I haven't had any paid employment in several years, although i have done a lot of volunteer work, and recently completed my AS degree. It seems that no one takes me seriously. I have only gotten to the interview portion twice, and I have been asked the same ? over and over.... You reallly haven't worked since '94?
No one seems to want to take a chance on me, even though I am a very hard worker with a strong work ethic, and a lot of good marketable skills.
Any advice on how to get the job?
2006-08-29 13:50:15 · 8 answers · asked by kathleen f 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
One of the reasons I am looking for work is that my husband passed away a year and a half ago, and he did not leave me much. I managed to finish my AS the semester that he died, but haven't been able to bring myself to go back to school to complete my bachelors yet.
2006-08-29 14:07:25 · update #1
Your resume' (like everyone's) is factual & data filled...just like everyone ese's. Your PASSION has to show through on the cover letter, why they should hire you, you contributions and your contributions to that companies success.
I had a client who sent out 20 resume's, each with a cover letter and a $1 dollar bill attched...had 4 offers of employment. You gotta be different than the competition.
2006-08-29 14:14:21 · answer #1 · answered by Tom Larsen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides of the other good suggestions above:
Try to put yourself into the shoes of the hiring manager. They look for a particular set of skills and experience. And ususally they want to hire fast and the right candidate. Someone who does not need a lot of training and is cheap and "easy maintenance"
Someone who has not worked in a corporate environment raises some conerns which you need to address: How long will he/she be able to hold up? Is she/he experienced and familiar with the latest tools and technologies in that field? AFter all those years how would she/he function? Would she/he be late or lazy? Or just not fast enough? The pace has changed within the last years.
It seems that your resume addresses those things otherwise they would have not invited you.
So now in the interview: Dress properly, shave, cut your hair (I assume you did all that) be dynamic, make sure you are well educated in the latest methods and technologies in your field, make it clear that you are a fast learner. Make yourself look younger, perhaps even dye your hair.
And in the interview reference to one of your volunteer work. Let's say you are an accountant and you worked with Peoplesoft software at the volunteer work and the employer is an SAP shop. Tell them professionally and conviced that you know Peoplesoft very well and you understand the priciples of SAP. So the hiring manager thinks..hm...he/she may be able to pick that up quickly.
Also you could start an own business - in an interview it looks really good when you can refer to that. It makes you look dynamic, experienced, smart and responsible.
2006-08-29 21:12:46 · answer #2 · answered by spaceskating_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can sympathise with you as I am in the same boat, to a different extent due to having run our own building business for years doing the bookwork side while bringing our family up. I would like part time work away from our business now the kids are older, but no one will recognise the fact that I have something to offer as I didn't work for a different company but basically for my husband. The only thing I can suggest is to take a more forceful approach when they ask these questions, stating that you are overqualified for the position and could do it with your eyes closed if only they would give you the chance. They may respect this as many employers like people with confidence. Failing that I would lie! This may seem bad as I am a very honest person, but employers only want to hear that you have worked for this firm or that and not what you are capable of. Maybe you have someone who could back you up that you have worked. Someone who knows you well enough to know that you are indeed a capable person. Good luck anyway
2006-08-29 20:59:38 · answer #3 · answered by auburn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I am sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what it must be like to try and find a job after all these years. I haven't worked outside the home since 1996 so I would run into the same problem. I want to suggest a company for you to look into while you are out there being asked the same question all the time. It is a company called Arbonne International and you could start your own business while you are looking for work in the corporate world. You may just find that you would not need the corporate world after all. You can learn about the company at http://www.wonderful.myarbonne.com There are links on the right hand side of my homepage you can click on to listen. You have nothing to lose by listening. You are out there doing what I always worried about having to do after my husband had his heart attack, but I do still have him. Now with my Arbonne business I don't worry about that anymore. Good luck to you!
2006-08-29 21:17:04 · answer #4 · answered by arthurbel33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would stress that yes, you have worked,but not in paid positions as your first priority was to get your degree. Most employers take a serious look at volunteer work if you give it the respect it deserves on your resume. rather than downplay it,try to build it up by listing the tasks you performed and the valuable experience you gained from it. Good Luck and don't lose hope!!
Chances are you wouldn't be happy in the employ of a company with that kind of mind set anyway.
2006-08-29 20:59:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your Job Interview Is Like A Blind Date
by: Ann Baehr
Funny and Truthfull article on my source below
2006-08-29 21:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure they know the level of your involvement with your volunteer work & if you've done different volunteer jobs, make sure they know which organizations you've helped with! volunteer work is just as time-consuming & sometimes even a harder job than your real job! good luck! :)
(probably will also help if you're up front with them & explain why you haven't had paid work for so long & why you want to return to paid work.)
2006-08-29 20:56:54 · answer #7 · answered by funy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dang dude if it were me i might hire you, as for your situation i would just keep on looking for jobs, if somebody hires you great if not then take a huge dump on there car, or not depending on how your treated or whatnot
2006-08-29 21:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by black_lable_socity 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