Posted on 04/18/2008 by Perpetual Hunter
Viewed: 81 times
I have been looking for another job at my same level since May 2007. I have a well-written resume and excellent job experiences. If I happen to see a job that fits the bill, I will make the effort to create my best cover letter, give my resume a once-over and make sure that there are no spelling errors and that I'm truly qualified.
I will then email or post the resume to the company's Human Resources. I wait patiently and follow directions by not making phone calls or inquiries.
Days, weeks, months, years go by and I never hear back from anyone. In the old days, there was at least a courtesy letter saying "we received it". I understand if some companies want to save the stamps, but it doesn't cost anything today to have an automatic email response!
I'm getting weirded out because I feel that my resume has so much of my private information (home, college, affiliates, phone, etc.) I don't want to keep sending it out --- yet I don't want to rot in the situation that I'm in.
Is it possible that Human Resource recruiters are just posting ads for the sake of showing to funders/the public that they are looking outside their circle? I've heard from friends that it is easier to move up in a company than bring someone new inside.
AND..... in my paranoia, I'm beginning to wonder if Human Resources is really the right group of people to be in charge of receiving resumes. How do they know to pick and selct who's right for the job? Shouldn't these resumes go directly to the person in charge of that area for them to review????
#1: What area are you looking for work in? HR? Sales? Management?
#2: What part of the country are you in?
#3: Are you targeting the private sector or Government?
Don't get discouraged, sometimes landing a GOOD job takes a lot of time. Have you ever considered having your resume professionally done by a resume writer? It might be worth the investment.
CK(04/18/2008)
There are a few things that come to mind. Looking for a job is a numbers game. The more you submit your resume to the more you will get an interview. Problem is that the ratio for resumes to interviews are low.
As to why no phone-calls, thank you cards/letters or emails - that takes time, time is money. They are probably swamped with resumes (hundreds!) and responding to eash and everyone takes time - time they probabaly don't have.
HR departments are the guardians of the emplyment gates just as receptionists are for the bosses. You must be able to by-pass them and get to the hiring authority - HR is not the hiring authority unless you are applying for an HR position.
Lastly, I would recommend that you read my book recommendations. In your case I would start with the two books "The Job Search Solution" and "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters." These books explain HOW to by-pass the guards if the relm and get to the one in charge.
Dumber than a Catbox full of sh*t(04/18/2008)
I, too share your concern that your resume info is out there in the world for identity theft. It is interesting to me that you bring up this point because I was recently thinking about it....
What I've learned from this site is that HR are the snakes in the grass of the company.
Perpetual Hunter(04/21/2008)
Thank you for your comments and advice. I am in a big city (New York) and focused in the arts. I will get the two books that were recommended and will float my resume to a writer friend.
By the way, one of the things that sparked me to post this comment is that I do not hear back from the companies; however, I end up getting put on their mailing list and find it terribly offensive.
The last organization that I applied for sent me an invitation to a private benefit dinner that cost $500 per person!!!
I had never received mail from this organization until I sent my resume.
Yup, me too!(04/21/2008)
This is happening to EVERYONE applying for jobs. It disgusts me how badly the unemployed are treated. Suddenly, when you become unemployed you no longer exist in the eyes of the working world. I have been unemployed for almost two years. There is absolutly no reason why someone shouldn't hire me for a decent (key word) wage. I have a great resume, 9 years of experience, a degree, and references. However, I can't seem to find a job that pays more than $10 an hour in crappy Boise, ID. I moved here for my husband who was offered a job due to his unique skill. My income dropped from $49,000 to $10,000 a year! There are not many jobs here so I apply for those that I am qualified for and then I don't get a response. I spend hours writing sharp cover letters and get no response. Then maybe three months later I will get a letter in the mail saying I wasn't hired. Well, duh! If I were an employer I would never treat people so badly.
Another thing that bothers me is how employers do not post the salary and then expect a background and drug test from you. Well, how about I give you my first born child and then you pay me $4 an hour?
For all those college students out there: get a masters degree AND join the military at some point. You need Veteran's preference to survive and universities will not hire you unless you have a masters.
CK(04/21/2008)
A Masters Degree won't help! I have one as do my former classmates (one has FOUR Masters) and none of them can get a decent job. One did get a job but only pays $35k/y (low for what I consider for a Masters). The one classmate who has 4 Masters ... she has been looking for two years! I doesn't really matter what degree you have - they aren't hiring!
I have not seen it this bad - ever! The sad thing is that I can only see it getting worse! Bosses know it's that bad and a great majority of them will become abusive (I know first hand). I have had one (after 9/11) flat state in our weekly meeting that 'if you don't like it - there's the door!' knowing full well that the jobs were not out there.
comments (6)
digg | 
del.icio.us | 
e-mail it
POST A COMMENT
