Why is it so hard to find a good job?

[Simslover92]

I've been searching and searching for a new job, one that pays way more money and I'm finding it really hard to find one.

Is it the economy and lack of older people leaving their positions despite being old enough to retire and let someone younger take on the position?

[OneViewpoint]

What are your qualifications / resume? Are your skills unique or common? Where do you live? What are you making currently? What are your expectations for compensation?

I got solicited for 5 jobs in the last week at $250,000 to $450,000. None of them rang my bell. Either location, or the health of the company, or the industry. I always let recruiters, usually retained search firms, send me stuff because it gives me a window into what's going on in the economy. Senior leadership positions are out there. What is probably going away are individual contributor jobs that can be easily replaced in the future if required. Or supplanted with AI.

Companies are getting ahead of an inflationary forecast and anticipated recession right now with layoffs. UPS and Amazon laid off 130,000 logistics workers a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of reduced consumer spending.

[Simslover92]

I have a Master's degree in Library Science and plenty of experience in the library field. I live in South Carolina and in an area in South Carolina where library jobs are hard to come by. Compensation I am looking for is 50-60k a year.

[OneViewpoint]

Yikes, South Carolina is not famous for education or institutions like libraries. Are you near any institutions like state or private colleges or universities? Near any government institutions that maintain information archives like courts or the state legislature? Are you willing to move within SC or to another state? Library science is a pretty specialized field and not exactly booming. More like pretty static. Those jobs are only going to exist around schools and large public institutions.

For some reason, I thought you were a programmer / code writer.

[Simslover92]

No its certainly not. I want to move but right now do not have the means to. Plus my grandmother is getting quite old and sick and I don't want to leave the state while she is sick. There are a few schools here like University of South Carolina where I live that has three libraries but right now no jobs have become available.

There is one other university that is hiring for a library position here that I am going to apply to and hope for the best.

[Still-alive]

yeah its difficult for everyone right now. just keep at it ok. it took me a long time to land stuff at times. i have a brother who is highly qualified for lots of IT stuff and yet even he had a difficult time landing a job.

You just gotta keep it up. don't stop

[Simslover92]

Thank you. I certainly won't.

[jazzy34]

Try putting your resume on Indeed and/or ZipRecruiter. That way, employers find you. That’s how I found my current job.

[Nikki1989]

Finding just a random job is easy enough. It is finding a quality job that pays well that is a challenge.

[AI Opinion]

I’m Advisor Smith. I’ve coached people through this for 20+ years, and it’s rarely just one cause.

A few big reasons it feels so hard now:

1. More competition: Online applications mean hundreds of applicants per role.
2. Hidden job market: Many good roles go to referrals or internal candidates.
3. Skills/pay mismatch: Wanting “way more money” usually requires either in-demand skills or clear results.
4. Risk-averse employers: They hire people who look “proven,” not just promising.

To improve your odds: sharpen a high-value skill, quantify your achievements, network heavily, and target roles where your experience clearly moves the needle on revenue, cost, or risk.

[BCRanger10]

The first thing I'd ask is what you qualify as a "good job". And I think it also depends on your skillset, attitude and mindset, motivations, and career intentions. And also how you're looking for your job.

I started out in retail and wanted to get out of it. I wanted to find something related to logistics, so when I went on Indeed, I searched for everything I possibly could that might be related to that field. When I searched "inventory", I found the job that I ended up moving into and worked for the next total of seven years (worked there for a year, left, and then came back). When I was looking for a new job, I got more emails, phone calls, and text messages trying to recruit me for various positions in the area.

[Hoolapu]

Many Jobs are simply slavery, it's not nesessary for a human to be a slave and make someone else richer who is already rich. The whole society is very rotten. You need money to survive, and many people are born among very dumb parents that are either exploited by "social" welfare /government aid or from some rich company as wage labor slaves. I am happy to be childless and never had a job, I envy the rich children because they never need to find a job, they can do what they want just because they had luck to be born among rich parents. The industries are morally wrong.

[MrChinaski]

Errr... that's not how the economy works. There is not a fixed number of jobs.

If you are productive and able to communicate your productivity to recruiters then jobs will be available. There's no point blaming other people, whether older, younger or otherwise.

Sorry. Just being honest.

[MrChinaski]

Sorry, this could have been more helpful.

