Having a Thick Skin in Job Hunting

Black Cat Back · ‎03-21-2010

I can't believe all the craziness I've encountered job hunting. I'm back in the job market after many years. I look young for my age and have great references and a very professional background.

I'm amazed at how unprofessional some of these so called "HR" people are when they interact with job applicants. Some are having a bad day and they take it out on those of us interviewing. Some make comments against their staff in front of you. Now, that is not a real welcoming behavior for someone looking to work for them. Some, when making small talk, have no idea what is going on in the daily headlines, so they look totally uninformed and ignorant. Some are so unorganized they spend the first 10 minutes finding your resume. I could go on and on.

I'm amazed that when I look some of the people up on Linkedin who I've interviewed with how unprofessionally they present themselves on their profiles. I just interviewed with a gal who is probably 30 years younger than me. She was pleasant enough, but when I saw her on Linkedin, I couldn't help but laugh. Linkedin is a professional site for people to showcase their work history, like an online resume. It's not like Facebook where you show your personal side. (I don't have profiles on either site for my own reasons). This gal (who would have been my supervisor) is shown on her profile with her mouth wide open, holding a basketball, wearing a tube top, her bare shoulder she shows to the camera. This is her "professional profile." To me, that picture would be more suitable for Facebook.

I had one lady interview me and when she asked me the 1st question, she was gazing at her watch. Apparently, I didn't answer the 1st question fast enough??? Talk about lack of attention. I was the first interview of the day. Then she ends up interviewing me for the wrong position because she got my application mixed up with someone else's. But of course, the position I applied for, the one I was so qualified for, had been filled the day before.

I had one CEO of a company say to me on the phone interview (I hate phone interviews) that the reason the position is currently open is due to "cultural differences" with the last person who held the job. Really? He has no idea about me or my "culture" or whatever. It's amazing how ignorant people can be. Heck, I'm interviewing them too for a job. I take in all they say as they do what I say.

I had one interview back in mid-May and the company is still interviewing for that position some 8 weeks later. Really? I would think that manager needs to "brush up" on her decision making skills.

One place called me on a Friday after a 2nd interview and left a message. I was in another interview at the time. When I called them back at 2:45pm, the HR person was not there. I left a message. I never heard back and had to wait all weekend, wondering and worrying. They never called me back on Monday. When I finally got a hold of them, it was to tell me that they offered the job to someone else. I was so upset, having to wait all weekend and not knowing.

One company told me where to park. They said I had to park on the roof of the parking garage and I would be towed if I did not. They sent me a map of the garage and had huge red letters with arrows showing which way to turn to get to the roof. Then they tell me to park as far away from the main entrance as possible. The map kept warning me that if I parked in the garage, I would be ticketed and towed. Okay, I got it. When I got there, the garage was virtually empty. I parked on the roof as I was told. I just kept thinking that if they treat applicants like that how do they treat their staff? I complied, but they acted like I was some parking garage bandit. This building houses other tenants, like doctors and lawyers, I wonder if they treat their clients like that with the parking regulations.

It gets so frustrating when you encounter people who have no professional skills and they are responsible for someone getting a job who is professional and has an outstanding background.

I laugh, but I am also scared to death that I won't find a good job.

Thanks for indulging me!

Reba055 · ‎06-23-2014

I feel for you in today's workplace from most of what I hear. I'm not able to work anymore, but worked since I was 15. I don't know if I could deal with some of the stuff that goes on these days. It's really sad. And yes, I know there are exceptions.

morganjen · ‎03-13-2010

My cousin is in her 60's and has gone back to work as a contractor. She has commented on how unprofessional the workplace is now (same company she used to work for). Says it's a totally different world now.

Originally joined board 12-14-2004

LTT1 · ‎03-09-2010

@Black Cat Back Yes, the attitudes and lack of professionalism appear to abound. I believe this lack of competency has greatly led to the downfall of our economy in most areas of the country. It is pathetic and I think as a nation it is time we expected more from professional people and companies. Things need to start running with a more productive, less wasteful acceptance of the "status quo."

