I can't even get an interview... NEW TWIST Post #107 !!!!

[SLWyandotte]

put in your applications, and get contact information. every day or 2 call about your app. you badger them long enough many places will give you an interview just because you are so persistent.

 

[SunnyD]

Quote:
Chikky is right on! I retired recently and now live near several small communities in SW Georgia and the locals tell me "you have to know somebody to get in!" Well... it actually went something like this:

 

[welsummerchicks]

Oh it may be like that in a few companies but it's not like that everywhere. I've hopped into companies where I didn't know a soul.

That said, it really does not hurt to be able to say, 'Jim Smith, your vice president, encouraged me to call HR. I've worked with him before and he thought I'd fit in very well. He's one of my references. I'd like to schedule an interview for the Office manager job in the paper as B10A5 - would Monday work out?'

Lockedhearts. you may know how to do excel spreadsheets, but you didn't list it on your qualifications in your post to us. See what I mean? Treat BYC as part of your networking. Why not? I talk to recruiters regularly. I'm just as likely to find you a job as a newspaper ad is.

And I would never, ever even breathe a word of that 'white and 48' sentiment anywhere on the internet, it is very likely to come back to haunt you. Potential employers regularly go out and search the internet for comments made by potential hires - that kind of thing could deep six an employment opportunity. I know a gal who was overheard making a comment about 'trashy little minority owned businesses', it lost her a job opportunity.

Take that unhappy thought and turn it into something positive. You're 48 and have over two decades of invaluable experience. You know how to get everyone working as a team, and how to play on a team. You know a good company when you see one, and you are loyal - you stayed at one place ten years. You're a good employee with many assets. Older employees have people skill, business knowledge, and have worked in different environments. Younger folks just don't have that. Be confident in what you have to offer and it will shine through in your contacts with everyone.

I'd also recommend a communications class. Sometimes training companies offer these for free. There are all sorts of little tricks out there for putting interviewers at ease and showing them how likeable and competent you are. Things as simple as crossing your legs the same way the interviewer is, such little things say to us subconsciously, 'I'm a team player'.

Too, for an office job, I'd be prepared with a VERY neat folder of clean, unwrinkled samples of my work. Did you do a P&L spread sheet? Print a sample of your work. Anything that is relevant to the job you're applying for. 'This was a great project, I enjoyed it, and here's another sample, with a cube'.

Also, there is nothing wrong with offering to come in as a volunteer. People are doing this more and more. 'I would love to have a chance to prove how I can contribute here. I would even do an unpaid internship to get into a company of this calibre'.

I read that one person said to dress for the job. Well, what is appropriate entirely depends on the job. For a machine shop or factory, yes, I would come dressed for the job. I would show them I know what to wear in a machine shop - nothing dangly or unsafe, and for some of those jobs where having one's own tools is an advantage, I'd bring that along. I might not always bring them in with me, but I'd be willing to trot them out especially if it would make a difference. I'd make darn sure the tools were organized and in good repair.

However....I would dress in such a way that the interviewer knew I wasn't going to be a 'line guy' forever. I'd dress just a little bit toward what a manager might wear, just a bit. In other words, it does not hurt to just give a little hint that you're capable of being a manager - some day. Most companies want to hire people they can promote some day.

But for an office, I would never, ever show up in business casual-day-to-day clothing 'appropriate for the job'. Nevah.

It's a suit, a dark blue or dark grey suit, pale cream or white blouse. For a lady, it's skirt, jacket, blouse. Conservative, neat and feminine without being revealing. Very plain. If it's an advertising agency or art studio, throw in a little dash of color, but otherwise keep it conservative and quiet. Wear a conservative heel and subtle hose.

Jewelry is always fine to wear to an office job interview. But make it needs to be 'big girl jewelry' - very understated, small and classic. Nothing 'dangly, big or showy'. Small pearl stud earings, a very small pearl necklace, a nice small lady's type watch.

Lockedhearts, I hate to say it, but if it would help you, it would be worth it and I think it will help you to say so. You're showing an awfully negative tone any interviewer would pick up on. And I for one would be saying in an interview, 'You've been off for two years and you haven't taken advantage of that to pick up one single new skill? Is this a person I want to hire?'

While we can all understand that there are many demands on our time, the fact is that the employment market is a horse race, and you have to outrun the other candidates. That means you have to be a go-getter, independent, seek out training opportunities.

If someone had lost their job and could say, 'But BOY did I make that time work for me, having this time has been one of the best things that ever happened to me. Here's an example of the advanced spread sheet skills I learned. I picked this up off a user's forum on the internet! And look at this - I learned to do this from reading 'The Advanced Excel User's Guide'. I was thinking a company like yours probably uses running totals like this. And I know in most positions I must use dozens of different pieces of software, and be able to use them very independently. This proves I can do that'.

If someone takes an interest in my business, I am interested in them. 'I was interested in learning about your product, so I did a little research. I was surprised to find you're the only company in the US who makes this valve, and how highly engineered they are'.

