I've been out of the work force since the holocough. Back in my day, you'd get an interview, meet with the manager and he'd pretty much hire you on the spot. Before the corona bullshit, I only ever failed 2 interviews out of about 9 and it was because I was high as fuck. Wish I never touched the shit.
Now I've been looking for a job for months and can't get one. Applications are all online. You can't just go and say whats up to the manager and get hired. In fact, managers don't even do the fucking hiring. They tell you to go fill out the application on indeed or whatever. 9/10 times this goes completely unanswered. In the rare occasion that it does not go unanswered, the first step is a "phone interview." This consists of some fuckwit on the other end reading off borderline incoherent questions.
"Tell me of a time when you dropped your work to do anything else, and this could be with your friends, family or other."
The fuck kind of question is that? Physically dropped? Like on the floor? Dropped as in the slang for "stopped what you were doing?" Fucking morons write this shit. Of course I fail these phone interviews every single time even though I give precise and excellent answers to this drivel.
In person interviews are no better. You meet with some dumb 20 year old girl who asks you the same questions, but you get to see what goes on behind the scenes.
"Tell me of a time when you left your work incomplete, but had to work harder to finish your work" is one I got yesterday.
That question doesn't even make fucking sense. If I left the work incomplete... then is was left INCOMPLETE! Of course I answered by saying there is no time in recent memory that I left my work incomplete.
This dumb little bitch writes "did not answer."
So... the process is this.. You meet with some stupid little whore who asks you questions written by a pajeet on SSRI's, paraphrases your answers, then hands them off to some dumb fat bitch ("hiring manager") you've never met who glances over the paper the first bitch filled out for you.
JOB INTERVIEWS LITERALLY DON'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE. This must be hell.
Oh yeah, and one job asked me 2 questions only through an email link. What is my race and gender? They denied me within 15 minutes of me answering those.
Look for local jobs at small companies, or work for yourself as a handyman or similar depending on your skills.
Also I know you're just frustrated and ranting here, but maybe your people skills need some work? No offense but even stupid questions like those serve a legitimate purpose in that they give you and the recruiter something to talk about.
My advice:
Stick to small companies or self employment.
Cultivate skills which are valuable where you live.
Be polite, reliable, and professional. Do this even when you think it doesn't matter, or when "you're not being paid enough to care". Having a good reputation will benefit you in tons of unexpected ways.
Put the word out in your social circles that you are looking for work. You do have social circles right? If not, start getting your personal life in order.
Spend some effort advertising yourself. A personal website, business cards. Profiles on websites like linked in. Etc. Not only do these increase your visibility, they make you seem more serious and professional.
When you're talking to a phone screener, just be polite and answer their stock questions. If you've been on the other side you know they're basically just there to make sure you're not a crazy person.
In the real interview with the manager, just relax and talk shop. What are their problems? How are *you* going to solve them. Any good place to work will have specific objectives for hiring you. Find out what those are. If they don't, that's a huge red flag.
I do all of this except that.
The handyman thing really isn't working out.
Small companies seem to be doing the same bullshit hiring process or hire for $12 an hour to work you to death.