Headhunters! (job finding rant)

I've been out of work for just about a year now. I left on good terms, giving a month notice. I have had a bunch of interviews, but am trying to improve quality of life, rather than quantity of money made. It is indubitably rough out there. At my last job, I did everything-shop manager, weldor, maintenance, driver, forklift and crane trainer/operator, machine operator, HR, etc. My resume is, if anything, too crowded.

So, for whatever reason, I'm having trouble even getting people to talk to me, and going against my better judgement, have talked to some temp agencies-they seem to be how a lot of places hire.

It goes like this: I send a resume, they call, and ask if I can come in for "an interview". I say yes, and when I show up, they want me to fill out an application, various paperwork, take a Pee test, and "start tomorrow". A couple of times through this, and I'm finally smart enough to ask what hours, where, what do I need, and the like. Their S.O.P seems to be get them to commit, then run them into the ground.

I understand all that, but the miscommunication, along with the nonchalance is staggering. Take the urinalysis, they tell me take it to the temp, temp asks why I brought results back. I ask where the jobsite is, and what I need to bring. I'm told to call the contact at the job, he knows neither address, nor any streets near there. He finally gets me an address at 8PM. I am to arrive at 7AM. The address is wrong. 5 texts later, he gave me directions. They are wrong. Eventually, I just gave up. If these people can't answer the simple questions When, and Where, I figured I'd just keep walking.

The question is: is the system broken? I go to places, and am told to apply online. I canvass Indeed with my resume, and only get headhunters. I'm overqualified, yet under-qualified. Never just right. Does anyone have any advice? Just how the heck does someone attain a job these days?

Key words. Your resume, as far as I can tell, is entirely about key words- I think they're just searching for them with a program and that lots of places don't even read beyond that, at least on the big sites.

If you see something you actually want, try to apply through the company website rather than a general job site. Don't be afraid to tailor your resume to the individual job first. Also, send a lot of applications- I'm on my 3rd job in 5 years, and have probably sent 20 applications for every response I've gotten.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Key words. Your resume, as far as I can tell, is entirely about key words- I think they're just searching for them with a program and that lots of places don't even read beyond that, at least on the big sites.

Yes, your resume must pass through a grep script before a human ever sees it. For a while people were spamming their resumes with every keyword imaginable in invisible text to get past this, but then the search programs were updated to make sure the text was visible in the document.

wheelsmithy wrote: The question is: is the system broken?

Absolutely.

wheelsmithy wrote: Just how the heck does someone attain a job these days?

A PhD in machine learning seems to do the trick. Let me know if you find another way.

GameboyRMH wrote:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Key words. Your resume, as far as I can tell, is entirely about key words- I think they're just searching for them with a program and that lots of places don't even read beyond that, at least on the big sites.

Yes, your resume must pass through a grep script before a human ever sees it. For a while people were spamming their resumes with every keyword imaginable in invisible text to get past this, but then the search programs were updated to make sure the text was visible in the document.

In that case, pro tip: the words they're looking for are probably in the job description

In reply to wheelsmithy:

My previous position for a large defense contractor I had to ask them which resume they were looking at since I had applied to multiple different departments multiple times (A&P, Avionics, Network Support, Communications.)

The system sucks. I ended up in an A&P body shop for a while for money while I applied to positions I really wanted.

I would spend at least a few minutes tailoring resumes for individual positions and include a bunch of the keywords/experiences that they list.

The easiest way to get a job is to know somebody at the company that you want to work for.

As for the rest of it - let me know if you figure it out.

I suck at resumeing.

In reply to wheelsmithy:

If you wouldn't mind moving to central Illinois, we have openings for guys with your skillset and knowledge:

Mechanical Technician

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Key words. Your resume, as far as I can tell, is entirely about key words- I think they're just searching for them with a program and that lots of places don't even read beyond that, at least on the big sites.

Yes, your resume must pass through a grep script before a human ever sees it. For a while people were spamming their resumes with every keyword imaginable in invisible text to get past this, but then the search programs were updated to make sure the text was visible in the document.

