Another Job Interview and Another Disaster

[Dillon]

I tired at this point and seriously burnt out. I had yet another job interview (this being my 12th one since May and like 20 rejections on top of that with no interview invite) and I pretty much bombed that one today. This job was for a GIS specialist position with type Gulf Coast environmental agency in my state. I flunked believe me a couple of the questions such as “what experience do you have with database management” and I took it as time management when in reality it was what kind of software do you use if any to save and store spatial data. There were some key things I forgot to mention in my interview such as other skills and other specific in class projects I’ve done that make me an exceptional candidate for the role.
After the interview I tried sending an email with some follow up questions and thanking the interviewer for their time but all I got over the last several hours were crickets which more than likely tells me I didn’t get the job. Personally I find it really rude and unprofessional to ghost any job seeker wether they are qualified or not.

After this job interview I have attended I’ve already decided I’m not seeking nor applying for anymore jobs for the foreseeable future. I can see know I have no experience for anything, heck I’ve even put in for jobs outside of my field like construction and retail and I’m rejected for those since I’m “over qualified”. There is just no point in trying anymore as no one seems to care or even want to acknowledge my worth and to see I have the actually potential/capability to do the job. I guess I am meant to just stay stuck at a $15 an hour 20 hour a week job working at an aquarium despite having a masters degree. This just comes to show what an absolute failure I am.

 

[Outdated]

As something that could get you by in the meantime it's usually pretty easy to get warehousing work in furniture and white goods retailers. Don't wait for them to advertise, simply dress in work appropriate clothes and go and talk to people. Instead of walking through the front door go around to the loading bay and talk to the warehouse staff.

"Hi, I'm looking for work, who's best to talk to about that here?"

Just play the numbers game and hit a few of them, eventually you'll get a yes.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I wish I could help you went on hundreds of interviews over the years, my strength was always the cover letter and resume almost always got the interview. if my experience matched what they were looking for usually landed the job
old school newspaper ads considered at the time the most difficult way. if you have the experience and can get it across in you cover letter then get them to ask you about this you will be a shoe in. I consistently beat people with more education. The real trick is to get by the filters mirror what they are asking for. Keep in mind I had no idea I was an Aspie; just knew I could do stuff others could not so I sold this ability. nothing beats a track record especially in a tight knit community. Is this your first shot at a position after graduation? If I was looking now, I would probably sell myself as an Aspie the trick is to get past the NT's who make the decision.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My first job I was interviewed by a manager with a PHD in chemistry, I guess he could tell I was different.

 

[Dillon]

I wish I could help you went on hundreds of interviews over the years, my strength was always the cover letter and resume almost always got the interview. if my experience matched what they were looking for usually landed the job
old school newspaper ads considered at the time the most difficult way. if you have the experience and can get it across in you cover letter then get them to ask you about this you will be a shoe in. I consistently beat people with more education. The real trick is to get by the filters mirror what they are asking for. Keep in mind I had no idea I was an Aspie; just knew I could do stuff others could not so I sold this ability. nothing beats a track record especially in a tight knit community. Is this your first shot at a position after graduation? If I was looking now, I would probably sell myself as an Aspie the trick is to get past the NT's who make the decision.

That’s the thing I am getting interviews like almost every time but I haven’t even landed a single offer (besides 2 offers which have fell apart in April). I don’t understand why employers even call a job “entry level” when they require you to have X number of years of experience and all in a while you just graduated fresh out of college. The job market is a scam these days.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Don't worry this has always been the case even 40 years ago nothing has changed. before I got my first job it was out of college separating clear bottles from colored bottles in a pop factory, empties quit moved back home rejuvenated helped around in hardware store Do not lose faith in your skills No one can take your education away from you My first job was on a coil coating line as a lab technician. Crappy pay knew nothing about industrial painting. My last job was as a lab technician on a coil coating line, very well paid, knew everything about industrial painting. The hard part is having the patience to stick it out, one thing about us Aspies we are different. Sometimes it takes a while for the powers to be to recognize us, when they do things move fast.

 

[Outdated]

I don’t understand why employers even call a job “entry level” when they require you to have X number of years of experience and all in a while you just graduated fresh out of college. The job market is a scam these days.

Employers that do this generally aren't worth working for and you'll find they have a high turnover of staff. You're quite correct that it's a scam, they want to pay you the same as a junior staff member at MacDonalds for your 15 years of experience and will expect you to put in long hours without getting paid overtime too.

Hang in there, something worthwhile will come along.

 

[Dillon]

Employers that do this generally aren't worth working for and you'll find they have a high turnover of staff. You're quite correct that it's a scam, they want to pay you the same as a junior staff member at MacDonalds for your 15 years of experience and will expect you to put in long hours without getting paid overtime too.

Hang in there, something worthwhile will come along.

I think I need some serious job coaching at this point as I’m not going to get anywhere without support and/or guidance. It makes it so much more difficult being on the spectrum/neurodivergent.
As someone with a masters degree in natural resources management I shouldn’t be in this position.

 

[Outdated]

As someone with a masters degree in natural resources management I shouldn’t be in this position.

For someone with these sorts of qualifications it really is a bit of a waiting game, it can take a while for something suitable to come up.

