Longest time spent job hunting.

Longest time spent job hunting.

Author
Discussion

bobmcgod

Original Poster:

405 posts

193 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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Given my search for new employment is now in its 6th (and probably not final) year I thought I'd ask on here if anyone else has spent longer on searching for a job. It doesn't matter if this time was spent in work looking for another job or actually unemployed. I've been in my current job for 7 years and like I said I've spent 6 years trying to leave. How did you cope with endlessly applying for job after job after job. How was your experience with the companies you applied for, as most of the one's I've applied to haven't even acknowledged my existence.

Sharted

2,615 posts

142 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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6 years??

fk!

I've been looking for 9 days now and getting fed up with it.

At least I have the redundancy payment to tide me over, won't last 6 years though.

98elise

26,376 posts

160 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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6 years!!!!

Either you are not looking hard enough, or what you do is not in demand (so look at retraining).

My maximum was 3 months after taking redundancy. I wasn't looking propelty for the first month, then it was the run up to Christmas which is dead. The job I ended up getting was applied for in November, but inteviewed for in January.

I probably applied for 300 jobs in that period.

bobmcgod

Original Poster:

405 posts

193 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
quotequote all
There's easily been over a thousand applications sent out. But there are periods where I've had to take a break from it as it became too stressful tbh. I started back in education studying engineering 2 years ago but a degree is still 4 years away from me (some part time and some full time).

MitchT

15,788 posts

208 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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I've been trying to escape for about 14 years. In the early days I was rejected on account of not having a degree, or enough experience to negate not having a degree. Now it's even more complicated. As there's no progression path within my field in my current place of employment I haven't reached the level of seniority that I should have by this point my life, so my applications for those roles go straight in the bin. If I go for a junior role in an organization that will offer the relevant progression path I'm up against graduates and interns who are young, fresh and feisty, so those applications go in the bin too.

rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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It really needn't be that way if you approach it correctly. By correctly I mean you are qualified, experienced and motivated for the roles you are applying for. If you're looking to start from the bottom in a new industry, that should also be quite easy. One assumes you have tons of feedback too from that much job hunting, so you should be acutely aware of what is not working for you and thus you should be able to iron those out?

Are you getting to interview or being sifted out? If it's the latter, then your CV clearly needs honing. If it's the former, then your interview techniques could do with some coaching. Good luck!

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Thursday 9th October 2014
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rog007 said:
It really needn't be that way if you approach it correctly. By correctly I mean you are qualified, experienced and motivated for the roles you are applying for. If you're looking to start from the bottom in a new industry, that should also be quite easy. One assumes you have tons of feedback too from that much job hunting, so you should be acutely aware of what is not working for you and thus you should be able to iron those out?

Are you getting to interview or being sifted out? If it's the latter, then your CV clearly needs honing. If it's the former, then your interview techniques could do with some coaching. Good luck!
Agreed.

OP - I'm always happy to look over a CV and give constructive feedback. PM me.

h0b0

7,559 posts

195 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
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I have been looking for 6 years as well. The challenge for me is that I want to change industry. As a previous poster already said, if I apply for the qualified positions in immediately filtered out due to lack of industry experience. Industry specific experience isn't relavent to the position I'm applying for. If I go for the junior roles in filtered out for having too much experience. They want college graduates they can mold and not set in their ways old timers.

So, I'm rejected for having too much experience and not enough experience. Sometimes for the same role. No one is willing to take the risk of employing me because the pool of candidates is so huge there is little benefit.

spikeyhead

17,224 posts

196 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Isn't the definition of madness doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Find someone to fix your CV and work on your interview skills, but also realize that if you can't swim then you're never going to get the lifegaurd position on the next Baywatch remake.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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I'm always looking, so in the spirit of the thread, stick me down for 20 years.

I think that there's always an ongoing shift, I'm not in search of some nirvana type job, but when I was younger and single I had no problem in getting up at 4.30, driving for 4 hours to take a 2 hour meeting, onto another, one after lunch, drive home 12 hours later

Nowadays I like the flexibility of working closer to home, less stress, less politics

I'm sure that'll change again in another 10 years time

Du1point8

21,604 posts

191 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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spikeyhead said:
Isn't the definition of madness doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Find someone to fix your CV and work on your interview skills, but also realize that if you can't swim then you're never going to get the lifegaurd position on the next Baywatch remake.
Would it be advisable to suggest training courses too?

Rather than wait for the perfect job to appear... after all 6 years is a long time to waste.

SeanyD

3,372 posts

199 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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6 years? 20 years??? Something seriously not right there. I faced redundancy a while ago and had half a dozen offers in writing on the table to choose from. That was within a month, and without trying overly hard. Recommendations: 1) Get your CV reviewed by a few agencies, 2) Register and go and meet face to face all local agencies, 3) Use social media like LinkedIn and get the word out, get your profile updated and start actively networking.

bobmcgod

Original Poster:

405 posts

193 months

Monday 13th October 2014
quotequote all
My CV has been reviewed multiple times by people with experience in dealing with such things and it does get rejigged for each application. However each application does get saved so its getting to the point where this is no longer necessary.
Interview technique managed to get its legs stretched earlier this year and saw significant improvement. But only to second place.

I have sent of speculative CV's. Nothing.
I have contacted companies about work experience. Nothing.

Tbh my issues are currently:
Age (government funding is annoying).
Lack of experience.
Lack of qualifications (this is being rectified but won't be anywhere useful for about 4 years).

My current job also requires 4 weeks notice which seems to put off local recruitment agencies.

Just thought I'd explain that I have tried everything i know.

dave123456

1,846 posts

146 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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how do you come across in this process though? and be honest?

if the first thing you communicate, somehow, is.....

Age (government funding is annoying).
Lack of experience.
Lack of qualifications (this is being rectified but won't be anywhere useful for about 4 years).


otherwise negativity...

....then there's your problem.

I have recruited heavily over the last couple of years and if I sense a smidge of negativity or bullst at interview then it's a no go.

bobmcgod

Original Poster:

405 posts

193 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Is it not a bit harsh judging someone simply because of a slightly negative comment though? They could honestly just be having a bad day? (Or a bad 6 years?)

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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I've just finished a graduate scheme and of the two responses to perhaps six speculative CVs sent out, I secured offers with both - three weeks after deciding I wanted to move.

So, speculative CVs can work. In fact, one of the companies that made an offer commented that they viewed them extremely favourably. I sent a personalised email, with a covering letter and CV that were both well tailored. But - and this may be different to your approach? - I simply asked for the opportunity to meet for a chat to see how I might fit in.

That is, no specific vacancy existed, but I made clear it'd be great to meet relatively informally so they can gauge me and I can gauge the business. I think this approach often makes a business more receptive to a speculative CV, as there's no pressure to conform to a certain very specific role.

Maybe try that, OP?

SLCZ3

1,204 posts

204 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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The longest out of work looking for work was two years, the longest in work looking for another job has been 6 months.
To qualify that: I am a contractor and always looking for the next one.

dave123456

1,846 posts

146 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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bobmcgod said:
Is it not a bit harsh judging someone simply because of a slightly negative comment though? They could honestly just be having a bad day? (Or a bad 6 years?)
fair point. none of my business...