Currently, the competition for job seekers on Careerist.ru is quite low - On average there are 3 vacancies per resume, which is two times less than the average Russian market labor. But " average temperature by Chamber” does not reflect the real picture - competition, for example, in jurisprudence can reach 10-15 candidates per position, while blue-collar professions may experience a shortage or the competition will not exceed one and a half resumes per vacancy. It is believed that the level of competition in employment is the main measure of the duration of the search for a new job. But there are other, subjective factors, starting with age and ending with the position for which the candidate is applying.

Ordinary specialists must find work within 2-4 months after leaving their previous job, but picky tops can look for a new position for a whole year. At the same time, narrow specialists, such as in-demand IT specialists, can look for a new job for one week - they are in maximum demand on the labor market, and therefore do not suffer from a lack of attention from recruiters. But what to do when the job search period drags on to the point of “indecent”? Perhaps we should be flexible, step up our efforts, or find alternatives?

What slows down search?

The hiring situation has changed significantly since 2014 – selection today has become much more stringent, critical and thorough. Employers are not limited to just one interview - candidates for more or less decent positions are selected in almost several stages, using all professional assessment tools and thereby minimizing the possibility of error. This, of course, is reflected in the duration of the job search - according to Rosstat, at the end of 2016, about a third were unemployed, and this is ! If you are one of them, or the job search period has already exceeded six months, it’s probably time to think - something is clearly not going as it should.

Of course, these figures are difficult to justify solely by the behavior of employers - there have always been enough people who are in no hurry to find a job after being fired, and the number of jobs leaves much to be desired. But at the same time, there are also a lot of applicants, for example, with high expectations, when the desired salary clearly does not correspond to competencies or qualifications.

There is a stereotype that older candidates cannot find a job due to low qualifications; they say that good designers, doctors or builders find a place no matter how old they are. Nevertheless, knowing the situation on the labor market, remembering and taking into account economic instability, one should not say so unequivocally - there are many job seekers senior group experience difficulties finding employment due to reasons beyond their control. But you shouldn’t give up; personal activity is the tool that will help you overcome all problems.

Even more effort

So, if the period of active job search exceeds six months, it’s time to change something. Remember, looking for a job is also work: as in any other business, the result is directly proportional to the efforts made. Therefore, you should not call wasted time “ active searches”, if this activity itself was limited to the publication of a resume and two updates of its publication date within six months. Regularly sending out resumes to found employers is the first, but not the only step that should be taken as part of the search.

So, if the efforts made do not bring results, most “specialists” will advise you to reconsider your requirements, change your activity profile, find yourself in related professions or industries, etc. This is certainly correct, but we will move away from the usual patterns and advise you to make even more efforts:

By the way, summary...

Probably worth making some changes

Recruiting specialists vying with each other to say that if you have been unemployed for a long time, then you probably have too high demands. Well, or you just don’t know how to sell yourself as a good, intelligent specialist. For now, let’s put aside less attractive offers and focus on self-presentation skills. The main tool here, of course, is the resume. It requires careful and regular updating, especially if you have new information for it, such as a completed training or webinar. Approach its completion with special care; every carelessly filled out item is a lost opportunity. Here are some more tips to follow:

• Refuse to send a standard resume - rewrite it before sending it to each employer so that the document meets the stated requirements as much as possible. It is not necessary to rewrite it completely - just add “ keywords» from the vacancy, so as not to be among those “filtered out”.
• Focus on actual experience in your resume and describe specific results you've achieved. Remember that you will obviously be asked this question during the interview, so it is better to prepare in advance.
• Provide arguments in your favor that confirm the results achieved. Let these be numbers of key performance indicators, data from annual reports, links to your own portfolio - anything as long as it confirms the effectiveness of your work.
• Study the resumes of your competitors: determine why they seem more attractive to you, what advantages you have over them and make appropriate changes.
• Never write your desired salary on your resume, or even mention it before meeting directly with a recruiter or interviewer - first, the benefits that the employer will receive thanks to you, and then you can talk about your value as a specialist. The recruiter will always be ready to discuss the issue of allocating an increased salary if the specialist interests him with his competencies.

