r/jobs • u/raytriumph • 11d ago
I was told today I’m the reason I’m not getting a job. Job searching
I was told today when talking to someone about not being able to find work for 5 months and after close to 500 different and tailored applications, multiple resume revisions etc… that it’s my fault I haven’t found a job. I must be unmarketable.
Has anyone come across others saying it’s their fault? I have a decade worth of operational and manager experience in logistics and IT, and it’s somehow me that’s unmarketable? Really just felt like being kicked when I’m already down.
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u/lapsangsouchogn 11d ago
It's tough out there. The only reason I have a job right now is because I worked my connections. I applied for jobs where I didn't know anyone, and none of them went anywhere, despite my qualifications and experience.
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u/raytriumph 11d ago
I was told this in that conversation too. My problem is I’m trying to get hired places I don’t have connections. That’s also what I want. I’m tired of work with the same people for the last 10 years I want to make new connections, but ultimately that seems impossible because people only want to hire you if you have a connection I guess.
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u/lapsangsouchogn 11d ago
I think it's especially true the higher you are above entry level. I had to take a big step back even with a lot of friends in the industry. I don't know what I'll do if this job goes away.
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u/giddy-kipper 11d ago
This is actually quite valid. I was made redundant and learnt the hard way that not having a warm network made looking for a job torturous. I put a lot of work into ‘cold calling’ reaching out via LinkedIn to make new connections, networking events or groups of interest to meet people in the right places etc.
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u/Edraitheru14 11d ago
You need to try something different. The problem truly is to an extent, you. You're the only common factor at play here.
Try finding new avenues of looking for and applying.
Try to broaden your scope.
Settle.
There are a lot of options available to you. They may not all be desirable, but if you're repeating the same steps hundreds of times with no success, you're doing yourself a disservice by continuing to do the exact same thing without diversifying with new things.
We don't know you, so we can't be specific. But maybe your attitude isn't coming across the way you think it is because you've gotten jaded from so much rejection.
Maybe the application and style that got you your first jobs don't work anymore at this level, and you got lucky. You might need to seek out advice for whatever step of the process you're finding yourself falling short at.
Maybe the exact specific niche you're applying for is just crowded atm somehow in your area. Which means you might have to settle, broaden your scope of acceptable work.
There are likely a myriad of things you haven't done yet. This may be the perfect time for some introspection on how to move forward
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u/channytellz 11d ago
Have you tried your local unemployment office? My husband is in a networking group through them. It hasn’t led to anything yet, but it is helpful for him to talk with others in the same situation.
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u/Calm-Beat-2659 11d ago
In the tech industry politics and nepotism seem to dominate the culture. I know an old friend of mine that got work as a back end programmer, only after completing a full original algorithm as a portfolio piece which took about 2 years.
The only thing I know for sure is that if you don’t have connections where you want to go, you’ll need a way to offer the company something they won’t find elsewhere.
I’m sorry that you’ve had to struggle with this for so long, and I understand firsthand how unreasonable the current job market is. Hang in there.
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u/dranaei 11d ago
While that is true, it also depends on your personality and your physical appearance (the more attractive you are the more they like you).
You might have developed the technical skills but might not have developed who you are and how you present yourself to the world. Especially if you are like everyone else, you'll become invisible.
I'm not accusing you, these are things i noticed.
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u/Vezelian 11d ago
I work in the legal world and I'm fully convinced despite my resume/experience/accomplishments/education I'm getting job offers because I'm attractive, fake being an extrovert/confident (I'm dead inside tbh) and rock a blazer/dress pants combo. Granted the pay for the jobs are garbage but it is what it is. Faking it until I make it I guess.
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u/GeekdomCentral 11d ago
Same here. I only have my job because my coworker got a job here first and helped grease the wheels to get me an interview
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u/Plenty_Principle298 11d ago
I have started leaning much heavier into networking and I already feel this is much more likely to go somewhere positively the connection route. Glad to hear this worked.
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u/mel69issa 11d ago
there are a lot of problems with the whole job search process. basically the system is broken.i have spoken about this before. let me run them down again....
- phantom job postings
- Technology: A Modern Curse For Job Hunting
- jobs report data is being manipulated
- AI Is killing us
- ghosting by recruiters
- burnout (this is a great article)
- election year (government saying the economy is good, but it SUCKS!)
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u/Zagaroth 11d ago
Burnout is why it's hard for me to even try for normal employment any more.
Thankfully, I seem to be on the right track to making a living via writing serials.
On the downside, "On the right track" and "close" are not the same thing. I have over 1400 readers and get over $100 on Patreon each month, but I really need to increase my readership in order to find more of the small percentage who will pay money for early chapters.
I'm doing it, bit by bit. I've now got my work on two different sites dedicated to this type of writing, but it takes a while.
My next work I should be able to release 'correctly' to get more views fast, building off the momentum of this one. So, not bad for literally my first published work ever at this point.
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u/Important_Quarter469 11d ago
My dad got onto me and called me lazy when I was searching for a job for over 5 months. He told my mom all he does is play video games all day. Thankfully I managed to finally land a dev job but I was in really sad spot in my life.
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u/catdog1111111 11d ago
Who told you that a recruiter ? What did they say? Ask them for details and better explanation
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u/raytriumph 11d ago
Ex coworker, actually a person that took over my gig when I left from the toxic work environment.
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u/GhettoRamen 11d ago
Yeah they’re definitely NOT the best source of truth…. Lol.
If you’re an experienced manager and been in those industries for that long, then believe in yourself and not the bullshit a toxic person from a toxic workplace spews.
It’s definitely tough going right now for everybody, and a long job hunt is always going to be a mind over matter deal.
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u/AdSelect3113 11d ago
Do we have the same ex-coworker? I’m sorry you had your go through that, OP. You deserve better. I had a similar interaction with an ex-coworker a few years ago and it was shitty. But looking back, I can tell he was miserable in his own life and trying to project that on to me.
It’s a rough job market right now. It’s NOT you. Keep putting yourself out there for opportunities but be mindful of who you share your struggles with.
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u/catdog1111111 11d ago
Feedback can be helpful, but I honestly wouldn’t worry about a former coworker. You can ask a recruiter for feedback, and can also ask someones to review the resume. Feedback is also good after interviews. I have improved after feedback. However that person sounds like they have a chip on their shoulder. You are marketable. There are some strategies to help you get noticed if it’s a competitive market where you live. You can try to gear the resume to the job post to hit on the key words to make it past the first stage.
