I hear ya. I help my husband job-hunt, as I’m better at it than he is. I finally learned to print out every job description as I applied to it, together with a copy of whichever version of his resume that I sent. I assembled them all in a folder and kept them next to the phone for quick reference.
FYI: There are job opportunities for engineers and mechanical designers at Vetco Gray (GE Oil and Gas) in Houston, Tx. If you want to PM me, I’ll get you the info. I could get a bonus if they hire you.
I think it’s fine to say the offer is too low, and to say specifically that you were led to believe the minimum was going to be higher than the offer you got. In my current job I got a lowball offer at first, and I asked the HR person how they had come to that number. And she gave me this rap about the amount of experience I had, to which I asked, “Well, how many years did you credit me with performing similar work?” When she answered 5, I went into an thing about how other work I did was also directly related to the kind of work they wanted me for, and said in my opinion I have 15 years of related experience. They called me back a day later and offered 25% more.
I guess the main point is to give them an rational explanation of why they are undervaluing you.
One caveat to this --I had a job at the time and could afford to say no. Think carefully about whether you can afford to say no, given that you don’t actually have an offer from the other company yet.
Also, try giving your favored company a call, and lay this out. You have an offer, but you prefer them, and is there any way you can make this work?
Good points. At this moment I’m doing all right, but I can’t hang on indefinitely. I still think I’ll turn down the offer, since too many things remind me of the company I used to work for. I think I might call the second company. I did make it clear in the interview that a quick answer “yea” or “nay” would be appreciated. Should I talk to the manager I would be working for, asking a few of the things I should have asked during the interview, then casually bring up how the process is coming along? Or just skip that and talk to HR directly?
Done, check your PM. I don’t know if I can get you a bonus, but I’m not going to turn away help 
If you have contact info for the manager, use it. HR will never tell you anything, as a matter of policy, until they are directed to make you an offer or notify you that you’ve been rejected.
I haven’t posted in here before but I figure I may as well join the party…
I lost my job in mid-September when our company dissolved the department I work in. I work in advertising as a media buyer and w/ the economy the way it is, every agency in Chicago is shrinking or going away completely…so no jobs.
I’ve had a few interviews for positions that inevitably get put on hold. At this point, I’m looking for anything in my industry or otherwise. I’m even considering entry level assistant-type positions just to have someplace to go each day and to get insurance going again.
Anyway, I’m with you all. And if anyone in Chicago knows of any entry level spots in advertising or otherwise, please let me know. Thanks and good luck to everyone!
As I have said before, I’m always sorry to see new members to this particular club. Good luck HelloNinja!
I’ll admit that I’ve only read the first and last pages of this thread, but if y’all don’t mind me being here anyway I’ll jump in…
I’m a senior technical editor with a large government contractor, and the reality of this industry is that you are only employed through your program’s period of performance. The company will try to find you another program when yours ends, but there are no guarantees. My program doesn’t end until May, but the only project we have left ends next month – and the program recompete is uncertain. Many people here have been given a firm end date of 1/20. I haven’t been given any date yet, and my boss keeps saying he’s sure they can find a way to keep me through the end of the program (plus if the recompete happens I’ve been told that I can work on the proposal), but the bottom line is that I could be out of a job on 1/21. So I’m looking, but I have the advantage of still being employed.
I’m trying very hard to find another position within my company, networking my little heart out, and two senior managers here are helping to circulate my resume (I even have a recommendation from my program manager: I’m a high performer who has been employee of the quarter, recently received a cash award, etc.). But there have been no bites, and none of the internal job openings are suitable. In the past 2 weeks I’ve made my updated resume searchable on both Monster and Careerbuilder. I’ve only heard from recruiters so far, but I figure that I’ll “register” with as many of them as I can: as long as they don’t charge a fee, it can’t hurt.
I do have a vent-worthy story already, but I don’t feel like recapping the details. Suffice it to say that there are some managers out there who have absolutely no respect for your time/schedule, and there are some recruiters out there who want you to do their job for them. (The upshot of that situation was an email from the recruiter yesterday: the position is suddenly on hold.)
I do have one lead to follow up on: an email from a recruiter regarding a position that sounds interesting, but the commute would be a bitch. Still, I’ll call the woman today and get some more info. Can’t hurt to check it out, and if it comes down to it a crappy commute is better than no job. 