Of course, do not forget about literacy - a banal typo, unnoticed during the process of writing a resume, can become fatal mistake in search of your dream job.

Perhaps you should change your profile?

As we have already said, looking for a job is also a job, or at least a temporary project, within the framework of which it is advisable to conduct a full audit of your own knowledge, experience and competencies. But it also happens that even a perfect resume, impeccable reputation, impressive experience and readiness for an interview are not enough - the market intervenes. IN modern conditions, When the labor market is still an employer market, competition among applicants remains too high. As a result, a younger, more attractive candidate becomes the new employee, while fifteen other applicants with identical competencies remain out of work. If this situation continues over the past few months, you should probably consider changing your profile or at least industry.

Following the path of least resistance, think about related industries: for example, journalists often go into PR or marketing, IT specialists, tired of “coding”, start selling software, and the teachers foreign languages become translators. There can be a lot of examples of this, and a springboard for professional maneuvers can be found in almost any specialty. The main thing is to find these paths and determine the availability of career prospects.

It’s a different question if your profession is gerontologist, tittester, or, say, glass blower. Here you already need to think about retraining. And the first thing you need to think about is education. Perhaps these will be hairdressing courses, webinars on programming, or a practical seminar on web design. It is possible that in order to fully master a new (and most importantly, in demand on the market) profession, you will want to get higher education, but it all starts small. Choosing new profession, try to pay attention to the massive specializations that are actively developing in the market, otherwise such a professional maneuver will not make any sense.

Happiness does not come from money - a phrase that is relevant only for those who do not have financial problems. Much more often you can hear the no less famous continuation - “and in their quantity.” Without the opportunity to go to work and receive the money necessary to ensure at least an average level of quality of life, a person is not able to fulfill even his most modest needs. Often this ends in prolonged depression and loss of hope that the situation will change.

What to do if you can’t find a job for a long time?

Most likely, you have already sent a whole bunch of resumes, gone to interviews, managed to be disappointed in yourself and panic. Now it's time to calm down and think things through.

The first thing to do is rest. Give your brain and nervous system recover from a marathon of sending letters and monitoring employer proposals. If you take a break for a few days, it will be easier to think through and make a plan for the future.

If you long time If you can’t find a job, try to analyze the reasons. If there is a demand in the market for specialists in your profession, perhaps you do not have enough experience or qualifications for the employer to choose in your favor. In order not to waste time, develop yourself - read more, sign up for advanced training courses, communicate on professional forums (perhaps this is where you can find a new job).

Tell your friends that you are looking for a job and what exactly you can do. If they know someone in your field, ask them to inquire about job openings.

Breaks from work provide an opportunity to re-evaluate own life. Do you like what you do? If you have long had a desire to change your field of activity, become a specialist in another field, or learn something new, now is the time to do it. Losing your job can be a good impetus to start your own business.

Why can't I find a job?

Often, applicants' problems begin at the stage of writing a resume. Considering that there are always more people wanting to get a job than there are vacancies, you need to make sure that the employer notices you. Compose your resume as completely as possible, revealing all your skills and talents not only in the requested field, but also in nearby ones.

Study what requirements employers have for specialists in your field, and be sure to include them in the application form. A small cover letter will help you stand out, showing that you are not sending letters to every company, but that you have carefully read the specific vacancy and have an idea of ​​what issues you will face, as well as how to resolve them.

Even if you have not received an answer, remind yourself, ask about the fate of your letter. You should do the same after the interview - alternatively, you can find out the reason for the refusal, which will help you avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Send your resume not only to companies you find on websites or in the newspaper - explore the Internet to find companies where you would like to work, and contact them, even if there are no open positions this moment They dont have. If your resume is of interest, you will definitely be contacted either immediately or when the need for a specialist arises.

If the vacancy announcement contains a contact number, before sending your resume, talk to a company representative by phone, tell us about yourself and ask about the opportunity to come for an interview.