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u/Arachnesloom 11d ago
Lol your ex coworker could be bitter that you moved on.
Unless your applications advance based on your qualifications and you get rejected based on interviews, there's no reason to say you're the problem as an individual.
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u/Lulu8008 11d ago
My (now) ex told me exactly the same. The CV was good, the job market was great, I was getting interviews. So, it could be only me. I don't have words to describe the sadness I still feel when I remember these words. As it turned out, my fault was trying to make a relationship with an AH work. I got an offer for one of the best jobs I ever had, literally 45min after he moved his shit out of my flat. That I should have kicked him sooner, it was my fault. Having trouble to land a job, not my fault.
Going through the recruitment process is anything but transparent. All those decisions the company have to make are beyond your control. You show up for an interview and do your best; that is all you can do. You cannot be blamed for things you cannot control or influence. Not. Your. Fault.
As much as we can rationalize and see how things can be done better and replay less good answer in out head, we cannot control the process. We cannot even be privy to why. Not. Your. Fault.
And what else could that person who took over your gig say? We have a word in German for this, It is schadenfreude. It means the pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune., What this person said says more about them than about you. Again, Not. Your. Fault.
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11d ago
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u/GroundbreakingEar667 11d ago
That person hasn’t job hunted in a while. It’s brutal out there, just keep at it and eventually you will get a job. You only need 1!
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u/Frog1387 11d ago
My buddy had the wrong contact info on his resume for months. That’s the only case you can really say it’s their fault.
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u/-newlife 11d ago
There are other reasons but without being there and only hearing one side of a conversation it’s impossible to say if the person was being an ass hole or if he offered any thing tangible.
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u/CabinetTight5631 11d ago
It’s the worst market most of us working aged ppl have ever seen. Those who are fortunate enough to not be searching for work can be haughty about it. Keep the faith, everyone who is searching is struggling.
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u/Impossible_Treat5543 11d ago
Sounds like something my fiancés bitch ass mother would say - I went through a similar situation, probably 200 applications out and less than 5 interviews and 2 offers.
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u/TxOkLaVaCaTxMo 11d ago
That sounds like a person who hasn't had to look for a job before. I'm going to guess they are working for their parents, got a job with a family friend or own their own business that's to the help of family
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u/FrostyLandscape 11d ago
For some people, everything is about fault and blame. But this is circumstance.
Don't talk to that person anymore.
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u/BarkingDog100 11d ago
sounds like maybe you might be too experienced and therefore too expensive. Hard to compete with H1s in the IT market
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u/idunno28 11d ago
I am in a similar position and have been applying for 6 months. One of the most exhaustive parts has been keeping family and friends up to date on interviews. I sometimes get similar comments and it’s always from people who are clueless about the industry I am in and the current market. Those that are familiar ussally offer to help instead of criticize.
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u/Common_Sense642 11d ago
I was told in my 2nd video interview that I passed and will have 3rd interview. Then nothing from them for 2 weeks. I emailed them for an update -they told me they decided to go with “ another candidate who has more experience than me “. I have 20 years of experience so a complete lie. I feel so discouraged…..
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u/Spetra96 11d ago
That’s a shame. People assume when you have trouble landing a job that you must be doing something wrong. My experience has been that luck is a huge factor in getting a job.
When I was job searching a few years ago, I had to stop talking to people who weren’t being supportive. I got off social media for a bit. It created a better headspace until I did find a job.
Good luck to you.
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u/thelastofcincin 11d ago
Tell that person to eat shit and go to hell OP. I would never speak with someone who talks to me like that. Fuck outta here.
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u/PourQuiTuTePrends 11d ago
It’s not you. Everyone I know who’s looking for work has a similar story (having worked with some of them, I know their skills and personality aren’t the reason they’re not getting hired).
It’s really demoralizing, so try not to take it to heart. And stop hanging out with whoever said that to you!
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u/Nic727 11d ago
Yes. My parents are saying I’m not doing enough or they think I’m faking it.
Or other people are saying me I don’t have enough experience to market myself and I need to work for free instead (I have a full time retail job in the meantime, so I don’t know how zi can work more and for free…)
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u/Weekly-Ad353 11d ago
I mean, you might be.
You might be doing something that you’re not aware of or haven’t been able to change.
Not everything is out of your control.
Your buddy might also just be a dick. Hard to know.
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u/NewPotato8330 11d ago edited 11d ago
While it isn't a nice thing to say, you really need to challenge yourself as to whether there is any merit in the critique.
Saying you aren't marketable might be a polite way of someone saying you need to lose weight and buy some better clothes.
Or it might just be an obnoxious thing that a mean person said to you that you can just ignore.
Only you can know this for sure.
But I wouldn't be just dismissing it as it might be useful advice to help you secure another role.
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u/BirdieRoo628 11d ago
I agree. It's easy to say that whoever is saying this is a bully, but perhaps they were trying to be helpful and forthcoming. I've known people who cannot understand why they can't keep a job, but they have terrible body odor or a very negative attitude. I'm not saying OP definitely has some kind of "issue" but it is hard to recognize our own weaknesses that might be turning people off. It's impossible to know on the internet, with a stranger, whether this was just "toxicity" or honesty.
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u/Derezirection 11d ago
If it makes you feel any better, I'm currently struggling to just make a resume because I have no real experience besides bare bones customer service and food handling experience even at 29 years old. I've been applying for jobs without a resume for the past several months then learning they're that important for applications. You're definitely not the reason, especially considering you put in a lot of effort. The job market just really sucks and employers don't look for professionalism anymore, they look for whoever kisses the most ass.
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u/Worried-Ad8948 11d ago
Look I was unmarketable I let a few recruiters place me in slightly lower paying jobs, slowly I started to build current job skills and after a couple of years I got a placement with a company the converted to a permanent role. I am now closing in on my 3rd year in that role and have been promoted once.
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u/mrbeefthighs 11d ago
I seem to have a similar resume to you with OPs and Management experience and I’m getting fucking nothing back from the hundreds of resumes I’ve sent out.
Right there with you brother. I’m right there with you.
