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What I Couldn't Find While Job Searching

Recently, I made a job change. During this process, I came across some of the problems I encountered while job searching in the past, which I had forgotten about. So, I decided to write a post with fresh memories.

First of all, I find it important to point out that this article does not target any specific person, institution, or profession (especially human resources). At the end of the article, you will find the positive experiences I had with human resources.

Ultimately, both on the recruitment side and the side of applicants, many frustrating situations can arise. What I write here is nothing compared to the candidates who are offered inhumane conditions or harassed. In fact, compared to their situation, mine could even be seen as a form of indulgence.

Purpose of the Article

The purpose of this article is actually quite simple. To vent a little, to share my troubles and try to reduce them. To think a little and make others think. And to be the voice of similar situations that my friends have encountered.

In the past month, I had many applications and interviews. Almost all of them ended negatively. I didn't like the job description, I couldn't agree on the salary, I wasn't qualified enough for the job, there were better candidates and I was rejected, etc.

Strangely enough, up until now, I haven't gotten a job from an application (excluding the second lieutenant application). In all the jobs I entered - including my most recent one - the company representatives reached out to me, and we started working together after mutual agreement. So, the complaints you will read soon do not apply to all human resources employees. This is simply not possible.

So, let's begin.

Talent Hunters

Talent Hunters

I don't have much knowledge about human resources. I don't know the definitions of terms like "recruitment officer" or "talent acquisition specialist." However, most of the people who contacted me via LinkedIn had titles like "Talent Acquisition Specialist" or "Recruitment Specialist." Therefore - please excuse my ignorance - I grouped the human resources employees who contacted me under this title. So, what was my issue? What bothered me?

For one of our clients...

For one of the leading clients in the sector... I can't understand this. Friends from institutions offering human resources services say, "For our client/partner in XYZ industry, we are looking for ABCD."

If I'm interested, the job details come.

Shouldn't I first know where and with whom I'll be working, see the job description, and understand the job requirements before deciding whether or not I am interested? Am I thinking wrong?

I can't understand this approach. Is there a situation where they aren't supposed to share the client's name? Maybe. As I said, I don't know. I don't get it.

When I ask for the company name, they immediately tell me. There's no attempt to hide or keep it secret (So, the above assumption doesn't apply). It shouldn't be hidden. So, why isn't it said at the beginning?

In this case, I always ask for the company name and the job posting. After that, I give my response. Unfortunately, most of the time, I end up giving a negative answer. Why?

No good will come from me

Human resources contacts me via LinkedIn. They send a message saying there's a job. Sometimes they come with the job posting and the company name, sometimes I have to ask for this information.

But guess what's missing? Almost none of the information in my profile matches what's listed in the job posting. Almost nothing in the job posting matches what's in my profile.

It's a job listing for something I don't know, can't do, might not even want to do, or might not be able to do even if I wanted to. If I saw this myself, I wouldn't apply. I'd say, "There's no need to bother the human resources department. Why should they struggle?" I'm that indifferent to the listing.

Now, does this recruitment specialist or talent hunter friend's inattentiveness come into play here? If they had looked at my profile, they would have seen that nothing good could come from me.

At this point, I think about this: You know that type of person who always applies randomly without reading the job posting? They try their luck, thinking maybe this one will work. They create work for the human resources department. I complain about that type too. I think it's wrong to apply for every job, but it seems that for some people, roles can change. I feel like the same template has been sent to everyone from the search results, without going through any filter...

Would I be interested? I already was!

"XYZ, ABC, bla bla bla job. Is your job search still ongoing? Would you be interested in this position?"

Yes! I would be interested, of course. Because I applied for the listing you sent last month.

Let's say you contacted me from a different source, like LinkedIn. Then you found the person you're looking for. So, why did it take so long? I had already sent you all my information.

Maybe the person(s) who review applications and those who go hunting on LinkedIn are different. It's possible. In this case, I believe there should be better communication between teams.

Is your gob search ongoing?

