Things are bad. People are desparate for jobs. I work at a university in Philadelphia and we see the flooding of applications for even our lowest paying jobs. we recently posted a job for a receptionist and received application and resumes from people with Master's degrees and PhDs when the job clearly only called for a hogh school education. It was very sad to see some many people putting aside their academic achievements and professional experience just to obtain a basic job.

I put an add for a nanny here in CA. I made the unusual move of making it clear that I needed a US Citizen or documented resident who was willing to do the job above board(ie pay taxes). I still got 80 reponses, some as far away as Florida.

I was actually laid off from Auto Trader Publishing, I was pretty much managing our local branch by myself until they collapsed the company. I guess it was just experience and having a positive attitude!

For everyone who says 'our company' is hiring and can't get decent applicants for 'this position' why don't you say what your company is and what you're looking for so people reading this (many of course unemployed and intelligent) can goddamn apply.

Also @Smashville: This is why the hiring process sucks. Who in the world is going to say they're passionate about FILING who aren't liars?? Sure, it's dumb to not lie on some generic questionnaire about 'why you want to file' but damn..do you really live in a world where you're disappointed in how many people are truthful?

Consumerist, maybe you should start up your own job bank for members to post on and work hard to weed out the agencies (I'm guessing half of those 3500+ emails are agencies) and 'work at home' scammers. Give us a safe haven. CareerBuilder is a joke. It should not be ok when a list of jobs in my area are all for 'undisclosed companies' for 'undisclosed pay'.

My sister recently got (un)lucky after an agency and their client jerked her around for months about a job. They posted the salary range and her experience fell into the higher end of the spectrum. When they finally made an offer it was the lowest on the scale, entry level money. She's 43 and has been working since forever. The agency sent the company a letter saying she felt she deserved better after they failed to convince her to take the offer (they get a bigger bonus the less she's signed at). The company sent a terse letter to the agency telling them to rescind the offer and to look again for someone who would take less. My sister scrambled, not knowing the salary wasn't negotiable and the agency dropped her. I would have taken the offer based on what's going on but the point is that no one can win when every company is hiring agencies to lowball every qualified applicant.

I was last insured in 2004 when I was in college and under my mother's health plan. I haven't worked a decent job since 2006 when I got laid-off from a temp assignment that I was great at. After that I would get interviews, a lot. My degree would get me in the door at least but I was up against 100+ other degreed people. I would get replies from them when I didn't get the job. Then they stopped contacting me when I didn't get the job. Then there were no interviews. Then it was 'thank you but' letters. Then it was just letters acknowledging they had received my application. Now it's nothing. I recently got upset that I missed an opportunity to shelve books at a library for 8 bucks an hour and 9 hours a week.

Whew.

@ADismalScience:

Damn, where is this "pretty good employment situation"?

I live in southeast Virginia, and have been out of work for several months. Most of the work I have experience in, isn't hiring.

Even worse, is it's hard to break into a new field, as nobody wants to train anyone anymore, or give people a chance. Can't say I blame them, but there are jobs I know I can do well, but just can't prove it on paper to even get at the very least, an interview.

@bilups:

No doubt. I need a job.

I think one problem, is what does it take to be "qualified"? Why not just train someone for less than "qualified" pay?

I finished university in June 2008 (technically classes ended in April and I received all my credits then, but I was doing a project overseas that required me to work until June). I was offered a job in December 2007, several months before I graduated. I started working in September 2008.

Becoming a teacher was the best thing I ever did. It was an extra two years of university, but of those two years I spent six months living abroad. I got into the school system right before the economy tanked. At this time two years ago I was thinking that teaching wasn't the best choice as I could easily make more money elsewhere... THANK GOD I stuck with it! I am halfway through the evaluation process and I've got nothing but great feedback from students, parents and administration, so I am looking foorward to getting a permament contract next year and having long-term job security.

Words cannot express how glad I am that, graduating from unviersity when I did, I chose the career path that I did.

Good luck to everyone hunting now. My posting for a part-time office staffer pulled in over 400 resumes in under 24 hours until I had to pull the listing.

Maybe its bad in virginia but here on long island we have a couple of part time positions open and nobody is applying for them.

Fabulous.

in 2002 after the internet bubble burst, i lost a near 100K job. for the next 3 YEARS i sent out on average 100 resumes a month. in that time, i got only 5 interviews. for one position, they received 400 resumes and it took them 3 months to go through them all.

i know the pain.