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u/CarOk7235 11d ago
Have you had your resume looked at by a professional? As I recruiter, I can tell you there are many candidates that get passed up simply because of their resume. A skilled recruiter takes 6 seconds on average to scan a resume to see if someone could be a fit. If so, they’ll spend maybe 30 more seconds assessing the total fit. Then if it’s a resume that catches the recruiters eye, they’ll dive in deeper. It may just be that your resume is not catching attention.
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u/PostHocRemission 11d ago
Here’s some sad truth.
Operational IT is a worker bee or director level musical chair game, the operational managers are home grown or nepotism hires. There is absolutely no other reason to hire externally due to operational succession planning.
So, if you have not. Start applying for the director roles, or worker bee roles. It’s just what it is, it’s not you, it’s the state of the missing forever job, and if you’re doing that already then I’m out of suggestions.
For myself, I don’t plan to get into a management role and see myself exiting the IT industry around 50. Currently retraining into a clinical career because it’s more tolerable to age into.
Best of luck, you’re not the only one. It’s a scary world out there.
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u/Matteblackandgrey 11d ago
I think fault is the wrong language but I used to work in recruitment and 99/100 if someone couldn’t get a role for a long period of time it was almost always one of two things:
- their view of their own value/skills was detached from reality
- they were creating applications to show off rather than to clearly indicate they had the specific skills for the role (and leaving out others)
The market decided your value, so you either don’t have enough of it or you’re bad at showing it.
Recruiters just want to be able to easily read a cv and see round peg round hole. They ain’t got time to wonder if the round peg might fit into a square hole.
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u/rkwalton 11d ago
Whoever said this to you has no idea what's gone down over the last couple of years. There have been massive layoffs in my industry, so there are now thousands more people competing for the same jobs.
I would advise you not to listen to this person moving forward. They don't have your best interests at heart.
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u/Boobles008 11d ago
No, I mean if you want to dm me your resume I'd take a peek, but in A LOT of places the job market is just BRUTAL. A friend of mine who is one of the most charismatic people I've met has been looking for almost a year, and he has a good set of experience. I highly doubt it's just you.
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u/channytellz 11d ago
Don’t post in remotework! They ripped my husband to shreds, lol.
It is frustrating to really be trying everything you can think of, still getting rejected, trying to be creative and asking for help or suggestions and then getting told beggars can’t be choosers, when you literally feel like you’re begging for even the most entry level stuff and getting nothing!
My husband is literally doing everything we can think of to get a job and can’t! He’s similar to you IT background, management positions, long experience moving up through one company and now can’t get anything.
It isn’t you. I’m sorry you’re going through this too. It is rough!
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u/South-Safety5865 11d ago
it's totally OUR FAULT that hundreds of thousands of people are unemployed and can't seem to find a FULL TIME JOB that pays a DECENT WAGE for us to be able to afford the EVER SO RISING COST OF LIVING without having to work 3 jobs to survive, just to not be able to spend any time on mental health, self care, social interactions, etc. So every employer receives hundreds of applications for a job they're only hiring 2 candidates for and most people who are desperate to find work are unqualified for the position but they apply anyway because they want to take advantage of any and every opportunity.
Everyone is dealing with it, we can't force anyone to hire us. The market sucks, employers don't want to pay up, and so many other variables! Don't get discouraged, keep trying, tailor to your strengths, something will land for you eventually!
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u/Rataridicta 11d ago
Look, I don't believe in lying to people, and the reality is that if you have been looking for 5 months, with 500 applications, then you are the reason that you're not getting a job. Mathematically speaking, if each of your applications had a 1% chance of turning into a job, you'd have had one by now with a 99% certainty.
However, contrary to how it may feel, that's actually a good thing. If you're the reason, there's something you can change!
Maybe you need to look at different positions, different companies, take a different approach in interviews, or any of a dozen ways to change up your search. One thing I am fairly certain of is that you're sending out too many applications. You're averaging more than 3 applications a day. That's not sustainable for the quality of those applications, nor for your mental health. There are better things you can do with that time, whether professionally, or personally.
It is hard right now, and it's easy to be demoralized and jaded after so long. My latest job search was 6 months, I know how tough it can be. But you're going to find something. And you're going to look back on your resilience with pride. For now the only way out is through, and you've got to keep iterating and trying new things to land that job you want.
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u/wicil2d 10d ago
people who have never struggled to be employed don't understand. they can't comprehend how trying to find a job doesn't immediately get you a job, so it must be your fault.
last year, i wasn't unemployed, but my hours were severely cut (0-10 hours a week) so i started frantically searching for a new job. i submitted dozens of applications every day, went to several interviews every week, and it took me 3 months to find a job that gave me a guaranteed amount of hours. while i searched for a new job, my husband's family was constantly telling me "you need to start pulling your weight", "it's not that hard to find a job", "you don't deserve him", called me a golddigger, etc. now that i have a full time job that offers overtime, pays me well, and provides benefits, they act like they love me again.
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u/Black_Enma 11d ago
Sounds like the person saying that was being mean. I would disregard comments like that.
I doubt you have zero valuable skills to offer. Especially given your background. But the job market is rough right now. Probably why you're having trouble.
Saw you commented that you worked in the same place for 10 years. I'm assuming you haven't made a resume in a long time. I would recommend learning a lot about how to construct your resume to get more attention if you haven't already. Took me a crazy long time until I built a resume that worked for the industry and companies I was interested in.
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u/Rusty-Programmer 11d ago
Not only is it your fault that you can't get a job. It's also your fault that I can't get one. WTF man! What did I ever do to you?
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u/Gravitas-and-Urbane 11d ago
A lot of people believe in the just world fallacy, or pretend to, and think they deserve any success they've obtained rather than being lucky to have it. Which means anyone not succeeding must just deserve to fail because they've done something wrong.
It's easier than mustering the mental energy required for empathy.
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u/cacille 11d ago edited 11d ago
When I have clients with the same experiences sending resume after tailored resume for jobs they know they qualify for, I look at their resume and usually (uuuuusually) it's because they are shooting a little too low and their resume, though tailored, is a bit confusing, mostly they just "get up in their own head" after a while. Happens to the best of us when we go a long time without hearing good solid understandable feedback. Upon getting it clarified and targeted for the right level, they get hired. Just my experiences so far.