Another problem that job seekers face is inadequate assessment of their own skills. Perhaps you rate yourself too low and are afraid to send your resume to companies that are able to offer a job that matches your level of knowledge, or you want to get a position for which there is clearly not enough experience - in this case you will have to moderate your ambitions.

A similar mistake when looking for a job is the unwillingness to make compromises: if you are looking for a high-paying job close to home, and even with a free schedule, the search may take a long time. You should not demand that the employer initially provide you with any benefits - no one knows how well you will cope with your responsibilities, so it is inappropriate to expect that management will initially make concessions.

It is believed that it is easier to find a job in the summer - managers want to go on vacation and try to fill “last minute” vacancies as quickly as possible, and job seekers, if they have the opportunity to relax, leisurely wait for the fall. Therefore, during this period it is better to become more active and invest maximum effort in the search.

The most important thing to remember is that sooner or later there is a job for everyone. There is no need to be afraid to look for your place in the sun; it is better to be patient and confidently move towards the desired result.

Arina, Moscow

Every resident of the capital has at least once asked the question: “Why can’t I find a job in Moscow, what is the reason?” Of course, we can talk about high competition, but, believe me, residents of other cities face a similar problem, and they do not always go in search of a new way to earn money of their own accord: a banal reduction in staff can also be to blame. And just yesterday you had a permanent job, and today you are unemployed.

Effective Search Methodology

• First of all, realize that looking for a job is also a job, and therefore it is necessary to review vacancies and send out resumes systematically. Dedicate at least two hours a day to this.
• If you are looking for a job in your specialty, indicate only relevant experience: your list should include no more than four companies, the period of cooperation with each should be at least a year (otherwise it is not worth mentioning).
• Respond to any incoming offers, especially when you have no experience and are looking for your first job.
• When you are invited to an interview, be sure to agree. The description of job responsibilities on the Internet and the real offer from the company are sometimes strikingly different from each other.
• Before meeting with an employer, be sure to study the company’s website, read reviews, look for articles and mentions in business news. This way you will be better prepared for the conversation and will have an idea of ​​what the prospects are career growth you may be expected.
• Present yourself with dignity: a neat business suit, straight posture, a friendly smile, competent Russian and a clear understanding of exactly how you can be useful to the employer. Often, this is enough for the choice to be made in your favor.
• Send your resume to the companies you would like to work for, even if they have no vacancies. Write a cover letter, call the HR department and ask to keep you in mind. Sometimes it happens that a key employee suddenly quits, there is no time to find anyone to replace him, and then your application form accidentally falls into the hands of the HR manager.
• Accept the fact that there are no perfect options. Perhaps the reason why you already for a long time looking for suitable job, lies in exorbitant demands. Starting small and gradually moving forward and upward is a completely normal practice.
• Avoid stereotypes. Selling cosmetics is not always network marketing, clean women's team- not necessarily a source of problems and gossip, and becoming a radio presenter is not at all as difficult as it seems.
• At the same time, don't underestimate your capabilities. In the end, you need a job that you love and that you will enjoy going to every day. Perhaps after probationary period you will realize that you spend too much time on the road, your relationships with colleagues have not developed, and therefore you will not be able to perform your duties normally. In this case, feel free to terminate employment contract. Constantly being in a state of stress is fraught nervous disorders and prolonged depression.
• Find a part-time job on the Internet while you search for official employment, or even get a job as a remote specialist. This type of cooperation in last years It is actively practiced both in companies with small rented premises and in studios that conduct their business entirely online. As a result, you will be able to plan your work schedule yourself, which, you see, is a definite plus.

Backup options

Applicants who cannot find a job for a long time will be gladly accepted for positions such as:

• supermarket floor worker;
• waiter-cashier in the network fast food;
• leaflet distributor (promoter);
• handyman;
• Realtor Trainee;
• sales or customer service manager (often, a “well-spoken tongue” is enough for such work).

Please note that hair and eyelash extension specialists are now in demand. Training in express courses lasts only 1 day, and at the end you will receive a new profession.

