Out of work 7 months now, getting very worried

[Jy1986usa]

Hello. A little background information-

 

Graduated in December of 2015 with a degree in marketing.

 

Got my first job through a contracting agency shortly after as an analyst in marketing operations at CenturyLink.

 

I worked there for approximately 9 months but because of budget cuts my manager had to pull my contract which happened in December 2016.

 

I'm getting extremely anxious. I've been out of industry 7 months now and I fear the longer I stay out the less employable I become. I've tried just about everything and am doing the right things. I fill out applications often. I have my resume submitted to at least 10 different recruiting agencies. I've tried going to networking events. I have a pretty strong LinkedIn presence. And I'm just not getting any results. I don't ever get interviews anymore and am barely even being noticed. Recruiters have stopped returning emails.

 

I don't have much experience but I did at least get some at CTL. I'm mostly applying for analyst type positions but am pretty open minded. I live in Denver which has an amazing economy with lots of jobs but it's also extremely competitive. I would be willing to relocate if that would help my chances.

 

I'm just really starting to freak out. I took out lots of student loans to get a degree and now I'm scared to death I won't be able to find another career job and I'll just be screwed the rest of my life.

 

Does anyone have any advise please? Thanks.

[Scoe141]

If you go onto Indeed there are over 170 jobs listed in Denver alone for marketing. I would make it a goal of applying to at least 100 of those. Expand your search as well.

 

Don't despair as landing a job often takes time. All you need is one.

 

Good luck.

[Starlight925]

Look at pharmaceutical or medical sales. Great money, company cars, and a great place to spend a few years learning about big business from the inside. These companies ALL have marketing positions at corporate which, while they would eventually require a move, are exactly what you'd be looking for.

[catfeeder]

Consider using temp work as your marketing tool. It will get you inside of corporate environments to assess their fit for you. From there, you can apply for jobs FROM WITHIN that are more important and rarely posted to the public or offered to the agencies to fill. Getting inside is your edge. You'll form relationships, and from those you may even be able to create your own job.

 

Starting position doesn't matter. It could be the mail room, admin, reception or any other role, and most firms don't consider your starting role as a reflection of your potential. Get into any role available just to get INSIDE. Most good companies view temping as a mutual 'try before you buy' relationship. This gives you a platform to demonstrate your work ethic and soft skills, and those are faaar more important to firms than skills for any particular role--that fit can be customized later if they like you and your 'presence'.

 

Between contract jobs I always started with the closest agencies first, 1 per morning, at least 3 per week. I expanded my radius outward. I scheduled early mornings, and then my day was free afterward for a reward I'd give myself after every interview. The interviews are time consuming: a mound of paperwork and skills testing on the software for which you've claimed knowledge. The tests are to learn your level of proficiency, so test even on apps that aren't your specialty. Most will allow you to come back afterward and use their tutorials to raise your scores, which makes you worth more money.

 

All agencies will likely tell you that they have nothing at the moment. That's fine--it's how it should be. No agency has a bunch of jobs lying around in wait for people, they are quickly filled by people on their 'active' rosters. You can't get on that roster without applying in person. It's rare for an agency to call you from your resume for a specific job that's come in--they already have candidates in place who've interviewed already. Become one of those.

 

Most recruiters only call numbers on resumes as leads to join their rosters on their down time--so the hotter the agency, the less likely you'll hear from them just by sending your resume. CALL THEM instead of waiting.

 

Emailing or mailing resumes is a 'black hole' approach to a job search. I'd only do that between real, live, foot-to-pavement, in-person, appointments at both temp and perm agencies. All typeface looks the same to prospective employers--pick up the phone and offer to deliver your resume in person and ask for an 'information interview'. This allows you to meet recruiters to form relationships, and when they like you, they'll work harder to place you because it benefits them. Until then, you're just a resume, like everyone else's. So go meet them to get out of that pile.

 

Head high, and write more if it helps.