'We don't have any money for a class' - yes, neither does anyone else, so be creative. How much would it cost you to go to the library, and take out a book on how to do some more advanced formulas and totals on Excel spread sheets? It would cost virtually nothing and many books have very good step by step directions.

Not only that, but I've picked up tons of free information by going to free product demonstrations and user group meetings. Between that and books at the library a person can pick up almost any skill they want. There is SO much free stuff on the internet it isn't even funny. There's tons of information out there - all free for the taking.

You can also pick up very inexpensive study guides at book stores. There is a study guide for almost every test in the world - medical billing, everything. These guides give you an awfully good idea of what is needed for that skill.

And quite frankly, when I haven't had enough money to buy a book I needed at the book store, I have no problem settling down in a chair at the store and reading it. No problem at all. I even bring a pen and notebook and take notes. Frankly, even community libraries have so much recently published stuff in them that one hardly needs to buy a book. With that and the interlibrary loan program, education need not be expensive.

Another source is national organizations. For example, joining a Lean Production organization for a year can open the door to tons of information.

Consider joining local organizations too, especially women in business organizations. You may have a Toastmaster's club - and never turn your nose up at church organizations when it comes to networking for jobs. You'd be amazed how many people get jobs through church acquaintances.

One of my 'white and 48' friends made a very strong point of joining a minorities in business local organization. Guess what? She got a job from a contact in the organization. She met veterans, women and minority business owners who owned multi million dollar businesses in her area that she never knew existed.

To boot, many training companies are offering free classes to people who are unemployed, plus the government has a number of grants and there are interesting itemizations and tax breaks you can research for retraining costs.

There is just so much out there, just waiting for you to grab ahold of it.

I have a very detailed and extremely useful course I took from an outsourcing company a few years ago, and I'd be happy to make a copy of all the course materials and send it to you if you pm.

 

[lockedhearts]

Ok, so the two most recent positions I applied for were a Part-Time Clerk Position with our local Library. The other was at a Hardware Store in town, more in line with my Industrial Supplies/Fasteners background, they offered Full-Time and Part-Time.

I got in touch with the Assistant Manager at the Library, someone else was hired, I was told it was a "Board" decision, I asked if there was someone on the "Board" I could speak with, I was told "No" . At this point I can only assume that they already had someone in mind and that the "Board" is the Board Of Commissioners.

I called the Hardware Store, spoke with the person in charge of interviews. He told me I was not in the pile to be called for an interview, I asked why. I was told that they had over 140 people apply and they were looking at people that were Master Gardeners first. Well Ok, but you did not advertise this as a position for your Gardening Area....... I explained to him that I have over 20 years experience in Fasteners, Cutting Tools and Industrial Supplies, along with over 30 years experience with animals (they also sell various animal feeds and supplies)
I was told " We will keep your application on file"


So the real jest of the issues are, the economy is still poor, at least in my area and they are more people than there are jobs available.

 

[desertdarlene]

I've worked in public libraries for 20 years and a lot of libraries are cutting back, big time, and laying a lot of people off. I don't know what it's like in your town. But, much of the time, I think they do have a specific person in mind when they do these panel interviews. Most cities/counties have union members that get priority over anyone else, including experienced hourly workers in that department. They have to take a qualified person who is already "permanent" with the local government before they can consider someone else. The only exception would be an hourly worker that is outstanding and goes above and beyond their job duties. I think it's part of their MOU between the government and the union.

The board is probably the hiring board who determines who they're going to interview and who they're not. They do everything in panels when they hire people.

A lot of places nowadays are hiring the most experienced person who will work for the least amount of money.

 

[GarlicEater]

Working in a hardware store would uh, kick butt.

I've been considering finding and saving up fasteners etc and having a sort of roaming hardware store, go to various swap meets and sell. I've seen a guy do this and he'd do $1000 in a weekend and no Ebay etc required. Another guy does the same sort of thing but restricts it to electronics bench tools and soldering equipment. I always buy something from him if he has anything at all I can use.

 

[WriterofWords]

The library probably had the person they wanted but had to advertise the position. That is extremely common.

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
working in a hardware store would be a very bad idea for me

It would be like working in a feed, pet , or book store for me.

I would blow my whole pay check there every week

 

[muddyhorse]

I do work in a book store, before that a vet. as my hubby said, "at least stray books don't eat"

 

[rufus]

I wish you luck. So many jobs are now being done overseas, it is hard to find work here. Computer programing, industrial design, data processing and telemarketing are all now done cheaper in India or the Philippines. Even my X rays are now being read in India. They have knowledge of the English language and they work cheaper.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if those satellites went on the fritz or fell from the sky.

Manufacturing is dead in this country. Everything is now done in China.

Jobs that cannot be exported are in transportation, construction work, government jobs and the military. So many of those jobs are tied up by the unions.

All sales jobs in my area now require a knowledge of Spanish, even McDonalds.

I still think you would do better running your own little business and keeping your own books. Find something to sell or do at a park and swap situation.

Good luck,

Rufus