The Job Hunt Thread

[Deleted]

shanendoah if you don't mind I would really like to see how you are using color on your resume. I'm going to start job hunting soon. I think I am at the end of my tolerance bank for ridiculous things going on at this place.

Who was it that posted the meme about getting an award for not stabbing people with a fork?

[shanendoah]

Sent you a message Lilly.

Today, working on customizing a resume for a job.
I know it's necessary, but sometimes I just don't have the energy to do it. So taking a quick break here.

Job with the phone interview yesterday was at too low a level ($20k difference in salary)- they aren't willing to hire me for it.
Job with phone interview from last week, I haven't heard more on. One of their other staff did look at my LinkedIn profile. I had thought they would contact me one way or the other, so it might be good that I haven't heard. Not really certain.

I do have the interview on Monday afternoon and am looking forward to that.

[Wisconsin Beth]

YOu'll find something Shane. 

[shanendoah]

Sent a follow up email on the position I hadn't heard on. They want to bring me in for an in-person interview next week. Possibly Monday.

[shanendoah]

And I should note that this job I'm setting up the interview with next week is one where I had applied back in April, and then when I revamped my resume, I applied again. Second time was a charm.

[shanendoah]

When it rains it pours.
Two interviews on Monday.
And now, I just had another position contact me to schedule a first interview sometime next week.

[Jaguar]

Go get em'.

[Opti]

Jul 18, 2014 16:16:22 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

When it rains it pours.
Two interviews on Monday.
And now, I just had another position contact me to schedule a first interview sometime next week.

Nice.

My two recent phone screens didn't pay off.

Back to submitting resumes.

[beergut]

 I think someone put it well when they said that job-searching can be soul destroying.

 It is like being in high school and asking someone out on a date, and just continually being told 'no'.

 No matter how confident you are, eventually it starts to get to you. You just have to remember that you ARE awesome, that the right job will come along, and it will be better than you imagined.

 When you're hope bank runs empty, take a break, and pop in a comedy or something, and laugh for a while.

 It will get better. It always does.

[Nazgul Girl]

    Yay, Shane.   May the force ( and the Lord ) be with you !!!        Best wishes !

[shanendoah]

Opti - I think I've made note of this before, but both the positions I have interviews for on Monday come from "not giving up" type thinking.

As I mentioned just a couple posts ago, the one that is now at 10am, I applied to twice. Nothing from the first application, but because their online system doesn't prevent you from applying to the same job twice, when I revamped my resume and my cover letter, I re-applied. That got me a look on LinkedIn and then a call for a phone interview. I was supposed to hear back from this week, and didn't, so I reached out myself today a little after noon. Boom- in person interview on Monday.

The interview at 3pm is for a position that isn't even posted yet. This is a company that I am quite interested in working for, so I sent in a resume in response to their always open, rather entry level position, but began my cover letter with the note that I was a mid-career professional. Their head of recruiting wrote back and said, hey this position is way too low level for you. I said thanks, but I'm really interested in your company, could we do an informational interview. She said sure, in 3 weeks, because I'm swamped right now. Then, the next day, she emailed me again and said, hey, turns out I'm going to be putting together a request for a position that seems perfect for you in the next few weeks. Why don't you come in and talk to me before this position even officially exists.


But I also know how you feel. By Monday, I will have been unemployed for longer than I was employed at my last position. This has been a very difficult time for me mentally/emotionally. And it has been hard to pick up after hearing a number of times- you're a great candidate, but not our candidate, or sometimes just never hearing back at all.

I have applied to 211 jobs.
I have had 28 first round interviews, with 2 more scheduled. That means I've maintained my 1/7 response rate from my resume (with low points and spikes).
However, I've only made it two a second round 6 times (counting the one on Monday). So my transition from first round interview to second round has been 1/5. And a couple times I've had a third round interview.

[Opti]

Thank you for the reminder. I do have a tendency to get down when more than a couple things

fall through, but I know I have to keep going until.

I like the fact you were able to apply successfully to that one job again.

I'll keep going and keep applying a lot and eventually I'll break through.

I didn't mean to be an Optimist downer. I appreciate your post. It helps a lot today.

[shanendoah]

I really can't say this on FB, at least not yet....

I was doing some research on one of the companies I am interviewing with tomorrow. I was going through their website and realized that I had not looked at their Meet the Management Team page. I know the position I'm interviewing for will report to a VP, so I figure I should go read his profile.
As I am glancing down the page, I notice a name that is familiar. I click on it.

It is one of the members of our favorite local Celtic band. C and I catch them whenever we can, and, in fact, just saw them perform yesterday. I would not say this guy is a friend, but at least in the context of his band, he knows C and I as fans. (In fact, we're the annoying fans who almost always request one of the few songs he sings.)

