# Job seekers: how's it going? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330 "2011-06-21T19:03:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/21 "2011-06-22T21:40:16Z")
Congrats **Two Many Cats**! Good luck! I just got a call that narrows my choices - and it looks like I’ll have to take one of the jobs I’ve been pushing off. The job that I’ve been waiting for has just become too unattractive to continue to wait. My client’s client scared the crap out of me from the beginning, and based on today’s meeting, he has introduced conditions that make my involvement unappealing. My client understands and offered a full release from my verbal promise. So now I’ll start calling the jobs that I passed up to see if any of them are open. I can still afford to be picky - but I can’t afford to be so forever. I have one that is a sure thing that will be about an hour’s drive away. They could start me next week. Before I take it, I’ll call one that is local and was a sure thing a month ago - I’m doubtful it is still open, but maybe. I will have to choose by Friday. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/22 "2011-06-22T22:42:18Z")
Had a good job interview earlier this week, and I’ve got another one later in the week, plus a second interview with the folks from earlier in the week to prepare for. I think I’m doing okay, but we’ll see if I get an offer from either of the companies that are hiring. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/23 "2011-06-23T00:43:28Z")
High five, Two Many Cats. That’s awesome. My interview yesterday is already paying off, in unexpected ways. I had a networking meeting today - and once I mentioned where I interviewed, their potential contacts suddenly went from “Assistant Supervisor to the Director” to “why don’t I just set up a meeting with the director instead?” I’d humblebrag where, but I don’t want to jinx anything. It’s been the best week I’ve had in a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/24 "2011-06-23T01:17:57Z")
Job hunt sucks - searching for over a year now. Results: two phone screens. I’m thinkin’ I’m now retired - smack in the middle of the ‘Lesser Depression’… (that is ok though) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/25 "2011-06-23T05:31:33Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Okay, against my better judgement, I’m gonna allow myself a little excitement here: > > I-GOT-IT-I-GOT-IT-I-GOT-IT-I-GOT-IT-I-GOT-IT-I-GOT-IT!!!\ YAY! Working on site gets your foot in the door, and it’s a lot easier to get hired when people know you and know your work. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/26 "2011-06-23T06:13:51Z")
I haven’t killed myself this week so… OK? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/27 "2011-06-23T08:30:27Z")
I’ve been trying to get a degree-related job for over a year now (as much as I like my current job and the people I work with/for, I have concerns about the longer-term future of bricks and mortar electronics retail in Australia), with almost no luck. I’ve been getting an interview with one or two of the Graduate Programmes, but being in the top 10% of applicants come shortlisting time isn’t much use when there’s only positions for the top 3-5%. One programme had 900 applicants for 20 positions, and that’s not atypical of the situation overall. Fortunately there’s an opportunity at work that I’m pursuing, but longer-term I’d prefer to be using my degree for something constructive, rather than decorating the wall in my study. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/28 "2011-06-23T21:51:10Z")
I actually quit looking many years ago and have embraced the idea of being “retired”. It looks good on me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/29 "2011-06-24T01:20:26Z")
I’m not unemployed, but I’m casually looking, and every time I refresh my resume on Monster, i usually get a flurry of recruiter calls for about a week, so that’s a pretty positive sign, I think. This time, it looks like one is going to turn into an actual in-person interview, so we’ll see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/30 "2011-06-24T02:22:02Z")
On Tuesday afternoon my church posted an ad on Craigslist for a part-time administrative assistant. As of this afternoon we had 37 resumes, with applicants ranging from college students looking for part-time work, to people with Master’s degrees to people with 30+ years of experience. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/31 "2011-06-24T03:09:52Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > On Tuesday afternoon my church posted an ad on Craigslist for a part-time administrative assistant. As of this afternoon we had 37 resumes, with applicants ranging from college students looking for part-time work, to people with Master’s degrees to people with 30+ years of experience. I’m surprised you only got 37. ---
**Author:** ![Fearless\_Leader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Fearless\_Leader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fearless_Leader)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/32 "2011-06-24T11:38:27Z")
It’s meh. I’m getting a fair amount of interviews but no offers yet. Not getting interviews sucks, but this is also kind of defeating. Hoping that something pans out soon but otherwise just truckin’ along. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/33 "2011-06-24T13:23:46Z")
Starting the new job on Monday…woohoo! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/34 "2011-06-24T15:04:48Z")
> [@ptr2void](#): > > Starting the new job on Monday…woohoo! Woohoo! good luck! ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/35 "2011-06-24T15:50:33Z")
> [@ptr2void](#): > > Starting the new job on Monday…woohoo! Yay, time for more confetti! ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/36 "2011-06-24T15:58:23Z")
Thank you, thank you! It certainly helps when the old boss – who was laid off with you – gets a new job and needs to hire some more people 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/37 "2011-06-24T16:35:01Z")
I gave my notice at a job that was sucking my soul away and got hired temporarily (re:hourly) by another division. Heard word today that this position maybe ending in the next month, but it appears that they might switch me to another division, but no word yet if that will be hourly or salaried. In the meantime, I’m applying for everything that could work. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/38 "2011-06-24T17:07:52Z")
Mrs. Simmons starts her new job Monday after two months unemployed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/39 "2011-06-24T17:33:29Z")
I start a six month contract on Tuesday (pending my reference checks). I could have gotten one for longer, but have promised my current business partners that if they get their acts together, I will come back to our business. I regret the promise a little, because I don’t have faith that they’ll get it together and I think that now I just kind of want to move on to my next big thing. However, this way I can delay having to decide what the next big thing is… I have been very spoiled and have worked from home for the last 2 years. It will be a real adjustment. On one hand, it will be nice to get more social interaction. OTOH, I am very used to working around \*my \*schedule, not someone else’s. Also I will have to adjust to a long drive every morning and evening. But it will be nice to start having income again. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330/40 "2011-06-24T18:37:54Z")
I had been unemployed for nearly two years. I got laid off shortly after my daughter was born, and decided that I’d take care of her instead of looking for employment. My wife had a great job and daycare is expensive. So, I took the first year off voluntarily. Boy did I have a wake up call when I tried to get back into the work force with such an employment gap. I found that most employers won’t even look at your resume if you have been unemployed for more than 6 months. I was beginning to think I was retired at the age of 30 and would be a home maker for the rest of my life. And, it’s not like I’m unemployable. I’ve got a great military career and a BSME with several years experience in the aerospace industry. Finally started getting interviews a few months ago and landed a job June 1st in my field and utilizing my degree. The only downside is that I had to uproot the family and move to a different state. But, so far we like it. And, as a bonus, my wife’s boss didn’t want her to quit, so he gave her a computer and asked her if she’d work at home part time. Wins all around! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-seekers-hows-it-going/586330.md?page=3)