Forum Post: Unemployment: Are people really trying to find jobs?
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 16, 2011, 6:34 p.m. EST by whatshappening
(48)
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I am a small business owner. We recently ran an ad for a position. We called ten people for interviews who submitted their resumes, five showed up. Really? If someone really wants a job, wouldn’t they show up for an interview?
I'm sorry you had a bad experience with half your applicants not showing up for their interview. It's extremely unprofessional to do that and not call and offer an explanation. And I'm glad that you, a small business owner, have not only managed to keep your business strong in this difficult economy but strong enough to generate new employment for people. God bless you for that. I don't know where you live or what the unemployment is like in your area, nor do I know your business or what kind of position you're trying to fill (how specialized is the skill-set required?) so I can't really speak to the cause. I do think it's unfair, however, for you to use this one situation (albeit personal experience) to judge that people in general are not looking for work. On average, there are currently 500+ applicants for every open position posted in the US. There are new jobs, to be sure, but there are still many more people out of work than there are jobs available, and that doesn't look to change soon. I understand your frustration, your situation only highlights that there is no one-size fits all solution and "the problem" is not one-dimensional. Keep up the good work....people like you are the only reason I still have hope for my country, to be honest.
So you called 10 for an interview and 5 showed up, let's consider reasons why perhaps they didn't other than they really didn't want a job.
Five no shows, five possible reasons.
As another poster said, you didn't give much detail so it is hard to make any assumptions, and that is all they would be is assumptions.
Point remains the same.
Stuff happens. And in these times, a LOT of stuff happens to people in the working class.
Jeez, three to refute five?
I guess when you didn't have a cell phone, assuming you have one now, you could just walk over to the nearest light pole and dial, or that since you probably have a cell today, you have never been in an area with no signal?
You received a glass that was half full yet you complain that it was half empty also?
I'll give you a nice true account of a job interview that didn't happen.
The application was filled out, resume submitted, interview scheduled, ice storm happened, city highways cleared, outside city limits not, phone service discontinued due to line damage, no electricity, automobiles frozen to the ground.
Now do you think the applicant was uninterested in a job? Or that circumstances beyond the applicants control interfered?
To assume that an unemployed person has access to more than one means of transportation is a very poor assumption.
To assume that your interview was the only interview an applicant had that days is a very poor assumption.
Oh and if someone could not make an interview to assume they could not make it to work is also a very poor assumption.
Sh*t happens, sometimes it even happens to you.
Hear hear.
4&5 got mixed in with 3.
Really, no phone? What glass, they DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP, I COULDN'T GIVE THEM A GLASS. Hmmm, no idea what 'I'll give you a nice true account of a job interview that didn't happen.' means What circumstances? Oh right, their appendix burst. Transportation, this should not even be an issue.
Sht does not happen to me. I make sure of that. I was 22, took off a cast with a broken arm, prior to an interview so that I could get the job. Sht does not just happen.
It doesn't until it does. Unless you don't live in a real world.
I'm not defending anyone, just pointing out that no one can KNOW but only presume.
I understand s'it happens but really 5 out of 10 on the same day?
You were going to interview all 10 of these people on the same day? Sounds weird like your 10% match. Not a troll, eh?
For you it was 5 out of ten, for, perhaps, each of them it was only once.
Yes. Most of the reject letters that I am getting say something to the effect that they have reconsidered and decided not to fill this position. And I get a LOT of those from many different companies. So, just because there's a job posting doesn't mean there's an actual job there.
So, you wouldn't show up for an interview if they called you and made an appointment?
whatshappening: not sure how my post got added to your comment. i wasn't replying to anyone on that post...as far as i could tell on my screen. i see you posted something now. and it looks like i answered it. but that's not how it looked before.
never got an interview. i have had a couple, but i actually went to those. some were phone interviews. not sure if that means they already know who they are going to hire, or what? sometimes i think they already know who they want so they don't make you drive hundreds of miles and take your time for nothing.
