Nabeel asks:
“Who is really hiring? I’m beginning to think that this is just a waist of time. I have applied so for through this site for more than 20 jobs and so far no single employer even replied to any of my applications.”
Hi, Nabeel. I know you’re frustrated, but there are a couple of issues that I think you’re dealing with in your job search. These four steps can help:
1. Check for application errors
Seriously, make absolutely certain your applications are error free. Proof read your applications carefully, and ask a friend to help. The spell-check function doesn’t catch everything (like the difference between “waist” and “waste”). Errors are usually considered a red flag by hiring managers that either your language skills aren’t strong or your attention to detail is lacking.
2. Follow up
Respectfully and politely follow up on applications. Following up shows motivation and increases your chances of getting interviewed.
3. Apply More
I know 20 applications is a lot, and it takes a long time to complete them (I’ve been there and done that personally), but it’s not that many compared with the number submitted by a typical job seeker in today’s market. Take a deep breath, take five minutes to relax and prepare to fill out many an application before you get hired. Pace yourself, do a few a day. But dig in for the long haul.
4. Have patience
It might be that the hiring manager plans to contact you and just hasn’t had the chance to do it. We’ve heard from members who were called by employers 24 hours later, 3 months later, everywhere in between and (unfortunately) never. Don’t wait to hear back from a specific job, even if you get an interview. Keep applying to other jobs until you get hired – the worst that can happen is more than one job offer!
Good luck with your job search!
-Amy
About Amy White
I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY ARE HIRING ARE REALLY NOT AND RUNNING THEIR ADS YEAR ROUND AND MOST JUST STOCK PILE APPS.
Huh? Really? That is a very helpful tidbit.
I noticed the same thing, only I called their corporate offices to inquire about this. The interesting thing was…their HR Dept. was OVERSEAS!! On top of that, they didn’t understand what I was asking them about. (I am a very patient person communicating with others who don’t understand English) I still got more numbers to call. Still no one could give me an answer. Any company held by Sears Corp. is not hiring, they are just stock piling apps. Seems to be the same for the majority of others. However, I am getting a ton of emails to have interviews with Insurance Sales. Seems with all the baby boomers, that is the way to go right now, and they will help you get your license.
That maker sense now as to why Sears and K-mart are-not calling after applying to their job offer. With this in mind, the least they could do is take themselves off the job-search engines
Hi, I find that most of the company’s I apply to do not have a way to follow up on the application. No phone numbers, no email addresses, no contact names, and some not even a company name. They don’t want you to be able to contact them, all they want is to be able to find you, which they don’t ! I have been out of work for over a year now and mostly no call backs, just a lot of sorry we are going with a more qualified applicant. I get this in my email sometime a few seconds after the app is sent. How would they know that if they haven’t seen of even spoken to me yet ?????????
OMG !!! Yes I thought it was just me . I sent sent my app for HEB and not even 30 seconds they sent me an e-mail saying they was going with a more qualified person . So I understand you 100%..I’ve been out of work for 2 years .. It gets harder every day …
I understand what u r talking about. I have not been out of work but a few months, but I have had a few places tell me the same thing!!!!!!
I know two people who have not been hired for positions because the government will pay 50% of a salary for someone who is on welfare. Now someone needs to explain to me how college grads and other workers are supposed to compete with that.
Yes i agree with you on companies posting jobs but never hiring.I live in Marion Indiana and on the snag a job , job search there it is posred every day that Fazolis and The Apple Bees restaurant are hiring line prep cooks,servers and utility associates, I have been applying for these jobs for over three months and even followed up with phone calls and the answers are always the same-THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED,Well then why do i still get job alerts for these places,I live alone and i need a job really bad to pay my bills I do not understand these places that i am qualified to work for will not even consider me for a position,What Am I Supposed to do.Well my internet service will be disconnected at the end of this month because i cannot find a job to pay my bills water already disconnected,yet i try everyday in high hopes of having luck in finding a job
when you apply at sears; after you put on your app you automatically get an interview schedule immediately at the end of the app process. i know; i have had that chance.
Hi Denise, did you attend the interview? How did it go?
I applied for jobs with both Sears and K-Mart last year, and got interviews at both places. The problem I found with both stores is that they only want you for part-time employment and were only willing to pay minimum wage. I have alot of retail experience and minimum wage is just not acceptable.
Hi Monica – Congrats on your interviews
Often stores will give full-time status to part-time employees who are excellent. Don’t pass up opportunities to work somewhere you might enjoy if it helps you get a foot in the door!
I agree with you, I notice a business, that has been out of business for 2 years, still shows as help needed ?
Hi Patti, can you share the posting link? That definitely shouldn’t be up and we’ll be glad to pull it if the business is closed!
I whole-heartedly agree with that statement. I have applied for many a job as a specialist in my field and I never get a response, such as a phone call or a reply to the email. I have come to the conclusion that when a company does not have the courtesy to respond one way or the other to an applicant it is an indication that they are probably not worth the time or the trouble. It is an insight into how they do business and what is most important to them. This would say that maybe their employees are not that important to them or they do not put as much value in their employees as much as they say they do. This would be gross misrepresentation, especially if their national advertising or marketing campaign that their employees are the backbone of what the company does.
I saw that with Sheetz, they have a sticker on their door about how much they will start an employee out at, but when I walked in to ask if they were hiring, they said they WEREN’T. I mentioned the sticker on the door window and they told me that the sticker is ALWAYS there.
I am experiencing the same thing. It didn’t take me too long to figure out that these places are not really hiring they are just collecting applications in case they ever have an opening and by then the application will be lost in all that paper!
ALOT is actually spelled a lot….
tip to everyone. don’t just apply to those companies that advertise help wanted. apply to those who don’t even advertise help wanted. a lot of them don’t advertise yet still end up with a well qualified applicant because they did’nt advertise and have to comb thru a lot of dead beat’s. i’m currently unemployed but apply to companies that don’t advertise help wanted. everyone should try car sales at least once. dealers are always hiring and provide training.
I agree. I have been supporting myself since I was 16 and I am now 21 and have never had any problem landing the job I want. I’ve turned in 27 applications and have called within the next day or two to check on the status and every time they have said, ” we are not hiring right now.”
Why would you post ads that say you’re hiring when you aren’t?
Hi Ryan, check out the answer here: Why does the employer say they aren’t hiring? http://www.snagajob.com/resources/why-is-there-a-job-posted-if-theyre-not-hiring/
Awesome Topic! I have applied so for through this site for more than 15 jobs and so far no single employer even replied to any of my application.
Hi Phil, I’d make sure you’re following the section on error free applications – if you have a friend or family member who can help you edit you may see some better results!
I HAVE APPLIED SINCE I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT SNAG A JOB AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A JOB TO CALL ME FOR AN INTERVIEW OR ANYTHING. i CAN’T UNDERSTAND. MOST BUSINESSES HAVE ASKED ME TO APPLY @ SNAGAJOB.COM BUT STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING THING. I CALL THEY SAY WE ARE NOT HIRING BUT YET THEY STILL HAVE IT IN HE DATA BASE. WHAT’S UP WITH THIS
Hi, I’m with Nabeel in that it is very frustrating applying for these jobs online to never hearing from them but the real kicker is to see that they’ve put out alerts that they are searching again for the very same job you’ve applied for just 3mos earlier, and I’ve continued applying for the job and still no reply. Then I call or come see in person only to be told that the position has been filled or one manager even told me that he has two sites to go to and usually chooses the in house site when looking for a candidate for my field. Oh by the way I’ve been unemployed for 11mos and have exausted most of my savings. Shall I try moving to another state cause South Carolina stinks.
I’ve discovered that when there is a posting on a general web site (i.e. Indeed) that it is best to go to the corporate web site. Some managers feel that if you apply on the corporate web site you are more interested in their company than if apply through a non-corporate site. Considering that some HR department are getting thousands of apps a day it makes sense to just review the ones coming to the corporate site. However, I wonder why they are putting their openings out on other sites if they are not paying attention to them.
I’ve discovered that some companies are looking for a candidate who will quickly fit into “Their culture.” The issue that arises is that they never find the perfect fit for both the position and the culture. Also some jobs turn are not to be what has been advertised as the job description has “changed” from the time you interviewed to when you start the job. I think some people hold on for 3 months so they can add that to their resume especially if they have been out of work for a year or more. Also some companies don’t care how many people they go through as there are more out there. Maybe it is best if you don’t hear from them.
11 months. Try 2 1/2 years!! There are not many “real” jobs out there. Don’t be fooled -
unemployment is up! Those getting jobs are young – they will work for less than the
older, experienced ones. Hang in there. My advice – reinvent yourself.
