This article outlines the frustrations of today’s job seeker as well as insight into the employer’s view of the applicant. Suggestions and tips are offered regarding job search, resume and cover letter.

The market is saturated with job applicants who were once considered to be an ideal candidate, but now find themselves in the position of being over qualified.

Some applicants are willing to accept positions that before they would have never sought out, but now find they are considered to be under qualified. In either case, the result is a skilled, experienced individual remaining unemployed.

Over Qualified

In a desperate attempt to bring money into their household budgets job seekers are exploring areas outside their expertise. Persons who have spent years in an accounting or customer service position assume a local retail store would eagerly employ them as a cashier. Those in skilled trades such as plumbing, electrical or construction assume the large chain home improvement stores are anxious to employ them as sales or service personnel. However, most don’t even get at chance to interview. Here are some reasons why:

  • Pay scale – if you would be taking a $5.00+ per hour cut in pay the employer assumes you wouldn’t be interested
  • Commitment – if you would accept a much lower rate of pay, it is obvious this would be a short term proposition while you seek better employment
  • Fitting in – can a person who sat at a desk, worn power suits and dealt with executives, immediately adapt to wearing a smock, standing behind a cash register and talking over a screaming child to deal with a customer?
  • Expertise – how readily can a skilled person interact with the unskilled? – if a do-it-yourselfer comes in can the skilled person speak their language or lead them to materials without trying to convince them to do something they aren’t prepared to do?

Under Qualified

Read more in Employment
« 5 Tips for Successful Interviewing
Career: How to Impress Your Employer During an Interview »

While you may have a degree or are certified in a specific area it doesn’t mean an employer is thinking with your intelligence you could easily learn the skills for the position they have open. This is what they are thinking:

  • Learning curve – when they have a multitude of applicants with direct retail experience why hire a person who requires more intensive training
  • Learning down – it is actually more difficult to train a person in basics who by nature of their experience wants to analyze, compare and advise
  • Teamwork – while you may well have been part of a team in your previous employment, it was a very different style of teamwork and may be too rigid, too lax or overly dramatic for your current team

Unemployed

The average job seeker faces mounting frustration in today’s job market. Being willing to learn new skills as well as work fewer hours or accept lower pay rates, but being unable to even have the opportunity to convince an employer of such is depressing. How do you move forward:

  • Resumes – get your resume out there any way you can – post and apply online, fax or mail them to advertised employers, look up large companies and either mail your resume to them or walk in and drop it off, give friends or former associates a supply of your resume and ask them to offer it to anyone with whom they network and offer to do the same for them.
  • Customize Your Resume – Do Not Lie - if you are found to have lied on your application or resume you will most likely experience immediate termination. However, you can change your resume in some ways to more strongly emphasize skills and/or qualifications being sought by the employer. Along with describing your skills include what you achieved through these skills, such as winning accounts, bonuses, promotions, etc.
  • Cover Letter – always include a cover letter with your resume. Be sure to include all the key words listed in their ad and explain what drew you to apply for the position. Let them know you are available immediately.
  • Consider Self-Employment - even if you continue your search, consider some type of self-employment or work at home position. It is imperative that your resume shows current experience. Many qualified applicants are passed over due to a time lapse in employment.
  • Temp Agencies – employers hire through temp agencies to avoid a veritable flood of resumes when they advertise for themselves. It saves them time in processing and sorting resumes and endless interviewing. A high percentage of the assignments offered are temp to hire. If you get in the door and do a good job you will most likely be hired permanently.

It is not easy in today’s economic climate, but it is important to remain positive and focused. If you are depressed or inattentive it will hold you back.

Don’t give up. Plan to invest months of time and effort. Rather than seeing that as daunting allow yourself to feel good that each thing you do is a step toward securing your future.

Do take time off to rest and relax or even better get out and take a walk or do something you enjoy. You have to revitalize yourself in order to achieve.

Help others when you can. Believe it or not there are so many more unfortunate than yourself. Recognizing that and reaching out may lead you in directions you might otherwise never have been led. Give and you shall receive!