Discussions

Hi everyone:  
 
for the past three-four months, I have been aggressively job hunting for something I can see myself doing long term that is not only professional, but honest and rewarding. I have been in retail for 12 years and would like a change. Clientele can be rewarding and nice, but I find no joy or challenge in my work. I have been applying for administrative work and have had a flurry of interviews and call backs, but no such luck.  
 
I am left lost and confused and beginning to feel hopeless as I am coming up empty. I have a diploma in business administration, an impressive and extensive career long track record of bottom line reasonability from management to volunteering with the hospital and homeless, yet I cannot seem to land anything solid that is outside retail or sales for that matter. Even if I were to continue sales, I would like there to be some challenge and some perquisites along with it, IE: Monday to Friday, a desk where I can accomplish my tasks and paperwork independently and a good pay wage. Wearing a lanyard and making barely above minimum wage is like placing a garbage bag over my head when it comes to my finances: it''''s not going to kill me instantly, but it is slowly.  
 
My point to the thread is this. Has anyone been in my situation? If you have, what did you do to remove yourself from it? And can anyone give me an advice on how to attain a professional "desk" job?  
 
Lately, I am starting to develop a depression from my jobs and I am beginning to lose hope in obtaining something I have dreamed to have for the last three years. I could use some honest advice, and opinions on what I can do, where I could go, or what I need to appear more desirable to a potential employer.  
 
Edited by JehovahsThickness, 2016-06-21 00:00:51

I don't have any advice.  
 
I just wanted to let you know I'm in the exact same boat and that you're not alone.  
 
I have my business administration diploma and previous work experience that would help me with the position and keep getting turned down.  
 
I've also been applying for jobs that don't require my diploma with no such luck.  
 
It's discouraging and has me worried when I am the sole provider for my family. But I guess with the high unemployment rate here in Brandon, what do you expect. I don't want to leave Brandon, but I'm beginning to think it's my only option.

Your title says it all.  
I know many will disagree with this but IMHO,it is true.  
Maybe try & meet more people ? Try for more very good references ?  
Hope you find what your looking for.

I went through the exact same thing you did when I first moved to Brandon almost 4 years ago, it truly is who you know not what you know here in Brandon. I worked multiple retail jobs here barely making enough to pay my bills, it took about 3 years to find but I grabbed an office job by luck of the draw. Perfect time, perfect place to put in my application. Office jobs here are hard to come by since people that get hired for those jobs usually don't leave the positions unless it's term for a pregnancy then you only have a job for a year and are back to where you started again. Retail and sales have high turn over here so there will always be openings for something you are already stuck in.  
 
All I can say is keep trying and eventually a company will see the good and pick you up! Just put in the effort and it will happen!

It's hard that is for sure and just handing out resumes won't work. You have to be polite, yet persistent. Go in and talk to the manager when handing in a resume (be mindful on time, going in during a rush they are busy and won't have time to hear you out) - do your research on the company. What is their motto? What are the core values they say they represent? What do their employees wear - dress like you already belong. Be confident, smile, optimistic and well articulate. I wanted a job in a certain field I had no training, education or experience in and I got it. Keep your head up - you will find something! Good luck!

Maybe you need to expand beyond Brandon. Look outside the city.... If possible.

Your best bet is to take ANY job that will lead you towards your goal. Job hunting during the summer is very hard, the college and university students have the jobs you currently want.  
You will probably have to work for less money and for fewer hours to start. You want to work at a job where your skills will make you over qualified.  
Try and get a receptionist position to start.  
You volunteer, try and do the paper work for those places.  
Good Luck

I have been applying all over the place and can't even get an interview!! It's a very frustrating job market here!!

and everyone has a daughter/son/sister/brother/ wanting the job you are applying for...especially the bigger employers here. if you're not 'IN', then you're SOL...

I wonder if you could find a professional or someone to look over your resume and run through some "fake" interview questions, just in case they see something that could cause concern. You sound very professional, however there is lots of people who think their resume is great and well put together when it actually isn't. Even practicing "fake" interviews can really help, dress for the job, be confident and professional!

So you think your schooling's phoney  
I guess it's hard not to agree  
You say it all depends on money  
And who is in your family tree

A) Never give up, its a full time job, when job searching.  
B) If you require further help i Highly suggest checking out Samaritan House Employment Resource centre. Its free and they work with you, to help get you where you want to go :-)

Find the right employer but be willing to take a job at the bottom. Even if it's sweeping floors. You'll move up quickly if your qualified.

JehovahsThickness said "Hi everyone:     for the past three-four months, I have been aggressively job hunting for something I can see myself doing long term that is not only professional, but honest and rewarding. I have been in retail for 12 years and would like a change. Clientele can be rewarding and nice, but I find no joy or challenge in my work. I have been applying for administrative work and have had a flurry of interviews and call backs, but no such luck.     I am left lost and confused and beginning to feel hopeless as I am coming up empty. I have a diploma in business administration, an impressive and extensive career long track record of bottom line reasonability from management to volunteering with the hospital and homeless, yet I cannot seem to land anything solid that is outside retail or sales for that matter. Even if I were to continue sales, I would like there to be some challenge and some perquisites along with it, IE: Monday to Friday, a desk where I can accomplish my tasks and paperwork independently and a good pay wage. Wearing a lanyard and making barely above minimum wage is like placing a garbage bag over my head when it comes to my finances: it''''s not going to kill me instantly, but it is slowly.     My point to the thread is this. Has anyone been in my situation? If you have, what did you do to remove yourself from it? And can anyone give me an advice on how to attain a professional "desk" job?     Lately, I am starting to develop a depression from my jobs and I am beginning to lose hope in obtaining something I have dreamed to have for the last three years. I could use some honest advice, and opinions on what I can do, where I could go, or what I need to appear more desirable to a potential employer.     Edited by JehovahsThickness, 2016-06-21 00:00:51"