Actually, in North Carolina, most employers are rejecting the younger employees in favor of the older ones because of the unemployment. They would rather have a 40 year old man who is way over qualified to flip burgers than a 16 year old who would do the same thing. Not that I’m saying I have something against them, I’d just like to be able to get a job because there is only one person working in my house and there is almost no money. I go to college next fall, how am I going to pay for it?
I was at my last job for six years and left eight months ago to go to school. Surprise, FAFSA doesn’t cover all of tuition! I’ve been job hunting all summer and my savings are completely gone. I don’t have enough to cover the rest of school. But hey, instead of paying for me to get a degree and become useful as a taxpayer I guess the government is ok with me becoming homeless. That will really help the economy! I have 14 years of experience between retail/customer service/food service and I haven’t even gotten an interview. Is it because companies check your credit when doing background checks? Why don’t they realise that if we have jobs we can pay our bills?! Good luck all!
Start networking with friends, family, and acquaintances. Let them know that you are looking and what skills you have. The best places to find jobs don’t always advertise on job boards, but by word of mouth. When you exhausted your search with friends, family, and acquaintances, go to complete strangers. You can find them at job clubs.
These clubs can be found through your department of labor and/or public library.
I hope that this will give you a new direction!
Yes that is true.once your out of work they sat 6 months don;t even look for a job.I have work all of my life been out of work now for 2 1/2 yrs now and i apply they don;t even respond.I call them and they say they are not hiring and then i go to the store and you see all these new employers.They hire who the hell they like not if you have experiencen or not.I seen the people they hire some don;t even know what they are doing but they hire them because they have not been out of work more than 6 months or knows them.
Hi Sally, I know that long job searches get very frustrating and can be really hard on you. While some employers do have an unemployment bias, most don’t – and there are things you can do to make even the most picky of employers take a second look at your application.
First, fill those employment gaps with volunteer work http://www.snagajob.com/resources/find-jobs/volunteering-it-does-a-job-search-good/
Second, make sure it’s not you. I know it can be discouraging to take a hard look at your applications, but make absolutely certain that you’re submitting error-free applications and following up: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/job-advice/whos-really-hiring-ive-applied-to-tons-of-jobs/
HI I have been working on and off at my job since 2009 as on call basis . I read a lot of the comments here. I applied at K-mart as soon as I hit apply I got a rejection back. Heck there was no time for anybody to read it . Key words I found out. YES and with checking credit reports . How can you fix it if you dont have a job lol. Am ready to write on resumes MY CREDIT IS SHOT SO DONT CHECK save time and money. Thanks
Hi Joe – instant notification means you didn’t pass one of the employers filters, it’s not based on your credit score: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/applications-resumes/why-is-my-application-being-rejected/
I have been searching for months on end now. I have been working since I was 16 and the majority of that experience is in construction, making no less than 13 an hour starting. Nowadays, everyone wants to pay 9 an hour or less. There is no way I could survive off of that, and I am also trying to start my career and tired of dead-end no advancement jobs.
Hi Ryan, have you considered advancing your construction career into project management or some other supervisory position? That might lead to the pay you want within your area of expertise!
I know all the feelings .. I’ve been unemployed since 09 .. I’ve put in hundreds & hundreds of app’s, cover letters, I’ve maybe had 5 interviews. It’s an employers world of what they want an do. You do all the bells & whistles that need to be done your all excited an nothing. It does not matter what state your in .. I don’t think .. it’s going to be the same. I’m 60 an it’s really rough, trust me.
When it comes to looking for a job, Pennsylvania isn’nt much better.
I’m with Phil & Tim [ â–˛ ] as to stock piling of apps and the ‘no reply’ from employers although the job is still listed as “”open”". Seems online job searching is NOT the way to go, even in todays’s electronically advanced society. I’ve considered hoof’n it –the traditional method of job searching– and see if the results are any different. The only thing I keep getting calls on for online jobs is Bankers Life, Insurance sales job. And I know me, I am NOT a sales person, although have a great personality and many people suggest that I go into sales. Pretty sad that you have to job hunt within more than 20miles outside of your city to earn any remote chance of being hired, or that the ‘old school method’ is more successful than today’s advanced society……………..
It sounds like the two main issues are not hearing back at all or being told that they aren’t currently hiring?
If you’re not getting called back at all, I really recommend checking your spelling (and having a friend check over it too, someone who is Mayor of your local library on FourSquare if you’ve got them
) and then following up on your applications. If you STILL aren’t getting called for interviews, check and make certain you’re applying to things you are qualified for and that fit your schedule.
As far as the other issue, while we have some employers who are always accepting applications, they aren’t necessarily hiring to fill a position right this second. That doesn’t mean you won’t get hired, but I wouldn’t expect to hear from them quickly. We’ve heard from members who got hired from those types of posts; sometimes it was after a few days and sometimes it was after a few months.
Good luck with your job searches, and let me know if you have any questions!
-Amy
same here I NEVER here anything when I use this site, I always go directly to employers site
Hi Kim, you can definitely utilize Snagajob as a search instead of apply process, and in many cases clicking apply does take you directly to the employer application process – good luck with your search!
Amy,
I am an employment consultant, and the problem is not with their spelling. The problem is with Snag A Job posting jobs that don’t exist. I have called many of the listed employers and they have no idea why Snag A Job has them listed. These are a few employers you always list as hiring Pizza Hut, Advanced Auto, and CVS. Come on… let’s be honest here, Snag A Job only lists them to make themselves look good. Do the right thing. Be honest and really start matching applicant’s up with jobs. That’s what you advertise, so why not do it.
I wholeheartedly agree with Amy.
Thank you, Debra – I appreciate your encouragement!
Donna,
Of the brands you’ve mentioned, 2 are companies who’s listings we post for members to search as a convenience, 1 is a client who specifically works with us for employment needs. We aren’t listing them to make ourselves look good, we are trying to put as many hourly job opportunities as we can on the site, even if the employer doesn’t utilize Snagajob for their internal hiring needs. We do that so members can find as many jobs as possible near them by searching here, and so that we can offer them a place to look for jobs that we (to the very best of our ability) keep free of fraud that plagues some other available resources. In some instances parent companies will request listings and the franchise owners many b unaware of the relationship, which might account for the issue you’ve run across. It’s not perfect, but we’re always working to try and make it better.
There are outdated posts on the site, with over 250,000 jobs posted some do fall through the cracks. But we have a team of great people that does it’s very best to remove old listings and check new ones for fraud.
Hope that helps answer your concerns!
smh i thought that teens could start applying and getting jobs at the ae of 16 well im 17 going on 18 and still haven’t hadan interveiw nor a phone call regarding anything im startin to lose my faith and im really in need of a job!!!
smh, it is tough for teens to get jobs in a “normal” economy. Employers don’t hire teens because they have generally have no skills, little work experience, not enough education, and no trackable job performance. It is even tougher for teens when the economy is suffering. Jobs that required a H.S diploma now require an associates or even a batchlors, I personally feel this is just a way of legally discriminating, but it is what it is. Keep trying, apply to at least 3 a day. If you are through with H.S. take college classes. If you can only take 1 at a time you could still get 5 out in a year with the 3 semesters some offer in summer. Taking small bites is better than no bites. The educational bar will be raised, it won’t come back down, and if you don’t have the paperwork, you will get stuck doing the gruntwork for the people who got theirs. Good Luck in all you do.
If your spelling, grammer and attitude was as equally abhorent as your post, perhaps that is why you are not getting a job. In today’s economy, you have to be an asset to an employer more than ever. If a potention employer feels he will have to motivate you, do remedial training, or that your actions may be a liability to him, you will not be considered. If you can’t take the effort to get your application filled out properly, take enough interest to demonstrate your marketable skills, and show how your skills are expert in the field you seek to work in, you don’t have a chance.
I agree with you, job employer, but what about those of us who have skills? I’m in the top 10% of my class (out of some 500 students), I have no record, no drug use, willing to work practically every single day, have great references, and some training in the field I want to go into, but every time I apply somewhere I get the “you don’t meet qualifications” message. Honestly, what do they want from us teenagers? We can’t give them past job experience without first having a job! It’s infuriating. I’ve spent two years trying to get a job (I’m almost 17 now) and I’ve come up with nothing. If you have an advice at all, it would be very much appreciated.
Hi D.J., it sounds like you are doing everything right, but if you’re having trouble because you have a lack of experience you may want to consider volunteering to gain experience and increase your networking opportunities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8DylxV4LMc
You spelled “grammar” incorrectly.
And ‘potential’.
Job employer,
I just want to let you know that your post was very offensive. Did you remember when you were forming the thought to even make that post that you are talking to people who have been out of work for months and even years on end? Of course they are going to lose faith. AND if they are posting here in this forum then they are frustrated and even the most put together people can’t keep it all together when they see that the is no financial stability in their future. If you have a job, please keep it because with your attitude you won’t make it as long as some of the people on here with out it. I hope you are not an employer listed on this site, because if you are we can all see why there are no jobs circulating!!