Note to college graduates and recent grads: the way to get a job is to pound, pound, pound. Until you get a job, looking for a job IS your job; get up early and get on the web and on the phone. Your primary resources are going to be CL and recruiting agencies; between the two you've got access to pretty much every job. And don't look down on something; it's easier to find a job when you've got SOME money coming in.

Even in a good economy, you're going to have a lower response rate than sometbody who's been working a few years; they just have more skills. So be hungry and have an open mind.

I realize that you must seriously rock to have beat out everyone else like that as well. Congrats for that.

Ahem! Receptionist here.

I've met other receptionists who, when working for really great companies, actually LIKE their jobs. Mine's not great, but it could be a lot worse. Plus, on quiet days, I can actually get some writing done at work, since I can't afford to stay home all day and do it.

The problem with a lot of these jobs is managers who treat the peons like dog crap, even when without the peons, nothing would get done. The turnover is not because of the workers but the shitty treatment and low pay. Sometimes the workload isn't adequately compensated. Beware a job listing that says "--and other duties as needed."

Plus, not "everyone" can do this job. It takes a lot of patience and the ability to deal with people.

Don't generalize so much.

Mine is too, and they assured us they would stay and we would all have secure jobs, but since a giant company is buying us, I'm scared.

Yes, that's very true. But not always so easy to do.

Your assumptions about people on welfare are still disturbing, even if Intertrode isn't one...

@Berz: Intentional, they have the dress codes to keep those pesky minorities out.

@LuluStarPony: I went once before a hoops game for a drink, will never go back. Too many meat gazers.

@VeryFancyBunny: Yes, please volunteer! I work at a kid's hospital we are always in need of volunteers - and would love to have some college grads looking for work and could actually be a great resume boost as most of our volunteers are sweet old ladies and cannot help us with any of our computer needs.

The 'White' power and light district? freudian or intentional :) ?

I've been to P&L a few times, just seems like a pain in the butt to get there and back home. Also, add expensive onto the list too.

I didn't get anywhere near 3000 emails, but every one I got was legit.

@flairness:

Because, after all, it's just a part-time receptionist job. Since virtually everyone with a pulse over the age of 18 can do the work you're going to get all kinds of replies.

The tech field is not that tough right now as long as you have the skill-set and interviewing skills. I haven't noticed any change since my last job search 2 years ago (when the economy was booming).

@yikz: "I wouldn't say I'm
missing it, Bob!"

@Davan:

You're young, green and can be under-paid.... not saying that's the only reason you got a job so quick, but I'd bet it helped...

Technology is as tough as any other field right now, and I know that during my recent 6-month unemployment, I was rejected for several jobs because I was over-qualified and would have required a higher salary. I am currently working a job that was a 10K paycut from my previous position. It's tough in every field now. If you are working, consider yourself lucky.

I guess it's hard to explain what happens to you when you get layed off. I have been in that situation for more than 6 month now. I was an application support analyst for a financial company. Since most of my experience is with this field, I tried to remain within it, but then the system broke and instead of hiring they started only firing. I got 2 offers, but later they all got declined because departments could not get funding and positions were put on hold. Now I'm looking at pretty much anything available and not getting much of a response. I sometimes doubt why did I got my education… Having the ability to be productive doesn't guaranty you being productive…

We got plenty of responses, but I swear the majority of the respondents didn't even READ the ad. We had so many e-mails that simply said, "Give me more info," nevermind that everything they needed to know was on the ad itself. And then we got another 200 - 300 or so from people who didn't meet our requirements in ANY way, and others who offered up some very weird evidence of their language proficiency, or lack thereof. Self-published books, links to their crass blogs, CVs for engineering-related jobs... oy.

Sorting through the mess took so much time. I don't envy the property manager in the post.

@Parapraxis:

I damn sure couldn't do any worse! It's practically a Home Depot legacy position now, anywho! ;)

I graduated in summer 2002 with degrees in English and Psychology. It wasn't until summer of 2005 that I got my first full-time, salaried position that related to my English degree. But that was okay -- I worked a bunch of different jobs along the way, and even worked overseas for a year (teaching English), and by the time I settled into a full-time, permanent position I was more mentally ready to do so than I was upon graduation. Plus, I was much clearer on exactly what it was I wanted to do.

