The Job Hunt Thread

[shanendoah]

Ups and downs.
Right now, we're back in the down.

Last Friday, I had three interviews scheduled for the following week.
This Friday, I know I am not moving forward in two of those positions. The third, which I'll know about next rounds late Monday, tops out at $8k/yr less than I had been making, despite being a higher level title at the same institution.

Trying to keep my spirits up, a number of city and county positions I have applied to close this next week. One, which actually required a paper application and resume (which I am hoping kept the number of applicants down), closes today.

In being proactive, I changed our mortgage payments from the $350/week we were paying to the $1180/month we actually owe. That will save us a little over $200/month.

[Ava]

Hi, Shane;

I have been following this thread.
You know all of us are looking forward to the moment you say: "I got a job!"
We are here, we care. I hope we could do more.

[moneymaven]

Hope everything is ok at home, Shane. Thinking of you and your family!

[shanendoah]

I want everyone to know I appreciate them posting on this thread. I also want you to know you don't have to.
This is often the place where I come when I want to share something, but do not feel like I can do it on FaceBook. My family doesn't need to see the ups and downs of the job hunt, and I'm really not into sharing the situational depression with all and sundry. So I come here.

The roommate lost his job. This is actually a good thing for him, as his work treated him terribly (turns out it was the new plant manager trying to get him to quit, and then finally "promoting" him into a position that was created specifically for him to fail at), and he worked awful hours.
This does effect us, but also not really. Roommate was already talking about moving in with his girlfriend. Really the only thing keeping him around was the fact that he was sometimes working 12+ hour nights and our house is a lot closer to his old work than his gf's. Now that he's not working, he's moving out perhaps a little more quickly than otherwise was going to happen, but it was happening regardless.

I have not yet heard back about the position I phone interviewed for on Thursday. They said they would contact everyone by end of day today, so that gives them about another 70 minutes.

I am having a hard time finding the energy to apply for jobs today. So far, I have applied to one that just required me emailing them my cover and resume. It's for a position that is a step (or three) down, but they are a small private game studio, so it's possible that they would be able to pay more for someone who could do more for them than they are asking. I don't have high hopes, but it never hurts to open the conversation.

I have 4 other positions I should apply for open in tabs on my browser. There's a 5th that isn't open but I might go back to. For the moment, I'm letting this be okay. If I don't apply for them today, I can apply for them tomorrow.

I had thought about mowing the front lawn today, but decided the fact that it is over 80 out gives me a pass not to do that. I should still put away laundry and unload/reload the dishwasher, but those may or may not happen, too.

[shanendoah]

And I am not moving forward in the position I phone interviewed for.

So, back to the drawing board.

[drivingaround]

Oh man, sorry Shane, this sucks.  You've had such a positive and professional attitude through this entire ordeal, including while you were at the university.  I was so impressed with how you handled that transition and having to inform your staff.  

Are you still seeing your counselor on the situational depression?  How's foster/adoption plan of kid #2 coming?

We're definitely rooting for you!

[shanendoah]

Thank you

I'm not seeing a counselor, though I think we are going to do some family counseling starting next month.

We are officially in the child search phase of foster/adopt #2, though with me not having any job prospects at the moment, it's not likely we'll be jumping at anything unless it seems pretty perfect.

The new bunk beds for Pop Tart's room have arrived and we've gotten them partially set up. Roommate will be back tomorrow or Wednesday to help finish setting them up.
Once he's out of his room, we'll run a deep clean on it, and that will then open up the option for multiple placements/a boy, vs right now, it would have to be a girl, and it could be only one, based on space requirements.

[Sunnyday]

I'm hijacking this thread for anyone who wants to give updates about job searches. I hope you don't mind shahendoah.

I got a phone interview. The company is located in the states, and I am trying to get motivated. What I really want is the university job though!

The job sounds interesting, but I'm afraid that it's another contract job and they will want me to telecommute.

I don't want to telecommute. I want to get out of my house, and meet people. If I take another telecommuting job, then I will be in the exact same place I am now! no network to speak of to help me find a new job.

All signs point to it being a contract job even if they won't come out and say it.

[shanendoah]

I approve of this hijack.

Is this a position you applied for? Or one they reached out to you on?
The job announcement should say whether it is a contract job or not. (Or maybe that's just my state, because we have weird contract employee laws due to multiple lawsuits against very prominent companies.)

[flutterby]

Since we're hijacking here, I'll add my job search updates, too. 

I have an interview in a couple hours for a staff accountant/tax preparer. I don't know why I'm not more excited about this one. It's exactly what I want to do. Love the tax stuff! It's for a small company, maybe 6 employees total? Maybe it'll seem better once I get there.

I had an interview last week that I will hear about by the end of this week. That one I AM excited about, though I didn't think I would be. It sounds really interesting, close commute, casual work environment, in a new pretty building (I know that shouldn't matter, but this interview today is in a kind of run down looking area and I think that's one of the reasons I'm not more into it). Plus it's an industry I actually know quite a bit about. And I think the interview went really well. No personal taxes, though.