Have you contacted the staff at West-Ccan Human Resource Solutions? They recruit for jobs that often are not posted publicly so getting your name and skill sets on their database may be a start in landing that desired job. They also can provide critique on things such as your resume, interviewing techniques, etc. They are very helpful and encouraging and can be reached at 204-727-0008 and here is a link to their website http://www.wchrs.com/. Good luck! I know how discouraging and frustrating it can be finding that perfect opportunity.

Apply, Apply, Apply!!! took me 3 years to get into the government, but never give up! your persistence will pay-off. All the luck to you! Sell yourself with your customer service qualities/skills, remember it is you selling yourself, not you getting the job! ;)Office positions are hard to get. I wouldn't say it is who you know in Brandon (unless you apply at private business), go for provincial, municipal, federal, Manitoba Hydro and insurance is good too! These places have testing and require qualifications. Friends and Family is not looked at in bigger sections and you would have more of a chance to have an opportunity to prove yourself!  
 
Cheers

Yes in our experience as coming from another province it is like that in Brandon. Brandon is a small city and yes the city has grown somewhat but it''s easy to tell if you are born and raised here then if you are not. If you have family in the area most people are aware of it and connections are made through word of mouth and so on. I do not mean it to sound negative but many small places operate that way. Families that have been here for generations have special connections through a friend of their uncles who owns a business who put's in a good word for their son or cousin or friend. Also 2016 seems to be a difficult year and seems a lot of people are out of work as well.  
 
Edited by winterstorm45, 2016-06-21 14:15:51

In all my years of being an employer (private company in Brandon) I never hired anyone based on who they were or who they knew. My goal was to hire the most qualified person for the job and that was based on qualifications and experience, and to some degree references given me by the applicant.  
 
Most employers are looking to hire the best people they can find to fill any open positions they have. Often, the practice of hiring those you may know, know of, or those recommended by people you know doesn't help to build the most productive team of employees. No employer looking after the best interests of the business is going to hire people based on who they know rather than what they know.

some people are very much mistaken if you think it just applies to Brandon. It's worldwide people even to the tribes in Africa that's a human trait to jobs for the boys in government

I was an administrative assistant for 37 years in a very large company and would have offered you advice and suggestions, but I can't get past your disrespectful username. Could this be indicative of your personality and it comes through in an interview?

It's not only tough in Brandon. I know lots of people that have lost jobs in the last few years. Unfortunately that means more competition. Keep applying......you only have to be the best of the bunch that applies. Play the odds. The more you apply, the more likely you'll get a job.

Could it possibly be your interview skills? Before I retired I did allot of interviews in my career. Many people sell themselves short or do not know how to prepare for an interview.  
 
Have you ever asked for a follow up to try to understand why you did not get a position?  
 
Just a thought.

Could you help me???

FunInThaSun said "Hi everyone:     for the past three-four months, I have been aggressively job hunting for something I can see myself doing long term that is not only professional, but honest and rewarding. I have been in retail for 12 years and would like a change. Clientele can be rewarding and nice, but I find no joy or challenge in my work. I have been applying for administrative work and have had a flurry of interviews and call backs, but no such luck.     I am left lost and confused and beginning to feel hopeless as I am coming up empty. I have a diploma in business administration, an impressive and extensive career long track record of bottom line reasonability from management to volunteering with the hospital and homeless, yet I cannot seem to land anything solid that is outside retail or sales for that matter. Even if I were to continue sales, I would like there to be some challenge and some perquisites along with it, IE: Monday to Friday, a desk where I can accomplish my tasks and paperwork independently and a good pay wage. Wearing a lanyard and making barely above minimum wage is like placing a garbage bag over my head when it comes to my finances: it''''s not going to kill me instantly, but it is slowly.     My point to the thread is this. Has anyone been in my situation? If you have, what did you do to remove yourself from it? And can anyone give me an advice on how to attain a professional "desk" job?     Lately, I am starting to develop a depression from my jobs and I am beginning to lose hope in obtaining something I have dreamed to have for the last three years. I could use some honest advice, and opinions on what I can do, where I could go, or what I need to appear more desirable to a potential employer.     Edited by JehovahsThickness, 2016-06-21 00:00:51"

This just popped up in the classifieds...seems like it might be along the lines of what you're looking for?  
http://ebrandon.ca/itemview.aspx?item_id=1614267&cat_id=103

Personally, I steer away from hiring people I know. More often than not, it ends badly in both your professional and personal relationships. I don't even like giving recommendations. I love my friends dearly, but I disagree with some of their work ethics. As someone who has been on both sides of the hiring process, it is unbelievable hearing the "name dropping".  
 
As someone from outside of Brandon, I definitely did not know the "who's who" in this town. I often see unqualified people in decent/really good jobs because they know this person or that. I have heard people try to name drop in interviews and it immediately bothers me. If you have to rely on others for your job, you are clearly not qualified enough.  
 
I wish the OP the best in finding a suitable job.