JFTDC!: I Am So Sick of Interviewing For Jobs & Getting Nothing!

[stopbush]

Now, granted, these are upper management positions that pay pretty well, and I know people take their time and find the perfect match. But, shit! All I want is for one - ONE! - of them to come through with an actual offer! Not a, "we loved you...it's just that there was this ONE other person who was such a *perfect* match for our needs...we'll keep you on file," line of BS.

Last week was typical - I did a two-hour face-to-face at the local TV station for a marketing job (that 2-hrs was the culmination of FIVE hours of interviews over a 3-week period for this position). It went great. Got the tour of the facility. The guy in charge calls last Friday to tell me it's between me and one other person and that he hoped to let me know today. Haven't heard squat.

The day after the TV interview, I drove to LA and back (600 miles) for a 3-hour dinner interview with an arts organization. It went great ("if we didn't have two more people to see Friday, we'd hire you right here and now."). They call me the next day and say the want to continue talking to me...maybe I can do some consulting work for them IMMEDIATELY?? "You had such powerful ideas!" Haven't heard back since.

Last Thursday, I'm sent up for a gig in Santa Monica at a BIG video entertainment firm. They needed a person (VP level) to work the continental European market. "They've had an impossible time filling this position," sez Mr Recruiter Man. "it's been open for 6 months. You'll have to spend half of your time in Europe. Should I submit you?" "Yowza," sez I. Today, I'm informed that between last Thursday and today, they've miraculously found someone who they're "in love with...they're in final negotiations." Oh...so I was the beard you brought to the dance so the inhouse bridegroom would shit or get off the pot. Been there, done that. Fuck you!

Then, there was yesterday's phone interview with 3 members of the Board of Directors for an entity in DC. "We'll let you know about next steps within two weeks." Thank you sir, may I have another?

Today, more e-mails from other entities from LA to DC (responding to my submitted resume) who want to schedule phone interviews. Fine...but does it ever lead to a job?! Shit!

I mean, Jeebus...I've been out of work for 38 months! I'm sick of fucking interviews, and second interviews, and third interviews. I just want a job!!!!

I guess I should be happy I'm getting interviews, but, bloody hell! I've NEVER done so many interviews and got nothing to show for it but a stack of dry cleaning bills, receipts for fast food and extra mileage on my car. Is anybody else going through these *window shopping* interviews? I hope not, because, believe me, it SUCKS!

Rant over.

[serryjw]

1. Silly questions?

Have you checked your credit report or references recently? is there a possibility something negative is showing up you didnt expect?

[stopbush]

3. My credit is fine, and I've eliminated every reference who could

be any kind of a problem. But you're right - those are two very common problems/mistakes that job hunters need to address.

I don't even know if these companies are checking my references. I check back with my references from time to time to see if they've even been contacted. Most of the time, they haven't been contacted. If they're not contacting any of the 6 people I've listed, who are they contacting?

I hate to say it, but it may be age discrimination. While I'm in good physical shape for 49, my hairline has seen better years. But when you go through 5 hours of interviews - or when the people interviewing you are also folliclly challenged - then you assume that's not the issue.

[Frodo]

8. Sounds a little sinister

You've "eliminated every reference who could be a problem"???

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Been there, done that...

although not as much for as long a time. I don't have a mortgage or kids to worry about, so I just said fuck 'em and did what I felt like.

I may be completely full of shit about this, but I suspect you've just been out of work in your field for too long at this point. Two years is a long time to be out of the loop and anyone paying he big bucks wants someone to walk in and bring his current contacts with him.

Free advice, and worth every penny of it, would be to forget your past life and start thinking about what you want to do with the rest of it. Start low somewhere else, or plan to start your own operation.

It's brutal out there, and you're a lousy piece of meat no matter who you are.

[stopbush]

4. Well, I have set my sights on other things.

The fine arts world typically pays 35% less than what I was making for the same job in the private sector. And, I've interviewed at everything from vitamin companies to magazine publishers to computer software companies to newspapers to...well, it's a long list of enterprises not necessarily in my immediate ken of experience.

What I absolutely have NOT been able to do is to move it down a notch and start lower. I don't even get responses from those positions.

The being out of work thing is also a problem. I have a decent cover story for that and some exec level buds who will back it up for me (basically, lie to fill in the blanks), but that's a bit of a self-fulfilling kick in the ass, ain't it? And, I still have all my contacts - at least the ones who haven't been downsized out of the entertainment biz - but none of their companies are hiring...they're firing. But you're right. Many companies see inactivity as a big old red flag...as in, "if he's any good, why won't anyone hire him? Hell, we've got real shit-for-brains working here, and THEY don't have any problem staying employed. What's his problem?"

Tis a puzzlement...

[leftyandproud]

5. you let them get away with the "we've got one more person to interview" BS

that was your mistake...you could have sealed the deal right there if you knew what to say.

Buy this book...NOW

Read it cover to cover. It has an unbelievable amount of great advice...probably the most important book you will ever read.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671723650/qid=1089867173/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-8582269-8420744?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[stopbush]

6. Thanks for the tip. I've read Carnegie's book. I'll re-read it. n/t

[cliss]

7. Hang in there, SB.

I'm sure something will come up for you! There are still a lot of good paying jobs. I wouldn't necessarily give up on my career and start over from the bottom.

I would, however, consider doing a horizontal move, like doing some consulting work, or even short-term volunteer work, just for the purpose of filling out my resume. You want to be able to show that you've been busy the whole time. What you made (or didn't make) is none of their business.

Also, a resume is not a job application. It's your advertising tool. It should say the very best about you. You don't have to lie, but you don't have to include 'dry spells' either.

I'm sending good thoughts to you as I drift off to sleep......