What Job Search Worries Are You Stressing About?

John Krautzel
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Searching for a job is often stressful, especially when that search is motivated by being out of work rather than simply looking for something new. However, some of the factors that job seekers spend a lot of time worrying about don't actually matter as much as you think. If you are stressing about any of these job search worries, try to calm down; they won't hold you back from getting a job.

1. Resume Gaps

When you embark on a job search, you might worry about gaps in your resume. As long as you can explain why you were out of work, a few gaps in your work history shouldn't present too much of a problem. In the current economic climate, being out of work for a few months is very common, and many employers won't even ask about it. Most employers are also very understanding about longer career gaps that you've taken while raising children, caring for a family member or dealing with a health problem.

2. References

If you clashed with a former manager, you might worry about them thwarting your job search with a bad reference. However, many companies supply references that simply confirm your dates of employment, without giving an in-depth appraisal of your character or performance. Always provide references to a potential employer. Not doing so looks suspicious, whereas it's unlikely that your previous employer will say anything to scupper your job search.

3. Trimming Down Your Resume

When writing a resume, it's important to be as brief as possible. Remember, your resume should show that you are the best candidate for the job, not give every detail of your life so far. Go ahead and leave off the part-time jobs you did in college, unless they're your only work experience. Many job seekers worry that leaving information off their resumes is dishonest, but in reality it's simply saving space.

4. Negotiating Your Salary

Salary negotiations don't have to be awkward or involve long speeches explaining why you are worth the extra money. Simply state the salary you were hoping to get and see how the hiring manager responds. The worst that can happen is that the hiring manager refuses your request and offers you the job at the advertised salary, in which case you are no worse off than if you don't bring up the topic at all.

Many people find the job search process stressful, but keeping these points in mind can help to ease your stress a little. Remember that hiring managers are human, too. They don't expect you to be perfect or never show any nerves at all during your job search. They simply want to find out whether you have the right skills for the job. Relax and let your resume speak for you.


Photo courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Leigh H thanks for your comments. So sorry that you are gong through this: how can I get a job without experience and how can I get experience without a job. I know it's frustrating but I probably would have reacted pretty much the same way as the recruiter thinking that, even though you don't have a whole lot of experience in your new field, that you would be bored with an entry level position or that it wouldn't pay what you need or are used to and that you would end up leaving shortly after being hired. They don't stop and think that maybe we don't mind being in a lower position and that we have already taken the lower salary into consideration. Yes recruiters can be tough to deal with. More than likely they don't have any idea what xyz is other than what is written on the requisition that they are have in order to fill the position. Sometimes it's up to us to train the recruiter - sad as that might be. By any chance do you know someone who is working in a company that would fit your needs? Go through them if you do. The old adage that it's not what you know but who you know is (sadly) still alive today. I am afraid that you might encounter this same sort of attitude in your next interviews. You just need a way to convince them that you are willing to start at the bottom again but you want a position that has growth potential, too. All the best.

  • LEIGH H.
    LEIGH H. •

    I also come across a lot of a very negative recruiting style. Such as making a statement like "oh, you have done this and that....but you aren't skilled in xyz though..." Instead of asking "do you know about xyz if so can you tell me about a project you've worked on"? Also a lot seem put off by me having made a career change to something very different, instead of more similar to what I was doing ten years earlier, which I disliked. And recruiters who can't read through a resume and end up with an accurate idea of the skill set. Happens very frequently.

  • LEIGH H.
    LEIGH H. •

    I decided to change careers about four years ago, and earned an advanced degree in my new chosen field. I have about three years of experience in my new field, but it is all for very small companies. The larger corporations want someone with experience at a larger company, or who has 5-10 years of experience. the degree isn't so important and won't get anywhere with those companies without the job experience. So then I started applying to more entry level roles still relevant to my field, and am hearing a lot of "why would you want this job you are overqualified because you have a graduate degree" I want it because I'd rather work for a larger company where I could advance eventually, a company that isn't going anywhere than have a lofty title at a small company that will go out of business in a year or two, is my answer, and never seems to win it.... Then when I find out who was hired it's usually someone with a 2 year degree or high school diploma and only minimal related experience who got the entry level job.

  • Nishat S.
    Nishat S. •

    hi my accepted salary 35,000 i m very happy

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Zale thanks for your comment. We are a job board it is true. Companies contact us to place jobs on our sites so that job seekers, like you, can view the jobs and submit your application. We do NOT sell your information or, in any other way, profit from your information. This account is yours and yours alone. No one will look at your account but you and any employer you contact. We do care about placement which is why we offer products and services to assist you in getting placed into a new position. It's just that we do not place you - you would need to be proactive and submit your application. Sure do hope that clears up any misconceptions. We do wish you all the best in finding your next position.