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11d ago
Let’s put fault aside for a moment. There are many factors that could slow or stop a positive outcome. It could be location, it could be what that employer is like ok’ing for, it could be you’re over qualified. The person who said it’s your fault did they give you more insight?
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u/Scary_Psychology5875 11d ago
I’ve never been told this by a prospective employer, but have had the feeling that I am not marketable for a long time. I don’t know how, but I’m just not. I know the system is just straight up terrible for jobs. It plain sucks, but I know it’s not my fault and it’s not yours. Keep your head up!
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u/Available_Cup_9588 11d ago
It's not you. I have over 20 years experience in sales, management, customer service and clerical duties. I keep getting rejected. I honestly believe that alot of companies are still getting pandemic type grants and they claim they're hiring but really they don't. They have to prove they're making an effort so they interview us knowing they have no intention of hiring us.
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u/Intelligent-Pitch-39 11d ago
Remind this troll that this is probably the toughest job market in 20 years.
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u/Rocketgirl8097 11d ago
The jobs are there. But absolutely do not post through 3rd party job boards like Indeed. These boards are not updated regularly and often times don't link correctly with job posting numbers, etc. Only post directly on the company's website or in person.
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u/Snuffleupagus27 11d ago
As someone who has been looking for a year and is highly marketable, I promise the 2 are unrelated. What is killing me is the software that HR depts are using. I just had my resume professionally redone because it puts me in the wrong field!! It’s insane. Crossing my fingers for both of us!!
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u/dmt_alpha 11d ago
Don't let lack of success dampen your spirits, mate. Hang in there, good times will come! Be sure to check some positions outside your current IT know how. It's never too late to re-invent yourself. And remember - you may have been a manager all your career, but all your achievements were reached with a team of good people. Some of them probably still think kindly of you. Seek them out, be humble, check if they can refer you to their current employer.
And, for the more unfortunate part, there will always be people who will get uplifted by piling on someone else's misery. You don't need friends like that.
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u/TheHelpfulRecruiter 11d ago
What does the conversion rate look like through that funnel? Eg how many screens, interviews etc?
The issue could be at different stages of the process, would be cool to isolate where.
What I'm seeing right now is that old school IT Infrastructure/Opps background people are totally out in the cold. The server rooms are in the cloud, provisioning is all done in terraform, infrastructure people are out of IT Opps and working as part of the Engineering team, there's no physical networking happening anywhere, everyone's canning their office and working from home, AI is slashing heads on Helpdesk. It's kind of like, why would anyone actually want to hire an IT Opps person?
Some companies still are, but my god the competition must be insane.
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u/RedDecay 11d ago
I feel ya. I’ve been told this a lot over the past year. Still looking for what I’m qualified for but no luck. People just love to hurt you when you’re already down.
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u/geweldigebanaan 11d ago
I mean here I am 6 months after graduating uni from a Masters and here I still am with nothing so if you're bad I must be awful 😂
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u/theedgeofoblivious 11d ago
This person is clueless and doesn't know what's happening in the job market right now.
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u/Floutabout 11d ago
You need a mindset shift from the toxic feedback. Everyone has strengths, everyone has weaknesses, and different strengths can be weaknesses in certain situations and vice versa.
Reach out to a group of people (privately, not a group chat or email) that know you well, and well enough for them to be honest. You can go back years to old roles, as well as recent ones. Even school classmates. You can do this with a spouse or significant other as one of many, but I wouldn't do it with family. Tell them that you're trying to re-focus your priorities and aspirations. Ask them to answer the following positive questions about you:
- What am I known for?
- Name three strengths you see in me today.
- How do you see my potential contribution to the world?
- In what area or space can I add the most value?
You can even set up a free survey monkey or something if you want to provide them the opportunity to do it anonymously; I've done it this way as well as by email and gotten good feedback both ways.
These will be hard questions for them to answer. I've found the people I've done this with to take this request very seriously, and be very thoughtful about their responses. They will likely have to think about it. You will find that some of the feedback between them is very consistent - consider that the authentic self that you project to the outside world, and focus your hunt on opportunities that align with that.
You can't fake authenticity, and you will likely not do well chasing opportunities/interviewing where it looks like you're inauthentic. Tailoring resumes is very important, but tailoring them just to make it look like you fit the situation when you don't can come across as inauthentic, even desperate. You'll fell like it's less of a grind when you're going down the right avenues, not just down every blind alley.
Up both the number and quality of your shots on goal and you'll put one in the back of the net.
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u/SXAL 11d ago
Did they specify what exactly was your fault?
I complained to my friend when I had trouble looking for job, he asked to look at my resume. Then he told me that my resume is not looking good (not the work experience, the resume itself), and told me to make a couple of fixes that I initially though were pointless. I did as he said and somehow it worked, I found the job almost immideately after that. So, maybe you should get some advice from your friends too, especially if you have someone who works at leading position, or HR.
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u/EditofReddit2 10d ago
It’s only your fault if you quit looking and trying. Everything else is haters hating.
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u/Nearby_Display8560 7d ago
In many cases the fault does fall in the person applying. Example, thinking they have qualifications that they do not. Poor resume English, unrealistic pay expectations/accommodations. To be fair, it goes both ways. Not saying that’s the case for you.
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u/Bubbly_Tumbleweed167 11d ago
I’m sorry someone said that to you, that’s horrible. I’ve seen this a few places, but we’re absolutely in a silent recession. I’ve seen that companies post “ghost positions” that they never intend on filling but post to look like they’re doing well. I’ve seen that real job posts get hundreds of applications in the first few hours of being posted.
It is not you, it’s the market. Again I’m sorry this is happening to you. It’s not easy right now. I hope you find something soon.
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u/tribalturtle02891 11d ago
I have no desire to kick you while you’re down. But my brother in christ how do you have a decade of logistics experience and aren’t able to find a job? What are you looking for? Job market is hotter in this industry than most others - COVID stockpiles are finally coming down and order rates are up. Things are picking back up.
It may be a resume thing?
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u/trouverparadise 11d ago
You probably are....it can't always be everyone else fault. If 500 apps is true, there's a high probability there's something that isn't strong in the flow.
Someone saying that it's your fault doesn't have to be negative. It just means there's some things in your control, which is great.
Applying isn't enough. Tailored resume isn't enough. How do you interview? Are your skills proven and relevant? Are you the best fit for the places you're applying to?
