Why is so hard to get a good job in Cleveland, Ohio

I've gone on several interviews as Product Marketing Manager.. One of the companies is a wireless company w/national accts... My interview was with 5 people including CFO...
Response I received back from recruiter is that I'm to sales oriented...

I feel you. The job market is so poor that hiring managers are being awfully picky about candidates. I've had a 3 interviews in the past couple months for jobs that I was EASILY qualified for but did not get the job. Each and every time it was because they believed my skills were strong but more suited for such and such areas.

BTW I'm only two years out of college and it's really frustrating because even the entry level positions are hard to get into.

I'd recommend checking out his networking group:
finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CVJS/

The next meeting is on Monday.

Good Luck!

Hey you're not alone. My field is also the same way (Electrical Engineer). I've been out of a job for six years (and counting).

I've been out of college since 1994, and jobs were just as scarce then as it has been the last six years.

Maybe do like me; change careers. The bad thing is that it will be less pay. But it is better than nothing.

Do people in your business/marketing jobs employ many temporary/visa type workers? I see that way too much in engineering.

I agree with the comments above employers are being very picky not understanding the need to scratch a little deeper than just whats on the credentials. I have a MA, LSW with 15 years in non-profit in all types of populations and have applied for several positions in goverment, city and county however, never chosen. Some jobs included managing some of the very contracts they mentioned in the interviewing process however, never receiving a call back regarding the position. I find that suspect at best think of the odds of someone managing the very contracts you mention in the interviewing process however, not being considered for the position. Additionally, after my last interview I believe some of these positions at the county, government etc. the applicant has already been chosen from inside and employers are just going through the motions realizing because of regulations they must advertise the positions however, no intention of hiring outside the network. Now, going through this process of applying for positions understand why governmental entities appear to be stagnated in most areas because its the same old ideas and persons who have been at organzations for at least 20 yrs and just holding on to receive their PERS retirement. That probaly is not a problem however, someone needs to be checking and making sure those county and governmental leaders re-up there committment to innovative and reaasessing the agenices goals to the community versus PERS!. unknown

I have lived in Northeast Ohio for 99%of my life. I am 34. I am a auto technician. I had a really good job at a dealership for over five years. Prior to that I spent over five years in professional racing. I left the dealership and tried what I thought was going to be a "better situation." Things were short lived. Oh well, life goes on. My old employer could not hire me back because they filled my position. Looking for a good paying mechanic job to support your family in late January is tough. Slowest time of the year. No one is hiring. Over the last couple of years I have thought about moving to a different state. I have read all to often the negative statistics of northeast Ohio. I like it here. It's home, but I have gotten really tired of the blah! N.E. Ohio is so bad on jobs. Many companies low ball pay and salaries because they know people need good work. The same job in Colubus would pay more! I've seen it. I look on the net all the time. I can go to lets say, Tennesee, The Carolina's or Florida, and recieve all kinds of perks plus moving expenses paid, and have dealerships compete over me. But up here I can't even get a job until spring. N0 work! It has nothing to do with qualifications. Once I got out of the "loop" I had to wait until spring. I am still waiting. So, ask yourself, "where can I live within a couple hours of the mountains, a couple hours from the lake or ocean and have employers compete over me?" Why should'nt I move? -Family &friends that's why.
If I did, I would have to stay within a days drive to visit. A lot of people are leaving N.E. Ohio for a better life.

I jobhunt on indeed.com for the whole country to find electrical engineering jobs. All these advertisers (companies and employment agencies) seem to want all kinds of experience. In many cases, they want very specific experience to their company. Most people do not have that specific experience as they have never worked at a company that caters to their products.

I wonder how all these new engineering college graduates find engineering jobs so fast? I get through to engineering managers and the so-called
"person that does the interviewing and hiring."

How come I see very little Americans on this faculty page? Why not hire some qualified Americans?

www.eecs.case.edu/dw/doku.php?id=eecs:people:faculty&section=faculty_and_staff

Why no good jobs in Cleveland? Cleveland was a rust belt city with factories to support it's financial base. The high paying manufacturing jobs have went overseas. Like it or not. The ripple effect stopped the service industry. No services are needed for a customer who can't pay. The real estate mess is the same. No jobs, no pay, foreclosure. Our idiot elected officials will not admit this.
People today are willing to work for tyrants at a lower wage to keep themselves employed. Companies see this and and use it to thier advantage. Length of service is no longer an asset, it's a liability. The loyalty is gone. So even the best places to work are gone also.

Jake_EE in Lorain, Ohio said: How come I see very little Americans on this faculty page? Why not hire some qualified Americans?

www.eecs.case.edu/dw/doku.php?id=eecs:people:faculty&section=faculty_and_staff

I came across your comment and felt the need to answer your question with my own. How do you know these people aren't "American", I think you might have been referring to US Citizens?

Beth,
readdress it to the one who wrote it. Jake_EE.

Beth,

Sorry for any confusion. I'll say nonimmigrant aliens instead of not being American.

When I was in college I had professors that were nonimmigrant aliens from other countries. They told me they were here in the states temporarily.

See the problem is that there is an endless supply of nonimmigrant aliens. They come here to work and displace qualified born and raised legal citizens of the United States.

According to the Department of Labor web page:

www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/h1b.htm#who

The employer, before applying for H-1B status for any alien worker pursuant to an H-1B LCA, took good faith steps to recruit U.S. workers for the job for which the alien worker is sought, at wages at least equal to those offered to the H-1B worker. Also, the employer will offer the job to any U.S. worker who applies and is equally or better qualified than the H-1B worker. This attestation does not apply if the H-1B worker is a "priority worker" within the meaning of Section 203(b)(1)(A), (B), or (C) of the INA.