You're right that coaching would help in regards to interviews, it's more like acting lessons. Some of us find this just comes naturally to us and others need to work at it a little. And it's pretty much the same deal as trying to get a girlfriend, that first few seconds when you walk through the door, before you've even said a word, that's the most prominent impression that your interviewers will have of you.

Being able to project an air of confidence as you walk through the door, even though you feel like you want to crap your pants, and then maintaining it as best as you can through the rest of the interview is as important as your qualifications. They don't know you from a bar of soap and they have to try and judge you, if your body language is timid it looks like you have no faith in your own abilities.

It's just an act, a piece of showmanship, but it's necessary.

 

[VictorR]

Given it was just today, I'd give them a bit of time - sometimes an manager may be interviewing candidates over a week or even more, and they might not have had the opportunity to check for follow-up emails.

That being said, sending a follow-up to provide your thanks and to try to clarify / touch up on any answers provided is always a good move and something I've always recommended.

I understand that the process of looking for a job can be exhausting, but you've been here before, and you've been successful before, so you can do it, and it's okay to take a bit of a break if that'll help you recharge.

 

[Outdated]

Another big tip - the handshake. It's far more important than most people think. It's another way of getting a feel for someone's character. If they're the sort of person that tries to crush your hand then you probably don't want to do business with them.

The opposite extreme from that is a trap that a lot of academics fall in to. It's horrible, it feels like they've just dropped a limp dick in your hand. It's really off putting.

What you want is somewhere in the middle, try to project a little bit of warmth and friendliness in to it.

 

[Dillon]

Another big tip - the handshake. It's far more important than most people think. It's another way of getting a feel for someone's character. If they're the sort of person that tries to crush your hand then you probably don't want to do business with them.

The opposite extreme from that is a trap that a lot of academics fall in to. It's horrible, it feels like they've just dropped a limp dick in your hand. It's really off putting.

What you want is somewhere in the middle, try to project a little bit of warmth and friendliness in to it.

Oh yes I always make sure to shake the persons hand before and after interview. I did take note the the hiring manager after my interview today stuck out his hand first instead of me having to do it.

In terms of academics, I really felt that my University had not even prepared me or a lot of other graduates with job coaching/training when their only advice is and I kid you not tell me to “oh just keep applying and you’ll get something”. Yeah sure that advice will really help me out while I am in thousands of dollars in student loan debt and trying to find a self sustaining job to pay it off.

 

[Outdated]

You could probably find more opportunities if you're not tied to your current location too.

 

[Dillon]

You could probably find more opportunities if you're not tied to your current location too.

Yeah and that’s a problem I have to find something local in my area as I cannot break my apartment lease and if I do, not only do I have to forfeit 85% of my rent but I would owe my remaining monthly rent payments for the remainder of my lease so I am financially unable to break my lease with the 6 months I have left until my lease is up.

 

[Outdated]

6 months isn't such a long time though, in fact barely enough if you have to plan to move very far away, passport and visas etc. Although 6 months is going to feel like a long time if you've got no money.

 

[Outdated]

A lot of governments are chasing people with exactly your sorts of qualifications. Naturally they'll tend to employ locals before others but they also run a lot of programs for the international sharing of skills and knowledge.

Places like this are worth you looking at, my own government's scientific branch.

https://jobs.csiro.au/

 

[VictorR]

In terms of academics, I really felt that my University had not even prepared me or a lot of other graduates with job coaching/training when their only advice is and I kid you not tell me to “oh just keep applying and you’ll get something”. Yeah sure that advice will really help me out while I am in thousands of dollars in student loan debt and trying to find a self sustaining job to pay it off.

I can't comment on your specific experience, but a good career centre would usually have a bunch of different workshops (resumes and CVs, cover letters, interviewing, cold calling, networking, career planning, etc.) available, in addition to one-on-one support and coaching, and hosting their own networking events and job fairs.

Some workshops go into specific niche topics - I used to deliver 1-hour sessions solely on the topic of attending career fairs, for example.

If you find that the services available from the college where you did your master's isn't meeting your needs, what about those from the college where you did your undergrad?

Many colleges' career services are available to alumni free of charge without time limit, and some offer virtual / remote services as well.

 

[Aspychata]

Exactly, as @VictorR states, don't feel any shame in contacting your uni and taking advantage of placement help for jobs. Also try to see if they have available postions on campus. Even temp job will mean you have something legit on your resume. Alot of employers know you are qualified but they still want to see any kind of job on your resume, it shows you are serious about working, like at a college etc. And interview coaching is so important. Finally, if you get a chance, check back with a place you had a shot at 3 months and follow up, that can be a back door in, if they hired and the person failed, or another job may have opened up, or they may know someone who maybe looking to hire. So try to see this is networking, you might get thru to the person that interviewed you and they may have some good info for you. You have to work hard at it, nobody hands out jobs, it's work to get hired. As Outdated said, l actually walked up to employer and did snag a job that way, because they were in need of a retail person right at that moment. I also applied for a legal position even though l hadn't quite worked in that capacity yet they still gave me a shot.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

There is a chance you may still get the job sometimes they wait months before giving the offer. what you wrote sounds familiar the follow up letter was a good idea.