Job Hunting.........The Old Days vs. Today

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
Since my wife will be laid-off sometime this year, it's back to "looking for a job" again. Reviewing/updating the old resume' and restoring the Job Search area of Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed and so on.

Have the times changed! Sure isn't like the "good old days" of looking for a job!
1. Checking out the Sunday newspaper employment ads that gave a phone number, or fax number or even an address to go to fill out an Application.
2. Getting lucky enough to be hired the same day as the interview.
Actually, had that happen to me a couple of times. One time, there were 5 people after me, waiting for their interviews. Guess the HR person and Warehouse Supervisor really liked me, I was hired right after my interview. The HR person came out into the lobby and told the 5 people "sorry, the opening has now closed, but if you want to leave your resume' and application, you can."
3. Going to the Unemployment Office, finding a job on their Job Board, filling out a small form w/job numbers, giving it to the clerk at the desk, he/she looks up the job on their computer. If the company wants to hire immediately, the clerk fills out an Intro for you and sends you to the company. Or, the clerk calls the company and sets up an interview time.

Then, the BIG thing.........if you are a Veteran, a Veteran's Rep would see you, review your qualifications, call the employer, give you an Intro forum and send you on your way to the company. I got a good Stockroom job with Bell & Howell that way!
This was when Veteran's had PRIORITY over others getting jobs.

Well, most, if not all, of this is now gone. It can take weeks-to-months to get a descent job today. And, if a person applies online, a company can/do ask certain questions that weren't asked before. And, if a person doesn't want to answer one or all of these questions, the company will not allow the person applying to continue with the online app.! I remember one online app asked about military experience, which I had, but there was a "drop-down" thing that said, Viet Nam, Desert Storm and one other. Well, if I click on "Viet Nam", the employer will know my age instantly! Oh boy, I see the "age discrimination" thing showing up.

Anyway, I guess most of you are darn glad that you don't have to look for a job today, right? Sure glad I don't have to anymore, but that could change later.

So, how do you feel about how "job hunting" is done today?
 

Job hunting today is unbelievably difficult, especially for those of us who are older. I found it hard back in 2003 and 2006 when I found myself unemployed. It's really gotten worse. My sister has been out of work 9 months and 3 months respectively in the past 2 years and is still looking for something. There is very much job discrimination and there's nothing you can do about it because there is absolutely NO way to prove it. It definitely is NOT fun and I don't envy anyone going through the process.
 

If a person has gone to college, high school can be/is skipped. On my resume', I put college, but because I didn't graduate, I don't put down dates. Heck, I called the college I attended and, because I didn't graduate, I was told there is nothing about me in their computers, but most likely would be in their files in their storage area. Anyway, there are things that can be left off of a resume' that has to be put online in a Job Search website resume' or on a companies website.

QuickSilver said:
They have always been able to figure your age... most ask for High School graduation date... BINGO!
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I totally have to agree! I remember when wife got laid-off in North Carolina, and went to State Job Office to file for Unemployment Insurance, she couldn't apply for any of the jobs they had there. Jobs there didn't pay $55k, like she was making and her resume' called for. Most jobs there are very low paying ones. When I got my job at Bell & Howell in 1982, , I was hourly and was making $5 per hour and was very happy with that.

LogicsHere said:
Job hunting today is unbelievably difficult, especially for those of us who are older. I found it hard back in 2003 and 2006 when I found myself unemployed. It's really gotten worse. My sister has been out of work 9 months and 3 months respectively in the past 2 years and is still looking for something. There is very much job discrimination and there's nothing you can do about it because there is absolutely NO way to prove it. It definitely is NOT fun and I don't envy anyone going through the process.
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Only thing is, filling out an app online, dates have to be put in or the website won't let the applicant continue filling out the app. On the resume', I've always been told that certain things, like jobs, have to have dates put on or a company will automatically can the resume'. It's sort of like "damned if you don't and damned if you do" type of thing.

pchrise said:
It has always been about current skills and not mention burger jobs unless you are going for that. Do not metion dates keep it recent and relavent to what you want. Not ten pages of everything you have done.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013...proven-tips-to-find-your-dream-job-this-year/ Also try Linkedin
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Old Day job hunting was different than today because there were fairly good paying jobs that did not require special skills, training or college.
 
My first job -- I was 16 and in the last year of high school and only had 1/2 day of school. I had asked my dad about getting a car and he said "Wanna car? Getta job." SO, I trotted down to the state employment office and told 'em I could type and take shorthand (I learned them in high school) -- they called up a savings & loan looking for a part time secretary, I went down there to interview and started work the next afternoon and worked there for several years, going to full time after I graduated. Those days ARE over. Nowdays, employers want a college degree for someone to answer phones and type, which IMHO is stupid.

Unfortunately, I know a number of people now who are very qualified in their field, with a lot of experience, who just can't find a decent job, and who are really trying to do so. I also know people who are way underemployed, because that's the only job they can find. Sad!
 
I dont know much about it. I was lucky and had lots of skills, but got into a pretty "odd ball" field. I was born and raised on the farm. Got a degree in Agriculture and just stumbled on to a part time job as a crop adjuster. Ended up being a claims supervisor for Multi-Peril Crop Insurance, and worked 30+ years at it. There are probably less than 3-4000 folks in the US doing this. Worked for a couple of companies, but never had to look for a job, they always came looking for me.

Personally I would not want to have to look for a job. It just seems like such a cut throat, ruthless world out there.

Best of luck, Gene
 
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The thought of having to look for a job just fills me with horror! My husband ran a business for 35 years and I managed some of the most basic book keeping (a job that I was remarkably unsuited for by the way as 'numbers' cause my eyes to glaze over as I 'run' to my safe place). How do you include that on a resume?
 
The last time I looked for a job was in1964 when I got out of the USAF. I got a job and retired from there in 2007. The plant closed in 2012. I guess they couldn't make it without me.
 
I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to go about looking for a job these days. I spent my last 20 years of working following the same boss from job to job. When she'd move on, she'd take me with her. Luckily, since she'd be President of this or Vice-President of that, she'd arrange for me to get the vacation, seniority, etc. that I had in the last place. I was "inherited" by her replacement at the last job, as I wasn't able to move on with her.

Thank goodness, I don't HAVE to go looking for a job. At least not yet......(knock on wood).
 

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