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, AND IT IS SOO FRUSTERATING MY GOSH!!! YOU FILLED OUT 20 WELL SWEETHEART…. YOU NAME A PLACE AND I HAVE FILLED OUT AN APP THERE LOL LOL !!!! WHENEVER I CALL AND ASK IF I CAN SPEAK TO A MANAGER ABOUT MY APP– IM USAULLY TOLD “OH OUR MANAGERS KEEP UR APP ON FILE, AND IF YOUR WHAT THEIR LOOKING OR THEY’LL GIVE YOU A CALL” WOW ?! REALLY?! THANX?! BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW LADY ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE…..I NEEEEED THIS JOB AND I AM A HARD, RELIANT WORKER= CAN YA GIVE ME A CHANCE ——-SHEEESH * FYI SORRY FOR MY VENTING, IM JUST SAYING ITS BEEN QUITE A FEW MONTHS NOW AND STILL NOTHING :*( UGHHHHH—-
I can sympathize…it’s a long process however, made harder due to a couple of factors. You have to take into account how you follow up, first of all. Following up is key. Second, I know people have run into HR reps who say, ‘we have your resume on file.’ I’ve been told that myself, and it is true. Unfortunately, some companies have a bad habit of not getting back to you until later or not at all. It used to be customary across the board for companies to let you know what has happened. They probably stopped due to the volume of applicants. Crappy, I know. The main thing is, to try NOT to give up. I’m in the same boat myself, for close to a year now. I’ve had my moments where I wanted to give up so bad, but I kept at it. I hope we all land jobs soon.
I’ve been unemployed for over 2 years. I have sent so many resumes that I can not count them anymore. It’s very hard to get jobs within the last few years. If anyone has any ideas what else to do about this. Please, fill us in.
If you can’t get a job, then maybe its time to start advertising for your services. Can you cut trees? Organize messy places? Haul big items from the big box stores? Think about all your skillls, advertise at the supermarket board, staple a sign on the phone pole, craigslist whatever, just get the word out. If an offer comes through, then you have the choice to stop, but if nothing comes through, you won’t be starving. Good luck to you.
Great suggestions Don! I’ve seen a number of small 1 person businesses start up over the summer (judging by yard signs and telephone poles). Taking advantage of your unique skills is a good way to make money, even if you aren’t getting called back by traditional employers.
Thanks for sharing your advice Chris
I am really at wit’s end here i cant seem to get any one to even look my way, when it comes to a job.
I am 24 years of age and i live with my girlfriends parents you know how bad that makes me feel?
I feel this Is a losing battle and i don’t know what to do. Although i try and i try and i never hear a call back from any of the jobs i have applied for i am frustrated and i am about to be kicked out. I fill out oh 4-7 apps a day i even call them on Monday’s to hear them tell me they are not hiring i am confused with the process that is going on and i am almost to that giving up point and living on the streets
Since Last Year I’ve Been Applying On Here. Never Got A Call Back From Any of Them.
Hi Carlos – I’m sorry to hear you’ve been having a tough job search. A couple of suggestions: 1) Check for accurate spelling and grammar 2) If the email address you’ve used to post this comment is the same one on your Snagajob account, you may be scaring employers off (your email is included in your online application). Get a job search appropriate email address and change your account contact information, and that may help! http://www.snagajob.com/resources/job-advice/applications-resumes/bad-email-addresses/
what i did is i called the company that was advertizing a job, instead of putting in the application online… when i called they told me to come in the next day for an interview!
I can feel everyones pain i have filled out application through snagagjob and i have not heard back from none of the places that i have applied for
Hi Misty, make sure you’re following those 4 steps, especially the one about error free applications. It can be really easy to miss your own errors, but having a misspelling or mistake on your application is nearly a sure way to not be considered for the job.
It’s tough out there. The job market is at a slow pace. I’ve applied to dozens of places within the last week and so far no call backs. I have followed up on some applications and the manager just tells me that applications are being looked over in the next few weeks. It’s hard, yes, but it’s something I can’t give up on.
I know the market is tough, but I’m glad you’re determined to make the best of it Sheila. That positive attitude is one of your strongest job search tools, don’t let go of it!
Also the fact that some employers like hourly jobs are wanting to hire less people or people are quite lazy so they can pay them less and in the end make more money. It’s how it’s ending up. sad but true. If things get worse, I might make my own small business, you all can join me if you like
Don’t give up though, I’ve been searching and searching and hopefully something will come up. Good luck to everyone.
I was unemployed for nearly two years and when I got a (P/T) job it was not even worth it because they scheduled me for less than 12 hours per WEEK and I spend MORE than my entire paycheck just for gas not to mention waste of time! FRUSTRATING! I now have a different P/T job (I was working 40+ hrs at first, then after a month they cut down to 16-24/wk) and it’s only because I found out about the position from someone working on the inside. So, my conclusion is, unless you know someone internal, it will be SUPER difficult to get employed. My advice is to network, don’t be shy and don’t hesitate to get to know the people around you. Who knows, perhaps the next person you meet can somehow help you land a job.
Best wishes to you (desperate) job seekers out there. I feel you!
Networking is so important – thanks for providing a real-life example that can give people the push to start reaching out to the people they know!
Thank you Singlemom : very kind words .I am glad you found a job….I have to be positive .
I agree that the job market is horrible. I am in San Diego, I have 2 jobs and yet I can still barely pay my bills. I am on the hunt for a Full Time job. The thing I hear everyone saying on here is that they are putting in 20 or more applications online and then following up by phone with a manager. I was told recently by a manager, that he doesn’t really pay attention to applications that come in online. He prefers if someone walks in and asks if they are hiring, or if they come in with resume in hand asking if they are hiring, he immediately if he feels they would fit the job takes them in to interview on the spot. So my advice from what I am finding out is to..1. Send applications in via websites 2. Don’t just rely on the Internet to find a job, get out there and actually hit the pavement and apply places in person 3. Do follow up on the phone with a manager if you’ve applied online and haven’t heard from anyone within a week, also if you are somewhere and notice they are hiring, ask to speak with a store manager about the job 4. Be prepared ALWAYS have copies of your resume with you. You never know when you might see a job you REALLY want, and it looks very good to be able to walk in with a resume. Hope this advice helps out!! Good luck everyone with your job search!!
Great suggestions Cheri!
I CERTAINLY AGREE I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS COMPUTER OVER 2 YRS NO CALL BACK VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR ME AND ALL MY FRIENDS
I’d recommend being extra careful about application errors; I don’t have much to go off of, but your post has some grammar mistakes and all caps is a major no-no for online applications. If you have a friend who’s great with reading and writing, you may want to ask them to help you out with some editing suggestions. Good luck – I hope you and your friends find jobs soon!
Amy, you sound like an automaton with your constant refrain of error-free applications; as though that must be one of the primary reasons that people never hear back from anyone. It’s not, so you need to stop beating that dead horse.
If that were true (and really important), what conclusion should I reach when employers routinely address me as a woman when I’m a man, or butcher the spelling of my name, even though it’s clear as day for them? Should I dismiss them as idiots, shoot back an email and tell them they’re not qualified for their job, or call them up and ask why they can’t take the time to check their spelling?
That’s not the reason at all. What’s going on is a process of rejecting most online applications out of hand, without ever considering them, much less looking at them. Corporations are all about screening people out, not looking for a reason to hire someone. This is the exact opposite of the role of HR (now called recruiting or staffing, depending on the company). They do with a variety of means, including online ‘assessments’ that attempt to psychoanalyze you and determine if you’d be a good fit in their company (think Best Buy), even though there is no science to support the validity of such assessments. They also do it via scanning for certain words in your applications/rĂ©sumĂ©, and if they don’t find them (or they find ones they don’t want to see), you’re also rejected out of hand.
The sad truth is that companies are playing games with the unemployed. They post job openings for jobs that aren’t open; so do the staffing agencies that have them as clients. They send boilerplate emails to reject you with no information at all about how there are ‘other candidates that more closely suit our needs’, even though your qualifications do meet all of their needs. In short, they’re using the desperation of the millions of unemployed as a weapon against them.
That’s go to stop.
Hi Mark, I know I say it a lot, and I wish I could just beam the top few tips into everyone’s computer when they start out their job searches. But what you said about “Corporations are all about screening people out” is true, there are a lot of applicants for every position, and unfortunately making errors is one quick way that they can rule you out. The train of thought is that if you can’t take the time to spell check, or recognize the errors, you are either lacking in attention to detail or have less than desirable language skills. Assessments and keywords are definitely used as well, but those vary on a job-by-job basis. But if all other things are equal and one applicant has errors where another doesn’t, one is much more likely to be called than the other. That’s why I push so hard on application errors. We’ve heard it from real hiring managers over and over, and though I know it’s repetitive (especially to the people already heeding that advice) I’ll keep saying it until all our members know how important it is. Especially since many of our job seekers are young and looking for their first jobs, having an application free of ‘text speak’ and spelling errors may be one of the most important differentiating factors, not their extensive history or assessments. It sounds like you’re in a different position in your job search, and you’re very well spoken, so I can definitely understand that the advice probably seems unwarranted, but it’s critical for a vast number of our readers.
