Venting.... Job Market

[Cabin Fever]

I was laid off in May. The company was $2M over-budget on a huge construction project. Unfortunately, people that had nothing to do with the company's piss poor planning had to pay the price!

For those of you that have a job, be thankful! I just applied for my 100th job, but still no luck! So frustrating and depressing!!! It gets old, tailoring cover letters for each job and company and filling out applications for each and every job, even though my resume and LinkedIn profile has much more info than their application! I search multiple job hunting sites, multiple times each day. I sort through 1000+ jobs daily. This goes on 7 days/week and there's days that I spend 10+hrs/day searching for work.

I've spoken to HR Managers and recruiters and they have told me how competitive it is out there right now with so many people looking for work. An HR manager for a local company said that the first day they posted a job, they had 119 applicants!! Others have said that they had to pull postings, because they were flooded with applications! Others have said that they can't believe that they've had applicants with MS degrees applying for jobs paying $12/hr, just to get work!

I was steadily employed for 30 years, so this was quite a culture shock to me, as to how much job hunting has changed! I've done EVERYTHING I can think of!! I've been looking for jobs within 50 miles from home (Rochester to Syracuse to Ithaca). Had my resume professionally done and LinkedIn profile polished up. I've been told that I would probably never get calls from some jobs that I've applied for because I'm over qualified. I just had a "group interview" for a position making ~50% less than I'm accustomed to making, but I got bills to pay, so I'll do it if I get the opportunity...

Any suggestions from those that have gone through this recently and found jobs?

[loworange88]

What is your skill and or profession?

[Uptown Redneck]

As you can see the traditional way of searching for a job no longer works. I strongly recommend you purchase Jay Lang's "Break Through: How to get Hired in Todays Tough Job Market" on Amazon

I know Jay and his methods found in the book have helped me when I was last out of work. Give it a shot, however I will tell you his methods are a bit radical but do lead to success.

Good luck

[Cabin Fever]

4 minutes ago, loworange88 said:

What is your skill and or profession?

Compliance Specialist (Internal auditing, ensure regulatory compliance, environmental permitting, company policies & procedures, document control, reporting, etc,..)

Environmental, Health & Safety (Site inspections, OSHA 29 CFR 1910 regs, risk assessments, hazard assessments, hazardous waste management, ISO 14001, safe work environment for employees, troubleshooting, corrective actions, etc...)

That is the main focus anyways. I done many other Technical positions (Engineering , Chemical, Quality) and traveled all over the world to inspect and qualify new materials, processes, and equipment for Xerox.

 

[growalot]

Have you double checked all your references, Do you send out thank you notes after interviews. Our daughter had a side business coaching ppl...that was one of her first jobs in higher education...working with grad. students. In today's market and HR staffs. It is those things that get noticed. Also if you aren't doing the same with your reference and times been ticking by they may tend to become..."soft"  when contacted by a perspective company.....Just a note saying Hi ,I'm still looking and your agreeing to be a reference is very much appreciated. That sort of thing...Good luck

[Steuben Jerry]

Cabin, have you tried any not-for profits? I work for one and compliance activities have gone through the roof in the last 5-10 years.

We home grew our compliance specialist (CFO who took on the additional responsibilities), but I know other companies similar to us struggle daily to maintain compliance to various state and federal regs.

Not for profits sometimes pay less in general, but a sought after position in compliance pays market if it's the right company.

[Cabin Fever]

23 minutes ago, growalot said:

Have you double checked all your references, Do you send out thank you notes after interviews. Our daughter had a side business coaching ppl...that was one of her first jobs in higher education...working with grad. students. In today's market and HR staffs. It is those things that get noticed. Also if you aren't doing the same with your reference and times been ticking by they may tend to become..."soft"  when contacted by a perspective company.....Just a note saying Hi ,I'm still looking and your agreeing to be a reference is very much appreciated. That sort of thing...Good luck

Thanks, but yep, yep, and yep... I did notice on one of the last applications that I filled out, they asked for volunteer work that I've done. Well, I guess all of that is on my LinkedIn profile also if they looked at that. I always include my LinkedIn profile link to my cover letters, resume, and application. Frustrating...

[ApexerER]

I don't understand how this is possible. All of Obama's policies are working and the economy is getting better. So good that Hillary wants to double down on all those policies.

I am very thankful that I have a well paying job but I worry about being in the same situation as you on almost a daily basis. I know this is of no help but I wish you the best of luck and hope you find something.

[Cabin Fever]

17 minutes ago, Steuben Jerry said:

Cabin, have you tried any not-for profits? I work for one and compliance activities have gone through the roof in the last 5-10 years.

We home grew our compliance specialist (CFO who took on the additional responsibilities), but I know other companies similar to us struggle daily to maintain compliance to various state and federal regs.

Not for profits sometimes pay less in general, but a sought after position in compliance pays market if it's the right company.

Funny you should mention not-for-profits, as I have seen an increase of safety and workers compensation specialist type positions at not-for-profits in the past few months! I've applied for every safety/compliance/workers compensation type position that has been posted from, Hillside Family of Agencies, Mary Cariola Childrens Center, American Red Cross, Epilepsy Praid Foundation, Companion Care of Rochester, Goodwill, and Foodlink. Although they may pay a bit less, I would get personal satisfaction working for them knowing how they help people.

[Cabin Fever]

7 minutes ago, ApexerER said:

I am very thankful that I have a well paying job but I worry about being in the same situation as you on almost a daily basis. I know this is of no help but I wish you the best of luck and hope you find something.