Anyway, that's it so far. Wish me luck!

[Sunnyday]

Aug 12, 2014 23:42:49 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

I approve of this hijack.

Is this a position you applied for? Or one they reached out to you on?
The job announcement should say whether it is a contract job or not. (Or maybe that's just my state, because we have weird contract employee laws due to multiple lawsuits against very prominent companies.)

Thank you. The job announcement didn't say (that I responded to), and the headhunter originally said that it was freelance but full-time. Then, she came back and said that it was not freelance. But then, she sent me the job description (not available to the public), and it said freelance.

I understand freelance to be a job per job deal, which can be a full-time job for an indefinite period of time or until the project is done.

I understand contract job to mean a full or part time job for a definite period of time.

A permanent position can also mean a full or part time job for an indefinite period of time.

That is how I understand those definitions . The job does not lend well to be a freelance (hired to do a project) position.

I will get more clarification at the interview, but that is why I'm not that excited because at any rate, it doesn't look permanent. And they also seem not sure of what they are looking for, which speaks bounds about their management.

But hey, beggars can't be choosers!

[flutterby]

Well the interview went well. Not great but fine. Honestly, the guy interviewing me did most of the talking, so it didn't feel like I said a whole lot. It wasn't in a skeevy area after all, but still feeling meh about it. Pay is good though!

On another note, this is two interviews now where I am by far the best dressed person there. And I'm not super dressed up. Today was just slacks, blouse, and heels. It just seems weird. I guess it's nice that if I got either of these jobs that I wouldn't have to do the whole skirt/heels thing everyday.

[Sunnyday]

Aug 13, 2014 13:12:11 GMT -5 flutterby said:

Well the interview went well. Not great but fine. Honestly, the guy interviewing me did most of the talking, so it didn't feel like I said a whole lot. It wasn't in a skeevy area after all, but still feeling meh about it. Pay is good though!

On another note, this is two interviews now where I am by far the best dressed person there. And I'm not super dressed up. Today was just slacks, blouse, and heels. It just seems weird. I guess it's nice that if I got either of these jobs that I wouldn't have to do the whole skirt/heels thing everyday.

How long have you been looking flutterby?

[flutterby]

Less than two weeks, Sunnyday, so I shouldn't complain. It's just that I'm completely without a job right now, which is fine, I planned for this, but it still makes me really nervous.

Good luck on the phone interview!!!

[shanendoah]

Hope everyone's interviews went well.
I'm going to a career fair tomorrow, not my favorite thing. At least a number of the employers on the list are companies I would like to work for, so that's a plus.

[shanendoah]

I don't normally do career fairs, mostly because they are most often designed for entry level positions, which I am not.
However, I went to the one today because the list of companies was impressive- I had already applied for positions at roughly 1/3 of the organizations present. It turned out to be really useful to me.
First, when I stopped by my former employer (the one I was laid off from last May), the HR rep there was someone I recognized (she's blind, so she's memorable, even to people who don't work with her all the time), who seemed to recall my name. We had a nice chat and she mentioned she had a position go live just this morning that she thought I would be a fit for and was in my pay range. She requested that I not only apply for it but give her a call on Monday to let her know I had, and she would make sure my resume made it to the hiring manager.
Then, I talked to one of that company's competitors (health insurance). They loved my background and experience. The main recruiter wants to connect with me via LinkedIn, and she gave me the job codes of 6 or 7 positions she thinks I might be a fit for.

So, overall, very pleased, and definitely worth my time.

And it served as a good reminder for me (that I thought I would pass along), that there is no substitute for networking. Even at a career fair, talking to someone face to face just gets you so much closer than just applying through their system.

I think that right now, I am probably the person on this board that has been actively job searching while unemployed the longest. And I hope it remains that way. (Not that I remain unemployed but that no one else here has to be unemployed and job hunting for over 7 months.) So, remember, even if something doesn't seem like it's quite right for you, it might very well be worth the time and effort.

[Nazgul Girl]

   I"m really pleased, Shane.   I hope this produces the job that you need and will love.

[taz157]

Aug 15, 2014 19:33:34 GMT -5 Nazgul Girl said:

   I"m really pleased, Shane.   I hope this produces the job that you need and will love.

Yeah that.

[shanendoah]

Phone interview tomorrow with the county. First time I've ever made it to that stage with them.
Position tops out in pay a couple thousand/year less than I was making before. It's mid-point is about $10k less per year. I could live with that, especially since I also know what the county benefits are like.
It is also back to being an "analyst" role, but that's where I've decided to focus my job search. Most higher level analysts make what I was making, and it's easier to get into a new organization as an analyst than a manager.

Called the recruiter at my (2 jobs ago) former company this morning to let her know I had applied to the position.
Friday, I sent an email via LinkedIn to the recruiter for the competing company to let her know I had applied to some of the jobs she had recommended to me.

C completes his degree in 3 weeks. I'll give him Sept off, but if I don't have a job by then, he has got to start looking, too.

[shanendoah]

How are the other job searches going? flutterby? Sunnyday?

And I know there were others...

