Job hunting nightmare: 1,000 plus job applications and still no offers

There have been plenty of news reports about labor shortages. But, there is another side of this story that hasn't gotten enough attention; millions of people looking for jobs and can't get hired because of online algorithms, artificial intelligence, and more.

[@maiyal.8458]

From my experience, the only way of getting a job is if you know someone or if you have an affair with someone in upper management to even get the job or promoted quicker. I've applied and called around jobs near my house and far away but still no call backs for an interview, I have a resume, a LinkedIn, and an Indeed but I feel like companies don't even look at your "resume" and they only hire people that barely want to work but still complain work isn't getting done.

[@Mrgreen2558]

Only they hired the people they know like friends, relative and families about you they don't give dam shit about you.

[@user-mv8ul9os2z]

​@Mrgreen2558 tbh networking isn't what it used to be. Unless your friends with a musk or bezos they don't care. Its all about minimizing risk and maximizing profit by finding goldilocks candidates. Cause underqualified and overqualified candidates are a liability in their eyes

[@AJourneyOfYourSoul]

The labor shortage is just a myth.

[@Astral_Dusk]

The real shortage is communication in the hiring process. A bunch of unprofessional ghosting, absolutely shameful practice of a sick society to be this common. So many lacking bravery to just say "no." Oh no makes me uncomfortable, I'll just ignore discomfort in life. Some upped cold-shower bold speaking discomfort might get the ball rolling in this economy.

[@MrMartellSincere]

I guess they don't want workers at all. But they cried and complained that nobody wants to work. Stupid employers 😡💢

[@uscitizen3252]

Exactly!

[@Astral_Dusk]

Absolutely

[@monnikhan1000]

Miserable ass system

[@LIVdaBrand]

💯

[@jamesdeanseternaldreams2232]

"we reached out to both linkedin and indeed but did not hear back" *did not hear back* What a fucking suprise

[@LIVdaBrand]

😂😂😂💯

[@twilighthan2140]

It’s true. I haven’t lost my job but looking to jump ship and no company responds last two years.

[@virtual240]

Ive applied to over 5000 jobs over 7+ years and M disguisted by how hiring managers and recruiters treat people. Personally, hiring managers should be fired and thrown in prison for how they treat people.

[@reiniergarcia]

Absolutely true. Especially Indian recruiters

[@RyanGBanister]

There is no labor shortage: there is a hiring shortage.

[@steventelfer8186]

The job market is rigged. You are not alone.

[@MiaCarter7]

I’m tired of even wasting my time applying! I could probably start my own business before even getting rejection letter from these companies, let alone a response at all.

[@reiniergarcia]

If you apply fora job is because you don’t have money. And if you don’t have money then you can’t start a business.

[@johnnyBuz072]

I'm on roughly 1,300 applications myself (as of February 2023). Granted, they are fairly competitive positions but at the equivalent experience level for me and my background (bachelors & masters degrees in finance). I can't tell you how many of the positions either (i) don't respond in any way whatsoever; (ii) pull the job listing without filling the position; (iii) decide they are "punting" on the hiring requirement for 6 months; or (iv) enter into some kind of formal or informal hiring freeze mid-way through the interview process due the economy/recession and cancel the interview process. I've made it to the final round of a few of these and it's usually a similar "we are looking for somebody with a different experience/background." Okay, well then why did you waste my time going through 4-5 interviews? It's a maddening process.

[@catgirlbot]

Have you experienced discrimination in job interviews? I’ve had over 1,000 applications myself. We got this! We can do it!!

[@johnnyBuz072]

@@catgirlbot I don’t think I’m facing racial discrimination as I am a white male but I’m certainly facing some kind of bias in the ATS (applicant tracking system) software and not being able to get those initial conversations with recruiters before being rejected. I’m up to 2000 applications now and just got rejected at two more final round interviews that they flew me out for, so getting closer but still not there months and months and months into this process.

[@obtjtv665]

Any luck now in June 2023?

[@johnnyBuz072]

@@obtjtv665 Still grinding. I was rejected from another final round interview last month where they went with an internal hire (2nd time now). Another final round rejection in April was due to "not seeming excited enough" despite me flying to Denver on my own dime to meet them, and me telling them I had another early stage interview scheduled (so I wasn't "committed enough"). Just starting up another batch of first round interviews now. Ugh.

