“It’s All A Scam”: Woman Applies To 76 Jobs In 8 Weeks And Receives Zero Responses, Starts A Debate Online
Interview With Author
On paper, job hunting seems simple enough. You put together a resume, craft the cover letter, and just like that, you land an interview. Done, right? Well, anyone who has ever gone through the process will tell you it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The whole job search thing is a frustrating, crushing, and seriously nerve-wracking experience. But one thing that’s even more annoying is sending out dozens of applications and rarely getting any response — even a rejection letter — from potential employers.
One woman, who was laid off from her job, knows this. A few weeks ago, TikToker @kayleyalissa shared her frustrations over sending out 76 job applications in 8 weeks — and receiving zero requests for an interview. In her viral video, with more than 1.4 million views, Kayley revealed she has struggled to find work ever since May.
“Y’all cannot tell me that companies are struggling because they don’t have any workers when you’re not hiring anyone,” she said, sparking a conversation about the hiring process on the platform. People immediately started typing their opinions, reactions, and advice in the comments. Read on to find out how Kayley’s story unfolded, and be sure to weigh in on the matter below.
Recently, TikToker Kayley went viral after sharing how her 76 job applications received no responses to interview
@kayleyalissa i need a job #unemployed #laidoff ♬ original sound – Meemaw Slayley
Image credits: kayleyalissa
Image credits: kayleyalissa
As more people participated in the discussion, she posted another video showing her resume
@kayleyalissa Replying to @monirainbows #unemployed #unemployment #laidoff ♬ original sound – Meemaw Slayley
Image credits: kayleyalissa
In a follow-up video, Kayley said the response has been truly overwhelming, and she thanked all her followers for caring about her. The TikToker received dozens of messages from people offering advice to help her in this wild job hunt. While some tips users have suggested clarified a few aspects of the hiring process, the woman mentioned that all the things people said she should or shouldn’t be doing started to make her head spin.
Bored Panda managed to get in touch with Kayley, and she was kind enough to have a little chat with us. When asked what inspired her to spark this discussion on the platform, she told us the idea for her clip came simply out of frustration. “I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, and it was so hard to hear people say, ‘Well, no one wants to work.’ I want to work. I’ve been putting in meaningful applications, trying to get someone’s attention, but with zero outcomes.”
By sharing her video on TikTok, Kayley hoped to find at least one person who would understand her struggle. But as it turns out, her content was relevant to hundreds. “This video has helped me so much. Even though I look a bit haggard and unhinged, this video connected me with new friends, new workplace connections,” she said, mentioning how TikToker Jerry Lee, co-founder of a career consulting firm Wonsulting, helped her fix her resume.
Apparently, the original resume she had shared with her followers was too creative. “I spent so much time designing it so that I could stand out in a crowd. What I didn’t know is that the AI computer programs couldn’t read it, and they automatically deny anything with a photo!”
“So, literally, no one was even seeing my resume,” Kayley explained and said that’s why she had no calls. “A lot of the comments assume I am underqualified or that I was lying. A lot of the comments think 76 in 8 weeks is far too little. But it’s simply that no one was even viewing my resume.”
Image credits: kayleyalissa
Later on, Jerry Lee, co-founder of a career consulting firm, offered some help and fixed up Kayley’s resume
@jerryjhlee #stitch with @Slayley ♬ original sound – Jerry Lee | Wonsulting 💡
You can watch Kayley’s reaction, as well as an update on her job search, right below
@kayleyalissa #stitch with @jerryjhlee huge thank you jerry!!! #unemployed #laidoff ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show
Image credits: kayleyalissa
Kayley was eager to share some updates on her job hunting situation. “Since updating my resume, I’ve already had 4 interviews! Two of the companies I’ve moved on to the second round of interviews! I am so thankful to Jerry Lee and everyone on TikTok that gave me pointers on how to market myself to today’s workforce,” she said.
Lastly, she wanted to forward a message to those who declare that “no one wants to work”: you might be missing what’s happening right in front of your eyes. See, the Great Resignation is still going strong, inspiring workers to voluntarily leave their positions in search of better opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.3 million people quit their jobs in May. If you’re wondering about the reasons they felt pushed over the edge, a Pew Research Center survey found that low pay, lack of opportunities for advancement, and feeling disrespected at work were their top motivations to quit. Moreover, those who left and found a new position were more likely than not to say their current employment has better pay, more opportunities, more work-life balance, and flexibility.
“People want to work, but at a livable wage,” Kayley added. “A lot of the ‘labor shortage’ can be accredited to big companies not offering a living wage or benefits. To the people looking for work: keep going. You’ve got this. You are enough, and you are worthy to take up space in your job field. It’s okay to be picky about where you want to spend 40 hours a week, and it’s okay to say no. Something good is coming,” she concluded.
TikTokers jumped to the comment section to share advice and their own experiences about navigating the job market
Give me a call when you are over 55, have sent out 1400 applications with only four answers and one: „sorry, the position had been filled“ then forgets to disconnect the line and you hear: „would be a good fit but at that age...!“
Because at that age you know your worth and won't accept the sh1tty entry level salary they want to pay you. That's the problem. At 55 you still have at least a decade of your working life left (probably more given rising pension ages), so it's not like they can reasonably think they'll "waste" time training you only to have you retire before you've provided any value to the company, but it's a weird cultural sticking point. There's also the ego of managers unsure how to manage people older than them - where and how does respect work here (rhetorical!) - or even, and far more yukky, at 55 you're just not pretty enough to work any more, at least nowhere customer facing! (/heavy sarcasm).
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When I was a migrant in Belgium i applied for a crazy ammount of jobs. From jobs related to my career to "basic jobs" like walking dogs or basic gardening. In the two years I was looking for work I got two interviews and 1 contract that had no sick leave or paid holidays. And then people say that "they dont want to work or integrate ".
