Discussions

So I have must of applied for a million jobs. Any where from serving to a management positions ...minutes from my house to hours from my house... what am I doing wrong?? I have the skills and qualifications to back my resume up .. I am so defeated and lost..

Pound the streets, go every where and leave your resume.  
 
Job searching is like a full time job. Every day all day. Just going to a few stores in the past few days, I see help wanted on the doors (sorry can't remember which ones). That is if you are interested in retail.

I found that when u take your resume into a place of business look professional and ask to speak to a manager when leaving a resume. Then about a week later phone to make sure the manager has read your resume and ask if they have filled that particular position yet. If not , you can ask if they have a few minutes to speak to you about your qualifications. This will then let them know you are serious about the job and you may be looked at as a better employee than someone else.

Hi. You seem to be applying for a wide range of jobs. Do you have a specific career choice that you are educated at?

in this town you literally have to ask to speak to the mgr or the supervisor on duty, sounds bad but ive seen some staff just shred or toss the resumes out. theres lots of competition thats for sure, but places like the Canad, Maple leaf, Paladin, and cleaning companies are always looking for good staff. make sure your resume is geared towards the job youre applying for as much as possible too: if youve mostly worked at say cooking and are applying for a retail job, sometimes they will put it to the bottom of the pile due to lack of experience.but again i strongly encourage you to speak with the hiring mgr or sup. if its an ad you email to do a follow up a few days later in person.

Its hard to comment when: one doesnt know in what area "you have tons of experience" what is the turn over of jobs in that area. I've seen resumes that are full of typing spelling mistakes or with poorly formatted or set up poorly. Some did not fully say what they did or have lots of short term positions that make you wonder why 5 positions over the last two yrs. Some that have poor social skills. There are so many reason for not hiring or considering a resume. Find some feedback from potential employers what they liked or did not like on your reseme. Just ask. Im never afraid to give feedback

i have seen many, many resumes come across my desk. The most effective things you can do in my opinion are:  
 
1. Speak to someone in management in person when possible. Don't just leave resume with front end staff. Make sure you are professional at all times. Dress the part, act the part. No matter what the job is that you are applying for.  
 
2. If emailing resume, ensure that cover letter is attached, and it is relevant and personalized to the position being applied for.  
 
3. In my eyes, the most important thing you can do is follow up. Always contact the employer shortly after to ensure that they received the resume (when sent by email), and to offer any other information that might be relevant. This show your interest in the job, and that you aren't just a "flyer dropper", handing out resume after resume at every place and never going back. Employers want to know that the person they hire will have interest and passion in what they are doing.  
 
In some cases, it could very well be that your resume is not appealing. If you have a bunch of experience unrelated to the job requested, or just no experience at all, your cover letter better be on point, and give reason why you should be considered. The less experience you have, the more money and time the employer has to spend on training. This doesn't mean it wont happen, but you have to SELL yourself.  
 
If you want some feedback, i am more than happy to take a look at your resume / cover letter and give you some points.  
 
 
Good luck in your hunt!

Do you have just a general resume or do you make one specifically for each job you apply for? When you see an advertised position, you need to demonstrate that you have the qualifications they are looking for. I agree with following up and bringing your resume in person. Easier to remember a face and even easier to overlook a random resume with no association to a real person.  
 
In curious what field of jobs you are looking for? We don't seem to be able to tell on here and maybe the places you are applying to can't tell either to know if you are a good candidate.  
 
Food for thought.....

Make sure your voicemail is not full and that you return calls from employers (even if you decide you are no longer interested in that position or have obtained another job in the meantime) - I've heard some employers keep track of that and don't bother wasting their time the next time they are hiring. One other thing is to make sure you specify which position you are applying for - if you drop off a resume without a cover letter and the employer is advertising for more than one position, it's likely that your resume wasn't placed in the running for any of the positions (always check employer websites on top of ebrandon and the newspaper).  
 
My one friend told me how she couldn't find a job in Brandon and then proceeded to share how picky she was being about shifts/hours...lol. If you truly need a job, you might have to work some non-ideal shifts until something ideal comes up.  
 
Gook luck in your search!

Go over your resume and cover letter very carefully. Spelling errors in your letter might get you dropped, especially if you are applying for any sort of clerical job.  
 
Also-be careful what you have posted on Facebook. Managers do hunt you up on FB and check to see what you post, what you have for pictures and such. The wrong.picture-will probably end your hopes of an interview.

Any resumes we've seen, if they have more than two spelling/grammar mistake on the front page immediately get rejected. You should have enough care to get it proofread by at least two additional people.  
Also Facebook is very important. Even if your Facebook profile is locked, lots of times there's lots of information from 2012 and older that is public so even though it's years ago it can look very incriminating when people are searching for potential employees.

