Close, but no cigar

[beanpole]

After being laid off for two months, one of my resumes got a bite. Did three interviews and a critique, fell in love with the company. Imagined myself spending the next 10 years there.

But no dice. Got the word today that I was only the runner-up.

****. I'd rather not get a nibble than get so close before losing the job. Now I'm off to interview for a sales job that I have no interest in.

I suck. That is all. :'(

 

[JackReacher]

Happens to everyone, man. Keep at it. I felt the same way you did last September, thinking I had nailed the interview at a place where I had a good contact. Ended up not getting it. Landed a better-paying gig a few months later.

It'll work out. Just keep at it.

 

[NatureBoy]

BP,

I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I think it's good you're getting interviews. I've been gone from my job for a bit longer and I haven't even sniffed an interview. Freelancing had been very good all fall, so I was fine, but it's screeched to a halt since then.

Look at it like this (I will if I ever score an interview): The interview is forward progress. When you're looking for work, forward progress is better than stagnation, which is what I'm facing and it isn't fun. I know you may not be interested in the sales job, but I hope they offer you. It gets you back in the working world and maybe that gives you a little pick-me-up. Good luck to you.

 

[fishhack2009]

After being laid off for two months, one of my resumes got a bite. Did three interviews and a critique, fell in love with the company. Imagined myself spending the next 10 years there.

But no dice. Got the word today that I was only the runner-up.

****. I'd rather not get a nibble than get so close before losing the job. Now I'm off to interview for a sales job that I have no interest in.

I suck. That is all. :'(

Bean, don't despair. Something will come along.

I interviewed for what I thought would be my dream job last summer, and got it.

It turned out to be the worst career move of my life. After three months, I was able to pull the ejection lever and find something else right before they canned me.

The grass ain't always greener. Sometimes it's just painted green to cover up the brown.

Good luck.

 

[dragonzo]

Beanpole,
Don't be too hard on yourself. I know what you're going through; I've had a couple interviews where I was really excited about the job, and they ended up going with someone else. You're down for a day or two, then you just have to get back to it.
Something will come along.

 

[beanpole]

Thanks guys. It's good to have support here.

And most bizarrely, when I was feeling the most down, I got a message in my e-mail inviting me to interview for a pretty good job. It's halfway across the country, but beggars can't be choosers. What started out to be a pretty good awful day suddenly has a little ray of hope.

 

[Suicide Squeezer]

Best of luck, bp. With a little bit of that and perseverance, it'll all work out in the end.

 

[gingerbread]

Thanks guys. It's good to have support here.

And most bizarrely, when I was feeling the most down, I got a message in my e-mail inviting me to interview for a pretty good job. It's halfway across the country, but beggars can't be choosers. What started out to be a pretty good day suddenly has a little ray of hope.

One door opens ...
Sometimes cliches really are true.

 

[cranberry]

And most bizarrely, when I was feeling the most down, I got a message in my e-mail inviting me to interview for a pretty good job. It's halfway across the country, but beggars can't be choosers. What started out to be a pretty good awful day suddenly has a little ray of hope.

Sounds like adventure calling. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Bean, don't feel so bad. I've been out of work multiple months too, and I've had one interview, for a job that was basically entry level and was a significant pay cut over what I had previously made.

Needless to say, I didn't get it, because they feared that I would bolt at the first opportunity. And for what they were going to pay, I probably would have, so I couldn't blame them.

I've had some frustrating days as well. Yet I keep plugging at it, and hoping that one day, someone will give me another shot.

 

[beanpole]

A friend of mine told me that to get hired in today's market, you have to send out 100 resumes. I don't know if that's true, but it feels like it.

I'm sitting here right now with my 3-year-old and wondering how I'm going to make the mortgage payment this summer if I'm still out of work. Sometimes I'm hugely depressed and sometimes I catch myself way in front of myself, making plans even though there's no offer on the table. Most of the time I'm a combination of scared and angry that I'm in this hole, along with thousands of others who've also lost good jobs in this industry.

It's comforting to come here and surf the boards, making comments and catching up on what people are thinking. You guys rock.

 

[beanpole]

Bumping this back up to hopefully provide a ray of hope to those on here still looking. That cool job opportunity 1200 miles away has become a reality. I start work on Monday, deeply grateful that I can keep providing for the family while doing something rewarding.

 

[JakeandElwood]

Congrats dude.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

On a little bit of tangent, but it's an interesting discussion thought I had about today's employment market.


Do you think employers today look at a employment gap as a bad thing as much as they once did? I mean, they have to realize that with the prevalence of job cuts the last couple years, people could have some big gaps in their history.

Obviously, it's something you can explain once you get the interview. But would an employer look past your resume because it has a 6-12 month gap?

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

I certainly hope they don't look at gaps the same way they once did.

I have pretty much given up hope of finding a job. I am in grad school looking for a gig to help pay the bills, but it isn't going to happen.

 

[Ace]

Bumping this back up to hopefully provide a ray of hope to those on here still looking. That cool job opportunity 1200 miles away has become a reality. I start work on Monday, deeply grateful that I can keep providing for the family while doing something rewarding.

Awesome news. Congrats.

 

[KJIM]

A friend of mine told me that to get hired in today's market, you have to send out 100 resumes. I don't know if that's true, but it feels like it.

I hope that's true, because it means I'm due.

 

[andyouare?]

On a little bit of tangent, but it's an interesting discussion thought I had about today's employment market.


Do you think employers today look at a employment gap as a bad thing as much as they once did? I mean, they have to realize that with the prevalence of job cuts the last couple years, people could have some big gaps in their history.

Obviously, it's something you can explain once you get the interview. But would an employer look past your resume because it has a 6-12 month gap?

We had a recent opening and of the six people who interviewed, five had been laid off and had months of gaps in their work resumes. (I talked to each of them for 10-15 minutes -- informally -- as part of the interview process.)

I don't know about other places, but my manager didn't think twice about those gaps. Times are tough and good people are being laid off all over.

One thing I'll add: The person who got the job kept themselves busy during their unemployment. They networked. They went to local professional society meetings and took social media seminars. They showed that they kept active and informed in the profession. (I'm out of newspapers and working in PR, BTW.) The manager(s) really liked that.

 

[mustangj17]

A. Nother Candidate seems to always get the job over me. He must have one heck of a resume and know a lot of people.

 

[beanpole]

On a little bit of tangent, but it's an interesting discussion thought I had about today's employment market.


Do you think employers today look at a employment gap as a bad thing as much as they once did? I mean, they have to realize that with the prevalence of job cuts the last couple years, people could have some big gaps in their history.

Obviously, it's something you can explain once you get the interview. But would an employer look past your resume because it has a 6-12 month gap?

Nobody said a word about the gap in my resume. But I also said in my cover letter that I was laid off in December.