Looking for a job and getting no response
02-September-2010
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Looking for a job and getting no response

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I read in the news today that the number of people unemployed in the UK passed 2 million for the first time since 1997.  In another recent story 3,000 people queued up for 150 jobs at Twycross Zoo.  Well that's a sign of the times and probably paints quite an accurate picture of the state of our economy and the world as a whole.  Employers (assuming they're in a position to hire) and employment agencies can really pick and choose from a vast number of candidates to get the right person for the job.

Being jobless isn't a lot of fun and apart from the lack of money there are a quite a few things that can make it unpleasant.  However, if there's one thing that really gets up my nose about the whole job hunting process, it's indifferent attitude of employment agencies and employers towards those who apply for jobs.  It was bad enough before the recession kicked in, but now that there are so many people looking for work and less jobs to go around people like myself are just treated with contempt.  Is it really so difficult to pick up a phone or tap out an email and let that person know you've at least taken a look at their CV?

A prime example are the recruitment agencies who ring you up and quiz you about your skills (we're talking IT skills here by the way).  You can see a picture of them in your head as they frantically try to fit a square peg into a round hole so they can get their commission.  If you're lucky enough to be put forward for a job and the client likes you, you might hear from them again, but if you're unsuccessful then you'll be left wondering.  Well thanks a lot.  The jobs that come up through the Job-centre seem to be among the worst though.  Forget applying for the jobs by email because you'll never hear anything one way or another.  In actual fact, for some of the jobs I have rung the phone number and frequently get voicemail or no answer at all.

You'll take whatever you can get to pay the bills

I can recollect one job that came up locally recently and to be fair I was a bit over qualified for it, but in these times you'll take whatever you can get to pay the bills and put food on the table!  When the job first came up I fired off an email application straight away, attached my CV and waited...  Weeks went by so I figured the job must have been filled and yet again, no one can be bothered to even acknowledge applicants that don't make the shortlist. 

Looking for a job, the job centre plus

The same job, however, came up on the Job-centre website about a month later so I thought I'd call this time.  No answer, so I called back again an hour later.  I did this for the rest of the day and through the next as well.  I'd had enough by then and gave up.  Nothing but a waste of time and effort.

I sent off another job application a couple of days ago and naturally haven't heard anything, not even an automated response!  I fitted the job description perfectly and the salary was around about half what it should be for those skills.  They really are taking the proverbial now AND they know they can get away with it!

I find all this extremely irritating.  We are human beings too and it would be nice be shown some level of respect.  When you're at the bottom of the scrapheap it's hard enough without being treated as a nothing.


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you are all more than welcome to email myself directly at bctd1@hotmail.com and i'll personally make sure the data base is drawn up also I need a contact name from the company etc reference number if you want to give it and it shal be freely accessible to all to use it and for free so there you go that's my input to it

i'll start with employment agencys in the city centre in birmingham and the job centres who falsly advertise and big supermarkets and the truth of the jobs through to volunteer sector to colleges also
*billy whizz  29-Jul-2010 22:19

 
Employment Agencies are scum. and HR departments should be doing what they are paid to do, recruit new staff and look after existing staff. Why companies are prepared to pay thousands of pounds per new recruit each year to a bunch of idiots at an Employment agency is beyond me.
*Mark J  22-Jul-2010 18:24

 
totaly agree with you what makes it worse you go to the dole office and they dont belive that you tried either!!!!!!!!!
*squashed hedgehog  30-Jun-2010 10:57

 
I have had my fill of these people after 12 months of unemployment. I have been told by them to leave my degree and Msc off my CV as "it frightens employers" ive been ignored, lied to, ive even had one asking me the name of the HR manager in my wifes company. I have to admit I told him to Fck Off and dont expect me to do his job. Ive started keeping a data base of apllications through these people now and if I have no response after a week I ring them and demand they remove all my details from their systems. They all seem very reluctant to do this until you quote the data protection act, I just inform them that I will re submit for any future vacancies, they dont like it but have to comply. I also leave off my CV any referee details and my home phone number stating that these will be provided on the offer of any interview. Never ever give these people any info about previous managers etc... they only want a contact name in a company. I know some good agencies/consultants exist but unfortunatly the bad ones tar all of them with the same brush.
*Ianmc  06-Jun-2010 19:10

