Job search strategy discussion thread

Have you joined your alumni group on all your social sites yet? While "the old school tie" is not the easy in it once was, it's a good way to make an initial connection. If you're really lucky, they hit it off with your favorite professor, and you can swap stories.

I must have accidentally deleted the big long post I had typed up by way of an update. Had issues with Project Scotland due to my contact leaving the organisation, and the first job that came up being for the same organisation my mother blew the whistle on a few years ago. Seems she was working there 9 weeks and was asked to do something that would have cost her her nurses licence and possibly led to criminal prosecution. Rehabilitating alcoholics into the work place is one thing, but something about violence and children rather complicated things in a way the organisation were apparently cool with. She's still working third sector in the area so this still causes issues for her - and apparently the organisation haven't changed. Definite conflict of interest there!

The last week or two has been full of awkwardness due to an admin position coming up in Edinburgh that I really didn't want but had no choice but to apply for as I couldn't come up with a convincing enough reason to not do so. I didn't want to get the job, but wasn't about to deliberately screw it up (both for reasons of pride and because I don't want to get kicked off benefits or anything). Meaning I had to go all out - but hope I failed anyway. That's what happened in the end, fortunately. I got to the interview, through some tough online tests, passed the test they gave on the day with flying colours, but nerves screwed me in the interview and I failed. I think I was, ironically, nervous about actually getting the job as well, since I'd have had to turn it down. Not for me anyway - they flat out admitted that there's no development prospects (I always ask that in the interview) and it's basically the same as what I've been doing. Considering I'm after a serious change into more ethical work, a dead end job with an accountant is no better or more ethical than the banks I've been with previously. Especially not one of the Big Four.

Fortunately, Project Scotland has come up again, and I've got an interview a week today with a prospect. It's a charity working with older people looking for office support. Nothing I can't do easily. It's voluntary of course, but this organisation has won a boat load of contracts lately as part of the integration of healthcare and social services in the area - so they've got big prospects. Project Scotland are themselves looking to big themselves up in the area, so this looks promising. A good way to get myself noticed, potentially.

The position is in a town about a 20 minute drive from Dumfries, called Moffat. It's a pretty little town of 2500 most famous for a statue of a ram in the high street that has no ears (there's a myth that says the sculptor, William Brodie, committed suicide from the shame of realising this which until I looked it up today I thought was true!). It also has a meagre claim to fame as home of the world's narrowest hotel. I could live in Dumfries and drive there each day, which means getting a car, which helps my travel capacity generally (I've had licence for 9 years, but not actually driven in 6). My parents have a currently empty flat round the corner I could move into, which would be both cheaper and actually bigger than my current studio apartment in Glasgow. A flat with more than one room would be nice...

It's unfortunate that it's taking so long for things to come together, but if this particular Project Scotland opportunity comes through, I might finally get the change I need. Just have to hope the nasty case of scabies I currently have goes away before the next interview, since while the accountants may not have noticed when I shook their hands (wasn't about to cancel on those grounds, but was a bit unfortunate) I won't get away with it a second time!

edited 18th Mar '13 9:30:07 AM by CaissasDeathAngel

So, I've netted myself an interview, which amazes me. A local coffee shop chain is going to have me join a group interview session next week.

Good luck on that, group interviews are not my favorite, but they are doable.

Best of luck! Group interview for a coffee chain...you'll need to be up-beat and positive, and that includes before the interview. Assume that every second you're on company premises, you're being judged. I always assume the receptionists will be asked about my attitude when I wait for the interviewer, and my dad (who is in management) does ask people about this. That isn't hard to do well on - sit upright, smiling all the time, nod and say hello to anyone who passes by, etc.

When waiting for the interview if you're with your fellows, for this sort of job I imagine they'd be looking for someone chatty, who engages with the people. Good opportunity for that!

Movie theatres here use group interviews. Attitude is everything so they want people to work together well.

Thanks to state regulations forcing an interview for every eliable applicant, I have an interview Wednesday. Hopefully my brother can watch my spawn long enough I can hit up some "apply in person" jobs either before or after the interview.

If nothing else, I need to hack out my Master's thesis by April 6th. Final draft is due the 15th.

... ah. I'm not that great at that. :I

I can do polite and cheerful and upbeat easily, but not quite chatty.

Having never worked in a coffee shop or done a group interview, I'm making conjecture to be honest. But engagement with others around you on the day may help show you're upbeat, etc.

So I had a job interview today. He said he would put me on the consideration list. This means apparently my next step is to be passed on and see if the higher ups like my resume/history and push me forward. Out of the last time they hired, over 50 people applied and they only took 12.

The kicker is I will have to be working a 12am-8am shift, Tuesdays and Thursdays off. I'll be paid a little over $9 an hour with the chance of a raise to $10 within 6 months of hiring, benefits eventually, and time off. The sucky part of this is I'm going to miss out on time with my boy. Luckily, it's mainly a lot of time in the morning, but still.

Another option I have is to work all weekend, like 8am to 12am Saturday and Sunday and 4pm to 12am on Friday. I'll have Monday through Thursday off though. If I do that, I can homeschool my son, but we'll never have a weekend together again, so I'm thinking no to that.

