# SD Job-Seekers' Support Group **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 26, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955 "2008-04-26T11:58:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/121 "2008-05-28T16:52:18Z")
**Siege** – I did an hour-plus-each-way commute for two years – but [list=a] [li]It was my dream job[/li][li]They were paying me a fuck of a lot of money[/li][li]Gas was about a buck a gallon cheaper[/li][/list] and I still spent most of those two years bitching about the commute. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/122 "2008-05-28T17:05:05Z")
_sigh_ Well, it’s my turn to soon join the ranks of the unemployed. My contract wasn’t renewed, so as of Friday, no job, no insurance. At least there’s unemployment. I’ve been expecting this for a while (rumours of budget cuts have been rife), so I ramped up my job search well over a month ago. I’ve had a number of interviews over the last couple of months, but no offers. OK, one offer from a contract house, but the client decided that I didn’t have the analytical capability they were looking for, so that got dropped. And just yesterday I got a rejection on a job that I thought I pretty much _had_, which is depressing all on its own. They said they had decided to “pursue candidates who were a stronger match to [their] requirements”. This after putting me through writing tests (I’ve been a writer for 15 years!), two video conference interviews (2 people in Germany, one in Montreal), and a phone interview with yet another person in Germany. I must have come awfully close, and that’s what’s so disappointing. I’m still waiting to hear about another potential job. Again, something I thought I had in the bag, but then the prospect said their decision was going to be delayed while they interviewed another candidate. AFTER flying me out to CA and making me miss 2 days of work. I coulda been paid for that. What do these companies _want_ from me, anyway? Job hunting becomes my full time job on Monday. I’m so looking forward to it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/123 "2008-05-28T17:18:36Z")
[QUOTE=Siege] Well, I’ve got an offer in hand, and it’s for significantly more money than I was making, but it’s 50 miles away. I repeat, it’s 50 miles away. It’s in a rural area with no mass transporation and, even though it’s divided highway almost all the way there, I’d be looking at an hour and a quarter commute each way and I don’t like driving that much. I’d basically be leaving the house at 6:30 am and not getting back until 6:30 or 7:00 pm. I called the recruiter this morning and he pushed me heavily to take it, but it’s simply too far away. I haven’t given the company my reply yet. Could someone please tell me I’m not crazy for turning it down? [/QUOTE] If you’re think you’re going to be hating life, then you’re not crazy to turn it down. I just put in a resume for a job in BFE, and was called for an interview and had to say, “You know, on second thought, I’m not willing to live in BFE so never mind.” (Real professional. :rolleyes: ) I’m not at all sure that any job is better than no job, so long as you can still scrape together enough for body and soul. But I’m also sure that when I can’t afford groceries and rent, BFE will be looking mighty good so let’s all hope I haven’t made a mistake. **Morgyn** , sorry about your situation. Hope you find something soon. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/124 "2008-05-28T23:29:41Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] **Morgyn** , sorry about your situation. Hope you find something soon. [/QUOTE] Thanks, **Jodi**. I shouldn’t really gripe too much, I suppose. Lots of people, even in this thread, who are worse off than I am. I’m not in danger of being put on the street, and there are _sigh_ plenty of contracting gigs. I was just hoping for this one because it was a permanent job with a very stable company. So I’m irritated more than anything else, as well as a trifle worried: _what am I doing wrong? Am I doing something wrong, or is it just the breaks?_ It nags, you know? Meantime, **Siege** , Jodi is right. If you think this is going to make you hate life, turning it down is not crazy, it’s sane. No one needs that kind of stress in their lives. Good luck with finding something you want that’s closer to home. ---
**Author:** ![Her\_Royal\_IMFness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f07891/32.png) [@Her\_Royal\_IMFness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Her_Royal_IMFness)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/125 "2008-05-29T00:06:42Z")
w00td00!!! Do a dance with me, peoples! Okay, it’s probably not dance worthy, but at least I’ve secured a job to hold me over until I find a job that fits my degree. I was offered (and I accepted) a position at another local call center. I’ll be starting from the bottom, on the phones, but at least it’s a full time job that will help keep the bills paid. However, the job hunt for the “real” job continues. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/126 "2008-05-29T00:27:04Z")
Yay for a paycheck! ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/127 "2008-05-29T08:34:55Z")
**Siege** , I actually _like_ commuting (I like driving by myself for a bit before I get to work, what can I say), but if it was over an hour one-way, even I would hesitate to take the job. If you’re considering occasional heavy traffic, that might be almost three hours each day that you’ll never get back. And probably three hours each day during which you would be thinking “Durn traffic, why did I take this job???”, which would not help your overall satisfaction. Good luck with finding something that is more to your liking (plus offers the same kind of money 🙂 )! And: w00t to **Her Royal IMFness** Me, I’ve sent my signed contract to the new company’s HR, but haven’t heard back from them. I’m somehow expecting them to call any day now to tell me they’ve made a mistake / the contract was not drawn up correctly / I missed to turn something in, and to please go find something else. I guess to be reassured I actually need to wait until the 1st of July when I turn up at work and am not kicked out. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/128 "2008-05-29T10:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=Her Royal IMFness] w00td00!!! Do a dance with me, peoples! Okay, it’s probably not dance worthy, but at least I’ve secured a job to hold me over until I find a job that fits my degree. I was offered (and I accepted) a position at another local call center. I’ll be starting from the bottom, on the phones, but at least it’s a full time job that will help keep the bills paid. However, the job hunt for the “real” job continues. [/QUOTE] Congratulations. Wishing you joy in your new job! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/129 "2008-05-29T13:40:37Z")
Well, I wrote the e-mail turning down the job and cc’d my recruiter on it. Surely enough, I got a phone call from the recruiter trying to persuade me again to take the job. He spent about 15 minutes trying to get me to do so yesterday. Yes, I know he loses out by me turning it down, too. Still, he was a little too pushy for my taste. I have a brand, new husband who mentioned the other night that it’s nice coming home to me and he missed me when I was out one evening. I’d rather spend time with him than on the road. Thanks for backing me on this, folks. **Einmon** , I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. I hope it comes through. **Her Royal IMFness** , congratulations and here’s to finding the “real job” soon! ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/130 "2008-05-29T13:49:09Z")