Good luck to all of my fellow job-seekers, especially those of you who are currently unemployed!!
Good luck Misnomer! Glad you have a buffer whereby you can look safely.
Argh! The new manager at my old employer is interested in re-employing me, but apparently there’s a policy of not re-employing those who took VR.
Quartz, is it a hard-and-fast policy? Is there any wiggle room (even if it might be kind of a pain)?
Could really use some help here on a few issues.
Issue no. 1: I have a couple of contacts who have asked me to send them my resume with a cover letter which they will then pass along to some of their contacts. So the letter will be a truly generic cover/introduction letter. I guess the way to write it is to state my current position and that I’m relocating to such-and-such for family reasons (which is true). Then summarize my experience and then??? Any help is appreciated.
Issue no. 2: I’ve gotten a few bites, and had good interviews, and then nothing. What I want to do (and which I know I can’t do) is ask these people why. How do I deal with the frustration of not knowing what’s turning them off?
Issue no. 3: I’ve become aware of some information on the internet about me that, although not false, could be a turn off to employers. So I’m concerned that they are googling me and seeing this information. I haven’t contacted the website owner yet, and would prefer not to. Is there a way for me to do my own “defensive SEO” so that this particular page would drop to the bottom of Google hits? Or should I just suck it up and contact the website owner?
If I actually get an interview I never accept a brushoff with no explanation at all. I will call, email, whatever to the person that interviewed me and very politely ask for the status of the job, whether it was filled, or deleted or what. Very very few will give no feedback at all if you push them just a little bit. Before leaving the interview always try to get a date as to when the position is likely to be filled or when a decision is to be made. Verify your contact information and express how you look forward to hearing from them even if you don’t get the job. And always ask if they can pass your resume to other hiring managers if you don’t get the job you interviewed for. You have nothing to lose.
I don’t know any way you can influence search engine results without editorial control of the page you want to influence. So – bite the bullet and contact the webmaster.
But-- Google first and see how far down you have to go to find this. Unless it shows up among the first dozen or 2 hits, it seems unlikely anyone will get to it.
I don’t know. The guy is desperate for decent people, but he’s at the bottom end of the management chain.
Gah! I was supposed to talk to the guy I’d done the temp/PT gig for about addl. work, and he’s postponed – he’ll “try” to call me tomorrow. If not – well, I’m not going to be around Friday, which I already told him. So that would be next week, which ain’t much of a week for getting stuff done. Fuck this bullshit.
I need a rich husband.
Some progress on my front. As mentioned, one of the of the principles from London is in town. We went yesterday to try and open a checking account - only to be denied because of not having enough documentation. We have an appointment with a business lawyer tomorrow to have him explain how we move forward. Finally(!) we are moving forward. Even though I trust the guys, I’ve been home alone too long with my thoughts (doubts) and it starts to wear on me.
Other things have fallen into place too. A piece of equipment that I need to develop showed up on eBay last week for less than 1/10 of the price I would have paid for it new. (5000 new, 300 on eBay.) We set it up and got it talking and we are moving forward with that. If I were superstitious I would say it was a good omen.
Continued good thoughts to all! (Twickster, if you find that rich husband don’t forget us little guys!)
Hi all! I hope your efforts at finding a job are going better than mine. I got called for an interview at a job I think I would really like. Unfortunately because of all the snow we received last night, I decided to take my husbands vehicle with 4 wheel drive instead of my vehicle with GPS. You can see where this is going , right? Yep I got terribly lost, even though I gave myself plenty of time, I was still 45 minutes late.
The wonderful lady in HR gave me directions twice, and stayed on the phone with me. Looking back I wish she would have let me reschedule because by time I got there my nerves were shot, and I think I gave a crappy interview. I had a feeling this job was mine to win or lose, and I’m kicking my own butt, because I’m pretty sure I lost it. I was doing okay until I started getting hypothetical questions. My mind went blank for the second one, and I only half answered. The answer came to me in the car on the way home. I suck.
I hope everyone elses day is better!
Look on the bright side: you got an interview. I’ve had precious few of those.
I will send you good vibes, they usually work when I send them to others, I just can’t seem to get any good vibes for myself.