Job Hunting When You Are Unemployed Is the Worst

I'm related to a temp agency recruiter but her agency "rejected me" after I was with them for about 3 months as a candidate, because they didn't like me. And yes, recruiters will do shady things behind the scenes and mismanage the job candidate's expectations.

Which is why I know it's always better to job hunt while you are already employed -- even if your workplace is toxic to your wellbeing -- because you're at least collecting a paycheck.

One of the worst things they do in my experience, is post jobs on their company's website. But those "jobs" aren't real. They are mere "ads" to attract job candidates. So, when a recruiter tells you to check their website for job opportunities, it's not so you can be put in a pool of job candidates, it's to give you the run around and mismanage your expectations.

Just today, I had to deal with my recruiter's bald-faced lying to me. I applied for 5 admin-roles via the website (other recruiter's names, not his were listed as the contact) and when I asked him for an update, he gave me a run around answer that those postings are not for real jobs. I was tempted to snap at him, "So why did you tell me to apply for those jobs?" But I held my tongue and said nothing.

There is literally nothing more soul sucking than being 48, and dealing with a 20-something kid out of college, who is a recruiter at a temp agency. They don't do ANYTHING.

Obviously, I can't snap my fingers and have a full time job tomorrow. I can apply directly to jobs online via Indeed.com, Monster.com, LinkedIn.com, BUT most of the time, those jobs are monitored by those companies' recruiters who will only contact you for a phone interview if your resume passes their scan for hard skills and soft skills listed in their job's description.

I'm so fed up that I am in this situation...job hunting is a chore and a pride swallowing act every day. The college kid who is my recruiter hasn't done anything but give me the runaround and bald-face lie to me, and mismanage my expectations. He's getting a $40K salary to not do ****, to be honest. Whereas I'm on food stamps, luckily living with a roommate, relying on my spring grad school refund money to carry me through the summer for rent and bills until the fall semester in late September. But I NEED A JOB.

I'm so angry, so frustrated, and so over the games recruiters play. They are NOT a good resource for finding work. Not at all.

The Secrets Recruiters Won’t Tell You (But Really Want To) | Glassdoor Blog

Bump. Either I'm just unpopular on PC or this isn't that interesting at topic since most everyone has a job. Better to complain about your work place than not have a work place.

I get it. No one likes me here. Fine.

I have been there. When I quit my last job, It took about 6 months to find another and I didn't get a lot of calls for interviews. Not the ideal way to handle things, but I couldn't work for the company's owner any more. I was having panic attacks. I have read articles that already employed people are viewed more favorably in the hiring process.

As much as my boss irritates, me I don't intend to quit this job in part because of this issue. I do worry about ending up long-term unemployed. If they want me gone, they can pay me the severance mandated by my work contract!

There is much less competition if you apply directly to companies. A focused approach using your specialty is often better than a shotgun approach if you have an area of concentration. You can list yourself on Linked In listing accomplishments rather than just job history.

at this point why not just get a job like at some store...it's $$ coming in at least and gives you local experience. may not be in your field but it does give you cash.

One would think so, but so far, all I'm met with are the companies' gatekeepers aka recruiters. Esp. on LinkedIn.

I'm spending hours on my resume for each job that I apply to, b/c I have a lot of strikes against me (age, lots of temp jobs, not stable employment).

I have actually been rejected for internships that I applied to just recently, too.

The shotgun approach of just sending out resumes in the blind, via cover letters, has never worked for me, anyway, so it's not something I do.

But I'm fed up with recruiters. I hate them. They are like cockroaches. They're everywhere, they hiss at you, and they are a nuisance.

StreetcarBlanche,

Over a year I was in your position. I kept applying for temporary job agencies and kept getting the run around. I applied to their jobs posted online and called the job agent and they always said the job was filled. And every once in a long while, a job agent contacted me and I would get back to them and send them an updated modified resume, references, etc. as they requested but I never heard back from them weeks later. And when I asked, they said the position was filled.

A few times i got responses from indeed job postings but many of them were scams. And a few interviews from places that went nowhere. It was very discouraging.

I was working part time as a cashier but I didn't want to do that anymore. I was lucky my boss let me work as few hours possible as it's difficult to job hunt while you work and the employment centers won't register me if i work too many hours.