He is NOT in the department I am interviewing with, so I have no idea if I'll see him, or if we do happen to meet, if he will recognize me out of context.

But yeah, there's that.

[sapphire12]

Good luck tomorrow!!!!

[Deleted]

Yes, good luck Shan!

And even if you don't see this person tomorrow, if you have the opportunity to mention it casually, I would really encourage you to do so. Depending on how you feel, I might even consider writing to him on FB (privately of course!) and mentioning your upcoming interview and asking him for advice. Of course you have to feel comfortable with that.

I too applied to my current job twice. (I'm an adjunct professor so I know it's absolutely not the same position / salary as the job you're applying for, but still.)

The first time, nothing. The second time, I changed tactics and added some personal info into my cover letter, namely that I was familiar with their curriculum because my DS2 was a student there. 

I got a fairly snarly call-back from the head of the Languages Department. He said, very abruptly, this is a phone interview, and I have two questions for you. You already have a job, so why are you applying for a new one? (DUMB but I actually said, Oh, that's easy!) And then I told him the truth: the school I was working at at the time was merging with another school and closing its Paris campus, and we were all cordially invited to teach in either Lille or Nice, but given that I lived near Paris, that wasn't very practical for me.

Second question, still snarly. I know all our students, and your last name does not ring a bell to me. I was intrigued by your letter, because you say your son is a student here. So I actually looked up the list of students, and still found nobody with your last name. Can you explain?

DUMB AGAIN, because I said (out loud!) Oh that's easy too! My son and I do not have the same last name, because his father and I are divorced. He said, oh. So what's your son's name? DS2 has a very original name (for here), so after literally the first syllable, the guy said, OMG, you are XY's MOM! OMG! I can't believe you are XY's mom! 

Needless to say, he TOTALLY changed his attitude after that! My school does a school trip every Easter vacation to a country where they speak one of the languages the school teaches. That year, the trip was to Mexico, where DS3 was doing a semester abroad. So the Head of Languages said, I was in Mexico just last week! I tried to see your DS3, but he was away, I was told he was in NY. He was probably visiting your family! I said, yes, indeed he was! (It was true LOL.)

At that point I was given an in-person interview, and I got the job. I'm starting my 4th year there in September.

Again, Shan, I KNOW it's not the same job, not the same position, and not the same salary. But sometimes a personal connection can really make all the difference! So please don't be shy, you have nothing to lose. 

Good luck!






        found no student with your last name. Would you care to explain?   . . 

[mmhmm]

I'll be keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you, Shanen. Knock 'em dead, girl! 

[shanendoah]

First interview of the day went well.

Currently killing time at a mall until I go to the second one in 2.5 hours

[Wisconsin Beth]

Go get 'em Shane! 

[TheOtherMe]

Hope things went well today and one of the jobs comes through for you.

[shanendoah]

Will know more from first interview early next week.

Second interview- they can't afford me, but the lady I interviewed with really likes me, so we connected via LinkedIn and she's more than happy to introduce me to people if I so desire.

Phone interview for Assistant Director position at the University set for Thursday morning

[taz157]

Good luck!

[Deleted]

So glad things are moving Shan! 

[Sunnyday]

Jul 21, 2014 20:48:35 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

Will know more from first interview early next week.

Second interview- they can't afford me, but the lady I interviewed with really likes me, so we connected via LinkedIn and she's more than happy to introduce me to people if I so desire.

Phone interview for Assistant Director position at the University set for Thursday morning

That's so weird! I applied for an Assistant Director position at a University too.

I probably won't get it though even if I fit the profile. They didn't mention how many years of experience they wanted but the role and salary would probably require 10-15 years of experience.

Good luck!!!

[shanendoah]

Sunnyday - since 2004, I've applied to 125 positions at the local university (and I even got one of them), at least a few of them have been assistant director positions

Currently, I have six windows open with jobs I want to apply to. Now I just have to actually apply to them.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Today's Thursday, right? How did it go?

[shanendoah]

Morning phone interview went okay.
Pay is about $10k less per year than I'd like, but the title is a step up.
I'll know more on that one by Monday end of business.

[shanendoah]

And.....

just got a text that roommate no longer has a job.

He's headed home, so will know what happened in a bit, but

[Deleted]

Oh crap Shan, I'm sorry. 

[shanendoah]

Also-
email from Monday morning interview. They are going with another candidate.

[Deleted]

Crap again. 

Shan I know this is incredibly hard for you but it WILL work out in the end.

Did you ever see the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? It's about a bunch of expat Brits who move to an Indian hotel for their retirement. It's a sweet film. 

There is a great line in there ... if it hasn't worked out yet, it's not the end. 

Keep the faith. Easier said than done, I know.