In that case, pro tip: the words they're looking for are probably in the job description

What if the Job's called "Web Developer" and not "PHP HTML CSS Javascript SQL AJAX AWS Zend Developer?"

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Then you have to scroll down to the part where it says "Must be proficient in:"

I wonder what your resume looks like. I also wonder what you're really wanting to do.

Web searches to try and get ideas of what the agency operates like would probably be smart. LinkedIn can be useful although I haven't found to be all that great. That said, it did help me get my current job; I applied online for a job that honestly wasn't a great fit for me, but that was discovered in the interview process. Okay, no big deal. I made sure I got the names of folks that I thought were decent people based on the interviews and made a few connections with them on LinkedIn. When jobs were posted here that seemed more more in-line with what I would be a better fit for, I made sure to contact one of them to find out more. That lead to a new req being created basically to get me into a phone interview, and then they made me an offer without another on-site interview.

That's a long winded way of saying that it helps to network (I know hate that term...) and touch base with folks when it seems like they might have something that works for you.

Resume is about keywords. And describing accomplishments in those positions vs just job duties? Accomplishments > duties. As a welder did you increase the % of welds that consistently passed inspection? As a crane trainer did you reduce incidents and improve time between picks vs the previous trainer? In maintenance did you reduce downtime for repairs?

That's what your resume should focus on.

Also, I can't completely tell from your first sentence, but did you do you leave your last job before having a confirmed offer/offer letter from another job?

GameboyRMH wrote:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Key words. Your resume, as far as I can tell, is entirely about key words- I think they're just searching for them with a program and that lots of places don't even read beyond that, at least on the big sites.

Yes, your resume must pass through a grep script before a human ever sees it. For a while people were spamming their resumes with every keyword imaginable in invisible text to get past this, but then the search programs were updated to make sure the text was visible in the document.

In that case, pro tip: the words they're looking for are probably in the job description

What if the Job's called "Web Developer" and not "PHP HTML CSS Javascript SQL AJAX AWS Zend Developer?"

If a company doesn't put in the necessary skill set what languages/technologies they are looking for you to be proficient in..........it's not likely a place you'd want to bother applying.

wheelsmithy wrote: [I] am trying to improve quality of life, rather than quantity of money made.

Whatever you do, do not tell your prospective employer this. Despite your best intentions, they hear this as "I'm looking for a position where I can show up, do nothing, get paid, and never get fired".

Why they hear that I'll never know.

I think that this will be the major "millenial" impact on HR. Finding a way to employ smart people who want to work less than 40-50-60 hours and are ok getting paid less than the 40-50-60 hour folks but still significantly contribute. Right now if you said (after even being offered a position) "Ill take that job for 20 hrs a week and 50% of the offered pay and benefits", they would say, "Sorry, we don't know how to handle that." And worse still, even if you then accepted the job at the 40 hr original offer, you would already be labeled as the guy trying to do less work than everyone else.

This is a huge conundrum for me as well, but I think your only chance is to work hard for a few years with a good company and then negotiate with them within their means. Maybe trade a raise for an extra week of vacation. Ask for all Fridays off in return for a 20% pay cut. It is much more likely if they already know your work ethic and abilities.

In reply to Robbie:

That's definitely true, but is also industry dependent. My wife is a chemist and just accepted a new job, she negotiated for 4 9 hour days in order to cut down on commute time and have a day to spend with the baby as well.

Robbie wrote:

wheelsmithy wrote: [I] am trying to improve quality of life, rather than quantity of money made.

I think that this will be the major "millenial" impact on HR. Finding a way to employ smart people who want to work less than 40-50-60 hours and are ok getting paid less than the 40-50-60 hour folks but still significantly contribute. Right now if you said "Ill take that job for 20 hrs a week and 50% of the offered pay and benefits", they would say, "Sorry, we don't know how to handle that." Maybe trade a raise for an extra week of vacation. Ask for all Fridays off in return for a 20% pay cut. It is much more likely if they already know your work ethic and abilities.

