Whirlpool

It's now been almost 6 months since I've finish uni and I'm sick of searching for jobs and getting rejected all the time. Just received another rejection for a Junior position in a design company. They said they had over 50 reponses. How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

Take a step back and re-assess your applicaionts.

Are you getting interviews? Then maybe its your CV or Cover Letter thats the problem.

If you are getting interviews, maybe its your technique?

If there is a phone number on the ad do you call it? Most dont, doing so backed up with your application is usually a guranteed interview.

thomas1987 writes...

How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

Mate with an attitude like that it is not going to get any easier.
Relax and think about what it is that you need to improve. Get feedback, tweak the resume and cover letter and move on.

You know what? I don't give a **** anymore. Don't need advices. I give up

dont give up. you will see brighter days. perhaps aim for a lower paying job for now?

So what do you exactly want with this post? To feel sorry for you? Not going to happen, you are just a surrender monk**, period.

I wouldn't give up that easily if I were you. It is very tough nowadays even for the most experienced. The market in Oz is very slow to pickup but eventually will pickup.

With an attitude like that, I wouldn't exactly want to hire you myself :P

Sorry to read this :-(

I don't really know what to tell you. I guess you should just check your CVs and cover letters are appropriate, and keep applying. Maybe broaden your search area? You could also try a recruitment place. I know a couple of people who genuinely got good permanent positions through those but I've also heard a lot are useless scams so you'd have to be careful.

Never give up!

thomas1987 writes...

It's now been almost 6 months since I've finish uni and I'm sick of searching for jobs and getting rejected all the time. Just received another rejection for a Junior position in a design company. They said they had over 50 reponses. How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

Should have did a Uni course where the market isn't flooded with applicants like yourself. Maybe try another state or country and see what the market is like elsewhere.

thomas1987 writes...

Don't need advices. I give up

That is why you fail!

I hope you're not one of those Gen Yers who give the rest of us a bad name with the (unfortunately) stereotypical sense of entitlement.

liteon writes...

Take a step back and re-assess your [applications].

Are you getting interviews? Then maybe its your CV or Cover Letter thats the problem.

I second this. I was in the same situation after Uni until I took a step back, refined my resume a whole heap (cut it down from 4 pages to 2). If your resume is too long then no one will bother reading it. Make sure you tailor your resume and cover letter to the job (I know it takes more effort but if you do it right you wont need to do this for 50 positions).

Things are always slow over the Christmas break so when you think about it, it's only really been 3-4 months.

Maybe you've set your sights too high and might need to settle for applying for something less than your dream job to get a bit of experience and confidence.

It looks like you're trying to find something in the design industry. It might be obvious, but if you haven't already, create an online portfolio of your work to show off what you're capable of doing and put a link to it in your resume.

Winners never quit and quitters never win.

Applies to this situation quite well :P

thomas1987 writes...

You know what? I don't give a **** anymore. Don't need advices. I give up

So do you want a medal for making this thread?

Pat on the back?

Sympathy?

/Prepares for rage

summerlab writes...

Winners never quit and quitters never win.

Applies to this situation quite well :P

Sums up the thread rather well.

I'm not having much luck with the employment situation either (unlike the OP I'd much rather work then *live* [if you call it that] on Newstart) but sitting on this site and posting a thread about it is not going to help.

Maybe the OP might consider looking at some part-time study so the resume doesn't have large gaps where you were doing nothing the whole time [I was looking for work, failed to gain any so went back and done (doing atm) some further study to expand my skill set or some-such might make for some great interview material =D]

I'm pretty sure he's just venting after getting rejected, he'll cool down soon enough and get back on the horse again.

thomas1987 writes...

It's now been almost 6 months since I've finish uni and I'm sick of searching for jobs and getting rejected all the time. Just received another rejection for a Junior position in a design company. They said they had over 50 reponses. How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

Why don't you get a job washing cars. Now that you have kids then you need to do anything you can to support them instead of being a deadbeat dad.

This is my court room, I am Judge Judy.

Well I guess if you are that desperate for a job, you could just work in a call center until you find one that will hire you.

I heard McDonalds keeps spots open for older people (not teenagers) who apply to work.

Cheers up and be persistent. I know how emotionally dejected you must feel when your application is rejected.

