The employment scene today is more perplexing than ever, especially for those over 50. On the one hand, employers complain about being unable to hire. On the other hand, candidates complain about being unable to get hired.
Commentary in media—both social and traditional—offers explanations that may or may not be true. “I don’t know if’s that people don’t want to work anymore,” said the co-founder of Breeze Airways flippantly this week as he tried to explain his company’s difficulty hiring and retaining pilots. Comments like this are extremely frustrating for those who are earnestly searching for employment but failing to get traction.
Dan Price, founder of Gravity Payments and an advocate for fair pay, posted this tweet:
I keep hearing from people who say they’ve sent out 50 applications and can’t even get an interview. Maybe companies complaining no one wants to work should get rid of their algorithms requiring a degree and 10 years experience for entry-level jobs.
More than a thousand people replied to the tweet, most sharing their own frustrations in getting hired. Curious, I sifted through the replies and found some themes that ring true with what I’ve been hearing, too. Here are the most common types of reflections in the replies on the current hiring scene.
Employers are unreasonable in their expectations. This was probably the most common complaint, with colorful commentary on unreasonable experience qualifications paired with extremely low compensation. One screenshot showed a job ad with a Master’s degree required, but pay listed at $15.29/hour.
The hiring process is broken. Gone are the days of just one or two interviews. More common is an extremely prolonged process, often requiring homework, tests, and assessments. Most people in tech, I think, would concur.
Age makes a tough situation even tougher. Respondents from 40s and up say they removed old experience on their resumes and did better. Fresh-out-of-college folks also had trouble finding employment.
It’s a black hole. Applicants are frustrated with the lack of communication. Even after interviews, many report not receiving a rejection email. Some eventually heard back from companies—requesting an interview years later!
Humans aren’t reading resumes. One applicant said he was referred to a government job by a friend—and did get the job. Meanwhile, he had already applied via usajobs.gov for the same role, and was rejected by the ATS.
There are ups and downs over time. Some people reported having a very difficult time and eventually getting underemployed. But later their dream jobs came along.
The best way to get ahead is to remain with the same company and work your way up by proving yourself. Several people relayed their own experience working through the ranks by proving their worth. A corollary: Many reported the only way they found a job was through personal connections.
Employers are unwilling to train. This goes to the heart of over-requiring experience. Even entry-level employees when hired are not trained—and it shows if they’re customer-facing. Or so complained some.
Amidst the “Great Resignation,” it’s over-simplistic to believe it’s a breeze to find another position. The hiring environment is complicated right now! Recognizing the pitfalls, though, can prepare you for finding what’s next.