You made me laugh. "Why would a Java developer/software architect apply for a position as a certified forklift operator?" - My guess is he's so frustrated with finding work in his field he said to himself that he would try anything and everything new! Funny thing is, there are some employers out there that do bring in people who have no prior experience in a field and are willing to give on-the-job training or trial by fire when you are hired opportunities. That's happened to me twice in my lifetime. Sometimes when you need a job, you don't have the money or time to re-train in a new field or develop a resume tailored to that position, so you roll the dice and sell yourself. You just never know!

Laura, I don't know why, maybe because they want to say that they are looking for work but still want to collect unemployment? Or they clicked submit on the wrong job posting in error. But I can tell you a headhunter recently sent me a job for a forklift operator when i am looking for a systems analysis position. Nothing in my resume remotely points to a forklift operator. To the headhunters defense I will guess that the email was auto-generated by their software program that search the job sites.

Harold, I sent it to the trash folder. I get emails every day, some are a match to my skills but most of them are out of state locations. I follow up on the ones that are only a match and that I can commute to within an hour. Good news is my executive management wants to convert me, bad news is that corporate HR can come back and flat out say no. I can't get my hopes up, so I have to keep looking. As you said things drag along, a lot of companies do move slow. I do like the companies that email a status to you, at least you know they received your application and if they are proceeding with you or not.

I've been in IT for over 20 years, mostly mainframe(no it's not dead, yes it is still needed), and every once in a while i'll get calls for a position that I'm not even remotely qualified for. Some time it's not even a word fragment on my resume. I've broken many a young recruiters heart telling them they are barking up the wrong tree(or counting the wrong bits), when they think they have a hot prospect.

Something I would like too add, some people reach a point in their lives where their skills are so unique, hardly no one knows how to employ their skill set, so the easy way ......hmmm , they try real hard to match. So they try and match them due to the limits of their best guess. If you have so many skills try to apply for only a subset of what you totally possess. A guy interviewed me once and asked with great pride, after a long and torturous session " Can you use the latest apps like Twitter, Facebook, and other social media a prospective manager here will be asked to use?" I was so frustrated So I responded " You mean, how it relates to the integration of the code with the API on a task specific operating platform joining the cellular network with telephone network and getting a proper display on the hand held user device plus all the necessary conversions to produce the messages, yes I think I can use them. " So what am I saying, maybe you are good but might have to trim down your skill listing so it exposes you too a better match, and something in your field but a new job setting which you will shine. Maybe fork lift operator is Union and pays $120 dollars an hour, I would go for it. LOL

Oh I gave up, and am starting a third career now. Good luck

Harold, It was as you expect, his jaw dropped a little and he stuttered, cleared his throat a bit and asked if he could bring another person in on the interview. They both completed the interview with me. Thanks for the feedback, I only got frustrated, not that he was not doing things right but I though I was actually talking to the hiring manager and when he finally did bring in a person from the firm, things went extremely smooth for the remainder of the interview. I made the next to last review cycle but my answer seemed to get his attention a little more. Thanks for the chance to relay this story and really enjoy your views and this blog, one of the best.

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