Hope that explains a bit why I’m coming off as a repetitive robot bent on perfecting the spelling! Good luck with your job search Mark, and let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with!
Yes Amy, Cheri does have better suggestions than you do. She seems more the expert.
Cheri definitely shared some really great advice. If you follow the links in the article above, we’ve got in-depth advice on application follow up and explaining how (and when) to do it, as well as other application tips. I’m grateful she took the time to share her first hand experience, and I’m sure it’s helpful to many of our members who are still looking for work!
Sears/Kmart website…is badly put together. By the time, I finish their questionairre/psychological exam…….you go to a page for appointments and lo and behold…no appointments are available.
Also, sometime in the past couple of years, I went down to the Sears in Clearwater. Where online…I had a 11:30 am appt. The woman at the HR office, knew nothing about this. She said I was part of the “global pool”. It does seem to be useless filling out all these online apps. The only thing I can think of at this time…is to select odd times to work..like night hours, overnight hours…then maybe they will contact you. Any ideas?????
We have heard from members who suggested being available for “Third Shift” hours helped them get hired, if you’re available and don’t mind being a night owl give it a shot!
I currently have over 1000 resumes out and many of them from jobs at snaajob.com only been on 2 jib interviews from job posted at snagajob.com, one they said they would get back to me which they never did and the other i went through the whole interview of 45 minutes only to be told they had filled the job 2 days before.
I have now been unemployed now for over a year. I am over 55 yrs old and have management skills from running a company for over 6 years.
I feel that i am of an age where employers just look at my age and then place my resume in the round file.
I have stopped looking for work
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had such trouble Jared, have you considered starting your own side business? It sounds like you’ve got the experience to run a business, and you may be able to think of something that will let you do what you enjoy and work flexible hours. Just a thought!
Hi Jared Held, I feel your pain brother… I am 53. I had 3 phone interviews (different companies) that said they were interested and scheduled me for a in-person interview. At all 3 in-person interviews, from the moment we made eye contact, the interviewers did their best to talk themselves out of any “implied” commitment they may have made over the phone, and that they were still in the interview process. I am a professional and know how to dress and present myself to a potential employer, as well as follow-up. I also took classes at my local unemployment office (free) and participated in mock interviews to brush up on my skills. I even went back to college and trained for a new career; couldn’t get hired in that career either. Over the 22 months I was unemployed, I applied to an unbelievable amount of jobs (triple digits) before I finally found a fellow baby boomer that was willing to hire me. Now 4 months later, my job is in jeopardy due to down sizing and budget cuts. The young kids can’t get jobs because they have no experience; the over 45 crowd can’t get jobs because they have too much experience and employers are afraid to hire them -OR- the 26 y/o who is doing the hiring doesn’t want to work with the ‘parental’ types from the older generation. To hear people with union jobs complain about concessions, or their ‘way to small’ raise, is almost unbearable. I don’t have the skills, or desire, to become an entrepreneur. I just pray that I’m not one of the ones getting cut during the downsizing. Don’t give up, something will give eventually. Good luck. God bless.
Hi I am Angelica I have been applying for jobs for the past two year and I’m not getting hired for any jobs. I already applied for over 20 application in the past two years and still no hired ( I have been called once for an interview but I was hired in the process). -_- Maybe the problem is that employers now in day are looking for workers that has work experience as for me I don’t have enough work experience ( those that not have work experience are struggling to get hired including myself) but I would like if the employers give me an opportunity to gain more experience by hiring me a job. Even so I’ll keep applying for jobs and I hope my luck will turn for the best and if you a good advice to share with me I be happy to hear it.
Hi Angelica, if you think that your lack of experience is what’s holding you back, volunteering can help out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8DylxV4LMc
I am the opposite I have been unemployed since June of this year and have been on 10 interviews since starting to use snag a job. Somewhere between the resume interview and follow up I am missing or doing something wrong and i just can’t figure it out.
Hi Charles, that’s an interesting issue – the great news is that you must be applying to the right jobs and have an awesome resume, but the flip side is that it sounds like you may need to work on your interview skills and follow up. You may have an employment assistance company locally that conducts free mock interviews, you can also ask a friend to help you practice and get their feedback. And always follow up with employers after interviews!
I don’t know what the deal of online job hunting you go locally people tell you go online. I put in applications and submitted resumes and still hear nothing. I’m frustrated to no end. I was laid off 3 years to the date and my unemployment has run out. The lack of work was going to happen one day and it happened in the office I spent 25 years in. It finally closed all gone which was once a thriving business with billions of dollars of revenue. Hard to imagine but that’s what happened. I thought I would be there until the end, I was wrong. Now at 52 I’m wondering if it is the age or the worst of times for America. We Americans don’t build anything any more. Now I feel we don’t design anymore either. Dark times are here
Dont feel bad people. It could be worse. I have been trying to get work for over 1 1/2 years. Hundreds of resumes and applications. In that time I have had 3 (yes) 3 interviews. The problem for me is if i dont find work soon I wont be able to my bills and that means the street for me. So keep trying and keep trying. Hopefully the ecomomy will get better and jobs will open up again.
Good luck Scott, I’m sorry to hear things are so tough – hope you find something soon.
I’ve actually had the opposite experience, Cheri. When I called to followup on an application I was told that I was no longer being considered because I called. I am looking for administrative work, so maybe the rules are different but this woman was real snippy. It’s not even like the job ad said “no calls”; it had a phone number and the name of the company. It was very frustrating. Mostly though the ads say no calls or walk-ins, so it’s all online.
Hannah, I’m sorry to hear that – that’s just plain odd. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a person being removed from consideration for following up when they listed a phone # and didn’t say not to call. Hope your next application goes better (and your contact person is nicer!)
I have for the past few months have been looking and applying for work and I have heard nothing!!! I graduated from college this May for nothing. To everyone who cares, I’m nothing but a born loser. And we born losers do not exisist, we have no future and we have no life.
Michael, I know that long job searches are tough, and really hard on your emotional state. It sounds like you’re really struggling, try to readjust your attitude – it’s not easy, but it will make you feel better and probably help you get hired. Have a long talk with a good friend. Clean your room. Take a walk. Make sure your days stick to a schedule, when you let your hours slip away and your days start to get fuzzy it’s easy to feel you’re not accomplishing anything. Make a schedule and stick to it. Good luck!
I’ve been looking for work for 5 years now. I’ve put in hundreds of applications. All I keep hearing is they don’t like the gap in my work history. Fast food places tell me I’m over qualified. The interviews I do get are for door-to-door salesmen. I don’t have a car and have to live with my mother still. I am only 26 years old and it kills me that I cannot find a job. I make sure my apps are perfect and I call back to check on my apps. I stopped going to college so I can spend more time trying to find a job. You would think if you could work anytime they wanted they would hire you. I have the skills to do almost any job. My only fault is I don’t know how to build a resume. I’ve looked online for help but you have to pay for their service, and all everyone else will tell me is to list your jobs and skills. For me that is a short list. I’m at wits end here. I’m about to join the military just to get some income coming in. What do I do?
Hi Dan, I’d recommend volunteering for an organization that can improve your marketable skills (Habitat for Humanity, SPCA, etc) and maybe starting up a side business doing odd jobs for neighbors or your community. That will help you start to fill in that 5 year gap and make your resume look more appealing to employers. You can find free resume templates in most PC computers that have Microsoft Word, and I’m sure there’s a Mac equivalent – that’s a good base to start with!
Hello, I’ve been unemployed for a year now, all my savings are depleted, been borrowing from my family to pay up rent. I’ve applied to so many many many jobs in my specialization and beyond, not even a call or an acknowledgement. I even called and went in person to several places, the hiring peron or people discarded my application, mnd you I have a great friend who edited my reumes and cover letters, it’s really frustrating, all the more I am at an age when people enjoy their retired life.
Any suggestion? Need a guardian angel
I’ve applied at 130+ places and no luck. I’ve applied at all of these places this Summer. Not all through snagajob. It’s getting frustrating to know I’m putting all this effort in only to be told, “Oh sorry we filled the position.” Also, knowing people doesn’t always get you a job or a even an interview. I don’t have a way to further myself if no one will hire me.
Hi Lacey, volunteering is a great way to enhance your resume, sharpen your skills and build your network. I’d recommend looking into it if you continue to have issues finding a summer job.