Another popular option is to master the basic skills of doing a manicure or arranging bouquets in a couple of weeks. And you can get money for training at. For example, the amount of the initial loan at the MFO “Honest Word” is up to 10,000 rubles (including for the unemployed). If the application is approved, the money will be transferred to your card on the same day. A microloan can be issued for a period of up to 20 days. During this time, you will gain new knowledge, find your first clients (as a rule, organizers of professional courses try to employ their students and immediately give them the opportunity to earn money) and repay the loan on time.

The main reasons that prevent you from finding a job

The article is written based on personal experience for personnel selection and employment assistance. The main mistakes made when searching for a job are analyzed. Specific recommendations for eliminating them are given, there are answers to the question “I can’t find a job, what should I do?”...

You consider yourself an experienced worker and qualified specialist. But for some reason it takes you a long time to find Good work. Sending out resumes does not bring results, you are not invited to interviews or they do not call you back after passing the interview, and there are practically no vacancies that meet your requirements. Is it really? Why can't you find the job you need?

First of all, it’s probably worth thinking about: “Am I doing everything right? Are my ambitions too high, or vice versa - perhaps I underestimate my abilities? Am I active enough in my job search? What mistakes am I making? Surely, after analyzing the situation objectively, you will understand your mistakes and correct them.

The reasons why you cannot find a job may be the following:

You are fixated only on a certain position, salary level, schedule and benefits
If you are unable to make any concessions, you may be bitterly disappointed. No one knows what kind of employee you really are; you have not yet brought any profit to the company. For an employer, any new employee is a “pig in a poke.” So think about it - perhaps new job It’s worth starting with a lower salary and not the most prestigious position. If you good specialist, then you will probably soon be adequately appreciated. Yes, lowering yourself to a level of qualifications and salary that is absolutely unacceptable for you and grasping at any offer is only a last resort (as a temporary measure until you find a suitable job), but excessive ambitions and inflated demands can also prevent you from getting what you want.

Do you have high or low self-esteem?
The employer, trying to assess the level of your knowledge and experience in relation to an existing vacancy, sees a discrepancy between the qualities that the applicant should have and his real opportunities. If your self-esteem is inflated, and you have also embellished your resume with non-existent achievements, even if you manage to pass the interview and get the job, you will not cope with the assigned responsibilities and will soon be fired. If you have a good education, good experience, excellent reviews from your previous job, and you are applying for a low-paid position that does not require even a tenth of your skills, you will not be hired either. The reason is that your potential employer will assume that you are looking for a temporary job and, having found another that matches your abilities, will soon leave. Assess your capabilities realistically!

Incorrectly completed resume

• Your resume contains repeated formulaic phrases about your job responsibilities and achievements.
• The resume is chronologically confusing and does not provide constructive information.
• The resume contains grammatical and spelling errors.

No matter what position you apply for, such a resume is unlikely to be considered seriously and may be perceived as disrespect for the company.

You send out the same resume to diametrically opposite vacancies, while listing absolutely all the work experience you have gained
This is only true if this experience is fully relevant to the available vacancy. Otherwise, the main emphasis in the resume should be only on the experience and knowledge that correspond to the position for which you are applying. For example, if in your youth you worked as a waiter, and now you are looking for a job as a system administrator, then you do not need to mention this in your resume. Such information will be superfluous. That is, in your resume you should not indicate previous work experience that is absolutely useless for the required position.

When you send your resume to the vacancy you like, you neglect to write a cover letter
This is a very serious mistake. You must write that you would really like to work for this particular company for this vacancy, making sure to mention specific details that are of interest to the employer. Don't forget to write that you would appreciate an invitation to an interview. The HR officer needs to understand from your cover letter that you are not just sending out your resume en masse, but that you are actually interested in a specific position.

You send your resume and neglect the opportunity to call the ad
Yes, many companies advertise a vacancy, ask to send a resume and do not indicate their contacts. But, if the employer indicated his phone number in the advertisement, be sure to call and try to arrange an interview, clarifying, if necessary, the requirements for the vacancy. It is quite possible that you will be able to complete the initial interview over the phone. At the same time, you must be prepared to answer any questions from the interlocutor representing the employer. Try to express yourself in conversation with the best side.