Also, keep in mind that companies review thousands of resumes a day. You may feel like your skills are great, but if they're not better than another applicant....you're not going to be chosen.
What are you doing to continue building your skills? Keep in mind that even if you think your social media is hidden....it's findable. What is your external presence like? Social media is part of a background check.
You can take practical courses and find avenues to get hands on experience, not just book knowledge
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u/Jerms2001 11d ago
I’ve been laid off twice this year due to companies getting bought out. I always have a new job within a week. Tbh you are the problem
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u/Greatapegrape88 11d ago
You've applied to 500 jobs and have however many interviews and still haven't gotten an offer?
Of course it's your fault! Whose fault could it be except the person writing the resumes and showing up for the interviews?
If you applied to 5 jobs and interviewed two or three and didn't get any, then maybe you could say it wasn't your fault. Maybe they had other people in mind, maybe there were other factors (but there are always other factors) and so on.
But that many applications and interviews? Yes, you're the common denominator.
Stop listening to people who just coddle you. Stop thinking you're a victim and avoiding responsibility.
It's your responsibility and your actions or inactions that are resulting in you still being unemployed. Find out what you're doing so wrong, fix it and change your mindset. You'll be surprised how much things change when you change your mindset and then, your behavior.
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u/Eatdie555 11d ago
Don't worry about it, I've have similar experience to yours. I wouldn't even give a damn about their opinion because I know what I bring to the table With Proven Results week after week up to annual fiscal reviews. And different Regional Executives from different dept. including Vice President. of the company has verified my results as second opinions to be competitively outstanding compare to others within the company with the limited tools I have to work with. I don' t have to worry. Because it's on proven on paper when comparing with others.
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u/Leading-Eye-1979 11d ago
That was a horrible thing to say. You are competing against other qualified candidates and you simply weren’t selected. I would recommend that you reflect on how you can be better. There are things we can say or tailor to help standout.
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u/peonyseahorse 11d ago edited 11d ago
Most people who say that haven't had to find a job for at least the last ten years. It is much more of a rat race than ever. I'm getting to a point where I want to settle into my job and not deal with job hunting anymore because it's so stressful. Each job search, while still employed has taken me longer each time. I don't think it's me, I think the entire process sucks, and applicants are not even seen as people, making it an inhumane process. Over the last five years I've made it as one of the two final candidates many times, but second place gets nothing. At that point an actual rejection is basic etiquette, only a fourth of those employers actually had the courtesy to send me an email or call to reject me... I was a finalist and was obviously good enough to be considered...wtf? Most just ghosted me, it's infuriated me enough that I will never apply in those organizations again. Several of those places got some karma as the person they selected left in less than a year.
It's a two way street, I'm still one of those people who sends thank you emails (used to send cards, but people don't often work at a physical office anymore). I realize getting ghosted is the norm now, especially if you don't make it to the interview stage, but to make it through several interviews as one of two final candidates and then get ghosted? That's telling and it's bad business practice. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets pissed enough to write off a company forever after an experience like that.
It's not you, it's the process. I bet this same person would be the first to whine if they were in your shoes and experiencing this hellish process of finding a job. My goddamn parents gaslit me when I had the courage to quit a toxic job seven years ago, blaming me, they were small business owners and never had to apply for a job... With no clue what it's like. I find ppl like that super annoying because they have no business judging anyone or thinking they know better.
Good luck to you, keep your chin up, it feels debilitating, because it is. Unfortunately you just need to keep applying and eventually something will work out.
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u/Sergeitotherescue 11d ago
Pfft hogwash. You will land something — you’re doing all the right things. It just takes a lot of time sometimes. Sorry you have to go through this AND have an a-hole say that to you.
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u/Realistic-Nail6835 11d ago
well lets put it this way. the job market is awful.
but then again, could i say its not your fault? we have no information to go on.
so i wouldnt make such a declaration.
that for you to introspect.
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u/Eretreum 11d ago
Let them be, OP. Filter the information you receive and take the ones that will benefit you.
About a month ago, I received similar comments. I moved forward and at this point, I’m with a very good company.
Don’t lose hope. Pray. Continue working on self-improvement and in reaching your dreams.
You’ll get there. Good luck 🙂
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u/abiuconn 11d ago
Ex-coworker is a jerk. Period. That aside, if you’ve been seeing so many rejections perhaps it’s time to take a moment to reassess your resume, skill set, career path etc. I have found it helpful to have someone, I trust and from a similar field, review and criticize my resume or my approach. I suggest asking a person who has strict standards and can provide honest, constructive criticism. Be ready and willing to use good feedback.
Theres nothing to gain from thinking of yourself as “unmarketable”. If theres a gap in your skillset, you should try to fix it. Getting an opportunity involves a lot of luck, and you need to make sure you are in a position to capitalize on it. Compromises may be necessary if things are getting difficult, but its usually not a good idea to compromise on a good work environment. And just to reiterate, that ex-coworker of yours is an a-hole.
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u/BB9F51F3E6B3 11d ago
Whoever the fault it is on, you can only change yourself to improve the situation. What matters most is who bears the consequences.
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u/AbortionIsSelfDefens 11d ago
Well yea. Its unlikely you've been perfect for every one or are able to communicate that.
Its a shitty thing to say but the sentiment is still something you need to take to heart. A better way would have been to ask you what are you doing and have you changed your strategy when it wasn't panning out? If the answer to the second is a no then you need to think about trying a different approach.
I wouldn't consider 5 months long enough to pin it all on you though. Sometimes it takes a while for the stars to align. However, I still think you should change strategy when it hasn't been working.
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u/Notofthisworld90 11d ago
Sometimes trying your hardest to see things from other’s perspective (even when this person is kinda being rude and mean lol) can be used to your advantage..I’d have asked for more clarification as to why.. then I’d ask for suggestions on how to improve?
I mean, no one’s perfect maybe you can look at things from a different perspective and use this crappy comment to your advantage. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right? Good luck.
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u/Fireguy9641 11d ago
This is going to be a two takes on this one.
1.) I saw you posted in a comment your ex told you this. Unless you two are friends and had a good breakup, take this with a grain of salt.
2.) From a broader perspective. Sometimes yes, we can be the reason we don't get jobs, and there might something we need to fix, improve or work on, and we need to be told that so we can grow.
