The Job Hunt

If you've been following this blog for a bit, then you know that I've been searching for a part-time job for about a month, with little response.

Last week, I once again sent out 4 resumes to various organizations. I also sent a follow-up note to one of my previous prospects advising them that I was still highly interested in the position, since I'd seen a new ad appear online.

Most of my job hunt has been conducted online, since there have been very few postings in our local daily newspaper. I've avoided Monster and a few of the other "big" name companies due to past horrors I've heard about posting there.

These stories were told from the employers perspective and all were concerning the deluge of resumes they receive when posting on these mega sites. They received so many that they eventually had to hire someone to browse all of the resumes that were coming in, only to eliminate about 95% of them.

I'm 33. I've been working since I was 16, in some capacity or another, and for long stretches of time at 2 and 3 jobs. Needless to say, I've filled out many an application, had many interviews, and have plenty of experience with the entire hiring process.

This said, I want you to know how crazy this process has become. People that put out 100's of resume to various companies waste not only potential employers time, but other applicants time. It appears to be a vicious circle.

• Bob puts out 100 resumes (4 of those jobs he is actually qualified for).

• The same day 100 other applicants, from all over the world, submit resumes to these same companies. These other people have roughly the same or lesser qualifications than Bob.

• Tammy, Bill, Becky, and Tommy are all qualified to work at the same 4 jobs plus 10 of the others that Bob applies at.

Because these businesses receive a deluge of applications for each position, it makes the process even harder. Why? With the drastic increase in applications, there is a greater chance that the qualified employees will be skipped over. This is not due to the resume, but human error. How many papers can you look at repetitively before you forget which pile is which? Or, before you eyes start to glaze over and your vision blur?

The companies have to wade through all of those resumes to find about 10 qualified applicants, which takes several days. This gives a hiring delay of about 3 weeks - 1 to weed, 1 to schedule interviews, and 1 to allow for follow-up before issuing an offer. Of course, this is only applicable if the company has a designated person to wade through the resumes! If not, add a week.

• Because of Bob, & people like him, Tammy, Bill, Becky, and Tommy are forced to put out resumes in a greater number, as well. (Perhaps, because their resumes were placed in the wrong stack!)

If they put out 10 resumes a week, every week (double what we used to!) and factor in the delay in the hiring process, due to the factors above, I estimate it will take an average person 2 full months to be granted a job of any sort, and another 4 months to gain a job doing something in their field. I would think that the people putting out 100 resumes a week would expect about the same results. So why waste everyone's time & energy...AND all those trees???

A few years ago, you could search for a job one week & be hired the next. No wonder people are staying on Unemployment Compensation so long!

Job Seekers - Just apply for things you really want to do and that fit your desires, rather than EVERY single job posting that comes available!

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Now. I'll come off my soap box to tell you - I FOUND A JOB!

Did I apply for it? NO.

Did I expect it? NO.

Did I have any clue that this job was available? NO.

Last Friday night my home phone rings. It's my pastor. He noticed that I had put a note on my Facebook account about looking for a part-time job. The church is beginning a new program for the summer, a branch off of the local YMCA, which will provide care for about 100 youth from the area.

We'll be splitting the responsibilities with another local church, and need to coordinate between the congregations and organize the volunteers. I was definitely interested. I volunteer constantly at my church, so I presumed that this was to be another volunteer situation.

WRONG! They've offered me an actual part-time, paid position to handle this! Fantastic!

I'm to get started this week, after I pass all of the background & drug checks. (No problem!)

Isn't it amazing how things work??? Word of mouth is still THE BEST way to get a job...

Job Search update

So, the interview last week has turned up nothing, thus far. Unofficially, I've been told that it was offered to the lady that came just before me. I'm still hoping that she refuses...

She's a pastor's wife, of the same denomination, searching for something part-time. They live in a small village about 30-45 min. from our neighborhood (depending on traffic). She has one child in a "Mother's Morning Out" program and another that she'd have to find daycare for.

Being realistic, I've weighed this out for her, along with my "inside" source...

