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Well, after 6 months of joblessness ...

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Well, after 6 months of joblessness ...
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

14,994 posts
May 17, 2010 1:13 PM
I have a company finally ready to make me an offer.

The problem is, I hate the job. Not only is the base less than what I can live on, but the job itself is going to be dreadful, and nothing that suits my strengths.

I have experience in marketing, and it's what I really enjoy, particularly digital marketing, but that can easily be adapted to fit other forms of marketing.

The problem is, with the job market being so absurdly difficult, finding something that:
(a) You're good at,
(b) you enjoy, and
(c) pays enough for you to live

... seems almost impossible in today's market.

I've submitted over a thousand resumes/applications. I've gotten less than 30 callbacks. Of those, I've received about a dozen first interviews. Of those, three second interviews. And now, one company finally willing to offer a position, and the position itself is going to make me miserable.

What on earth is a person supposed to do? I've taken a considerable haitus even from here to focus more time on the job search. Yet to no avail.

Is anyone else entrenched in such a cluster**** trying to find a job? Are there any positions out there which are available for a person like me that I can afford to hold, and might actually enjoy? Or is that kind of thinking just pie in the sky?

{/rant}
May 17, 2010 1:13pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
May 17, 2010 1:22 PM
Wow. I continue to wish you luck. Keep scratching and clawing.

Take the job. Meet new people.

New relationships are the key to new doors opening.
May 17, 2010 1:22pm
derek bomar's avatar

derek bomar

Senior Member

3,722 posts
May 17, 2010 1:23 PM
I actually just turned down a promotion. Maybe you can have that job...I didn't want it.
May 17, 2010 1:23pm
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

Senior Member

6,844 posts
May 17, 2010 1:24 PM
First thing I would say is, when you are unemployed, finding a job that you enjoy shouldn't even be a factor.

Secondly, congrats on making some progress!
May 17, 2010 1:24pm
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
May 17, 2010 1:29 PM
Remind me again, what do you do?

Web design or something along those lines, combined with marketing? Sorry, can't remember.

I would say all you can do is take the job, earn a livingl, no matter how small it might be, and continue to look for better opportunities.

And, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly will you be doing in this position?
May 17, 2010 1:29pm
redrocket's avatar

redrocket

Senior Member

126 posts
May 17, 2010 1:31 PM
A man has to do what a man has to do. Best wishes and good luck.
May 17, 2010 1:31pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
May 17, 2010 1:32 PM
^^exactly, quit bitching about not having a job if you are going to complain about having a job you dont like.
May 17, 2010 1:32pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
May 17, 2010 1:48 PM
^^^

I respectfully disagree, doing something worthwhile (even if not getting paid) is better than doing something not worthwhile (even if getting paid), not to turn this into a political subject.
May 17, 2010 1:48pm
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
May 17, 2010 1:52 PM
I have a wife and 3 kids. If I were in your shoes I would take the job but continue looking. But that's because I have a family to support and would need the money.
May 17, 2010 1:52pm
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
May 17, 2010 1:56 PM
it's been my experience that it's always easier looking for a job when you have a job--take it,but keep the irons in the fire..good luck!!!
May 17, 2010 1:56pm
Go4alOngbOmB's avatar

Go4alOngbOmB

Semi-Pro-Rockstar

673 posts
May 17, 2010 1:58 PM
Work is well....WORK...if work was fun, we would all put on a pink dress, skip there and whistle Zippity Do Da the whole way there with a smile pastered to our faces. But it's not fun...it's work, therefore it sucks!

I say getting your foot in the door of a company is the hardest part, sometimes you have to get a Cleveland Steamer taken on your head for 6 months before anyone see's your worth. Then there is always potential to move up.

In other words, take a chance, you never know where it might land you, and who says you can't look for another job while you are working at this one.
May 17, 2010 1:58pm
Rotinaj's avatar

Rotinaj

Senior Member

7,699 posts
May 17, 2010 2:00 PM
I agree with jmog. Take the job and continue looking.
May 17, 2010 2:00pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
May 17, 2010 2:12 PM
I don't understand why your third statement is copyrighted.
May 17, 2010 2:12pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
May 17, 2010 2:14 PM
take it to fulfill the immediate needs that you have financially to be able to live and look for something better in the mean time.

That's the best thing I can think of
May 17, 2010 2:14pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
May 17, 2010 2:50 PM
No real decision here. Take the job and continue looking. People turning down jobs that are "beneath" them are adding to the unemployment problems in this country. Good luck!
May 17, 2010 2:50pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
May 17, 2010 3:16 PM
redrocket wrote: A man has to do what a man has to do. Best wishes and good luck.
Country Bro

Between you I ....we know what the real world is all about and it does not look good for long time.