If you don't already, I would HIGHLY suggest to everyone to have a little nest-egg fund, just incase, God forbid, this happens to you. I'm fortunate enough that I did, just as a little insurance. At least I don't have to worry about losing my house or anything....

 

[ApexerER]

5 minutes ago, Cabin Fever said:

If you don't already, I would HIGHLY suggest to everyone to have a little nest-egg fund, just incase, God forbid, this happens to you. I'm fortunate enough that I did, just as a little insurance. At least I don't have to worry about losing my house or anything....

 

I would be fine for 6 months, maybe a year...after that I would probably have to cash in my 401k to make sure I didn't lose my house. At 43 I sure couldn't retire and I would be very hard pressed to find a job making the money I make now and I am by no means rich.

[diplomat019]

Keep chugging along.  Something will break through.  What about looking in the county/ town you live in?  Maybe a NYS job.  Sounds like u hve the job experience.    I signed up a few years back on the county gov website just to see what was available and i get monthly job postings.

 

 No offense appexer ,but i dont think he wants a political lecture on economics.  Save that for the political threads.  i dont think obama has anything to do with the mismanagement of the project he was on.  

[Caveman]

Good luck, Cabin Fever.  My father was laid off about 5 years ago when the company he worked for closed its Buffalo office.  He was in the same boat.  He interviewed for entry-level jobs despite 25 years' experience, and he was often passed over for being over-qualified.  It's tough and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  What ultimately worked for him was finding 90-day contract work, which led to a reference and a permanent offer elsewhere.  All in all, he was unemployed for 8 months.  I'm not in your field or your area, otherwise I'd like to help.  All I can say is keep plugging away, and keep your head up. 

[GreeneHunter]

I've always heard and am no expert that you have to adjust your Resume to meet the needs of the job your applying for ..... just a thought !

[stoneam2006]

Compliance Specialist (Internal auditing, ensure regulatory compliance, environmental permitting, company policies & procedures, document control, reporting, etc,..)
Environmental, Health & Safety (Site inspections, OSHA 29 CFR 1910 regs, risk assessments, hazard assessments, hazardous waste management, ISO 14001, safe work environment for employees, troubleshooting, corrective actions, etc...)
That is the main focus anyways. I done many other Technical positions (Engineering , Chemical, Quality) and traveled all over the world to inspect and qualify new materials, processes, and equipment for Xerox.
 

Dresser rand a siemens company seems to always be looking for more saftey audit people maybe try there. Would require traveling tho I just don't know where or how far. Maybe check their sites. Dresser rand. ...and siemens both

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[rob-c]

Just throwing this out , but have you thought about going back to college for a another degree that's more sought after ?

[The_Field_Ager]

I was thinking of getting certified in heavy machinery , crane operator for example. Just as back-up

[Cabin Fever]

2 hours ago, stoneam2006 said:

 

Dresser rand a siemens company seems to always be looking for more saftey audit people maybe try there. Would require traveling tho I just don't know where or how far. Maybe check their sites. Dresser rand. ...and siemens both

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
 

 

Thanks. I checked them out, but it looks like they're almost 2hrs away.

[growalot]

You actually look like you have options other than that particular job title, from what little you told here of experiences. I'll assume you've looked at area universities...I would think with places like the U of R, RIT,Aflred university, engineering depts., your qualifications would come into play for any of those  Tech /engineering schools.

Then there's always the going through each company in the areas your looking to see if they have someone in that position  that is close to retirement...and going for it bit more...lets say... aggressively

[NFA-ADK]

That's hard!  Glad you had saved some money. 

Good luck, hope you find something real soon! 

Anyone have any other help for Cabin Fever?

[rob-c]

18 hours ago, Papist said:

I was thinking of getting certified in heavy machinery , crane operator for example. Just as back-up

Getting training / certified in almost any blue coller job now a days is a good choice there's such a high demand.  I went to collage for automotive back in my 30's and i have done very well with my degree. 

[Cabin Fever]

On ‎10‎/‎21‎/‎2016 at 10:15 AM, Uptown Redneck said:

As you can see the traditional way of searching for a job no longer works. I strongly recommend you purchase Jay Lang's "Break Through: How to get Hired in Todays Tough Job Market" on Amazon

I know Jay and his methods found in the book have helped me when I was last out of work. Give it a shot, however I will tell you his methods are a bit radical but do lead to success.

I checked out the book on Amazon and ordered it last night. Sounds intriguing and I got nothing to lose. LinkedIn and throwing my resumes and applications out there on job search sites haven't been doing squat for getting me a job.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Zem18]

I work for a small  family owned company in Binghamton. We use a lot of temps as there is light manufacturing. We have hired on several of the temps as permanent employees over the last few years. It's a different way to get your foot in the door and get some cash coming in so don't count out going through a temp agency to find work. Good luck to you in your search.

[Uptown Redneck]

19 hours ago, Cabin Fever said:

I checked out the book on Amazon and ordered it last night. Sounds intriguing and I got nothing to lose. LinkedIn and throwing my resumes and applications out there on job search sites haven't been doing squat for getting me a job.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I hope it works for you. I personally know of three people who just this last week used the methods written about in the book to land new jobs. 

[turkeyfeathers]

16 minutes ago, Uptown Redneck said:

I hope it works for you. I personally know of three people who just this last week used the methods written about in the book to land new jobs. 

I'd personally like to thank you for posting positive input on this thread. Not being a smart a$$,  just nice to see.