I have more than 15 years IT experience and only recently started working again, after more than 1 years looking.

Oh big deal.
I've had a job for 6 months and I just spent 100% of the money i earnt in this period on an $18,000 car.

Sure.. my cars a little nicer
But am I really better off than you? No. Not really..

You earn you spend. You don't earn you don't spend, but you somehow get by, you just whinge a lot while 'getting by'. Perhaps you should whinge less and enjoy life. After all, you'll be dead before you know it.

Harden up

How much experience in the workforce do you have. Do you have good references?

JuB-jUb writes...

I'm pretty sure he's just venting after getting rejected, he'll cool down soon enough and get back on the horse again.

Exactly...give the guy a break people.

Bearman writes...

Exactly...give the guy a break people.

+1

One thing that always seems to cheer me up is knowing that, well, that you only live once. I mean, think about it...Just once. that's it. no more chances.

what you did in this lifetime will echo for all eternity...Do you really want to spend your days all miserable? If not, do something about it...

brighter days will come I guarantee it.

thomas1987 writes...

How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

Suck it up princess. This is how life can be outside of full time education.

You're a new graduate, and an unknown commodity. Life can be hard and the people who are hiring are just doing so because you may be able to provide the company with something they're looking for.

6 months without work is frustrating, but there have been others who have been out of work longer than you, and who may have more qualifications or experience than you.

Keep yourself busy, keep yourself fit, keep yourself motivated and eventually you'll land something.

No doesn't mean no forever.

Goatee writes...

I hope you're not one of those Gen Yers who give the rest of us a bad name with the (unfortunately) stereotypical sense of entitlement.

It seems they are.

I've interviewed a few like this and rejected many more CVs from people like this.

To the OP ask why you're not getting interviews. You need to tailor your CV for each job. Sending the same generic CV is going to get you nowhere.

You need to stand out from the others. Recruiters often look at the first dozen or so applicants and then ignore the rest.

Looking for work is a full time job in itself. Get up early – before 9am. Have a decent breakfast and settle in where you can't be distracted easily and look for work.

If it makes you feel better, I spent 2 years applying for jobs before I got one. I got so many rejections that I eventually became numbed towards them and, trust me, there were many times when I thought to myself "what's the point? will this ever END?"

However, I got a LOT of people to review my resume and cover letter and I altered and re-altered them about 1000 times each (obviously tailoring the cover letter to the specific job at hand) until I was more or less satisfied with how they looked. Also, I tried to do activities and part time work on the side as well as gaining technical skills to further embellish my resume. Try find some things that you can learn that's applicable to the industry that you're trying to enter. The interviewers will look very favourably upon you for being able to teach yourself something in your spare time. Keep in mind, you didn't graduate during the best economical times either, but that's already abating.

I suggest you get help. Not even trying will always lead to failure. Don't get angry over rejections, call back and ask for how to improve it.

It is too easy to give up. But it is not in human nature to give up on life. You have to keep fighting and hope there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck.

Vell writes...

I suggest you get help. Not even trying will always lead to failure. Don't get angry over rejections, call back and ask for how to improve it.

Have you ever actually called up and asked for feedback?

Sometimes it works, but most of the time they really don't want to give you any feedback at all. If they do give you feedback then chances are that it will be any old nonsense, just to get rid of you.

Bearman writes...

Have you ever actually called up and asked for feedback?

Often companies do not give you any feed back you would be lucky to get a rejection email or a letter sent to your postal address if you put it on your CV/Resume.

Secretaries and receptionists are trained to just brush you off with any lame excuse.

Bearman writes...

Have you ever actually called up and asked for feedback?

He called them, but they aren't prepared to give him any advices.

Try dealing with the recruitment agencies they never call or send you on any interviews. They always say: "We will call you". At the end of the 10 minute chit chat.

They have the nerve to call you after 6 or 12 months just to see if you are still looking for work and to keep you on their database.

I agree with many ppl who suggested you to study a short course and/or look for a part-time job. At least that way it won't leave a big gap in your resume.... all the best....

thomas1987 writes...