I was worried about my age too because most people in my field are young and I didn't work in the field for so long, so i had no recent experience. I was with an employment center that specialized in my field but they didn't want to help me for employment so I wasn't registered with them. I won't name them because i don't want to bad name any place. For some reason, they didn't take me seriously because i didn't want to join social media and other demands, the job coach didn't think i was trying hard.

However, I was still volunteering off/on with a group held at that employment center to help people get experience but I couldn't take it seriously.

My friend finally told me to try the ymca employment center but I told her that i saw ymca the previous year at a different location and had no help (when i asked to practice mock interviews, my job coach didn't want to give one on one practice and didn't want to meet in person for any reason and only wanted me to self practice with documents she attached for me).

My friend said she got her job through them at her location. So then I had to close my file with my previous ymca location and meet with the ymca to open a file and through them, I had a job developer and got to make appointments to mock interviews with a job coach. The job developer did not have good English but she told me very helpful things like always act confident and that volunteering gets you jobs and they count as work experience and she found out herself that employers did not hire her and took priority over someone who volunteered for 4 months and she saw i was volunteering and showed me how to put that as unpaid work experience.

So then I started to take volunteering seriously. I took online courses that I believed would help the project. I told the project manager how he can improve his project with modern tools. With his support, I gained relevant work experience on add it to my resume and he was happy to be my job reference. I had a friend who was very good at grammar and organization who helped me with resume.

And when i had a job coach to practice mock interviews, she was very helpful. When I showed up for mock interviews, she noticed I didn't have work clothes and she asked if i wanted to be referred to a non profit organization called Dress For Success whose mission is to help unemployed women get work clothes for job interviews and work.
They helped me pick out business clothes that would have cost me a fortune. And they send me email invitations for makeup and conference.

The job coach actually had leads on jobs and told me about a position and asked if i was interested and i said yes. And she told me if i am ever interested in a job posting, she could connect me with the employer. I was so impressed. I never had so much help from a employment center.

It encouraged me to work harder with my volunteer. And apply for so much job postings. I stopped applying for job agencies and only applied to companies and job postings directly from companies, job boards, non profit organizations and the government websites.

I apologize for the long post. I will stop it here because I am getting too tired and maybe too hard to follow. But because of these things i did and finding the right people to connect with, i have a great job now that i never thought was possible. When i got the support needed, i was able to work harder to get somewhere.

I hope it was helpful.

Job hunting while you are unemployed can be easier because you have the time to look for jobs and you can actually attend the interviews without guilt or begging your boss that you need time away in short notice, ie. next week but you can't say why.

You also have time to volunteer in the field that you want to get into. You can sign up to volunteer places. You have time to go to a non profit organization and ask to meet with them and ask them about volunteering.
You can network easier and to know people because you are available to talk to them.

You also have time to attend these job fairs, workshops, non profit organization and meet with your job coach to ask questions. You can create your own business cards and hand them out to people.

You also have time to research jobs and companies out there and learn what skills are in demand and how you can achieve these skills. You have time think about what steps you should take.

You have time to come up with profession answers when practice answering job interview questions and talk to job coaches and ask for their opinions. You have to think up an elevator pitch and practice them to be job interview ready so it comes natural and confident. Ask people for help.

Unfortunately, the downside is little or no money. But through non profit organizations, they can provide some help like getting interview clothes.

Keep trying. Hang in there.

Thank you for your thoughtful post, SoHappy. You went through exactly what I'm going through so it was really encouraging to read your story and how you overcame the same obstacles I face right now. I really appreciate the way you showed me emotional support with your response, by relating to what I'm going through and sharing the steps you took to overcome what I can't seem to overcome.

I went to my local WorkForce Center, and they seem very similar to temp agencies with regard to how they are bad at managing job seekers' expectations. They are not realistic and they can't promise me that going there to use their computers for free, or attend their interview/resume workshops will also help me network to get a job.

I no longer put any faith in temp agencies as a resource for income in these in-between job situations. I feel like temp agencies are a total scam. The recruiters are shady, give you the runaround, lack scruples, and are divisive assholes, to be honest. Divisive assholes with a paycheck despite not actually helping job seekers like me.