If you pass the interview and they don’t call you back at the agreed time, you do nothing
Call and check the result yourself, without being too persistent. This way you won't be tormented by false hope. It is quite possible that they may tell you the reason why you were not hired, which will allow you to correct conclusion for the future. In any case, such a call will confirm your interest in the vacancy and, perhaps, push the employee who interviewed you to make a positive decision on your candidacy.

You do not have references from previous jobs
If you really were a good employee, were not fired for professional incompetence and left your previous job without scandals, ask your former boss for a letter of recommendation, which will indicate your real achievements and give positive assessment your work. It’s very good if the person who makes the recommendation allows you to provide to a potential employer your phone number in case you need verbal feedback or verification of the authenticity of the recommendation. If you have such letters of recommendation, send copies of them along with your resume to the vacancy and be sure to take them with you if you are invited to an interview.

You hide from your friends that you are looking for a job
Never neglect friendly help. Almost everyone has acquaintances, friends or relatives who, quite possibly, know about some vacancies and can help you find a job. Some companies willingly hire workers based on recommendations from their employees.

The most important thing in finding a job is to put aside your laziness, excessive ambitions and fear. In addition to applying for emerging vacancies, it is worth sending your resume to those companies where you would really like to work, even if they do not currently require new employees. In this case, if a vacancy appears, your candidacy may be one of the first to be considered. One of the most important stages of getting a long-awaited job is successful completion an interview for which you need to carefully prepare. During the interview, you should competently and confidently answer any questions regarding your experience, skills, and even hobbies. You must be able to convince the employer that you are the most suitable candidate for the available vacancy.

Well, if your profession is not in great demand, and the vacancy you are looking for is very rare and you have not been able to find a suitable job for a long time, once again objectively assess your knowledge, abilities, interests - perhaps you will be able to expand the boundaries of your search by trying yourself in other areas of activity. It's never too late to learn new things, and often a change of profession can be beneficial, allowing you to discover new talents.

Losing a job or being unable to find one quickly is a stressful factor for many people. What to do if a person cannot find a job and?

Depression due to lack of work can affect almost anyone. A person is weighed down by the burden of piled-up problems, the awareness of uselessness and loneliness. In this state, people often withdraw into seclusion, stop communicating, and develop an inferiority complex.

By oppressing oneself from within, a person loses the ability to communicate, creatively solve problems, etc. But these and some other qualities of an employee are primarily important for employers. As a result, it becomes impossible to find the desired job, which further depresses the potential employee.

A depressive state due to lack of work does not need to be triggered; it is fraught with the danger of losing the meaning of life, goals, guidelines and plans for the future.

A person who is acutely depressed due to lack of work is close to thoughts of ending his life; he loses the willpower to find permanent employment. In this case, the best solution would be to help understand a person’s internal problems and contribute to the resumption of social contacts and job search.

Psychologists and psychotherapists sometimes hear the question: “What should I do if I can’t find a job, I’m already starting to feel depressed?” This is a truly complex condition that requires the help of a specialist. But there are various internal reasons that make it difficult for a person to find a job.

If we analyze these reasons, we can see that any condition is not favorable for the psychological state of a person. Being in constant anxiety, apathy, fear, without seeking help from a specialist, a person exposes himself to big problems.

It must be remembered that there is also a natural predisposition to strong feelings stressful situations. will suffer for a long time due to lack of employment, so they are prone to longer and more intense apathy and depression. People who are responsible for others (children, parents, wife or husband, disabled people) are also susceptible to this condition. In the event of a long absence of work, and therefore of finances, they will observe signs of depression.

There is a concept of “dissertation depression” - it also occurs for the specified reason, when a person has long strived for a scientific degree, devoted half of his adult life to research, defended his work and lost his main goal. If he cannot cope with this problem on his own, he needs to contact a specialist.

