How hard is it to find a job???
Discussion
Just wanted to ask peoples oppinions how hard it is to find a job based on the current recession etc and any advice on what else to do and where to look etc.
To cut a long story short, I've been trying to help a friend find a job for the past few months and hes not had much luck. We're not talking about highly skilled, high paying jobs, but just something to pay the bills. Something along the lines of call centre, lower level admin jobs, estate agents, sales jobs etc. Just something that will net about 15k a year, working about 9-5 normal working week.
He's 23 and left school after his GCSE's and occupied himself with similar jobs to what he is applying for now and work experience. Past work ranges from labouring on building sites, call centres, before working for an events company down in London as an events manager for 3 years. Now hes moved back upto Newcastle. He does not have a University education or any A-levels.
His CV clearly highlights his past jobs and details his responsibilities and skills gained etc. He has a number of references from managers from the previous jobs.
He's registered with quite a few job agencies but has only had a handful of interviews with limited responses.
He's even directly applied for positions advertised and gone around handing in CVs to different places.
Is it just a matter of too many people applying for too few jobs or should it really not be this difficult to find a job. He stands out as a confident and charismatic individual who should interview well, and in my oppinion should stand out above some of the individuals who occupy similar jobs. I have a 17 year old cousin who is pretty dim and slow, still at school and quite shy who got picked for a call centre job for the AA before my friend which just doesn't make sense. Will employers look at a 23 year old applying for lower end jobs negatively.
Thanx for any advice.
To cut a long story short, I've been trying to help a friend find a job for the past few months and hes not had much luck. We're not talking about highly skilled, high paying jobs, but just something to pay the bills. Something along the lines of call centre, lower level admin jobs, estate agents, sales jobs etc. Just something that will net about 15k a year, working about 9-5 normal working week.
He's 23 and left school after his GCSE's and occupied himself with similar jobs to what he is applying for now and work experience. Past work ranges from labouring on building sites, call centres, before working for an events company down in London as an events manager for 3 years. Now hes moved back upto Newcastle. He does not have a University education or any A-levels.
His CV clearly highlights his past jobs and details his responsibilities and skills gained etc. He has a number of references from managers from the previous jobs.
He's registered with quite a few job agencies but has only had a handful of interviews with limited responses.
He's even directly applied for positions advertised and gone around handing in CVs to different places.
Is it just a matter of too many people applying for too few jobs or should it really not be this difficult to find a job. He stands out as a confident and charismatic individual who should interview well, and in my oppinion should stand out above some of the individuals who occupy similar jobs. I have a 17 year old cousin who is pretty dim and slow, still at school and quite shy who got picked for a call centre job for the AA before my friend which just doesn't make sense. Will employers look at a 23 year old applying for lower end jobs negatively.
Thanx for any advice.
Edited by ItsTony on Thursday 5th February 13:21
i am a firm believer that if you are desperate enough for a job you can get one within a week. this is based on personal experience as a youth, a student, and when i needed a second job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
ItsTony said:
Will employers look at a 23 year old applying for lower end jobs negatively.
It might simply highlight a lack of ambition or drive?At 23, with only A-Levels, I walked into a senior marketing job with a salary in the high-20k region. Does he not want to progress his career?
shirt said:
i am a firm believer that if you are desperate enough for a job you can get one within a week. this is based on personal experience as a youth, a student, and when i needed a second job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
I agree. And don't stop when you get the 10th rejection the 11th interview could be the job you need / want. its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
I think it's a case of CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLE MAN.
List all the companies who trade in the right industries within 40 miles or 1 hour of him, by using yellow pages or applegate and contact them direct, via phone and email, and follow the emails up. He should be talking to 4 companies an hour. 40 companies a day.
Plus a networking idea : Get all his friends to phone all thier friends and get his CV out to all them and get all them to email his CV to all thier business contacts.
List all the companies who trade in the right industries within 40 miles or 1 hour of him, by using yellow pages or applegate and contact them direct, via phone and email, and follow the emails up. He should be talking to 4 companies an hour. 40 companies a day.
