I’ve been with a few recruiting agencies. They mostly put forward my resume to bolster numbers and I now I don’t trust them nor will work with them anymore after being burned by them.
Everything from corporate, retail, hospitality. They go on about a worker shortage but it’s lies. They just don’t want to hire people - particularly the unvaccinated.
Covid and lockdowns.
I come from a Comms/marketing background. I am mostly applying for corporate Comms roles.
Really? And you don't understand the purpose of a cover letter?
I hire Comms/Marketing resources for my projects and if you told me in an interview that you can't see the value of a cover letter for a job application, I would honestly rule you out straightaway.
so I’m not sure how the gap in resume is looking for employers?
A year off isn't a no-go. Lots of people return from maternity leave or have a break year. But, after a year, it will become more and more difficult.
Majority of companies dont really care for cover letters these days as long as your resume is good.
@rover100: Last position I recruited for, we had 264 applications.
My first step in culling the numbers - did this person write a cover letter, addressing the points raised in our ad, or did they just click "Apply" in Seek? The former went to stage 2 of the cull (82 applications), the latter didn't even get looked at.
If you can't take the time to explain to me why you should get the job in your first interaction with me then you are not going to excel in my organisation, thank you for telling me that upfront.
the latter didn't even get looked at.
Knowing this, I always let the recruiters 'sell' me and it's worked out well. But it does cost the hiring company extra money since they then have to pay the recruiter.
I've only ever written one cover letter in 20 years and that was when I was seeking to change my role type.
@rover100: You're right about it not being a 'requirement' as such. I hate them myself and I've only ever written one.
But there's times where it is valuable. If OP can't see why it's important and thinks it's just a rehash of his CV, then it makes me wonder what kind of Comms/Marketing experience he's had. He could easily use the cover letter to demonstrate his writing ability and 'sell' himself - like they aim to do in marketing.
@bobbified: Since we don't know OP personally.
but a general anecdotal observation in corporate marketing, the caliber people in those roles are like chalk and cheese.
@SF3: Yeh, I agree - for roles like marketing, there's often no "right" or "wrong" solution upfront, so (to me anyway), there is often a whole lot of fluffiness in the work and it comes down to different opinions. I think that draws in a whole range of different personalities.
But, as different as they are, you would still expect that they all understand the basic principles behind what they're doing, right?
I may be out of the loop, but what comms/marketing jobs require you to be vaccinated?
The ones that work in a corporate office environment. All corporate roles require it.
@bobbified: Which ones, and which State? Victoria did have some pretty savage vaccine reqs, but most expired in June of this year.
Its probably due to a gap in your resume.
A lot of HR people hate it for some reason. I don't know why, but they assume your literally a leper or something and obviously never employable again.
Its extremely stupid, but thats the way it is.
Its even worse if your self employed - then you obviously can't take any instruction from management ever again…
Im not going to say lie… but….. work out a script that minimises it.
Even if you do charity work as a coms person and work part time, and put out some PR releases.
Anything to make it looks like you didn't have a gap.
Check out: https://www.youtube.com/c/JoshuaFluke1
If your in a relatively big city, look at becoming a property manager. Sure the pay suxs and its a shitty job, but you are probably looking at around $70k.
What are the industries where you have worked and what is the broad category of roles that you are applying for?
You're from corporate comms background but you don't know what a cover letter is for?
Have you updated your LinkedIn recently? If not, maybe look at some standout examples of people at the top of your industry and see if you can highlight your skills and experience in a similar way.
Recruitment businesses can use LinkedIn to check their candidates network too. If you have posted anything that isn't vanilla on LinkedIn or elsewhere and you're looking at working for large businesses or government, it might be worth removing them (though fully your choice, just life with social norms and PC culture).
Lastly, a lot of large corporates won't accept resumes from recruitment businesses. You may have better luck applying directly to those companies for roles. If there are particular businesses you'd like to work for, you could give them a call and ask to speak to their HR team and take ownership of the process. It's a good measure to demonstrate you're willing to put in the effort and have courage directly with the people you could be working with, particularly noting your professional field.
Best of luck in finding something, and don't be afraid to look outside of your comfort zone in Comms/Marketing, as there are huge skills shortages in hospitality and trades around the country.
