The Pongo Blog
Tell Us Your Biggest Job Search Gripe
August 02, 2010 (10:45AM) by Rick Saia, CPRW
A job search can be frustrating, especially if you've been searching for months and coming up empty.
And sometimes — rightly or wrongly — job seekers direct their frustration at employers over their hiring practices.
But for every gripe from a job seeker, an employer has one as well about what they read and don't read on resumes and cover letters, and what they hear and don't hear in interviews. The funny thing is that both sides have similar complaints about the other. For instance, look at these examples:
| Job Seeker Complaints |
Employer Complaints |
| "Employers leave us hanging after we submit our resumes or after we're interviewed. Can’t they just let us know if we’re still in the running?" |
"Job seekers can be pests by constantly following up on their applications. Don’t they realize we have several candidates to evaluate? These things take time!" |
| "Hiring managers ask the dumbest or weirdest questions in an interview. What's the point in asking what animal from the Amazon rain forest I’d like to be?" |
"Job seekers don't prepare well for interviews. They ramble on and give us too much information on stuff that's not related to the job or their backgrounds." |
| "Employers can dance around salary ranges even though they want salary requirements from us. They seem more concerned with how much they'll have to pay me than whether I’m the right person for the job." |
"Job seekers dance around their weaknesses when we interview them. We've heard more than our share of B.S. answers when we ask that question. Want to know how many of them say "chocolate"? That was only funny the first hundred times." |
Can't everyone just get along?
There's a well-known saying that you shouldn't judge another person unless you've walked a mile in their shoes. That's why job seekers should anticipate what employers are looking for during the job search process, while employers should be equally empathetic about job seekers' expectations.
What’s your biggest job search gripe? We want to hear from job seekers and employers! Vent your frustrations in the Comments section.
RELATED LINKS
Resume Writing, Interviewing, and Networking Advice
Insider Job Search Tips from HR Professionals
Weird Interview Questions and the Reasons Behind Them
My gripe is finding job openning in which I am qualified for? Where are they. I was a hotel reservationist. I am not finding anything in my field, or similar fields.
Posted by: Sandy | August 02, 2010 at 4:03 PM | Quote This Comment
Recruiters who "hang" up on you the minute they find out you're deaf. Just because you're deaf doesn't mean that you can't do the job. (Yes, I know there are jobs that wouldn't work for a deaf person, but we know from the beginning that we should stay away from these.)
Posted by: Lola LB | August 02, 2010 at 5:35 PM | Quote This Comment
My biggest gripe is giving a two week notice and then being told to not bother working out the notice and being told to take the two weeks unpaid. That's cheap.
Posted by: Jim Appleby | August 03, 2010 at 9:49 AM | Quote This Comment
@Sandy: That can be pretty discouraging, but don't give up!
@Lola: Wow, I really feel for you here! It's hard to believe that happens. Leaves me a bit disappointed in our workforce. Hope it starts looking up for you soon.
@Jim: I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm really glad you brought this up. Many employees might not know that, unfortunately, two weeks notice is a courtesy that the employee gives to the employer, and the employer can either reject it or return the courtesy by allowing you to work the next two weeks.
Some industries do not accept notices simply for security/privacy reasons, and any other time it's a case-by-case basis. Other reasons this could happen: They were planning to let you go anyway; you used more than the allotted amount of vacation time and that's their way of getting that money back; or any other special circumstance that led them to reject your notice and not pay you for the rest.
On the bright side, I hope you were prepared for that outcome and submitted your notice with another job already lined up to start. Best of luck finding a job if that's not the case!
Posted by: Brianna | August 03, 2010 at 2:58 PM | Quote This Comment
My biggest gripe is that employers are not bothering to look at the upside potential of hiring an "over" qualified job seeker. It's not just about pay - the jobs are in my salary range. I feel that I am enthusiastic and can help these companies with my experience and expertise.
Posted by: JohnL | August 04, 2010 at 5:17 PM | Quote This Comment
@ JohnL - I hear you loud and clear. Some companies are so bottom line-focused that they wind up shortchanging themselves by hiring someone with less experience just so they can save money.
On the other hand, it's incumbent upon overqualified job seekers to let employers know that (1) money may not be everything, and (2) a job seeker can be excited by the prospect of working in a particular company or industry that has great potential.