It just really sucks because I was hoping to find a 9-5 job. Even if I get this job I'm not going to stop looking for something better. I didn't spend 10 years in college to work shit shifts and not be on salary. But a paycheck is a paycheck and it's the only potential offer I've had. So of course I'll take it if they call. I just hope that I can find something better sooner rather than later.

Alright, today's the day. Interview is at 2, so now I'm just waiting and fretting. I got in touch with the person conducting the interviews, and it turns out she forgot to call me back last week. I need to bring in a very short essay about a topic I am passionate about and how that relates to the job I want.

I chose Role Playing Games and how it's a series of problem-solving and memory tests. Think that works?

Additionally, I was told to do Business casual, but I don't know if I should wear my best jeans or wear my dressier pants, which would move me out of business casual into something else. I'm not up-to-date on fashion. :|

Business Casual in most locations for guys means dress pants and a collared shirt, but tie and jacket are optional. So yes, wear the good trousers.

Also, that sounds like a fine essay for a coffee shop type job.

edited 25th Mar '13 10:22:21 AM by SKJAM

I went with the fancier slacks, but they've got static like woah which is attracting dirt and a thousand-and-one tiny dog hairs.

Also, is that sarcasm or a serious response, because I'm just now getting nervous about this. :x

Sincere. It would not be a good fit for say, a brokerage firm.

eta: The essay thing is less about your actual topic, and more about your ability to write an essay to order. It will show you are literate, able to follow directions, and can handle simple reports. This will weed out several of your competition whose resumes look literate because someone helped them with the typos and grammar.

If anyone else is home, ask where the lint brush is. Otherwise, leave a little early and pick up a lint brush on the way.

edited 25th Mar '13 11:10:54 AM by SKJAM

Had the meeting about the voluntary position today and I couldn't have scripted it better! Went absolutely perfectly. Strictly speaking, it was an informal chat rather than an interview, but it was still important and it ended with me getting the position.

We discussed my own background, where I was and what I wanted from the position, and she explained about the organisation and what they're doing right now - which is a lot. Clearly, my mindset was correct, which I knew it would be as I have so many friends and family. All about the service-users, enhancing effiency, all that stuff. I've got a good understanding of what's happening in the area, and all the technical skills I need. What I lack is actual work experience in the sector, which is what I can gain from the position.

I also gain a bigger flat and better transport capacity, meaning that even though I get less access to my friends, I can still visit them plenty often (Moffat is on the way to Glasgow anyway).

Don't have a fixed start date, but within a month, I think. All I need to do now is keep the DWP off my back until this whole thing starts, which hopefully won't be an issue but may be as I've kinda put most of my eggs in this basket. Still, I'm happy!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good on ya mate.

Alrighty.

So, went to the group interview just fine. Got there a bit early, had a glass of water, chatted with a wonderful woman who was one of the managers. Went up and read a bit of the history of the chain. Interesting.

Then I went back down stairs and there was the HR director as well as the other interviewees. We retired to a conference room and got down to business, which, in this case, was to ask us to write the interview questions. We basically talked about ourselves for a few minutes, and then asked each other our questions. Someone asked me what I would do if I was to give a coffee virgin their first cup, and I fessed that I don't drink coffee, but I managed to give a description close to what the HR director gave.

I also had to fess that I have to work on my sleep schedule, which will likely count against me given that they're supposed to go into work often either while I have just gotten off to sleep or trying to do so.

I honestly think I did quite badly, but they'll let me know within the week.

Have temp assignment answering phone calls for a class action lawsuit. Not the best pay, but it's within walking distance. And man I need the work.

Well done mate!

It looks like this job might be doable. Can't say much more than that due to NDA. I feel sorry for the people who have to drive in—parking is expensive downtown and if you park in one of the less expensive lots then you have to walk nearly as far as I do.

I got another rejection email for being overqualified...bah... apparently I am too experienced to be a receptionist.

Does anyone have any advice for a guy seeking work that doesn't require experience, when it doesn't matter how much it pays? I'm just looking for a reliable source of supplementary income.

edited 31st Mar '13 12:19:37 PM by RTaco

Try grocery stores, office supply stores, movie theaters, fast food places, (non-high-end) restaurants, and other similar retail businesses. Most places like that don't care whether you have work experience.

To apply, just go in and ask for a job application. You can usually do that at any store, but you're more likely to be hired if you find a place that says they're hiring.

edited 31st Mar '13 12:30:33 PM by Nocturna

So will volunteering help me in anyway with employers? I was in a job training program for 2 years and putting the places I helped out at mostly grocery stores and restaurants does'nt seem to get me qualifiations anywhere even at FUCKING POPEYES CHICKEN.

WTF is with even FAST FOOD needing you to have qualifications?

Volunteering doesn't help in terms of resume. It helps in turn of getting you the thing that you increasingly need in an employer's market; network. I know of 10 people and counting that got jobs through volunteering and suddenly getting referred to the jobs they have now.