I live in Belgium too. I cannot work full time anymore because of my back and have 17 years of experience in IT and even took courses for a year to retrain myself as a C# programmer and sent out over 40 applications in a few months and most were very enthusiastic so I was always invited for an interview or some sort of videochat but when I had to explain why I hadn't been working for the last 4 years because of my health all of them didn't want me any more, even when they were getting a tax deduction on my pay from the state to compensate for the hours I wasn't there. F**k those assholes, they just want perfect candidates while they're anything but perfect themselves as a company or people... But I guess nobody wants to work any more...
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I was 51 and it took me almost a year of looking before I was hired where I am now. I applied to 95 jobs, I had 4 in person interviews, a working interview and a phone interview. I was applying for jobs in my field, shipping and receiving, forklift certified, paint manufacturing and in the end I ended up working in warehouse just to be bringing in money. It was getting ghosted all the time that the most disheartening thing about job hunting.
950 Applications during pandemic. Resulted in 3 interviews.... The ones that did reply stated somebody more suited, for a role I have been doing for 30+ years, Meaning Younger and cheaper.....
If a woman is over 35, doesn't look like a fashion model and won't work for peanuts she has little hope.
Ageism is a thing especially for females. My wife worked at a renowned Westcoast medical facility for several years even was awarded employee of the month but as soon as she hit 50 they started messing with her. It wound up in court and she won. Not huge settlement but it exposed the bias. And several have done the same since. But apparently the facility doesn't care because they keep doing it. They just don't want you after 50. But Chuck U Shumer wants to raise SS age qualification to 72 go figure.
I’ve noticed a trend (in UK at least) of a willingness to hire older workers. I’m in my early 50s and (after a period of unemployment and applying and getting nowhere) applied for a part time job with a small computer firm near home. The boss offered me the role directly after interview and I expressed my surprise given my age. He said he prefers older workers as they have a lifetime of skills, are literate but, most importantly, are reliable. I don’t necessarily agree with his reasoning but I’m glad of the opportunity. It’s a moderate salary but I have a few other sidelines, no debt and, after years of corporate BS and signs it’s just getting worse, 20 hrs a week is about as much formal employment I can stand at my age 😀
They also don't have young children who are off sick from school usually. I know it's discrimination to not hire younger women with small children but I know how often my daughter ends up staying home from work because her kids are sick. Her 2nd day back at work after her 1 year maternity leave was over she had to stay home from work because the youngest had had a fever. Older people of yours and my age (49) can be more reliable.
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The resume really makes the difference. I went months at the beginning of the year with my resume that I made and keep up paying with every new job. I thought it really highlighted my strengths and experience, but I hadn't gotten any bites except for scams. Turns out I had the same issue as this lady. SEO and what not was literally keeping anyone from seeing my resume. At this point, you need a degree in marketing just to be able to apply to jobs, because their "hiring" programs are set too strictly. Paid someone to redo my resume; interviews in literally the same day I uploaded it. Companies are stupid. "No one wants to work" means "we fired everyone in HR for this program to weed out resumes but didn't bother telling anyone that we use it and now no applications are getting through the program" screw that noise
The problem is corporations have figured out they can get the work done with less people now so they don't want to hire more, but in order to keep the few staff they have, they have to look like they are hiring. We have to start fighting fire with fire. Unionize whenever and wherever possible!
Except that doesn't work, my entire department was shut down and everyone laid off less than a year into a new contract...
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after 50 years in healthcare I decided, at the age of 72, that working with COVID patients was too risky. But I still wanted to work. I applied at all the places allegedly desperate for help…restaurants, grocery and retail stores. Zip. Nada. Zilch. I’m healthy, physically fit. I interview well and my references are superlative. Age discrimination? what else could it be?
It was on the local news that businesses are looking for young workers, 16-24. Anyone older is s**t out of luck at the moment.
Those are the ages that are bringing the revolution of decent pay, those young workers will give em HELL 😂
Load More Replies... I'm in my 40's with a strong medical clerical background. It took me 8 months of constant trying to finally get a job. I am convinced the only reason I got this job is because I worked here a long time ago and left with great work history. The new manager asked some of the OG about me and they all screamed to hire her! lol. Otherwise I'd be screwed. There are a lot of jobs available, but they are either low pay, part time/ per diem, or offer no benefits.
I barely have an resume as I have nothing to put on it. This sort of stuff makes me wonder how the f**k people like myself are supposed to work when not even experienced people can find a job.
You have to know someone to get a job. It's horrible.
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I got a miracle kidney transplant and was in recovery for 5 weeks until I was able to go back to work. I came back to my remote job saying they have closed their remote positions because they reopened their call center and factory in Oregon (Im in Texas). So basically laid off the remote position. I was not worried about finding a job because I was a remote supervisor for multiple departments 5 years plus the news kept saying "More jobs have been added and Employers are looking for work" so I thought "I will quickly find a job with no problem". After 6 months now and over 300 applications I fell into a depression. I was on dialysis for 8 years and worked the whole 8 years now im starting a new chapter off of dialysis and I can't find work. Thank goodness for my disability to cover rent but other expenses I now have to receive help. I am 38. Im nor old, im smart, willing and capable. I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one and im praying for us all. Be encouraged.
Soooo many factors at play. Your resume format is a huge one. I had a 4 page resume I'd added to over 15 years and was only getting some responses for jobs way under what I'd take for wage. I edited it last month with a different template, shortened it to 2 pages, applied for maybe two dozen jobs on Sunday afternoon and had probably a dozen calls in two days. I got five interviews that week (one for a job at Blue Origin I'm not even qualified for) and two job offers. Before that, I had applied to a lot of these places and gotten no response.
Grey hair, wrinkles, ageism is real. I have a simple CV, updated many times, more than one too actually....but some are quite blatant...you're uh, senior, you're not young and mouldable....
They want young and dumb...more money for their own bonuses....who cares that the customer suffers for it.
Load More Replies... I'm a recruiter (internally at a company). When I saw that first resume with all the color and the photo, I was like, oh no. So I'm really glad that consultant stepped in and helped her out!
I refuse to send a photo. One look and they will say the same thing. My sister said,"just paint your eye brows uh no!
Load More Replies... Back in the early 80s the economy was going through a rough spell. Recall a friend who sent out 300 applications and go no takers. Lots of 'we are not presently hiring" letters. There was a "farm labour pool" where you could always find at least min wage work picking fruit etc. They had nothing.
I graduated uni in the late 80s. After 1 1/2 years of intermittent very short-term temping jobs at conveyor belts, ended up at a minimum wage shop assistant job.
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It's also super competitive out there for pete's sake! My job when I was hired 7 years ago had 80 people apply for it!
80 people is so few tbh. Jobs that I applied before has 200-300+ other applicants
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Love that Jerry helped her and that it quickly lead to some interviews. As for those over 50, ageism, aka age discrimination, is a big and sad thing out there for a lot people. Just never give up because it’s not a thing for all employers. Some of them are smart enough to figure out that an older person often means more job experience, maturity, ideas, flexibility, reliability, etc. in many different ways that a lot of employers cannot understand.
I didnt get offered a permanent job until i was over 50
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Yep! definitely a scam! If these companies truly believed "no one wanted to work", they would take the chance and hire those who they would probably usually not hire, and give them a fair chance. USUALLY, the "not so typical great candidates" will end up being a good fit after just a BIT of training. If the "perfect" candidates aren't applying at all, it's time to compromise like applicants do.
I am up to 1000 applications in 2 years. Handful of interviews only to find out they are severely underpaying for the position and experience I offer. I started my own company instead. It is slow going but if I can't join them, be their competition instead.
Want to hire an out of work remote data analyst? 🙂
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I also have been filling out applications every day for the past couple of months and have had only 3 interviews. After reading this I do feel a bit better knowing that I am not alone.
Yeah. This happened to me when I was in highschool and even after... So over 10 yrs ago now. I put in over 500 aps in just over 2 months...not a single interview. Then my mom kicked me out for "Not putting in any effort to find a job". Now...at this point I had just graduated a construction trades course and got horrible news from a dr saying that I could not work in trades due to my physical state... But I applied for everything from fastfood to carpentry to even the mall!!! Not a single interest... Now I work for myself thru an online company as a pet sitter. Set my own hours and rates. Not livable income but fortunately I have another source...related to the physical/psychological state. Sometimes it pays to be crazy and broken... XD but yeah...applying is pretty much bullsht
As a recruiter, the #1 issue is the format of her resume with the photo. Her resume will be picked up based on key words but will not upload automatically. In other words, the recruiter would need to take time to manually retyoe much of their resume into an applicant tracking system before she would get a call. With a demand to fill 50 positon, I have a folder with these beautofully formatted resumes that are deaigned to be handed to the hiring manager at the point of interview or face to face meeting. It just limits visibility when dealing with texhnology. That folder with beautifully crafyed resumes is my last resort because I dont havr time for manual data entry in my day.
If they hired you with your poor grammar and spelling, they should give others a chance.
Load More Replies... I did the same thing and got the same results zero responses. I agree these companies must not be struggling as much as they let on. Honestly I think they try to use this as a excuse to keep prices outrageous and over charge consumers for goods and services. If you have people willing to work why not hire regardless of age iv seen older people outwork lots of young people.
Where my mom works they need people really bad. They are really picky when it comes to hiring people. Still people quit all the time. Even management keeps quitting. They got rid of needing a diploma and not testing for pot during the pandemic but they think they can't keep people now because they got rid of those so they brought them back. My daughter has been applying everywhere and can't get any calls for an interview. She had one and took a tour and they said the HR will get in touch with her to do a drug test when she got back but she didn't call after a week, so my daughter kept trying to get ahold of her but she wouldn't answer. Eventually she used her grandmother's phone and the HR answered and said that the plant manager decided to go with someone more experience. My daughter doesn't have any work experience and getting a job is hard without that. Most want 6 months or more in the field you are applying for.
Don't just submit an application and disappear. Call the company. Show interest and enthusiasm. I just hired someone. He wasn't the most qualified on paper, but he called me to say he'd applied for the job and asked if we could schedule an interview. That caught my attention, so I added him to the "interview" pile. He was eager and enthusiastic, asked questions about the job and the company, and impressed me with his attitude. He's been here 2 weeks now and is doing great.
I got hired a few minutes after sending a thank you email to my employer where I've been for 3 months now. Literally never been happier. Your post is probably the best advice in literally this entire thread. I wish there was a way to vote to "pin it" or something. Sunny Day's got seriously common sense PRACTICAL and PROVEN advice.
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I remember when I was young, and had just left my first job (teaching), I spent a year and half unemployed while I turned in an average of 25 applications a week. Finally ran out of money and moved to a new town where my awesome brother let me stay with him. Inside a month, I had a job. Sometimes, if possible, you just need a different place.
People resigning from their current jobs doesn't mean they aren't working, but rather they're all competing for better jobs. This makes it much more difficult to stand out in the workforce.
I can get to an interview just fine but the interview itself forget it. Sadly my PTSD goes into overdrive and all my anxiety freezes me up. It's kept me from advancing as the company I work for insists that everyone interview for a position to have it permanently regardless of stellar performance in that exact job. Anyone have any tips for this?
If your PTSD is diagnosed, contact your HR department and request an "accommodation" for a diagnosed disability. Accommodation is an official, legal process for adjusting company policies, procedures, or requirements or providing specialized equipment in order to still be able to do your job despite new or existing disabilities. As long as you can perform your job duties with those accomodations, you should have a fair shot....If you go blind and your job was literally reviewing photos to remove policy violations (nudity, violence, etc) then an accommodation won't work, but I think they need to try to transfer you to a job you can do. If your job is editing text documents for content / errors, then you can be accommodated despite being blind because they can get you text to speech and dictation software.
