been a pain in the ass.

It took me close to a year to find a good fit. I think the market is extremely flooded, especially in my field. Plus with budget cuts and all, companies are taking their time hiring when they have the mentality that they can divide the work up amongst a bunch of different employees. I know it sounds redundant, but I think it is worth sticking it out until the "right" opportunity comes along. You'll know it when you see it.

Wow it's nice to feel like i'm not alone. I just finished up grad school in mid August and have been working to find the right job. While i've only been home a few weeks, i feel like i should have one, even if it's not the one i want.

I am trying to work in DC for the fed govt and am utilizing all the parental and parental friend contacts as much as possible. I myself applied to a bunch starting in May and just have not gotten any hits. Thankfully through my dad i hope to get a job with homeland and hopefully hear something from them next week. Plus the apps are not easy, i love answering like 5 free response questions about stuff giving specific examples.

I feel your pain. I loathe job hunting.

I went through a job hunt in a very difficult job market (I'm in technology and it was 2002 - enough said). It was a very painful experience. I found a few consulting gigs, but none of them was a good fit. But I kept at it, for three and a half years... and I just landed a job at a great company - I started this week! :D

My advice: Be patient, and be persistent. Don't be afraid to turn down a job offer if you think you'll be unhappy there. If you get an "ok" job offer, but it's not your ideal job, don't be afraid to accept the job, stay there for a while and see if it works out, and if it doesn't work out, start looking again.

Good luck. :)

It's nice to know there are others out there going through the tortures of job hunting. I recently graduated in August, Went on 11 Interviews last month, and no job offers yet, I had two interviews this week, so hopefully something will come up soon. I'm so sick of writing cover letters, and filling out applications!

Yes. I am sick also. Yet, I remember - many years ago ;) - when I first graduated from college, I had to work 2 part-time jobs just to make up FT hrs until I got "real " job. :(

Yes it sucks. Especially when you would like to do something in a different field than the one you've been in for 12 years.

I finally have a temp job but it took almost 2 months for that yo materialize.

Been there and done that. I got laid off in Oct 02 and was out of work until 4/03. I took a paycut to take the job I now have but have advanced quickly thru the pay scales (union)

But I feel ya about job hunting

It's the worst.

I quit my job at the end of 2000. Graduated in December 2001 into a really, really sucky job market. Temped from January 2002-June 2004, but towards the end of that time the assignments were few and far between, and I didn't get anything at all after June of that year. I was completely out of work until October 2004, when I got this job.

Have you checked with your greek alumni association? Pi Phi has a mentor program and I know two great girls who got jobs from contacts through that.

I don't like it at all but I have to do it. I HATE this job I'm currently at (and the whole family's rooting for me to stay in it) and I am not happy at all. Also looking for a job makes me sad, but it has to be done with the hopes that I will find a job that I will like, pays well and makes me happy. Hopefully that will be soon.

It's taken me five tries this year to find the job I actually can see myself at for a few years... not just 2 months like I've been averaging. I either found a job that was great and paid crappy or a job that was crappy but paid great. I'm lucky that I've found a happy medium now.

But yeah... job hunting sucks... I've been doing that for over a year.

I don't mind looking for jobs.

I don't mind getting the interviews.

What I do mind is trying to balance those interviews with my schedule. An interview feels like I'm putting on a Broadway show. Plus I have to think of ways to sneak out of work for them. Try working ridiculous hours and having 4 interviews a week.

This time of year is the heaviest for most firms I know. To handle that added burden, they also do more hiring now than usual so people should try and get out there as much as they can.

I've already turned down 2 offers because I'm not settling. I need this process to finish up.

-Rudey

I kind of hear you on that, although my work schedule probably wasn't as hectic as yours. Juggling interviews and work was a pain, and it seemed like when one schedule was clear, the other wasn't working.

Luckily it worked out well, and I got a job doing what I wanted to do. However, the whole process is a pain in the neck. The funny thing is that within 24 hours of getting this new job, I got another job offer. Luckily the other job would have been settling, and I'm where I wanted to be.