 
It really irritates me whenever I apply for a job and I do not get any responese back? I remember when I applyed for a job for christmas staff for comet and when I attended the group interview all what we were talking was about examples of good and bad customer services. At the end of the interview the woman who works for comet said to the group that you can eitheir choose to be a sales assistant, administrator or warehouse assiatant. I then said to the woman that I wouldnt mind choosing any one of them positions because I thought that it might impress them if I wasnt fussy or choosy about the positions then the woman said to me and the group that the manager will be calling each and every one of you for a one to one interview. Two weeks later no response then after my appointment with a advisor at the jobcentre I thought of going to comets to ask them they havent called me for the one to one interview with the manager I approached the manager in the store and I asked him why didnt he call to the interview then he said that we wernt interested in you but then when I asked him why then he just said because we are not interested in you and I swear to god I felt like punching him in the face. You see when people dont give you the reason why you.ve been turned down so what can you do to increase your chance of getting a job.
*Vman  27-May-2010 23:07

 
How true, if agencies or companies don't want to reply individually then why not even just say that if you have not heard within x days of applying then you are not successful - which to be fair some do. I even went for an interview and was told a decision would be made within a couple of days, that was 3 months ago and still not heard - think I can assume no joy, how hard can a quick call or email actually be?
*thehitmaster  19-May-2010 12:28

 
I'm retiring very,very soon. My mortgage is paid up and I've got no outstanding debts.I've driven a small economical car and only spent money on things that we've needed(not wanted). So pardon me for not feeling sorry for all of you lot that are up to your necks in debt and cannot bear to get rid of the life style that has initiated your troubles.If you think that your life is hard now just wait until after this general election is over and the new government starts the public spending cuts and tax rises.
*Jethro  25-Apr-2010 15:37

 
Hi I am an employer at the other end and whilst I do sympathise with you here is something that may help answer partly why you are experiencing this. I have advertised a number of times and each time my inbox was so full at least 200 applications, that I didnt even have time to open 70% of those. It can be difficult from this side too to try and filter huge volumes of applications especially when there is so much crap like people blanket applying for jobs.Having worked through about 10 CVs I then arrange around 2 - 3 interviews, at this point I also having to work in the day to day business so get busy in that. It may be different for larger comonaies who have HR departments but I gues their volumes of applicants are just so much greater again, I did see a recent job advert for a high street store which said that if you had applied and not heard within 4 weeks, to presume that the job was gone or you were not suitable.

I
*A.Employer (SME)  24-Apr-2010 14:13

 
The shame....... I suggest that you get hold of a freephone number to this insurance company, and keep ringing them up and repeat the story to them, until they give you back the train fare that was conned out of you.
*Gainsborough lad.  02-Apr-2010 07:47

 
At another "interview" again where I had to travel up to London, at the HQ of French company, supposedly to meet the prospective manager, I was told all they wanted from me was a sample of my handwriting. They made me fill out a sheet of paper with my scrawl.

That was that. Nothing else. Again no expenses were paid

I never heard from them again.
*Not Crossing My Ts or Dotting my Is  01-Apr-2010 21:30

 
I once applied for a job, with a very large insurance company. They invited me for an interview at their main office in the country. I turned up on time. Instead of meeting the prospective boss and other company representatives in persons I was told that all I would be required to do was sit in front of a TV recording camera, and told to "sell myself".

So it was for 10 minutes.

I left the office. I don't think I was even paid the costs for my trip. Or any other out of pocket expenses for my time and trouble. I didn't even get TV rights.

I never heard from them again.
*The Shame that Our Establishment Represents  01-Apr-2010 21:27

 
I once applied for a job for which I was asked to come to an interview with just 2 hours notice of that interview, at a location 40 miles away. I had to jump on a train more or less immediately to meet the deadline. When I got there the person who was supposed interview me had gone out. I got a substitute interviewer. They had not got any of my information or details on me. I started the interview with trying to explain who I was and why I might be suitable for the position. The interviewer stopped me dead in my tracks 17 seconds later. She said I was too pushy and was not the kind person they required. The interview ended there and then.

I ordered them to pay my return train fare.

They refused.

This is the kind of scum organisations we have in this country.
*Scraping the Barrel  01-Apr-2010 15:27


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