Plus a networking idea : Get all his friends to phone all thier friends and get his CV out to all them and get all them to email his CV to all thier business contacts.
Mr POD said:
I think it's a case of CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLE MAN.
List all the companies who trade in the right industries within 40 miles or 1 hour of him, by using yellow pages or applegate and contact them direct, via phone and email, and follow the emails up. He should be talking to 4 companies an hour. 40 companies a day.
Plus a networking idea : Get all his friends to phone all thier friends and get his CV out to all them and get all them to email his CV to all thier business contacts.
List all the companies who trade in the right industries within 40 miles or 1 hour of him, by using yellow pages or applegate and contact them direct, via phone and email, and follow the emails up. He should be talking to 4 companies an hour. 40 companies a day.
Plus a networking idea : Get all his friends to phone all thier friends and get his CV out to all them and get all them to email his CV to all thier business contacts.
If he wants a job badly enough he will be doing the above. I would be if I <God forbid> lost my job.BoRED S2upid said:
shirt said:
i am a firm believer that if you are desperate enough for a job you can get one within a week. this is based on personal experience as a youth, a student, and when i needed a second job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
I agree. And don't stop when you get the 10th rejection the 11th interview could be the job you need / want. its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
My local agencies have 30 people registered for every job. Im a professional and was made redundant in October... Im registered with 10+ agencies and spend a good 6 hours a day chasing my tail with ANY new ads / opps. My industry has done nothing but made redundancies since the end of last year & there are next to no jobs available. The companies that are advertising are holding multiple stages of interviews - im now on to the 5th stage with one company... its taking forever.
I realise its very industry dependent but you really have lost touch with reality if you think you can walk in to a job in less than a week currently.
Steve
Dave200 said:
ItsTony said:
Will employers look at a 23 year old applying for lower end jobs negatively.
It might simply highlight a lack of ambition or drive?At 23, with only A-Levels, I walked into a senior marketing job with a salary in the high-20k region. Does he not want to progress his career?
ItsTony said:
We're not talking about highly skilled, high paying jobs, but just something to pay the bills. Something along the lines of call centre, lower level admin jobs, estate agents, sales jobs etc.
you and he need to change your mindset and also think about who are recruiting - EA's and sales are on their arseMerritt said:
BoRED S2upid said:
shirt said:
i am a firm believer that if you are desperate enough for a job you can get one within a week. this is based on personal experience as a youth, a student, and when i needed a second job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
I agree. And don't stop when you get the 10th rejection the 11th interview could be the job you need / want. its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
My local agencies have 30 people registered for every job. Im a professional and was made redundant in October... Im registered with 10+ agencies and spend a good 6 hours a day chasing my tail with ANY new ads / opps. My industry has done nothing but made redundancies since the end of last year & there are next to no jobs available. The companies that are advertising are holding multiple stages of interviews - im now on to the 5th stage with one company... its taking forever.
I realise its very industry dependent but you really have lost touch with reality if you think you can walk in to a job in less than a week currently.
Steve
job centre doesn't have anything that i'd consider as a career choice, but is full of things like order pickers/packers, bar/restaurant work, admin/telesales etc. pizza delivery even! things [and i aplogise if this upsets anyone] you can walk right into with nothing other than common sense and a personality.
i'm talking desperate as in can't pay the rent/mortgage or buy food. thankfully haven't been there since my student days, but if i did i would quickly swallow my pride to pay the bills.
sleep envy said:
ItsTony said:
We're not talking about highly skilled, high paying jobs, but just something to pay the bills. Something along the lines of call centre, lower level admin jobs, estate agents, sales jobs etc.
you and he need to change your mindset and also think about who are recruiting - EA's and sales are on their arseHe's kind of got the idea in his head the type of job he wants.
Thanx
MonkeyBusiness said:
Mr POD said:
I think it's a case of CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLE MAN.
List all the companies who trade in the right industries within 40 miles or 1 hour of him, by using yellow pages or applegate and contact them direct, via phone and email, and follow the emails up. He should be talking to 4 companies an hour. 40 companies a day.
