The Job Hunt Thread

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I don't get why employers do that.  If I wanted to relocate I would have applied to the position in said location.

DH was told that a couple of USDA positions should open up here soon and the agent he works with thinks he stands a good chance of getting one.   It'd be on a slaughter floor but he said he's fine with that.  He'd kill the cow himself if it meant getting out of his current company.

Found out the pathology/microbiology department has a non-thesis master's option.    That is what I want since I am no longer interested in pursuing a career in academia.  I need the stupid piece of paper so I can move on b/c apparently my 10 years of experience don't mean shit.  

They warned me there is no stipend but I don't care.  I'd be using UNMC's tuition benefits which means I need to be working full time anyhow.   That's another reason I'd like to skip the thesis, I am just not going to have time.

The Molecular Technologist job thru Nebraska Med had that as one of their preferred degrees to be considered for hiring so that's why I looked up that one first.  Also might give me a shot at being hired as a histotechnologist trainee.

So something to consider for next fall or fall 2017 depending on how their application process works. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Found out the pathology/microbiology department has a non-thesis master's option. That is what I want since I am no longer interested in pursuing a career in academia. I need the stupid piece of paper so I can move on b/c apparently my 10 years of experience don't mean shit.

Drama....I think an MS would be valued more if it is in something else.  Have you looked into biostatistics?  Most jobs that I have seen in industry around here are really interested in someone who has a stronger background in stats.  You can learn the path/micro as you already have a basis for it, an MS in this isn't going to change your marketability much.  Statistics expands your skill set and is incredibly valuable.

Even if you go the route through public health (it has a biostats component) and you get some introduction to clinical research.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I have not. I really REALLY struggle with math and figure that trying to get a biostats degree is setting myself up for failure.  I can look into it though.

Bummer they have an online version but that's only available to people already working in public health so I won't meet the requirements.

I just want the damn piece of paper.  University of Phoenix is starting to look mighty tempting.

[MJ2.0]

that would be the most expensive piece of worthless paper you'd ever own.

[muttleynfelix]

Does Western Governors University have any options that would work for you? A friend had her RN, but not her BsN and was able to get that (and Masters) through WGu. She said it was affordable and convenient.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It wouldn't be free.  I can only use my tuition benefits thru the University of Nebraska system.

Ugh I am in the same freaking place I was at the beginning of the year with no idea what the hell to do.   Maybe I should just table it for awhile at least thru the end of the year.   Trying to plan the next 30+ years of my life when I've been bouncing around like a ping pong ball starting back in April is stressing/bumming me out.

With my new salary if I stay here for the full 5 years or longer we should be able to sock away enough that I can pay for the MT clinical program.   That would be the ideal and then I could go thru the pathology program to get the clinical MS degree.

[wvugurl26]

Take a break for the holidays and settle into the new job. I can't imagine how stressful this year has been for you. When I was unemployed I didn't have a family to support. Regroup next year and look at options then.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

DH is honestly surprised I have not dropped dead of a heart attack.

[MJ2.0]

sometimes you just have to not think about it and plow through because you have to. I'm still amazed that I did a great deal of my moving, packing, unpacking, assembling furniture, etc. by myself. I started getting bad back pains at like 8:30pm on my moving day (had been up and moving around since 6am) but I kept on going because stuff had to be done. It's weird, right?


And at least you're not quitting your full time job to go back to school for 4 years. I dropped that on my mom last week - she loved that.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I think DH would kill me if I announced that.    It'd be possible if he made more and I didn't have $19,080.22 in SL debt still hanging around my neck.

Since I already have that if I am going to do this it needs to either be free or something we can cash flow.

I'm thinking I should just wait to see how much starts to accumulate after a few paychecks.   We should be able to save a nice chunk of change since our fixed expenses aren't going to be increasing by a significant amount anytime in the near future. 

If we have more savings then I have more options.

[MJ2.0]

Good thing I'm doing it now because I'm sure X would have killed me if we were still married. I know it's insane but I don't want to take another 8 years to make a career change. I'll definitely work PT though. Plus there has to be some money out there for a minority female single parent looking to get a STEM degree.