[@MrSaurus]

I've applied to over 4,000 jobs and have not been accepted to any. It's frustrating

[@anthonytwohill9726]

"tragedy without a villain." Sorry professor, business is the villain. It's their fault for not understanding their software or how to use it properly. It's their fault for all the poaching that they routinely incentivize. All the biases they have against the unemployed or underemployed is 100% the fault of business.

[@LIVdaBrand]

💯

[@LIVdaBrand]

“Minimizing cost” means employeeswill suffer

[@Astral_Dusk]

Shocking, showing more dedication that most candidates sending 1000s of applications, that alone checks a rare "above and beyond" box.

[@english_5359]

After multiple rejections, I found out that those jobs that I applied to still looking for workers forever. Well then, just hire me! What the heck are you doing?

[@reiniergarcia]

They want people who work for free. That’s why they end up outsourcing eventually. Capitalism is broken in usa.

[@Brandon-cs8gw]

200 applications in two months, & not a fucking thing... Wtf is going on?

[@SoCalBrian]

I know. Same here. Exactly. The people in charge are highly discriminating.

[@ahmedhugraun472]

I have applied for over a 120 jobs over the past two months with the most of which having primarily been focused on the food service industry and customer service which anyone could agree wouldn't be in need of much experience except for an appetite to deal with people and the mental capacity to put up with stress and I haven't gotten a single acceptance or very few interviews that eventually lead nowhere. I go to a tim hortons almost every single day and I can safely count on one hand the number of times I was ordering with someone that spoke any english or without having to manually stick my finger to the display glass where they keep the menu items so that the person handling my order would understand what customizations I want to have. I don't even know what could possibly be the drive behind this inexplicable disgusting desire for sheer and brazen incompetency provided that they have to get paid just as much as anyone else.

[@SoCalBrian]

Sometimes when you try to follow up in person or on the phone, they tell you to wait and tell you that there’s no point because it makes you look desperate. Horrible.

[@theghoulish8268]

I'm 17 have been trying to get my first job for over a year. 300 plus applications. Not a single call back. Some have just flat out denied to interview me after it was already scheduled and confirmed.

[@baileybuckley497]

Any luck? I'm 18 in the U.K. and I'm getting so depressed just looking for basic job lol

[@Metal_junk]

You won’t get hired anywhere. Stop trying to apply. Pick up gig work.

[@theghoulish8268]

@@Metal_junk got a job 4 months ago actually you really do gotta just keep trying

[@Metal_junk]

@@theghoulish8268 Where at?

[@EricaHansberry]

Somehow, this brings me solace. I've also applied to over a thousand jobs, fulltime and parttime work, locally and remote. Not hearing anything back is frustrating but I can deal with that. It's all the rejection emails for positions that I know I'm qualified or more than qualified for that's psychologically taxing. 17 years of corporate work experience across various industries which means I know a lot and have a lot of skills; Five years at an executive level; a degree, and it all means nothing! With all the applications I've submitted across various job sites I've landed maybe four interviews in the last year. I had an easier time finding work when I had less experience. I've changed my resume and cover letters several times. I've reached out to staffing companies. I have no criminal background. I feel like I'm on some sort of DO NOT HIRE list. I've made a new rule, if a company or organization requires that I complete a task or an assignment to go to the next phase of the hiring process, I'm not doing it. Fool me twice. It sounds crazy to say but I'm glad I'm not alone. The job market sucks and this is all so stupid.

[@reiniergarcia]

It used to be easier for me to land at best an interview. It was hard but not impossible. But after 42 yo it got harder. I have being applying for months, many months and nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’m 44 yo in a few days and I’m a software engineer. I feel like this is not gonna end up well. I have a really bad feeling. I feel like those awful Indian recruiters have some sort of black list, shared among them. There is plenty of indian scams on LinkedIn. Every single day i receive like dozens of them. Most of the advertisings are just scams. I see myself homeless at this pace. This is not gonna end up well at all. I even started applying to data entry and customer service jobs, many months ago. The don’t hire me either. A few of them told me because I’m overqualified. I just applied to USPS. At this pace I’m working at a supermarket like a peasant again, dealing with hateful and racist people. I F hate this life. I am fuc*ed.