They said they had over 50 reponses. How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

When the dot.com crash happened, entry level roles were inundated with hundreds, sometimes thousands of applicants. Some of the applicants had a decade worth of experience under their belt. It took nearly 4 years for the market to clean up enough for most graduates to get a job within 6 months of graduating.

What have you been doing to increase or highlight your skill set?

So you just apply for lots of jobs on seek.com.au and just sit and wait for the phone call and regularly check emails. But nothing ever happens.

I think he's gone.

Maybe he really did give up?

skaseman writes...

Maybe he really did give up?

OP, stay away from the light and come back to the sound of my voice!

skaseman writes...

I think he's gone.

Maybe he really did give up?

...or asleep after his temper tantrum...like what kids do :)

thomas1987 writes...

Don't need advices. I give up

I think maybe you do need advice (not advices) with your english expression.
Get someone to proof read your resume and cover letters.

Don't worry about it OP, at least you still get a nice clean meal every day, 1/3 people in the world still don't have access to clean water on a daily basis. If it makes you feel better, there are millions (14+ million in the US alone, out of work). Count all the other countries like Britain, Spain, and you have many more people doing it tough right now. Even people with jobs and on decent salary are complaining (e.g. me with all the price rises, property prices surging I'm wondering whose making the big bucks!")

But I agree with everyone else, don't give up, your body hasn't. Think about it, your heart works 24/7, every single second of your life, you only give up when your heart does.

Have you asked why you weren't successful?

Maybe you're going for jobs which you are to over-qualified for?

Is your resume more than two pages? two pages is max you should have for a resume. Detail it to you job, just like your Cover Letter.

If you have spelling mistakes in your resume, there is another thing that could be stopping you.

Try recruitment agencies, some are pretty good. Hudson, Hays, Kelly Services, they are the main big ones.

Changing your attitude in a big help as well...If you go straight to defeat, people can see this really easily in your voice and facial expressions.

thomas1987 writes...

How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

Its not entirely your fault, the government has got this IT skills migration program. So employers have a choice: They can hire a graduate or employ someone with work experience from overseas.

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-occupations/occupations-in-demand.htm

You know, after thinking about it some more... I do kind of feel sorry for the OP and anyone else in his position.

Just thinking back about this forum how often do we get some grad come here and bitch that he/she wasn't basically handed a job when they graduated?

I just think the system seems to fail in this area, too many people dont realise that finding a job is almost a job in its self.

Most people here are raised to believe life goes like this:

Primary School, High School, MUST GO TO UNI, Graduate and get job, retire in 40 years.

As soon as I found out that not all of that was compulsory I left school...

Why do people think that having a degree or fancy education just means instant job?

liteon writes...

Primary School, High School, MUST GO TO UNI, Graduate and get job, retire in 40 years.

Good point! The basic problem with the IT industry is that there are too many applicants for each job. Despite all the hype about IT, the Australian IT industry is small. In addition, the job market has been flooded with people on 457 visas when a lot of the work has gone to India anyway.

It seems to me that the pay rates aren't what they use to be either. If you do your sums a trade has got to be the way to go. All that a Uni degree gives you is early retirement whether you want it or not!!!

Also, look at the other threads this guy has started.

For starters I think it was industrial design that he is trying to get into. Surely there are grad programs for this?

First there was the interview but wasnt sure with who, I guess we can all make that mistake.

Then there was the 'I have an interview but I dont want to travel 2 hours to work' topic as well as the 'I have applied to 100 jobs and had 3 interviews' topic (or what ever).

Is thomas1987 even motivated to work?

The main problem is that you and about a million other grads are all applying for positions right now, which makes the competition way too hard (unless you're the dux).

I preempted this and started applying for jobs about 2-3 months before even completing my degree. 1 week after my last exam I was fully employed because I 'beat the crowd'.

You should try something similar in a few months before the wave of mid year finishing grads join the feeding frenzy. Like others have suggested, maybe just get a temporary job to get you through till then and use the time to speak to professional people in the industry about your resume and interview skills.

Good luck.

I understand that the O.P. may be just venting... however from my experience of advertising jobs from time to time in forums that attract students and recent graduates, I have found that _very_ few C.V's are up to standard.

C.V. and covering letters that are lame, full of spelling / grammar mistakes and/or applicants who think they are way hotter then they are, I simply hit the delete key and move on.

