Sanguinem infernum. Difficile est. Stercore

Well, just had another rejection for a job I applied for. 

Nothing new there you might say, I could show you a long list of rejections if you have the time, goes with job searching, move on.

What really puzzled me me about this one is that I'd worked in the sector for many years,  closely evidenced every skill and knowledge in the job spec and yet didn't even get an interview. Now I'll never know why that is but, sitting at home, and I'm being honest here, I'm feeling more than a little put out. I can rationalise not making it through an interview but really, there were other candidates 'more closely suited..? If I'd written the job spec myself my skills and knowledge could not have been more closely matched. My opinion natch.

How much has age played a part in this decision being made? Or am I just crap and lucky to have held down any job? Or are there other things going on in that organisation which meant the job was never really 'open' to outside applicants. Yes I know it's pointless to speculate but I was really quite put out. Had I mentioned that?

I've been working on a taxonomy of job applications to see if there is a discernible pattern to rejections or if it's all a giant misunderstanding with a brutal, uncaring, unfeeling universe. I think I know which one it is.

This is a ranked list of rejections reasons with (1) you know there was 'no chance' to (7)  'tolerable chance of an interview.'

1. No qualifications for the job whatsoever - applications made with a 'click and send' borne out of frustration. Zero expectation.
2. Tenuous qualifications for the job - might be able to spin the CV to look like there is a match but you know there isn't.
3. Vastly over-qualified and low salary - experience and skills exceed the job spec but worth a go as there's nothing else in the pipeline. Zero expectations.
4. Quite over-qualified and moderate salary - much as above, possible chance but, really, is there? Very limited expectations
5. Skills match but different sector - possible chance but, really, is there? Deep down you know it's No.
6. Close match - same sector and skill sets align - but no interview. WHY WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? Must calm down.
7. Close match - same sector and skill sets align - no interview. Totally perplexed

As you may have noticed there have been very few of (7). None actually. There have been a couple of interviews following some (4) applications but they were a long time ago.

I seem to have found a special place between being far too qualified at one end and not getting interviews at the other.

I am perplexed. 

I have been unemployed for 6 months now.

Some days are great. Others not so much