  • Zale Cowell
    Zale Cowell •

    @Nancy Anderson, Thank-you for explaining that this site isn't concerned about placement. It is just a billboard, that takes a person's information and sells it to information networks, much like those customer savings cards at grocery stores, meanwhile trying to provide a reason to keep coming here. You have opened my eyes! You don't really care if anyone get hired anywhere as long as you get their information. There is a huge market for personal information on the net. And if you can sell someone on going to school or attend a webinar, all the better

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Sheryl thanks for your comment. These people who are writing about age discrimination are from all over the country - not from one specific area. Thanks for letting us know about this. I, too, live in the northeast and our unemployment is pretty low. There are many cities here that are growing rapidly and construction is very high - I would have to agree. The problem that job seekers are encountering is age. It used to be if you were 60 you might have a hard time being hired. Then, in about 2006 that changed and 50 was the new 60. Now it seems that 40 is the new 60 when it comes to finding a new job. It is appalling but, sadly, it is true. Thanks for the pointer about keeping drama out of the work space and offering to work weekends. I, too, wish there was something that I could do to help out our more senior job seekers. I cry over some of the emails that we get where older displaced workers are losing their savings, their homes - everything because they can't find a job. Then I watch the news and see segments about work on infrastructures and I see ten guys standing around while one is working! I have to scratch my head at that one, too. Gradually things will start to level out - or at least we hope they will. Hopefully, after this next Presidential election, we will see more jobs opening up and fewer families living on the streets.

  • Sheryl S.
    Sheryl S. •

    I would also like to mention that I'm in the northeast and in my area, there is a strong job market. Cost of living is high, but many people live outside the city and commute in. If anyone works in construction, construction is probably the highest I've ever seen here. No matter what direction you're looking in, you'll see a building going up--mostly commercial space like apartment complexes and office buildings as opposed to residential houses though that's big too. I know most people can't just get up and walk away, but if anyone were looking to relocate, or had friends they could stay with to get started, it might be worth a shot. I do have one other thing to mention to older workers. Point out your willingness and availability to work weekends and holidays if that's something the industry offers. Many young people want their weekends free, so this is a selling point. If you are interviewed by a somewhat older person (say 40 or older), also emphasize that you are "drama free" meaning that you do not bring drama into the workplace. Some of the stories people are sharing here are just awful. I wish there was more that could be done regarding the age issues.

  • Sheryl S.
    Sheryl S. •

    Nancy, may I ask a question here? I'm curious what areas of the country people are writing from where these employers are located? I'm appalled at the age discrimination.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    Thanks again for the great comments. @Zale thanks for the follow up. No one is suggesting that you are not doing everything that you can to find your next position. I was simply offering some help, should you need it. We are not recruiters nor are we an agency. We do not place our members into positions. We try to offer everything that we can to assist you in your job search endeavors. @Theresa it sounds like you are battling age discrimination, distance as well as currently being unemployed. It's tough out there for sure and adding all of this into the mix only makes it harder. You might really want to contact a recruiter in the new area and try to work it from that angle. If there is a particular company that you are interested in, you might try to make some connections to it and see it you can actually come in through the back door. @Marie so very sorry that you are experiencing all of this. It is so true that others would rather step on you rather than give you a hand up. Of course this is not true across the board but we hear it all of the time. Age discrimination is a huge topic all of the time. It's unfortunate but it appears that nothing is being done about it. I remember watching a segment on CBS news several years ago where they interviewed "older" unemployed men and women. These people talked about how age discrimination is a huge factor in their job hunt and blah, blah, blah. That was back at the height of the great recession when 14 million people were displaced from their jobs. Sadly it's the same today. I will ask you the same questions as everyone else - have you tried applying through temp agencies? What about a recruiter? Are you networking both online and in person? Are you attending job fairs in your area? Are you asking around? Talking it up with family and friends that you are looking for a position? What about at your school? Since you just graduated, have you used your career services office to help you find a job. Many healthcare facilities will contact the local colleges with their current and upcoming needs for employees. This way the colleges can let the students/alumni know about the positions - sometimes even before they are posted online. Just make sure that you are all keeping your options open.

