Job search strategy discussion thread

I wonder where I can find a job that pays a lot for literally a month so that I at the very least have money for the graduation?

Edit: Does anyone know of a contract job that lasts at least a month?

edited 22nd Jun '18 2:28:43 PM by GAP

"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"

I don't, sorry.

I just built a Linked In profile for the first time today. Hoping I can pick the right people to add to my network to make me look good for future jobs.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

Spent this last week going through "how to separate from the Navy" class. Quite frankly, it needs to be longer, at least for retirees. I got some good information on how to read a job posting and target my resume towards it, as well as a lot of good info on Linked In and networking. By two weeks, I will hopefully be able to get some job applications out there. Sadly, my detailer has made it clear that while I might be willing to stay in the service longer, he's not willing to be honest enough to keep me in.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

You can reach out to me on Linked In if you like—just remember to say where I know you from.

Blue Cross has made me an offer, and I have accepted, now I just have to wait for the drug test and background check to clear.

Found an interesting job in the ASEAN Studies Centre in Singapore, but I got word that one of the profs I worked with for a research project can't do another recommendation letter. It's due by the 10th, but I got most of the documentation ready.

I'll call the centre again since no one in HR took the call and I had to explain that I never was asked to submit a biodata document before.

I'll have to start looking elsewhere too. I know a few profs and supervisors... but damn.

Edited by Ominae on Jul 1st 2018 at 11:30:20 AM

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Update to say that the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa has a staff position open. It's a one-year thing, so I fear that even if I do good, they can (at their discretion) choose not to renew the contract.

Edited by Ominae on Jul 4th 2018 at 8:46:19 AM

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

True, but dang what a resume builder!

I wish I can do things like that but it is too late for me. I am not an edgy twentysomething anymore but an disillusioned thirtysomething who is starting to learn how fragile life is. I cannot go to other countries and do that stuff.

How do you know when your employer has responded to you? I had sent applications to Fedex and JC Penney warehouses but I had yet to get a response. I tried calling them but they tell me that will contact me by email or phone for an interview. I do not know if they will call me but what should I do until then? How do I make sure they call me?

"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"

Until then—look for other jobs. Larger corporations are notorious for not following up until they darn well feel like it. When they contact you, you'll know.

Smaller companies where you can make a personal connection before the job application are better at getting back to you. If a friend or cousin recommended you to them, the hiring manager or human resources person will feel more obliged to at least tell you no.

I guess you are right, I will try to look for other jobs as right now I am sure if I can get that email or call back. I wonder what smaller company will hire me....

Edited by GAP on Jul 6th 2018 at 7:32:28 AM

"Thanos is a happy guy! Just look at the smile in his face!"

I actually just read an article about "ghosting" when it comes to jobs. Companies are getting pissed off at people who stop responding when they try to offer them jobs ... but yet >75% of companies don't respond to people who send in applications with even a form email to say they're not selected for a job. Just assume that if you don't hear anything within a week the company didn't like your resume.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

If you applied for a job at a company and the company responded to you to say they want to hire you, that means they had to reject other people to offer you that job. If you don't respond to said acceptance, you bet they will be pissed. Their thought process is probably: "If you didn't really want this job...why the fuck did you apply in the first place?"

Edited by M84 on Jul 8th 2018 at 8:17:58 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised

I think Blue’s point is that companies get pissed when they are ghosted by potential employees but give zero shits about themselves ghosting potential employees.

"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran

One thing you gotta keep in mind is that it doesn't really cost someone that much time and effort to send in a resume. An employer otoh has to do a lot to accept someone. They gotta judge that the resume is a good fit, clear a calendar for interviews, etc. And it's worse if the person "ghosting" them is someone who has already been accepted for the job. Because that means the employer had to reject the other applicants. If that person doesn't accept the job after all, then the employer has to go through the whole thing all over again and the position remains unfilled. And depending on what the position is, that can really screw with productivity.

Someone "ghosting" a job offer without even an explanation isn't just snubbing the employer — they are doing real damage to said employer's productivity and snubbing the other applicants who really wanted that job.

Edited by M84 on Jul 8th 2018 at 9:52:34 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised

Maybe they did want it, but then got a better offer somewhere else. If the company doesn't care about telling applicants they aren't chosen, why should the applicants care about telling the company, "No thanks, got a better offer."? Pissing off the company, I don't really care about. Damaging other people's job prospects I care more.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

While "ghosting" is inconsiderate and harmful no matter who is doing it, the employers have a laundry list of self-justifications that makes it easier for them to be hypocrites about it. Not that these justifications are particularly good.

Chief among them is that they want to keep the other candidates as "backup" candidates right up until their "top" candidate is actually working for them. Of course, companies that do this also usually don't inform the rejected candidates even after this has happened. Nor are they ever straight about it by saying something like: "We're keeping you on as a backup just in case."

A lot of companies also have HR departments who are too chickenshit to actually send out rejection letters. HR people are really conflict avoidant. This however is a sign of a badly run company. A good HR department shouldn't be afraid of communicating with people even if (especially if) it's bad news.

Disgusted, but not surprised

I remember that I submitted my resume to a research institute in Singapore, but I didn't mention in my cover letter that I'm willing to relocate.

I did make calls and told them that I'm calling for the job from Manila, so I'm sure the HR knows (at least some of the staff) that I'm a foreigner willing to move there to get the job.

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

If you didn't already, it might also help if you said you'd be willing to relocate without needing them to pay for it. That is the case, right?

No need to give them a reason not to hire you.

Disgusted, but not surprised

That suggestion was advised for peeps to say in the cover letter, but the deadline is by the end of tomorrow.

Not sure if it’s a good idea to send a revised CL, but I’m leaning to “do it after you get home from your internship.”

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

If you already sent a cover letter it's too late. Trying to send a revised one will simply have the employers thinking "okay, this person managed to fuck up a cover letter..."

Disgusted, but not surprised

Yeah, which is why I haven't done anything to the saved copy. Although the other cover letter I have for another job opening is still cool, so I applied whatever I missed on the first one to the other one.

Although some peeps advised to do it only if you realized that a lot of mistakes were made.

Edited by Ominae on Jul 9th 2018 at 2:15:31 AM

"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"

Using Linked In, I applied for two jobs this morning. Neither of them really had a spot to include a cover letter, so I hope that doesn't damage my chances too badly.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

So I actually posted my resume to about 6 or 7 jobs ... I already have a voicemail and two e-mails from hiring managers wanting more information from me.

... Yay?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

That's more of a response than I ever get.

To pity someone is to tell them "I feel bad about being better than you."

It might be because my resume lists my still-active Secret clearance. Or just they are hoping for a tax break by hiring a disabled veteran (even though I haven't actually been rated for disability yet).

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw