F**K YOUR JOB BOARD— A MESSAGE FROM A FRUSTRATED WIFE WITH AN UNEMPLOYED JOB SEEKING HUSBAND (Rant)

I typically write sci-fi pieces or promote my novel. But today, instead of tackling the uninspiring task of complaining about job boards and their aimless career opportunities, I’m taking on this rant for one simple reason — I feel for the honest, hardworking job seekers who wake up every day just to be met with rejection. Lying on their backs, hoping for a shot at a $15.50 entry-level position with 500+ other applicants, only to hear nothing in return.

Is it just me, or does it feel like everyone is hiring, but no one is actually getting hired? Am I the only one noticing this pattern? It reeks of recession — though honestly, it feels more like a great depression, maybe even the total collapse of the corporate world as we know it (jk… I think).

Why You’re Not Getting Hired (or Worse, Ghosted by Employers)

You’re competing with hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants.

My husband was one of 500 applicants for a chiropractor receptionist position. I think the hiring manager picked him at random for an interview. But here we are, still waiting with bated breath for a callback.

AI is making hiring even worse.

AI-generated spreadsheets make it easier for employers to filter applicants based on preferences they should be vetting themselves. We’re not stupid — I work in IT, and we use AI for everything. So why wouldn’t a hiring manager use it to weed out candidates? But what happens when AI starts filtering based on biased factors? Something to think about.

First come, first served.

No one is reading 900+ resumes. I don’t care if it’s AI or a human. They’re probably looking at the first ten. And if resumes are sorted alphabetically? Congrats, Mr. Adams — you just got the job!

Job boards are bullsh*t.

They’re packed with jobs that don’t exist. Or worse, jobs that were already promised to an internal hire. I hate job boards. Once upon a time, they were a goldmine. Now? They feel like a Shiba Inu coin mine — utterly worthless.

So What Now?

The odds are stacked against job seekers. Robo-hirers are out here ensuring your AA degree keeps you from even being seen. So, what’s the move?

Find a higher power and start praying. You’ll need it for the mental stability required to endure this hellscape of a job market.

Stand on business. If your application gets rejected, email them and ask why. Some employers will give feedback. Use that to improve your next attempt — or just keep complaining. Your choice.

Don’t quit your current job. There’s a great depression happening, no matter what MSN, ABC, BCD, EFG, or FOX tells you. I see it in my husband’s eyes with every rejection from his 202 job applications.

Apply in person. Sure, fill out the online application. But then go to the business (respectfully), drop off your resume, or call to confirm they got it. Even if they’re blowing smoke up your ass, at least they’ll remember your name.

To My Fellow OINKs (One Income, No Kids)

If you’re holding down the household while your partner struggles to find work, I see you. I know you’re just as burned out as they are. But without your patience, love, and income, they’d probably lose their mind long before you. Stay strong.

(Side note - thankfully after my husband got a job. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2 and ended up losing 3 jobs in five months. So we’re back to struggling. And, I can’t find a new job, now *cue eyeroll*)

Comment below let me hear your horror stories about the job search process.