[steph08]

My not-quite-DH-at-that-point was laid off from his job and started full time back at college the same day (we knew the layoff was coming and it worked out perfectly). That was in August, and in October, I married an unemployed 30-year-old college student. I bet my parents were proud. Haha. He has the loans to show for it but we also have a better life now.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

If I wasn't already carrying student loan debt DH would probably be more supportive of the idea.  I can't blame him b/c I really don't want to go that route either. I'd like to have my SLs paid off sometime before I die.

A professional certification is a better way for me to go if I am going to not work.  I'd only be out 5 weeks for the phlebotomist certification and 14 weeks for the Med Tech.

No way am I going to quit working to get another bachelor's or a graduate degree.

[mojothehelpermonkey]

The hiring manager that I interviewed with yesterday said that the rest of the hiring committee really wanted someone with a MBA for the job, but there is no way I am going back to school to get a MBA. By the time I finish, some other combination of skills will be in demand.
If I haven't found anything by next spring, my plan is to move back to my home state, get a professional certification, and try to get a technician job that cannot be outsourced or automated.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 18, 2015 14:30:52 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I have not. I really REALLY struggle with math and figure that trying to get a biostats degree is setting myself up for failure.  I can look into it though.

Bummer they have an online version but that's only available to people already working in public health so I won't meet the requirements.

I just want the damn piece of paper.  University of Phoenix is starting to look mighty tempting.

Go talk to them first, Drama.  The worst they can do is say no.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I will at some point.  For now I am going to shelve it.  I just started this job three weeks ago and that was on the coat tails of what was the shittiest job I've ever held.

I need to make sure I master this job first.  If I crash/burn due to my anxiety level being thru the roof I'm not going to have options available to me period.

Once I am comfortable in this job and I can put all the crap I've gone thru this year behind me then I can start thinking again about the next 30+ years of my life.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 19, 2015 9:33:57 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I will at some point.  For now I am going to shelve it.  I just started this job three weeks ago and that was on the coat tails of what was the shittiest job I've ever held.

I need to make sure I master this job first.  If I crash/burn due to my anxiety level being thru the roof I'm not going to have options available to me period.

Once I am comfortable in this job and I can put all the crap I've gone thru this year behind me then I can start thinking again about the next 30+ years of my life.

This is totally understandable, Drama.  I just want to warn you that time can get away from you.  Pick a set time where you revisit this and put it on the calendar or you will put it off forever.

I watched this happen with a coworker of mine.  First, it was learning a new job.  Then he had a second child.  Divorce, selling the family home and a new g/f have all been excuses in his procrastination and he's not done anything since he started back in 2004ish.  His current excuse is that he's stepped into my old position and now has no time.

[MJ2.0]

Nov 19, 2015 11:06:31 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Nov 19, 2015 9:33:57 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I will at some point.  For now I am going to shelve it.  I just started this job three weeks ago and that was on the coat tails of what was the shittiest job I've ever held.

I need to make sure I master this job first.  If I crash/burn due to my anxiety level being thru the roof I'm not going to have options available to me period.

Once I am comfortable in this job and I can put all the crap I've gone thru this year behind me then I can start thinking again about the next 30+ years of my life.

This is totally understandable, Drama.  I just want to warn you that time can get away from you.  Pick a set time where you revisit this and put it on the calendar or you will put it off forever.

I watched this happen with a coworker of mine.  First, it was learning a new job.  Then he had a second child.  Divorce, selling the family home and a new g/f have all been excuses in his procrastination and he's not done anything since he started back in 2004ish.  His current excuse is that he's stepped into my old position and now has no time.

the time dilemma is 90% the reason I'm plunging into school full force. I want to do it, struggle, and be done ASAP because I know myself... I'll get settled, add more obligations, and make it 100x harder for myself to change later. And then the regrets will start to compound. Get settled in your job but start to formulate a plan for yourself.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Yeah I had both the kids and then had a midlife crisis b/c I didn't want to be a professor anymore which is what I thought I had wanted to do since I was 18.

I know YM touts having a life plan the moment you pop out of the womb but there is something to be said for not allowing yourself to get myopic.   Life would be simpler if I had been more flexible in my teens/20's and had no one to answer to but myself and little responsibility.