Symptoms of depression in unemployed people

Depression about any stressful situation manifests itself similar symptoms. This condition, caused by lack of work, may be accompanied by:

Treatment

This condition can often be overcome by resorting to. By the way, sometimes people close to us (relatives, friends) give good advice, the implementation of which helps to quickly find a job.

Sometimes the symptoms of depression are so strong that they begin to have a bad effect on a person’s physical condition and lead to his isolation from society. In this case, a consultation with a psychotherapist or psychiatrist is necessary to provide assistance. Along with this, it is important to continue psychotherapeutic assistance to restore a person’s personal structures.

Psychotherapeutic assistance

Depression due to lack of work is psychogenic in nature, that is, it is based on external circumstances. The main assistance in this case is psychotherapeutic, which can be provided by an experienced psychologist or. A person defines this state when he realizes that something is wrong with him as before. If something made him happy, it stopped bringing him joy; before, he enjoyed delicious food, but now it brings him nothing but temporary satiation, and so on. When this awareness appears, then you need to contact a psychologist.

Psychocorrectional work is aimed at overcoming any fear. In the context of such a state, this may be overcoming the fear of interviews (increasing the sense of self-confidence), fear of changing your usual life, fear of not being in demand, and others. In this case, different psychological directions are used.

Gestalt therapy

This approach is based on the fact that the human psyche perceives everything holistically. Depression due to absence labor activity(hopelessness, fear of interviews) is considered from the point of view of an unfinished action. The psychologist offers to play out a specific situation related to being fired or hired, and guides the person on what happens to his feelings at each stage of the playback.

Psychoanalysis

An analysis of internal desires, aspirations and interests takes place. Along with this, the psychotherapist helps a person understand the reason for failures in finding a job. During the consultation process, in order to achieve a therapeutic effect, a person must have an insight - an insight, that is, he, with the help of a psychoanalyst, discovers for himself the causes of fears and failures, and also determines ways to solve the problem.

Cognitive psychology

During the consultation process, the psychologist identifies internal attitudes that prevent a person from finding a job, accepting himself, developing skills and self-confidence. When a client receives information about himself (for example, he was not hired after an interview), he may perceive it incorrectly, and destructive, irrational beliefs arise.

The task of a psychologist working in this direction is to teach the client to solve the problem constructively. With the help of specific exercises a person learns to think realistically. The most famous technique is to describe the problem, for example: “I can’t find a job because...” A person describes the reasons, what scares him about them, then learns to work with the given facts, acquiring the skills to refute negative ideas. Thus, the symptoms of depression go away.

Stages of getting out of depression

During the consultation process, a psychologist can use, combine techniques and exercises. But dealing with depressive symptoms is not always necessary. The task of the psychologist is to understand what reason led to such a reaction in the human psyche. Sometimes the reason is not at all the fear of going to an interview or despair of how to feed the family. It happens that a person cannot find a job because he initially chose the wrong profession, and thinks that there is no need to change anything. There are several recommendations for stages of getting out of a depressive state.

• view information about vacancies on the Internet, newspapers, and other advertisements;
• think over and draw up a resume, not forgetting to describe yourself from the best side, acquired skills, knowledge of languages ​​and work experience; if you don’t have any, you can write about your achievements during your studies;
• call the numbers indicated in the information about vacancies, if possible, arrange a meeting;
• try to look for a job in an employment service or a serious recruitment agency;
• go to an interview with a neat guy appearance, women should dress better office clothes(light blouse, dark skirt), pick up hair, do natural makeup; men should also look neat and wear ironed, clean, classic clothes.

It is important to take small steps towards your goal. You also need to remember that mountains of gold do not come immediately. The fear of a low-paying, low-prestige job can overshadow all small steps towards the goal, and as a result, a person will never start looking for work. You need to take advantage of the slightest opportunity if the goal is to get paid. If the main goal is self-realization, and finances come second, it is important to look for a job for the soul, even if you have to change your specialty.

If you are depressed about the lack of a permanent place of work, it is important not to give up, but to try to take advantage of the slightest opportunity to get a job. If all attempts are unsuccessful, you need to contact a psychologist or psychotherapist in time for qualified advice and help.