At my current job, I have since talked to the person who interviewed me/made the hiring decision, and he said that I was one of the best interviews he has ever had. I did some quick social engineering and made some small talk, and found we had some common interests and had a geniune conversation. We joked about how much interviews are a crapshoot (this guy is an Army vet, real straight shooter) and it was a fun experience. I was truthful about things, and because I was unemployed for near 6 months at that point, I was very excited for the opportunity. I think the key is showing how excited you are to be at the interview and getting to talk to someone at the company. It makes it seem like you care (which you do, but isn’t easy for them to tell that) and want to work there. When we did a tour of the lab, I made a remark about how I liked wearing lab coats, because it feels like you are actually doing science. He said that impressed him, having that positive attitude towards PPE (personal protective equipment) that most people hate wearing. Being an outgoing person, I am very good at doing interviews and talking with people, but I think the key to “standing out” is showing genuine interest and excitement for the job you are applying for. This isn’t just another job, this is YOUR job.
I hope that helps Alan, good luck.
Private Nixxter reporting back in. Got tired of being told they found others who are “better qualified” for positions I am overqualified and over experienced for. Interesting to learn that being a CPA with a MST, with 30 years experience (in a niche, admittedly) and 57 years young results in unsaid age discrimination.
Gonna be self employed for the first time in my life (I know I won’t restructure me, and hey, I’d hire me!) selling voluntary employee benefits to small employers, for a Fortune 125 company that has a spokesduck. Allows me to get back into my life, doing what I know and enjoy best (employee benefits, helping employees and employers), and to build another stream of retirement income that you couldn’t build otherwise in a company retirement plan in the decade I have before I consider retiring.
Hang in there and believe in yourself, and remain optimistic and open to new experiences - all of that sounds trite, but it’s the way I am wired, and it made the “transition” (more corporate speak that I have added to my lexicon of phraseology I hate) more bearable.
Annnnnnnd I’m back in the ranks of the unemployed…
Big sad face here.
But I knew it was dodgy from the start and didn’t do a big announce on Facebook or anywhere, so I feel good about that. In fact, I may not have even mentioned here that I was working again. So I found a job and lost a job all within 2 months. It was a cool company with a neat technology that was right up my alley, but the manager was just a real challenge to work with for a variety of reasons.
Has anyone here taken a job knowing that the person in charge gave off a bad vibe? How do you manage a situation like that, I wonder?
Oh man Tim, sorry to hear that. Still available for a beer!
To answer your question, when I was doing contract work I was definitely less discerning on my job choices, I’d take chances figuring I only had to endure six months or so. These days with two kids and a mortgage I am definitely more picky.
That’s awesome. I may take you up on that meet up. I’ll probably go for a lemonade or something, but it would be cool to war story a bit.
You know what, that’s thoughtless of me, and I’ve read your book. I’d totally meet up for lemonade.
Man, sorry to hear that Tim. Good luck!
Oh, it’s cool. It totally doesn’t bother me to sit with someone having drinks. I do it occasionally. If you tie off and cook up the heroin, then I’m in trouble. :)
A least split some buffalo wings. Mmmm wings…
nKoan
1611
Hmm, what a coincidence. I found out this morning that I was being laid off too. It’s the first time in my life, and its a huge weird mix of grief and relief. They are a startup that 6 months ago was aggressively hiring but now the numbers don’t line up and the burn rate is too high. So, somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of the entire company was let go. I always knew it was a distinct possibility, but I took the risk for an opportunity to move to a better job market. So now I get to test out that theory!
Best of luck to all in the thread. What a profoundly crappy thing to happen to uniformly fantastic people :(
Good luck nKoan! We’re in the same neck of the woods and maybe even similar industries. I feel something good is going to happen this week!
With the tasty sauce! ooooooooooo
Less than 50 days until I can kiss my current air traffic control facility goodbye. I want to be so far away from the 420-smog filled skies of northern Colorado that it’ll be a distant memory!
Aleck
1616
Any idea where you’ll be landing next?
Have you noticed you’re the only person who uses the “Just Lost Job” thread to crow about your continuing employment?
Didn’t mean to offend, Busbecq, but with that said, I did not crow about continued employment. I just said that I was leaving CO. There is no other thread on employment, but since this fits in with the “job hunting” aspect, I thought it would be ok. Another site I frequent uses a similar thread for everything job-related. FWIW, I have also posted job announcements for my current career field! :)
Aleck, actually, NO. The one option I had just fell through and I can’t trade out now, but I’m still leaving regardless, so I have 50 days to find a new job. I am considering ditching ATC and going to the RR, or even taking a contract job, which would really suck in the pay department. The FAA is not my cup of tea. Ironically, one of my coworkers just transferred to Dallas, and if I go RR, I’ll probably end up there. So for now, I’m not sure what will happen. Maybe unemployment!
5 1/2 months, 3 interviews, 0 offers. I spent all afternoon on the phone and got two people to say “well, send your resume here, but we already took one person” and another two said to call back in a month. The rest were just flat out no. I just can’t get my hopes up any more, not worth the disappointment. I’ll keep plugging away because, really, what else will I do with my time. Mustering any enthusiasm though at this point is probably a lost cause.
Thanks for the advice above. I’ll make sure to a put some extra research behind the cover letters I’m putting together to go with the two resumes.
Sorry if I missed it earlier, but what’s RR, railroad?