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Try being over 45 and coming off disability. Been searching 3 months now and can't even get a dishwashing job. Had two interviews for factories and bet they don't look twice.
In my early 50s, I was unemployed and, over a period of a year, sent out almost six hundred applications for jobs for which I was well qualified. One of the most common responses was that I was somehow "overqualified" for the position. Even after dumbing down my resume by removing college, technical schools and military service schools, and downgrading the description of previous employment, it still took another four months to get two interviews. I really don't understand the idea of not hiring someone because they're somehow overqualified for the job. Years earlier, when I owned a small retail store, I hired college professors in the summer who wanted a little extra income. While they were incredibly "overqualified," I learned a lot from them.
SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT... also... DO MENTALLY STABLE PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO THAT!?? [put a profile pic attached to their resumes?] X-D
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Common denominator is people not getting an answer back - which you either accept A) they got too many applications to reply or B) Your resume needs a lot of work. I don't know why people keep mentioning age too - are you putting your entire work history on your resume? Anything over 10 years is irrelevant.
I worked at 2 places for the last 10 years, how would that look on a resume, to me it would look like I was too set in my ways.
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So basically she screwed up by sending out a resume no one could read (it is objectively a terrible resume), ranted online that the job market is a scam, had her error pointed out, and managed to fix it?
I have had a somewhat different, yet similar, issue. I get interviews, but I don't get offered jobs. And I know I do a great interview. Here's the thing. I have an incredible resume (I am in the hospitality industry). Over 20 years of solid work, including teaching Hospitality and Restaurant Management courses at the college level. So what's the problem? Simple. Employers get my resume, and are extremely impressed. But they don't "do the math." So when I show up, they expect a 20-, 30- or 40-something person, but I am in my 60s. So the issue is ageism. And hospitality has the highest degree of ageism of any industry in the U.S. Employers (particularly restaurants and other first-face-seen industries) want the "pretty young person" (almost always women, which makes reverse sexism rampant as well) at the door, not the older guy (or gal) with salt-and-pepper hair - even if that guy/gal has oodles of experience.
I've been having the same problem trying to get work where i moved to in the spring. It's really difficult when things are online and so impersonal. Being rejected by a dumb computer based on chosen font, format, wording... Is infuriating. Being interviewed by people who don't even work for the company and with questions like, "where do you see yourself in ten years?" I just want a job! Not to find out what type of flower I would be 🙄
I moved to Atlanta in 1996, I applied for a hospital job, they never hired me because I had to much experience. So you may need to tone down your experience, these employers want to pay low wages.
I graduated cum laude and did 3 years of MED school (Doctor), been searching since March and still struggling to get a job. The Jobs dont want to pay, they want you to have an education to be considered but wont pay at least a salary that would cover your expenses plus school loans, go figure.
I live in Des Moines Iowa I received my accounting 4 year degree in May 2022. I could not do internship I worked full time and went to school. In my area no one that will give me a chance at accounting . I called on accounts payable job and they wanted 5 years experience .
I have two words for you: temp agencies!! A lot of companies are looking to temp agencies for workers in order to save money in terms of offering benefits. They are ideal for folks over a certain age, like myself, and for those who want to get back into the job market after being away. Many employers actually prefer older, more seasoned workers over younger ones because of the experience factor. Also, the starting income is usually above minimum wage based on profession. The cool thing about being a temp worker is that you can control where you work, in that you can decide if working remotely vs. in the office is preferable; or if working in the city vs. the suburbs is ideal for you. It was a temp agency that took me on when I got fired from my last perm job.
I think it depends on where you live. I live in Seattle. I placed an ad for odd jobs on Craigslist and have been heavily recruited. I usually write the resume as a formality after. Employers are totally desperate. More jobs than people. I was cold call recruited and hired to work at Microsoft washing dishes for $21 an hour. Helion wants me for fusion energy. $18 an hour but you are vested $45,000 in the company. The employees will all be millionaires in 5 years. Thousands of jobs. We need people! Anybody willing to work is hired right now!
I decided to become licensed and whether you are a pharmacy tech, nurse, radiologist tech, or pharmacist etc.. you are guaranteed a job. Go where the demand is and healthcare is the key
INDEED>COM is th answer...they get your foot in the door guaranteed you'll get an interview....they help you to be seen...worked and works for me...
If you use "and like" in your resumes or cover letters it's, "like", no wonder you're not getting responses
I've been applying to jobs since January 2022. I'm told I'm over qualified, have no experience, or my experience is no longer relevant due to technology. Still looking for another job.....
Yeah funny how Kayla unabashedly exposes her own AGEISM indignantly taking offense people thought she’s 50. Like how insulting is that. I’m not over the hill. Ageism is the unspoken deadliest silent killer of women over 50 seeking work.
Do you mean the video poster, Kayley? If so maybe I missed it but where did she get insulted? I had gone and looked at some of her videos/story before and she had one asking people to guess her age, then commented she thought it was hilarious people were guessing anywhere from 20s-60 (some people thought she was younger but just had early graying hair). She then posted a video happily saying she was 50 and people asked for her skincare routine.
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Like Like Like Like Yeah I'm sure it's the companies that are the problem here. RAMPANT entitlement, as per usual from that country. In the immortal words of Bill Burr : "If you've met three arseholes before lunch, chances are, you're the arsehole"
I am amazed you didn't get like 5 dislikes for this. For what? For telling the truth. People don't like that on BPanda. I tossed you an upvote for good measure.
Load More Replies... I absolutely believe there is a LOT of age discrimination going on..there are some very well known people who shut down entire departments because most employees are older and efficient, but paid more to hire new people to do the same jobs that barely know how to dress themselves to save a buck and get a bonus "for saving the company money". At the expense of the customers getting significantly worse customer service and significantly longer repair times. I didn't have as much trouble as some, but what I did get was a $10 an hour pay cut, and much heavier workload. I guarantee you I won't work past retirement age...when before I would have. It's a paycheck, my coworkers are fine, it's just not a wonderful place to work. Contract positions are abundant, but when you are older you have bills 20 somethings don't have...and stability is important.
