The Past, Present, and Future

I thought I would contribute a post to all those entry-level job searchers as more of a warning. Just as I graduated with my B.A., I got a job at a “consulting” firm. Before I interviewed I checked to see if they were a legit business (i.e. the Better Business Bureau, etc.), and then continued to do research on the company through their website. I prepared myself totally and completely for the job interview. Before I graduated, they offered me a job.

Continue Reading

Reaching Last Resorts

Well I’ve decided to try and contact a former employer and see if he would be willing to hire me back. I left the place on good terms; it was a sports/concert venue. When I gave him my notice, he told me to keep in contact and let him know if my situation changes at any time. I’ve talked to a few people that I met from there, and they have all said they are looking for people to hire for summer. I think it’s time for me to give him a call and see if I can get back in there, at least until I can find something full-time with better wages. We’ll see what happens.

How am I?

I think my frustrations have hit their high. I have by no means given up on searching for a job. I am generally a very patient person, and I completely realize there are those out there who have been searching for a job for far longer than I have. However, 7 months later, and I think I’ve had enough.
I’m either over qualified for positions, or I don’t have enough experience. Okay, well do employers not realize even if the person may be over qualified or not, if they are applying for the position obviously they need the job otherwise why would they apply? I have friends who are college graduates who are working as servers in restaurants, working the drive-thru at McDonalds, and whatnot. This is not a pretty job market, and people need jobs. So I’m supposed to be punished for having too much experience? Too much education? That is ridiculous. The last job I held, I interviewed for twice; after the first interview they told me that they wouldn’t hire me because they believed that the position was below my educational and experience background. Okay, so they went the long way around to tell me I was over qualified.
And how am I expected to get experience if no one is willing to hire me and give me the chance to gain experience? Everyone has to start somewhere. If I don’t work out, fire me. I realize that certain job openings require someone immediately to have knowledge of the positions duties and responsibilities. But do not most jobs require some sort of settling-in and/or training period? Explain to me what I need to do, your preferred way of me accomplishing those duties, and I’ll get it done promptly and quickly. That’s not enough apparently though. Despite my eagerness and skills, I’m not good enough.
How am I to succeed in the job market if there isn’t someone out there willing to provide me an opportunity to gain the experience? Or even provide a job opportunity to me? All I need is a chance to prove myself. The problem is finding the person/company willing to give me that chance.

Still Waiting

Well I didn’t hear word from the recruiter this last week about rescheduling my interview, so I think it’s safe to assume the company that originally scheduled me for the interview hired someone. I haven’t even heard word from her about setting me up with an interview somewhere else. I really think I’ve gotten to the point where I want to give up. I haven’t given up, but I have slowly come to the point where I want to slide my toe over that line and throw my arms up. I have applied to fast food restaurants, department stores, etc. as well and have not heard a word from everyone. This has really become a major snag in my plans for moving on. If I just had one chance I know I would succeed and accomplish my goals. But that one chance I’m looking for doesn’t seem to want to present itself.

Another One Bites the Dust

Well my excitement over having a job interview was premature and, after Tuesday, a disappointment. Monday night I made sure to have everything ready; had my suit layed out, my stack of resumes and research on the company printed and filed in my brief/planner, the directions to the office, and a list of questions to ask the interviewer. I went to bed earlier than I normally do, and set 3 alarms to make sure I got up in the morning.
Next morning, I woke up and took my shower. Got ready, grabbed everything I needed and went out on my way. Half-way there I noticed I had forgotten my cell phone at home, but it was too late to turn around to go get it. I followed the directions to the T, and pulled into an office complex that had the address that was given to me. I went to the suite I was given, and walked in; the receptionist asked if she could help me and I told her I had an interview with so-so. She informed me that I was in the wrong place, and that company doesn’t even have an office in the building. I didn’t have my cell phone with the recruiters phone number to call the recruiter to find out where I went wrong with the directions.
I walked back out to my car, and decided to see if I could find the office by chance or see if someone else could tell me where it was located. I went to the building next to the previous one that I had just entered and did the same thing. They had no clue where the company was located either. I continued to do the same thing with another building and got the same response. At this point I was 15 minutes late for the interview.
I drove to the university I attend that was nearby where the interview was to be located, and I hurried and emailed the recruiter to find out what went wrong. I didn’t get a response right away, so I drove home thinking I would call her when I got back. There was a message from the recruiter on my land line and on my cell phone; the interviewer called her to tell her that I didn’t show up. I checked my email and she had responded by then. She told me she was sorry that I got lost. The company couldn’t reschedule me for another interview until next week Wednesday. However, they had 2 other interviews schedule for Friday and they may hire before they could reschedule me.
Needless to say I was completely and totally disappointed and frustrated. I have never missed an interview in my life, and it frustrates me that this happened. It makes me look bad and incompetent.