It is looking like an awful lot of time to schedule a vaccination.
how many years experience do you have? I'm in the digital marketing field, right now only digital marketers are in demand, old school marketing is dead. maybe upskill
I have found it more taxing to hire the wrong person than anyone simply to fill a spot.
There's so much detail missing from your post to assist as simply 'applying' in a 'worker shortage' in no way is a guarantee that you'll get a job. Eg. For all we know, you could be asking $80/hour for a job that only pays $25/hour.
I'd say review yourself and see what you can reflect/improve on.
John i promise you, as long as you seem like you are keen to work, if you dress nice, and go into a hospitality venue in person, and ask them for a job as a kitchen hand or a dishy and just tell them you are keen and will come in for a free trial that night, you will have a job by tomorrow night, i am unvaccinated and i can get a job anywhere, in hospitality, if you show that you are keen, and give off vibes of being reliable and will always give your best, you will get a job almost instantly, if you don't, then there must be something that is holding people back from giving you a chance and deep down you know what that thing is and you need to work on it, but in general, you could get a job in hospitality literally tomorrow, there is no lies about the shortage, but the shortage is from people with a good work ethic, if you have that, or at least can fake it till you develop a good work ethic, you will do fine
This. I worry John is too focus on being unvaccinated the only reason he didn't get the job
Maybe you should. If I was reviewing two similar candidates with the only difference being vax status, I'm more likely to picked the vaccinated one. Less likely to take sick leave from covid, faster recovery and more likely to be a team player.
@Caped Baldy: You make a great point about the vaccinated proving to be team players. There is a clear distinction between the people that have refused to get the jab because of personal freedoms and those that got it because it was for the greater good.
@ChaseAus: Stats indicate you still contract and transmit at the same rate when jabbed; what greater good?
@Caped Baldy: It's not even the same rate. It's actually increased spread when vaccinated.
https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/are-covid-vaccines-the-su…
Leaky vaccines tend to do this, which was known yet ignored.
@[Deactivated]: Oh dear.. Where do I start?
Maybe don't take your advice from someone who can't for the life of them write with a capital letter.. Ever!
Statements like:
"new variants make the effect pronounced and it expresses most highly in those most dependent on antibodies because their generalized immune systems are weaker."
Are just wrong. Also, the writer shows their profound ignorance of biology when talking about "generalized immune system". That is not the correct term for the innate immune system, but I wouldn't expect the writer to have ever heard that term anyway - who needs to know how the body works when you can write bs on the Internet anyway?
Finally, the writer writes like they are a stock trader, writing "strong signal" all over the place as if the data were of a stock on wall street.
..and don't get me started on the "data is." statements. Data is a plural you twat.
Read a real study. Or better yet, ready MANY real studies and then learn how to do a systematic review on them.
@Justtip: I love the pedantic nitpicking on english errors, attacks at his intelligence and attacks on his job. You failed to attack the data he presents, which is all sourced via hyperlink for your convenience. Very typical response from someone when they cannot attack the argument, they attack the person. The lowest form of response.
@[Deactivated]: The irony of your response is just chef's kiss.
Well, you see, the piece and the writer are inextricably linked. I started with those points because they were the most glaringly obvious, and impossible to ignore elements of the writing that clearly demonstrated the writer had absolutely no grasp of scientific understanding or technique.
But since you asked so politely, allow me
to make my points clearer:
- the writer uses incorrect terms to generate nonsensical hypotheses and presents them as fact. The data cannot support these hypotheses because there is no such thing as the generalised immune system. Therefore the conclusion drawn is incorrect.
- the data do not demonstrate any form of causation and, despite mentioning many confounders, the writer fails to account for any of them and makes no attempt to do so.
- at BEST the writer is trying to establish an association. But fails to do so because the writer doesn't use statistics correctly, and again, fails to account for confounders.
- there is no mention of bias or conflicts of interest at all, and therefore the entire piece is worthless and cannot be trusted.
I've read the opinion piece you linked. It's not a study. It's tantamount to saying ice cream sales lead to more shark attacks. Here's a link to read about that: https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/01/dr-data-ice-cream-linked-s…
I think it's only fair that you read that and comment back here about your thoughts.
And then you can tell me your thoughts on my points, and how the writer of your piece could improve.
