Finding A Job Is A Full-time Job

Since relocating back to my hometown I've been on the never-ending search for employment. It's been a daily process of logging onto the computer, searching endless websites for job postings, e-mailing or submitting my resume and filling out online job applications. Sounds like tons of fun, right? Wrong!

After months of unemployment, the days all bleed into one another. I look forward to the weekends just like the working folk simply because that's my small break away from my full time job of looking for a JOB.

Yesterday when I was using CareerBuilder.com, I viewed an ad from Dish Network that I thought looked interesting. I clicked the "Apply Now" button and was directed away from CareerBuilder and to the company's career page. There I was forced to search for the open position all over again, filling out my requirements such as position or job location. After more than a few minutes to find the position I wanted to apply for, I was then forced to "fill out" a six page application. I was encouraged to attach my resume but instructed not to type 'See Resume' on the application. What kind of crap is that?

What's the point of having a resume if you have to type the information again for each company you are applying for? What's worse is when you are interested in applying for more than one job at a company as I sometimes am. Last week I applied for two different positions at LiveNation only to again be forced (I use the word forced because these companies don't give the applicant a choice) to fill out two separate applications.

But back to my Dish Network experience. After creating a profile and having to choose yet another user name and password (they all have different rules - pick a password with eight non-repetitive characters, with one numeral, one capital letter and here's my middle finger to boot) I filled out the application thoroughly. Upon hitting the "Submit" button it returned a giant red error message stating that there was information missing. I scanned the page multiple times and nowhere was there any info missing. By now I'm furious. WTF? I decided to close out the entire page and start from scratch so I reopened Internet Explorer and punched in the address. There was no place to log into my profile so I had to search all over again for the position. This is too much work! I found the one I was looking for and again clicked "Apply" at which point I was able to log in again so I typed my user name and password and it came back with the error "incorrect user name or password." Here we go again! I clicked on the "Reset Password" link and received the message, "The password cannot be reset for this account." I was pissed! I sent a message to tech support but apparently they need to hire people in that department because I'm still awaiting a response. Or maybe they're in India and the e-mail is still lingering in cyberspace somewhere. Maybe it caught swine flu and just didn't have the energy to get to India. :) 

That's just one example of how tedious a task it is searching for a job in 2009. The actions one takes are so repetitive:

1. Search web sites.

2. Find job interested in.

3. Apply for said job by e-mailing resume and cover letter or filling out online application.

4. Deal with whatever technical difficulties arise.

5. Start all over.

A few times I've been so annoyed at the process that I've been the culprit of screwing up my own submissions. The fact that it's so time-consuming to apply for one job only allows you to apply for a minimum of 10 jobs per day (that's if you can even find 10 to apply for!). My cover letter says I'm detail-oriented, but by application/resume submission #10 I'm worn down and weary. I've actually e-mailed a cover letter which states "My resume is attached for your review" and forgotten to attach the resume. Somehow I don't think I'll be hired for that position. Ahh, the joys of looking for a job. When will this end? I'm ready to rock and roll at work again!