Job search strategy discussion thread

Will consider that. Thanks.

After two months of waiting, my application at the British Embassy (Manila) is canned.

Looks like I'll have to apply at that not-so normal job my dad snarked at.

Follow up question, but it's for those who have Linked In.

Is it a good idea to get connections in your profile with people from a certain place you want to work in (eg I link up with some people who do research in an institute and I only know them because they work there)?

It seems to be ok, imo. Most of my connections are with people - mostly friends and acquaintances - in the area(s) I'd like to deal with or have studied in the past. I occasionally accept invitations from people who work in the area I don't even know (but who have connections with my folks), so, my use of Linkedin is a bit different from what you're thinking about.

That being said, connecting with people who work at places you'd like to work in is an ok move. It visibly shows your professional interest, after all.

I'll try something.

Two places I plan to do Linked In recon, I submitted applications and went bust. Although I'm trying again for the institute in DC.

I may try to link with some department honcho...

Linked In can't find me a job. I guess I'll just search on some other site

She/they. Hirrus Clutumnus is my comfort character

One more thing. Should I tell the person I want to make contact that I applied once before?

PS - I’m not sure about doing a Linked In connection with the head of the research institute’s ASEAN Studies Centre... I’ll have to think about the risks aside from maybe just getting a connection.

Edited by Ominae on Dec 14th 2018 at 9:28:11 AM

If they're actual connections, like they know you and you talk, absolutely. Especially if you apply for a job via Linked In, it will give you the option to ask them for a recommendation, which is often very helpful to land you the interview! I don't think you should mention your previous application, but if you don't know these people you should tell them, "Hey, i'm interested in this place and would like to talk to you about X job there." Especially if it's a job they do, or work alongside someone who does it, you can get more information and make sure you actually want it; and you're getting your name known by people there.

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

Thanks Blue.

And yeah, I only plan to professionally link with someone who worked in a certain institute or so. I mean someone did the same to me when I joined Linked In.

Said person is 3rd in terms of connections. I'll give it a shot...

Edited by Ominae on Dec 15th 2018 at 8:13:19 AM

Update:

I’ll send my custom request via Linked In.

Not enough to mention that I applied before due to word limits in the invite, but I’ll try to mention that I share similar interest in Japanese foreign policy.

Edited by Ominae on Dec 17th 2018 at 7:34:40 AM

Now I need to wait.

Of course, there's the idea to send a Linked In connection to a company HR person, but I have a bad feeling.

Found a job in Washington DC with the German Marshal Fund for a Program Assistant. They can't sponsor foreigners, but I'm a Canadian who can apply for a TN-1 Visa.

Though I'll have to check, I'm not sure if I should apply and just cross my fingers that the application will work. They'll have to check most likely and if that's the case, I'll have to ask if I can get a letter to indicate TN-1 status.

Edited by Ominae on Dec 26th 2018 at 4:44:09 AM

Absolutely! Get that application in and if you get a nibble, start the visa process.

I’ll try.

But I have no guarantees. Otherwise, I’ll have to ask an immigration attorney/company for advice and perhaps, be the sponsor.

Submitted my application to the German Marshal Fund and I pointed out that I'm a Canadian in the cover letter and if they wish, I can discuss the possibility of working under the TN Visa.

Otherwise, I'm working on an application to ISEAS in Singapore with the Research Officer position up again for grabs. Did everything except that I'm doing a new writing sample again just to be safe.

Got some connections to people working in the places I want to go to via Linkedin.

But it's just that. Professional connections.

Good thing I don't meet my high school friends a lot, otherwise the first thing they'll ask if how's my life going. Aside from working in a humanitarian NGO as a volunteer with no pay.

Found this temp job at the local embassy in Manila.

I mean, I'm working full time as a volunteer in a NGO with no fucking pay.

I'm not sure if I should leave the volunteer work in the NGO for this. I mean, I'll try to submit the application. I just live a wee bit away that sometimes going there is gonna be hella traffic.

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900 PHP in Euros is 15.16€, according to the current rates. I don't know if that's not worth it in regards to your personal expenses, but me, I'd submit the application (15.16€ is 1877.26 in Japanese yen, but I don't know how expensive Japan is at the moment, in case you have to occasionally go there; if I was in a position where I'd end up working in my country in said embassy, I'd definitely give it a shot).

Edited by Quag15 on Jan 15th 2019 at 11:24:46 AM

Basically, it's a temp position at the JET office there. The Philippines recently is allowed to send JET representatives since it's one of the few countries in the Asia-Pacific region where English is known to be widely used aside from Singapore IIRC (If I missed another country, I apologize).

I'm living with parents and my dad is in his 60s and is still working at the stock exchange managing his company (with some others with other investment partners), so the salary is not an issue.

It's an issue if my parents say don't go there because of the screwed up traffic, which is a thing since the 1990s. This means I need to wake up way early and hit the road before it gets clogged up.

I'll have to see. The application deadline is by the 18th and they won't say anything, except to email me if they need me for three months or now in a contract role.

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Dammit, the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa has a position for a Cultural Assistant, except I also need to know French. Which I don't 'cause I'm not fluent in it (immigrated to Canada in late teens, so never studied French in BC). I wish the Japanese consul in Vancouver has a job opening now.

Edited by Ominae on Jan 15th 2019 at 8:30:40 AM

Working in CSIS in DC is not possible anymore. Apparently they got someone who’s more qualified than me.

In both instances.

Asked for the possibility of doing paid internship in Japan. Natch. Unless Tokyo is the one doing the offering.

Internships are closing it fast. The only thing I can do is to ask for a full-time job.

Tried asking around and one internship placement mentions that they can help me out if I’m not N5 level in Japanese.

I’m not holding my breath to ask the research institutes if I can be an intern despite my low level of Japanese.

In short, I expected this unless I go for a place that uses English as a medium (most of the time).

Edited by Ominae on Jan 23rd 2019 at 8:58:09 AM

Personal update:

• I e-mailed the Canadian Commerce body in Japan and asked if there's a job for an internship/full time work there. I was told by e-mail that internship is the current opportunity (unpaid).

• An internship company in Shibuya has spoken to me and said that they can help get in touch with universities/research firms that would accept a foreign graduate from a BA Poli Sci background. They've done this in the past when they posted a brief article about a university accepting interns who can even speak decent Japanese.

I'll probably have to do a wait and see approach. As of now, the HR team in ISEAS (Singapore) has formally received my application. And I plan to submit an application as an RCMP (Civilian) intelligence analyst, so I won't be sure if I'll have a full-time job offer that I may have to postponse any intern placements.

Stuck unemployed out of college. My area of interest is in video editing, but I’m looking for any job that will do at the moment. I also don’t have a car, so close proximity/home jobs are what I’m stuck with. I’ve been looking online and applying for the last six months and have almost never gotten a call back or even an email of rejection. I’m open to advice, since I admit I’m extremely distressed at my current state.

Power of Thor!

What exists within your local reachable area? Are you in a purely residential town or is there more around you then that? As you’re limited by the lack of transport jsut physically scouting what’s around you might be the best idea, from that you can see what local businesses there are you can apply for and how you can apply for them.

Also do you know anyone locally? A lot of early jobs come about because someone has a friend or relative that already works in an area, I got into the bar trade purely on my brother’s word and a lot of people get hired because of personal relationships.

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