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What frustrates you most as a jobseeker?

  • 13-02-2015 01:45PM
    #1
    Idjit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 ✭✭✭


    I'm curious to see what others here think of the job hunting process at the moment. Personally, I can't stand the lack of options. The job ads I'm seeing seem to be different versions of the same old thing over and over.

    What frustrates you most as a jobseeker? 90 votes

    Lack of variety in available job choices
    0% 0 votes
    No response from employers
    14% 13 votes
    Being told you are over/under qualified
    67% 61 votes
    Lack of genuine entry level positions
    17% 16 votes


«13456

Comments

  • #2
    MrWalsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    I have a job now but what frustrated me the most was the amount of jobs advertised that were not jobs at all but simply CV collecting placeholders on job websites. You dont realise it at first but even now I can look back and I see that 90% of the jobs I was applying for are still the exact same ads being advertised, 2 years later, there are not positions behind these ads!!


  • #3
    timetogo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 990 ✭✭✭timetogo


    Lack of response from recruiter / employer. I've done a couple of interviews where I thought they went great. I didn't get the jobs but to find out I had to chase the recruiter. If I don't get a job I don't take it personal but if you've decided within a couple of days theres no need to keep the applicant waiting a couple of weeks.

    In the last one in the interview at the end, the interviewer was outlining what would happen in the second interview. After a week of hearing nothing I chased the recruiter who chased the employer who said they went with somebody else. Grand. A two minute call to the recruiter when they found that out would have been nice.


  • #4
    SureYWouldntYa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,825 ✭✭✭SureYWouldntYa


    Jobridge taking all the entry level roles. I'm on an off year trying to save up for college but simply cannot find a job. I do have a level 5 cert in office admin, but every job that's possible for me is now an "internship".


  • #5
    junipergreen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 221 ✭✭junipergreen


    timetogo wrote: »
    Lack of response from recruiter / employer. I've done a couple of interviews where I thought they went great. I didn't get the jobs but to find out I had to chase the recruiter. If I don't get a job I don't take it personal but if you've decided within a couple of days therfes no need to keep the applicant waiting a couple of weeks.

    In the last one in the interview at the end, the interviewer was outlining what would happen in the second interview. After a week of hearing nothing I chased the recruiter who chased the employer who said they went with somebody else. Grand. A two minute call to the recruiter when they found that out would have been nice.

    That used to drive me mad when I was trying to find a job through agencies - they would only ever follow up if they had good news. If it was bad news I had to chase them down. I can't bring myself to deal with agencies anymore, I only go for positions where I can apply directly to the organisation itself. I know I'm cutting myself off from a lot of jobs, but as someone above pointed out, a hefty portion of them aren't real jobs anyway.


  • #6
    Gael23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,145 ✭✭✭✭Gael23


    The lack of a simple "Thank you for your application,we wil be in contact in due course" is the biggest one.
    Next is the lack of genuine entry level jobs where you don't need experience.


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  • #7
    threebagsfull
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 100 ✭✭threebagsfull


    I don't expect responses to merely an application, but following an interview, I think you should get a response within a month.
    I remember receiving a response more than 2 months after the interview. It was only a part-time admin job, so I don't think it really took that much time to recruit the successful candidate. They probably just procrastinated and I didn't even recognise the name of the person writing. It's just wasn't very well handled.


  • #8
    limericklad87
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭limericklad87


    after applying for a job once I got an email the next day that said " please see attachment"


    Attached was a word document creatively titled. " rejection letter"

    enough said


  • #9
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    SureYWouldntYa wrote: »
    Jobridge taking all the entry level roles. I'm on an off year trying to save up for college but simply cannot find a job. I do have a level 5 cert in office admin, but every job that's possible for me is now an "internship".

    This. I'm employed but how frustrating it must be. Anything admin or marketing related is a Jobbridge internship.


  • #10
    threebagsfull
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 100 ✭✭threebagsfull


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    This. I'm employed but how frustrating it must be. Anything admin or marketing related is a Jobbridge internship.

    Yes, even though I have about 10 years of experience, I still consider many roles which turn out to be Internships. I don't begrudge people who are starting out the experience, but the work they outline isn't something that should be done for free.


  • #11
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    limericklad87 wrote: »
    after applying for a job once I got an email the next day that said " please see attachment"


    Attached was a word document creatively titled. " rejection letter"

    enough said

    :o I'm embarrassed to say I laughed reading your post. Not at you, but at the bluntness of the letter title. :D


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  • #12
    threebagsfull
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 100 ✭✭threebagsfull


    I used to send these out. But they were called "letters of regret". Slightly less harsh.