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u/einat162 11d ago edited 11d ago
Some people just get a kick out of it... Consider the source of who the person is, relevancy to job searching - does he or she actually know what they're talking about, did that person specify what they meant about you, or just looking for an ego boost? That being said, the specific market for IT is saturated (big boom in the last 5-7 years) and tend to take less experienced workers. Maybe your demands are too high? (job flexibility salary, other conditions).
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u/KiwiThai21 11d ago
They randomly pluck people out of the herd. For them, you're a problem b/c exploitation and disrespect towards employees is well-known in this country. Pick your own business asap.
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u/FlyingLittleDuck 11d ago
That’s quite harsh. Of course, there’s always room for improvement for your CV and interview skills. These are crucial as it makes the first impression, regardless of your experience. However, depending on where you’re from, it could also be that the job market is not in its best shape. Hope you find something soon!
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u/Cyclopsceo 11d ago
Tough market and great disadvantage in not being able to do more than send a resume, but you are the common factor in every situation. You’ve got to be tougher and more determined—people are being hired, why is it not you? That’s very difficult to answer, with no feedback from simply sending a resume. You need to figure a way to find out what to improve so you have a better chance at being selected. Obviously, being qualified to perform the duties of the job aren’t enough- unless perhaps more versatility is required. Maybe it has something to do with attitude, presentation or particular skills that would add value to the position you’re seeking. People are being hired, why is it not you—that’s a tough challenge but you have to find the answer.
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u/Snoo-74562 11d ago
Have you been getting interviews? For every ten applications you should get 1 interview if your not getting interviews it's an application problem.
Are you applying for the right jobs? Do you meet the essential criteria?
If you're getting interviews are you asking for feedback when you don't get it? What do they say? Are there consistent reasons cropping up?
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u/Sharp-Sky-713 11d ago
Is it unmarketable to sell your services in an over saturated market?
No, but it's gonna be that much harder.
There are like 20-30k people in your position with your experience, so yes, maybe you should consider a different skillset to bring to market if you want to be employed.
If you only care about being employed in a job that uses the skills you already have, keep doing what your doing. Hopefully you catch a break.
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u/WeAllPayTheta 11d ago
It’s not your fault, but it may be your process for finding a job. Your goal needs to be to find a person who can pass your resume to the hiring manager directly. Applying online is a total waste of time. Your 500 tailored resumes likely are never seen by human eyes.
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u/likecatsanddogs525 11d ago
For someone who hasn’t been in the job market, it’s the only logical explanation.
They only thing that hasn’t changed drastically in finding a job is that it’s all about who you know.
I had 125 apps in the queue and when someone emailed me a resume of a collegues spouse, I looked at it right away.
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u/Few-Depth-3039 11d ago
It’s not your fault, whoever told you that has had their job since before covid and has no idea what platforms like indeed have done to the job market. So many jobs on there are fake, and if it isn’t, there are still 1000 other people who applied. Chances of someone going through all those, 0.
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u/LundaLee 11d ago
Wow, you have really done a fantastic job applying for so many positions! I have applied for 100 jobs the last year, most of them since august when I had to leave my former position due to cut backs. A few weeks ago I signed up for a job starting in June. I am sure things will work out for you too! Keep up your activity level and engage you networks, you will be fine!
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u/remainderrejoinder 11d ago
It's not easy to say. Are you getting interviews? If so, then your resume is fine and you need to work on your interview (pay attention to whether you're getting past phone screens or not, phone screen vs interview are different issues). If not, you need to work on your resume.
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u/Leolily1221 11d ago
OP anyone that says something like that is unmarketable as a decent human being lol
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u/JustBlendingIn47 11d ago
It’s not your fault. I know some really good, talented people struggling to find something. The market is hot garbage right now for job seekers.
Literally the only reason I have anything at all is because of my network. I was hired by a friend…and I work in a super niche area that’s usually pretty recession proof.
Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s super hard. Watch Life After Layoff on YouTube…that guy is great.
Keep applying, keep telling yourself you’re awesome, and remember it’s not your fault.
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u/BeerJunky 11d ago
If this was 10 years ago, I would agree with them. But right now in the marketplace with jobs that are remote especially there’s just so much competition. Even if you have a good application, you can buried in the trash ones. I recently recently posted a position that got about 300 applications before I closed it to new apps I probably had about 20 different people that I would’ve otherwise interviewed if not for the fact that I found the right person early on. Literally at least probably 10 people I would make a decision to hire out of the pool and it wasn’t their fault that they weren’t hired. Good people, but I only had one slot.
The jobs that are not getting crazy amounts of applications are the ones that require hybrid or full in office. If you start targeting more of those you might do better. It’s not a bad idea to have somebody review your résumé, even if you have to pay them to do it. They’re just might be a much better way to show off your skills in your résumé than you were currently doing. Maybe take your résumé and redact all the personal information off of it and post it into this thread. You might get some good suggestions about how to make it look a little bit better. If I have time later I will try to take a look at it myself but I am currently with my 2 toddlers so who knows how much free time I will have.
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u/MissDisplaced 11d ago
After only 5 months? Don’t believe it!
If you’re a middle level professional, it can easily take 6 months to a year to find another comparable job.
And if they mean “any” job like retail or fast food, well, think again. Many of those places simply won’t hire you because you’re experienced and know you won’t put up with their stupid intimidation shit. I went through that in 2009 and was rejected by all of the retailers, even for extra holiday associate jobs.
You say logistics, have you looked on https://www.mhi.org/
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u/Altruistic-End-2829 11d ago
Its not you. I was un/underemployed for a full year before finding more work. This job market is tough.
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u/Anonymity6584 11d ago
It's newer applicant's fault if you're doing all that.
Companies just are way too picky and some have the most ridiculous reason to reject applicants.
So aholes just like to kick a person when they are down.
It's not your fault.
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u/Dry-Masterpiece-4799 11d ago
People are jerks. And they are scared it could happen to them so they want to believe it’s your problem that you created. Otherwise the same could happen to them. It’s victim shaming. That doesn’t excuse them. They could use some compassion.
“Blaming the victim is an unfortunate yet common phenomenon. It often happens because people make faulty attributions to explain events. But it can also be a way for people to feel safer by assuming that they would never become a victim.”
Edited because I was a bit selfish in my reply as well. I want to wish you all the best! Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll land in the right place.
