The Rev

Looking for a job totally stresses me out. It's not normal stress, like juggling projects or dealing with flack from my precious. It's more generalized and hard to pin down. Just, whenever I think about revising my resume, looking up companies to contact, or (god help me) actually calling them, I get very "what needs doing first around here?" about it.

I have a good skill set, am a nice guy, and am not going for a dream job or anything. It should be relatively straight forward. However, I have been putting it off, day after day, for like the last year or more. Now, I'm starting to run out of money, so I really really HAVE TO get a job, and there's worry there, but that's only a little thing. I just have a real phobia about job hunting and all that.

Anyway, I'm enlisting the help of friends to keep me going, so if you have any encouraging words, or care to nag me via PM, your help will be appreciated.

Thanks.



The Rev

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Kompressor

What is your skill set [generically] and what do you want out of a job?

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Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

Roach

Over the past (nearly 2 years I've discovered.

All agencies are scams ..PittsburghJobs (or XXXXJobs in your area) Monster..etc.

all scams

you will have an extremely difficult time if...

you're over 40 without a masters in something.
you cannot pass or refuse a drug teat
you cannot pass of refuse a backround check
you cannot pass of refuse a credit check...on about 5 % of listed jobs

If however you wish to..

walk the floors smiling at people @ wall mart.
deliver pizza.
or wash cars at a dealership.

you should have no problem.

Sorry, I'm a bit bitter @ the current job recruitment process, and availability of full time employment in the Pittsburgh area.

Things may be different if I were willing/capable of relocating, or traveling back and forth XX miles to work.

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לזיין את הקופים

Kompressor

Hate to break it to you, but being under 40 doesn't negate the rest of that list.

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Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

Roach

yea I suppose we're all terrorist/convicts when fixing copy machines is our goal.

Sign of the times, trust no one.

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לזיין את הקופים

Kompressor

I disagree.

It's those you do trust that will help you. Social Media/networking is a must.

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Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

The Rev

I built a small manufacturing business from the ground up with my family, so I know quite a bit about everything when it comes to small business (tax issues, payroll, purchasing, bookkeeping, and management) but if I could have it my way, I'd be happy with $25/hr. doing spreadsheets all day. I'm an Excel wizard. I also do pretty well with CAD design and the like (learned that working as an engineer in my last job).

What do you think Komp? Will you hire me?



The Rev

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krangs_androidbody

Looking for a job is not fun, especially when there's the lingering necessity of cost of living.


Resume writing is tricky, especially if you had your previous job(s) for a long time and have to actually remember what you used to do. But dust off the old one and update it as best you can. Then get other folks to look at and keep revising.

I had jobfox.com review my resume and they offered some good advice (and some questionable advice, they'll likely try to manipulate you into having your resume "professionally" written so beware).

Different fields hire differently for sure, I've had some success with craigslist, and various agencies. Lots of word of mouth side gigs. Which brings up another good point.

Who do you know? Got friends working somewhere you want? Maybe they have a cousin. Shit, I don't know.

Just start shooting in the dark, you're bound to hit something

Best of luck Rev!

Kompressor

Actually, I could maybe help you out. You're already on my facebook, if you apply at united.com [of which there are many positions available in Cali and Colorado i could do some wheeling and dealing, depending on what you apply for.]

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Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

John F. Kerry

honestly craigslist and other online sites are pretty awesome for finding work.

its a numbers game, just remember that.

u have to send out x number of resumes to get x number of calls back and x number of interviews = x number of jobs... its simple mathematics, unless you are some crazy or fucked up person, which u obviously arent rev.

its just a question of sending out the right number of resumes to get a job- if its 100, then send 100, if its 500 then send 500. thats why the internet is awesome because you can email folks your resume and a little intro letter or email and it takes almost no time, especially after youve done it 20 times already... just keep sending em out without thinking, and eventually in your inbox, you'll find just what you were looking for.

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Nasa under Obama

Kompressor

Sorry to burst your bubble jfk, jobs are a people game, not a numbers game.

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Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

wellfleation

Yep, in this economy businesses attempt to get the best and brightest and pay them the least amount possible. In a lot of fields anyway.

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FIGHTPOWER

Terry

There are jobs that do credit checks?

The fuck kind of fascist bullshit is that?

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There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.

-Sylvia Plath

Terry

I think all he's saying is to take the shotgun approach ie turn in as many applications as possible.

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There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.

-Sylvia Plath

Being

I am currently looking for a job as well. Its tough because the things that really should get my a job in a snap do not translate to paper very well. For example never being trained on anything, and going from counting meat sticks to running the whole production department without a single minute of training. then being in charge of training. yeah.

anyways. my most hated part of looking for a job?


FUCKING TALEO
the worst application platform ever. If the job isn't good enough or a little too far out of my league I still usually apply. Unless they use taleo. then I give up. I fucking hate it... and apparently I'm not alone. there are hate sites out there for taleo lol

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R.I.P. Gov

Terry

I hate the corporate job apps that ask over and over how willing you would be to rat out your fellow co-workers for petty shit.

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There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.

-Sylvia Plath

~1~

Take whatever comes man, it's always easier to find work when you have a job. I'm making half what I was when life was good but the foot is wedged in the door. Good luck and ain't no shame in diggin' ditches or haulin' trash.

Make it work or die tryin'...

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Kompressor

And as someone who hires, it is quite easy to determine the shotgun resume+cover letter compared to someone who actually wants the job.

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Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

my_scatterheart

Think outside of the box. Got a forklift cert (100$ here), and made the initial "investment" back and then some the first day I worked. Of course I don't want to do it. I hardly even talk about it - but you have to remind yourself how blessed you are in it.
So my advice is do something, even if you hate it. Even if it says nothing about you. Even if the one thing it says about you reads unbecoming in your opinion. Just try. Shrugs. Love yourself enough to know that you are worthwhile and capable in so many facets that fretting about job apps is asinine.

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Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

Being

this. I had the luxury of doing the interviews though, and I never made a decision until i met the person, always tried to interview as much as possible

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R.I.P. Gov