Mark Edwards Tumbles

I’m learning some hard lessons in the job search.

I’ve already written about the challenges companies put in the way of job seekers by using online application and evaluation systems and how hard it is to speak with a hiring manager because they hide behind these bots. 

Today, I applied for a job and had to answer a few questions, would I take a drug test?, am I cleared to work in the USA?, do I have at least a Master’s Degre?  When I answered “no” to that one, I was told I didn’t meet the minium requirements for that job and the application process stopped dead.  They wouldn’t even let me submit an application or talk in a cover letter about how some 35 years of work experience taught me a lot more than a Master’s Degree.  Thank YOU, Anheuser Busch, for being so open minded.

I’ve signed up for quite a few job sites, and I know they all want to show the people who list with them that they can deliver the best candidates, but sites like monster.com send me e mails every day with a list of jobs I’m neither qualified for or interested in taking.  Yeah, I’d be a GREAT over the road hauler.

Sites like TheLadders.com seem to exist only to take job seekers’ money, not to really help them. Many of the jobs the list are already filled, when I sent a note asking for customer service, got an auto-response saying it would cost me at least $25 to interact with someone who could help me. This is what bounced back to me:

TheLadders Team ✆ donotreply@theladders.com	10:26 AM
to me

Dear Reader, This is an automated email. Thanks for writing in! Live support from one of our Job Search Advisors is reserved for Premium members, but don’t worry – there’s lots of other ways you can get support. If you’d simply like to make a change to your membership please visit: http://www.theladders.com/updateinfo The best way to get any membership questions answered is by chatting with us. Please click on the link below to start chatting now: If you’re experiencing technical troubles you can reach out to the tech support team directly by calling 1-877-302-4239. Best, TheLadders Team

I know we’re all in business to make money, but it doesn’t seem right for The Ladders and other job sites to bait and switch job seekers like that.  Since they wouldn’t even look at my note without money changing hands, I posted a note on their CEO’s blog (which has since been removed) explaining how I felt about the way they do business. 

I did get a call from some flunky in The Ladders office who confirmed that therre were indeed dead ends and jobs that didn’t exist on their site and that he had personally seen that one of the jobs they sent me was not an actual listing.  Then he offered me a two week trial of their “Premium Service” but I’d still have to give him a credit card and be responsible for cancelling the special trial or I’d be billed up to $25 a month automatically.  Are you KIDDING me?  You treat me like dirt and then try to extract money from me?  An amazing case of indifference at best, predatory taking advantage of the unemployed at worst. 

I just want to find a job that will let me keep my house and feed my family.  Why does it seem like the online job sites are all so sketchy, or seem like they’re running a scam?

BLATANT SELF SERVING PLUG: By the way, if you or someone you know is looking for an experienced online and broadcast content person, check out my profile at about.me/markedwards.

Related articles

• How TheLadders May Be Inadvertently Leaking Personally Identifiable Salary Information (lumension.com)
• 11 Mistakes People Make When Working With Headhunters (businessinsider.com)
• How Job Seekers Are Using Mobile [INFOGRAPHIC] (mashable.com)

Posted via email from Mark Edwards 3.0 | Comment »

Its been a week since I was relieved of my duties after a long run programming radio stations in St. Louis.  To say I was shocked by the news would be an understatement, and it’s taken the bulk of the last eight days to process what this all means.

First, I have to thank all the friends and people I don’t even know for the very kind words of support and encouragement.  A very smart man I once worked for used to say that “all you have is your reputation”, and I can see again how that makes complete sense.  I guess that other than a few cases, I’ve managed to keep my reputation intact and not honk off too many people along the way.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about what’s next for me and my family, and have been contacted about a couple of very interesting opportunities.  I’m a “radio animal” at heart, and will always have the media in my blood.  But after a quarter century of programming radio stations, perhaps its time to do something else.  I’m a firm believer in the fact that things happen for a reason, and I am convinced that while a door has closed, a new and exciting one is about to open. All my profiles on the Interwebz are updated, like LinkedIn, my Google Profile, and even my website, Mark Edwards Online, where I’ve taken the liberty of posting my resume for your viewing pleasure.  That’s the resume as of this minute.  I’ve gotten very valuable advice from a couple of career consultants on how to “punch it up” to show that I’ve had actual real world job experience while working in radio.  The updated resumes are to come.

The bulk of what I’ve been doing is working the phones and email looking for the right opportunity.  Most of the time, I’ve gotten calls returned and e mails answered, and I’m grateful for hiring managers (and a few auto-responding bots) for at least acknowledging that I’ve inquired about a job. 

Make no mistake about it, I’m treating looking for a job AS my job, getting up early in the morning, getting out of my jammies, and going to work at the computer and on the phone.  Its not easy, and I still have to deal with the boxes of stuff I brought home from my office of the last 6 1/2 years, but getting the word out and finding the next big thing are the top priorities now. 

Thanks to those who have stood by me and shared my shock and disbelief over this situation.  Thanks to those who have already spoken with me about opportunities and to those that might reach out after reading this.  Let me be brutally honest.  I need a job and can bring a vast amount of knowledge and experience to the right company, whether it be in broadcasting or other media platforms.  Please look over all my information by following the links in this post or on the blog.  Let’s make next week “Find Mark A Job” week in this great land of ours.  My whole family thanks you.

Posted via email from Mark Edwards 3.0 | Comment »