Anatomy of a (finally successful) job search

[dmallind]

Not that this is news to anyone - but it's a tough market for jobseekers. After finally getting an offer after just over 9 months I looked back on my records to see what it took and the numbers are quite alarming. I have to keep track of job applications just in case the unemployment folks need proof of eligibility, so I can accurately state the following numbers.

I applied for:
189 jobs via Monster
144 jobs via Careerbuilder
2 jobs via Hotjobs (I hate that site)
4 jobs via a trade website
61 jobs via company website applications or from recruiters contacting me.

As it happens that comes to a nice round number - 400 applications. I was out of work in the early 90s recession and while I have no way to demonstrate it, I believe it took less than 1/8 of that number then - certainly took less time (4 months). I was also out of work in the UK in the mid to late 80s when we had unemployment even higher than it is now here - and I lived in a hard hit region with over 20% out of work. I have limited recollection but I am sure it did not take 400 applications then either - or close to it.

I have no data on how many calls from HR I got but I'm going to estimate somewhere around 50-60. Also have no idea how many hiring authorities I spoke to but maybe 30-40.

I kept track of my expenses for tax purposes so I can accurately state I ended up with 13 companies where I went to an in person interview - in 7 different states (my job search was national). I drove 5542 miles and including mileage have $3297 in expenses.

The offer is about $20K less than I made for a similar job, but I don't necessarily think that is an indication of the job market as I am moving from an industry that traditionally pays higher than the one I am going to. Nor is it a complaint really as I will still be very comfortable.

I am fortunate in that I was financially able to build up a couple of years' living expenses in savings (a very very good idea if you can do so - now I just have to build up a good third of it back again) so I did not suffer as much as many out there facing the same or worse job markets, but even so I found the process rather frustrating. I at least had the ability to search nationally and cannot imagine how much worse prospects are for people who do not have the same flexibility, especially considering I live in the suburbs of Buffalo and work in manufacturing - not exactly an ideal location/industry combination. The job is actually in the same state but 200 or so miles away incidentally.

Rather annoyingly, I achieved very little in this time in other areas. You'd think long term unemployment would at least give people the opportunity to complete those neglected projects or do something that takes a lot of time. Maybe other people have had more success there, but I quickly found myself doing very little but look for work. I guess I read a few more books than usual, but it was completely different from how I had always thought I would use a long chunk of time off from work - I think even though I never came near depression or serious emotional problems, it was very hard for me to get motivated to do all the things I thought I would. Unemployment for a long time is a weirdly draining experience even for those fortunate enough not to experience great hardship - there is something so ingrained in people about work and the lack of it.

[valerief]

1. Congrats. Which search technique worked for you? nt

[dmallind]

4. It was a careerbuilder application - for my type of job web listings are #1 by a mile.

[valerief]

8. Hope it works out for you! You put in a lot of work when you weren't "working". nt

[tridim]

2. Congrats! I'm still looking..

but it's getting depressing seeing most jobs that paid $80k/year in 1999 now being advertised at $10/hr. I can't even consider them because they don't cover even a modest to low-end lifestyle.

[dmallind]

10. To be honest I didn't either

If I was in dire financial straits I would have to, but luckily it didn't last that long.

Funnily enough I did get to the stage of looking for jobs at a lower level than I was before, but my success rate was FAR lower in terms of interviews etc than when I applied for more senior positions akin to my career. There was one in particular that really surprised me. The company - local - was installing an ERP system in which I am an expert and which has few installations in the area (trust me I looked) and wanted that expertise. They asked for professional certifications that I have (and have taught). They asked for some knowledge of techniques like Lean and Six Sigma where I have deep experience, and they were paying a salary which, while obviously less than I was used to, was livable for me. I made that very clear, and had what I would consider (and I have lots of practice on both sides of the deal) a very successful phone interview. Nada. I don't know if it's the expectation that I would bolt as soon as higher jobs became easier to find (I would not - frankly the idea of a contributor job with a salary I can live on happily is more appealing than management to me - another thing I made clear) or a hiring manager who was a bit insecure but it was really strange that that one did not get past the initial phone screen.

[sharesunited]

3. Congratulations! You are also 15 years older than the last time you went through this.

That alone works against you.

[dmallind]

5. Possibly true - I'm early 40s so age discrimination not TOO much of an issue yet

If this happens again in ten years I expect it to be. Luckily I'm in the sweet spot of having lots of experience and still having a long working time ahead of me right now.

[tonysam]

13. That helps

That won't help in my case. I am almost 55 years old, and I was basically robbed of not only my career--teaching--which I cannot go back into because of systemwide blacklisting, but robbed of my state retirement and even of full Social Security benefits unless by some miracle I can find work again.

I have put in hundreds of applications in all kinds of work and have had only about 7 interviews, half of which were AmeriCorps. It's hopeless in my case.

Unless I can somehow get it together to go into self-employment, my working career is over seven years before I can retire "early."

[Not Me]

6. Congratulations

Your perseverance paid off, and proves that job hunting IS a full time job.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. I think it is rooted in the need to feel productive

Job searching is not productive. It is a seemingly endless game of throwing spaghetti up on the wall to see if something will stick. That is what I have found the most draining about being unemployed this year.

I wish I had the mental energy to tackle "projects" during my time. I spent the last several months hanging out here, which while educating, is not productive either.

Hoping to join you in the workforce very soon. Congrats! :toast:

[dmallind]

11. Probably - it is demotivating isn't it? Good luck to you too! NT

[Roland99]

9. I feel your pain. Felt it twice, actually

2 1/2 months unemployed this year and 7 months back in 2002-2003.

A LOT of my time earlier this year was spent scouring several online job sites, tweaking my resume, keeping up-to-date on technology needed for my skillset. It was draining emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Glad you have found a new job!

[99 Percent Sure]

12. Searching for employment is a full-time job.

Thank you for a positive and encouraging post.

Because I exhausted all UI benefits at the end of August and have therefore been in daily survival mode just to keep a roof over my head, I've slackened on my usual 5 resumes per day times 6 days a week to employers via job search and employer sites. I'm starting again though.