I also agree that volunteering can lead to job opportunities, as can internships. But b/c of my middle-age the internships I've been applying to, reject me (but don't state it's b/c of my age, but I know it is!).

I can't even get a job at a doggy daycare as a customer service agent b/c I'm over-qualified, read: I'm not a high school or college student. Um, so what? I need a job too! I applied at this doggie daycare and the manager told me I was too old on the phone.

So, for people (not you, by the way, but others) to tell me "just take any job," that is the most useless advice and frankly, not practical since I can't do that. I can apply to all kinds of different jobs but I can't control whether or not they'll hire me. Very insensitive advice for those people to tell me just to take any job. No, not going to do that.

I also had my roommate call some of my previous employers and they broke the law by telling her that they would never rehire me. Um, you are legally not allowed to comment on your previous employee's personality or character; you're only allowed as an employer to verify employment dates.

I have to be selective now, with who I use for job references. This will take some digging for people I have lost touch with.

Hi StreetcarBlanche - I read here very often but don't post much - I'm a bit shy about commenting. I am currently 56 (just had a birthday!) and I was in your situation roughly 9 years ago, so close to your age at the time. I had been a stay at home mom for about 13 years, and getting back into "Corporate America" after that absence was extremely difficult. I was going through a divorce so no choice in needing a full-time job. I applied to more than 65 positions (Reception/Administrative Assistant etc.) slightly different than my career prior to marriage/children - but I had started after college as an Executive Assistant so not foreign to me.

I finally got a job - but it was a contracted position to a huge Fortune 500 company - they treat their employees well, but contractors...not so much. I gutted through 4 years there with a terrible commute, as a "receptionist" except that company contracted all reception positions to contract security - so I had to receive training as a security officer and become licensed. Low pay, no benefits, no PTO (5 days off per year with a 3 week written notice any time you wanted to be off!) it was pretty miserable. But after my experience there and building good relationships, I found a position as an Executive Assistant 9 minutes from my home - and it pays very well with excellent benefits. I had to take the "frog" job and gut it out before I could land my "prince" job

Every situation is different but I wanted to say it's hugely stressful to be unemployed and needing to support yourself 100%/no fall-back, and recruiters (for me) are worthless. I purposefully stay off of LinkedIn (would rejoin if I need to job hunt again though) b/c recruiters hassle me so much. I've yet to meet/know a friend/person who got hired via a recruiter. Nonsense, in my opinion.

For me - I may be 56 years old chronologically - but the truth is, I'm a ball of energy, a marathon runner, work out/run two hours per day, LOVE technology, very tech savvy and I generate a s*** ton of work and never miss a deadline. Age discrimination is real! It's unfortunate. When I received the phone interview for my "dream" job. . . the key that opened the door was I had mentioned my volunteer work with a local homeless shelter on my resume. My interviewer/HR had also volunteered with that organization. Once she talked to me and eventually met me, she could see that I'm high energy and more than capable of exceeding in the role.

I think sometimes we need a way in the door - and I truly believe you'll find that role and that opportunity. It sucks while going through it - but keep going. You're actually at a great age to reinvent yourself! I'm in your corner and I'm looking forward to when you post about the fabulous new role you land! Good luck - fingers crossed and sending good vibes your way!

Thank you for your supportive, thoughtful post here mrsselig! Such a relief to meet another PC poster who was exactly in my situation (although I'm not married with children).

So glad that you agree with me that age bias is real. And I already shot myself in the foot today, sending out 12 resumes that were not proofed properly b/c I had about 40 tabs open on my desktop screen. WHOOPS.

I hate LinkedIn but not as much as I despise employment agencies and recruiters (who are useless AF, excuse moi Francais). But so far, I"m finding a ton of jobs to apply for on LinkedIn, so I will use it as a job pool resource for now.

If I could get one of the useless recruiters to actually properly submit me to the admin positions I am qualified for, it would be a step in the right direction. But that hasn't been happening -- just a lot of their typical baloney lip service.

As much as I want to volunteer, I can't divert any of my energy there right now b/c it costs gas money and food money to commute to wherever I'd volunteer and pay for parking, and I don't have the funds set aside to do that. So, if volunteering is my only way in, then oh well. But I'm not working, and my spring grad school refund is down to me budgeting per week so I can't afford to deviate from my budget to include time to volunteer. It costs money to volunteer, unfortunately (gas, parking, etc.).

