Crazy job market

Ok I know I ain't the best person to be talking to about job stability but I have to comment on this. 

THE JOB MARKET REALLY REALLLLLLYYYYY SUCKS RIGHT NOW!

I'm not exaggerating. It's crazy you know. Just about, say, 5 to 8 years ago, for every 3 resumes I threw out, I would get at least a callback. Today, after throwing out a good perhaps 30 to 40 resumes in a span of 3 weeks, guess what? I only got 3 interview opportunities. THREE! That's not a healthy figure at all ya know, considering I would have gotten probably at least 10 by now. 

And you know what happens when you don't get enough callbacks and interview opportunities right? Yep, job landing. How is one supposed to land a job (and I'm talking about BOTH part-time and full-time), if you don't even get the chance to meet and speak with the company? How will they even know what you are capable of besides what is written in your resume and existing on your portfolio? Doesn't make any sense. 

I usually talk to my hubby about this, as in the job market in general, and recently, I find us lamenting how bad it is. He isn't as much of a job hopper as me (Hey don't judge. I have my reasons if only you will listen), but even he, an events specialist who has been hovering about in the field for at least 10 years, is finding it tough to land a good one. The thing is, and I'm not one to brag, he knows I've gotten pretty rad at interviews and most times, I nail the first one there and then. Obviously it doesn't happen all the time, I'm not that much of an expert, but after attending so many, it's hard not to know what to expect. And to digress a little further, think what you want, it has come to the point where I kinda even know whether I will get the job or not right after the first interview. Yea, you become somewhat psychic after so much intense training. Hahahaha!

With this said, we decided that even though it seems that there are so many jobs out there on the various job portals, most employers are testing the market aka the jobs posted may not even be available or non existent OR, them employers are just trying to get the best bang for their buck during this job market crisis. 

Don't even bother listening to or looking at the employment and employing statistics put out by the government. It's not accurate because 1) they talk about jobs availability in general so this encompasses every.single.fucking.job. 2) this may be skewed in favour of companies who are actually actively hiring. Obviously every nation now wants to put forth the most lovely looking picture of health of themselves in this lousy economy so I'm not saying that the government is wrong in doing so. It's just...well, it's just not a true reflection of what is actually happening on the ground. And that really really sucks. 

The second thing that I have NEVER encountered in my so many years of job searching but am experiencing so much of recently are potential employers asking outright what my salary expectations are and if it is negotiable. What is this? You haven't seen me and you are already hoping to get a bargain? What am I? A cheap fuck? Please ah. As employers, you should know that if you pay peanuts, you get them bloody monkeys ah. You want good, solid people, then you better pay up. Don't be a stinch and try to wayang your way around just because you think "Oh the job economy is so bad, I'm pretty sure there are loads of desperate people out there looking for employment so they probably won't mind taking a huge pay cut to work for us IF we award them the opportunity." 

Don't act ah employers. You know who you are ah. 

Ok to be fair, there will be some people who are willing to take on anything right now because they haven't been able to land a job for some time and you know, Singapore isn't exactly the cheapest place to survive in. But to take the opportunity to exploit good people like that? Seriously? No, don't do that. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how you will feel if the tables were turned. Not too good isn't it? 

I've been really lucky in my job searches though and I really have so much to be thankful for. Even in this lousy job environment, I managed to secure a job just about 3 weeks after my last one without a pay dip. That is saying a lot in our current climate. So I try to do my best to help my friends who haven't been as lucky and send as many recommendations as I can along to them, crossing my fingers and praying that one day they will tell me they have gotten something through one of the job recos I have sent them. 

Oh, and one more thing. I have never heard employers tell me "I'm sorry but we have had so many good candidates this time that we have decided to go with someone else." This, I cannot refute at all because if it's true, well, then that says alot about what is truly happening in the job market today doesn't it? You are now fighting with not just the fresh grads who probably don't mind working more for less pay than you, and foreigners, you are also fighting with the best in your industry. 

Yes, some of you may be going "The fuck?" but it's true. So if you get a job amidst all this, well, you can safely say you are probably one of the stronger ones in this battle. But for those who are still on the prowl, keep on fighting! Sooner or later someone is gonna see the potential in you and take you on. It may be shitty now but good things always come to those who are patient. You need to realise that you need to take fervent action. Right now, just sending out resumes and waiting ain't gonna cut it. You need to put yourself out there. Make yourself known to companies who may not even be hiring. You need to step up your game and be smarter than those who are just starting out or who may not have the cells to think as far. Take that extra leap of faith because you never know where it will get you. You just might land something so awesome, you didn't even know that you had it in yourself to do so. 

Gambatte!

Cheers,
Tolora