And, of course, an experienced hand can be a good mentor to those with less experience. That's why some sports teams with a lot of young talent will bring in a veteran or two to help guide them.
Thanks for your comment!
Posted by: Rick Saia, CPRW | August 04, 2010 at 5:27 PM | Quote This Comment
@Lola: We hire people with disability. They can do the job as good as other people. As matter of fact, we find them more enthusiastic and committed to their job.
Posted by: Eelynn | August 07, 2010 at 7:48 AM | Quote This Comment
My gripe is the employer relying on your credit report for non money handling job functions. In today's economy where people are being laid off left & right, no income, losing their homes, etc., their credit reports are going to take a nasty hit. The employer needs to look beyond that or at least ask for the reason and factor that into the hiring process.
Posted by: jayw | August 07, 2010 at 10:03 AM | Quote This Comment
Temporary employment agencies post jobs that millions can fill--why? I have read and I think they are creating inventories and equally important--they are keeping busy. And let's not forget job boards that are merely a great place for spammers, phishers, resume writing companies, fee-charging job board posting companies, foreign money-launderers, and private college sales pitches, et al. Ugh.
Posted by: John Barnickel | August 08, 2010 at 5:05 PM | Quote This Comment
my gripe is the fact that No One ever lets you know anything.
Posted by: Scott Bumgarner | August 09, 2010 at 9:29 AM | Quote This Comment
My gripes are: #1: From what I've heard potential Employers or their designated employee don't even look at all or most of the resume's and applications that they receive in response to a job posting. From what I am told through numerous blogs and forums is that maybe they might look at the first 50 to 60 and the rest are deleted without consideration. #2: What ever happened to a response, a response of any kind. You take the time to apply and send a resume', offering your experience and talents to a potential employer and you don't even get so much as a thank you, but no thank you or pound sand you idiot. Don't tell me that these companies don't have the man/woman power when there are so many of us out here who would be more than happy to do the job and be greatful while doing it just to "Have" a job. Come on Employers and Potential Bosses of America "WAKE UP" You are missing out on some fantastic talent and experience. PLEASE WAKE UP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
Posted by: Anthony | August 09, 2010 at 9:46 AM | Quote This Comment
I am sooooo sick and tired of these DENTAL OFFICES saying, "bi lingual preferred" "Needs to speak Spanish" "Will hire and train if you are bilingual" THEY should of added ESPANOL after my Radiology course for the DA program at PIMA Medical Institute where I paid close to 10 thousand dollars for my "Dental Assistant Certification" WTF?
Posted by: Brandi | August 15, 2010 at 6:02 PM | Quote This Comment
@ jayw -- I hear you! As if being laid off wasn't bad enough.
@ Anthony -- That's why we're here: to help job seekers market themselves effectively enough so that their resumes will get noticed and they'll get the interview.
@ Brandi -- If they say knowledge of a second language is "preferred," that wouldn't stop me from applying. But you bring up a timely issue: Many service industries are seeing customer growth that goes beyond those who speak only English.
Posted by: Rick Saia, CPRW | August 16, 2010 at 3:26 PM | Quote This Comment
My biggest frustration is, often, working with recruiters. I probably get a couple of calls a week (I am thankful, my work is in some kind of demand) and every once and a while I bite. Often, however, the recruiter may only have 1 good opportunity in months and, often, their clients, advertise for their own positions as well, to avoid paying the fees. The next thing you know, the recruiter is asking you to let them present you to the same clients. Well, If I had known about the opportunity through the recruiter, I would not have to contact the employer directly. I suppose it's getting competitive for economical reasons, but it's hard to know who to trust and what they're doing with your information. Establishing a good repoire is so important, but I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.
Posted by: Brian | August 18, 2010 at 10:12 PM | Quote This Comment
@ Brian -- I think the bigger issue is the level of trust an employer places in a recruiter. If they've had success with one before, they may go to him or her again. But companies are always looking to cut costs, and there are many reasons today (i.e., web and social media) companies could prefer to do the recruiting themselves.
Posted by: Rick Saia, CPRW | August 19, 2010 at 5:02 PM | Quote This Comment