Michael613 writes...

C.V. and covering letters that are lame, full of spelling / grammar mistakes and/or applicants who think they are way hotter then they are, I simply hit the delete key and move on.

Still sounds like you have too many applicants to choose from!!!

this is why you don't go into interviews with such a shitty attitude.

All my friends have finished uni in the last 12 months, some are still looking for work, I have not been unemployed since i was 17. every job I've moved on from or to has been a step up, simply because when I apply, I send my resume with cover letter – TAILORED for the position – I follow up call to make sure it's been recieved. The follow up call may sound a bit stupid, but what it does is makes them CHECK that it's there, and often in the process of checking, it's getting read.

Also when you interview, tailor your appearance and attitude for the position you're applying for. being bubbly and enthusiastic for a basic drafting job is not neccasarily what they're going to be looking for. what would YOU look for?

Join the Army!

thomas1987 writes...

How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying?

By being better then the competition. You are not selling yourself well enough. Think of this as the first step to a lesson in life.

Those ratio's are nothing compared to doing IT jobs, the current support position I'm in had over 300 applicants and the latest job I applied for had over 2000

thomas1987 writes...

I give up

OK for a while at least. Don't panic.

Take that backpacking trip to Europe, or Queensland, or wherever for 3 months...something will eventuate.

numonex writes...

Often companies do not give you any feed back you would be lucky to get a rejection email or a letter sent to your postal address if you put it on your CV/Resume.

Yep, I wonder about that. Is it really that hard to send out a rejection emails en-mass? Apparently it is for some organisations.

I had one that automatically sent a application receipt explicitly stating that there would be no rejection emails/letters.

mrXO writes...

I have more than 15 years IT experience and only recently started working again, after more than 1 years looking.

And I had 19 Years full IT experience, made redundant last october and still looking. Every morning is a fresh start for me. I try to enjoy my time, my kids and family in general. If I had the "give up" attitude I wouldn't make it.

wait a couple of decades until all the overseas (Indian etc) IT workers have a greater or equal standard of living than Australia, and mostly would prefer to live in their growing economies, and the country is not flooded with skilled immigrants who are currently bleeding their own countries of needed skills.
spread the news that an IT degree sucks for job prospects, so that the future pool of graduates dries up to become a shortage.
get several degrees or post grad to make up for the watering down of degrees compared to the days when they DID mean lots of job offers.
reap the benefits when employers have to go looking for workers or go bust in the global competition... advise them to try harder and to work 24 hours a day on their advertisements to attract applicants. blame them for not training people on the job out of their own pockets (like grads have had to pay for their own education)
lobby for mandatory IT qualifications and join the <union>/ professional bodies that enforce a limited supply (like the doctors)
wait for the boomers to finally retire.
get old in the meantime.

don't apply for junior positions. they're not actually junior. Many ask for 2-3 yrs experience.

I got my job off linked in and my graduation ceremony is in April.

I'm assuming that you're just starting your working life, i.e. not a mature-age Uni entrant in the midst of a career change, so what I have to say is in that context.

Go and get any job for any business, whether its making burgers, digging ditches, selling door to door, pouring drinks, it doesn't matter. You need to be working. Getting a job is always easier when you already have one.

Drop the idea that you're going to get work in your chosen field. I know plenty of 'Design' grads who never make it into that line of work because there are so many people doing it and so few opportunities. Better to get any job in a large company which has a design department and try to move laterally than to try to get into their design department straight from uni.

thomas1987 writes...

How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying? This is bulls***!!!

"How am I ever going to get clients when there are so many competitors?".

"How am I ever going to get a goal when there are so many other players trying to get the ball?"

That is life. Compete or get rolled. I prefer to compete but YMMV.

Take a day off the job hunt, clear your head, get into the gym, and come back fresh on Thursday.

What industries have the best prospects of getting a job, besides trying to get into IT?

Soren2010 writes...

What industries have the best prospects of getting a job, besides trying to get into IT?

Defence?

thomas1987 writes...

You know what? I don't give a **** anymore. Don't need advices. I give up

I definitely agree...I also give up on your behalf.

Life's a B#@$# these days.