Truck driver here- there's a huge shortage. You'll start out around 50,000, then with 2 yrs experience you can jump up to at least 80,000 It's not for everyone though
I think it greatly depends on where you live. I live in the Seattle area. I placed an ad on Craigslist to do odd jobs and am constantly recruited for anything from fusion energy to dish washing at Microsoft. Employers are so desperate I was offered $21 to wash dishes. That is starting for unskilled labor. Granted it is expensive to live here but far more jobs than people.
The struggle is real, for sure. One has to be careful of job scams. I would recommend she sign up at the temp agencies. That's how I got my current job. Temp to Perm works!
Author, why did you choose that headline when the real reason she wasn't hired was because her resumes were being flagged as spam? I think it's because anti-work clickbait sells but I'm getting tired of it.
So then, what's the scam? Is it all set up by BoredPanda in order to create a new page?
I've been out of work 2 years and can't find a job either. So many scams out there it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I'm so sick of people asking me if I'm working.
Nice excuses. Wonder where you're getting your money from. Probably sweet govt paychecks I'm paying for or someone else. Who knows. Cool story btw.
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It makes sense this leftist woman wears the dye activist shirts thinks she’s owed a job while S**t posting
If a 59yrs old Asian American with back problems can go out and find three jobs(Home Depot, Walmart,Door dash)any one can find a job.You just have to keep bugging the company through phone calls and emails after you submit an application.
Yea but people will downvote you for telling the truth on BPanda. Don't worry I tossed you an upvote. So many Karens in here.
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How old are you? She may have been facing age discrimination.
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She made a great point, though. The problem being her resume IS a problem--because what should matter is that she can do the job. Rejecting someone because they have "too much experience" or expecting a flowery document for physical labor is likely a reason so many people struggle to find jobs right now. Then employers still want to accuse us of "not wanting to work." We shouldn't have to game the system to pay our bills.
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You cannot go from high paying computer work you've been doing for more than 35 years, since you were a junior in high to a low paying or minimum wage retail job and continue to support a family. That is completely unrealistic!!!
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Do you ever stop to think that maybe you're the one with the hive mind virus?
Load More Replies... Give me a call when you are over 55, have sent out 1400 applications with only four answers and one: „sorry, the position had been filled“ then forgets to disconnect the line and you hear: „would be a good fit but at that age...!“
Because at that age you know your worth and won't accept the sh1tty entry level salary they want to pay you. That's the problem. At 55 you still have at least a decade of your working life left (probably more given rising pension ages), so it's not like they can reasonably think they'll "waste" time training you only to have you retire before you've provided any value to the company, but it's a weird cultural sticking point. There's also the ego of managers unsure how to manage people older than them - where and how does respect work here (rhetorical!) - or even, and far more yukky, at 55 you're just not pretty enough to work any more, at least nowhere customer facing! (/heavy sarcasm).
Load More Replies... When I was a migrant in Belgium i applied for a crazy ammount of jobs. From jobs related to my career to "basic jobs" like walking dogs or basic gardening. In the two years I was looking for work I got two interviews and 1 contract that had no sick leave or paid holidays. And then people say that "they dont want to work or integrate ".
I live in Belgium too. I cannot work full time anymore because of my back and have 17 years of experience in IT and even took courses for a year to retrain myself as a C# programmer and sent out over 40 applications in a few months and most were very enthusiastic so I was always invited for an interview or some sort of videochat but when I had to explain why I hadn't been working for the last 4 years because of my health all of them didn't want me any more, even when they were getting a tax deduction on my pay from the state to compensate for the hours I wasn't there. F**k those assholes, they just want perfect candidates while they're anything but perfect themselves as a company or people... But I guess nobody wants to work any more...
Load More Replies... I was 51 and it took me almost a year of looking before I was hired where I am now. I applied to 95 jobs, I had 4 in person interviews, a working interview and a phone interview. I was applying for jobs in my field, shipping and receiving, forklift certified, paint manufacturing and in the end I ended up working in warehouse just to be bringing in money. It was getting ghosted all the time that the most disheartening thing about job hunting.
950 Applications during pandemic. Resulted in 3 interviews.... The ones that did reply stated somebody more suited, for a role I have been doing for 30+ years, Meaning Younger and cheaper.....
If a woman is over 35, doesn't look like a fashion model and won't work for peanuts she has little hope.
Ageism is a thing especially for females. My wife worked at a renowned Westcoast medical facility for several years even was awarded employee of the month but as soon as she hit 50 they started messing with her. It wound up in court and she won. Not huge settlement but it exposed the bias. And several have done the same since. But apparently the facility doesn't care because they keep doing it. They just don't want you after 50. But Chuck U Shumer wants to raise SS age qualification to 72 go figure.
I’ve noticed a trend (in UK at least) of a willingness to hire older workers. I’m in my early 50s and (after a period of unemployment and applying and getting nowhere) applied for a part time job with a small computer firm near home. The boss offered me the role directly after interview and I expressed my surprise given my age. He said he prefers older workers as they have a lifetime of skills, are literate but, most importantly, are reliable. I don’t necessarily agree with his reasoning but I’m glad of the opportunity. It’s a moderate salary but I have a few other sidelines, no debt and, after years of corporate BS and signs it’s just getting worse, 20 hrs a week is about as much formal employment I can stand at my age 😀
They also don't have young children who are off sick from school usually. I know it's discrimination to not hire younger women with small children but I know how often my daughter ends up staying home from work because her kids are sick. Her 2nd day back at work after her 1 year maternity leave was over she had to stay home from work because the youngest had had a fever. Older people of yours and my age (49) can be more reliable.