While not impossible now it sure is a hell of a lot harder b/c the consequences of my decisions have a bigger impact.

At the very least I plan on taking the three courses I need to get into the MT program.  Then at least I have a "current" education and filled in the gaps left by being a transfer student.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 19, 2015 11:10:00 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Nov 19, 2015 11:06:31 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

This is totally understandable, Drama.  I just want to warn you that time can get away from you.  Pick a set time where you revisit this and put it on the calendar or you will put it off forever.

I watched this happen with a coworker of mine.  First, it was learning a new job.  Then he had a second child.  Divorce, selling the family home and a new g/f have all been excuses in his procrastination and he's not done anything since he started back in 2004ish.  His current excuse is that he's stepped into my old position and now has no time.

the time dilemma is 90% the reason I'm plunging into school full force. I want to do it, struggle, and be done ASAP because I know myself... I'll get settled, add more obligations, and make it 100x harder for myself to change later. And then the regrets will start to compound. Get settled in your job but start to formulate a plan for yourself.

Yep....

When I made the decision to go back for Engineering Design, it was fall of 2013.  I had only made the decision that I could not go back to my old profession in the summer of 2013 and knew I needed to find a job where I could sit on my ass.

The local technical college has these classes where you start all at the same time.  So I missed the fall 2013 deadline and needed to wait around until fall of 2014 to enter.  That year gave me the time I needed to become a bit more mobile and to take a class that was a requirement for program entry (essentially learning Office, which I knew already so it was a slam dunk just taking the class).

Most programs have some sort of requirements, and while I was able to use my undergrad degree to get out of a lot of them for this program, many are not.  So you really do need to have some sort of game plan as to which direction that you want to go and set yourself up beforehand.  Otherwise, you'll just be wasting another year waiting to fulfill program requirements.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 19, 2015 11:18:56 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Yeah I had both the kids and then had a midlife crisis b/c I didn't want to be a professor anymore which is what I thought I had wanted to do since I was 18.

I know YM touts having a life plan the moment you pop out of the womb but there is something to be said for not allowing yourself to get myopic.   Life would be simpler if I had been more flexible in my teens/20's and had no one to answer to but myself and little responsibility.

While not impossible now it sure is a hell of a lot harder b/c the consequences of my decisions have a bigger impact.

At the very least I plan on taking the three courses I need to get into the MT program.  Then at least I have a "current" education and filled in the gaps left by being a transfer student.

If this is your game plan, then you need to make arrangements as to which class is going to be available for spring 2016 and plan on taking it.  You need to get on this NOW or if not, you'll likely be waiting around until fall of 2016.  If you wait any longer, then you are going to be looking at a program in 2018.  Add years to this and you'll be looking at it being 2020.

I went into a 2 year program with 1/3 of the program requirements completed already.  From the thought of going into it in fall of 2013 to completing it in summer of 2016, it will be damn near 3 years.

There is never going to be a good time, Drama.  Jump, then figure it out later.  Even if you need to pay for this single course, at least get your feet wet.  It's been a long time since you've been in a classroom.

[andi9899]

So I made a few phone calls today and already have 4 people looking out for me for opportunities. I love the people in my network. I will see another group tonight. Maybe I can get a few more people on the hunt. I can take a job as a producer anywhere, I just don't want to go anywhere. I am leaning more toward the corporate side of things. I'm still keeping optimistic, but there are days that it's harder than others.

[andi9899]

I went to a social event last night. I mentioned that I was looking and a couple of girls who I don't know told their boss today who I do know. I had an email this morning asking to talk to me and that he's interested in me. It's an independent gig. I would be able to write anything that walks through the door! That would be so fabulous!

[steph08]

I may or may not be on the hunt soon. We had a big office meeting today and 30-40 people are going to be laid off, out of 800, and mostly overhead people, like me. By the end for December. Merry Christmas!

So I am on the prowl for a new job and 4 months pregnant. Awesome.