Hey, I just applied for a job a Petco and then I called them and they said they are not hiring but, I keep seeing a post that says they are. Also I don’t have a car so, I have to apply to places that are close to me and it’s hard for me to go and visit them. What do you think I should do?
Hi Joseph, some of our employers as that we leave up their active hiring posts (especially large ones, like PETCO) so that when they have an urgent hiring need they can immediately reach a qualified applicant. It sounds like that’s what you’ve encountered, and though they aren’t hiring right now you may be reached when they do need to hire. I’ve heard from a fair number of members that applied to this type of posting, forgot about it, and then got a job offer a month or two later! As for finding places close to home, grab whatever transportation you have (feet, bike, etc.) and head out dressed professionally with copies of your resume and see what’s nearby. Many small businesses don’t advertise their positions online, so you may find something that you wouldn’t otherwise have discovered.
Ok, thanks I’ll try that. : )
I have been applying for full-time jobs since June, 2009 and have only had a few interviews, less than five. I resorted to applying for holiday work and part-time work about a year ago, and was successful in getting hired for retail operations support work with two companies, but still work only 20 – 24 hours per week. I want to caution anyone thinking of trying this who is still eligible for federal or state unemployment benefits, because as soon as I applied for and was hired for on-call and part-time work I was denied any further assistance from my state. I now earn much less than the unemployment check I used to receive, about two thirds of the payment. So think twice before you apply for any job if you are still eligible for unemployment benefits.
i am really not trying to be negative nancy when i tell you this but at my company,which is a retail warehouse, we will have applicants come in and ask to speak with our HR about their application or the position. ‘if’ HR is in the store they are in their office and whether you call or walk back to let him/her know that an applicant is wishing to speak with them you either get “tell them im in a meeting and take a message” or “tell them ive left for the day”. never once that im aware of has he/she ever came out and spoken to any applicant that was checking their application status. moral of the story: network and dont give up. make sure you stand out and youre someone they will remember to call back and more importantly as im sure this same issue happens with other “HR managers”, dont give in to the lame excuses just to get you out of their hair. wait for that “meeting” to be over or ask when they will be in next.
Hi Amy,
I’ve used this site, Snag a job for a few years now. When things weren’t so crazy, like they are now it was easier to find a job. I’ve found a few jobs through this site, but have learned some things along the way. I’d love to share those things because after a while, searching for a job that will fit your needs and finding little or nothing can become extremely depressing.
Job hunting is like treasure hunting. So having more than one site to put applications on is a good thing. Learning how to do research on companies is another good tool. There’s nothing worse than getting a job working for a company that treats it’s employees like slave labor.
There are several free tools out there that will help you write a resume and cover letter. Read the tutorials and then read some more. Along with finding a job being like a treasure hunt, it’s also like going back to school.
You want to shine, so here’s some other things you can do while your looking and putting out applications, take some skill tests. There are plenty of free one’s out there on the net.
Think about what you really want to do. If you are in need of money now, like most of us, consider doing some one or two day type gigs. A good place to search for this kind of work is through employment agencies and Craigs list usually has a list under the regular employment listings of short gigs.
There is a book called “Working with out a job”. I don’t know if it’s still in print but you might be able to find a copy on Amazon. In that book you get to assess all your skills. Doing this gives you a chance to think about skills you have that you can turn into jobs while your looking and putting out apps.
Job hunting means thinking of it as a job, because it really is. What you gain in experience in doing research, becomes something you have to offer, a new skill that if worded right can be seen (because it is) as a valuable asset to a company.
Check out Open University for taking some basic classes if you need to. Open University is free. You heard right. And the last bit of advise that might help is to pick an industry and see what is in demand. Think of this as learning how to see where the money is, and where the money is there are jobs and work to be had.
These are just a few ideas, I hope they help.
Great advice, thank you for sharing Wendy!
I have been trying to find a job since I was a teenager and I will be 28 in a few weeks. I have never gotten a job, unless you count babysitting which I usually do for free. It is frustrating as well watching my brothers get job after job through the years while I get none. It is depressing being unable to start my adult life because of no income.
Deb, if you’ve been babysitting for free, it’s time to call in some favors. Ask those babysitting clients if they’d be willing to provide references, and ask one or two to write you a letter of recommendation. You many also want to beef up your resume with some volunteer experience that can expand your skills. Good luck!
Yes, you all are right about tons of resumes bring filled out and no reply. Yet, a follow up is one of the most important step!. By following up in person or in a simple phone call, your voice will be heard. Let them recognize your name so they can realize how much your really want the job. Do NOT brag a bout yourself! Everyone has heard of the ” I am in need of this job” or ” I am the hardest worker”. Start off talking about a weakness that follows up with a positive. For example; “I might not have much experience on my resume however, I have been involved with after school programs that made me realize how essential it is to be enthusiastic,positive, and participation effort”. Along with knowing a little about the company you applied to such as; “I know your company has developed tremendously since 2001, and I would be honored to have a opportunity to be apart of your company”……. Good luck, I hope I helped!
Thanks for sharing your advice Johanna!
I think my question is, ‘what’s really out there’, what’s the job market REALLY like, we’re told a lot of things, but one of the things we’re ALSO told, is that there’s this thing called ‘globalization’, and that means companies moving offshore to save money. How many people can you afford to hire at 40k/yr, vs 20k/yr overseas where the money will still buy something?
Don’t forget your feet people. Sometimes smiling faces are a plus when the employer gets to see them.
Good advice – in-person follow ups are great (and even better if you’re dressed professionally and carrying your resume & recommendations!)
My advice to everyone is Never give up because I felt just like all of you like jobs really ain’t hiring and they have the sane jobs on here even though you applied more than once but I got a interview through snagajob.com you just gotta be patient and never give up I done been rejected so many times but I never gave up and got my interview and got a job offer from them so just keep filling out applications make that a job and I guarntee you will get a interview just let finding a job be your main focus and you will get a job Good Luck everyone!
Thanks for sharing your story Ashley and congrats on your job!
REALLY ASHLEY , DID YOU JUST SAY ,AIN’T I GUESS WAS THAT IN THE RESEME TOO?
I to have been unemployed for two + years, have over 20 ys of management experience. If you think at 24 finding employmemt is tough try it at 61yrs old. All the interviews (3 in two yrs) I have partisipated in, as soon as they saw the gray in my hair the job I was applying for suddenly was not the one they wanted to offer me or the one they said was available.
I am a Social Worker who tries to find my clients employment. I have been using Snag-A-Job for four years and none of my clients have ever been called. I switched to using Indeed and have had much better results.
Hi Marsha, Indeed is a great resource for salaried positions – I’m glad you’ve been able to find employment for your clients!
I’ve read an article in the local newspaper about HR departments being told to disregard any applications or resumes with no current employment, so if you have no job you need not apply. That is so ridiculous in today’s job market! I’ve been selling cosmetics from home just to be able to put some kind of current employment on my resume but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I’ve applied for maybe 30 jobs in the past few months and have had one interview which went very well but I did not get the job. I do agree that spelling and grammar are a huge part of why a lot of applications and resumes are tossed out so be very careful with that.
Some HR departments are considering current employment as a factor; given the number of really talented and motivated employees who have been unemployed for a long time, I think they’re taking a huge unnecessary risk that will likely result in missing out on lots of stellar employees, but until that practice is deemed illegal there isn’t much to do but try to keep your resume active to improve your chances. I hope your hard work pays off soon, I know that it takes a lot of time to apply to that many jobs!
I worked for the Federal Government for 28 years. I have a lot of experience and training behind me. I’ve now been out of work for 2 years. Snag-a-job has not helped me at all! I keep applying and never hear back from anyone. When I do follow up the employer says they never had any openings. It’s getting real frustrating applying for jobs that don’t exist or send you back an email stating they found someone more qualified.
True story I have applied for 10 jobs and nothing but a month ago I applied for one job with fed ex and I was called up in 3 days for an interview, it really does depend, in all truth it’s up to the employer to contact you, and most times there not only relying on this site to fill there needs in staff, so they will ether forget about this site or simply no respond of they meet requirements, it isn’t a personal situation and it’s not to say that this site isn’t good but because there’s so Manu different sources like this and there all separate, it spreads the jobs out making it harder. The position are real it’s how you approach the job opening. If you see a posting on this site, there’s more then one way to apply to that single job posting, out side f this site and via the site. 2-3 spots open in a sinle posting and keep in mine the millions of members it takes to keep this site working well, in the end of the day it’s not the site to blame but unemployment rates. This site is great, but not enough employers are using it as a main hiring tool, that might change with time and technology or popularity.
I’ve applied for many jobs on this site and I’m not getting any calls back or interviews I really think this website is a waste of time
Hi Shante, I’m sorry to hear that – I’m hearing from people every day who are getting hired, so though it’s tough out there and the search is different for everyone it does happen. If you’re not having luck with us don’t forget the merits of a good old fashioned in person job search, and there are lots of other resources on line to try. I hope you find something soon!