• She'd be accepting a job working 9am-12pm, 3 days a week. This is roughly 9 hours, not including any overage that may occasionally occur...
• She'll be using 1 tank of gas a week, due to distance.
• She'll have to find and pay for daycare for another child with this salary. On average, in this area that'll cost about $150 a week, whether you show up or not.
• Her "Mother's Morning Out" program runs from 9am-12pm...she's either going to be late arriving and early leaving work each day or irritating the programs staff by causing them to do the reverse.

Will this be worth her time? No.

It's a small congregation that is not rich by any means. I find it hard to believe that she'd be paid enough to cover her child care costs, much less wear & tear on the car or gas.

Her selling point -

She's going to help them grow the church... Not sure how. The pastor doesn't keep regular hours, so she'll have little contact with her and little with members of the congregation... However, the pastor jumped on this offer!

So, here I am, still hoping that she says "No" and leaves it to me, since I was the congregations choice.

P.S.

The day before the interview another opening in the same denomination came up for a church about 15 minutes from her home. It offered 20-30 hours a week, immediately. It's double the time and probably double the money...

I'm sure she would apply. I did! I'm praying she'll take that one and leave this neighborhood one to me...

P.P.S

Don't ya just love having an insider when you're applying for a job... ;-)

Job search update...

A few weeks ago I posted about being on the lookout for a part-time job. I mentioned 4 places that I'd applied to and promised to keep you all updated on the progress. This is what I've heard thus far -

Job 1 e-mailed me 2 days later to request more information and that I resend my resume and cover letter, even though I'd already sent it...a little odd, but off it went with the new info. I haven't heard back since then and only have a generic "jobs" e-mail address with no further info. for contacts.

Job 2 hasn't responded in any form.

Job 3 e-mailed me Monday to say that they'd hired someone and appreciated the application.

Job 4 called yesterday afternoon to schedule an interview for today at 7:50pm (odd time, but it's an interview during a church meeting...)

I submitted another resume Monday for another church secretary position that would require 20-30 hours a week and would include a 15-20 minute commute. We'll call this one Job 5. Hehehe, I didn't want to ruin the pattern! :-)

I'm sooooo very excited about the prospect of number 4. It was the opening that I rated with 4 stars and would probably fit my schedule and needs the best, while fulfilling all of monetary and self-inflicted servitude requirements. I'd be appreciative of any and all thoughts and prayers you could spare!

I'll let you know how it works out...

The Job Search...

Just thought I'd let you know how the search is going thus far. This morning I sent out 3 resumes. 2 are for jobs that I saw this past weekend on Craigslist and the other was a recent listing in our paper.

I considered sending out the resumes Monday morning but, thought that Monday is ALWAYS a busy day for applications. Perhaps waiting until Wednesday may garner some time for an extra look at mine...

Job Prospect 1 - Helping Developmentally Disabled youth to learn and master new skills over the summer, possibly extending into the fall.

This would fit right in line with my continued desire to serve, while providing an income. Double stars in my book!


Job Prospect 2 - Working in a local church office, elsewhere in the community, maintaining records alongside a large staff.

It fits into the working for a non-profit category. Not so great on the having a direct effect on peoples lives. One star.


Job Prospect 3 - Delivering ordered supplies to inmates in the local jail.

Definitely something I hadn't thought of before. It's serving the community and assisting at-risk people. Although my influence on these people would be limited, multitudes can be said with a smile. Double stars!

Just after applying for these positions my dear Mother called to ask for my e-mail address (she was at work.) Mom works at her church office, part-time. ( I think this helps offset the expense for the sock fetish...) She announced that she had just received a posting for part-time help at a local church of the same denomination. The kicker - this church is 6 blocks from my home! Woohoo! This gets four stars - I can walk to work, serving MY very own community, for a non-profit, and get paid. I don't think life could be any better than that!

I'm thinking that since this was an inner-office type posting that I will be one of the first to apply. Definitely a good thing!

Ya'll keep your fingers crossed for me, PLEASE...