Plus a networking idea : Get all his friends to phone all thier friends and get his CV out to all them and get all them to email his CV to all thier business contacts.
List all the companies who trade in the right industries within 40 miles or 1 hour of him, by using yellow pages or applegate and contact them direct, via phone and email, and follow the emails up. He should be talking to 4 companies an hour. 40 companies a day.
Plus a networking idea : Get all his friends to phone all thier friends and get his CV out to all them and get all them to email his CV to all thier business contacts.
If he wants a job badly enough he will be doing the above. I would be if I <God forbid> lost my job.Merritt said:
BoRED S2upid said:
shirt said:
i am a firm believer that if you are desperate enough for a job you can get one within a week. this is based on personal experience as a youth, a student, and when i needed a second job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
I agree. And don't stop when you get the 10th rejection the 11th interview could be the job you need / want. its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
My local agencies have 30 people registered for every job. Im a professional and was made redundant in October... Im registered with 10+ agencies and spend a good 6 hours a day chasing my tail with ANY new ads / opps. My industry has done nothing but made redundancies since the end of last year & there are next to no jobs available. The companies that are advertising are holding multiple stages of interviews - im now on to the 5th stage with one company... its taking forever.
I realise its very industry dependent but you really have lost touch with reality if you think you can walk in to a job in less than a week currently.
Steve
I spoke to one agent a week or so ago he got 400 CV for 1 low paid temp job in civil engineering.
A friend works in the travel industry they advertised for a shop based sales person for there branch in Glasgow 648 applications. It's tuff out there.
I think it's getting harder.
I was made redundant, my last day was Friday of last week and I'm finding it hard to find architectural work, found 1 job for technicians in the south east.
When I was made redundant in June I had 3 interviews and 2 job offers within a week.
Now going to start looking at short term contract work as there doesn't appear to be much full time work in my field.
I was made redundant, my last day was Friday of last week and I'm finding it hard to find architectural work, found 1 job for technicians in the south east.
When I was made redundant in June I had 3 interviews and 2 job offers within a week.
Now going to start looking at short term contract work as there doesn't appear to be much full time work in my field.
ItsTony said:
sleep envy said:
ItsTony said:
We're not talking about highly skilled, high paying jobs, but just something to pay the bills. Something along the lines of call centre, lower level admin jobs, estate agents, sales jobs etc.
you and he need to change your mindset and also think about who are recruiting - EA's and sales are on their arseHe's kind of got the idea in his head the type of job he wants.
Thanx
We don't even know the guy, only very brief details you have posted. If he wants a job that badly he will do everything in his power to find one, which clearly he isn't, imho. (Such as trying different industries, being resourceful, etc).
The days of sticking your CV in to a few job agencies and waiting is over. Employers aren't looking for part time people to cover the huge amount of work around *shock horror!*... and won't put up with paying the agency fees for a full time long term employee.
Asking for job advice on an internet forum on behalf of someone else is similiar to taking a driving lesson on behalf of someone else!
Merritt said:
BoRED S2upid said:
shirt said:
i am a firm believer that if you are desperate enough for a job you can get one within a week. this is based on personal experience as a youth, a student, and when i needed a second job.
its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
I agree. And don't stop when you get the 10th rejection the 11th interview could be the job you need / want. its not hard at all. go to job centre, print off a couple or dozen descriptions you're interested in, call employer direct with application. 80% of the time you can secure an interview for low end jobs over the phone.
an employer won't look negatively on anyone who is motivated with an aptitude for the job.
My local agencies have 30 people registered for every job. Im a professional and was made redundant in October... Im registered with 10+ agencies and spend a good 6 hours a day chasing my tail with ANY new ads / opps. My industry has done nothing but made redundancies since the end of last year & there are next to no jobs available. The companies that are advertising are holding multiple stages of interviews - im now on to the 5th stage with one company... its taking forever.
I realise its very industry dependent but you really have lost touch with reality if you think you can walk in to a job in less than a week currently.
Steve
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