  • MARIE PERKINS
    MARIE PERKINS •

    I have worked at NIH(National Institute of Health) and also United Medical Center in DC working part-time in medical records. I have several issues. One is age discrimination. Just as you walking in employers have a change of heart already judging without knowing who you are. Secondly, at both the jobs I mentioned; no one wanted to train me properly( I know the basics) one person told everybody in the office that I was trying to take his job; so no one wanted to help me. End result, they let me go after 3 months. That person told HR that he did the best he could to show me but I just was not catching on quickly enough for him. REMEMBER HE NEVER SHOWED ME HOW. Also, the same problem with UMC in DC..same situation but with a female. This female talked on the phone (personal conversations with her girlfriends) and taking 1 1/2 hour lunches. The hours that I worked was 10am to 3pm. I have trained a lot of individuals over the years when I did work. I never mess with other people willingness to learn and succeed. Nowadays, people are jealous of one another (so sad) and that make me angry and becoming antisocial with todays society. Also. did I mention age discrimination is a factor too?

  • MARIE PERKINS
    MARIE PERKINS •

    I have been unemployed now for 2 years. Within the 2 years of unemployment, I went back to school for Health Information Technician (medical records) and that was in 2015. Since then, I have been looking for employment. Between the 2 years, I have been through at least 10 interviews. I believe age is a big factor in todays society. I just turned 54 in July. I have some experience in medical records working as a medical assistant in a clinic, but don"t have much experience working in the Dept. of Health information. Thats why I went back to school. Not only age, but now a days you need at least 5 years experience working in this field. They tell you to go back to school to further your education but how can I get experience if the companies don't hire you so you can get the experience.

  • Theresa C.
    Theresa C. •

    Nancy, I completely understand what you're saying about not leaving a job until you have another lined up and under normal circumstances I never would have done it. I started applying for positions six weeks in advance. It's extremely difficult to apply and expect interviews to be given to someone 1600 hundred miles away. There are signed leases to consider. I've been attending job search, workshop seminars and interview workshops. They have all told me that a few months of unemployment don't play a factor anymore in this economy. I had an eight month period of unemployment before being hired at my previous position. I can't see where a few months of unemployment diminishes over 20 years of experience. It's age. My issue is just getting past the age issues and getting that interview . I know I can sell my skills and experience once I get that sit down, face to face.

  • Zale Cowell
    Zale Cowell •

    @Nancy Anderson, I work in construction, I run yellow steel, meaning Dozers and Excavators, and have for over 25 years. before that I carpentered for a living. There just aren't that many jobs in this area. I call local contractors almost daily, almost to the point of being annoying! I have applied for jobs outside of my area as well. I do EVERYTHING I can! The point I am trying to make is that maybe YOU as well as other sites like this could do more! Education is not an option at this time in my life, so trying to direct me there is absurd! Just out of curiosity, how much does this site pay you to redirect people to think they aren't doing enough?

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    Thanks for the great comments. @Zale I certainly was not trying to imply that you weren't doing everything you could to find a job. It's tough - I agree and I agree with the others who commented that age is definitely a factor. I see it myself. I was only suggesting that you try for positions outside of the government - maybe. As for the agencies, are you calling them? We all register with these agencies and recruiters and then sit back and wait for them to call us. Don't do that. Call them - every day or every week at least. I keep a spreadsheet with everyone I have contacted regarding jobs and that includes agencies. I schedule follow-ups into it so that I don't get lax and figure - well I will just wait on them. Sometimes you just got to take the bull by the horns. @Dale we are all with you on this age thing. @Olivia in order to apply for most jobs you will need a resume. You may be able to check with those who run the GED program in your area for assistance in writing a resume. If you don't have any work experience, it's going to be harder but not impossible. You may want to try some of the local temp agencies. If you are seeking an admin/clerical type of position, they will more than likely test you on your MSOffice skills so be prepared. @Theresa not much I can say there. It's tough but you made the choice to leave without the benefit of another position. I have to tell you, as crazy as it sounds, companies tend to concentrate their hiring efforts on those who already have a job. I guess they figure that employed people are up to date on the latest technologies and methods and they won't have to take the time and babysit a newby in the field but just be able to hit the ground running. @Bert I have never heard of a company doing something like that. Unreal. Did they pay you for the time you spent there? You might be able to find a lawyer who deals with the EEOC laws and who would be willing to do a pro-bono case and can sue for age discrimination.

  • Olivia L.
    Olivia L. •

    What if you have NO resume? & the job search part that worries me is that I don't have a high school diploma, but I'm currently getting my GED @ G.C.C. But rarely do they ask if your currently working on getting a diploma, so it looks like I don't have either (nothing)!

