Looking for a Legitimate Job

Looking for a job has become a very arduous task these days. At times it seems as though there are thousands of people all competing for that same job posting. Let's face it, the odds are stacked against the unemployed and they aren't getting any better from my viewpoint. With many companies, large and small alike, introducing major restructuring tactics to cutbacks resulting at times in major downsizing, the unemployment rate across the entire nation is at an all time high. Many employees have been demoted or laterally assigned to another less impressive position, but most are just grateful to still have a job.

An internet connection is a must these days if you're searching for employment. Gone are the days when you could just pick up that trusty black and white print copy of the local newspaper to scour the classifieds section. Most companies have become conservation minded opting to go paperless when it comes to employment ads. But many stop short of their efforts and still require prospective employees to print out a hard copy of their very extensive employment application and mail it in or deliver it in person. And I've run across many who require you to show up in person to fill out an application. There is really no way around it, there's going to be some cost associated with an employment search regardless of how you go about it. So in order to finance my quest for the ultimate full-time career I have had to accept various part-time jobs.

Some people out there are probably thinking, 'Hey, at least you have a job.' And to that I'd have to say that although I am grateful for having at least that much, I really hadn't planned on making a career out of being a part-time cashier at the local grocery store or even a part-time school bus driver. Now I question myself daily as to whether my decision to accept part-time employment has become counterproductive?

How could being employed part-time be counterproductive you ask? Well, employers these days have become very scrupulous when looking for prospective employees. With so many individuals competing for the same job some employers may cast aside applications of those who are already employed even if it is only part-time. Other employers may only take a look at the first couple of jobs on your resume or application and stop there if they aren't in the same industry as the current position you've applied. In addition, many employers won't even consider an applicant who has held a job for less than a year or two because they consider it to be "job hopping." I wonder if prospective employers ever consider that the applicant is doing everything they can to stay afloat by accepting whatever type of employment they can. Or maybe their current employment situation was to satisfy the local unemployment office?

So as I continue every day with my exhaustive search for employment through multiple internet job sites, I have begun to encounter a wealth of very aggravating and deceptive ads. Some of these illusive ads will indicate the employer as "confidential". Reading on, the ad seems legitimate in all appearances. I click on the "apply here" button, which redirects me to another website in order to complete the application process. Innocently enough I go through the entire application process inputting all of the usual personal information. Just when the application process is almost complete, I am then asked if I would be interested in furthering my education to attain a better career or if I would be interested in owning my own business. For a moment I'm thinking, 'What the heck? I'm just applying for a clerical position.' I select "no" and submit my application.

I navigate to the next job posting website and a short time later my phone rings. I'm looking at the caller ID and it's an unknown 800 number? I don't normally answer "unknown"calls but it could be an employer calling to set up an interview? I'm thinking, ‘Great! My diligence is paying off.’ I answer the call and the voice on the other end announces that he saw my resume and application posted on ‘big name’ job site. For a brief moment I'm actually excited until the caller then advises he noticed that I indicated I was interested in furthering my education. My excitement has now been replaced with disappointment. This is completely untrue and I advise the telemarketer that I am not interested. Not easily deterred he continues to sell me the idea that by furthering my education I could get a better career and who wouldn't want to do that? As politely as I can, I advise the caller that I am in no way interested in attending college at this time and unless he has a job to offer me this conversation is over. He hangs up.

Committed to someday finding a satisfying full-time career, I have continued to scour the internet job site postings. I can't help but feel very disheartened, though, by knowing that these marketing agencies are able to waste my time by posting an overwhelming number of false job advertisements just to make a sales commission. It is even more disappointing to know that big name job posting sites are not doing more to ensure that all job postings are from legitimate and verified employers. It’s open season and job seekers are the prey. Job posting websites have lost focus on their true purpose and have given telemarketers a license to hunt for unsuspecting and desperate job seekers.