You hit the nail on the head. If you are a professional looking for work we look at your spelling and Facebook. I don't know about other jobs but that's likely the problem. Watch what you post and your spelling.......

Grace1956 said "You hit the nail on the head. If you are a professional looking for work we look at your spelling and Facebook. I don't know about other jobs but that's likely the problem. Watch what you post and your spelling....... "

I hope HR personnel are verifying accounts before they make judgments. There are many online accounts with my name: however, none are mine. I have even been asked why I wouldn't add a friend & had to explain that whatever the account, it wasn't me.

is all about who you are and who you know, always has been.

I've pm u

I'm a health care worker, with a home in brandon. I've applied over 80 times locally.  
You know where I work right now? 6 hours north of here.  
 
Do I get to see my children? No.  
My spouse? No.  
I pay rent, and mortgage, and daycare.  
 
I ask myself why am I living in a province that has all these job postings but won't hire people qualified?  
 
Every day, I beg my spouse for us to move, because I am at that point where I can't do this anymore. I apply and apply and apply - with never any call backs.  
 
It makes me feel frustrated to see jobs given to those without experience and the kick is - they don't have the education, the certifications required for it.  
 
So you are not the only one - I feel this way as well and regret in my soul the move to this province- worst decision of my life.

Johnbisonbear said "is all about who you are and who you know, always has been. "

Everyone says that - but just thinking of the people I know that have good jobs, did not know anyone to "who was in the know"  
 
I got two very good, long term jobs by pounding the streets, neither one was advertising. One of them I worked for 23 years at.

As someone who does hiring, I can't stress the importance of a cover letter enough. If someone applies for a position and doesn't have a cover letter, I don't even look at their resume. As others pointed out, ensure it is tailored to the position you're applying for, a good cover letter can get you screened in, a poor one (poor grammar, spelling mistakes, not tailored to the position) can get you screened out.  
 
As a side note, over the last year or so, I've found it to be an employer's market - for positions I'd expect to be hiring someone straight out of school with little to no experience, instead I'm hiring someone who is over qualified.

Curious if you have been following up after you guys have not been successful candidates.  
 
If you find out why you were not considered, perhaps you can fix the reasons you are provided with.  
 
A question to the people out there reading this who do see resumes and applications:  
Do people call in and ask for feedback?

Johnbisonbear said "is all about who you are and who you know, always has been. "

You're so right with this! It always has been and always will be. I've seen people who aren't even qualified get their position.  
 
I also agreed with the guy who commented get out of Brandon. HAHA He was pretty funny. Sad his post got deleted.

Johnbisonbear said "is all about who you are and who you know, always has been. "

Really, a statement like that is a disservice to those members of the workforce that have gone out and made their own way, and I would consider that number to be much larger than those that have managed to get jobs they don't qualify for by being "connected" in some way.  
 
Having been an employer for years myself, I will say I never hired someone because of who they were or who they knew, I hired them because I believed they were the best fit for the job out of those that applied for said job. I've also hired people that were out pounding the pavement looking for jobs that weren't being advertised.  
 
If it's all about who you are and who you know, how did such a large percentage of the workforce (you know, the ones with jobs) get these connections?

fargobob said "    Johnbisonbear said "is all about who you are and who you know, always has been. " Really, a statement like that is a disservice to those members of the workforce that have gone out and made their own way, and I would consider that number to be much larger than those that have managed to get jobs they don't qualify for by being "connected" in some way.     Having been an employer for years myself, I will say I never hired someone because of who they were or who they knew, I hired them because I believed they were the best fit for the job out of those that applied for said job. I've also hired people that were out pounding the pavement looking for jobs that weren't being advertised.     If it's all about who you are and who you know, how did such a large percentage of the workforce (you know, the ones with jobs) get these connections? "

your inbox.

Done. I left you a reply.

These threads drive me crazy. People complain they can't find a job but when one is being offered. They say oh well I can't do that. Maybe that's y u can't find one?! Too picky. Yes it is hard to find a mon-Friday 8-5 type job. So if that's what you want good luck. That could be y ur having a hard time finding a job. Simple if u need a job. Take what you can get

You sent me a message for ur company that is hiring. I told u in the message why I have kids and can't commit to going to a training session for six weeks straight in Calgary as I have looked into this insurance company before. That's not being picky one bit! That's saying I have no one to take my kids to school or in the evenings after a days work! I can't pack my kids up and take them to the training session plus after ur done ur training session if no one wants insurance from u who is going to pay my bills If I can't convince someone to buy insurance.

