Im good for no job. (sob, sob, sob)

marina

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 10:02 am

why not brush up on interviewing skills? It sounds like you could use some role play from people in the field

amother

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 10:02 am

I used to feel like that. It took me one year to find a job out of seminary. I had 25 interviews that felt like they were trying to get me to explain how I have my phd to do their filing. One actually said to me "I get that you are quick, efficient, reliable and punctual and good at this kind of work but so is everyone else...what sticks out about you? Why should I hire you??" that was for a filing job I wasn't quite sure what other skills were needed for that. It's tough being on the job market but hopefully it passes soon. Good luck!

JoyInTheMorning

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 11:54 am

To the amother above, yes, most companies will want you to differentiate yourself from the pack, no matter what the job. You could have said that you are a gifted organizer, that you can figure out a new organizational scheme for the company's files if there's a need, that you are particularly good at working under stressful conditions. If you can differentiate yourself and show that your special talents are a great fit for the company, you have a better chance of getting hired.

I believe I've mentioned in a previous post that the division of the company that I worked for was shut down during the Great Recession, leading me to a long job hunt and a move. As part of our severance package, we got up to a full year of counseling at a career counseling firm. At our orientation, we were told that in order to get a job, we'd need to convince someone that we could increase revenue or cut costs, or both. That's the job of every job hunter. It is difficult to change your mind set, but once you realize the truth of that statement, it changes the way you approach the whole job-hunting process: writing your resume, going to an interview, following up. You need to show that hiring you will make the company better and stronger in some significant way.

amother

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 1:32 pm

esheschayil wrote:

OP, where are you located? If in EY I know of a few secretarial type things that I'm pretty sure are still hiring. (Though, if you're in EY I would recommend branching out--over here, a job's a job and everyone needs babysitters--my husband always thought he'd be in carpentry forever and now here in EY he found a good job in catering and much to his surprise he's still there and enjoying it 3 years later.)

I agree with freelancing--there's a website called Elance that you can sign up for as a virtual assistant and find jobs there.

Are they work from home jobs? I'm in EY (not op)

finallyamommy

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 1:40 pm

amother wrote:

Are they work from home jobs? I'm in EY (not op)

No, sorry.

mommy321

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 5:15 pm

Doesn't anyone know you in any of these places you're looking to work? Do you have any personal connections to any places of commerce? Doesn't need to be super-close. Just someone who can say they know you, you're great, etc?

A lot of people who are overwhelmed with applicants just naturally pick the people they 'know' aka who have a connection, over the others. It seems unfair, but imagine being in their shoes. It's one way of feeling you can trust the person you'll be investing in.

Fox

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 6:06 pm

OP, I completely understand your need to vent, but I'm also going to administer some tough, or at least firm, love:

Lose the "just a" in your approach to a career. "Just a" secretary; "just a" receptionist; "just a" babysitter . . . I'm willing to bet that no matter how much you control it, a tiny amount of that "just a" attitude seeps out on interviews, and my guess is that it's killing your chances.

Nobody is prepared to hire someone who subtly suggests that she considers the job beneath her, no matter how subtly.

Although I don't do job search coaching professionally anymore, my first jobs out of college involved helping people from some of Chicago's worst slums find and keep jobs. Strangely enough, the basics of successful job searches haven't changed all that much, despite technological advances.

So here are my top suggestions, some of which I'm simply reiterating from other posters:

* Make sure your skill set is current and adequate. That means Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. And, no, knowing how to type a simple letter in MS Word isn't adequate. And using MS Excel to make a grocery list doesn't count. You need to be at least passingly familiar with things like mail merges; document review features; financial macros, etc. Fortunately, there are YouTube videos on everything you could want to know and then some. No need to study for Microsoft certification -- just learn beyond the basics.

* Network like crazy. Make some 3" x 5" cards with your contact information, the kind of job you're seeking, and a short paragraph summarizing your skills and experience. Give them to friends, family, shul members, neighbors, grocery store clerks, homeless tramps on the street . . . This is the single most effective strategy I've taught: people will often be reluctant to accept a resume if they don't know of any specific job openings, but they'll usually take a 3" x 5" card. Moreover, they'll often pass it along to someone who mentions an opening.

* Learn to answer tough interview questions. When I did job coaching, we had an 8-page handout, double-spaced, of potential interview questions. Some were common and easy; some were crazy and off-the-wall; and some were flat-out illegal. You have to learn how to respond, and more importantly, what concern is motivating the question.

* Expand your resources. Larger Jewish communities often have employment services that help job seekers, and if your community doesn't support such a service, go through the local government and community organizations that do this kind of work. Yes, I know: the jobs these places list aren't necessarily the cream of the crop. But you'll have people who can practice interviewing with you; give you a place to make phone calls, etc.; and give you feedback about the local economy.

* Practice interviewing. Other posters have mentioned this, but I'll say it again. You really have to draw lines between the dots for employers; they don't understand unless you specifically explain how your experience, skills, or personal characteristics will benefit them. Use specific examples and explain why you will solve the problems that are vexing them.