Cheers
Exactly. I work at Hungry Jack's, and we're constantly hiring new ones, as other workers aren't sticking around, or they are just lazy careless workers, don't show up, call in sick weekly. All you have to do is be keen and a decent worker, and bam, you will have a job easily.
deep down you know what that thing is
Nicely said Dr Phil.
there must be something that is holding people back from giving you a chance
the shortage is from people with a good work ethic
^this might be the elephant.
Very easy now to get a job
Must be something not right with your cv
Or applied the wrong job.
Try casual, or part time if you cant get full time permanent
Or lack of interview skills
Yeah the agencies are bastards
If they think you are good they will call you. If they say call us in xxx days just forget about it. Remember we give them commission
There’s nothing wrong my CV. It has been green lighted by 3 different recruiters.
Nor it is the jobs I’m applying for.
mate you need to move away from recruiting agencies, especially in hospitality, potential employers respect someone who talks for themselves, not people who use a 3rd party, if you live near Newcastle, sign up to Newcastle Chef Jobs and you will get a job very quickly, good luck
I have no experience in hospitality. Recruiters are for corporate roles.
@John678: Oh ok that sucks. Maybe try going to a business that will help you with your resume and selection criteria and writing your cover letter, like you say maybe the recruitment agencies don't care and just want to show numbers of CVs sent. But actually there could be improvements to make. Vaccination shouldn't matter that much in corporate roles. A few companies might require it but it wouldn't be the majority I wouldn't think.
@John678: If you have a corporate background you should know that larger companies won't accept applications from recruiting companies.
The second issue you have is that in marketing, you're a dime a dozen. Have you thought about signing up to an IT TAFE course. They're free if you're unemployed right now.
@John678: recruiters are the leech's and bottom feeders for corporate roles. Most enterprises use them as a last resort, you want to go direct whereever possible.
@gromit: This. Have been called from recruiters to see if I am available for particular roles. They want me to produce a tailored resume by the end of the day (which I do) and attend an interview the next day (which I attend). It's all rush, rush, ultra important etc. After the interviews I hear nothing and have to chase them for feedback and to find out what's going on. So much urgency to get in front of a business but no follow up, maybe their KPIs focus more on submitting resumes rather than placing people.
@John678: No one has 'experience' when they start in hospitality. You start waiting or washing dishes. Literally every restaurant is crying out for workers, meanwhile you're crying foul for unemployed by THREE YEARS.
@John678: Yeah nah, recruiters are up there with REA for their practices. While yes some corporate jobs will only go via recruiters, there are plenty you can apply directly too. Go to their websites, look for their careers button. Do 10min of research and work that into your cover letter. Showing you cared enough to do some minor investigation on exactly what they do will go a long way.
I have been poached by a recruiter before, and it was worth it to me, but the only thing they care about at the end of the day is placing you in a position for as much salary as they can as its generally tied to their kickback as a percentage. But going forwards i will nearly always ignore jobs going via recruiters because they just plain suck to deal with.
Yes there is a shortage of chefs in Newcastle. :)
There IS something wrong with your CV, you have the evidence in the 300 failed job applications. Take your CV back, ask your mates for their CV's and use them to get your own ideas for yours. Then update your CV and apply for a role.
Oh and write a really catchy cover letter (I bet you your recruiter is not doing this), add some colour maybe, if it is delivered by PDF then do a short YouTube recording as a 2 minute intro to who you are, think different and you will stand out in a 100 CV pile of papers.
I was out of work for 8 months, I had planned to retire but then decided that work was fun, it took me 3 months with holes in my CV to get a very good job and I turned down 2 others offered at the same time - because it takes time to get up to speed. I did not use a recruiter I did it myself because I wanted to be noticed.
Do not outsource something so important, why would you not take control when you say you want a job?
And don't mention vaccination, why would you? unless you want to create a problem.
With the CVs I've received from recruiters, they tend to just copy and paste the parts they think are relevant for my viewing. They rarely provide the CV in original form I guess also because it prevents me from searching out the candidate and potentially interviewing/hiring them outside of the recruiter's process.
I have reviewed many CVs and the ones that stand out for me are the ones that take the time to respond to the selection criteria and provide some verbatim about themselves. The ones that come from recruiters tend to be minimal (as explained above).