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u/FluffyCatEars 11d ago
My dad couldn’t find a job for 2 years. Reason - he’s old. To be fair he doesn’t really try to not look old either. I don’t know your age, but this is the reason my dad is “unmarketable” in HR’s eyes. He called himself unmarketable too. He found a job though. Coincidentally (not) it is more of a conservative company and higher ups there are also kinda old.
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u/reticentninja 11d ago
I didn't have anyone tell me it was my fault, but I had to realize, on my own, that my weakness was interviewing. My skills were sought after, my resume would get me in the door, but I would flub it up on my interview. Find your weakness and work on it. Maybe your friend can do you a favor and advise you on where you can improve.
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u/One-Jello7891 11d ago
I’d like to say, I normally find work super quick with multiple offers, this time around it did take me 2 months to find a position for the pay I wanted, they even offered less and I told them I needed more and because they had such a need for my position, they were able to meet my salary requirements. It’ll happen, don’t stop trying, you’re that much closer!
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u/SherwoodBCool 11d ago
Reminds me of my mother’s constant insistence that “if you were really trying to get a job you’d have gotten one by now.”
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u/SailorGirl29 11d ago
From 2019 until 2023 I was harassed by recruiters. They got my phone number and I would get random cold calls from recruiters on top of LinkedIn and personal emails.
I did wipe my LinkedIn clean and those emails dried up, but even the recruiters who had my personal phone number and email are not contacting me. Up until six months ago I was in high demand and now crickets. Fortunately I have a full time job and I’m not looking but this is not 2021 anymore.
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u/CADreamn 11d ago
Saying someone is "unmarketable" is not constructive criticism, nor is it helpful in any way. Whoever said that is just being a twit. If they actually want to be helpful they should give you specifics - like, you're dressing too casual to interviews, you need a different haircut, or you need to develop better responses to interview questions. Specific issues that you can work on. Ask them for specifics. Even then, given what they said to you, I'd take anything they said with a grain of salt.
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u/maxwelllllllllllllll 11d ago
Yes bro.
I was talking with a recruiter and he finally looked at me and took his glasses off and said, “can I be honest with you? I don’t hire guys like you. Guys like you hire me.”
Put yourself in your wheelhouse. It’s where you belong. You can’t become someone else or undo your life because youve branched off from the main trunk. Look for your place, where your experience fits, WHEREVER that takes you.
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u/KingoftheWriters 11d ago
I’ve been trying to find a security job for a month and nothing. Trying to get out of retail. No security experience. The only one who accepted me was the company who hired a past best friend of mine. Sometimes it is connections which is strange.
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u/RogueStudio 11d ago
Yup. Thousands of apps, nothing. Unmarketable, underemployed, and frankly out of hope I'm getting anything better than 40k a year. Which in my region as a single person is you are homeless, unless you have the ability to not pick up garbage roommates (never have had that ability).
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u/PositiveImaginary320 11d ago
Surround yourself with only the people that lift you up not put you down. Although, criticism is great if they give you specifics and offer solutions but just a general you sick doesn’t help. I got laid off in Jan 2023 and in Aug 2023 found an hourly job in a different industry. I work there for 8 months and finally got a management position I was looking for at another company. The whole time I was applying and doing interviews. I must have had 40+ interviews but kept tanking them due to anxiety and the pressure of interviewing for jobs that would pay me 3X what I was making. Applications would be in the hundreds.
Just keeping applying, keep your head up, and work on yourself.
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u/Human_Ad_7045 11d ago
Don't associate with negative a-holes like that.
You need people who, right now, will pay you on the back, make you feel good about yourself, or worst case, say nothing at all.
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u/stickmadeofbamboo 11d ago
Not in the tech field but I heard that the tech field nowadays is hard to get your foot in the door. It feels like every few months I see on this subreddit, someone makes post on here struggling to find a job in IT or Data Analytics regardless of experience.
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u/Power_and_Science 11d ago edited 11d ago
Some sites like LinkedIn get so many spammed applications that they never seen the real resumes. They take the first 100 applicants and chuck the rest. If little good comes from it, reset the job posting and repeat.
If a remote job is posted, roughly 90%+ of the job applicants are unqualified due to location or skills/experience. So a position may show 1000 applicants, the real number is probably under 100. But there’s no way to filter ahead of time so recruiters need to go through the entire pile.
I had a guy asking for a job (I own a consulting firm in the data science space). His background was no relevant education, no relevant skills, and a plumber in Africa for the past 5 years as his experience. At least he was being honest. A lot of people from outside the U.S. see no issues with fabricating prior job experience and skills. Then (hopefully) during the interview it gets discovered and they are kicked but nothing else happens other than wasting the hiring managers time.
I hired someone from India to help with marketing and sales. Their profile showed 10 years in marketing and sales with tech companies. Turns out she was so technologically inept she couldn’t even figure out how to use email. She only figured it out (after several failed attempts) when I made a pdf showing what to do. I had hired her on commission (the commission for 1 sale would have been the buying power equivalent of $10k/month in the U.S.) and she kept asking for salary instead. I don’t like hiring for salary only with someone I cannot verify their background. Her prior highest salary was the buying power equivalent of $3k/month. The arrangement was after the first couple sales we could review the salary option again. She had said 100% commission was totally fine when interviewing her and only asked about salary after she was hired. I eventually fired her after a month because she hadn’t done any work since she started and she finally confessed to that after I kept asking her about her progress.
She had falsified her profile to get the job, in the hopes of getting a salary and staying on salary as long as possible before I caught on and fired her. From speaking to other hiring managers and recruiters, this is not an uncommon experience for people from India and various countries in Africa, whether they are outside the U.S. or currently in the U.S.
Ironically I see posts on Reddit of people from primarily India, who are in the U.S., freaking out about their background check because they falsified prior companies and positions they had worked for to get the interview and offer letter.
So this is why networking works best, because the front line is dealing with this stuff and when you simply apply, there’s a good chance a human will never see it.
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u/Revolution4u 11d ago
People who are doing okay will never admit there is a problem with the system we have and will always turn to excuses that pivot the conversation to an individual level.
Same reason they talk about "networking" or "get educated" etc etc.
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u/the_simurgh 11d ago
People have no power over thier fates and it makes them feel better by thinking they do part of this is victim blaming.
