SD Job-Seekers' Support Group

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
821

Dear Dopers if there’s one place to go on the internet to find smart people knowledgable about grammar it’s here.

I have a job interview as a dvr sales rep for a certain company with the Death Star as it’s corporate logo this Monday. It’d be part time and bring in some much needed money, and be flexible around my classes. The only downside is giant 1 hour commute.

Anyway grammar isn’t my strong suite. I’ve read, revised, repeated, and Word seems happy with it, but could someone give it a look and let me know if I missed anything?

(spoiler so it isn’t eating up a bunch of screen, the gap at the top under the ‘name’ is where my contact information is, and the name was changed to protect the guilty.:p) (also warning it might appear a bit whorish because well at this point I am willing to whore my self quiet a bit for a job.)

[spoiler]Juan Quixote

Seeking experience in IT and customer service by providing informed recommendations and sales of AT&T U-verse products and services to meet customer needs.

Skills, Interests, and Education

Skills and experience related to U-verse products and services:
• Setup MediaPortal Server and Client on my LAN. MediaPortal Client and Server function just like U-verse Total Home DVR and Set Top Box. Any computer on my network that has a MediaPortal Client can connect to the MediaPortal Server and view the EPG, schedule recordings on the server box, or just watch TV and recordings. Just like the Total Home DVR and STB; TV and recordings are streamed from the server to clients.

The major differences are MediaPortal uses a PC installed TV turner to pickup over the air, or cable channels whereas Total Home DVR uses IPTV streaming of H.264 encoded channels over fiber, and VDSL connections. This makes U-verse technology more adaptable and not at the mercy of the weather. Also MediaPortal only works with PCs while Total Home uses dedicated TV boxes. Another difference is U-verse technology can be interactive since it’s over an IP network. Currently implemented interactive functions include: weather, games, and phone book.
General skills:
• Windows maintenance and administration including virus removal, troubleshooting, driver management, working with the registry, setting access rights, system internal maintenance, etc.
• Microsoft Word and Excel. (see attached samples for work done with these programs)
• Social Skills. I’m friendly, outgoing, and eager to please.

Interests include Science, History, Technology, Computers and Internet. Related to U-verse I’ve had a long time fascination with Digital Convergence; the process of computers, internet, TV, game consoles, phones, and the like evolving into a unified system with many faces
Education:
• Self-education in computers and an ongoing education at Glen Oaks Community College. I am pursuing dual certificates for Computer Information Systems and Computer Support Technician, and an Associate of Applied Science in Business Degree. Based on progress reports projected GPA at end of semester of 3.5+ (See included progress reports for Computer classes. Other classes can be furnished on request as well as transcript when final grades are posted )
• Strong self learner, scored in the 99th percentile for Science and Social Studies on the GED tests, 95th for Mathematics, and 86th percentile for reading. (see included transcript copy)
[/spoiler]

Really hoping I get this. I got the interview at a school job fair thursday. I was just fishing for internship leads and started talking to the guy there. He said he didn’t have any, but we talked a few a bit about what he was looking for. Anyway they needed DVR sales reps so I made a good impression because I knew a bit about the product and done something similar as a hobby.

Tomorrow I plan to spend the day reading all about their products. I spent today making a really fancy spreadsheet for when I can work with drop down menus, and clock pie graphs that show when I don’t have class. More for a whizbang tech skills demo then practicality, but it is pretty practical too. Going to put in some homework samples I was proud of. My business flyer artwork and stuff.

I’m going to put the cover letter on the front of a blue folder, then put my resume on the left side and use a hole punch and those bendable metal paper fasteners to mount my included other papers on the right side. Then they can take them out to look at if they want.

He said they were looking for self motivated people.

Anyway thanks

822

I suggest you remove MY from this. If they want to know WHOSE LAN and network they can ask.

I may not be the best judge of this, but IMO this resume seems too specific to AT&T, as if your entire career goal is to work for AT&T. I personally would make the whole thing more generic about your technical skills as they would apply across a broad range of jobs.

But I’d be interested in hearing other opinions about this, because I’ve never applied for a job with such a specific skill set.

823

Thanks for the ‘my’ advice. :slight_smile: I changed it to "on a LAN:. Rereading it reads a bit more professional that way

Well it’s a resume written specifically for AT&T. I’m working on a general resume, but it isn’t anywhere near production ready. I figure I can recycle layouts and general things for the general resume. This caught me off guard. I told the guy I talked to I’d put one together over the weekend. I just meant to go as practice and see if I could get some leads on an internship or something. A lot more then I expected.

My skillset is quiet a bit more generalized in computers. I just listed the bits that I think would be most attractive to them.