If you where my kid I say take the job, work, build and do the best you can ...easy to look for another job when you have gas to get there.
May 17, 2010 3:16pm
sonofsam's avatar

sonofsam

Wee' Gonna Win..

2,052 posts
May 17, 2010 3:27 PM
Take the job. Gut it out and keep looking.
May 17, 2010 3:27pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
May 17, 2010 3:33 PM
Take the job as my mom would say 1$ an hour is better than 0$ an hour. Good luck on you search.
May 17, 2010 3:33pm
B

berry

Senior Member

475 posts
May 17, 2010 3:36 PM
You are plenty smart enough to bloom wherever you are planted.
May 17, 2010 3:36pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
May 17, 2010 3:52 PM
^^^^ thats gay

seriously take the job and go from there. It might suck but atleast you have a job.
May 17, 2010 3:52pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
May 17, 2010 4:14 PM
Your results don't seem at all atypical.

Congrats on the offer. Give it a few months, take a break from the job search, and then start looking to improve. People know it's a tough market so I wouldn't worry too much about looking so soon reflecting negatively. You can actually spin it to taking your time to find the right opportunity...Say it was a great opportunity to diversify your skillset, but this position with XYZ is your dream job! It's not a trick questions, just be honest but have a well thought out answer with a positive spin.

I've seen articles that a lot of people have settled for lower pay and it is very difficult to make up. So my advice would be not to let yourself get stuck there. But the paychecks will start coming in again, so take a breather, relax and in a few months think about what you really want to do and who to work for and only invest your time and energy in chasing those opportunities. What you really don't want to do is just jump for a little more pay somewhere. Use this job as a crutch to get where you want to be.
May 17, 2010 4:14pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

14,994 posts
May 17, 2010 4:59 PM
Oh good lord, guys.

I'm not planning on turning the job down. I'll probably take it. The base is about the same as my current unemployment, and the benefits are obviously there. I DETEST being on the public's tab, so I'll take the job.

I'm just frustrated. I want to work. I'm motivated. I'm skilled. I'm professional. I'm well-spoken. I'm well-versed in business etiquette. I have a degree. I possess managerial experience in marketing. I am proficient in marketing strategy and implementation. I'm incredibly familiar with web-based marketing (SEO, PPC, Email, Display, etc.).

I obviously know the market is bad. I was actually turned down for a job with a company that I've held before. At the time, I was just out of college with no professional experience, and I was selected for a single full-time position out of twelve applicants. Now, I'm over three years into my professional career, but I was just turned down for the position. I'm probably overqualified, but the job pays better than the one for which I am going to receive an offer.

I'm doing the whole "pick-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps" thing, and I'm taking the job. It's necessary.

It just seems ludicrous to be qualified like this and not be able to find work for so long.
May 17, 2010 4:59pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

14,994 posts
May 17, 2010 5:01 PM
gut wrote: Your results don't seem at all atypical.

Congrats on the offer. Give it a few months, take a break from the job search, and then start looking to improve. People know it's a tough market so I wouldn't worry too much about looking so soon reflecting negatively. You can actually spin it to taking your time to find the right opportunity...Say it was a great opportunity to diversify your skillset, but this position with XYZ is your dream job! It's not a trick questions, just be honest but have a well thought out answer with a positive spin.

I've seen articles that a lot of people have settled for lower pay and it is very difficult to make up. So my advice would be not to let yourself get stuck there. But the paychecks will start coming in again, so take a breather, relax and in a few months think about what you really want to do and who to work for and only invest your time and energy in chasing those opportunities. What you really don't want to do is just jump for a little more pay somewhere. Use this job as a crutch to get where you want to be.
Thanks, gut! This is actually my plan, and I've already considered how to spin such a position in a positive light.

Still, I appreciate having someone affirm that this plan is indeed a good one.
May 17, 2010 5:01pm
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
May 17, 2010 5:21 PM
I feel for you because I'm in pretty much the same situation. I pretty much screwed myself because I wasn't prepared when I graduated two years ago. I was ignorant, and assumed that since I had a degree companies would be throwing jobs at me. Well I've worked a couple jobs that I sure didn't need my degree for, got passed over for some that I might have been a bit under qualified for, and ever gotten passed over for some because I was too qualified. I just got a new job a week ago, and the only reason why was because some people in the company vouched for me. I found out because of my education they didn't want to hire me because they figured I wouldn't hang around very long.
May 17, 2010 5:21pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
May 17, 2010 5:22 PM
From my experience, once you start your new job you will get tons of callbacks from companies that you thought forgot about you. Its crazy, but thats how it works, and maybe you might enjoy this job more than you think.
May 17, 2010 5:22pm