Proper grammer and spelling did’nt matter with Ashley, omg Ain’t, gotta .done seen, wow
I have had the experience that the company would be stockpiling the resumes they get . They do this to submit with a job bid and say that they have these people to do the work. It is pretty cheesy but they do it. I think that the companies should be screened and only the real ones should be published so people have a halfway decent chance of getting a job.
Hi Ron, I understand your frustration, but the problem is that we do see people get hired from applying to those listings. We’re looking into better ways to organize them, but we don’t want to remove something that employers want and that can land a member a job (even if it takes longer than usual). I had one seeker tell me he had just about given up on his search when he was hired suddenly – 3 months after he applied! Not ideal, certainly, but not a bad surprise either.
I’ve applied for many jobs on this site and I’m not getting any calls back or interviews I really think this website is a waste of time
There are many job listings/postings that have “anonymous” or “confidential” for a job and there is no known way of doing a followup on a specific job. Sometimes these can be ones that one could really be trying hard to get. Those kinds of employers make the applicant feel like they may be either suspect or very aloof with their information. Maybe they feel that they are just being protective of their company. I don’t what their reason might be, only that we the applicant cannot make a followup with them.
I have applied to a job through here. The store did receive my app. I know this because I deliver to this store daily. Have not heard from any other apps i have filled out.
I just wanted to say after thousands of assessments and applications, SHC called me back. That is Sears Holding Company.
I noticed that I started receiving junk mail from a lot of companies that I applied to. What if they’re just using job sites to collect our info. to try to get our business?
You’re receiving junk mail from employers you’ve applied to? Yikes – that’s one I haven’t heard before. It’s in their best interest to not spam the folks who are trying to work for them, are you sure they’re directly related? We can’t control what employers do with their application information, but I would hope they’d avoid cross contaminating their hiring and their advertising lists.
I feel that its all propaganda, a way to make the unemployed think that America still have jobs. Have you notice d, that every time you apply for a job, they want you to further your education. And give it about 10 minutes and someone from the Education Department will call and say (we see you want to further your education). I just completed in May, 2011 for an Associate Degree in Paralegal, and still owe, but they still want you to commit to a Bachelor Degree, (for what) if you cannot find a job with an Associate Degree, what are the chances of finding a job with a Bachelor Degree, in the end you still owe for the Associate Degree and will still owe for a Bachelor Degree. I have been online, since completing my Associate Degree as a Paralegal, and still do not have a job or even a an interview.
I started reading here in the hopes that I would gather a little data to help me along on my job search. After about the first ten posts I just had to stop and make a comment myself. There is a huge amount of spelling and grammar mistakes. Maybe that’s why no one is getting hired out there.
I agree that the companies do not really seem to be hiring when they are posted on-line.
I sent out over 100 resumes and received one interview. I finally went to an employment agency and after a month received 2 interviews and I did get a job. The agency told me that sending a resume on-line seldom works because they go to all their other sources first and the resume’s online at not even considered at first, and then they look at them in the order they are received. I received hundreds of Junk mail and many educational phone calls from these positngs. The job sites like snag-a-job and Monster etc…should put a stop to this. I am appling for a job, not for junk mail or for phone calls using up my minutes .
My son is in college and has been looking for the past 4 years. No one will hire him without experience even with being in college. He has applied for every part time job in our area and not one interview has come out of it. As far as appling in person-the jobs in my area tell you to go home and apply on-line. They will not speak to you or except an application in person.
How can i contact toys r us?
If the job posting you’ve applied to doesn’t have contact information, you can search online for the store info and contact them via phone or walk-in. I’d check out this article first: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/job-advice/applications-resumes/when-to-follow-up-on-job-applications/
Hello… That’s correct they tell you to go on line to complete an application. Need less to say I’ve done that and to no avail after getting a few response back believe it or not all of the interviews was set-up in go out in the suburbs like Joliet, Grayslake, Downers Grove.Springfield to name a few. You may not believe this but all of the Jobs where in Chicago. Ha,ha,ha
i’ve filed out alot of application and haven’t had no type of respond from any of the companys i’ve applied for….
Beantrice, have you had a friend help you with proof reading your applications? Are you following up?
i have used different sites to apply and nothing. I am really starting to believe there are no jobs and my only choice would be to go back to school, but even then how can i without the means of paying for school supplies and what not am really wasting my time on these site and there steps to being hired. Since when is a computer seeing who is more qualified than others and who is a hard worker. i am more sick of doing the assessments test than anything else. how many do i have to do before i get to do the next application. shesh.
I’ve been out of work since 2009. I’ve applied at a lot of places with a grammatically correct resume (perfect spelling and punctuation), filled out applications on employers’ websites with perfect grammar, and even followed up on said jobs. However, one thing that I have noticed is that if you do NOT have PERFECT credit, they will not look at you. If you have ANY gaps in employment, they will not look at you. This is what I have found from personal experience. Case in point on gaps in employment. My husband has been working for 17 years in the fast food industry. That’s 17 years straight. He is looking for work that will be a better fit for him (he has all the experience needed) but because he has bad credit, he cannot get something better. So it’s not just employers stock piling resumes and applications, it’s employers doing credit checks on people and finding out that they don’t have perfect credit. I can understand wanting someone to have a fairly good credit rating if they are trying to work at a bank, but to flip burgers, good credit scores should not matter. In my opinion, if I have defaulted on something or missed a payment on something, it is of no matter to that employer. It is between myself and the entity I owe that payment to. So I suppose my question is, if a person has a bad credit score, how are they supposed to get a job? Obviously they can’t get a job. So they default even further on their bills and their credit score gets even lower. It’s a vicious cycle that never ends. That’s my two cents on that. Thanks for listening.
We’re always glad to listen Gerri, I’m sorry your husband has had such trouble moving forward in his career. In my research on credit scores and credit checks it appears that most employers don’t pay to have them run unless it’s a position that handles large sums of cash or is particularly accessible to small valuables. I’m sure there are exceptions, but that seems to make sense. Have you considered practicing interview skills together to see if maybe there’s a step along the way he could improve to help land the jobs he really wants?
Gerri, the claim that employers require perfect credit before they will even consider hiring you is simply false, so you need to put aside that paranoid belief. No employer is permitted to check your credit unless they offer you a job, and they must have your permission.
A bill was introduced on July 9 2011, H.R. 3149, that would prohibit the use of credit information in most employment decisions; both Hawaii and Washington do so already.
I guess I’ve been fortunate as I did find a job within 1 month of signing up. However, this job does not provide a living wage. I took it as a part time job last Christmas to have some money coming in and to help my morale. Fortunately I’m still there and simply having a job has helped a lot. I’m still searching for something permanent with a living wage yet I find this site frustrating since they took the names of the companies off the lists of people hiring. I’m not one who associates street addresses with companies. So I end up wasting time clicking on things that I’ve already signed up for, not qualified for, or know I don’t want. Can something be done about this?
I’ve only had ONE success with a job search on here-it was a temporary position at a college.
I was actually recently told since I live in a city that is primarily Caucasian and Hispanic, I may not have as much luck, as I’m African-American.
I also hate how jobs look at gaps in employments. I have gaps in my employment, but minor stuff like that should not matter since the economy is bad. I still would have been at my last job, had I not moved. And, apparently, they look at credit too. What’s a person supposed to do?
I’ve sent out over 1500 resumes in 2-1/2 years and nothing! I have a Communications degree (15 years experience) and where I live, there are 10 colleges. I am competing with other unemployed people and all of these college grads. One employer said he received over 500 resumes for one position. I have bills to pay (like everyone else) and it gets more difficult the longer it drags out. I’m stressed and depressed.
Jackie, that’s a ton of applications! I’m not surprised you’re tired and worn out. I’m sorry you’re not having better luck. It sounds like competition in your area is brutal, you may need to look into either another line of work or another location to find something. Have you tried really going over the top on getting noticed? Some of these tips might help: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/applications-resumes/secret-techniques-to-get-hired/
hello everyone, as yuu can see im also having the same problem =/
hopefully that will help.
tho unlike everyone one ive never worked before…unless yuu count volunteer work as a job =)
anyways, ive done over 30 applications in the past 2 months and still no one hires me…i don’t know if its younger generation that are mostly getting hired, because it that was true then i would’ve been hired a looong ass time ago lol im 20 years old and will be 21 in jan 2011…
reason why im barely starting to look for a job was because my parents thought that school was more important (which is understandable, i know) but i think this have made this harder for me on getting a job…ive even applied at stores and asked if they were hiring, a lot of them said no and some said yes, but when i turn in my application to the places that are hiring, they never call me (and i talked with the managers myself too)
thought right now, im talking to someone that also has a snag a job account and works at a store i wanna work at.. and he said he can try and get me the job
i think if you look for people on here that have a snag a job account and make a connection with them they can help you on finding a job
hope everyone has a nice day <3
Hi Jasmine! I hope that networking move (very smart, by the way!) lands you a new job, but make sure your applications are free of spelling and grammar errors. I know it sounds really basic, but it does matter. Good luck with your job prospect!
