Frustrating Job Search
Although there is supposedly a skilled worker shortage, finding a job is often hard.

Frustrating job search: temp agencies Unfortunately, most job offers are posted to the job portals by temp agencies. That means you might find 5 job listings from 5 different temp agencies for the job you want. But all 5 staffing companies are recruiting for one and the same client. So the job market doesn't look as rosy as you thought.

If you contact a staffing company anyway, it will most likely explain that the project will last 9 months at most. After that, the agency would have to pay equal pay (under German law), and no staffing company can afford that. You do have a permanent contract with the staffing company, but if it can't assign you a new project at the same salary after the project ends, most agencies let you go.

Which means you may not be able to build up your claim to unemployment benefits, your resume gets longer with every project (which some potential employers view critically), and after 9 months you start again from zero.

Frustrating job search: salary expectations If you do find a job listing that isn't offered through a staffing company, you're often asked right in the listing to state your salary expectations.

You know what you earn or used to earn in your job. And you state what you'd like to earn in the new job. Which is actually difficult... Often the listing doesn't say how many hours a week the job involves, so you don't know whether it's a 35, 40 or even 42-hour job. Sometimes you never hear from the company you applied to again.

And you'll be surprised what other employers are willing to pay for the same work. Unless there's a collective bargaining agreement.

Frustrating job search: employer behavior So you've found a job listing that interests you. Naturally you want to write a completely individual application. You comb the internet, go to the company's homepage, read everything, the history, the products that are made or sold, and so on. And then you write your application, tailored specifically to the ad. And just like that the morning is gone. Because a good application takes time.

If all goes well, after you send your application you get an automatic confirmation of receipt. And unfortunately that's often the last you hear of your application.

Sometimes you get a rejection. Weeks, months after sending the application. Usually just the message that you shouldn't take the rejection personally, but that so many applicants responded that you didn't make the shortlist.

No reasons given. For my part, I'd certainly welcome being told what the problem was. A piece of software I don't know. A skill I may be lacking. A small hint about what I can work on to have a chance at a similar job next time.

Job searching is frustrating Finding a new job isn't easy, takes a lot of time, and you often feel discouraged and find it hard to motivate yourself to keep trying again and again. A little more openness and transparency from employers when selecting applicants could help you work on yourself, keep developing, and still find a great job in the end.