How to Behave when Looking for Work

Finding employment is a bit more challenging than I thought. I've been looking everywhere since I had quit working at my last job. I've looked for them in Foster's Daily Democrat classified section both online and the newspaper. Additional searches were done using the following web addresses: seacoastonline jobs, JobsinNH.com, NHworks.org, NHjobs.com, Kellyservices.com, monster.com, yahoo's Hotjobs, tjobs.com (telecommuting jobs), Nhhelpwanted.com, jobsinMe.com, Portsmouth or Kittery shipyard's website.

I've also made various trips after hearing of employment opportunities. So I ventured to the local employment security office closest to me and then to the second closest one to expand my search. Since I reside in Somersworth, it was more convenient to try there first. The agency has a Winway Resume program, which is an aid for writing a resume, and with it an added bonus for doing a cover letter, that could be written in half the time.

When I happen to pass by a human resources department, I would check out new postings and old postings, and while doing this wonder why the old postings are still posted up there. Are the recruiters or employers taking their precious time to wait for the perfect candidate or are they lacking funds to hire any new ones. After all, it is the employers' market.

Finding a good job is very competitive. It's easier for the employer to choose the best from the bunch. Who ever got the job is pretty qualified, but he or she would sacrifice a bit in the hourly rate of pay. There could have been someone else as equally qualified, but the one who bids for a higher pay would have lost to the other person who bid less. I even inquired about NH job training in detail.

I happen to be on the NH works website and notice at the bottom of the page a link to job training. I clicked on the link that referred me to another page with loads of information on the program and the numerous positions that one could get into. The list was enormous. Just about any position one seeks is on it. It even categorized and broke down departments and subcategories with the number of existing employees working or training for their chosen positions.

A few positions caught my eye such as Graphic Designer, Veterinary Technician, as well as Computer Technician. According to the program, one could get in if he/she asked to be trained in his/her chosen field with a company that would be willing to participate. With this in mind, I asked one of the staff who was called on to speak with me about my inquiries.

He raised one eyebrow when I asked him about the apprenticeship or job-training program. At first he started talking to me about the apprenticeship program that was offered by the local shipyard. I wanted to stop him before he continued, but being the polite person that I am, I allowed him to continue. I nodded my head in agreement, for I already knew most of what he was telling me. Normally, I would have my research done before I would ask, but the reason I would ask is usually for what I don't understand and don't already know. Other than the shipyard information, he didn't know what else he could tell me.

We went to a nearby computer and I showed him the website on the NH works and the related information on job training and apprenticeship. After that he went to his desk and came with a few numbers I could call about the training program. He apologized and explained that the employment security was in charge of this until a few years ago. Now people who are interested are encouraged to contact the Department of Labor in NH directly. With this new information I went home to use the phone and allow myself privacy.

There was not much success in attempting to reach the man in charge of the department of labor for the state. A man answered one call that I made. He told me that the person I'm seeking has been replaced. The next call, I made sure I ask for the right person, but when she answered she told me that she is not the one in charge. She gave me another number. I made the first attempt, and the second, and the third, at which time left a message. I requested information to be sent to me.

Weeks gone by and my patience and hope were getting slim. Finally, after about a month, I gave up on the idea of trying to find job training that way. I'm still disappointed that the person is not doing what he is employed to do.

So I continue to send out resumes in respond to advertisement for jobs. I've responded to ads using all sorts of methods. I've mailed out my resume with a cover letter, usually with the thought that they would be impressed with my technique of the combination. I've a number of times sent appropriate resumes as attachments via email, only to get sorry but we will keep your application on file for a year.

I've checked out a telecommuting jobs website that I've registered with for a couple, but later found out that there's only one that can be trusted. It wasn't a bad deal. I paid ten dollars for a subscription to tjobs.com. This is the only site that I trust that would have legitimate job listings. I've noticed that the jobs I was interested have already been taken. They sure go fast, not even lasting for a day. Somewhere on their site warned job seeker about scams, and that these con artist like to charge fee when applying for jobs.

