Job Hunting - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Poppinjay · 09-09-2005, 08:23 AM

I've been in the same industry (media) for the past 17 years. I've never had trouble finding a job. In fact, over the past two years, a few places have called me to ask if I'm interested in working for them. Now, we've moved. My wife finished her MBA and was offered a job paying way more. But not enough that I can laze around.

The thing that gets me, is that I am having no luck finding anything. There have been SEVERAL positions open, but I get nothing. It's like they hold al lottery to decide whose resume gets reviewed.

The way my current employer works, if I apply, and I fit the qualifications, and there is no obvious anti-social tendencies, they have to interview me. But I get nothing. I had ONE interview, and the manager told me I was a strong candidate and that I could expect a call and to call him if I had any questions. So I made the usual follow up contact, which he never replied to, until he had his personnel person e-mail me that they chose somebody else.

I dress well, I interview well, I can put together a killer application package, I have a wall full of awards for my work, but nada. I would understand if there were no jobs, but several have come open.

In the meantime, I'm at my current job, commuting home on weekends (300 miles). Any advice?

denim · 09-09-2005, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppinjay

In the meantime, I'm at my current job, commuting home on weekends (300 miles). Any advice?

Get used to commuting? Maybe you can arrange to work from home?

Sage · 09-09-2005, 09:35 AM

go to your local Employment Security Commission- the one in the town you moved to. They can help you with making sure your resume is up to snuff (when's the last time you revised it?), making sure your cover letter is A+ (when's the last time you re-wrote it?), and directing you towards companies that would hire you. Remember, 80% of all jobs open never get advertised anywhere, so you have to network to find them. Figure out who you want to work for, why you want to work there, then call up the company and talk to the guy who you would be working under. Tell him how great you are- come up with a 1 minute "informercial" about yourself to tell him over the phone. Then, meet with him in person- this will be just like a job interview but without a job at the end. Basically, you're making friends with the people in the companies that will have the positions that you want. Be nice to everyone you meet at these places- sometimes the secetary has more sway than they appaear to.

Take a week off from work to go to the ESC and to network, network, network, then keep going to your 300 mile away job. The job world has changed quite a bit in the 17 years you've been at your steady job, so it behooves you to catch up on what employers expect and want.

Remember, a company wants to do an internal hire first and foremost, so you're going to have to market yourself as so incredibly stellar they can't pass you up! Head on over to soyouwanna.com and check out the advice they give for making a resume/cover letter and aceing an interview- they're really helpful!

maleficent · 09-09-2005, 09:44 AM

there's also such a thing as too much experience which might (emphasis on might) price yourself out of the market.

Often times a company could look at a resume, see all these stellar achievements, then think (perhaps unfairly) that there is no way that they can afford said person, so will interview the person who is trainable, and has lesser experience. Human resource types, i've found, are the most guilty of this... (it's so when i'm looking at resumes at various sites, i want to see them all - not just the ones that the HR types think i want to see)

the advice there is to get your resume into the hands of the person who will do the actual hiring... not HR...

if you want to block out the personal stuff on your resume,and post the hightlights, i'm sure folks would be willing to critique it for you.. there's a bunch of us that look at resumes regularly and would be happy to offer an opinion.

Poppinjay · 09-09-2005, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sage

Take a week off from work to go to the ESC and to network, network, network, then keep going to your 300 mile away job. The job world has changed quite a bit in the 17 years you've been at your steady job, so it behooves you to catch up on what employers expect and want.

Oops. I should explain, I haven't been at the same job, but in the same industry. I've been in my current position for 5 years, last was for 6 years, before that, 5 years. I am taking next week off to network. Up until this change, I've always gotten every job I've interviewed for. That may be why I feel a little discouraged. And I am finding it true what you said about internal hires. The media company I did get an interview at told me stright up that they prefer internal hires.

JustJess · 09-09-2005, 12:22 PM

Hm. If you're in the NYC area, PM me, and I'll see what I can do to help. I'm in HR, so I might have decent resume thoughts, and I know a decent amount of people to help circulate the resume - perhaps get your foot in the door. If you're not in NYC, I'll still review the resume if you like!

Poppinjay · 09-09-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

if you want to block out the personal stuff on your resume,and post the hightlights, i'm sure folks would be willing to critique it for you.. there's a bunch of us that look at resumes regularly and would be happy to offer an opinion.

Thank you! I'll do that. All of the places I've applied have HUGE human resource department.

http://tinyurl.com/7zfge

Poppinjay · 09-22-2005, 08:50 AM

I have an interview! At a huge station! One I had a resume out for MONTHS.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ::gasp:: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

It's amazing how close hope and despair pass in the hallway and how quickly I can follow one after the other.

maleficent · 09-22-2005, 09:01 AM

that's awesome - congratulations and good luck

Poppinjay · 10-13-2005, 02:43 AM

Damn. yesterday I had a gloomy little internal fit because the lines of communication have been dead since the interview.

And then I got a callback, and time set for a phone conversation. I won't jinx it by saying what that usually means.

I'm happy, but it's amazing how things don't happen until I get so pissed off about the lack of progress.

If I get this, this means being able to move into the apartment I'm paying for, with Mrs. Poppinjay, on a permanent basis AND attend graduate school for about $50 a semester AND receive a paycheck.