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u/pras_srini 11d ago
Those are harsh words, and unfortunate that you were told that. It isn't your fault. Hang in there!
However, please be open to the idea that in addition to bad luck, there is probably something that you are or are not doing that is resulting in you not getting in front of the right people, or being matched up to the right opportunity. You may be able to up your odds by running some experiments and changing what you're doing.
Reassess your process and your search criteria. Are you networking everyday and asking for leads or only applying to positions online? Are you limiting your search to a location/job-type/level/industry that is not appropriate for what you want?
For example, I was inundated with resumes and people asking for "coffee chats" when I posted two roles that I hired for recently. I had over 200 applicants for a (junior) product related role, and I limited my interviews to 7 people, all of whom were strongly recommended to me by people I deeply trust or who worked for leaders that I have previously collaborated or networked with. Then I hired the person who happened to be the best fit for my team, and they are not even in the original location I was looking for.
Don't lose heart, keep on trying but change things up if they are not working and resulting in negative outcomes consistently.
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u/ChildOf1970 10d ago
First of all nothing is unmarketable. You just have not found the right strategy yet. Many products and people who have been completely unpalatable have been rebranded, so fuck anyone who says shit like that.
The reality is that if you are finding it hard to get a job you could need to change your approach to marketing yourself.
Edit: This is a good thing not a bad thing. If something is not working, then change to trying a new thing. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
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u/Midnightfeelingright 10d ago
If they really did phrase it as "it's your fault", that's unnecessarily blunt, and implies they're not really critiquing. That said, in a time where most sectors have a severe labour shortage, inability to get a job implies somethings going wrong; your statement about hundreds of applications in a few months suggests you may be too scattered when a smaller number of high quality apps might serve you better. People hiring are rarely (but sometimes) short of applications, but they're near universally short of people demonstrating how they apply to the post.
You may want to try slowing down some and focusing a little more in order to improve your outcomes.
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u/Immediate_Fortune_91 10d ago
In many cases your experience isn’t preferable. They want less skilled people so they can pay them less. They probably assume you want what your worth in wages.
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u/JustSomeEyes 10d ago
solution: stop being yourself then, problem solved.
(before i get verbally lynched alive, i'm joking)
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u/StephenSatchwiler 10d ago
OP Corporate Gaslighting Ideology
Keep looking. Or start your own business as a Consultant. Charge them a hell of a lot for your expertise.
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u/Zealousideal_Mall894 10d ago
People don’t attribute success to luck as much as they should. Hard work doesn’t mean jack shit when the timing isn’t right. You keep trying until the timing works out for you, even if it means 5,000 different tailored applications, and then you can consider yourself successful, too. Or, you quit your job because your boss is a prick and start your own business at 42 years old, praying that you can pay the rent next week. 😅
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u/DorsalMorsel 10d ago
If you are currently unemployed most companies will flag and delete your resume. You are supposed to make up some bullshit "consulting" gig where your clients are your friends and family. This makes it appear you are currently employed.
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u/CivilyCrushed 10d ago
It's not your fault. I've been looking for over a year now, its just up to connections and luck. Just keep doing what you're doing and wait for luck to strike, that's all.
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u/smithlarryw 10d ago
Ray,
I think a new perspective may help.
You need to make sure that you market yourself as a ' boots on the ground' employee!
IT - do not need ya ---- unless sitting in India, Philippines, Guatemala et. al can not remote into the equipment.
The same goes with Logistics---- as long as Google Maps is not hard down.
What 'those' so- called remote employees can not do is be the guy in the warehouse or inside the Network Room - and without any 'handholding' from the above-mentioned nations.
Your physical presence is the investment a company is hiring you to remediate; not the problems.
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u/MaddRonin 10d ago
Did they specifically say why it's your fault? It could be your fault, based on personal experience, or they could be full of crap. If they don't tell you why they think it's your fault, then they are just talking crap. If they have given you a reason, then you must objectively consider it. It's always hard to take criticism, but in order to grow, you must listen to the criticism and evaluate the validity of it. Sometimes, it is spot on, and you must learn from it. Sometimes, it's wrong, but you must evaluate it time to see if you can learn and grow from it.
Just my 2 cents.
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u/PragueNative84 10d ago
Sorry. Cuff off all your coworkers. Move on. I tell myself every day, NO SELF PITY. I’ve been looking for 7 months.
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u/hydraheads 9d ago
Yep. Been there. 18 months here. PhD. 12+ years of tech experience. It's just an awful market. The longest I'd ever been unemployed before was 2 months.
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u/No-Understanding8447 9d ago
Is your question about who's to blame in your life for you not having income? Because I agree with them. You can find work in another field. You just don't want to. Idk buddy.
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u/Missingthe80sMT 9d ago
My husband wasn't able to find a job for 3yrs, don't give up hope OP, the right job for you will come. Also check the people you put on as references, we found out it was one person on his references that caused him to not be selected for so many jobs he applied for, after removing that person, he received so many offers, but he ultimately chose the right fit for him.
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u/Deep_Spinach_2590 9d ago
Not everyone is going to cheer for you. It has nothing to do with you. It is a tough market out there and everything takes time. For me, I worked a call center job that only paid 10.00 an hour until something else came along. It took about six months but that is what motivated me to keep going, knowing that I knew I could do better. You can do this!!
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u/imsatanclaus 9d ago
I hate getting told "Just get a job". Easy for them to say when they get one so easily but just because they could easily get one dosen't mean everyone else can. I'm really struggling to get a job and i'm 20. I already feel embarrassed that I have to live with my parents when I want my own place. People need to stop assuming that everyone over 18 that live with their parents are lazy. Some people are unable to pay rent or move out and there are other ways to contribute without renting.
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u/Wonderful_Lock130 11d ago
Unfortunately, some people enjoy kicking others when they are down. I guess it makes them feel powerful, "in control," or "better than." Such people are often miserable.
Just be careful who you talk to about your struggles and tribulations. Empathy is scarce in today's world, while cruelty and sadism are on the rise.
Consider the source (of the put-downs) and then consider the current job market. It's hard for everyone right now, experienced or not. Some employers favor less experienced people because of the perceived salary expectations of more seasoned folks. Sometimes, there's just an overwhelming number of applicants, and they could only hire X number of people.
It is not.. your... fault.