While you think that having a recruiter is helping you, they are 'sales people' - constantly calling, constantly trying to push someone into work etc. They tend to leave a bad taste because they're trying to make the 'sale' (contract) not necessarily doing what's best for the employer or candidate.
As it were, my work has many employees that are not vaccinated, but they are limited in their movement (eg. only work from home is permitted).
As per my other post, focus on yourself or seek feedback from the interviews you have had as to why you didn't get the job. I suspect there's more to it than simply 'not vaccinated', but possibly easier to say that then state something that may be a fundamental issue to you.
Maybe get an interview coach or something, or have a trusted friend/family go through a mock interview with you.
I wouldn't take recruiter opinion as gospel. If I had a dollar for every junk CV I've received that the recruiters call "amazing" I could buy a lot of eneloops. These guys get thousands of CVs a week, they rarely read them in any detail unless it's for a top tier position.
Basic things such as spelling, grammar and formatting are really early gates. Get that wrong and it's straight in the bin.
Very easy now to get a job; Must be something not right with your cv
Look I was unemployed last month. I haven't been unemployed once in the 14 years prior to 2022 (when I first started working in 2007). But I was unemployed twice in 2022. This attitude is everywhere and totally unhelpful.
I think people look at averages and assume that applies everywhere. But that's not the case. Bad sh*t happens to good people.
Employers that claim to be experiencing worker shortage need to step up and make an offer - right here, right now - the thread is open.
You're right.
John I have some packages that need delivered. Just some white…flour…for cooking stuff. Deliver from A to B, easy job. Hit me up.
I'll wait for you at Point B.
I just laughed way more than I should have at that comment! :)
Employers: No one wants to work any more, too many government handouts
Workers: I’m keen, what’s the gig, how many hours and how much does it pay
Employers: it’s my small business, it’s 3 hrs a day, 5 days a week. Basically running it while you’re here.
Workers: right, whats the pay like?
Employers: we’re looking for someone who will share our passion. Demonstrate our values and care for our business like it is their own.
Workers: nice, whats the pay, is there profit share opportunities?
Employers: it pays $23/hr - but its really about finding the right fit. We’re like family.
Workers: lol, no
Employers: nO oNe wAnTs tO wOrK!?!!!?
lol
We’re like family.
That's when you tell them that working with family is a mistake.
We also need you to have 3 year experience for the intern position.
And we will never increase your wages above inflation or 3%, whichever is less - unless you get another job offer, and then we will expect you to share it with us, so we can match it at our discretion. And if we accept it we get to triple your work load, or give you bad shifts, because we are now paying you more - $24 an hour.
We might even promote you to "manager" which is the same pay ($25) but now you have to do the worker schedule and come in to the workplace if a worker does not show up for their $23 an hour job, as its your fault because your in charge of the shifts.
Employers that claim to be experiencing worker shortage need to step up and make an offer - right here, right now
walk into any ALH venue Australia wide - dress decently, bring resume, photo ID and proof of vaccination. Ask to speak with the manager on duty you will have a trial shift next week. we've added about 7 new hires in the last two months at my venue alone as existing staff are finishing university holidays.
bonus points if you have RSA / RSG or any gaming experience. these are not required we will train you into these type of roles if you show any interest. make sure you get a proper RSA accredited by your state government. we get a lot of kids who have paid to do worthless ones on the internet. https://www.vgccc.vic.gov.au/resources/education-and-trainin…
He is not vaccinated. Have you read the post?
@Yola: I wasn't replying to OP.
there's heaps of jobs out there. just like there are heaps of women. if you aren't going to do the bare minimum you'll likely struggle.
They just don’t want to hire people - particularly the unvaccinated.
OP, you already know what the biggest problem is with your lack of employment. I find it ironic that you've also glossed over what you're actually going to do about it.
You haven't even explained why you're unvaccinated in the first place.
Medical reasons? If so, fair enough and I know of people in that category.
Ideological reasons? Enjoy still being unemployed.
Unfortunately, viruses don't discriminate. Full stop.
People still care about covid. Because right now, we're all getting it. In 2022 no less.
Vaccination doesn't stop spread and that's been established for quite some time now. Is the concern really about OP spreading it by not being vaccinated? Efficacy declines after several months (over half after 6 months with Pfizer iirc), and I'm not aware of many places that require employees to get boosters either.
