The Average Man: Looks for A Job

The Problem with Job Sites and Job Hunting in 2020

Before 2020 came around, I decided it was time to make a career change. I was unhappy, unchallenged and unappreciated at my current role. I did what every individual does, I turned to the internet for help. I started to scour google searches and was desperate to check the second page for information on how to find a new job, where to start and what I was qualified for.

Each link read, “Top [insert random number] Job Search Sites” or “How to find a new job with these [insert random number again steps”. Again, I did what any individual would do and began clicking only to realize these articles were all headline and no substance. They each said the same thing in a slightly different way, almost as if they were written by the same individual and posted to every blog and web page for hits. As I read through them, I quickly came to the realization – I need to start looking at the ‘Job Search’ Sites.

Before continuing, I will need to bore you with some details… an origin story.

I was always told to go to college and job would be waiting. I graduated college in 2008 with a major in English and a recession just starting. However, I received some good advice and worked with a temp-to-hire agency and found a job within a couple of months at a payroll company call center. Within 6 months, I was hired on and had a 6 year career until being laid off along with 750 people. I was only out of work for about 3 months before taking an entry level job, which I quickly regretted. Luckily, that was short lived as one of my colleagues from the previous employer reached out to offer me a position.

That was the second mistake of my career life. Although I worked through high school and college, those were not career driven jobs. I have no real experience in job hunting and no one to really discuss the process with, unless I want to pay someone. High school never prepared be for a job, they prepared me for college and college never prepared me for a career they prepared me for debt (which I am happy to report I know longer have). I never took the time to learn what it is I wanted out of a career and just took the job that paid the bills. Now I am here, sharing my thoughts and hoping to find other like minded individuals stuck in the hamster wheel.

Without further ado, here are some of the things I have learned about Job Sites and Job Hunting in 2020.

Déjà vu

Jobs sites all look the same, not in layout, but what they provide. Each is like a dating service, trying to convince you that their site helps place more individuals than their competitors. The problem is most companies post openings to multiple sites and resulted in duplicate and redundant searches. Even though I knew this, I would still search LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor and Indeed. The problem was, I did not want to miss out on any job that only posted to one of them.

The Third Party Party

Job sites are plagued by third party recruiters posting jobs, which redirect you to their website to sign up for, wait for it… Their own job search website. By the time you completed setup, it was too late they had your email and information to bombard you with their recent job finding emails. In some cases, I would see third party recruiters and the original business posting the same job on the same job search site. Overall, they seem to spam job search sites only complicating the process.

Formatting

The way job postings are written out. It seems that most of these search sites have a major flaw – Formatting. Employers can easily type up a job posting to be engaging and want the reader to apply, but just a little bit of formatting goes a long way. Looking through job posting should not be a game of ‘Where’s Waldo?’ trying to find Qualifications, Responsibilities and other important items. A layout requiring job posters to complete to keep a uniform look across the board goes a long way. If any job search companies want some advice, feel free to reach out to me.

Show me the Money?

Starting Salary missing from postings is always frustrating. I understand some companies do not want to post starting salaries for their own personal reasons, but as a job hunter it becomes important. I want to know if I am wasting the employer’s time as well as my own if the pay is not up to par with expectations. I have been on interviews where the job posting listed ‘competitive pay’ only to learn it was well below my comfort zone. Posting should require a starting pay and indicate if there is a ceiling or pay is negotiable from a starting point.

Recruiters

Recruiters, oh the Recruiters. I only experienced this on LinkedIn, but at first I did not mind it. Just seemed so easy, a recruiter sees your profile and then reaches out to you directly via LinkedIn mail or messenger. This took the stress out of looking for a job, initially. The idea is great, employers hunt for me and not the other way around. Unfortunately, it took a bit longer to pick up on this charade. Most of the individuals reaching out were a part of issue #2, third party recruiters. They message you, talk you up and praise your profile. You engage them and let them know you are interested in the role only to be ghosted.

Yes, I made a list but who doesn’t like a list. While looking for a new career path, these are just a few of the many things I have noticed why hunting. There are arguments to be made that finding a job today is much easier than it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago. I ask the question, is it?

Outside of recessions and depressions, what did it take to find a job prior to the internet? A newspaper, canvasing businesses on who had openings or just word of mouth. Initially, yes the internet made job hunting easier, but just as the internet does the job market listings have become so saturated it is easy to get lost on your search. The biggest difference is the competition, whereas before you were just competing with individuals within a reasonable distance. Now you are potentially competing for a job the entire world can see.

This is not all bleak and sky is falling cynicism, I anticipate I will eventually find a new career that makes me happy. I just wanted to share my frustrations with others who may be in the same boat.