The IT industry needs a revamp, tradies can get apprenticeships why can't IT people

MeaningOfLife writes...

mrXO writes...And I had 19 Years full IT experience, made redundant last october and still looking. Every morning is a fresh start for me. I try to enjoy my time, my kids and family in general. If I had the "give up" attitude I wouldn't make it.

And what sort of jobs are you looking for?

I keep seeing jobs at all ends of the spectrum and no shortage of jobs to apply to.

burg998 writes...

Defence?

hmm...not that keen on defence. Something else maybe....accounting?

I feel for you OP, but there are plenty of your type out there.

Here we have a person who follows the rules, School > Uni > Grads > Expectings a job straight away since your got your qualifcations. World doesn't work that way, there are plenty of people our there who are not working in the same field as regards to their qualifications.

Soren2010 writes...

accounting?

That is just as hard to get into as IT. With no experience it is hard to get a professional job these days. Miss out on graduate programs and you are screwed. No point trying the next intake: more fresh super graduates and you have already been rejected.
Accounting = Big 4 Audit Firms or Banks. Maybe ATO.

Accounting degree is an easy ticket into the country for international students. Complete an accounting degree and you become a permanent resident. Easy course with no English required just number crunching.

This post isn't seeking for help, just expressing your feeling. SHUT IT OFF

RepublicozAus writes...

This post isn't seeking for help, just expressing your feeling. SHUT IT OFF

Where is OP btw? Don't tell me his given himself up to the graves.

Soren2010 writes...

accounting?

Physical Trainer?

Here we have a person who follows the rules, School > Uni > Grads > Expectings a job straight away since your got your qualifcations. World doesn't work that way, there are plenty of people our there who are not working in the same field as regards to their qualifications.

But if thats the opinion whats the point of getting qualified in the first place, you essentially have a piece of paper that means nothing so you waste 3 years of your life getting in just to smile and say i've done it.Its like saying i'm certified by Microsoft to work on servers because i'm MCSE certified but i'm not good enough to get a job doing it.

Luxury writes...

Where is OP btw? Don't tell me his given himself up to the graves.

Still here! I wasn't even gone...just reading all the replies and having a laugh

I stopped looking for work though, got up at 10am and have been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 all day lol

thomas1987 writes...

I'm sick of searching for jobs and getting rejected all the time

It's a horrible thing to have to deal with. I can understand your frustration. Whilst I can say "don't let it get you down", I can understand why it does.

thomas1987 writes...

I stopped looking for work though, got up at 10am and have been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 all day lol

If it's getting to you- and no doubt it is, having a "day off" like this is a good thing. Take a day, chill, don't stress. Do fun stuff, sleep in. Exactly what you're doing. :) When you feel better about things, hit the job apps again. Remember, you can get a thousand "nos", all you need is one "yes". You'll get there, eventually.

garthy your exactly right people don't understand how frustrating looking for work really is, its a numbers game and unless you get the lucky number then you don't have a chance.the important thing is to keep your head held high and keep trying, more studying is the last thing you want to do but if you could somehow find a way to fund yourself for some industry certifications go with that or find a course to get your mind of this cutthroat industry

First job I ever had, at the orientation lecture, I heard a HR person give me the best advice I ever heard with regard job applications, candidate selection, and personnel decisions: "We do not exist to find you a good job, we exist to find competent people to fill our vacancies. Finding you a good job is your responsibility. Noone else's."

hah... fresh out of uni?? try 6 years experience and a) right fit, not right technical experience or b) right technical experience, wrong fit.....

fit this, I'm gonna give up too =)

thomas1987 writes...

Still here! I wasn't even gone...just reading all the replies and having a laugh

I stopped looking for work though, got up at 10am and have been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 all day lol

That's the spirit, I used to play Dota 8 hours a day whilst looking for work!

I'm calling BS on this thread.

OP has a history of controversial first posts then contributes nothing thereafter.

thomas1987 writes...

I stopped looking for work though, got up at 10am and have been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 all day lol

What happened to World of Warcraft? Play that for 15 hours straight was like cool back in the day. Collecting the tax payers dollar filling in the dole forms and playing World of Warcraft. Those were the days. Wait I still do that now.