824

Seeking experience in IT and customer service by providing informed recommendations and sales of AT&T U-verse products and services to meet customer needs.

Skills, Interests, and Education

Skills and experience related to U-verse products and services:
• Set up MediaPortal Server and Client on [del]my[/del] LAN. MediaPortal Server and Client [del]and Server[/del] function [del]just[/del] like U-verse Total Home DVR and Set Top Box. Any computer on [del]my[/del] the network that has a MediaPortal Client can connect to the MediaPortal Server and view the EPG, schedule recordings on the server box, or be used to [del]just[/del] watch TV and recordings. [del]Just[/del] Like the Total Home DVR and STB, TV and recordings are streamed from the server to clients.

The major differences are that MediaPortal uses a PC**-installed TV turner to pick up [del]over the air,[/del] broadcast signals or cable channels,** whereas Total Home DVR uses IPTV streaming of H.264 encoded channels over fiber [del],[/del] and VDSL connections. This makes U-verse technology more adaptable and not at the mercy of the weather. Also MediaPortal only works with PCs**,** while Total Home uses dedicated TV boxes. A[del]nother[/del] third difference is that U-verse technology can be interactive since it’s over an IP network. Currently implemented interactive functions include[del]:[/del] weather, games, and phone book.
[add a return here]

General skills:
• Windows maintenance and administration including virus removal, troubleshooting, driver management, working with the registry, setting access rights, system internal maintenance, etc.
• Microsoft Word and Excel[del].[/del] (see attached samples for work done with these programs).
• Social skills. I’m friendly, outgoing, and [del] eager to please[/del] a good communicator.

Interests include science, history, technology, computers**,** and Internet. Related to U-verse**,** I’ve had a long**-**time fascination with digital convergence[del];[/del] (the process of computers, internet, TV, game consoles, phones, and the like evolving into a unified system). [del] with many faces[/del]
[add a return here]

Education:
• Self-education in computers and [del]an[/del] ongoing education at Glen Oaks Community College. I am pursuing dual certificates for Computer Information Systems and Computer Support Technician, and an Associate of Applied Science in Business degree. Based on progress reports**,** projected GPA at end of semester of 3.5+ (See included progress reports for Computer classes. Other classes can be furnished on request as well as transcript when final grades are posted )
• Strong self learner, scored in the 99th percentile for Science and Social Studies on the GED tests, 95th for Mathematics, and 86th percentile for reading. (see included transcript copy)

825

Awesome! Thanks!

The unnamed test at the end there was writing. Scored 21th in that. So writing help is much appreciated. Thanks again!

826

You’re welcome – I couldn’t sleep, and it served as a marvelous cure for my insomnia. :wink:

827

Win win then.:stuck_out_tongue:

828

And it’s bad news on my part. I didn’t get the job. I’m probably going to have to put the house up for sale. Likely by auction.

829

Oh, crap… that really sucks man.

830

I just noticed this thread.

I’m trying to find a teaching job (music). I’ve had a number of interviews in the last couple of weeks, but no dice yet. The last phone call told me explicitly that I was “second in line” but they were giving it to someone else.

This afternoon I’m teaching a lesson to third graders, to be observed by the hiring committee. I’m frankly freaking out. It’s really hard to teach kids you don’t know, it’s massively stressful to teach in front of other people, and I haven’t been in an elementary classroom in a year. I’m also in a place where I see to be perpetually the runner-up for the job, and I happen to know that there’s one other person in the running for this one. Who, it turns out, has years of experience as a music educator and a doctorate in education administration from Columbia. Sometimes I think it would be less stressful to get a job at Starbucks.

831

I am real sorry to hear that Quartz. I’m sending you good wishes for the next time.

I had about the strangest interview I’ve ever had. This was a panel of 3 doctors interviewing me. Talking to a friend the other day, I speculated that they were busy people who wouldn’t devote much time or effort to it. They don’t even work for my employer, and I figured they wouldn’t know much about the job.

I was completely right, except for the part about how angry they were because of it. Not at me, but at our HR. No one had sent them my application materials, including my resume and cover letter. No one had sent them the position description, so although they knew the job title, they new nothing of the details of the job, and had no real basis to ask me any relevant questions. They expected an HR rep to be at the interview to give us some guidance or structure, but no HR person appeared.

They decided to continue anyway, but it was a very disjointed process. One of them said some things to suggest we might need a do-over interview, since they were so ill-prepared.

Later in the day, an HR person called and said the doctors wanted a writing sample from each candidate. While I desperately look for something that reads as more professional than smartass, I’m waiting to hear if I have to repeat the interview.

832

They filled the job and didn’t even interview me. For a job that I had 10 years of experience doing.

Shit!