* Target a specific industry that interests you. Find out what is needed by employers in that industry and focus on preparing yourself for the job you want. Talk to people who *aren't* hiring right now. I once had a student who was a fanatical Cubs fan (no jokes, please!). She was determined to be a secretary for the Cubs organization. I thought she was a little crazy; after all, how many secretarial jobs would a MLB team have open? Long story short, she kept pestering people who worked for the Cubs to share what they looked for in secretaries, and she molded herself and her experience to fit that. To the best of my knowledge, she's still working there!

* Increase your professionalism. If you're interested in administrative support work, I strongly recommend that you become active in forums on the website of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (http://www.iaap-hq.org/home). They have job listings that are a cut above, and you'll also be able to get a good idea of the skills you need to be competitive.

Hatzlacha!

amother

Sun, Mar 08 2015, 8:01 pm

OP, I also had a nearly "useless" major. I barely had any work history and was looking to work in a school or as a secretary/receptionist in an office.
While sending out my resume to multiple email addresses every day, I took a babysitting job. Worked for 10 hours a day for $10/hour, 4 days a week, so I was making $400/a week ($1200/month). It was better than nothing and it wasn't too hard to take care of one or two kids.
After a month or so, I found a job in an AMAZING office. I was so happy with it. (I quit after I had kids and now work a work at home job with computers)
Keep sending out your resume and daven - you WILL find something!! Good luck Smile

amother

Mon, Mar 09 2015, 6:12 pm

To the OP:

When I graduated nursing school I had plenty of skills but still had a miserable time in the job search.

Plenty of people gave me the same advice that they are giving you now (brush up on interviewing skills, don't come across as such a nebach) and it always made me feel more inadequate and depressed than ever.

Don't let other people's comments get you down. Take the advice that helps and filter out any comment that isn't supportive and doesn't make you feel good about yourself.

Keep yourself busy with positive activities. It could be related to the field you're interested in (offer to help a tzedaka with their typing/mailing/filing/whatever) or something different. Don't sit around the house and mope about your sorry state.

And don't take your job search troubles personally. Keep believing in yourself. I know that it's easy to say, hard to do. I was a total basket case when I couldn't find a job and I was a very successful student, a go-getter, a hard worker. finally I went back to school for a master's and that's when I got my first job.

Everyone's story is different. But you have to believe that there is something out there for you.

Mrs Bissli

Mon, Mar 09 2015, 8:57 pm

Just out of curiosity, OP, to whom are you sending CV? Did you actually get a real person who is in a hiring position? Just sending CVs to "Manager, Human Resource Dept, Acme Corp" doesn't really get anywhere. Do you follow up after you send out CVs? Ask around or ask DH or family members of friends to ask on your behalf if they know someone hiring.

Also how flexible are you outside of 'secretarial' position? Because in many of the offices I've worked, we no longer have pure secretaries but someone who is also junior sales assistants or junior marketers or operational managers who also do secretarial duties. In our office, the kind of skills we look for is someone who's good at making presentation slides with graphics, gather data, contact potential sales leads and set up appointments (plus maintaining/fixing printers seem to be a big thing in my current office).

If you really want to get experience as clerical staff, can you find agency work? If you're good with filing things, keeping things organised and tidy, would you consider being a de-clutter coach? If you're in EY, anything you can do in translation (it helps if you can specialise in technical areas.)

Hatzlacha

SRS

Sun, Mar 15 2015, 2:00 pm

Have you gone in to interview at temp agencies (brushing up on the skills they will test you on in advance)? Temp jobs are still an excellent entry way to part-time or full time work. There is a bit of luck involved because there is a first come-first serve aspect when your name is pulled. If you are available, you have yourself a job and can experience different environments and get a foot in the door. I have a neighbor land his first temp job and he is now being offered something more permanent. Right time, right place. He was doing something for me and I told him he can come in at any hour for me, but he needs to jump on his first real opportunity.

amother

Oak

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 1:52 am

Im the OP of this thread. A few days after this, I was hired for an at home job. I think I worked all of maybetwo and a half weeks and now this morning they just fired me (they said my services were not needed anymore by the end of the week).

It doesnt matter what the job actually was for. But it was mind numbing work. Nothing too technical. Yes, I was still learning the ropes and the boss would send back corrections and we would correct things, but I was fired.

And so, now I really know it. I am really good for absolutely nothing. It feels awful. Just awful. Sad

SRS

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 8:04 am

You aren't absolutely good for nothing. She might not have hired you in good faith. But you do need an attitude tweak. 1. You have skills to offer and perfect somewhere else. 2. There is no such thing as mind-numbing work because necessary work serves someone else. (Yes, I have work that I hate to do too)

amother

Oak

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 11:21 am

SRS wrote:

wait. I did get hired. I looked at the calendar. I started a month ago.
and of course there is mind numbing work. for me the work is mind numbing. why does it matter that it is for someone else?
and no. I have no skills. I studied nothing that can help me in a job.

