Job seeker positive despite rejections

Vic Gordon is not convinced by reports the job market is improving.

The 56-year-old has been searching for fulltime work in Rotorua for three years but despite hundreds of rejections, is refusing to give up.

"You have got to remain positive."

Yesterday Mr Gordon had his first job interview for the year but said overall he hadn't noticed an increase in vacancies.

"They've been saying for the last two to three months that it's picking up," he said.

Mr Gordon has 20 years' experience in finance and administration but is open to almost anything. He said his CV showed his diversity - he's done everything from finance/admin to tourism to purchasing roles.

"All I want to do is to get a job, ideally with a bit of a challenge," he said.

He checks all the job sites, is enrolled with a number of agencies and regularly knocks on doors. The feedback, when he gets it, is often the same - too many applicants.

"There can be between 60 to 80 others going for the same job," he said.

He said he has also been frustrated by employers advertising a role then changing the requirements or withdrawing it altogether.

Mr Gordon said like everybody else he needed to be working for his sanity and to support himself. He's had a bit of casual and part-time work over the past three years, but it's never enough.

"I have maybe 10-15 years of my working life left, I need to have paid off my mortgage by then," he said.

He expects to hear the outcome of his interview next week - but in the meantime he'll be back pounding the pavements on Monday.

"I don't want to sit on my butt and let life pass by."