I’m constantly searching for jobs 8 hours each weekday. And even with a degree like mine, which is highly sought after, it’s still very hard to find a job in this economy
Brother, I hear you. Currently looking for work in the IT field, and it’s a tough job market regardless of age or experience.
As for IT, I’m currently working towards getting a job in programming. Right now, I’m learning Java so that I can end up writing Android apps. Then when I actually end up finalizing my first few apps, I plan on posting them on Github to show employers my code and experience.
This is an excellent idea. I had a friend about your age in the same boat: Recently graduated from college but no real job experience. He wrote a Java chess program and it helped him land a job.
I’ve never thought of growing a beard or anything. I’ll try and start doing that as well. At least that way, it’ll make me seem a little bit older. I’m also starting to work out more and gain more muscle.
This is another good idea. But just make sure it is a legit beard. If yours is patchy, just go with something very short and well-trimmed. Appearance means a lot. Consider investing in a suit if you don’t have one. Something conservative. A navy blue one with brown or black dress shoes is appropriate. If you can’t afford a decent suit, get a nice pair of dress slacks, shirt, shoes and tie. It can go a long way in an employer’s first impression.
I’m getting plenty of job interviews. It’s just that they never call me back; and if they do, they end up telling me “they need someone with more experience.”
OK, this is telling. I have a lot of experience, but I am getting few call backs because I am older (I’ve learned to hide this on my resume). But you are in the prime age for IT, which is why you are getting a lot of calls. They already KNOW you don’t have a lot of experience by your resume.
This tells me that you need to improve your interview skills. There is a lot of information out there on the Internet about job interviews, both in articles and videos. You need to watch, read and practice. Look at common interview questions and practice your answers.
For my last interview, I spent hours practicing. I would write down answers, study them, then rehearse. The interview went well, and I have my fingers crossed.
Here is a tip from a friend on mine who is a CEO. I asked him, “What are you looking for when you ask ‘Tell me about yourself.'” (btw, this should be something that is 30 – 60 seconds that you have practiced where you sell yourself).
He said, “I don’t care what they say, I am just looking at how confident and convincing they are.”
With any question, show that you are a confident, competent, hard worker who will be an asset to the organization.
After the interview, send an email thanking the interviewer for the opportunity to discuss the position. Reiterate that you feel you can be a strong contributor to the organization. There are sample thank you letters on the web.
"You don't know a woman till you have met her in divorce court."
Binary Logic 3 years, 9 months ago.