I’m very near the end of my rope. Probably have to move in with my sister soon.

833

I’m so sorry for both of you. I’m working now, but I’ve been where you’re at, and it’s not easy. Just know that there’s someone out here sending the best thoughts for you and the others that are without work right now.

834

Just a post to offer some hope:

I am seeing an upswing in software jobs lately. 3 calls in the last 4 business days. I don’t know how this translates to your physical area or your job market, but seems like things might be getting a little better.

If you haven’t posted to Monster in a while I recommend deleting your resume and adding it in again. The recruiters often only search most recent entries.

Good luck!

835

It looks like I will be joining the lot of you tomorrow around 10:30 AM, and I’m glad to see I’m at least in good company (not that I want you all to be here, but I recognize names).

I am dreading my layoff meeting tomorrow - I know it’s coming, they started today, and it’s just a matter of my manager traveling to me since we work in different locations. I moved my family for this job, and learned that my years of seniority with the company weren’t the deciding factor, but time with the department :frowning: . It’s a devastating blow because I adore this job and this organization, and I don’t want to go anywhere - I had hoped to stay here until I retired, and I was on my way to an actual career here. The good news is that I know we are receiving good packages, my husband is employed, and we just rented (or are about to have the lease signed) our house in our previous state and will have the mortgage/bills paid, so we are okay money-wise for awhile.

The hardest part is going to be not breaking down on my manager tomorrow morning - it’s the two of us, plus an HR rep. I adore my manager and I know he would have fought tooth and nail for me. And I won’t lie because this is painful, and I’m alternating already between accepting it, and getting angry, and then getting sad. I’ve never worked in a company where I felt like my co-workers were a family, and I do feel like I’m losing my family.

So, lesson one is that I will never, ever become emotionally attached to a job again. Lesson two is that co-workers will remain co-workers, and not turn into friends.

First I have to get through the meeting tomorrow, and then I can go about with my job search. Any suggestions on just getting through? That’s all I want. To get through tomorrow morning without being a blubbering mess. I want to leave with my dignity intact, and I want to leave the door open for future possibilities.

After that, I will go home and cry. A lot.

836

I told my boss, at my last performance evaluation, that I thought I would stay here until I retired. I loved this place.

That was in May, after 7 years. In July, they told me I would be laid off in November, and I’ve been given 2 six-month extensions since then.

I no longer love this place.

I also found they have re-written the layoff policy, so employees facing layoffs no longer get a hiring preference on new openings. They have also changed the financial structure of the severance options, so it is always to the individual’s advantage to take the money and leave, rather than to stay and work for a limited time period in the hope that a new position comes open. It is clear they have no interest in retaining employees whose positions get eliminated.

837

I’m sorry to hear your news! It is no fun leaving a job you love.

I dunno. Many of my jobs have come from old co-workers who became friends. Leaving a job doesn’t mean you have to leave the friendship. Just last friday I spent the afternoon sipping beer on the porch of a man who used to work for me.

Sending you a wish of a short layoff!

838

We’ve had prior layoffs in other departments, and I have seen a few people rehired, so I know it’s a possibility. And I truly adore what I do. I won’t get my hopes up, but I still want to leave that door open.

And I’m sorry that you’ve been pushed around like that. That sucks :frowning: .

Honestly, it doesn’t apply to my current co-workers. We are friends, and I know we’ll stay that way. I think I’m just gun-shy of making friends out of co-workers in any new jobs because this truly has been gut-wrenching (I’ve known this was coming since Friday, suspected it a little sooner than that).

I work with some awesome people, I really do. I’m not sure I’ll ever find that in another place. Right now, I’m just in self-protection mode.

Thanks. I really am just terrified of this meeting tomorrow. I have problems hiding my emotions, and if my manager cracks, so will I. That’s the part that’s going to get to me.

839

Semi-serious suggestion for not freaking out – I have a squeezy ball that I take with me to the dentist (I’m insanely phobic). Maybe having something small and inconspicuous that you can hold onto and squeeze would help? (When I got laid off I was pretty much blind-sided, so I didn’t have to worry about it in advance.)

840

Actually, it was okay. It’s done, and it’s more of a relief than anything else right now. I am fairly close to my manager, and that was the hardest part - it was all based on seniority with our specific departments, and not with our organization - had it been organizational, I’d still have my job.

They are taking care of us, and I am feeling optimistic. I will miss my co-workers a LOT - they are the best group I have ever worked with - that’s the hardest part. But I’m on good terms with everyone at my office, although I was an employee for the national office, and that may help - a director told me to send her my resume because if something opens up, she would love to have me come work with her.

So - as of today, I am definitely in this group. Good wishes and job-hunting vibes to all of you.