[@sterlingpless9280]

Told you this year has been a living nightmare 😊

[@shannonmarie294]

Wow!!! And I thought I was the only one! In the past probably 14 years I have applied at mostly the same specific job I am VERY experienced in at this point, and nothing but constant rejection!!! And there is absolutely no logical reason for it!!!! Tired of being treated like shit!!!!

[@DramaticDylan]

I’m quickly joining Elizabeth with the application submissions. It’s terrifying for me to think that I will be trapped.. I mean she has a degree that benefits the fields she’s applying for! That’s more than I can say sadly. Businesses are too afraid to take on “risky investments” like myself.

[@TLJAWSIMIB]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT STATEMENT?

[@DynastyTrickDogs]

ive been apart of this nightmare. I was asked to do 8 hours of "working interview" for free even though I have 6 years of animal experience. I accused them of just wanting free labor.

[@giawou6615]

Labor shortage is a marking mirage.

[@GHO5tMod3]

Ive changed my resume 4 times had it reviewed professionally by 3 hr specialist and one from my community college change states on my resume so I can find a job in another state still nothing 10 plus years of work experience no criminal history 3 degrees just turned 30 nothing it’s rough out here

[@reiniergarcia]

The same here. No jobs ovine not anywhere. So many Indian scams. There is pretty of that.

[@stevenpiquette6055]

It's who you know and who you blow! That's how u get hired!

[@olympic-ass-eater]

Not a good income source. Wear and tear on your vehicle will cost more.

[@stevenpiquette6055]

@@olympic-ass-eater Olympic ass eater? Wtf?

[@MrMartellSincere]

Lmao 🤣 🤢🤮

[@Nirobiscloset10]

Exactly. This true & sad......

[@elcapitan6126]

very sad but true. been doing this the hard way (cold applications, etc).

[@rebelflour2521]

Same here. Changed my resume to beat the system and is still getting rejected. I see why girls become cam girls. 😂

[@claudeyaz]

Who owns these middle man companies? Could they want this chaos?

[@WayPastCool]

I got ghosted by staples 💀

[@Zukaarimoto]

I bet it’s easier to sleep with 30 women than it is to get hired.

[@kylebarvel]

Sadly I’m having trouble with that too! It’s never easy for me

[@loujon191]

Recruiters are the problem. They are not trying to fill positions. There used to be an internal HR person that would call

[@danicerny161]

If anyone need help getting a job I could send you all some ideas of places you should put in for.

[@elcapitan6126]

@Master of Boobs i'm 300 in too, welcome to the club. i have had quite a number of interviews but they're a gauntlet and dice roll themselves.

[@tercial]

I'm in NY you need my email?

[@Aieshoo]

I've applied for 1,500 jobs and I hardly get interviews.

[@hawaiiankinemusic]

I'm an IT professional with 10 years of experience in Project Management, Systems Administration, and some SE work. I'm being laid off soon, but I can't get a new job anywhere.

[@kylebarvel]

I have my own discord server just for myself just for job applications and resumes. I have channels listing all my resumes, interviews, rejection bonfire and offers (which are empty)

[@winterrhino2077]

Been trying to get out of food service. But no luck. Working on my BS in Environmental Science.

[@sterlingpless9280]

Yeah i apply a thousand times tonight.... So now shes just as frustrated as me...

[@MiaDMEMEhere]

This is the issue I'm still facing. I've been applying but no one wants to hire.

[@hopeisdope27]

Been experiencing it for almost 3 years ☹

[@LIVdaBrand]

But yet they want you to “tailor your resume to each position”. Foh!

[@lovewhitey2027]

Have a staffing agency place you Better odds then algorithms ✍🏻🤬

[@AFE948]

Nah, Joseph Fuller there is always a villain.

[@tcsmith4875]

Theres over 100 applicants per job. Were overpopulated. Also these recruiting companies get your info free of charge

[@gc6096]

Those corporate cowards!