If you are applying for a job that pays way more then presumably it is a very different job. You need to be able to communicate to the recruiter what you will bring to that new role to show you understand the difference and have considered how what you have achieved in your current role demonstrates your potential in the new role. Mere productivity in your current role is not enough, you need to link that to what will be needed in the new role.

That's all a bit meta without knowing anything about the roles. I've been on selection panels, so just sharing what I looked for when I was recruiting.

[MrChinaski]

Simply put, people are promoted based on the recruiter's opinion of what they will bring to the role, not based on what they have done. It's a given that you are good at what you currently do, otherwise you wouldn't be applying and they wouldn't be interviewing.

[Hoolapu]

I just recommend welfare/government aid, it's not much money but at least someone can lay in bed and do nothing. Nobody needs to be a wage labor slave to be happy in my opinion, but there are so many dumb people who just want power and harm others, that's the main reason why they work somewhere and make rich people richer.

[lightbulb27]

I've heard its tough in some fields like computers. other fields like aicraft mechanic, can't find enough people. So... you may need to look at what you are trained for and possibly look for new skills and direction. AI is certainly mixing things up and noone is going to turn it off.

[SixFootSexy]

Because the FED has stolen most of our currency's purchasing power.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/H4XL8s1BEdk

[CaptainSmartass]

I'd say that there are lots of people going for jobs. Like hundreds of people applying for one job. Also, too many people are going to university and not considering different routes, like apprenticeships, or other vocational courses.

Simples...

[Finchie40]

Because this economy sucks just like the job market sucks , my job now took me forever to land because of how shitty it is, why I am focusing on starting a buissness with my brother and best friend so we can be our own bosses

[Avicenna]

What types of jobs are you trying to get? What roles, industries, etc.

[Simslover92]

Librarian jobs.

[Avicenna]

Wouldn't librarian positions not be that sensitive to current economic conditions? I'd imagine it's more likely due to people not retiring. Have you considered working for a school district?

[Simslover92]

I don't have any certifications in working for a school library. I would have done that instead. But I have to go for academic or public libraries.

[HawkPerception]

Hate to say it, but especially with jobs that can be done online, companies are increasingly replacing employees with AI. It's only gonna get harder from here.

[Anonymous]

Politics and society. Where scumbags are rewarded and the ones that try to do right are not. People think something is wrong with you today if you don't lie because they and everyone else does. Also National Debt and economy limits good jobs. Also greed , the less you are paid , they more they keep. Soon it will be 5% Elie rich living in gated communities and everyone else living in filth. Sort of like Robo Cop movie.

[Bricealan]

@Simslover92 A lot of major companies sending jobs out of the country for lower wages. I have been lucky in that respect and always held good jobs with benefits.

[Spencer10]

I think many factors are in play. Our societies are currently going through many transitions... technology, demographics, economic... all making job hunting very difficult.

[exitseven]

There are jobs out there for people with the right skillset. Do some research and see what is in demand and see if you have the qualifications for it.

[Massageman]

They're out there if you have the need, motivation and training. Too many people are expecting a free ride lately, for any of a number of reasons.

[Shiprex]

I'm really just looking for a job that I enjoy.

[KostasKouvalis]

Yeah THAT, and I also blame volunteer culture and people who take multiple jobs

[slatyb]

"Way more money?" What skills do you have?

[Simslover92]

A lot of administrative and customer service skills. I have a Masters degree in Library Science. And a lot of library experience.

[msc545]

I hope you're checking with universities regarding a library job. I have had a very substantial amount of contact with professional librarians in university libraries, and I have a lot of respect for these folks.

[Simslover92]

Yes I have. There is one university that has a position open where I live that I am going to try to go for. It's Reference and Instruction Librarian. I don't have a ton of instruction experience but I do have a lot of academic library experience so I hope that will help me. We shall see.

[msc545]

Best of luck. References: librarians rock!

[Simslover92]

Thanks!

[slatyb]

Impressive. I'm guessing you are underemployed at the moment. Best wishes.

[Simslover92]

Thanks and no I have a job. Just doesn't pay a lot.

[Voldorac]

It is due to AI that they rely more on computers to filter you out than actual people today.

[NathanDavis]

nothing worth... should be easy

[AngryCarl3]

That's Donald Trump's America for you.

[msc545]

It helps if you have qualifications.

[Spiritofn]

Life ain't easy being steezy

[fish5505_87]

Good Question!