I personally think companies that are hiring should call back no matter what. You took the time to fill out the application, so shouldn’t you get some sort of acknowledgement for that? I’ve been filling out applications pretty much every day since probably the beginning of this month and no one has called back, but I’m still trying.
I went to KFC on Saturday to turn in my application and they said they weren’t accepting applications, but they are having open interviews, so I think I’ll go tomorrow for an interview. I have found that using sites such as Glassdoor are a great resource in terms of what knowing to expect for an interview.
James, hiring managers would like to be able to respond to everyone, but there are so many people applying to some positions that if they did they’d never have time to hire people and get them trained for their new positions (a real downer if you were the lucky employee to be). I know it takes a lot of time to apply, I’ve been there and also frustrated with the complete lack of response on custom resumes’ and applications I’d toiled over for hours. Good luck with your interview today! I hope you wow them
Lowes and FedEx take the effort to send an email atleast to everyone they reject. It may be a form letter but at least we know it actually got to the company that way. Also, the local hospital here does that too, which of course means only something to us in Cheyenne but still it is clearly a lot more possible than they want to admit.
Good point Shimon, it would be nice if more employers had form emails that at least kept people from feeling like they’re application went into a “Black Hole.” My guess is they don’t want to come off as robotic and cold, but not hearing back at all is way worse.
I’m 18, I’ve graduated, and after walking around looking for, and applying at near places (for lack of a vehicle), I haven’t received any calls. So I’ve decided to use the internet, but it seems like people aren’t getting results either, and recommend “going to the employer, in person”. Seems like it just goes in circles.
I have been using snagajob.com for awhile now with no luck up until the other day. I saw a posting that said the Kmart store in my area was hiring. I applied through snagajob and it linked to the Sears/Kmart application process. I completed the application on the employer website and as soon as I was done with the assessment for the position it set me up an interview appointment for Thursday, October 27th at 1PM. So for those of you that are not having any luck DO NOT give up!!!!!! I know how frustrating, complicated, boring, and really downing in your faith of finding a job, but just keep trying and eventually someone will notice your talents and your extreme interest for being employed and will either give you an interview or hire you. Good luck to everyone!!!!!!
I lost my job four months ago (they close the business) I am not a young woman not more ,but hard worker ,responsible ,good sales person,I had send many resumes , and received only two replies , they say it is not the right position for me they need someone more experience to the position you are applying ….I have forty years experience on retail sales ..what? or Receptionist six years experience… of course they ask when is your birthday and I write the year I born ……I think it is DISCRIMINATION.I don’t look like my age, people don’t believe my age .I feel it is what it is, Discrimination ,if a person is old but presentable, good customer experience in sales, it should be not that way! I am still looking and I hope I will. I have a very possitive attitud hoping it works soon!
Hang on to that positive attitude – it’s one of your best job search tools! We’ve got a guest writer who’s just about to publish a ton of advice for older and retired job seekers, and hopefully some of her tips will help – stay tuned!
AMY,
I still don’t understand how if you do everything right like correct and double checking your spelling in all correspondance to the prospective employers that it is so hard to not even have them (Employers) respond back?
Is it the economy or is it the Employers who are at fault with this economy for not hiring people? Because they are getting so picky that they are not hiring anybody at all. Thus it is getting to be that our society is only considering work as a privilege and not a right.
Now you know why we are having a Occupy movement going on and getting rid of the fat cats at top who don’t do any work and yet have everything
Hi Mudd, I know it seems really unfair, but I’ve heard stories of hiring managers getting hundred of applications per day – at that rate they can’t even review all the applications in the time they have, much less respond to everyone. While it would really be nice to hear back, in a market this tough it’s the exception, not the rule. I know it stinks, I had the same thing happen the last time I was job hunting. I’d spend hours on each individual application checking for errors and customizing responses, and then hear absolutely nothing. The only responses I got throughout my entire search were from 2 companies that wanted to hire me, and 1 rejection letter that came int he mail 6 months after I initially applied. For now, not hearing back is normal. Hopefully when the job market improves that will change.
Hi. I’m sorry but I have to disagree with most of you. I love Snagajob.com and I have landed at least 3 interviews from this site. JCP is a recent one and I am currently waiting on the background check to come back so I can get trained. Sometimes you have to follow up on your application. Speak PROFESSIONALLY and write that way as well. Also, be dressed for success and look up common interview questions online because most likely the interviewer will ask AT LEAST one of them. Most of all.. Give them time. Don’t HARASS them by calling them every other day. I made that mistake once with Chik Fil A. On the questionnaires, actually read all of the choices and choose the most logical one. This is why you all are getting immediately rejected, because you don’t pass the questionairre. Good luck and keep applying!
Thanks for the great tips Ashley – I really appreciate you sharing your experience to help others find work!
Ever since I have registered with Snagajob.com, I have received many suggestions for jobs that I do not qualify for. The information that I filled out does not even go coincide with what suggestions I get. The recommendations I receive have to do with management or driving positions, usually, or they are too far to travel to. I am attempting to find any position, but I do not have a driver’s license or enough managerial experience.
I have searched through the other listings & filled out the job applications, but I never NEVER hear anything from anyone, even for jobs that I know I could do and have the experience for.
I think one of the problems is that the area I live in, really doesn’t have enough jobs for the amount of people unemployed. I have been searching for one whole year with no real prospects.
Then again, maybe it’s because I so deep in debt and not being able to obtain a driver’s license that makes me….unemployable & undesirable to any employer.
Hi Tony, they key isn’t having a driver’s license, it’s having reliable transportation. Do you have a public transit system you can use (bus, metro, etc.)? If so, concentrate your job search around the areas you can reach using those transportation options.
Right now, job alerts are based entirely on location, which is why you’re getting updates for jobs you don’t always qualify for. Please let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck!
I got a direct ad today from StartWire.com and referred from HospitalityJobs.com to StartWire today too.
It kind of goes along with some of subject matters above, where one applies and applies and never hears anything back. Like putting your application in a big black hole.
Use of their website is free.
Would you recommend use of StartWire?
Thank you.
Happy Holidays!!!
I certainly haven’t’ heard anything bad about them, if you decide to use them let us know what you think! We’d love to hear your feedback
It’s mostly because the job market is basically non-existant in America.
Honestly, I’ve gotten better luck in Canada
Been unemployed for over four years now and nothing seems to work. The single response I’ve gotten was from snagajob but it turned out to be a scam (no fault on SAJ). Hell, 90% of my work experience is in food service and I can’t even get a chance from them. I just got off the phone with a manager over at Game Stop I’ve gotten friendly with and he told me the whole company has reduced working hours to the point where he had to let six people go just this last week. This is ridiculous and it sucks. It’s like the Depression all over again; people are so scared of losing money they hold onto it with a death grip, never realizing that’s damaging the economy more than anything. If they would just hire everyone then things would get better. But apparently no one paid attention in history class and it’s so stupid we have to go through this again.
Hi Eric – look for an email from me (Amy at Snagajob). I’d like to review your resume and see if I can offer any assistance with your search!
I have been reading what all of these unhappy applicants have been saying.
I have noticed that too many errors are in the writing process.
Incorrect punctuation. Sentences not starting out with CAPITAL letters.
A word with an apostrophe followed by an “s” should be the contraction of the word used and “is”. Such as there’s equals there is.
When using the letter “I” meaning yourself it should always be capitalized.
I retired early from my company. I found a part-time job at a small “Mom and Pop” grocery store. This is not what I retired from. I work two days a week. That was all I was looking for. Sometimes when they are short handed I work more, but not very often.
Perseverance is the key here. You need to keep your temper in control. If you are a “hot head” it will show up in an interview. You must have patience. Breathe deeply and control yourself.
Always keep a good outlook on life. Don’t forget to smile. A smile goes a long way.
Great advice Ron! Your story is really helpful – would you be interested in writing an advice article to share with our members? Some of our older job seekers have expressed a lot of frustration with trying to find jobs in retirement, and I think your perspective could really help them. Please send me an email at facebook@snagajob.com if you’re interested, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Following up is only possible when there is somewhere to actually follow up. Dollar Tree is hiring for store managers, however with years of retail experience, I can’t even get a response. I cannot find a place to communicate with them. Very frustrating! Having been in many Dollar Tree stores in my time, I can guarantee I’m more qualified than much of the management working there. I’d like to figure out how to get the opportunity to have a face to face with someone in a hiring position.
Hi Andy! It sounds like you’d make a great candidate, and I hope you can find a way to reach out to a hiring manager. Have you tried reaching them through Facebook or Twitter? At the bottom of their web page, in the footer, they have their social network information listed (http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp). Let me know how things go!