I'm sure it will be 100 applications before I get even one interview response again. I got one phone interview off of LInkedIn but the recruiter was a 20-something who was not that invested in the phone interview so I knew it wouldn't go any further unfortunately.

Let me get back to you on this subject when i have time. I want to give a well thought out answers.

Oh Blanche girl your struggle is real! I am fearful of when I have to go back to work. I have raised kids and haven't worked since my youngest was born. I am 44 now and even though I have a degree, I have no career and never used it. I am trying to get my act together so I can sub in the schools. I am hoping that it can lead to something that wont be biased against me or ask about employment gaps. Anyone that says there is no age bias is not living in this world. Anyone that says unemployment bias does not exist has no idea what it is like trying to find a job when you do not have one. You are put in an awkward position whether or not you use an agency. Agencies have their own agendas and like you said can just not like you and work against you. Cold applications can seem like the ideal but then you are faced with questions about why you haven't worked and what your "issues" are that make you so "unemployable". They assume you are desperate and will take any bone they throw at you. Sure, it can be desperate but if you are looking for something to build a career or support yourself you are going to need more than just "any" job.

Well you're a mom who raised 4 children so you have a good reason not to work -- and you're children probably appreciate you being around for them too. Good for you for staying home to raise your children.

If subbing is something you want to do, you should have no problem getting back into that and if you have a teaching license you just need to renew it if it lapsed. Most school districts have sub orientations once a month that subs have to attend as an orientation where you fill out paperwork and get a booklet of the district's schools and hours etc. or there are sub placement agencies you can register with who work with school districts -- that's also what I did.

But yes, everything you said that I bolded is 100% accurate. Age discrimination and gender bias in the workplace does exist, and that will never change unfortunately, no matter what is done to stop it. Because...people are assholes.

When you are not employed -- for whatever reason -- employers will question your credibility for the job, which is definitely discrimination and bias all rolled into one. It's like that old mean Greek god Sisyphus pushing that heavy rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down -- that's EXACTLY what it feels like job hunting without being employed.

i am not going to comment on age discrimination because i think you can affect the interviewer by the way you present yourself. How is your hair cared for? is it gray, is it cut in a nice way to show the world you care about how you look?
I am no longer in the work world but i still think about how i look affecting how i am treated. It also isn't if you are fat or thin, show up to an interview clean and pressed with nice hair and minimal make up . Give them a taste of who you will be for them.
Just wanted to add that , as sometimes we overlook minor details when we are feeling down.

I believe there is legislation in Congress now to help w age discrimination. I didn’t keep up my computers skills, which hurt me, but I keep taking classes. Hang in there!

I do agree that our appearance impacts the way people judge us -- esp. in the work force. That's a whole other thread too.

Yep. AARP BACKS BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WOULD COMBAT AGE BIAS

I hope that Congress has passed or will pass this legislation. But it won't change the assholes who still discriminate against the older work force by not hiring anyone over 30. That's why we need that 2009 SC decision reversed. Even our own Supreme Court thinks workers over 30 shouldn't work. That to me is horrifying to me b/c 90% of our Senators and Congress are OVER THE AGE OF 30! They're geriatric for god sake! And they want to punish the American work force over 30 by allowing age and gender discrimination in the work place. It's mind boggling.

Just to add my own experience, I got my first job after college through an alum of my graduate degree program. I got my next two jobs through recruiters. I have never tried LinkedIn, but it has been my experience that recruiters work better than applying to jobs through sites like indeed.

Have you ever been unemployed, down? That's the point of my thread here. That, once unemployed and over 30, it's nearly impossible to get a job again. Nearly impossible. If you're not in your 40s and unemployed then you really don't understand my situation.

why the attack on down, she is only trying to relate her experiences. ppl get hired by their own merit. your skills are just part of what you bring to the table. how well you work with others, including recuirters really paint a picture. Try to get help with interviewing skills, the first minute or 2 of an interview sets the stage for what the interviewer thinks, there may be some fine tells that practice with someone might help in this area.
talk to yourself in a mirror and see if you are making a good first impression.
just food for thought
oh and blanche next time you see me ask me to show you how i am doing my hair on wednesday!!