Just curious, what kind of job and pay are we talking about? Full-time, part-time, seasonal? Salaried, hourly? White collar, blue collar?
I agree that it's rude to not show up for an appointment like that. People should keep the commitments they make, be good on their word and all that integrity stuff.
Starting position, full time (not seasonal), clerical. 90% insurance paid plus 10% 401K match.
Thank you re: commitments.
Sounds like decent gig. I got no real good explanation for the no shows? Maybe they thought there was a lot of competition for the position (by word of mouth) and that they wouldn't get it or decided to leave it for one of the others? I hope its not the result of comparing current govt unemployment benefits to your comp plan and deciding to stay on the govt dole type thing.
Sadly I think it is "stay on the govt dole type thing."
Would anything any of us says actually change your mind from this preconception?
Excellent question. No. If you can't make the effort to show up for an interview, are you really trying to get a job?
Call them up and ask them? While you're at it, you can yell some partisan rhetoric at them, too, while you explain why you wouldn't have hired them, anyway.
Maybe it's something wrong with your job or your company. Sometimes it's good to reflect on yourself before blaming others.
So that's 5 applicants for 1 position. 10 to 1 if you include people that couldn't make it.
"Couldn't make it" What does that mean? We called them, made arrangements, at their convenience to come for an interview and didn't show up.
So they are no-show, no-calls... I agree that it's impolite for them not to call you, however when someone simply cannot make it, they probably conclude that rescheduling will probably make their odds of getting the job so low that they simply give up entirely on that particular job and move on. This is true, especially in such a competitive atmosphere. I would have called and either rescheduled or simply explained that I will not be attending an interview. One thing I've noticed in life is that whenever I make generalizations about people, I frequently learn I was wrong when I have more information.
I would normally agree with you regarding making generalizations BUT the question remains 'Are people really looking for jobs?' It they were, they would make some effort to show up for an interview.
By "they", you are making a generalization... There were 5 people. The amount of people who failed to show up to the interview, I can count on one hand and you are asking me not only to cluster together these 5 people, but to extrapolate generalizations upon the rest of the unemployed or employed that are seeking work. Has it also occured to you that were asked to work by their current employer at the last minute?? Or perhaps some were and some were not?? It's hard to tell when you have a sample size of 5 and no specific information. It's also bold to suggest that these 5 are representative of the rest of the country's general attitude towards finding work.
No, I don't believe it is bold.
Well then.. I've met 3 different sole proprietors(and thus employers) in my life that later went to jail for statutory rape. By your same principle of generalizations, I can conclude that maybe more people would show up to the interviews if you could assure them you were more interested in business than underage girls.
The economic crisis is far (far) more severe than the "official" numbers because (a) underemployed are "employed" and (b) those who have given up are not counted.
People are absolutely trying to find jobs, and many are underemployed right now to obtain income for basic survival needs.
If you post the position here , you will get excuses as to why they can't/won't work for you. People have tried to help the ones that are complaining that they can't find a job, or there is no jobs. But good luck to you in finding some help .
they've lost faith in job security
What does that mean?
even if they got the job
there's no guarantee of security
The only security is what you make for yourself You cannot expect anyone else to do that.
I told that to my dog when I stopped giving her food
just kidding
Unemployment like only to be f** ucked ,
http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2011/01/20/horsey-disposable-everything_t470.jpg?84974f3f373deb0dda0f75a22ddd9b7d3a332b26
Troll
Troll, funny. I came here to see the other side. Not pretty.
Right. And you're the only person who's ever worked hard at menial jobs. Unbelievable that you are so self-righteous and judgmental.
I find it hard to believe that there are so many illegals working and so MANY americans collecting unemployment.
That must be it, five people couldn't find someone to watch their child so they could get a JOB. WTF was I thinking?
You realize you are acting like a troll. People here have listed numerous reasons why someone couldn't come for an interview. That, was just one of them. Grow a brain.