Job Hopes in the Near Future

I finally got a response to one of my job applications last week. My outlook was pretty bleak, and then I got an email from one of the companies that I submitted to my resume to online. After playing some phone tag for a couple days, I have an interview scheduled for Tuesday at a consulting firm as a conference room coordinator. To top it off, the woman who contacted me for the interview must work for an outside recruiting company. She told me to call her after the interview, and if it turns out that I don’t get the job she has every bit of confidence that she can find me a job elsewhere. Here’s hoping things go well on Tuesday.

An unlikely source to network from

Recruiting firms seem to be a staple in Southern California so it is important to know how they work. They get paid a lot more than they end up paying you for your work so where possible get an assignment that is temp-to-hire for a maximum of three months. When you become an employee ask for more money than the temp agency was paying you if you are good at your job you will get it. I know you are thinking what has this got to do with networking–I’m getting there.
Recruiters are paid for every piece of business they bring in. Try and pick a recruiter who has similar interests with you so that you can get an accurate picture of how high or low to set your expectations. A good recruiter can tell you what organizations to join to get name recognition and face time with people who can help you mold your future but that will not happen if the recruiter has no idea where you are coming from and where you are looking to go with your career. To maximize chances of success I would recommend working with about five recruiters that specialize in the profession that you are qualified in or have an interest in. When you go in for an interview at the recruiter’s office be professional it is an interview like any other. Just think if the shoe were on the other foot would you think of hiring you? Know what your future aspirations are even if they may not be an exact match give the recruiter something to work with. Don’t forget to bring copies of your resume and go over and update your resume the night before so that you can fill-in any questions that may arise.
Always remember that having any job is better than having none at all is always good according to all the recruiters that I have worked with they want someone with a good work ethic and being unemployed for 6 months or more is a red flag other than for medical/family reasons or other conditions out of your control.
The best reason to work with more than one recruiter is that you will soon figure out the organizations that are worth joining and those that are not the more people you talk to. An additional benefit is that you get to pick the highest bidder and get some experience as you are looking for your ideal job. Some recruiters are fool of empty promises so if you hear a lot of caveats when a new position is being discussed know that you may or may not hear if you got the job and more likely than not it will be the latter and in this case no news is bad news.
Be prepared not to hear anything for months then get a phone call from a recruiter looking for your qualifications with the recruiter acting as if you last spoke weeks before. Be professional at all times and if you do accept an assignment no matter how brief do it as if it were the job of your dreams–you could become indispensable and be hired or meet someone who introduces you to someone who helps you get where you need to go.

Government job

I had an interview with a panel of five; four men and one woman. I could tell from the start that I was not going to get the job. In the hall way as I was walking in, one of my interviewers made a point of telling me how stiff my competition was all but telling me before the interview took place that my chances of being offered a position were slim to none. I was surprised that the interview even took place but more so when I had to call them to find out that I did not get the job. It seems to me that common courtesy would dictate that interviewer’s at least send an interviewee a note via email or letter that you are not getting the job.
On a happier note I just got a job offer. It is a temp to hire position and the pay is not great but it has potential. The interviewer even asked what question I had prepared for I had not been asked and I got to respond stating why I would be a good addition to the company.
My recent interviews have begun with a telephone interview then a follow-up in-person interview which is better than an initial in-person interview. It is better because in-person interviews run the risk of snap judgments being made based on how one dresses or carries one self rather than who the person is and what he/she has to offer which would come across from a telephone interview. It has also been my experience that telephone interviews are more relaxed and allow an interviewee to provide well thought out responses. Preparation is key. Visit the company’s web site. Print out information on the head of the company. The most mundane information could mean the difference between getting a second interview and not getting a second interview. Even when you are not entirely well prepared, self confidence and being open about your lack of preparation can lead to you getting that coveted second interview.