Load More Replies... The resume really makes the difference. I went months at the beginning of the year with my resume that I made and keep up paying with every new job. I thought it really highlighted my strengths and experience, but I hadn't gotten any bites except for scams. Turns out I had the same issue as this lady. SEO and what not was literally keeping anyone from seeing my resume. At this point, you need a degree in marketing just to be able to apply to jobs, because their "hiring" programs are set too strictly. Paid someone to redo my resume; interviews in literally the same day I uploaded it. Companies are stupid. "No one wants to work" means "we fired everyone in HR for this program to weed out resumes but didn't bother telling anyone that we use it and now no applications are getting through the program" screw that noise
The problem is corporations have figured out they can get the work done with less people now so they don't want to hire more, but in order to keep the few staff they have, they have to look like they are hiring. We have to start fighting fire with fire. Unionize whenever and wherever possible!
Except that doesn't work, my entire department was shut down and everyone laid off less than a year into a new contract...
Load More Replies... after 50 years in healthcare I decided, at the age of 72, that working with COVID patients was too risky. But I still wanted to work. I applied at all the places allegedly desperate for help…restaurants, grocery and retail stores. Zip. Nada. Zilch. I’m healthy, physically fit. I interview well and my references are superlative. Age discrimination? what else could it be?
It was on the local news that businesses are looking for young workers, 16-24. Anyone older is s**t out of luck at the moment.
Those are the ages that are bringing the revolution of decent pay, those young workers will give em HELL 😂
Load More Replies... I'm in my 40's with a strong medical clerical background. It took me 8 months of constant trying to finally get a job. I am convinced the only reason I got this job is because I worked here a long time ago and left with great work history. The new manager asked some of the OG about me and they all screamed to hire her! lol. Otherwise I'd be screwed. There are a lot of jobs available, but they are either low pay, part time/ per diem, or offer no benefits.
I barely have an resume as I have nothing to put on it. This sort of stuff makes me wonder how the f**k people like myself are supposed to work when not even experienced people can find a job.
You have to know someone to get a job. It's horrible.
Load More Replies... I got a miracle kidney transplant and was in recovery for 5 weeks until I was able to go back to work. I came back to my remote job saying they have closed their remote positions because they reopened their call center and factory in Oregon (Im in Texas). So basically laid off the remote position. I was not worried about finding a job because I was a remote supervisor for multiple departments 5 years plus the news kept saying "More jobs have been added and Employers are looking for work" so I thought "I will quickly find a job with no problem". After 6 months now and over 300 applications I fell into a depression. I was on dialysis for 8 years and worked the whole 8 years now im starting a new chapter off of dialysis and I can't find work. Thank goodness for my disability to cover rent but other expenses I now have to receive help. I am 38. Im nor old, im smart, willing and capable. I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one and im praying for us all. Be encouraged.
Soooo many factors at play. Your resume format is a huge one. I had a 4 page resume I'd added to over 15 years and was only getting some responses for jobs way under what I'd take for wage. I edited it last month with a different template, shortened it to 2 pages, applied for maybe two dozen jobs on Sunday afternoon and had probably a dozen calls in two days. I got five interviews that week (one for a job at Blue Origin I'm not even qualified for) and two job offers. Before that, I had applied to a lot of these places and gotten no response.
Grey hair, wrinkles, ageism is real. I have a simple CV, updated many times, more than one too actually....but some are quite blatant...you're uh, senior, you're not young and mouldable....
They want young and dumb...more money for their own bonuses....who cares that the customer suffers for it.
Load More Replies... I'm a recruiter (internally at a company). When I saw that first resume with all the color and the photo, I was like, oh no. So I'm really glad that consultant stepped in and helped her out!
I refuse to send a photo. One look and they will say the same thing. My sister said,"just paint your eye brows uh no!
Load More Replies... Back in the early 80s the economy was going through a rough spell. Recall a friend who sent out 300 applications and go no takers. Lots of 'we are not presently hiring" letters. There was a "farm labour pool" where you could always find at least min wage work picking fruit etc. They had nothing.
I graduated uni in the late 80s. After 1 1/2 years of intermittent very short-term temping jobs at conveyor belts, ended up at a minimum wage shop assistant job.
Load More Replies... It's also super competitive out there for pete's sake! My job when I was hired 7 years ago had 80 people apply for it!
80 people is so few tbh. Jobs that I applied before has 200-300+ other applicants
Load More Replies... Love that Jerry helped her and that it quickly lead to some interviews. As for those over 50, ageism, aka age discrimination, is a big and sad thing out there for a lot people. Just never give up because it’s not a thing for all employers. Some of them are smart enough to figure out that an older person often means more job experience, maturity, ideas, flexibility, reliability, etc. in many different ways that a lot of employers cannot understand.
I didnt get offered a permanent job until i was over 50
Load More Replies... Yep! definitely a scam! If these companies truly believed "no one wanted to work", they would take the chance and hire those who they would probably usually not hire, and give them a fair chance. USUALLY, the "not so typical great candidates" will end up being a good fit after just a BIT of training. If the "perfect" candidates aren't applying at all, it's time to compromise like applicants do.
I am up to 1000 applications in 2 years. Handful of interviews only to find out they are severely underpaying for the position and experience I offer. I started my own company instead. It is slow going but if I can't join them, be their competition instead.
Want to hire an out of work remote data analyst? 🙂
Load More Replies... I also have been filling out applications every day for the past couple of months and have had only 3 interviews. After reading this I do feel a bit better knowing that I am not alone.