@yikz: I'm not going to presume to be able to divine your political sentiments from that post, but if you're concerned about the government spending money on bailouts and not actual spending projects (e.g. public works, infrastructure) then you should probably take a peek at how voting went down in the House on the stimulus bill yesterday.

the guy DECLINED it: "not enough money" and eventually took a job last fall with a Nissan dealer as a car salesman.
What a maroon.

Greg, if you are reading this while you are sitting in your sales cube with nothing happening, what were you thinking?

That's because DC, VA, and MD all had a federal holiday that day :)

It's tough out there right now. There's nothing you can do except try, try harder, and network as much as you can.

@craptastico: sorry i misread you. i didnt realize the first time that you seem to already have a job and just aren't looking to upgrade. i jumped to conclusions and down your throat before clearly reading your post

@Intertrode: way to throw in the towel there. you're the reason we have problems with our unemployment insurance and welfare systems. you'd rather sit on you ass than put some effort into something that might be difficult, like getting a job

I graduated from college a few years ago and one thing that helped me find my first couple of jobs (and led to many others) were the internships I did during college. If you're not working at the moment, and have time to spare, call a place up that you want to work and see if they have any (unpaid) internships available. I did this my Sophomore year, and two weeks into the internship, they offered me a paid position.

Someplace is hiring right now? WHERE?!

It really does suck that many people has not even a prospect of a job.

Keep politics out of this thread.

Damn! You beat me to it. I was so gonna make a Vince reference.

@CumaeanSibyl: It's depressing how desperate people are getting in MI. My husband and I were all but forced to leave 2 years ago for work. We are fortunate in that we both work for a great company now. But we had to move to the Memphis area to do it. My mom was laid off 6 months ago from her job, my dad got bumped to another shift last week and could be laid off any day now, one of my brothers is laid off, one of my sisters lost her job, and my other sister is in rehab. Ugh.

Work ANYTHING you can while you find a new job. There's no shame in that. Plus, the work keeps your mind off of the predicament.

Sometimes, you run into the most interesting people. I found my new workplace (very awesome place) by waiting tables and running into my boss there.

Just get out there and network!

look on the bright side-I'm sure you'll find a job soon...

Ever thought of being the CEO of Chrysler?

[consumerist.com]

"Damn, I gotta beat off 3519 other people?"

I was thinking, "good luck with your carpal tunnel syndrome, receptionist!"

I know it is GRINDINGLY depressing and hard, but it does just take time. And luckily you have people who love you to help support you so you can TAKE that time.

(Are you looking in smaller markets? We have some unemployed lawyer friends looking for jobs, but who refuse to leave the "top-tier" markets. Firms in our little town are hiring, and they don't get nearly as many applications because people can be real snobs about not wanting to live in smaller cities. It's not a stellar market here either, but your credentials tend to make you a bigger fish in a smaller pond, in a much smaller pool of applicants. And the quality of life is great!)

@cmdrsass: shamwow? if it's a shamwow it's ok. regular shams are bad, though.

My company is another one that is hiring, especially for technical folks. We've had a req open for over a year for someone to train with our metallurgist, but I guess no one wants the security of knowing they have to train for at least 3-5 years before they can go off and do the job on their own or at some other company. I'm also on the recruiting team, and we're taking all the qualified folks we can get.

@flairness: Ah, well then you already know the ins and outs of KC then. You will be shocked how gentrified downtown has become, the White Power and Light District makes me gag. Chez Charlies on Friday nights for the city's best funk and soul DJ.

Guess what? Even if that exaggeration were true, those that were out of jobs were not out of jobs because of the current administration.

This was in Michigan, where we've been having this trouble for a long time. Glad to see the rest of you are catching up. :/

@flairness: Word to the wise, teach on the KS side. KCMO schools are horrible although they are always hiring. If you want to find babysitters there is a large market in Leawood and parts of western Olathe, two of the wealthier parts of town.

@Caitfish: It took me about 5 months in a good economy with an engineering degree. The process isn't quick, especially if you have a humanities degree.

I'm going into education though, so I don't think it'd be a good fit. But if you know of anyone who needs a babysitter/nanny/PT errand runner, hit me up! :P

For those of you that are complaining and voted for Obama and people like Nancy Pelosi, I'd get on the phone and give them an earful of your own rhetoric.