Yeah, it really blows scheduling night interviews, getting up at the crack of dawn when my brain isn't functioning to run to someone's office, skipping lunch for interviews, or just in general disappearing in the middle of the day to do it. The worst is when they want you to fly out on a ridiculously early flight after a long night at work. You're tired, nervous, and are questioning the color of your tie and they make you meet with person after person and then go have drinks or something. They have no concept of the fact that you're on the verge of collapse or the fact that you will tune out half of what they say and seem unresponsive.

I'd just like to point out that I am doing some research on a firm and when I looked it up, one of their associates is a graduate of Bob Jones University. I wish I had some ridiculous hookup to get me in there like Jerry Falwell Jr. here did.

-Rudey

That is funny - you wouldn't think in a million years that there was a Bob Jones connection anywhere, but there you go.

My biggest problem was explaining why some days of the week I'd dress normally, and some days I'd be in suit and tie. Eventually I just stepped up my every day dress to explain the days I was in interview attire.

Also, it seems like I had more understanding people with whom I was interviewing. One group kind of rushed me, but the place I'm currently working was great about the timeline for starting the job.

Yeah I say I'm going to religious services, charity functions, and dates. Sometimes I just leave my stuff in the closet and dress in the bathroom but I got caught 2 times so I stopped that.

-Rudey

Interviewing while working.. I think that is the most frustrating part of the process. Everyone always tells me it looks best to stay in your current position while trying to get a new job, but since I am so busy at work I just don't have the time to go on an interview in the middle of the day.

I work in the construction industry of all places.. wearing anything but jeans looks odd. THe last time I just wore the top with jeans and then changed into my suit pants somewhere on the way to the interview and had my jacket in the car. I have an interview actually this week and then a second round one with the position I really want in two weeks. Its just hard to have too many doctor's appointments/errands to run on extended lunch breaks after a while.

Anyone hate job hunting as much as I do?
 

With a fiery passion, deep within my soul.

I hate job hunting & am deathly afraid of it. Well, that's a tad dramatic but I can't stand it & I'm not looking forward to it when I move in January. I refuse to commute in this miserable California traffic so I'm going to have to suck it up & look for a new job. I definitely don't want to go back into teaching b/c I am just burned out. It takes a special person to handle special-ed & I have now learned that I don't have what it takes. :( I don't know what else I can do b/c I've been working at an elementary school for almost 8 years now (I started out as a tutor, then aide, then teacher). I used to do receptionist work during the summer breaks but I don't want to do that either. Nor do I want to do retail like I did in high school. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm scared b/c life is different now. I can't just sit on my ass & do nothing but the thought of having to go out & look for a new job is just scary.

Well the govt job that was pretty much mine is now gone b/c they reorganized and the woman lost the hours for it. Plus she's upset b/c she needed that extra person, whether it was me or not.

So now i'm utilizing plan B, which is talking to all the friends parents and parents friends who work for govt contractors. :P

Ah the joys of living in the DC metro area.

I think the hardest part is i've been out of grad school for two months so i feel like i should have a job. Course i know that there are people who i know who took months to find a job, but that's not me.

I totally feel the pain of a bad job and then the hunt for a new one. My first job out was just miserable and I did not have enough work to do except for annoying little tasks. Nothing to use my brain for. I'm shy, so I was petrified of job hunting. I felt like everything required all this fabulous experience that I didn't think I had. I eventually lucked out and got a great new job, I started two weeks ago. So far I'm loving it, learing a ton about the tradeshow industry (I'm in event planning). I sincerely wish everyone looking the best of luck. I totally feel your pain!!

Using a recruiter
 

Wow! Job hunting really sounds like a drag for you guys, especially for those of you that have had a bad time working with a recruiter!

Since I specialize in working with entry-level positions with recent college grads (within 5 years) with candidates with greek experience, call or email me your resume! Lets talk about some positions in your area, or at least where you fit in the job market. The last thing anyone needs is to get into a job that won't get you where you need to be in 2 to 5 years!

Especially if you are looking to get into hard markets, like Pharmaceutical Sales or the Non-Profit industry!

If sales, marketing, managemetn, non-profit, or event-planning interests you, contact me!

Thanks, and happy job hunting!