SD Job-Seekers' Support Group

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
181

[QUOTE=featherlou]
Contrary, have you considered instead of getting another master’s, getting something more hands-on, like a technician accreditation in your chosen field, or possibly a related field? It might seem like a step back, but it might be your way to get in the door.
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My field is training and employee development. I have plenty of experience at the lower level jobs within that field and would most definitely consider returning to instructional design in order to get my foot in the door. However, even when I strip out most of my experience I’ve gotten ruled out as over-experienced.

The same four or five positions keep coming across my Monster emails, and have for the last four months. They are all entry level positions and I’ve applied for those that fit my skill set. Needless to say, I’ve heard nothing back.

At this point, I’m considering a career change with the second masters (I’d started a thread a couple of months ago asking about the comparative merits of two degrees within that field). I’d also considered returning to teaching but honestly that makes my soul just wilt. I taught for five years and just really do not want to get a masters in education in order to get certified to teach in MA. If I’m going to start over again, I’d rather do it in a field that’s long attracted me.

182

hmm, no they didn’t offer me the job yet but it is down to 2 people apparently. More of the hated questions what are your strengths, what are your weaknesses? Does anyone really tell them “I am a meth addict who loses huge pieces of the day sometimes”?

Que sera sera.

Adhemar

183

They just sent me an offer letter! Whoo hoooooooo!

Adhemar

[QUOTE=adhemar]
hmm, no they didn’t offer me the job yet but it is down to 2 people apparently. More of the hated questions what are your strengths, what are your weaknesses? Does anyone really tell them “I am a meth addict who loses huge pieces of the day sometimes”?

Que sera sera.

Adhemar
[/QUOTE]

184

Woohoo, woohoo! Congratulations. Wishing you luck and joy in your new career! :slight_smile:

185

Woohoo indeed!

186

I made it to the second interview of a job I really wanted, but ultimately, did not receive an offer letter. Oh well. my best friend is coming out next weekend for 12 days, and I’ve got tickets to two Wilco concerts. I guess I’ll enjoy the rest of my summer, somehow, and not get too depressed.

187

[QUOTE=adhemar]
They just sent me an offer letter! Whoo hoooooooo!

Adhemar
[/QUOTE]

Congratulations!

188

I’ve got good news. I had two interviews this week – a phone interview on Monday and a face-to-face one yesterday. I made the cut for both of them, so I now have an face-to-face interview for the first job and an application to fill out for the second one. What’s more, they both look like good jobs. Keep your fingers crossed for me, folks!

189

Good for you, Siege and adhemar!

Reading this thread has made me realize that I must be grateful for my jobs, even though they are all PT and odd jobs. At least I have them. Not being able to get interviewed at my workplace stinks, but I’m still there.

190

I’ve been job hunting for years now.

Yes, years.

Now, this is a good deal the fault of my (relative) laziness, I’m sure. But I had pretty big savings, one short contract job, and freelance work, but it’s not been enough for quite a while now. And at the rate my savings has been draining (yes, I know that’s what it’s for, but still), I’ll need to find something pretty soon. (Fortunately, I’m cheap, so I think I can build the savings back up pretty quickly with a decent salary.)

Unfortunately, my experience is somewhat limited, in terms of industry, and I’m sure that’s turning off a lot of potential employers. But I’m still hunting, seeing if my general writing (and mild editing) skills can get me anything.

Hopefully, something soon. But if not, I might have to take anything I can get. Unfortunately, “anything” is a little too large a category; what exactly do I apply for if I’m just looking for something to pay the bills? It’s not like I can just throw my resume at every single ad I see; I have no idea how to be selective about it. And the way the job market is, it’s not like I’m guaranteed that either. I’ve gotten the “silent treatment” from applications to retail, been rejected because I didn’t have as much bookstore experience as another applicant - lemme tell you, THAT was sure an ego boost…

Well, we’ll see what happens.

191

[QUOTE=adhemar]
Elmwood is it possible to call the limited number of companies that have your type of job? Ask to meet with them for just a few minutes even if they don’t have a job available at the moment. Ask them to keep youin mind if something does come up and if they know of anything related to pass on your name. Also maybe you can think “outside the box” for something related but not the traditional urban planner position. for example my background is logistics coordinator but I can make a case for working at a logistics company because I know the customers viewpoint.

Hopefully you will get the claim process straightened out easily.

Adhemar
(cross your fingers for me, I had a 3rd interview with a company I liked and I think they liked me.)
[/QUOTE]

I’ve been hammering away at private architecture, engineering and design firms. There’s a small number of them in Cleveland, so to maintain the two contacts a week I need to continue collecting unemployment, I’ve contacted some two or three times already. I did get one interview, but there wasn’t a position behind it; they were thinking about expanding their planning services, maybe. I’m not very optimistic.