The question "Are you looking for a job or is your job search ongoing?" is a very reasonable and sensible question. When I am not looking for a job, I respond to friends who ask this by saying, "I'm not considering changing jobs at the moment." We thank each other, and at least we've introduced ourselves, even if only by name.

However! Sometimes - and again - that profile is never even reviewed. Some of my friends still ask, "Are you looking for a job?" even though I've updated my LinkedIn profile with my new job, and it hasn't even been a month since I started.

It makes me sad when this happens.

Wait to hear from us...

This is a normal request. After an interview, people meet internally. They talk, discuss, and then give feedback to the candidate- whether positive or negative. But feedback should be given. This is how it should be (in my opinion).

A friend of mine contacted me about 4 weeks ago. He said, "Let's meet, let's talk about the job." I agreed. We still haven't met.

Another company told me, "We want to arrange a meeting with you as soon as possible." I was happy. It seemed like the job was mine. But I think 3-4 weeks have passed since then, and I haven't heard anything.

This is quite nice. I'm serious. I'm not making this up. I once had a job (I worked there for about a week, but I don't count it). It was part-time while I was doing my master's. I saw it wasn't going to work. It wasn't looking promising. I worked 3-5 days and then quit. They hadn't even started my official employment process. The same company. Look. The same company. Exactly 4 years later, they called me. They said I had an application. When I asked, "Isn't it a bit late?" they replied, "We had a busy period."

I have another similar experience. That friend is still going to tell me the reasons for my application being rejected. I've been waiting for 2 or 3 weeks. Oh well. This world is so small :)

Unanswered Questions

Like maNga's song... Questions that I don't want to answer, that I don't understand why they were asked, and that I'm too shy to ask why they were asked...

  • What is your current salary?
    • I don't want to say. Maybe I just want a salary increase. Maybe my salary has been eroded by inflation. Maybe the position I work in was already worth X. But the position I applied for is a 2X job.
    • Companies that say, "If you mention your salary within the company, we'll terminate your contract" can ask about our salary when hiring. I can't say it. I can't give that information to anyone.
  • Can you send your payslip?
    • Breeeaaaauuuhhh....
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
    • This question has become so cliché, yet it still comes up. It's very strange.
    • I don't know. The economic conditions are obvious. We can't foresee anything. Can you?
    • Expectations can change, conditions can change. Colleagues, work environment, job description, position... Everything can change. Yes, five years ago, five years seemed like a normal amount of time, but in today's world, I think it's a very long period.
  • "The purpose of that question is to learn your career goals, plans, and vision!"
    • Okay. There's no problem with that. It could even be very important and determining. But here's my complaint. "You didn't say you'd still be working with us in 5 years?" If that's the expectation, if that's the purpose of the question, I'm sorry, but this question is meaningless.

Is There Nothing Good?

There is. As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, the human resources employees who reached out to me and hired me were positive. Similarly, the ones who rejected my application were also human resources employees. Now, let's talk about the good experiences:

  • Quick and efficient interviews
    • I encountered some human resources professionals who organize very quick and efficient interviews. Their communication is excellent. Their energy is high. They're the first face I see at a potential new job, and thanks to them, I warm up to the company right from the start.
  • Detailed and emphatic explanations
    • Some human resources professionals explain job descriptions, conditions, and packages in great detail. But they explain it so well. "This is how it is here. This is how it is there. But after your 2-month probation period, this is what will happen. Also, if you do this, this will come up." They make sure there are no questions left, even if they have to repeat the same things in different ways.
  • Answering all questions
    • In some cases, I can ask every question to the human resources professional who contacts me. Whether before or after starting the job, they help me with everything from start to finish. Maybe I shouldn't ask them so many questions, but they're so professional and approachable that they leave me no choice but to thank them.
  • Reasonable rejections
    • Some human resources professionals reject my applications. Totally normal. Whether by phone or email. They provide such valid reasons that the whole interview process becomes a wonderful experience for me. I meet new people. I get to know myself better. I see my shortcomings. I want to thank all the human resources professionals who maintain professionalism in this regard once again.