Well, I’ve moved out of the Job-Seeker Group. I have finished my first full week at my new job. I’m also waiting to hear about another interview (they are supposed to call today). So far, the job is good, but the hours are definitely long. Hopefully I find out today about the other one, as the hours are much more friendly. Here’s to keeping my fingers crossed… Brendon Small ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/131 "2008-05-29T14:48:34Z")
[QUOTE=brendon\_small] Well, I’ve moved out of the Job-Seeker Group. I have finished my first full week at my new job. I’m also waiting to hear about another interview (they are supposed to call today). So far, the job is good, but the hours are definitely long. Hopefully I find out today about the other one, as the hours are much more friendly. Here’s to keeping my fingers crossed… Brendon Small [/QUOTE] Way cool! Glad things are working out. ---
**Author:** ![Basandre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@Basandre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Basandre)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/132 "2008-05-29T15:43:38Z")
Bleah, it turns out that in this state school librarians need to be licensed to teach. Never mind, back to the want ads. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/133 "2008-05-29T20:28:37Z")
Well I made it through today, which is all I was asking for. If they lay me off now, when I get back from my leave, I will cope with it. Cheers all! Good luck with your job hunting. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/134 "2008-06-02T19:07:19Z")
I finally got word back from the interview I had a month ago. “We really like you, but I think you’d be better suited for a more analytical job.” Poop. StG ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/135 "2008-06-03T01:51:12Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] I finally got word back from the interview I had a month ago. “We really like you, but I think you’d be better suited for a more analytical job.” Poop. StG [/QUOTE] That’s poop all right. Sorry. I found out today who got hired FT in my college dept. They are all very deserving professors and I have no objections. It just still bugs me that I’ve been there a few years longer than they have…but maybe that’s part of the problem…? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/136 "2008-06-03T02:07:21Z")
[QUOTE=Siege] Well, I’ve got an offer in hand, and it’s for significantly more money than I was making, but it’s 50 miles away. I repeat, it’s 50 miles away. It’s in a rural area with no mass transporation and, even though it’s divided highway almost all the way there, I’d be looking at an hour and a quarter commute each way and I don’t like driving that much. [/QUOTE] Can I just say that I really, really, REALLY envy you for having the luxury of being able to afford turning down a job because the location isn’t ideal? I have spend the last two weeks sending resumes and cover letters to just about every fracking job that has “biomedical” in it on monster, careerbuilder, indeed, and at company web sites. They are all over the fucking map, from CA to NJ, and I will take the first one that makes me an offer, cause I only see about a 10% chance of one ever doing that. I’m just not qualified enough in a bad job market. All I can apply to are entry-level positions, and right now there are thousands of recent college grads all applying to those too, and most of them have fantastic internship and co-op experience, and a much better GPA than I had. I have absolutely nothing that sets me apart from them in a positive light. I know I"m supposed to keep positive and all, but it’s really fucking hard to do that when I get several rejection emails a week, and thus far only one “non-rejection” email. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/137 "2008-06-03T02:23:33Z")
Oh, believe me, I don’t blame you one bit! Five years ago I was laid off for 7 months and I had to resort to clerical work to stay employed. That’s why I’ll use every technique I can to get a job. Can you do volunteer work that would give you some experience while you’re job hunting? I’ve seen too much of you around here to believe that there’d be nothing that sets you apart. On the other hand, I certainly understand your frustration and you can tell me to fuck off if you like. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/138 "2008-06-03T03:48:39Z")
[QUOTE=Siege] Can you do volunteer work that would give you some experience while you’re job hunting? I’ve seen too much of you around here to believe that there’d be nothing that sets you apart. [/QUOTE] Ummm…I don’t think there’s much volunteer biomedical engineering I can do. 😕 I mean…that’s not really the type of thing that [i[has\* volunteers. As for setting myself apart, well, yeah, around _here_ I might make an impression, but my vast knowledge of late 20th/early 21st century cartoons isn’t something one can list on a resume…unless I start applying to some sort of cartoon encyclopedia guide. Hmm… _searches monster for cartoon encyclopedia writers_ …damn… ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/139 "2008-06-03T13:02:53Z")
Speaking of Monster – every time I try to go to their site, it completely freezes my browser. Any ideas why that may be happening? I really should have a resume up there, at least – to say nothing of reading there regularly. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955/140 "2008-06-03T17:06:22Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Speaking of Monster – every time I try to go to their site, it completely freezes my browser. Any ideas why that may be happening? I really should have a resume up there, at least – to say nothing of reading there regularly. [/QUOTE] What browser do you use? I use Firefox 2.0 and I’ve never had any problems. Make sure your java and/or flash is up to date. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-job-seekers-support-group/446955.md?page=8)