Why have I become unemployable?

[unemployable]

I have held several jobs before getting my B.A. in Japanese. I found getting hired to be an easy thing.

It's been about a month since I graduated, and it's like I've become unemployable. I've applied to lots of places, and most don't respond. I got a telephone interview for a job I knew I was qualified for but they picked someone else.

You would think that I would become more employable with a B.A. than without it, and earning more money, but for some reason I can't get hired. What gives?

[Craig]

One month, ... it's only been one month. First of all, your Bachelors degree isn't that marketable, although it does tell potential employers that you can stick to something and put up with bullsh*t. Secondly, the more education you have makes it take longer to get jobs, but the jobs you get will typically be better. You close doors and you open other doors.

[cloudzero]

Don't sweat it man. Your were probably lucky before. Job finding is never easy even in good economic times in a demanding field. You are experiencing the real thing now. When you start looking for a job it's like rolling a dice. You probably rolled a 6 and will probably get one in 6 months, but who knows. I know how this works because I am a freelancer and getting contracts is pretty much the same as finding a job, but the process happens every few weeks for me. The employers look at the first 5-10 that applies and ignores the rest. Employers who never responded probably never seen yours application. They are lazy like the rest of us. Even if you do manage to get their attention they have bad judgment when it comes to who is the best candidate. They choose someone they can relate to or someone whose resume doesn't look to polished. As a freelancer I have compete with outsourcing found employers to be cheap bastards. Most of them would prefer cheap over qualified. Seem to me like you may be too expensive for them considering your extra set of skills, and of course there are fewer high paying jobs. Give it more time and don't let this lack of success affect your interviews. The job seekers and job givers take time to fall into place.

[SunWuKong]

couldn't you be a private tutor?

[yoMAMA]

dude it took me 6 month after i gradute from college before i got my first job (and it was an internship), and my major was finance!

[kimpossible]

How are you searching and applying? Are you checking local adverts and submitting paper resume and cover letter or submitting online only?

What are you searching for? What job titles and qualifications do these jobs require? There aren't too many jobs that require a degree in Japanese so I imagine there's related positions you're looking at.

Who are you submitting applications to? Larger or smaller organizations? Larger companies might be harder to get into, or at least get a response from. Unless you network and find a way to get your resume forwarded directly to the person who will be hiring for the position, you get batched in with the masses into a database where you will only get returned based on search criteria.

Networking. Are you you really working the people connections? That's still really how you're going to get a job.

As everyone else said, expect about 6 months. Typically you get a 5% hit rate on the resumes you send out. If you want post a copy of your resume up with all the personal information edited out. It can't hurt to have other people looking at it.

Another thing, have you considered looking for a job in Japan, or one that requires travel to Japan? Would you relocate in the US for a good job?

[LaiSteve66]

It's stories like these that make me glad I got a job six months before I graduated.

[popculturepooka]

there's obviously a bias against japanese. it's a trap!

[thaite]

plus the job market is flooded with new graduates right now.

[buttermilkwise]

I guess it depends on your major and especially connections, though if like me you recently graduated with a Computer Science major and not thinking about programming, it's like being stuck up shit creek with out a paddly.

[AngryABCGirl]

I have the impression a lot of jobs that you don't really need a college degree that are somewhat professional, such as administrative jobs, retail, lower-end entry level jobs, are wary of hiring someone with a too high education because they assume you'll leave as soon as you find something better. For those, it costs a lot more to hire a college graduate.

[unemployable]

How are you searching and applying? Are you checking local adverts and submitting paper resume and cover letter or submitting online only?

What are you searching for? What job titles and qualifications do these jobs require? There aren't too many jobs that require a degree in Japanese so I imagine there's related positions you're looking at.

Who are you submitting applications to? Larger or smaller organizations? Larger companies might be harder to get into, or at least get a response from. Unless you network and find a way to get your resume forwarded directly to the person who will be hiring for the position, you get batched in with the masses into a database where you will only get returned based on search criteria.