And no more NC to DC commutes.

astevebotmelb · 11-02-2005, 05:16 PM

May I suggest to anyone that is having problems changing or finding employment that they read the book with the unlikely sounding name of 'What Colour Is Your Parachute' by Richard N. Bolles.

I found it very helpful when I was getting nowhere . It is such a tough job market these days that you need all the help you can get .

09-09-2005, 08:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Poppinjay You had me at hello Location: DC/Coastal VA	Job Hunting I've been in the same industry (media) for the past 17 years. I've never had trouble finding a job. In fact, over the past two years, a few places have called me to ask if I'm interested in working for them. Now, we've moved. My wife finished her MBA and was offered a job paying way more. But not enough that I can laze around. The thing that gets me, is that I am having no luck finding anything. There have been SEVERAL positions open, but I get nothing. It's like they hold al lottery to decide whose resume gets reviewed. The way my current employer works, if I apply, and I fit the qualifications, and there is no obvious anti-social tendencies, they have to interview me. But I get nothing. I had ONE interview, and the manager told me I was a strong candidate and that I could expect a call and to call him if I had any questions. So I made the usual follow up contact, which he never replied to, until he had his personnel person e-mail me that they chose somebody else. I dress well, I interview well, I can put together a killer application package, I have a wall full of awards for my work, but nada. I would understand if there were no jobs, but several have come open. In the meantime, I'm at my current job, commuting home on weekends (300 miles). Any advice?

09-09-2005, 09:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sage hoarding all the big girl panties since 2005 Location: North side	go to your local Employment Security Commission- the one in the town you moved to. They can help you with making sure your resume is up to snuff (when's the last time you revised it?), making sure your cover letter is A+ (when's the last time you re-wrote it?), and directing you towards companies that would hire you. Remember, 80% of all jobs open never get advertised anywhere, so you have to network to find them. Figure out who you want to work for, why you want to work there, then call up the company and talk to the guy who you would be working under. Tell him how great you are- come up with a 1 minute "informercial" about yourself to tell him over the phone. Then, meet with him in person- this will be just like a job interview but without a job at the end. Basically, you're making friends with the people in the companies that will have the positions that you want. Be nice to everyone you meet at these places- sometimes the secetary has more sway than they appaear to. Take a week off from work to go to the ESC and to network, network, network, then keep going to your 300 mile away job. The job world has changed quite a bit in the 17 years you've been at your steady job, so it behooves you to catch up on what employers expect and want. Remember, a company wants to do an internal hire first and foremost, so you're going to have to market yourself as so incredibly stellar they can't pass you up! Head on over to soyouwanna.com and check out the advice they give for making a resume/cover letter and aceing an interview- they're really helpful! __________________ Sage knows our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's She answers hard acrostics, has a pretty taste for paradox She quotes in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics she can floor peculiarities parabolous -C'hi

09-09-2005, 09:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	there's also such a thing as too much experience which might (emphasis on might) price yourself out of the market. Often times a company could look at a resume, see all these stellar achievements, then think (perhaps unfairly) that there is no way that they can afford said person, so will interview the person who is trainable, and has lesser experience. Human resource types, i've found, are the most guilty of this... (it's so when i'm looking at resumes at various sites, i want to see them all - not just the ones that the HR types think i want to see) the advice there is to get your resume into the hands of the person who will do the actual hiring... not HR... if you want to block out the personal stuff on your resume,and post the hightlights, i'm sure folks would be willing to critique it for you.. there's a bunch of us that look at resumes regularly and would be happy to offer an opinion. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

09-09-2005, 12:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
JustJess Unencapsulated Location: Kittyville	Hm. If you're in the NYC area, PM me, and I'll see what I can do to help. I'm in HR, so I might have decent resume thoughts, and I know a decent amount of people to help circulate the resume - perhaps get your foot in the door. If you're not in NYC, I'll still review the resume if you like! __________________ My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

09-22-2005, 08:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Poppinjay You had me at hello Location: DC/Coastal VA	I have an interview! At a huge station! One I had a resume out for MONTHS. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ::gasp:: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! It's amazing how close hope and despair pass in the hallway and how quickly I can follow one after the other. __________________ I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

09-22-2005, 09:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	that's awesome - congratulations and good luck __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

10-13-2005, 02:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Poppinjay You had me at hello Location: DC/Coastal VA	Damn. yesterday I had a gloomy little internal fit because the lines of communication have been dead since the interview. And then I got a callback, and time set for a phone conversation. I won't jinx it by saying what that usually means. I'm happy, but it's amazing how things don't happen until I get so pissed off about the lack of progress. If I get this, this means being able to move into the apartment I'm paying for, with Mrs. Poppinjay, on a permanent basis AND attend graduate school for about $50 a semester AND receive a paycheck. And no more NC to DC commutes. __________________ I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

11-02-2005, 05:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
astevebotmelb Upright Location: Australia	May I suggest to anyone that is having problems changing or finding employment that they read the book with the unlikely sounding name of 'What Colour Is Your Parachute' by Richard N. Bolles. I found it very helpful when I was getting nowhere . It is such a tough job market these days that you need all the help you can get .