Hi, I know exactly how you feel. I’ve been applying for jobs since summer 2010. I think I’ve applied to about 170+ jobs. Not a single call back. I need money for college and my father passed away and my mother wants nothing to do with me. I have no one. 18 years old and hoping to get a job to get a better education. All I’ve been doing is hoping that within a few weeks I’ll get a call or e-mail. But nothing.
Hi Raveena, I’m so sorry to hear that. Have you been following up on your applications? Ashley shared some tips that may help: Snagajob member Ashley shares how she got hired: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/the-job-search-tips-that-landed-ashley-3-interviews-and-a-job/
I’ve found many employers are looking for trained-specific applicants. Ex: dental hygenists,
truckers, and other specialized-type jobs.
I have a degree in Communications and that’s where I want to work. I don’t want to flip
burgers at McDonald’s or work in retail or some other minimum-wage job.
Maybe that’s just me, but I want to work in my field and there aren’t any openings at the moment.
Just sayin’…
it look impossible to get hired. i have applied almost 20 applications and no calls. my resume has no bad grammer or no misspelled words and i see all these stores that are hiring but they are not really hiring. for example i did a application for sports authority and after that i called them to see if they were hiring and the lady in the phone will always say no but we are accepting applications. what does that mean? i know what she was saying but what does that mean for the person who is looking for a job? at least publix and BJ’s sent me a letter stating “that my resume was outstanding but we are unable to move on with you due to the economy but will keep your application on file just in case we need a replacement.” at least they were reasonable. i did almost 20 jobs applications in this website and no phone calls. i just moved to Homestead Florida a year ago and i dont like here. Miami was overcrowded and i use to have a job there and that was a miracle by God. lost my job 7 months ago for no reason and i was given the terminated paper. i had worked at Winn- Dixie for a year and am 20 years old. the reason i lost my job was because my work permit expired and the store manager told me if i get the new card i can get my job back. and i got the new card and i didnt get my job back. i even file a complaint and no one did nothing. ever since that incident happen i never got my job back. i was a good team member and gets along with all my co-workers and i dont see how i lost my job for some nonsense. its been 7 months and its been frustrating very frustrating…………..
Hi James, 20 applications over 7 months isn’t very many, you may want to up the pace a bit. But first it sounds like you need to get your work permit card renewed – from what you’ve posted if you can get that you may even be able to just go get your old job back!
Actually I just called KMART and they are actually cutting hours from their employees and I don’t understand because I receive emails every week about different positions hiring at KMART. I’m starting to find this site useless and unreliable.
Hi Jazz, is the location you’re receiving hiring notices for and the location that said they were staffed up the same? We’ll be glad to look into that!
Hello everyone!
I can understand how frustrated a job search can be. However, if you write out a great resume and post it to several job sites and follow through with the recommendation that is posted on this site; you will find a job. Or at least phone interview with an employer. Ever since I’ve turn 17 yr to now, I had received at least five to six phone interviews. However, I have to turn them all down because the ones that I’ve applied to wasn’t hiring. But the company has sent my application to another job site that was hiring, but was to far away for me to get to.
The best way to show an employer that you’ve been active is to volunteer in your community. Believe it or not, the ones that your volunteering to, you can find job leads or even meet and greet an employer that might be working besides you at volunteering site. Another way to buff up your skills is if you like to write or want to update your work skill, try freelancing jobs. Right now, I’m trying out oDesk.com. It a freelancing website where you can work with an employer on a project. Not only that, they have hundreds of different test that determine what level you really are. If you don’t like the test results, then you can retake the test again to get a better score.
Anyway, just keep applying for jobs, revamp your resume and cover letter, and stay positive in job search.
You all sound pretty lucky. Applied for 20 jobs no response, WOW.
I have been looking for over 2 years, over 500 resume and applications with
NO response! Good Luck we are all going to need it. 7 million ppl in US are on
unemployement, 3 million not collecting. There are not 10 Million jobs out there.
Hi Crystal – are you following the steps and following up on your applications? I know things are hard and the competition varies from market to market, but if you are submitting great applications to appropriate jobs and following up it’s really unusual that you haven’t heard anything back yet. Ashley has some additional tips that helped her land 3 interviews and a job, they might help:
Snagajob member Ashley shares how she got hired: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/the-job-search-tips-that-landed-ashley-3-interviews-and-a-job/
I have applied for somewhere between 50 and 100 jobs in the past 6 months and have had 2 replies, but still no job. I have a master’s degree and 7 years experience and have applied for jobs of all levels. So I truly believe the answer is no; no one is hiring. I think that most of these companies just have to post “open” jobs for some reason. What that reason is, I have no idea. But there’s not much else you can do but apply.
As for that “follow up” advice, I have had no positive response with doing that. If you do happen to get the right department or person, which is almost impossible, they seem really annoyed. Good luck.
Hi Jason, I’m sorry to hear that! If you’d like, I’ll be glad to take a look at your resume and see if I can offer any editing suggestions or make a few job search suggestions! Email me at facebook@snagajob.com
Jason,
Try Word 2007 and look for the IT resume that works.
Hi Amy,
I’m a long-time member, actually got a job on here 3 years ago (along with someone else in which we ended up working at the same store!).
I’m just wondering why there isn’t a date posted on the ads? I think that’s a feature that would help. Also, if you’ve ONLY applied to 20, you really haven’t been putting in work. Trying having sent 50+. A good tip is to apply for the same position several times.
Sometimes these jobs also hire those with much less experience to build them up, which is hugely frustrating and makes me somewhat bitter (I’ve witnessed this). I’m wondering if omitting some jobs on my work history would HELP the job search.
A part of me still believes in this site but how long can I truly go without work before I throw in the towel on this site?
Hi Melina,
That’s great! We’d love to share your past success story, but even more than that, we’d love to share a success story from helping you get hired now
We’re already working on adding some of the features you’re suggesting, and you’re right – some folks just aren’t applying to enough jobs. Searches are taking longer, people are submitting more applications to fewer jobs. With those numbers, many people are finding they have to submit a higher number of applications than they expect before they get responses from employers.
While it can be frustrating to be passed up for a job seeker with less experience, but some employers prefer to hire entry-level workers so that they can train people who don’t have preexisting standards from other employers. Though I know it must be extremely disappointing, those employers tend to be in the minority – most prefer experienced workers, and those few that don’t have been a welcome source of opportunities for younger workers who feel they may never get a job due to competition from more experienced workers. Experienced employees are applying to entry-level jobs more often now, and it’s really putting a squeeze on job seekers with no experience.
Have you checked out these tips from Ashley? They include some tips that can give you a leg up on your job search: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/the-job-search-tips-that-landed-ashley-3-interviews-and-a-job/
We’re grateful to have you as a member, and I sincerely hope we can help you with your search. Let me know if there’s anything specific I can offer advice on!
I’ve been looking for a job since I turned 16; signed up to snagajob and still no luck. I listed my one job expeirence, gave great refrences, and I have great availability. I also got someone to look over my application. I still haven’t heard back from anyone. =(
Sounds like you’re doing everything right – but are your following up on your applications? That one step can make a huge difference!
The best thing to do if you want to get hired is to go by your shelf door to door and ask the manager for a job ! I know lots of managers that they throw all resumes and they don’t even take the time to sit at the computer .So if you really want to get hired you should go to the manager and ask him by person ,and the other thing is don’t be shy or something like that ..
Would anyone suggest a particular state where jobs are plentiful? I live in Georgia and the job market sucks! Thanks!
Hi Valerie – what kind of jobs are you looking for? The market definitely varies based on job type.
Just saw an ad for Michaels Arts & Crafts in North Haven CT. I applied there last week and have called twice and they say they are not hiring at all. Why do they have jobs up and no positions? Can snagajob somehow verify that places actually have positions open before they are allowed to post?? I have to go to the library to fill out applications (can’t afford internet) and this is wasting my time. I need to find a job ASAP, my money is running out. There are so many people who need jobs and these companies are wasting are time!! PLEASE HELP
Hi Bella, we’re showing job listings that Michaels (and other employers) are either advertising on their sites or actively requesting we post at Snagajob, but larger companies will definitely accept applications all the time due to unpredictable hiring needs. Even when they are accepting applications but not actively hiring it’s not a waste of time to apply – check out this article for more info: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/why-is-there-a-job-posted-if-theyre-not-hiring/
You may want to try:
1) Calling before you apply to inquire about the nature of the job opportunity (are they actively hiring or just accepting applications?)
2) Applying to small businesses – they don’t have the same kind of unpredictable, high volume hiring needs as larger employers, so those posts tend to be opportunities for a specific opening.
3) Target new store openings for larger employers, those posts are for places that need to staff up for a new location
Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help!