DogLover23 said "These threads drive me crazy. People complain they can't find a job but when one is being offered. They say oh well I can't do that. Maybe that's y u can't find one?! Too picky. Yes it is hard to find a mon-Friday 8-5 type job. So if that's what you want good luck. That could be y ur having a hard time finding a job. Simple if u need a job. Take what you can get "

I participated in one of these job threads a few months ago and was sent a few job leads. Working with livestock, selling life insurance, working at a golf course in Onanole. I have zero experience in working with large livestock and quite honestly, as a petite woman, it scared me. I am not interested in a commission based job trying to peddle life insurance (as well as being required to go to Calgary for 6 weeks for training) And I didn''t want to commute to Onanole to work part time at a golf course, it made no sense financially. What''s wrong with wanting a job you''re comfortable with or have experience with? I am not to proud to work, I just wanted work in a field I had experience in (retail, office, restaurant). Thankfully, another kind poster understood and asked to meet me. I am now employed part time in a small private office doing filing, scheduling, banking etc.  
 
Edited by burkejan, 2017-06-19 10:15:29

DogLover23 said "These threads drive me crazy. People complain they can't find a job but when one is being offered. They say oh well I can't do that. Maybe that's y u can't find one?! Too picky. Yes it is hard to find a mon-Friday 8-5 type job. So if that's what you want good luck. That could be y ur having a hard time finding a job. Simple if u need a job. Take what you can get "

people who have to work two to three jobs just to get by because there is not enough jobs that pay a living wage here in Brandon. Unless you luck out and get hired by the city or the hospital.

burkejan said "    DogLover23 said "These threads drive me crazy. People complain they can't find a job but when one is being offered. They say oh well I can't do that. Maybe that's y u can't find one?! Too picky. Yes it is hard to find a mon-Friday 8-5 type job. So if that's what you want good luck. That could be y ur having a hard time finding a job. Simple if u need a job. Take what you can get " I participated in one of these job threads a few months ago and was sent a few job leads. Working with livestock, selling life insurance, working at a golf course in Onanole. I have zero experience in working with large livestock and quite honestly, as a petite woman, it scared me. I am not interested in a commission based job trying to peddle life insurance (as well as being required to go to Calgary for 6 weeks for training) And I didn''t want to commute to Onanole to work part time at a golf course, it made no sense financially. What''s wrong with wanting a job you''re comfortable with or have experience with? I am not to proud to work, I just wanted work in a field I had experience in (retail, office, restaurant). Thankfully, another kind poster understood and asked to meet me. I am now employed part time in a small private office doing filing, scheduling, banking etc.     Edited by burkejan, 2017-06-19 10:15:29"

while i understand some jobs may be an absolute no go for certain people (im scared of large animals too) but i wanted to point out that you cant always take jobs you have experience in, at one point you had never worked in a restaurant, office or retail job, right?  
 
so for those of you looking remember not to be afraid to try a new job or career, you may love it or at least learn a new skill  
 
ALSO please format your resume clearly and check for spelling (never thought id say that, because as you see im horrible too LOL) but for a job please put your best foot forward, for ALL jobs! if your resume sounds like you are barely literate i feel like i probably cant train you even if its easy tasks so no im not wasting my time and calling you

From someone who hires:  
 
Social Media is extremely important. If your facebook is full of racist babble or your twitter is nothing but stories about how you love to get blackout drunk, you probably won't get called for an interview. Companies and HR people DO search your name on social media.  
 
Have a LinkedIn account.  
Have your previous co-workers/bosses as references. Not friends or family members.  
 
It may sound disingenuous, but don't volunteer information that may hurt your chances. If you know you're moving to Alaska later this year, or you plan on getting pregnant in the next six months, don't mention it unless you have to. No one wants to hire someone for a full time job if they know they will be looking again in a few months.  
 
Remember you're not the centre of the universe. If you absolutely must have 3 weeks off in July, don't expect anyone to hire you in June. If you're applying for a job, be prepared to work - not on your schedule, but on theirs.  
 
Here are a few examples of things I have seen:  
- applicant came in to deliver resume wearing pajama pants and slippers. Goodbye.  
- applicant told me in interview that she absolutely must be able to answer her texts at all times because her mom freaks out if she doesn't answer. Goodbye.  
- applicant was actually looking down at her phone and trying to text DURING the interview. Get out of my office.  
- applicant claimed to know lots about our business, then failed to answer even basic questions. Seeya.  
- applicant thought that it was perfectly normal to leave work at any time to tend to their children. Nope. Not all the time - emergencies, yes... but not every damn day.  
 
I am flabbergasted at how many people applying for jobs don't try AT ALL to look good, speak well, or even read the requirements in the ad.

BINGO. You wonder why you can't get a job............ Get off your stinking cell phone and ladies get your bloody PJ's off.  
You think your appearance doesn't matter well it does. If you can't come in looking put together you sure in the heck wouldn't be working for us