Otherwise, I had only one interview since I was laid off for a position that actually exists. Today, I found out a month after the fact it was offered to someone younger and with less experience than me. Someone who already had a job, who wasn’t desperately in need of one. They’re getting $80K. Eighty thousand dollars a year.

Now the only thing that’s out there is a $35K planning director job in the most economically distressed community in the Cleveland metro. Think Gary, East. St. Louis, Camden, Highland Park, Harvey - it’s Cleveland’s version of that. The salary is about half of what the position should pay, according to an American Planning Association salary survey. I have to apply, but I could never accept; at $35K, I could not pay the mortgage and regular living expenses without going deep into debt.

Planning is a very specialized field. I’ve investigated “outside the box” opportunities out there. However, because they’re dependent on some aspect of real estate and land development, which is pretty much dead in the region now, such opportunities don’t exist.

Short selling the house, destroying my credit, moving back in with the 'rents in Buffalo, and a possible end to what is growing into a long-term relationship, is probably going to be the outcome of all of this.

192

[QUOTE=Siege]
I’ve got good news. I had two interviews this week – a phone interview on Monday and a face-to-face one yesterday. I made the cut for both of them, so I now have an face-to-face interview for the first job and an application to fill out for the second one. What’s more, they both look like good jobs. Keep your fingers crossed for me, folks!
[/QUOTE]

Woohoo! Good luck!

193

Back on page 3 I said that I’d been told the company I work for was going to close - we were led to believe this would happen fairly gracefully, but it didn’t play out that way.

I was supposed to be off work on Monday helping out at a [url=“http://www.atomicshrimp.com/st/content/free_lunch”]decontamination training exercise
[/quote]
, When that was over and I got my effects back, there was a message to call the office. Since I had to pass it on the way home, I decided to drop in instead.

And I was told that the company had been declared insolvent and we were all redundant.

Because of the insolvency, there’s no money for redundancy compensation, but in cases such as these in the UK, the government steps in and pays it (well, up to a limit).

There are some bright sides - we’re due pay in lieu of notice (because we were given none), which will also come from the National Insurance fund. I qualify for ‘job seekers allowance’ - which is the modern-day equivalent of the dole. My mortgage payments are covered by insurance and I’ve spoken to the bank, who were quite understanding and have bumped up my overdraft limit in case there’s a hungry gap before all the funds start rolling in.

There are jobs out there I can do, that pay enough to support us all - I applied for one today that would be just spot on, in fact.

194

Mangetout, I’m sorry to hear you were correct and are now jobless. Wishing you luck in your job hunt.

As for me, I continue to be wrong in my predictions. I guess I will be unsurprised if we are laid off, but so far, I’ve been wrong…

195

Bumping this thread to ask a question: how should I package my resume? I’m applying for a job that wants a whole mess of paperwork - should I staple this whole mess together, get a folder, or what?

196

[QUOTE=Queen Bruin]
Bumping this thread to ask a question: how should I package my resume? I’m applying for a job that wants a whole mess of paperwork - should I staple this whole mess together, get a folder, or what?
[/QUOTE]

Ran out of editing time. I forgot to add, I will be dropping the package off in person rather than mailing it.

197

I’m in too, as of next Friday my job will no longer exist.

I’ve kept things as professional and friendly as possible as it’s a result of the recession and nothing personal or professional. My boss has promised me a good reference that he’d like me to edit and contribute to before it’s finalised. My immediate manager will happily be a referee (do they exist in the US? A phone contact, nothing written, but they’ll happily chat to any prospective employers.) My last editor will probably referee again too.

I want to get at least half a dozen queries out while I’m still ‘working out my redundancy notice’ rather than actually unemployed, but it’s a limited market out there.

Good luck to us all.

198

[QUOTE=Queen Bruin]
Bumping this thread to ask a question: how should I package my resume? I’m applying for a job that wants a whole mess of paperwork - should I staple this whole mess together, get a folder, or what?
[/QUOTE]

I’d get a folder.

199

New job seeker checking in. I just found out Thursday my job is being eliminated, and I will be out the door in November unless I find something else within the organization.

I just put in my first job app yesterday, at the University. I don’t want to give my employer a second opportunity to downsize me if I can avoid it.

200

[QUOTE=Spoons]
Might as well jump in here too. I just graduated with my law degree, and now I need to find a law firm with which I can do my articling. For those not in the know, the articling year is like an apprenticeship, and must be done before one can be called to the bar. It is done concurrently with the bar admission courses that are also necessary. Looking for an article is the same as looking for a job, so here I am.
[/QUOTE]
Just an update–I managed to find an articling position. I start in September, and will be doing the job while I study for the bar. Good news!