Playing video games all day instead of looking for work. Well you should not be whinging about not finding a job. Are you even really looking for a job?

thomas1987 writes...

I stopped looking for work though, got up at 10am and have been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 all day lol

It really sounds like you were ONLY looking for a job in your uni field. The reason you might not be getting anywhere is perhaps not enough work experience?

You have to look at it like this. Jobs a job. If you don't have a job, ANY job will do. Once you get a job then you can start being picky and choosy while you look for another job.

If you are being picky and choosy then you can't complain about money.

oh and FYI it looks a lot better on the resume if you are currently employed ;)

Thats if you can get a job outside of your field with no shelf stacking experience

thomas1987 writes...

ust received another rejection for a Junior position in a design company. They said they had over 50 reponses.

Fifty is nothing, last time we advertised for a DTP position and a Web Developer position we got 250+ for each position.

All you can do is tweak your CV, tailor it to each application and keep trying.

Until you get a job in your chosen field; get any job you can – employers are looking for workers, not people feeling sorry for themselves. If that means stacking shelves, do it.

thomas1987 writes...

Still here! I wasn't even gone...just reading all the replies and having a laugh

I stopped looking for work though, got up at 10am and have been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 all day lol

You should be shot !

FromOz writes...

Fifty is nothing, last time we advertised for a DTP position and a Web Developer position we got 250+ for each position.

Yeah, 50 really isn't a huge amount; sounds like a lot if you're one of them, but if you have ever been in charge of going through resumes, you would know that 90% of them are poorly written or unsuitable for the position.

First impression starts at the CV.

I think some people have chimed in with good advice already so ill just say try and stay positive and keep at it. I know how down and frustrating it can get but getting negative and angry isnt going to make it happen so

If you're feeling lazy about the whole issue, you may as well sign up to a recruitment agency. Sure, they're bad mouthed all the time, but if, and I mean If, they call you out of the blue for a short-term contract (whether it's IT, office admin, whatever), you'll be grateful to be employed.

I was lucky enough to get an office admin job through one within 2 weeks of signing up and then found a grad IT job during my employment (I was surprised how much office admin can relate to IT), so pardon the rose coloured glasses :p

You think not being able to find an IT job is soul sucking?
Just wait til you DO get an IT job!

thomas1987 writes...

Still here! I wasn't even gone...just reading all the replies and having a laugh

Thank god for that. I thought we'd seen the last of you. Stop scaring us like that.

My response was "You only sent 50 applications?".

Life sux, it's tough and it certainly isn't easy.

For every single job (bar 1 or 2) especially in the last year or so, I have had to send out many applications.

Even if it's not a job you really want to do, getting your foot in the door as a receptionist or some other position in a design house may be what you need to do.

Alternatively, you could go into another field (call centre work sux but is better than nothing I guess) to get some experience and go from there.

Don't let it get you down. You will eventually get the position you are after (and if you don't then maybe your chosen field isn't for you).

i hear Centrelink are looking for another poster child...?

liteon writes...

And what sort of jobs are you looking for?

I keep seeing jobs at all ends of the spectrum and no shortage of jobs to apply to.

My last job before redundancy I was a Snr Systems Analyst. I work with developers as have excellent enterprise app (J2EE, etc....) and work with Infrastructure and Change Management. The problem is my resume shows solid 85% past development experience and only 15% production and incident support management.
I haven't been into development for a about 1.5 years and that is what is hurting me and not enough years to apply for management jobs.

And yes there are heaps of jobs out there but multiply each job by hundreds of candidates who apply for it. I don't think recruiters are having fun sorting out through all the piles and they know a lot of good ones are slipping through unnoticed.

Old Grey Dog writes...

The basic problem with the IT industry is that there are too many applicants for each job.

Do you have any evidence for this statement, or are generalizing the entire IT industry to your one specific field.

It seems to me that the pay rates aren't what they use to be either. If you do your sums a trade has got to be the way to go.

Would you mind putting your sums up in public?

liteon writes...

For starters I think it was industrial design that he is trying to get into. Surely there are grad programs for this?

Industrial Design is an exceptionally hard field to get into. You have to be brilliant. I doubt most people make it in on their first attempt.

web-dude writes...

I preempted this and started applying for jobs about 2-3 months before even completing my degree.