@OzBarAnon: Vaccination doesn't COMPLETELY stop spread, it just vastly reduces spread.
Vaccination reduces your chance of getting covid, and if you don't get it you can't pass it on.
Vaccination reduces viral load in the vast majority of people who do get covid, and lower viral load means you're less likely to pass it on.
Efficacy in preventing initial infection declines after six months, which is why most people are now eligible for a booster which brings your immunity back up, but regardless of whether you have boosted or not the effectiveness of vaccines to keep you out of ICU remains high.
@AngoraFish: Most people won't end up in the ICU if we're being serious here, vaccinated or not. As far as an employer/company is concerned, the spread is the biggest factor in requiring vaccination, and with the decline in efficacy (I'll profess to not having looked at efficacy data recently on >6mo periods, but I'm extrapolating from the aforementioned) OP realistically isn't putting other people in much more danger than someone who had their second shot 8 or so months ago. Unless companies start pushing boosters on everyone to maintain a certain efficacy threshold, it doesn't make sense to be okay with someone who had the shots ages ago and no longer has the protection but rejecting OP for not having been vaccinated at all. End of the day, present state is what matters.
@OzBarAnon: Don't understand the negs; also don't understand why the vaxers here are so feral about it - most vaxed I know regret it without reservation. Good, honest people, who were pressured to compromise their morals and succumb to coercion.
Vaccine economy (VaaS) is what it is.
@FittyFitty: Yeah idk. Vaccination supposedly reduces spread (despite initial marketing saying it stopped it outright), yet new case numbers since end of 2021 after high vaccination rate are higher than any time before. Even if you say "new variant goes around it" it's not like OP would be getting a new vaccine that stops the new variant, it's the same vaccine as everyone else, and look where we're at.
Its not personal choice, vaccines are for societies not just individuals.
You may not think so but smallpox and polio explain that you are wrong.
Well it's his personal choice to not partake in society ha ha
We are in for monkeypox in 2022
We'll maybe you are worried about that, but it only affects a certain demographic.
Monkeys?
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you mean the gay community? That connection has certainly been something the media have grabbed onto.
This article is worth a read and gives another perspective.
https://www.grid.news/story/science/2022/05/27/monkeypox-is-…
Yeah who cares about Covid. Definitely not the ~80 people who died from it in Australia yesterday…
Its not a personal choice if it affects everyone around them
Stop peddling this myth.
You have a personal choice to be unvaccinated.
Businesses have a personal choice to not hire people because they think that person is uneducated or will be a massive pain in the ass to work with as a result.
Tell that to the families of the 12,200 people that have died in Australia this year so far.
Getting vaccinated will make you more honorable, because it shows you care about society, others, and doing the right thing. Refusing to be vaccinated for no actual reason (ie medical) makes it look like there's something wrong with you mentally (ie believe in conspiracy theories), and/or have a "(profanity) you" attitude towards society and other people. If you ever discuss this in an interview it will be why you never get a call back. My advice, if you are really certain about not getting vaccinated (and the employer does not have a requirement for you as a potential employee to be vaccinated) is to say you have an immunodeficiency disorder or something (and only if they bring it up, otherwise avoid the subject), to avoid them thinking you are a tool. If they don't have any requirement then you shouldn't have to show any medical certificate or anything.
@John678: Edit your OP to include this, might help people give more accurate advice for your circumstance
@John678: Get a (profanity) job you dole bludger. Stop mooching off our tax money. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
Alternatively seek professional help for your delusions.
@John678: thats the problem, employers want men!
grown up and mature men!
be a proud man not a proud boy
@John678: Is this real and not some stupid joke?
You do realise that the values you want to align with, are racist and disgusting and I can see why you can't get a job.
I'd tell you to piss right off if you came into my business.
are you are nazi as well?
Your definition of honour doesn't seem to gel with the majority.
There is nothing honorable about being an anti-vaxer. If i was employing someone and they said they were an anti-vaxer i would not hire them. Of course it would be due to unconcious bias but they wouldn't get the job. It says alot about the person. But you do you.
Surely you must be sick of applying for jobs?
Loooool
Someone call the burns ward, stat!
"I was away on a year long sex tour in Asia".