Fox

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 11:32 am

Don't get discouraged, OP! I know that's easy for someone with a job to say, so I'd understand if you rolled your eyes a little.

It's true that some people can seemingly walk down the street and be offered jobs (my son is one of those types -- can't figure out why anyone is unemployed or under-employed) while others who are more qualified can't get a foot in the door for love or money.

Try not to take it personally, and keep networking. Also try to focus on anything you learned in this short-term job; sometimes even a little knowledge about a specific industry or the smallest germ of a skill makes the difference in a getting a great job down the road.

Finally, give yourself a specific limit for mourning the fact that this didn't work out. Definitely no more than a week. Then try to stop thinking about it, and get out there and network some more.

I'm confident you'll find something great (or at least good!) sometime soon.

SRS

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 11:49 am

OP, you are really beating yourself down. If you talk to people, you will find that even successful people have had bumps in the road. I've had some bumps in the road myself and I'm sure Fox has had her own too. It is par for the course. I had a bad setup at one of my jobs and wondered if I would ever hack it. Turns out that I was well liked and successful at similar work in a different environment. The first environment just wasn't a match and I realized that within weeks at the second opportunity. I had another job which was a potential career change job and tI he employer simply did not tell me their intentions to bring on someone else that was unavailable when they needed that person.

I do highly recommend that you never call work mind numbing. Yes, we all have work that we call that. But remind yourself of the importance and necessity of the work. Play games while you work to see if you can find shortcuts, absorb info into memory, or race against a clock. Sometimes the games will give you ideas or allow you to memorize facts that are considered necessary to someone.

SRS

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 12:04 pm

amother wrote:

and of course there is mind numbing work. for me the work is mind numbing. why does it matter that it is for someone else?
and no. I have no skills. I studied nothing that can help me in a job.

1. The reason that it matters that the work is for someone else is that it infuses the work with some purpose.

2. You can learn skills. The day is not too late. Get on the phone with a few temp agencies and ask them what you should study for their tests. It is a good place to start.

finallyamommy

Wed, Mar 25 2015, 12:18 pm

OP, did the links I sent you not work out? Sorry :-(

How's your Hebrew? I feel like I see ads for secretaries all the time on Janglo, and I don't take them because I'm not fluent in Hebrew, but if you are (or are close to it), the bi-lingual positions might be worth applying to.

ora_43

Fri, Mar 27 2015, 4:33 am

OK I'm going to explain my earlier post re: applying to 50 jobs in more depth.

If you applied to 50 jobs that were exactly right for you, and didn't get any of them, it would be extremely unlikely that it was just bad luck.

But it's likely that out of those 50, some were not right for you. Some you may have been underqualified for (office managers are expected to have significant work experience in an office), some you were probably overqualified for (some employers are looking davka for people in the 18-22 age range, who won't expect a decent salary). Some may have been advertised as job openings even though the person in charge of hiring already had a specific person in mind for the position.

So let's say 25 were in the range of jobs that you were qualified for, not overqualified for, and that were real job offers. And let's keep in mind that there are probably another 8-15 people applying to each job that you applied to.

In that case, there's still a decent chance that not being hired for any of those jobs was pure bad luck, and not a judgment of your skills.

This is especially true since you say you just had your CV fixed up. If your CV was keeping you from getting jobs earlier - and people hiring secretaries are presumably going to be extra picky on that count - it could be that not being hired recently is just a statement on how many qualified people applied to the job, and not on you personally.

I'm not saying you should assume it was bad luck. It never hurts to work on your skills, especially since you think your skills are lacking. Just - don't take it too personally. Keep in mind that not being hired often just means "there were ten of you who were equally qualified, and we picked one of the others at random" not "you're not good enough."

ora_43

Fri, Mar 27 2015, 4:45 am

It's a little hard getting the right tone on this thread. It's hard to suggest further steps without making it sound like criticism. So I'll just say up front that I don't mean this as criticism.

So that said, two other possible steps -

1. internship. Offer your secretarial service for cheap or for free, to a friend or friend-of-friend, or non-profit. And then in 2-3 months you can add "secretary at (wherever)" to your CV. And add whoever you're working for as a reference. And that could make your job search WAY easier.

(this is what worked for me, in my field)

2. try to get criticism. Maybe the people you just worked for, or someone who didn't hire you, would be willing to suggest ways you could improve your work or your CV? It hurts a lot to hear why bosses didn't like your work, but it might be worth it if it leads to getting a job you like.

And one more thought - if you can buy groceries, prepare food, bathe a baby, wash the floor, say a cheerful "hello" to people, etc, then you do have job skills. Maybe you still don't have all the skills for the specific type of job you want. Which stinks, I know. But you know how to do a lot of very useful things, and are qualified for several jobs. So please tone down the self-bashing - you're a good employee with plenty of useful qualifications who's looking to switch fields, not someone who's "good for nothing."