Graduate positions, as in actual graduate programs, have applications processes that start 8 or so months before students complete their degrees.

Old Grey Dog writes...

Still sounds like you have too many applicants to choose from!!!

Nope. I've rejected applications based on their CV and been required to repost the job advert.

Bearman writes...

Is it really that hard to send out a rejection emails en-mass?

Is it really so hard to not expect rejection emails? Apparently it is for some individuals.

3PIL0GU3 writes...

The IT industry needs a revamp, tradies can get apprenticeships why can't IT people

Because the vast majority of IT work isn't pulling cables out of roofs?

Bearman writes...

Is it really that hard to send out a rejection emails en-mass? Apparently it is for some organisations.

The last vacant position i filled everyone received a receipt that their application had been received and would be considered for interview. and that only those successful in getting an interview would get a reply.

although several people rang and asked why they weren't successful and where i didn't risk a law suite i told them.

Seems the thread has deviated a little but on the topic of what's 'wrong' with the IT industry (wrt development), I'd say the industry is just reflecting the fact that it's a) saturated, b) commoditized and c) entirely self-regulated.

There's no real barrier to entry in IT anymore – for instance I have an engineering degree but I no longer fool myself into thinking that's more valuable than a TAFE course*. The irony is it's our industry that's lowered those barriers :)

Commoditizing is that let's face it, 90% of the software work out there is producing 'Yet Another nTier business app'. There's nothing new there to R&D, just repackaging existing practices and libraries. I'm amazed most IT work hasn't been outsourced to China already.

Finally, the industry is immature and there's really no rigor to it. No one has good metrics of what makes a 'good', 'experienced' IT-person, so instead we deduce a potential employee's value by their 'time' invested in 'fleeting technology X'. At least those tradies etc need to acquire industry certifications.

In truth, there's nothing wrong with the industry, but the return of investment for most people in our industry for the effort involved is low compared to other markets.

Logic and Reason writes...

Is it really so hard to not expect rejection emails? Apparently it is for some individuals.

Yeah, sending out rejection emails (instead of leaving applicants hanging) would be for too complicated for the HR drones. It would probably blow their tiny minds.

ckingston writes...

The last vacant position i filled everyone received a receipt that their application had been received and would be considered for interview. and that only those successful in getting an interview would get a reply

The more professional organisations seem to have proper procedures in place to handle receipt of applications and rejections, while you're lucky if you get a notification of receipt from others.

I am calling the OP a troll.

/forum-replies.cfm?t=1388234&u=100873#r1

KIRBYKIA writes...

I am calling the OP a troll.

/forum-replies.cfm?t=1388234&u=100873#r1

And how does that prove I'm a troll?

thomas1987 writes...

And how does that prove I'm a troll?

Pretend the OP in the other thread and this one is not yourself.

Now read them....... There are only two possible conclusions you can come too... Troll... Or lazy fool... You pick!

/forum-replies.cfm?t=1388234&u=100873#r15

lol you had an interview but turned it down because of a little distance? Then you come on here bitching about you cant get a job!

If you are finding it that hard to get a job then you should have gone to that interview. If you got the job then you could have moved closer.

You seem like a troll to me.

seriosly, look at your attitude. Thats probably why you havn't had much success.

OP, start lining up at Centrelink office and collect our tax money.

Draw some inspiration from survival books/films or people overcoming illness. Look at the bigger picture. If you have given up then you are a sook. Have a day off and then get another opinion on your CV and applications etc.

Watch a film called "touching the void' and tell me you are giving up..

Morr1e writes...

http://forums.whirlpool.net.a​u/forum-replies.cfm?t=1388234&u=100873#r15

lol you had an interview but turned it down because of a little distance? Then you come on here bitching about you cant get a job!

OP should stop bitching. If it is a 2 hour journey and he's not willing to make this job a stepping stone for bigger things, then he won't get anywhere at this rate other than the Centrelink queue.

I took a job 10 hours away from my home and had to move house from Melb to Sydney!!!!! This is how it is in today's job market. You have to come out of your comfort zone if you want to achieve what you set out to do. I set out to get a job and leaving my comfy (and great) Melb lifestyle was what I had to do and I did it.

