After 25 years applying for jobs the frustration is real

By Jonathan Rivett July 30, 2021 â€" 12.01am

Question: I’ve been applying for jobs for 25 years and, after thousands of applications and visits to consultants to fix the CV and application letter, I feel I’m hitting my head against a brick wall. I apply for jobs within my range (not trying to push above my skills and experience, etc, even after going back to study for a diploma and a degree), but get nowhere.

Several years ago I found out about applicant tracking software, which went a long way to explaining to me why, over years and hundreds of applications, I get so few responses. When I do get responses, the result is pretty ordinary roles and poor treatment by employers. I don’t seem to have much choice but to plod on.

Do you have any advice on how to improve or overcome this utterly depressing scenario?

Illustration by John ShakespeareCredit:

Answer: I spoke with Professor Lucas Walsh from the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice about your question.

You might be asking, “I’ve been searching for 25 years â€" why would you ask an expert on youth employment about my situation?” Well, Professor Walsh has researched workplaces and workplace change, as well as education and the global workplace for many years. He’s also interviewed hundreds of prospective employees himself. While some of his work does apply only to younger people, many of his findings are highly applicable to people like you who are frustrated and wondering whether there’s a better way when it comes to job-seeking.

“I really sympathise with you,” Professor Walsh said. “You’re not alone. In recent decades the workforce has become increasingly competitive.”

As you might already know, we don’t publish specific details about any readers or their stories in this column, but Professor Walsh said he can offer some insights that apply no matter the industry or field you’re interested in.

The first comes from research conducted by the Foundation for Young Australians. They analysed 2.7 million job advertisements and concluded that job-seekers are better off concentrating on skills (and their relevance to employers) rather than, as Professor Walsh said, “thinking about a specific career trajectory”.

Professor Walsh says that this first point leads to the second.

“A buzzword of our times is ‘self-curation’. When I receive applications, many of the stronger ones are almost identical in terms of education, training and work experience. What then becomes important is how you distinguish yourself as an individual.

“Surprisingly, applicants often omit this. It can be something as simple as a favourite pastime to give a sense of your character. For example, a colleague was interviewing similar applicants when one mentioned they liked to do needlepoint in their spare time. This caught my colleague’s attention because the job required patience, attention to detail and fine motor skills suited to the position. It made the candidate stand out and they got the job.”

It’s classic “show don’t tell”. You can demonstrate your skills, which is so much more compelling than asserting: “I’m a patient person with strong attention to detail.”

Professor Walsh’s final piece of advice is to concentrate as much on what you know as how you do a job and how that’s presented in your CV.

“Despite the focus on skills and building a distinctive CV, deep knowledge remains important. Employers are often looking for someone with a depth of knowledge to understand their challenges and help devise solutions.

Share this post