I came here to find out WTF is going on and why people are 'demonstrating' and have gotten no answers. I posed a very simple question with numerous poor responses. So, what would you do if you had an interview and couldn't go?
Unemployment really really they dont like to work they like only to be f**cked and crackling .
Many give up waiting for replies.
Huh, so when you get a call, schedule an interview, you just don't show up?
Another possible reason: crappy wages; no benefits.
Another possible reason: crappy wages; no benefits.
How would you know that if you didn't show up? Crappy wages, still better than nothing (oh right, you're collecting social security and unemployment).
for one position
was it filled?
That seems like a lot of people to interview for a job at a small business. How many resumes did you get? What kind of job was it? How long did you wait before you called them? I don't see the point of being in these forums if you don't support OWS. Attacking the unemployed is an absolute joke. Nobody wants to be unemployed. Do you have any idea what being unemployed does to people, their finances, their psyche, their family, their life? Are you kidding with this question? Be careful about judging others.
No, I was not kidding. Really, ten interviews for one job seems like too many? Especially when we only expect five to show. I've never been unemployed, very simple secret. Work, doesn't matter if you think it's beneath you, just work. Really f'n hard!
5 of 10 showed up !!! It means 50% of Protesters do not work , just stay over there saying there were the 99% .
Show up for the interview, you might get a JOB!
What kind of job and in what kind of community?
I've worked with companies that had hundreds of resumes in response to a want ad. Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal.
We received numerous responses, called 10 out 150, New York, if that makes a difference.
Were they long term unemployed, or no? Overqualified?
I don't know the specifics of the position, or of the people you've interviewed. However, people are suffering from interview fatigue, for better or worse. I've definitely been on some 'exploratory' interviews over the past couple years, with companies who weren't even sure they were hiring or waiting another quarter.
I don't know how you manage your interview process, but a phone interview could be a good first process to not waste your time, or theirs.
Maybe life is not supposed to come down to working in a shitty job with shitty pay for long hours (not saying this is your business)
Maybe people want more than that, or should they just be happy working as someones slave, as long as they can eat something at the end of the day?
LOL! Hmmm, shitty job, shitty pay, slave. That's really funny. Much better to live on unemployment.
No it is not, my point is only that through Capitalism, peoples lives have been degraded to a point where they are supposed to be happy with the scraps that are thrown at them, like dogs in the street. That is not life. Slavery is not employment.
My employees get 90% of insurance covered, 10% match on their 401K, very laid back work environment. Dogs? I have created jobs, really scraps?
You're a small business that gives a 10% match on your 401k? That's unheard of. Wow, you're very generous and awesome. Makes me wonder if you're a troll, no offense, but it's hard to believe everyone on here when they are on the OWS forum trying to trash the movement. And, shame on you for trying to shame the unemployed. That's the goal of many in our government, shame people so they won't ask for anything. Just take the scraps as thejunkie points out. It's nonsense. It's like Herman Cain saying that people are to blame if they're not rich or if they don't have a job, when CEO's make 343 times the pay of an average worker and when there is 9.1% unemployment. It's just a way to keep people down. Think for yourselves and don't fall for this kind of stuff.
No, I'm not a troll, just trying to see what's really going on out there. Yes, 10%, I know it's f'n crazy, but we try to help our employees, share the wealth. I find it frightening that so many people claim to be looking for jobs, but only 50% show up for interviews. I'm not here to trash the movement or the unemployed, just trying to 'listen' and find out what's really happening.
Honestly, if it's true I think it's a fluke. The people I know who have been unemployed have been anxious, depressed and seriously looking for a job of any kind. Did you only get resumes from unemployed people? Surely, you got some from people looking to switch jobs. Maybe they were the ones who didn't show up. And, still, that 10% match is weird.
Try to have more compassion, you know, walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Unemployment friggin' devastates people. To post what you posted is just nasty. Downright cold and mean and it perpetuates and highlights the moral bankruptcy of our nation.