You just gotta get out there and get your foot in the door somewhere, anywhere!!!

I was in the same position as OP, after finishing uni searching for 6 months, i just resolved to the fact i was gunna be a pizza boy for the rest of my life. Got an interview as low level helpdesk, very very bad pay, 2 hours from the family home. I took it and i struggled big time, but stuck to it and now doing ok for myself as a junior programmer. I spent about 3 years on the helpdesk, learnt alot, tried to involve myself on any Programming projects as much as possible.

Good luck and dont give up.

I feel your pain, I feel it. I too had been struggling for a veeeeeerrryyyy (Note the excessive amount of letters in very) long time, and found something that keeps me happy. I know that this will sound a bit harsh but don't expect too much that since you have some sort of certification/diploma/bachelor; Aim low and work up, after all you went through university to get an award, you can work the same amount to get to where you want to be.

Logic and Reason writes...

When the dot.com crash happened, entry level roles were inundated with hundreds, sometimes thousands of applicants. Some of the applicants had a decade worth of experience under their belt. It took nearly 4 years for the market to clean up enough for most graduates to get a job within 6 months of graduating.

I was lucky enough to graduate just after this (Software Engineering degree from Melb Uni). Every job I applied for had 100s of applicants. I had a handful of interviews in about 12 months (while applying everywhere I could). In the mean time I did odds and ends, temping in factory lines and things. I ended up taking up a computer repair franchise and managed to scrape through a few years until I finally got a real software development job.

At times I was frustrated, sure. Never angry. Why did I deserve a job? I was clearly in a field with more people than jobs. Bad luck, maybe, but no one's fault except perhaps my own. I'd rolled the dice, chosen a degree and chose wrong as far as employment prospects went.

Take a break, but don't give up.

I have an utterly pathetic resume, basic high school education, I have had VERY little work experience, and whatever I've had, it was usually (if not always) negative. This is it, I have a 130+ IQ yet am slow on the uptake, have poor initiative and responsibility, and I don't socialize well – therefore am virtually useless for any job. And I don't take drugs! I am on a pension which is hardly enough to live well on, and I get depressed most days.

Yet I have it better than 30-40% of the world's population. I don't really have anything to be depressed about, I am a white guy, I speak English, have my own car, and I stand to own a house in the (hopefully not too near) future, I haven't worked for my money as of October 2008. I've had it with the employment game.

If anything, the problem is I have it too easy. Yes the world is screwy, heaps of educated people out of work, housing is way, way, way too expensive (and it's only gonna get worse). More and more people getting hooked on drugs, ciggies/alcohol.

Just enjoy this silly ride, life is never that serious.

thomas1987 writes...

they had over 50 reponses. How the **** am I ever going to get a job when so many people are applying?

That's the problem with this country! Too many graduates and the Unis are very crap.

In the USA, education is still valued...no wonder then, that innovative new technologies are constantly being developed there...

Why does Japan make so many electronic goods? Because the government wants to. So they invest in skills/research/development.

Here, all we do is export iron ore, coal and sheep.

tri400 writes...

Here, all we do is export iron ore, coal and sheep.

And apparently, pole-dancing expertise too (according to a recent Sydney Morning Herald online article).

When I first looking for a full time job, it took me a while too before I got myself one.

When applying for one, be humble and honest. Prospective employer can see from miles away if you polish yourself too much and can backfire.

Don't be too selective especially work that you would never consider before. A small job is better than no job at all.

Miklos73 writes...

Just enjoy this silly ride, life is never that serious.

True. Life is a joke.

It took me 11 months after uni to get my first job.. just keep trying. I was down and out almost

I can say I was lucky, no interview, I had a crap resume..

I think if you keep trying things will fall into place..

Go to a professionals that fixes and writes selection criteria and resumes. Keep trying make your application stand out.

Get any job to kill time also..

cheers :P

To quote Ali G – Keep it Real !!!

I would suggest a proper evaluation of why you are not getting the job, maybe your expectations are too high or you have to take a detour by doing a desktop support role. At least that'll get you in the door, even if you want to be doing software development.

Recruiters are recruiters, they are running a business not there to stroke your ego by sending out rejection letters. Stroke is probably the wrong word, but eh