  • #13
    Tasden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,166 ✭✭✭Tasden


    limericklad87 wrote: »
    after applying for a job once I got an email the next day that said " please see attachment"


    Attached was a word document creatively titled. " rejection letter"

    enough said

    I got this too! :o

    Most frustrating thing is definitely when clicking on an ad and it starts with "the intern will gain experience in..", I wish they'd put it in the title that it's an internship.


  • #14
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    Tasden wrote: »
    I got this too! :o

    Most frustrating thing is definitely when clicking on an ad and it starts with "the intern will gain experience in..", I wish they'd put it in the title that it's an internship.

    Check out this very confused job ad I posted about a few days ago:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=94243902&postcount=4320


  • #15
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Been told I was overqualified for a 6 month contract that didnt need experience.
    I'm dumbing down my CV now.


  • #16
    Tomo.Murphy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 664 ✭✭✭Tomo.Murphy


    I applied for countless seasonal jobs at Christmas. Three were with the same company. I sent the exact same application to three different stores on the first day they had opened their applications, word for word. The first store refused and the the other two were "extremely pleased" with my application. It's a shame though that they were extremely pleased two weeks after they finished hiring and could only "keep me on record".

    Same thing happened with another application. I spent the best part of a half an hour working through their application form (more like an exam to be fair), got an email saying that they had advanced me to stage two which was a phone interview. Well I never received a phone call and a week later got another email saying they had filled all of their positions and would, once again, "keep me on record".

    I could go on...


  • #17
    Tasden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,166 ✭✭✭Tasden


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    Check out this very confused job ad I posted about a few days ago:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=94243902&postcount=4320

    That is weird, I wonder did they just click the wrong option for salary.


  • #18
    MrWalsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭MrWalsh


    Another pet hate of mine, recruitment agents phoning and not having a blind clue what you actually do or what the things on your CV mean and then randomly asking you if you are interested in roles that are nothing to do with your skillset or experience level. Its very poor form of recruitment agencies to allow this to go on.


  • #19
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    MrWalsh wrote: »
    Another pet hate of mine, recruitment agents phoning and not having a blind clue what you actually do or what the things on your CV mean and then randomly asking you if you are interested in roles that are nothing to do with your skillset or experience level. Its very poor form of recruitment agencies to allow this to go on.

    Problem is they know nothing of recruitment for their website industry. I saw one recruiter who was a model for Andrea Roche.
    All they see is a job spec and want to tick boxes. I don't have project management office on my CV but have 20 years of running projects . I'm immediately knocked off the list.


  • #20
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    Tasden wrote: »
    That is weird, I wonder did they just click the wrong option for salary.

    Also looking for experience though, one year!


  • #21
    Tasden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,166 ✭✭✭Tasden


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    Also looking for experience though, one year!

    A lot of the internships want experience of 1 year


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  • #22
    junipergreen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 221 ✭✭junipergreen


    Danny Scarce Pinkeye wrote: »
    Been told I was overqualified for a 6 month contract that didnt need experience.
    I'm dumbing down my CV now.

    I was told the same thing for a 13 week contract with no prospect of being extended anyway. A friend told me that in those circumstances 'overqualified' may mean they basically don't think you'll take instruction.


  • #23
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    Tasden wrote: »
    A lot of the internships want experience of 1 year

    For Jobbridge, this is prohibited. Well, it's supposed to be. Once you have experience, you should be getting paid a wage commensurate with that experience. Asking for experience in an ad for a Jobbridge position is just cheeky. Looking for an experienced worker but not being willing to pay for them basically.


  • #24
    Tasden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,166 ✭✭✭Tasden


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    For Jobbridge, this is prohibited. Well, it's supposed to be. Once you have experience, you should be getting paid a wage commensurate with that experience. Asking for experience in an ad for a Jobbridge position is just cheeky. Looking for an experienced worker but not being willing to pay for them basically.

    Completely agree. But it's still happening unfortunately


  • #25
    SureYWouldntYa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,825 ✭✭✭SureYWouldntYa


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    For Jobbridge, this is prohibited. Well, it's supposed to be. Once you have experience, you should be getting paid a wage commensurate with that experience. Asking for experience in an ad for a Jobbridge position is just cheeky. Looking for an experienced worker but not being willing to pay for them basically.

    I don't know which is worse, asking for experience for internships, or having roles like "shelf stocker" and other roles you'd learn in half a day as internships


  • #26
    Idjit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 ✭✭✭Idjit


    Tasden wrote: »
    I got this too! :o

    Most frustrating thing is definitely when clicking on an ad and it starts with "the intern will gain experience in..", I wish they'd put it in the title that it's an internship.

    This is actually a massive pet hate of mine as well. Having to skip down to the end of each job description to ensure it's not Jobbridge before I get my hopes up about being able to apply!