One that I applied with several years ago congratulate me on be accepted for a data entry position. I was a little bit excited but was more skeptical when they suggested that I submit some money to open an account with them and become an employee. For a week I thought about the money I would have to submit. Questions in my head popped out: they said that they would reimburse me when I have worked, but how will I know that for sure. I'm so glad I didn't follow through at that time.

A few months ago I was still desperate for a job. Telecommuting jobs enticed me. With this I wouldn't have to leave home. Work from home would be the perfect job, especially for mothers. I knew these jobs exist, but I know that qualifying for one is both competitive and frustrating. The company in search of a telecommuting employee gets the advantage because they know a lot of people are interested in working from home. Of course only the best candidate, usually the one with seasoned experience are called on.

One website that would never call on anybody would be homecs.com, another telecommuting claimant that is just a waste of time and money. I found the website after clicking a link advertised on monster.com website. They are in the category called Company Confidential. I should have stopped at the name and its meaning, but I was drawn in by the word "immediately". The position was for data entry. I was not able to apply without clicking on the link. The link brought me to homecs.com, where one can registered for $29.95 and become a lifetime member. The benefit is you'll be able to view all their job postings. I thought the price for a lifetime member wasn't so bad, so I registered without further reasoning or talking to others.

That night I registered I started looking right away. I've applied for a number of data entry position, and an administrative positions. The data entry pay rate ranged between 7 and 10 dollars, less for the inexperienced. After each time I submitted my resume, an automatic response congratulated me and stated that I will be contacted shortly.

I was contacted all right, via email, by someone else who claims that they never posted the job, and that they have nothing to do with homecs.com. My first impression was: what is she talking about? I waited a couple days longer. Then I felt it is another hopeless wait. With the feeling of deep frustration I decided to write a complaint letter to both monster.com and homecs.com.

I wrote to monster.com for their misleading advertisement, and for not warning job seekers about Company Confidential, and not explaining what a listing with a star next to it means. I received an automatic response stating that I will be contacted, but when they did not say. I wrote a complaint to homcs.com, which does not have a mailing address and complain about their scams, and I also wanted a refund. According to their website, if one is not pleased with the service, one could get a full refund back. I was bound to make a real complain to the Better Business Bureau.

I went to the BBB website and started my process. As a requirement, they need the address of homecs.com. I had to go back to homecs.com for their address, but all I could find out was of one that is located in Canada. No PO box, just a city and a country. I sent my complaint to the office in Canada, and then waited. About a month later I received a reply. They wrote to the website and receive no response. All I got from the BBB was an apology.

Ever since July of last year I started doing some volunteering work. It's a way of getting my foot in the door I guess you could say, but I have other reasons too. I heard of volunteer after speaking with a volunteer. He told me of how one can find employment there after some services, with training. I was tired of my job because I could not handle the environment. There seemed to be too much disorganization. I also felt that I would never be trained to do something useful. After being there for almost two months, I would have thought that I would get more responsibility or something more challenging. I suppose maybe I wasn't good at answering the phone either, and hearing how one commented about me and prejudging me on my answering technique, I felt hurt. Perhaps I am little too sensitive but I do prefer to be elsewhere where I won't be prejudged and laughed at.

I've applied for various housekeeping positions of which I do have experience. I've applied for office position with my experience from working at the passport center. I've applied for a cook's position, fast food restaurant, machine operation, quality control, and others which I have experience. Not one has called me to say they wanted to interview me. The only one that called did not specify they needed me to be licensed beforehand prior to applying, and when I told them I do not have the license they required, it was another failed attempt.

I don't know if it's luck, me, or that I'm not qualified, or overqualified, but I wish someone would let me know about these things so I know what to do. All these trials and tribulations produce no success; I still haven't found some sort of employment yet. At times I feel as if no one wants me because I'm not good enough; that I'm not useful enough. I have an A.S. in Computer Administration with no working experience. I was a passport support associates with NPC for three years, and prior to that was a machine operator for five years. Not hearing from anyone for an interview is more difficult each day.