Yeah. This happened to me when I was in highschool and even after... So over 10 yrs ago now. I put in over 500 aps in just over 2 months...not a single interview. Then my mom kicked me out for "Not putting in any effort to find a job". Now...at this point I had just graduated a construction trades course and got horrible news from a dr saying that I could not work in trades due to my physical state... But I applied for everything from fastfood to carpentry to even the mall!!! Not a single interest... Now I work for myself thru an online company as a pet sitter. Set my own hours and rates. Not livable income but fortunately I have another source...related to the physical/psychological state. Sometimes it pays to be crazy and broken... XD but yeah...applying is pretty much bullsht
As a recruiter, the #1 issue is the format of her resume with the photo. Her resume will be picked up based on key words but will not upload automatically. In other words, the recruiter would need to take time to manually retyoe much of their resume into an applicant tracking system before she would get a call. With a demand to fill 50 positon, I have a folder with these beautofully formatted resumes that are deaigned to be handed to the hiring manager at the point of interview or face to face meeting. It just limits visibility when dealing with texhnology. That folder with beautifully crafyed resumes is my last resort because I dont havr time for manual data entry in my day.
If they hired you with your poor grammar and spelling, they should give others a chance.
Load More Replies... I did the same thing and got the same results zero responses. I agree these companies must not be struggling as much as they let on. Honestly I think they try to use this as a excuse to keep prices outrageous and over charge consumers for goods and services. If you have people willing to work why not hire regardless of age iv seen older people outwork lots of young people.
Where my mom works they need people really bad. They are really picky when it comes to hiring people. Still people quit all the time. Even management keeps quitting. They got rid of needing a diploma and not testing for pot during the pandemic but they think they can't keep people now because they got rid of those so they brought them back. My daughter has been applying everywhere and can't get any calls for an interview. She had one and took a tour and they said the HR will get in touch with her to do a drug test when she got back but she didn't call after a week, so my daughter kept trying to get ahold of her but she wouldn't answer. Eventually she used her grandmother's phone and the HR answered and said that the plant manager decided to go with someone more experience. My daughter doesn't have any work experience and getting a job is hard without that. Most want 6 months or more in the field you are applying for.
Don't just submit an application and disappear. Call the company. Show interest and enthusiasm. I just hired someone. He wasn't the most qualified on paper, but he called me to say he'd applied for the job and asked if we could schedule an interview. That caught my attention, so I added him to the "interview" pile. He was eager and enthusiastic, asked questions about the job and the company, and impressed me with his attitude. He's been here 2 weeks now and is doing great.
I got hired a few minutes after sending a thank you email to my employer where I've been for 3 months now. Literally never been happier. Your post is probably the best advice in literally this entire thread. I wish there was a way to vote to "pin it" or something. Sunny Day's got seriously common sense PRACTICAL and PROVEN advice.
Load More Replies... I remember when I was young, and had just left my first job (teaching), I spent a year and half unemployed while I turned in an average of 25 applications a week. Finally ran out of money and moved to a new town where my awesome brother let me stay with him. Inside a month, I had a job. Sometimes, if possible, you just need a different place.
People resigning from their current jobs doesn't mean they aren't working, but rather they're all competing for better jobs. This makes it much more difficult to stand out in the workforce.
I can get to an interview just fine but the interview itself forget it. Sadly my PTSD goes into overdrive and all my anxiety freezes me up. It's kept me from advancing as the company I work for insists that everyone interview for a position to have it permanently regardless of stellar performance in that exact job. Anyone have any tips for this?
If your PTSD is diagnosed, contact your HR department and request an "accommodation" for a diagnosed disability. Accommodation is an official, legal process for adjusting company policies, procedures, or requirements or providing specialized equipment in order to still be able to do your job despite new or existing disabilities. As long as you can perform your job duties with those accomodations, you should have a fair shot....If you go blind and your job was literally reviewing photos to remove policy violations (nudity, violence, etc) then an accommodation won't work, but I think they need to try to transfer you to a job you can do. If your job is editing text documents for content / errors, then you can be accommodated despite being blind because they can get you text to speech and dictation software.
Load More Replies... Try being over 45 and coming off disability. Been searching 3 months now and can't even get a dishwashing job. Had two interviews for factories and bet they don't look twice.
In my early 50s, I was unemployed and, over a period of a year, sent out almost six hundred applications for jobs for which I was well qualified. One of the most common responses was that I was somehow "overqualified" for the position. Even after dumbing down my resume by removing college, technical schools and military service schools, and downgrading the description of previous employment, it still took another four months to get two interviews. I really don't understand the idea of not hiring someone because they're somehow overqualified for the job. Years earlier, when I owned a small retail store, I hired college professors in the summer who wanted a little extra income. While they were incredibly "overqualified," I learned a lot from them.
SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT... also... DO MENTALLY STABLE PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO THAT!?? [put a profile pic attached to their resumes?] X-D
Load More Replies... Common denominator is people not getting an answer back - which you either accept A) they got too many applications to reply or B) Your resume needs a lot of work. I don't know why people keep mentioning age too - are you putting your entire work history on your resume? Anything over 10 years is irrelevant.
I worked at 2 places for the last 10 years, how would that look on a resume, to me it would look like I was too set in my ways.
Load More Replies... So basically she screwed up by sending out a resume no one could read (it is objectively a terrible resume), ranted online that the job market is a scam, had her error pointed out, and managed to fix it?
I have had a somewhat different, yet similar, issue. I get interviews, but I don't get offered jobs. And I know I do a great interview. Here's the thing. I have an incredible resume (I am in the hospitality industry). Over 20 years of solid work, including teaching Hospitality and Restaurant Management courses at the college level. So what's the problem? Simple. Employers get my resume, and are extremely impressed. But they don't "do the math." So when I show up, they expect a 20-, 30- or 40-something person, but I am in my 60s. So the issue is ageism. And hospitality has the highest degree of ageism of any industry in the U.S. Employers (particularly restaurants and other first-face-seen industries) want the "pretty young person" (almost always women, which makes reverse sexism rampant as well) at the door, not the older guy (or gal) with salt-and-pepper hair - even if that guy/gal has oodles of experience.
I've been having the same problem trying to get work where i moved to in the spring. It's really difficult when things are online and so impersonal. Being rejected by a dumb computer based on chosen font, format, wording... Is infuriating. Being interviewed by people who don't even work for the company and with questions like, "where do you see yourself in ten years?" I just want a job! Not to find out what type of flower I would be 🙄
I moved to Atlanta in 1996, I applied for a hospital job, they never hired me because I had to much experience. So you may need to tone down your experience, these employers want to pay low wages.