  • #27
    Holsten
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,971 ✭✭✭Holsten


    -Bull**** requirements.
    -HR Personal/Department - They are usually complete idiots who serve no real purpose.
    -Bull**** interview questions
    -Lack of updates
    -Nepotism


  • #28
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    Jade182 wrote: »
    This is actually a massive pet hate of mine as well. Having to skip down to the end of each job description to ensure it's not Jobbridge before I get my hopes up about being able to apply!

    You can usually tell pretty quickly on sight of the dreaded template opener "The intern will gain practical experience...".


  • #29
    ABajaninCork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    For Jobbridge, this is prohibited. Well, it's supposed to be. Once you have experience, you should be getting paid a wage commensurate with that experience. Asking for experience in an ad for a Jobbridge position is just cheeky. Looking for an experienced worker but not being willing to pay for them basically.
    Tasden wrote: »
    Completely agree. But it's still happening unfortunately

    I report each and every one that asks for experience. I've also mailed Jobbridge asking what vetting and quality procedures are used when advertising internships. Fighting a bit of a losing battle, but I still make a nuisance of myself.


  • #30
    DIYalot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25 ✭DIYalot


    Apply for a job you would really like but the salary is 'negotiable'. So instead of calling or interviewing they first email me to ask what my salary expectations are for the role so I give one expecting to negotiate. Then they send a generic response saying 'sorry after careful consideration blah blah'....

    WTF? you call that negotiating? that's called cherry picking!


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  • #31
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,796 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    When I was looking for work, it is not the lack of responses to the pre-job query, it was that in a few cases there was no response post interview. That level of unprofessional at least was an indication of a place to avoid.


  • #32
    Idjit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 ✭✭✭Idjit


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    You can usually tell pretty quickly on sight of the dreaded template opener "The intern will gain practical experience...".

    Some of them don't show the 'The intern will..' line in their blurb on the jobsite so you have to click into them to find it. And in some cases I've gotten as far down as the bottom of the ad before it mentions it's Jobbridge (usually in the part about experience or wages)!:(


  • #33
    Idjit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 ✭✭✭Idjit


    DIYalot wrote: »
    Apply for a job you would really like but the salary is 'negotiable'. So instead of calling or interviewing they first email me to ask what my salary expectations are for the role so I give one expecting to negotiate. Then they send a generic response saying 'sorry after careful consideration blah blah'....

    WTF? you call that negotiating? that's called cherry picking!

    I've experienced this before a few times too. Sometimes it puts me off applying for jobs with 'negotiable' as the payment detail. I feel like they just want to pay minimum wage but put 'negotiable' so as not to scare folks away at first sight!


  • #34
    timetogo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 990 ✭✭✭timetogo


    Putting negotiable can also mean we want to pay SFA. I've frequently contacted companies that didn't specify a rate to only find out their rate was 20% - 30% less than what I'm on now. I'm sure they'll get somebody but if the person is any good they'd be moving on as soon as somebody offers the proper rate.


  • #35
    Idjit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 ✭✭✭Idjit


    timetogo wrote: »
    Putting negotiable can also mean we want to pay SFA. I've frequently contacted companies that didn't specify a rate to only find out their rate was 20% - 30% less than what I'm on now. I'm sure they'll get somebody but if the person is any good they'd be moving on as soon as somebody offers the proper rate.

    What does "SFA" mean?


  • #36
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Manach wrote: »
    When I was looking for work, it is not the lack of responses to the pre-job query, it was that in a few cases there was no response post interview. That level of unprofessional at least was an indication of a place to avoid.


    Interesting you say that. I went for an interview a few weeks ago for a job in a certain water company. I'm still waiting to be told I didn't get the job:D


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  • #37
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Jade182 wrote: »
    What does "SFA" mean?

    Sweet flowers all.


  • #38
    ABajaninCork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Danny Scarce Pinkeye wrote: »
    Interesting you say that. I went for an interview a few weeks ago for a job in a certain water company. I'm still waiting to be told I didn't get the job:D

    I went for one with the same company TWO years ago when they were setting up. Postponed twice - once whilst I was enroute to the interview. Finally had it late one Friday before the May Bank Holiday. Rushed through in 15 minutes.

    Guess I didn't get the job, as I'm still waiting for a response! :D


  • #39
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    ABajaninCork wrote: »
    I went for one with the same company TWO years ago when they were setting up. Postponed twice - once whilst I was enroute to the interview. Finally had it late one Friday before the May Bank Holiday. Rushed through in 15 minutes.

    Guess I didn't get the job, as I'm still waiting for a response! :D

    I'm tempted to email them looking for feedback.:cool:


  • #40
    Arbiter of Good Taste
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,200 ✭✭✭Arbiter of Good Taste


    ABajaninCork wrote: »
    I went for one with the same company TWO years ago when they were setting up. Postponed twice - once whilst I was enroute to the interview. Finally had it late one Friday before the May Bank Holiday. Rushed through in 15 minutes.