Networking. Are you you really working the people connections? That's still really how you're going to get a job.

As everyone else said, expect about 6 months. Typically you get a 5% hit rate on the resumes you send out. If you want post a copy of your resume up with all the personal information edited out. It can't hurt to have other people looking at it.

Another thing, have you considered looking for a job in Japan, or one that requires travel to Japan? Would you relocate in the US for a good job?

I'm doing all my applying online. I'm not looking through the papers. I'm going to the company websites and also applying through vault.com.

I'm primarily searching for computer/video game jobs. I'd love to go to Japan. I applied through vault.com for a position as a game tester in Japan, but never heard back from them.

I want to get a job fixing and repairing PCs. I already tried at Best Buy but haven't heard anything. I'm going to take the exams to get A+ certified.

I'm also interested in the video game industry (it makes more than Hollywood these days you know, but I'm not in it for the money). I've got an interview next week for the job I had before I left for college, which was online video game tester. I don't really have to interview, but I want to see if there's anything else I can do in the video game industry besides test games since I've got my B.A. now.

I'm talking to some former co-workers about getting back in with the company I was in before. Does that count as working the people connections? It kind of sounds like "cheating."

[LaiSteve66]

It kind of sounds like "cheating."

It's not "cheating", use any advantage you have.

[cloudzero]

I'm doing all my applying online. I'm not looking through the papers. I'm going to the company websites and also applying through vault.com.

I'm primarily searching for computer/video game jobs. I'd love to go to Japan. I applied through vault.com for a position as a game tester in Japan, but never heard back from them.

I want to get a job fixing and repairing PCs. I already tried at Best Buy but haven't heard anything. I'm going to take the exams to get A+ certified.

I'm also interested in the video game industry (it makes more than Hollywood these days you know, but I'm not in it for the money). I've got an interview next week for the job I had before I left for college, which was online video game tester. I don't really have to interview, but I want to see if there's anything else I can do in the video game industry besides test games since I've got my B.A. now.

I'm talking to some former co-workers about getting back in with the company I was in before. Does that count as working the people connections? It kind of sounds like "cheating."

Consider this:

Online applications systems get flooded because it is easily accessible and is open to more users. I don't think any of you applications are even being looked at.

Video game testing is a crazed career. You could imagine how many people have the fantasy of doing something like that and being paid for it. Too many people are pursuing this and it is probably affecting your chances.

[epmd]

yeah i've noticed that actually sendint out hard copy resumes/applications get more results

[CARDINAL009]

>yeah i've noticed that actually sendint out hard copy resumes/ applications get more results

That works quite well.

###
Network is a good strategic option. In life, one has to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

The best strategic advantage is when noone can see it. It must be formless, flexible and variable.

[kasia]

maybe your undergrad degree isn't really related to what you want to do - so you have to sell yourself more.

[Craig]

Maybe because you don't know why it would be inappropriate to give a 2003 calendar of nude Asian women to a 40 year white male for his birthday in April of 2008 ? Also, you haven't learned to put up with enough bullshit (being disrespected, whatever) yet, ... Yes, that's a huge part of working.

[tommyhtown]

You have been updating your resume, right? I hope you don't use the 2003 version.

[Paradox]

I'm doing all my applying online. I'm not looking through the papers. I'm going to the company websites and also applying through vault.com.

I'm primarily searching for computer/video game jobs. I'd love to go to Japan. I applied through vault.com for a position as a game tester in Japan, but never heard back from them.

Here's a tip. Start sending in hard copies of your resume and directly calling and visiting places that you want to work for. Online job hunting just doesn't work anymore. Too many applicants shotgun their resumes.

I'm talking to some former co-workers about getting back in with the company I was in before. Does that count as working the people connections? It kind of sounds like "cheating."
There's no such thing as "cheating" if it gets you ahead.