Hundreds of companies are in violation of this section because they refuse to interview me. Most won't even return my calls.

I have job experience as an Electrical Engineer and the degree. I am very qualified and I am a legal U.S. citizen. Industry has has displaced me, going on seven years.

I want to how long qualified people like me have have to take a back seat to nonimmigrant aliens? And another thing is that I question if companies are paying the nonimmigrant aliens as much as a legal U.S. citizen would get. Why else would companies pass over us qualified U.S. citizens? It's all about cost and savings.

Why doesn't the Department of Labor enforce their own rules and regulations?

Jake_EE in Lorain, Ohio said: How come I see very little Americans on this faculty page? Why not hire some qualified Americans?

www.eecs.case.edu/dw/doku.php?id=eecs:people:faculty&section=faculty_and_staff

Gee... with an attitude like that , you wonder why you can't find a job?

This was posted by www.youtube.com/user/programmersguild on June 16, 2007.

Immigration attorneys from Cohen & Grigsby explains how they assist employers in running classified ads with the goal of NOT finding any qualified applicants, and the steps they go through to disqualify even the most qualified Americans in order to secure green cards for H-1b workers. See what Bush and Congress really mean by a "shortage of skilled U.S. workers." Microsoft, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, and thousands of other companies are running fake ads in Sunday newspapers across the country each week.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU

I wish I could take a hidden camera in the Employment Connection(a welfare agency) and film the free workshops they have for employers. Here is a link to their Employer Service Brochure:

www.city.cleveland.oh.us/government/departments/econdev/wfdev/City%20of%20Cleve%204%20pager.pdf

I'm sure they are happy to inform the employers about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program is a federal tax credit which provides Ohio employers with a tax credit against their federal tax liability for hiring individuals from nine target groups of disadvantaged job seekers. Tax credits range from $1,200 to $2,400 for all WOTC target groups. Employers may receive a maximum credit of up to $9,000 per eligible employee for the Long Term IV-A target group.

jfs.ohio.gov/wotc/

Sick. Isn't it? I don't think anybody can get any help from the social workers until the person has been out of work so long almost anybody would be in foreclosure. Disgusting.

I get the creepy feeling the employers are waiting for the U.S. citizen job seeker to be a "Long-Term IV-A Assistance Recipient" so they can get the $9,000 tax credit. I am concerned that the family needs to on TANF at least 18 months. 18 months is a long time for a family to be on TANF.

jfs.ohio.gov/wotc/TargetGroups.stm

I am also concerned that nobody seems to be checking these tax credits for abuse. What happens when the employer gets the credit? Based on what I have read the employer only has to keep the person long enough to get the tax credit. Then nobody seems to care what happens next. I notice a lot of people seem to change jobs every 2 years.

Well, I had 2 jobs in 20 years. Born and raised in NE Ohio, taught to be dedicated and all that. 18 months of unemployment led me through a myriad of interviews, all with the same "overqualified" results. I actually got hired at 3 companies, only to have them fall through at the last minute. One company that is quite large even ran my background, drug test etc. Called me the Friday before I was to start to say they were retracting their offer. No reason.

I agree with the poster who stated that longevity is now considered a liability. I know many who have been terminated, then positions opened up with similar sounding names only to be filled by younger new hires at entry level salaries.

Good luck to all of you, and me. We need it.

I am in serious need for a job. I have been unemployed almost a year and had no offers. I have even tried entry level jobs. My husband is seriously ill and unable to work. He has several weeks of disability left. At that point we will have no income and will have to pay over $900 a month in hospitalization insurance. Please I will consider anything. I will take part time. I have many years of experience, in clerical work and type at least 60 wpm. Please give me a chance.

I've been out of work since May-2008 now and I've submitted nearly 300 applications and resumes and actually interviewed about 8 times only to have someone else chosen.

I've been in sales since 1982 and in the past 5 years held 4 different sales jobs.

One of the companies reorganized and released 40% of it's sales force amongst which I, who hit my annual goal after only being with the company 6 months, was one of 100 newer hired salespeople released.

Then I went to work for a family owned title company, what a mistake I made there. I had to get out before the daughter of the owner took out a contract on my life. This is a very difficult industry to work in, no doubt.

I then worked for a medical equipment restorer only to have them not pay bills and go out of business within 2 years of my employment, sales increases for 28% and 32% there.

I started an insurance licensing program for a private college, made my first year goal while marketing it, selling it, being compliance officer, starting up securities and continuing education training, hiring instructors, scheduling and much much more. After I did all that they let me go in favor of a long legged blond of about 30 years of age, honest. I understand she's gone now too.

So if you have that going for you with a college degree and are good looking, be sure to apply for a pharmeceutical job since they only hire models types, male and female.

For us homely 40+ with families it's time to do I just don't know what. Unemployment runs out the day after Thanksgiving. I haven't given up, I have two kids in high school (college to look forward to) a house payment, and all of that. I haven't given up, I haven't given up, I haven't given up! If I keep saying it it will be true, right! Change for the better and all that.

Good Luck and God Bless

Hi im a high student and i have a question...do we really need to go to a good college to get a good job?

Yo Hwan in Salmiya, Kuwait said: Hi im a high student and i have a question...do we really need to go to a good college to get a good job?

Yes The world is changing. A good school is a start. Think of it as a stepping stone in you life.