In the past three days, I've applied for four different jobs. I applied for a sales position at Costume World in the Strip district, a case manager position at Lydia's Place, a Floral Designer position at a florist and Oakland, and I applied for a paid Arts Administration Internship with the Pittsburgh Opera.
The difficulty in applying for these jobs, and all of the jobs I've applied for so far, is that they are faceless. They are all (with the exception of Costume World) jobs I found and applied for online. The hiring managers are not able to look me in the eye to get a sense of who I am or what kind of worker I might be, and we have modern technogoly to thank for that. I really do think you lose something when you apply for jobs without that face to face contact. Not only that, but jobs that are advertised online are usually the kind that insist "no calls please!" So you can't even call these people and ask what the status of your application is or anything. I am just expected to fill out an application, maybe send a resume and cover letter and just let it do it's thing. I get no feedback, no courtesy call, nothing. And if they don't hire me, I never know why, I never know what the person who DID get the job had over me!
I am starting to think that looking for a job is like dating. It's like when I guy asks you for your phone number, or even takes you out on that first date, but never calls after that. You're left wondering what you did wrong, if you didn't look right, if you talked to fast, or didn't come from the right pedigree, etc.
I seriously think this who job application process is giving me a complex!
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Hey girl! I too am looking for a job. Let me tell you that I personally follow up on every application I send - even if they say NO CALLS PLEASE. If a contact isn't listed, I call and ask for the person in charge of hiring. I then ask for confirmation that my resume was received and ask about their decision process. Don't let the online thing get you down! Remember, you're interviewing them too! Once you let them call the shots, it's over.
ReplyDeleteTwo of the four places didn't include a company name or phone number! With Pitt, and Chatham, I called anyway and I could only talk to a human resources person who only confirms they got my app. and that if they are interested they will contact me. UGH!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog and praying for you. My husband has lost 2 jobs in the last 4 years including one while I was 8 months pregnant and the other was last year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. He didn't get a job until after Christmas so the holidays were tough. One of the best resources anyone recommended to him was book called "what color is your parachute". If you can get past the lame title it is INCREDIBLY helpful. I'll keep praying that a job works out for you quickly! Julie
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