Really? 'Nasty' I have cleaned toilets, washed dishes, worked 2 jobs, have done whatever needs to be done to make sure my bills are paid. I'm very sad to say that I cannot see that the same is true for most of the American youth. I'm only 43, and it saddens me to see what is in our future.
In my first post, I pointed out that this is not aimed at you. It is a statement that describes a general idea. You might provide for fair conditions and might or might not be a good person, but in general people are treated like machines/slaves in all societies....
maybe they accepted jobs elsewhere..i doubt yours was the only place they applied
There are very few people on this forum who are sincerely looking for jobs.
Seems it's true, very sad.
I've been here for a week talking about the jobs that I've got available. I finally got one private message after a week.
Our family business closed because of corporate competition. Our community has had all the money sucked out of it by large corporations. I am a 57 year old female. Would you hire me?
What is your business?
That's proof of something although I am not sure what that is
I just talked to a lady that had 6 interviews lined up and landed a job on the first one.
I guess there are 5 employers thinking she is a dead beat, according to your logic
People are flaky, at least around here. Maybe they didn't show up because they thought the odds were stacked against them? If I'm looking at 5 different jobs, I give them all the impression that they're my first choice, just to help my own chances.
http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2011/01/20/horsey-disposable-everything_t470.jpg?84974f3f373deb0dda0f75a22ddd9b7d3a332b26
Did you think to consider that maybe the other 5 found a job?
No, the thought never entered my mind. Common decency would've been to call and say so.
They aren't obligated to do so just like you aren't obligated to call someone to tell them that you aren't going to hire them. I should know, I've been on that end more than a few times whilst looking for work.
I strongly disagree. I would never have a person waste their time (or mine).
Well thats good to know that you aren't one of those that thinks like that,and I do commend you. Some however,may not have felt the need to do that seeing as what you consider common courtesy(which is a good quality that you are showing) isn't really a constant here in america,where you may not hear from the person for a month. It's just a roll of the dice sometimes. Thats just how it is. I honestly don't know any nicer way to put it other than that.
Common courtesy is hugely lacking in our society, very sad.
indeed
Well, five out of ten is 50%. I don't see that as being that bad. It's really hard for me to comment on this when I don't know anything about the job, where it is, how much it was paying etc., etc., But I do think it is very possible that there are so many people out there looking for a job, that many of those people that applied may not have been all that suited for the position. Many people I think have become so desperate that they are just putting in applications as fast and hard as they can in the hopes that something will hit, regardless of whether or not they had any interest in the job in the first place.
I'm just guessing. Hard to know without knowing the details.
Sorry.
Really? Someone is trying to find a job, submits their resume and then doesn't show up? I can only assume that person doesn't really want a job.
The only thing you can assume is that the five that did not show up were probably not professional or they would have called to cancel or try to reschedule. But you still had five people interview.
Now I don't know the qualifications for the job, so I don't know if you filled the spot from the five candidates. What I do know is that five individuals were serious about finding employment. That means that at a minimum four left still unemployed. Do you think those individuals did not want to work?
Yes, that's exactly what I assume, they do not want to work.
The four you could not hire did not want to work? Or do you have a reading comprehension problem?
Again, missing the point. Why did only 50% show up for a scheduled interview?
did you consider that the other 5 found a job....?
You're missing the point... People claim to be trying to find jobs but are they really?
You called up 10, you got 5. Two points.
1.Count yourself lucky that 5 of them even showed. Would you have preferred none of them show? 2.5 out of the 10 might have gotten jobs so be glad that something positive came out of it for them. Stop focusing automatically on the negative,especially when you have no proof of your claim. Count your blessings.
We called 10 out 150, I should count my blessings that 5 showed?
well guy hey, there isn't a hell of a lot that I can do about that. Not everyone has a strong work ethic. It varies from person to person.
if you don't have a strong work ethic, then your unemployment is your own fault, not wall street's, corporations, koch brothers, etc.