[@sterlingpless9280]

Can't hire me to be accountant I can do numbers in the back of my head they can't do.... What's eighty millions times thirty 2.4 Billion...

[@pematsensang4988]

Pinks can’t fine job then how about others ?

[@MrMartellSincere]

Lol 😆

[@rex-atom]

What do you mean by "Pinks"?

[@elcapitan6126]

have applied for 300 jobs this round and no cigar so far. experienced dev (12+ years). worked in big and small tech, low-level through high-level. i wonder if it's because i'm not of a minority that gets in via quotas or is it an age thing? it's tiring applying for so many jobs and doing so many initial interviews and getting nowhere. they say there's a shortage. i don't believe it.

[@Mrgreen2558]

Do you know the farm man who own land grow his own food is the richest person and more better than these companies. Absolutely he is living comfortable life he is not worry anything he doesn't need to apply jobs . And these companies always they hiring their families, relative and friends and the people they know about you they don't give dam shit about you if you have thousand years experience this how the companies do.

[@elcapitan6126]

@Herasi true. but you gotta afford to buy that farm land first. and remember no matter where you live that land is always in reserve to be returned to the sovereignty (almost no land is owned without reservation unless it's by a government)

[@Mrgreen2558]

@@elcapitan6126 In north America and west European countries but other countries like South America, Africa and Asia you can grow your own food and have your land the government won't intervene but in western countries is difficult. Look even the fruits and vegetables in the western countries does not taste natural but in South America, Africa and Asia the fruits and vegetables taste natural sweet it has nutrition

[@elcapitan6126]

back at it again this year. had landed a great paying gig last year but the company laid off 100s of us recently. 200 applications in 😅. assuming it will take a while just like last time

[@commonsenseking6386]

Many jobs have become remote, so you are competing with people all over the world, outsourced.

[@danicerny161]

Here are some ideas of jobs Admin Assistants, Office Receptionists, ISDs Jobs working at your college you graduated from.

[@gothnate]

Those definitely aren't available, either. I applied for a network tech at the college I was currently attending, got a recommendation from a few of my teachers (one of which was the networking teacher), and still got passed up, even with a 4.0 GPA in Software and Web Development, which included classes in networking.

[@brightspacebabe]

Even these jobs are not easy to get anymore!😮

[@castlev1986]

it's a big joke on you & everyone is in on it the fix IS IN

[@PE773]

Deaigned to break you and make you work for free & accept anything

[@Techno-Universal]

A lot of them also deep down hate people with disabilities so if you have a disability like if you’re on the autism spectrum then you may be more likely to encounter this problem unless you personally know someone who can get you into your industry like if you had a great social relationship with your high school principal and you are a recently graduated qualified IT technician. Pretty much in that case the principal at your old high school could possibly get you a part time job as an assistant IT technician in their school IT department.

[@virtual240]

Then these hiring managers should be fired and thrown in prison.

[@bdavi6457]

Something is misspelled on her resume… that’s it. Kidding, but unfortunately I know people that were rejected because a word was misspelled.

[@cheeseburger7165]

just lie like they do

[@lisaray101]

I’m sick and tired I tried everything employer centres, professional resume writing services, temp agencies, job fair, job core, thank you letters, cold calling, applying in person, applying online, LinkedIn, indeed, workopolis, career counselling nothing works!

[@bryonmiller4326]

Diversity Specialist? Your results sound about right if all 1,000 were for a job looking for a "diversity specialist". That title alone sounds like a "troublemaker" position. Why do companies even have a department for that? But since she's looking for any job after a while, the problem is very clear. Technology has screwed us once again. It's too easy to apply for jobs, I can shotgun off 100 applications with the click of a mouse and when nobody calls back it's like throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks. On the other end, the hiring manager will be overwhelmed with applications, many of which aren't even qualified due to the frustration experienced in step one. So what is done? Software is created to screen everything and weed out what it considers trash. Now job hunting changed from being the qualified candidate, to being the candidate that can trick AI into pushing the resume in front of HR who will send it to the hiring manager that will spend less time than a fruit fly reading over it. The software that filters out the trash is catching too many in the net and for some, they can't get jobs because they can't figure out how to get past the software since the paramaters are a secret. I believe this has a lot to do with the homeless shantees popping up in every major city. There is no great resignation. Those out of work during the pandemic developed skillsets via education or certifications and got better jobs, now the crappy jobs aren't being filled because Technology is weeding out too many applicants and the employers don't seem concerned enough to make any changes.