  • Dale B.
    Dale B. •

    Age discrimination is definitely a problem, even in companies that you may work for. Individual performance is not necessarily a factor nor is previous experience that may improve productivity. But I look at things realistically, and if I was in their position, I would be looking to promote and work with employees who would be with me for the long run. But it is still frustrating as a 66 yr. old with tons of experience to be rejected for jobs because of age even though they will and cannot tell you so.

  • Theresa C.
    Theresa C. •

    I left a great job to move back to my home state for family. The company I was with definitely practiced age discrimination. Two years ago my department got a new boss. I was excited because she was a CPA and I was looking forward to learning as much as I could from her. Unfortunately, our 28 year old sweetie made comments to a co-worker that she couldn't wait for all the older employees to age out and they could hire younger people with degrees. Wow! Within a few months of her making that statement our company fired three people that had been with the company for 27, 28 and 29 years. The employee that had 29 years was a manager and I worked closely with her. She was a fantastic employee but her age was the reason she was let go. I knew that after seven years with this company I could be looking at that same prejudice. I decided that I didn't want to work for a company that put so little value on actual job performance, company loyalty and work ethic. So here I am four months later. ..unemployed. sigh

  • Bert Mason
    Bert Mason •

    Elaine M. and Zale Cowell: The law says an employer cannot directly ask your age. They CAN, however, ask the year you were born. Has no one heard of a calculator. I was called in for a job recently. When I arrived, they sat me at a folding table and chair. No one spoke to me for 8 hours. The next day I showed up for work and was told to go home. They told me I had done 4 hours of acceptable work, and 4 hours of unacceptable work. THEY DID NOT ASSIGN ME ANY WORK AT ALL! They gave the job to a recent college grad, with no experience. I have since learned that this is a ploy to get around EEOC age discrimination laws.

  • Zale Cowell
    Zale Cowell •

    @Nancy Anderson , I am registered with 16 on-line job finder sites including this one, and 3 temp services like Jean Simpson's, and for the last three months I have had ZERO contractors or Temps call me. I did have one referral call me in for an interview for a DOT Hwy Dept. job, and I thought the interview went really well. But there was a much younger man waiting in the lounge for an interview for the same job. And the next morning I called, and was told they chose someone else for the job! Don't say I am not doing enough, or trying hard enough! I went so far as to write my State Senator for help in getting that job! Oh, I didn't mention that there is a hiring freeze in this state on Government related jobs!

  • Larry Paz
    Larry Paz •

    I believe that I have a lot experience but I think there is a lot of age discrimination

  • Larry Paz
    Larry Paz •

    I totally

  • Elaine M.
    Elaine M. •

    I keep getting turned down for jobs that I am qualified for and I think it is due to age discrimination.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    Thanks everyone for the great comments. @Sheryl thank you so much for you insight into the assessments. Unfortunately that 100 question test for the hotel is here to stay. So many companies do these crazy assessments - many times the test has nothing to do with the position. My sister had to take a two-hour assessment for a retail position with a popular cell phone company. Then they called her in for another two-hour assessment and she never heard another word. So glad that you were able to use your network to land a great job! Congrats. @Rose so sorry. Not much I can say about a company like that. We all make mistakes. All we can do is apologize for them, learn from them and move on. I have to say that I wouldn't want to work for a company like that! Even though I know you are stressed trying to find a new position - so glad that you got away from that. When you go to your next interview, try to find a way to ask about a situation like this. Don't bad-mouth your former company but ask the interviewer - what do you do when someone makes a mistake? Do you fire them or do you use it as teaching tool? Then you will know whether you want to continue pursuing the position. @Cliff wouldn't it be great if we could form our own company. We hear this from job seekers all of the time. They read the sad comments and say - hey, let's form our own company. If only it were that simple. @John sorry about the age discrimination. Have you tried cutting your resume down to just the past 10 years and removing as many dates as you can - such as when you graduated from college, etc.? Another thing you might try is using a temp agency. They have a way of presenting clients so that when you do meet up with the interviewer, they don't care about your age - only your qualifications. Same with a recruiter. Try to find one in your industry. And don't forget to network. That's how @Sheryl got her new position and you could do the same thing. All the best.

  • Cliff A.
    Cliff A. •

    Have the job-seekers thought about banding together and forming their own company. I am sure that the different job-seekers must have great qualifications and experience with different areas of expertise that might get them to form a new up-and-coming company. Or at the very least do some brain-storming to come up with a some possible good ideas for a new company or new product. Just a thought.

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