How long have you been job hunting?
Dear Monkeys,
4 months ago, I was fired based on not meeting work performance of the company. This was a sudden shock and totally caught me blindsided. Since then I have applied to 200 jobs that actually fit my background. I have a created an Excel spreadsheet of how many jobs I apply per day and have been doing this since looking for a job.
Last month, I paid $250 to get my resume and cover letter professionally written. Yes, I know I paid a lot but I don't care. The resume and cover letter are SO MUCH better and it has given me an advantage (I like to think so). Just this month alone, I have received 4 phone interviews. For 3 of them, I didn't even receive an on-site interview (Yesterday, I got rejected for an AM position, and today I got rejected for an energy company). I'm still waiting for the last of the 3, which I feel good about, but I don't want to get my hopes up high.
When interviewers question me with "what happened at your last position?" (the one from which I was fired from), I say I wanted a change of industry or that it wasn't what I wanted to do. (This convinces them, because my background is in quant and me working for a tech firm, just doesn't do it)
So, my question is how long have you been looking for a job? BTW, 2 years ago I graduated from college. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong with my phone interviews? I answer the questions well and give supporting explaination.
How many more jobs do I have to apply?
Feedback and comments welcomed.
Thanks fellow Monkeys!






Thanks for whoever added the
Thanks for whoever added the pic! Looks good.
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
Thanks for whoever added the
Thanks for whoever added the pic!
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
1 year 10 months :D
1 year 10 months :D
This is only peripheral
This is only peripheral stuff, but I find the blog useful. http://hbr.org/search/job%20search
An article that I liked a lot. http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2009/02/need_to_find_a_job...
I typed out a long reply but I guess you are doing things alright if you are getting interviews at least. Anything else I say may not be applicable to your personal situation. One thing that I have consistently done is to tell people I got fired and why it wasn't such a bad thing but this advice may not be applicable to your personal situation
Keep hanging in there. What
Keep hanging in there. What city are you in?
See my other WSO blog posts
nice link junky_munky. yea, i
nice link junky_munky. yea, i really dislike online applications, they're such a waste of time.
Moneyball
See my other WSO blog posts
valuationGURU: Keep hanging
Keep hanging in there. What city are you in?
I'm in San Francisco.
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
ZonedOut: 1 year 10 months
1 year 10 months :D
WOW, that's a long time. You're also a recent graduate?
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
junky_munky: This is only
This is only peripheral stuff, but I find the blog useful. http://hbr.org/search/job%20search
An article that I liked a lot. http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2009/02/need_to_find_a_job...
I typed out a long reply but I guess you are doing things alright if you are getting interviews at least. Anything else I say may not be applicable to your personal situation. One thing that I have consistently done is to tell people I got fired and why it wasn't such a bad thing but this advice may not be applicable to your personal situation
Interesting article in the HBR. So let me see if I got this straight...don't focus too much on getting a job. You'll find it eventually.
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
Moneyball: nice link
nice link junky_munky. yea, i really dislike online applications, they're such a waste of time.
I know these online applications are the only way of getting you to apply for a job. I wouldn't say they're a complete waste of time, because I look at it as risk/reward : )
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
analyst1609: ZonedOut: 1
1 year 10 months :D
WOW, that's a long time. You're also a recent graduate?
No, I graduated in '09, but I've been out of work since Aug of 2010.
ZonedOut: analyst1609: Zo
1 year 10 months :D
WOW, that's a long time. You're also a recent graduate?
No, I graduated in '09, but I've been out of work since Aug of 2010.
And I thought being out for 4 months is a depressing, let alone nearly 2 years. This must suck! How do you manage with expenses? Anything in the pipeline?
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
analyst1609: And I thought
And I thought being out for 4 months is a depressing, let alone nearly 2 years. This must suck! How do you manage with expenses? Anything in the pipeline?
Well, the first few months were by choice - which in retrospect was a huge mistake because it made the job hunt harder than it already is. Then after job hunting for a bit with no leads I decided to go take up some accounting courses. And here I am job hunting again ..... 1 year and 10 months later.
Have you thought using a temp
Have you thought using a temp agency. Atleast it should help you out in the cash flow department.
what are your stats? school,
what are your stats? school, major, grades?
ZonedOut: 1 year 10 months
analyst1609: junky_munky: T
It's a jungle out there - I
Thanks guys for all the
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper
seville: what are your stats?
No contract means I have all the power. They want me, but they can't have me. - Don Draper