I graduated cum laude and did 3 years of MED school (Doctor), been searching since March and still struggling to get a job. The Jobs dont want to pay, they want you to have an education to be considered but wont pay at least a salary that would cover your expenses plus school loans, go figure.
I live in Des Moines Iowa I received my accounting 4 year degree in May 2022. I could not do internship I worked full time and went to school. In my area no one that will give me a chance at accounting . I called on accounts payable job and they wanted 5 years experience .
I have two words for you: temp agencies!! A lot of companies are looking to temp agencies for workers in order to save money in terms of offering benefits. They are ideal for folks over a certain age, like myself, and for those who want to get back into the job market after being away. Many employers actually prefer older, more seasoned workers over younger ones because of the experience factor. Also, the starting income is usually above minimum wage based on profession. The cool thing about being a temp worker is that you can control where you work, in that you can decide if working remotely vs. in the office is preferable; or if working in the city vs. the suburbs is ideal for you. It was a temp agency that took me on when I got fired from my last perm job.
I think it depends on where you live. I live in Seattle. I placed an ad for odd jobs on Craigslist and have been heavily recruited. I usually write the resume as a formality after. Employers are totally desperate. More jobs than people. I was cold call recruited and hired to work at Microsoft washing dishes for $21 an hour. Helion wants me for fusion energy. $18 an hour but you are vested $45,000 in the company. The employees will all be millionaires in 5 years. Thousands of jobs. We need people! Anybody willing to work is hired right now!
I decided to become licensed and whether you are a pharmacy tech, nurse, radiologist tech, or pharmacist etc.. you are guaranteed a job. Go where the demand is and healthcare is the key
INDEED>COM is th answer...they get your foot in the door guaranteed you'll get an interview....they help you to be seen...worked and works for me...
If you use "and like" in your resumes or cover letters it's, "like", no wonder you're not getting responses
I've been applying to jobs since January 2022. I'm told I'm over qualified, have no experience, or my experience is no longer relevant due to technology. Still looking for another job.....
Yeah funny how Kayla unabashedly exposes her own AGEISM indignantly taking offense people thought she’s 50. Like how insulting is that. I’m not over the hill. Ageism is the unspoken deadliest silent killer of women over 50 seeking work.
Do you mean the video poster, Kayley? If so maybe I missed it but where did she get insulted? I had gone and looked at some of her videos/story before and she had one asking people to guess her age, then commented she thought it was hilarious people were guessing anywhere from 20s-60 (some people thought she was younger but just had early graying hair). She then posted a video happily saying she was 50 and people asked for her skincare routine.
Load More Replies... Like Like Like Like Yeah I'm sure it's the companies that are the problem here. RAMPANT entitlement, as per usual from that country. In the immortal words of Bill Burr : "If you've met three arseholes before lunch, chances are, you're the arsehole"
I am amazed you didn't get like 5 dislikes for this. For what? For telling the truth. People don't like that on BPanda. I tossed you an upvote for good measure.
Load More Replies... I absolutely believe there is a LOT of age discrimination going on..there are some very well known people who shut down entire departments because most employees are older and efficient, but paid more to hire new people to do the same jobs that barely know how to dress themselves to save a buck and get a bonus "for saving the company money". At the expense of the customers getting significantly worse customer service and significantly longer repair times. I didn't have as much trouble as some, but what I did get was a $10 an hour pay cut, and much heavier workload. I guarantee you I won't work past retirement age...when before I would have. It's a paycheck, my coworkers are fine, it's just not a wonderful place to work. Contract positions are abundant, but when you are older you have bills 20 somethings don't have...and stability is important.
Truck driver here- there's a huge shortage. You'll start out around 50,000, then with 2 yrs experience you can jump up to at least 80,000 It's not for everyone though
I think it greatly depends on where you live. I live in the Seattle area. I placed an ad on Craigslist to do odd jobs and am constantly recruited for anything from fusion energy to dish washing at Microsoft. Employers are so desperate I was offered $21 to wash dishes. That is starting for unskilled labor. Granted it is expensive to live here but far more jobs than people.
The struggle is real, for sure. One has to be careful of job scams. I would recommend she sign up at the temp agencies. That's how I got my current job. Temp to Perm works!
Author, why did you choose that headline when the real reason she wasn't hired was because her resumes were being flagged as spam? I think it's because anti-work clickbait sells but I'm getting tired of it.
So then, what's the scam? Is it all set up by BoredPanda in order to create a new page?
I've been out of work 2 years and can't find a job either. So many scams out there it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I'm so sick of people asking me if I'm working.
Nice excuses. Wonder where you're getting your money from. Probably sweet govt paychecks I'm paying for or someone else. Who knows. Cool story btw.
Load More Replies... It makes sense this leftist woman wears the dye activist shirts thinks she’s owed a job while S**t posting
If a 59yrs old Asian American with back problems can go out and find three jobs(Home Depot, Walmart,Door dash)any one can find a job.You just have to keep bugging the company through phone calls and emails after you submit an application.
Yea but people will downvote you for telling the truth on BPanda. Don't worry I tossed you an upvote. So many Karens in here.
Load More Replies... How old are you? She may have been facing age discrimination.
Load More Replies... She made a great point, though. The problem being her resume IS a problem--because what should matter is that she can do the job. Rejecting someone because they have "too much experience" or expecting a flowery document for physical labor is likely a reason so many people struggle to find jobs right now. Then employers still want to accuse us of "not wanting to work." We shouldn't have to game the system to pay our bills.
Load More Replies... You cannot go from high paying computer work you've been doing for more than 35 years, since you were a junior in high to a low paying or minimum wage retail job and continue to support a family. That is completely unrealistic!!!
Load More Replies... Do you ever stop to think that maybe you're the one with the hive mind virus?
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