[Deleted]

You don't know for sure, yet stef08. Please try to keep stress at a minimum while preggers. What's the worst that could happen? Unemployment till the end of your pregnancy/birth of new baby? Could you manage to cut back enough to make that scenario, a possibility and just ride it out/start applying after the birth of your new little one?

I'm sorry you're stressing about this, but again.......nothing definite has been handed to you, so come up w/the best game plan and keep stress away. Maybe do something relaxing several times a week for yourself (bubble baths w/candles and music, walks in nature, reading good books, concentrating on the good things in your life/feeling grateful, meditating, seeking spiritual guidance, etc...whatever destresses you) and know that things could always be worse, even if you don't feel that way at the moment..

Good Luck!

[andi9899]

I just made an appointment to meet with one of the independent agencies next week to see about producing for them. Hopefully it's a good deal.

[janee]

Hi All, I haven't read all of the thread.  Today I read a list of the Top 50 interview questions asked.  Thought it would be helpful for those preparing for interviews.  I am a small business owner that just hired a new employee and found this list just after the hire.  I asked maybe 10-15 of them.  Hope it helps some of you!

A Glassdoor study of tens of thousands of interviews found the 50 questions you're most likely to be asked in your next interview:

1. What are your strengths?

2. What are your weaknesses?

3. Why are you interested in working for us?

4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

5. Why do you want to leave your current company?

6. What can you offer us that someone else can't?

7. Why was there a gap in your employment between these two dates?

8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?

9. Are you willing to relocate?

10. Are you willing to travel?

11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

13. What is your dream job?

14. How did you hear about this position?

15. What would you accomplish in the first 30/60/90 days on the job?

16. Discuss your resume.

17. Discuss your educational background.

18. Describe yourself.

19. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.

20. Why should we hire you?

21. Why are you looking for a new job?

22. Would you work holidays/weekends?

23. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?

24. What are your salary requirements?

25. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.

26. Who are our competitors?

27. What was your biggest failure?

28. What motivates you?

29. What's your availability?

30. Who's your mentor?

31. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.

32. How do you handle pressure?

33. What is the name of our CEO?

34. What are your career goals?

35. What gets you up in the morning?

36. What would your direct reports say about you?

37. What were your bosses' strengths/weaknesses?

38. If I called your boss right now and asked him what is an area that you could improve on, what would he say?

39. Are you a leader or a follower?

40. What was the last book you read for fun?

41. What are your co-worker pet peeves?

42. What are your hobbies?

43. What is your favorite website?

44. What makes you uncomfortable?

45. What are some of your leadership experiences?

46. How would you fire someone?

47. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?

48. Would you work 40+ hours a week?

49. What questions haven't I asked you?

50. What questions do you have for me?

[mojothehelpermonkey]

I hate it when #18 is the very first thing the interviewer says. It's too open ended.
I just got a call about a lab job I applied to. We didn't have a scheduled interview, and I was caught a bit off guard because I thought it was the pharmacy calling. That may have worked in my favor because I didn't have time to stress out. We chatted for about 15 minutes, and he said he will get back in touch with me when the owner is back in town in December to schedule an interview. I would really like to go back to lab work, but I haven't run an experiment in 5 years. That might be a deal breaker for the hiring committee

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I had a hard time answering#4 and #34 b/c I was unemployed and needed ANY job I could get so I could pay the bills.  What my goals were in life was going to depend on where I landed. 

Also hate #21.   IMO it is really none of their business why I am looking for another job.  My guess is the main thing they want to see is if you will be dumb enough to bash your former company/boss.

Mojo I haven't worked in colony management since 2006 but I still got hired b/c I was the only one who walked in the door with it and was able to demonstrate my knowledge despite not having any practical experience for years.   If you got something they want bad enough they may be willing to overlook the fact you haven't been on the bench for 5 years.

[mojothehelpermonkey]

The guy I spoke to said my resume caught his eye because I went to the same college and had the same major as his son. The rest of the hiring committee might not be as impressed by that. At the same time, he was one of the scientists, not a recruiter. I have noticed that a lot of recruiters and HR people are really enthusiastic about sending me to the next round of interviews when I can already tell from the job description that the scientists probably won't think my skill set is quite right for the position.