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~

Susan-QVC · ‎06-14-2015

Moved:

This post has been removed by QVC because its unkind.

Black Cat Back · ‎03-21-2010

All your comments are so true.

It's a shame after 20+ years of working, I have to be interviewed by some 20 year old who has only had one job trying to see if I'm "qualified" to work for her.

I remember walking in that company and never seeing one employee interacting with anyone else. When I mentioned I went on their webpage and was interested in reading about some event they put on that was helping members of the community, the gal said, "Oh that's in a whole other dept, we don't work with them." I could see the lines being drawn and how they must all be possessive of their own areas. How does that manifest good working relations and promoting a company?

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

Some things have improved, I think, though formality and courtesy have certainly had setbacks.

When job hunting before I found my present job, which was a few decades ago, the man leading the interview, as if it were a perfectly professional question, asked me "Why aren't you married?"

My answer: "Just lucky I guess," which induced a few chuckles. I did get that job but found a better one in a year or two. Very sexist place to work. Sexism in the work place, in my experience anyhow, is nowhere near as common as it used to be.

Whatever the era, job interviews never seem to be under utopian conditions. You'll find something good, though--don't get discouraged.

Chrystaltree2 · ‎12-08-2014

....let me take a guess here. You haven't worked in 20, maybe 25 years. The "culture" of working has changed and if you are going to get a job; be happy and productive on that job and do the job well and be liked; you need to put all that "history" in a box and seal it because this is NOW and how things were done 20 years ago is irrelevant. I can hear your frustration and I can tell you it's all 100% YOU. You are wasting enegery comparing every little thing to way things were back in the day.....and speaking as a 55 year old, you and I both know everything wasn't all rosy and super professional and perfect 30 years ago. In addition to a reality check, you need to take those rose colored glasses off. My advice to you is take a deep breath and live in the present. Focus on what you have to do to get a job and stop criticizing and belittling the people who have it in their power to give you a job. Your age is not positive. So, you have to work hard to show the people you interview with and hopefully eventually work with that you can be a part of the team and that you are flexible and open to learning new things and you can't be part of a team if your mind is firmly planted in 1995.

Reba055 · ‎06-23-2014

It's not just older people pining away for the good ole days. I've talked to many young people in their 20's, highly educated with common sense and manners and they pretty much say the same thing. Mediocre has become the new norm.

Black Cat Back · ‎03-21-2010

@chrystaltree wrote:
....let me take a guess here. You haven't worked in 20, maybe 25 years. The "culture" of working has changed and if you are going to get a job; be happy and productive on that job and do the job well and be liked; you need to put all that "history" in a box and seal it because this is NOW and how things were done 20 years ago is irrelevant. I can hear your frustration and I can tell you it's all 100% YOU. You are wasting enegery comparing every little thing to way things were back in the day.....and speaking as a 55 year old, you and I both know everything wasn't all rosy and super professional and perfect 30 years ago. In addition to a reality check, you need to take those rose colored glasses off. My advice to you is take a deep breath and live in the present. Focus on what you have to do to get a job and stop criticizing and belittling the people who have it in their power to give you a job. Your age is not positive. So, you have to work hard to show the people you interview with and hopefully eventually work with that you can be a part of the team and that you are flexible and open to learning new things and you can't be part of a team if your mind is firmly planted in 1995.

No, you are wrong. I've been working for 25 years. I am not new to the workforce. I was laid off of a job of 20 years where I was a manager and ran a dept. I worked in HR for many years in the past. So, your guess is wrong. I've worked with all levels in a company from top C-level exec's to janitors. My reputation is impeccable. My references are glowing and the only reason I was let go was because the organization was sold and many of us were let go to hire younger and cheaper staff.

I want to work for a professional organization that treats its employees and customers with the utmost respect. I was in quality control for many years.

Thanks for your comments. I respect everyone's right to express themselves.