job interview blues....?

Question

hi, i'll try to make this brief, I've been going on interviews since January and although I've gotten great feedback and some close calls, I've not gotten an offer yet (4 rejections so far) and days and days wasted of going to agencies when they forget u the next week. I feel bummed b/c we REALLY need the money! I have a great resume for a secretary and I keep remembering that not too long ago I used to get 2 job offers at once and I try to talk myself up b/c I'm feeling sooooooo down with this financial pressure I feel like I'm gonna crack! Any words of encouragement would be helpful b/c I feel like I'm letting my kids down. I stopped working in July of 2006 to take care of a newborn. This time the job search is taking sooooo long when it used to be so quick and easy for me. I'm also willing to temp but still haven't heard from agencies on that yet.

It's gotten to the point where i absolutely loathe going to another interview! although ofcourse I don't show it when I get there.

My185- Thank you, but if u didn't tell them about your newborn how did you explain the gap from May to November when u started looking. Thanks again.

Answer 1

I'm sorry for your frustration. It sounds like you would be a good employee. Although illegal, some companies will not hire new mothers because of the potential for having to call in sick and stay at home. They would never admit this, but it nevertheless still exists.

It sounds to me like you have the interview part down. Be sure to go into each interview with an upbeat attitude, and confidence. Your job is to convince the HR person(s
) that YOU are EXACTLY what they are looking for.

Too bad you need to go through an agency. They charge a lot of money, either to the employer or to you. In addition to agencies, send your resume out in response to newspaper ads also. And, there are some sights on the internet (monster.com, etc.) where you can post your resume.

Contact you local emplotment development department for a current list of job openings they know of.

I know you're frustrated, but hang in there and you'll find a good job. You sound persistent. If you are doing everything that you can, you are not letting ANYONE down, including your children. After all, your job, right now, is to find a job. Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 2

Often job searches goes in cycles. Be patient and you should get an offer at some point. Exactly when, you can't predict. But you did mention you got offers before so it can't be because you give bad interviews or have poor references.

I have worked a long time and realized that, in an open market, job results are cyclical or random at times. I'm a high tech engineer. There were times when months go by and hardly an interview. Then I got 4 jobs offers in one week and one differed offer. Another time, I lost a perm job at noon and picked up a new contract 2 hours later! Life's like that! You just can't predict when it will happen.

Since you're a secretary, what about temping until you get a perm offer? Please excuse my ignorance if that's naive as I'm not all that familiar with the secretary field of work.

-- Liam

Answer 3

When I graduated from college, I found a job that I hated and then 2 more after that. I then went to a smaller placement agency that was well established in my area. I not only found the job I wanted, but actually had 2 people fighting over me to keep me long term. The placement agency asked me if I would stay on there and be one of their core staff. I'd do a little research by calling and speaking with an agency - I've been through Jean Thorne, Jobs Plus, and Adecco. Jean Thorne got me the best job. Jobs Plus also got me a great job and Adecco had the national account that I was hired for. Also, just because you were a secretary doesn't mean you have to stay one. Look for other jobs that can give you more skills (accounting clerk or office manager). Keep your chin up and you'll find something. Good Luck!

Answer 4

I think your not telling yourself you want the job. Its all about mind over body, literally. Make sure that your mind is straight over your body and convince yourself, not that you like the job, or that it would be good money, but convince yourself the interview is a formality. You had the job from day one. Have you ever done sales? Sell yourself to the interviewer. If you want some help, look up the techniques of selling....Greet, Qualify, Present, Close. You need to walk into that interview and be as cocky as possible about how much you are good for that position, knowing that you are going to get it when you do. Make sure that you don't go overboard, because you don;t want to be so cocky that the interviewer will think there will be a personality conflict later. At the end of the the difference between ordinary and extraordinary....is that little extra.

Answer 5

you are same as me. i had a new born in sept. I stop working since may 06. I just got a job. i did the same thing as you did. i really start looking for a job in Nov. 06. Just keep looking. did you examine that you are asking too much on your salary or over qualify or no experiences at all? how about state, county, or fed. job? do not tell your interviewer about your newborn. they should not ask you that question either. kelly is a good agency too. do you apply for job in insurance company too, like BCBS? make sure you do good on the interview. and also send thank you note after interview and follow up after a week. I went through a lot of interviews. it is really tough to look for a position. good luck.

Answer 6

It sounds like you are doing fine by your kids - slogging it out through the un-fun interview process. You know, the economy changes, and sometimes things are easy, sometimes not. I'm sorry it's hard for you this time around. You are certainly doing the right thing, though - you are persevering, and that's the ONLY way to find success. If you give up, then you have no chance at all, right? So, soldier on and sooner or later (hopefully sooner!) you will land a job, and things will be back on track for you. Good luck!

Answer 7

So much for keeping that brief...
If you have only gotten 4 rejections in 3 months, that's really not bad. If you ask me, I think you're a lazy bum. If you really wanted a job, you would have been on 50 interviews so far. I don't know what it is with women and being such emotional roller coasters...but you have to learn how to pick yourself up and deal with the bad things that are going to happen. If you don't change your work habbits, you are going to spend your nights outside of daycare centers scraping for empty bottles of baby food so that you and your child can eat.
Dont be a zero...be a hero.