    Guess I didn't get the job, as I'm still waiting for a response! :D

    I'm still waiting for a large law firm to get back to me 10 years later. This was an interview that I did not want to do and told the recruiter that I was not interested in working for that particular firm, but he convinced me to do the interview. Unprofessional indeed.

    Edit: subsequently I met one of the interviewers at a conference and gave him a piece of my mind.


  • #41
    Idjit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 ✭✭✭Idjit


    Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

    Edit: subsequently I met one of the interviewers at a conference and gave him a piece of my mind.
    What was his reaction?


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  • #42
    Gael23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,145 ✭✭✭✭Gael23


    Another thing I would like to know is his do employers shortlist for interview, and what do I need to to in order to make them pick me.


  • #43
    Arbiter of Good Taste
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,200 ✭✭✭Arbiter of Good Taste


    Jade182 wrote: »
    What was his reaction?

    I already knew him, and he took it in good faith. I wasn't abusive. But if I ever have an opportunity in my work to use this firm in the future, I won't.


  • #44
    gidget
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,048 ✭✭✭gidget


    For me it was when you'd go for an interview & wouldn't be successful, you'd sometimes get an email saying they would keep your CV on file for 6 months if anything similar came up & would be in touch.

    Then you'd spot another advert a few weeks later for the same place & send an email informing them that you'd be interested & remind them of said email you'd received, only to get the silent treatment!


  • #45
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    Gael23 wrote: »
    Another thing I would like to know is his do employers shortlist for interview, and what do I need to to in order to make them pick me.

    Well, you can't make anyone pick you, you just need to do the best application you can, maybe try to bring yourself to their attention by informally enquiring about the job if that option is offered, and hope for the best!


  • #46
    Get Real
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 946 ✭✭✭Get Real


    Thankfully I'm employed now, but as mentioned on this, nepotism is a serious problem and annoyance in the jobs market.

    If its a family business or whatever, I almost think its fair enough, I'm willing to accept that.

    However, my friend got a job in a very well known company, very high up, with no related degree and started on 35k, (considering they were young, no experience, no prior job) because of family connections.

    This company were doing a 2 year experience programme paying 160 a week. The people applying for it were very well educated, qualified people.

    My friend just walked in with no experience, got the 35k, and did as the people who actually deserved it did.

    What annoys me most is suddenly my friend was "casually" dropping where they worked/what they did, into conversation on a night out etc, suddenly acting like an accomplished professional.

    I'm not a begrudging type, hence we're still friends, however I made my opinion on nepotism clear.


  • #47
    Tarzana2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,553 ✭✭✭Tarzana2


    How did he respond?


  • #48
    rsl1976
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 835 ✭✭✭rsl1976


    Had an interview in December for a well known university for an admin position. Still waiting to hear from them even though I emailed in January for an update.

    Applied for a clerical officer job through a recruitment agency on Friday got an email yesterday saying"thanks xxxx for applying but you are over qualified" now I have no qualifications but I have worked as a clerical for 7 years previously. I replied and asked him what in his opinion made me over qualified as I wouldn't have applied if that was genuinely the case. Will see if he replies.


  • #49
    Arbiter of Good Taste
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,200 ✭✭✭Arbiter of Good Taste


    I got an email via LinkedIn recently from a recruiter about a "pivotal" role in a well known Plc. I wasn't interested as the team in this company has a pretty high turnover rate, but I checked the profile anyway. It's a MATERNITY LEAVE contract for someone with 2-4 years PQE. WTF!

    Apart from the fact that if the idiot of a recruiter had actually read my LinkedIn profile he would have seen that I have 15 years PQE, on what planet is a maternity leave contract for a fairly junior role considered "pivotal"???


  • #50
    joxer1988
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 151 ✭✭joxer1988


    I realised quickly enough that online applications are mostly a waste of time. Bit the bullet and started networking, a tough slog but landed me the much fabled "dream job".

    Networking shouldn't really be confused with nepotism, which in theory doesn't exist in the private sector.

    If you're the owner of a business, wouldn't you rather hire someone on recommendation from someone who you rate rather than based on a short interview? Who cares if it's a recommendation through family connections.

    Ability to do a job trumps qualifications on your CV all day, that's why connections get you the job.


  • #51
    armadillo86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 209 ✭✭armadillo86


    joxer1988 wrote: »
    I realised quickly enough that online applications are mostly a waste of time. Bit the bullet and started networking, a tough slog but landed me the much fabled "dream job".

    Networking shouldn't really be confused with nepotism, which in theory doesn't exist in the private sector.

    If you're the owner of a business, wouldn't you rather hire someone on recommendation from someone who you rate rather than based on a short interview? Who cares if it's a recommendation through family connections.

    Ability to do a job trumps qualifications on your CV all day, that's why connections get you the job.

    What industry are you working in?


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