Call your congress people and senators. Those idiots are the ones that deserve to be out on the street, begging for work. Instead, their only concern is to figure out how they can stay in power and look good in the press. They're giving free money to rich bankers and automobile executives because they can't think of anything else to do.

The Post Office wants to cut back on delivery days. That's a great idea. Let's everyone cut jobs. I think if you go back to building bridges, dams, and other public works projects, you'll put people back to work, give them some security, they can put food on the table. Giving away free money means you put Bubba on the couch, eating cheesy-poofs and drinking cheap beer all day long because someone re-mortgaged his house and forgave some of his debts because he's laid off. That's not good for the economy.

I wish my group could get responses like this. We are actually going out and recruiting talent. We have positions that we simply can't fill. If anyone wants to do mechanical design work, has experience with auto-cad and Pro-E and is willing to live in the KC metro, I've got a job for you.

I have always found that part-time openings generate a lot more interest, especially if the position is viewed as one that doesn't require much specialized experience (and isn't retail). I'll bet 1/2 of those are already working full-time and want an after-hours gig to generate extra income (even if that's not what it says in the job posting...people don't take the time to read job requirements).

@DaoKaioshin: I just graduated from college on December 14th with a computer science degree, I had two job offers on the table by Friday of last week. Taking into account business downtime for Christmas and the New Year thats not too bad. If you're in a technical field I wouldn't worry too much.

I don't get this. My company (small, 25 person) currently has 3 open positions, good, full time positions, and we can't find ANYONE qualified. Of course, the managers tend to be morons, so maybe they're just not looking correctly.

@flairness: DEAR MR. SIR FAIRNESS,

I GIMBANDI OF COLWIST, NIGERIA AM WRITING TO RESPOND TO YOU NEED OF RECEPTIONIST. I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH WORK YOU FOR, UNFORTUNATLY, I AM IN A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATION. I HAVE A CHECK FOR $456,454.87 USD, HOWEVER ICANNOT DEPOSIT THIS CHECK AS THEY WILL TAKE 90% IN FEES. IF YOU COULD CASH CHECK FOR ME, I WILL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU 50% AS A FEE. JUST WESTERN UNION THE OTHER 50% AND I WILL BE ABLE TO COME WORK YOU FOR IMMIDEIATLY.

PLEASE RESPOND SOON AS [GENARIC TIMLY SITUATION].

SINERLY,
GIMBANDI

When I was looking, it took me over a year. I actually had more than one place I applied to send me correspondence that said, "We received over 200 [or whatever] apps for the position. You didn't get it. So sorry!"

Thanks for telling me that.

I kept looking and eventually found this job. Keep plugging away. I know how you feel about the degree, too. I'm sometimes tempted to use mine to line a birdcage or something.

Virginia's got a pretty good employment situation. But as always, unskilled jobs with easy hours are in high demand and low supply.

@flairness: Wow...I guess a combination of kudos and condolences is required! :D

I didn't make it safely through the Home Depot cuts on Monday.

I must have put out a bunch of applications already, and I'm sure that half, if not more, won't even be looked at due to the sheer number of applicants.

Depressing.

I still have 2800 to go. :(

I was one of the lucky ones here in Ohio, I was only unemployed a week!

It's definitely a bit scary out there right now. I'm very thankful to be working at a place that's actually doing well enough to be hiring right now, rather than firing. (Especially with a baby due in 2 weeks, and my wife's employer filing bankruptcy a couple of weeks ago, although she still has her job for now.)

I hope things get better because its hard for me to tell someone desperate for a job that I have no open leads for them.

@nataku83: I may try that, thanks. I sort of assumed that verbiage was just wasting your breath, as scammers aren't the sort of people to follow rules or guidelines.

My husband got laid off yesterday after being told his department had been deemed safe from cuts (our employer is going thru large-scale layoffs right now), so this depresses the hell out of me. Sigh.

Also, I've posted to Craigslist before and haven't gotten spammed. I'd be willing to believe this is accurate.

@Piaculum: I post about once a week and get about 50% spam/scam emails. Maybe it's just endemic to the car listings?

Damn, I gotta beat out 3519 other people?

-Piaculum

Sad.

Craigslist? ZERO spam emails? Sure.