Part of this is because we've got pretty dead set ideals about what "part-time" and "full-time" are in the USA. Part-time workers get paid ass and get no benefits, full-time workers get paid a living wage (usually) and are expected to live at work.

I've often wondered how this shows up in Canada, where things like health insurance aren't a concern of employers or employees. Is it easier to find 30hr/week schedules in Canada, or has American work-life balance influenced them as well?

The easiest way to determine what kind of work-life balance an employer has got is to ask "what is the work load like? Is it stable, or do we go through slow times? During those slow-times, will I be laid off? "

If they answer with "work is busy busy busy and we need more people" that tells me "you'll be expected to put in extra hours."

If they answer "work is busy now, but once we're caught up we may have to lay people off" that means you'll work extra hours today and tomorrow you'll be out of a job.

If they say "we're replacing a few positions we've lost over the years" then that's the job you want.

It took me 2 years to find a job i wanted after i was laid off, i spent alot of that slaving away for temp services and in the end i got my job because i knew the owner.

cmcgregor wrote: In reply to Robbie: That's definitely true, but is also industry dependent. My wife is a chemist and just accepted a new job, she negotiated for 4 9 hour days in order to cut down on commute time and have a day to spend with the baby as well.

She is a genius and an excellent negotiator (but you probably already knew that)!

Good work.

I always come back to one simple truth of getting a job: people want to hire someone who already has the job. Meaning that they are not looking for someone with training or potential: they want someone who is already doing the same thing and has been for a while. I have never hired anyone without a proven track record.

If your skillset is pretty common, then you need to set yourself apart not by what you CAN do, but by what you HAVE done.

"I am proficient in MIG, TIG and Flux-Capacitor welding." So what, so are 10 other guys, I am moving on to the next resume.

"My expertise in MIG, TIG and Flux-Capacitor saved the company money by reducing the number of foremen they required." NOW I am interested.

The term I've heard for that is "dragon slaying stories". Action words and not just terms or things participated in are good.

Have you checked in at usajobs.gov yet? It's the only legit site for all federal jobs (that's where the ".gov" is important).

I know there is a VAMC in your town and while "welder" might not be an opening, you might qualify as "machinist" or "maintenance mechanic". Even "motor vehicle operator" to get your foot in the door.

pheller wrote: I've often wondered how this shows up in Canada, where things like health insurance aren't a concern of employers or employees. Is it easier to find 30hr/week schedules in Canada, or has American work-life balance influenced them as well?

Sorry but even in the most communist province in Canada (Quebec), the mindset is the same. The company I work for right now would greatly benefit from people willing to take reduced pay for reduced time (myself included). But they prefer not to hire enough staff and overwork the staff they have until said staff moves on to better pastures. This is the norm.

Thanks for all that, guys. To answer some questions, yes, I left the last job without securing work elsewhere. Took a few months to spruce up, then sell my house. I was to be the first outpost, at which point, the girlfriend would quit her job, sell her house, and we'd relocate some 3 hours away. We found a town we like, and figured we'd find a way to make it work. That could include Jobs at supermarkets, box stores, or in our chosen fields. (That pretty much rules out Central Illinois, Jed. The thought is appreciated).

Honestly, I have a broad experience/skillset, and am not that picky. I just want to be treated decent. Healthcare is a big concern. I have blown up on the launching pad with a couple of prospective employers because they demanded 60+ hrs a week. Employers expect to own you these days.

Thank You one and all for responses. I have new insight from the knowledge imparted. Every little bit does help

wheelsmithy wrote: I have blown up on the launching pad with a couple of prospective employers because they demanded 60+ hrs a week. Employers expect to own you these days.

Dang, that was lucky! God durn near lost a $400 handcart!

Have you made contacts while at work like contractors, inspectors or suppliers? In my field I found the chemical reps, boiler inspectors and even the Fastenal guy who stocks the plant hardware can get the skinny on dozens of plants they service and any potential openings before they ever hit the jobs page. Even report on the work atmosphere of the place. LinkedIn is another good networking place.