[TulipGumLeaves]

Hi all...

So I've been here for over a month now and have been hunting for work. I have responded to loads of job posts on job sites... I have even called up companies to chase them up. Is it normal not to get a reply from companies? I would even appreciate a rejection letter stating that they chose to hire another candidate over me with more experience. Nothing.

Do companies actually look at the emails in response to job adverts?

What can I do to get noticed?

I NEED A JOB!!

[discobay]

You need to persevere with the job hunt. Employers or should I correctly refer to them as the HR wallas will not do you the common courtesy of replying to your application. Mind you they probably have to vet hundreds each week and it must be taxing on their pea-sized brains.

[hullexile]

Originally Posted by discobay

You need to persevere with the job hunt. Employers or should I correctly refer to them as the HR wallas will not do you the common courtesy of replying to your application. Mind you they probably have to vet hundreds each week and it must be taxing on their pea-sized brains.

In an argument about the oldest profession (except the obvious):

And God created order out of chaos

Accountant: It must be us, creating order out of chaos is our job
Architect: Yes, but the order needed to be designed, that's our job
HR: Yes, but who created the chaos in the first place? We must have been first.

Apologies to fellow HR people.

[TypeIII]

Around here, you'll be lucky if you got an automated email response. In most cases (and I do mean MOST) they are not going to write/call you unless they wanted to get an interview with you.

When I was looking for a programmer I would usually get about 20 to 30 applications daily. While you can say that I don't have the "common courtesy" of replying to all applications, the reverse is also true: most applicants simply don't qualify for or don't fit the job they're applying to. So really, who's time are we wasting?

[jimbo]

Have to agree with the above posters, When I was job hunting in HK earlier this year out of say 50 applications which I was qualified and experienced for I only got 6 responses and out of those only 2 interviews.

Avoid agencies and HR departments and network and try to meet the hirers and firers at chamber of commerce meets etc direct.

And don't forget to get some business cards printed with your contact details and a brief outline of what you do.

[TulipGumLeaves]

Thanks guys,

I am only applying to positions that I believe I would be a suitable candidate for. I have had instances where companies advertise that they do not require me to speak, read nor write cantonese and then when I call up and enquire they say oh you "NEED" to. So I don't know who's trying to beat around the bush on that one.

Do HR Managers... look at all emails or do they pick out the ones with outstanding Subject Titles??

Business Card? Cool... I am going to get one tomorrow.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by TulipGumLeaves

Do HR Managers... look at all emails or do they pick out the ones with outstanding Subject Titles??

I'd hazard a guess that they probably don't even look at them in some of the larger firms, The HR assistants probably just look at it and realise they don't understand your C.V and qualifications and just bin it, Thats the impression I get from some firms.

[larac]

if i had my time over i would have printed cards the day I arrived and networked till i dropped - it really seems the only option to yield results. try oriented.com and the australian chamber of commerce meetings. good luck - i gave up too soon and took a job i shouldn't have.

[mercury_element]

Tulip, I totally understand your situation, I have sent like 100s of applications in last 4 months and never got a single reply.

Good luck to you.

[KnowItAll]

Can I be the devil's advocate?

As an employer, we get dozens of really badly qualified applications when we DO NOT advertise. When we advertise.. the number of unqualified apps is in the hundreds.

You need to revisit how you're applying for jobs.