[Peace77]

Shanendoah,

You're being too nice.  I suggest that C start looking for work in about 2 weeks or as soon as he has finished his last papers and exams.  It won't be too bad to spend an hour or so looking online to see what's available.

[shanendoah]

Peace77 - I understand what you are saying, but I am going to be one of those people who says, no, I'm not going to do that. I will, though, explain why.
1) C will not be done with school before he is done with school. He is on a summer contract. They will be meeting and turning in work on the very last day. His last week of school will be VERY busy and stressful. So him having a couple of weeks off after it finishes seems reasonable to me.
2) There is no financial need for him to be looking sooner. Our EF is still in good shape, and will continue to be. My stress about being unemployed is NOT financial.
3) He is a MUCH better stay at home parent than I am. And the deal, when we decided to adopt, was that he would be the stay at home parent. (Yes, even with his schooling.) My stress will go down when he is able to take back over primary parenting duties.

This isn't me being nice. This isn't an "I can't" do that, but a "we're choosing not to do that". This is a conversation C and I have been having for a couple of months now, and our decision is based on where we are financially, and what we feel will work best for our family.

[Bonny]

Shanendoah,

I admire your perseverance and attitude!

[Peace77]

Aug 18, 2014 17:38:49 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

Peace77 - I understand what you are saying, but I am going to be one of those people who says, no, I'm not going to do that. I will, though, explain why.
1) C will not be done with school before he is done with school. He is on a summer contract. They will be meeting and turning in work on the very last day. His last week of school will be VERY busy and stressful. So him having a couple of weeks off after it finishes seems reasonable to me.
2) There is no financial need for him to be looking sooner. Our EF is still in good shape, and will continue to be. My stress about being unemployed is NOT financial.
3) He is a MUCH better stay at home parent than I am. And the deal, when we decided to adopt, was that he would be the stay at home parent. (Yes, even with his schooling.) My stress will go down when he is able to take back over primary parenting duties.

This isn't me being nice. This isn't an "I can't" do that, but a "we're choosing not to do that". This is a conversation C and I have been having for a couple of months now, and our decision is based on where we are financially, and what we feel will work best for our family.

Glad to hear things are still good financially.

[shanendoah]

And once again, things come in groups.
Phone interview tomorrow with the County.
In person interview with the University (School of Business, MBA program) on Wednesday.

[Nazgul Girl]

   Good luck, good luck, good luck, Shane !!!!   

[flutterby]

Aug 18, 2014 17:09:14 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

How are the other job searches going? flutterby? Sunnyday?

And I know there were others...

For me: a big fat nada so far. I had another interview; that went well, and I think it would be a good job. I'm getting good interviewing practice anyway.

The problem is that none of these places are in a huge hurry to make a decision, which they did tell me, but I'm impatient!!! I REALLY want the first one I interviewed at. They were narrowing it down to about three people to interview (I was one of the three), so even if I didn't get it, it seems like they would let me know. Since I haven't heard anything, I still have hope.

It's now been three weeks with no job. Not a long time, but about long enough that I'm ready to expand what I'm applying for: further commute and whatnot.

And that's where I'm at.

[shanendoah]

flutterby - How long has it been since the first interview? If they told you they were not in a hurry but did not give you a time frame for responses, go ahead and reach out to them. Contact whoever set up the interview, let them know you are still interested and ask if they have a time frame for making a decision.


And perhaps things come in threes.
Phone interview Tuesday with the County.
Phone interview Wednesday morning with start up healthcare organization
In-person interview Wednesday afternoon with School of Business

[taz157]

Aug 18, 2014 17:42:40 GMT -5 Bonny said:

Shanendoah,

I admire your perseverance and attitude!

Good luck with your future interviews!

[Sunnyday]

Aug 18, 2014 17:09:14 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

How are the other job searches going? flutterby? Sunnyday?

And I know there were others...

Thanks for asking! I'm pretty depressed about it. It's hard to not let it get me down. People try to cheer me up by telling me to stay positive, but it's hard.

Ultimately, thinking positive or negative thoughts will not in any way change the outcome. But I know that it will affect my attitude, so being positive is a good thing. It's just really hard. 

The only thing that I have ongoing is the one that I had two phone interviews for. The company is looking to do face-to-face interviews in early September. Even if I was to get the job, it would be mid Oct before I start working.

They started circulating an ad through a recruitment agency about three weeks ago. They just went live with a public ad a week ago.

I made it through the pre-screening. Obviously, they are screening people as applications come in. And if they chose to post publicly that means that they weren't wildly enthusiastic about the applicant pool from the recruitment company, which would also include me.

They will probably keep accepting applications for the next three weeks and pre-screening with phone interviews. Then, maybe in early or mid September, they will start face-to-face interviews. Interview period might last two to three weeks with people's varying schedules. Decision might be made within a week or so after the final interview.  One or two weeks for administrative stuff: approval, contract and HR.

The new hire will be notified. Two weeks notice given. New job might start in mid Oct if everything goes smoothly.

Nope, I haven't spent too much time thinking about it! (insert sad bitter laugh)