[@diamond852]

Tell me you're prejudiced without telling me you're prejudiced Lmao

[@MrMartellSincere]

Preach it

[@LIVdaBrand]

2:05 slavery still exists😂😂🤷🏾‍♂️

[@xenosflame3458]

I’m currently starting this hell, 3 1/2 months in and not a single interview.

[@jasonreviews]

Uber eats, door dash, gig jobs are available be your own boss.

[@Kitty-ig4yh]

Not true anymore. 😢 In 2017 I was making a living with gig jobs, but now...nothing. It's become too competitive.

[@Mrgreen2558]

​@@Kitty-ig4yh Even the doordash they given everyone shift time and you will make it only 200 or 100 day not like before

[@matthewcaughey8898]

I can’t get by on 15 bucks a delivery when you get 2 or 3 deliveries all day and they are on the ass end of nowhere. Plus there’s gas, wear and tear on your car risk of accidents. Did it one day and at the end of the day I lost 25 bucks. Dead end no future. Then they started to use robots they didn’t have to pay

[@willowbrooks]

I love how they disguise these types of jobs as being Your own Boss. It's a total lie.

[@GHO5tMod3]

Not enough money If you have certain bills to pay it’s an ok side hustle

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

Diversity specialist? You took the wrong degree. We have been pushing stem in schools for years....you should have paid attention.

[@ifhgsfj]

Why would someone need a degree in STEM to work as an administrative assistant or as a paper-pusher in an office somewhere? This woman applied to over 1000 jobs, she's clearly not being picky.

[@spark300c]

Well Stem is not enough. It Stem and trades. You never know what labor market needs so end up have be jack of all trades I degree in mechanical engineering because graduated in 2011 I did not get job in my field. How ever I work blue collar jobs. I certainly work at factory. they hired me on spot . ever body wants to work in a office and do not want get their hand dirty.

[@diamond852]

I didn't know all positions in all companies are in STEM. I guess those 1000 jobs she applied for went to STEM graduates.

[@leehalloway8787]

That was only one of the jobs she applied for. That's not her specialty.

[@katconnor6422]

Diversity Officers make around $150k.

[@Dakatari]

Sometimes it's as simple as reworking your resume to subtract or add some words that will draw the attention to your resume.

[@crl122486]

Disagree.

[@shaanimemon]

yep, totally disagree.

[@MrMartellSincere]

Disagree 😒

[@funnelvortex7722]

I've tried reworking my resume 5 times and it never makes a difference

[@willowbrooks]

So now it's just the wrong words out of 1000 applications?

[@lawrenceek]

She is not helping herself by going on tv. She is just telling world she is not hireable.

[@castlev1986]

now she knows how a white male feels

[@elcapitan6126]

in tech it's true, there is a push to avoid hiring white males. some companies even openly state it.

[@castlev1986]

@@elcapitan6126 yep we white males are finding this out & when every white male finds that out we'll stop even trying & let them have it lol

[@michaelwang1079]

You just need to find a white company, easy.

[@castlev1986]

@@michaelwang1079 lol i have iam white i got told no

[@LongLostYellowRanger]

White men aren't the only ones feeling this hun.

[@chrisbartkewicz5570]

It’s still kinda on her… if you can’t get hits for 1000 applications you’re not tailoring your resume. When I wasn’t getting hits, out of spite, I literally stole every keyword from requisition and put it in my résumé and allied for the job - even though it didn’t accurately reflect my skills and accomplishments just to put ATS to test. It worked… Also, she’d be better off applying for 10 to 20 jobs a week and trying to virtually connect with 30-50 people a week. If you’re trying to get a middle management level position, you’re not going to get that job by applying for it, you’re gonna get that job because someone internal campaigned for you to get that job. I’d actually be worried about a mid level job that wasn’t filled by a referral. You mean to tell me no one in the organization felt comfortable enough to reach out to any of their connects to apply for it? Red flag.