That's exactly my point. ps - I'm not a guy.
Well ya. It would seem that way. Who knows. Maybe two or three of them have already found a job. Did you talk to all ten of them? The list of reasons is endless. I wouldn't put so much effort trying to figure this one out. Employers always have problems finding the right employee. I am self employed and have no employees and answer to no one, but I do feel that a fundamental problem with employers these days is that they always expect the employee to be grateful to have a job. I have always felt it should be the other way around, hence that the employer should be grateful to have a good employee. Especially if you are restricted wages wise and benefits wise.
I have no idea what your situation is, but just my two cents.
Five showed up. What's wrong with that?
Seriously? If you don't have a job, someone called you for an interview and you don't show up. Are you really trying to find a job?
I think you're missing the point. Five showed up. Are those people really trying to find jobs?
You're missing the point. I have a job that needs to be filled. A JOB, wages, health insurance, etc. 50% showed up for the interview. How do people think they are going to get a job without showing up for the interview? Yes, the five that showed up are trying to find a job but what about the other five?
What about the other five? What if four of them were lazy bums and one's appendix burst? What if three of them were lazy bums, one's appendix burst, and one chose another interview? I don't have the ability to sift through all the possibilities of every unemployed American in the country to see how they got where they're at. You don't either; how can you be so quick to judge?
So our choice - unless we invent some kind of global privacy-protected mind-reading intentions-interpretatorization machine - is between:
1) Helping the five who showed up, and acknowledging that the five who didn't might accidentally benefit unfairly, or
2) Punishing the five who didn't show up, and ignoring the fact that the five who genuinely were doing the best they can would also be punished unfairly.
Tell you what: I choose #1. You work on the mind-reader.
Appendix burst, seriously? Exactly, lazy bums, that's why the unemployment rate is so high.
How am I punishing the five that didn't show up?
I just can't, not even a little bit, understand.
Only one job for each five people who need a job, and you still ask why unemployment is so high...
That means: for every 10 million people wanting a job, only 2 million jobs are offered. 8 million remain unemployed.
I don't think we should be focusing on the plight of the five people who didn't show up.
I think what matters most is the plight of the four people who did show up, that you couldn't hire.
Or the 5 people that he couldn't hire. I am also a small business owner and while I get a ton of applications, I get very, very few good ones. I have one particular position that I have been trying to fill for nearly a year now.
What about training someone? Just a wild suggestion...after all, in that situation they would do the job exactly the way you want it done with out much chance of suggestion of an easier or faster or even better way to do it...like I said, just a wild suggestion.
It really isn't worth it. I am looking to hire a dental assistant. I am better off having the open position rather than spending the time and money to train someone. Patients don't like it when you are training someone right there.
It is amazing how many people go to school and get these degrees but have no actual skills. It takes 10 months at the community college to get a dental assistants certificate and there are jobs paying $18 an hour waiting for you.
well said, the entitlement culture of this country truly disgusts me.
Or the hundreds of people who would be perfect for your position, except they live in another state, have a mortgage that went underwater, and can't sell their home so they can't afford to move.
Or the thousands of people who were never given access to proper education to even have a chance at becoming perfect for your position.
Or the millions of people around the world who - People, look around. Why do we always focus on trying to sniff out reasons to condemn others, instead of looking into the eyes of people who deserve better?
I think the real reason is: its easier to collect unemployment than to go to a job interview. (flame on)
EXACTLY!!!!
These lazy guys demanding everything free . They do not like to work honestly they want live like rich people without any efforts . These guys are losers anywhere.
Feels to me that certain group of Americans feel entitled and refuse do to work which is "beneath" them
Perfectly said Greentara.
Thank you
5 of 10 dont want to work means 50% of Americans, all these protesters do want to work. They want o have luxury life for free ! http://defendwallstreet.com/