How to get a job (or not)

Since you are looking for some work or job, you need something really serious about it not just by asking here in Q/A forums. However you can get a lot of ideas here. One most suitable answer to your thread would be that you should search online according to your qualification. I hope yuo will really find a good one.
 
Providing references is just part of being a manager. It is part of the job. If I am not providing past employees with references then I am not doing my job as a manager.

Perhaps you define "manager" differently. BvBPL is correct. As a manager, part of your job is to improve the skill sets of those you manage. When those good people move on from your supervision, you should be eager to continue to support them as they pursue their career.

Isn't this a tad bit idealistic and unrealistic?

Maybe some people are lucky, but I'd wager that for a large number of workers, any request for references from past managers typically go unanswered. People just don't reply to requests - maybe they're too busy or maybe they'd rather just do things that urgently need to be done. In the marketplace, there is no real incentive for them to provide you with references.
 
A good manager provides references for past (and sometimes current) employees. The incentive for managers to provide references is to boost the perception of the employer in the greater industry. Typically, an employee looking for a reference is within the same industry. By providing a reference, an employer can boost the profile of her company within the industry not just with the former employee, but also with the employee's new employer. Goodwill, even between competitors, is valuable.

It is also a question of loyalty. A good employee deserves to be rewarded. Providing a reference is a good way to issue that reward.

However, there are a lot of bad managers out there who shrug that responsibility.

--

Just landed a job. The recruiter, with whom I had previously worked, damned near offered me the job sight unseen. I don't have enough experience in my present industry to be a "catch" so I can tell the company is desperate for people. That is a red flag, but since this is a contract gig I am okay with it.

I just mention that because often taking a job where the employer is desperate to hire people isn't a great idea. It can (but not always) indicate a bad employer with a high turnover rate, a crummy work environment, or a company who is in dire straits in some other way.
 
I give references all the time. The only rule I have is that the person tell me that they've listed me and what job they're applying for so I know what capabilities I should be talking up.

If it's an employee that I didn't think was very good, I'll just deny the request when it comes. I prefer to do that than give a negative recommendation.

And for the other discussion, it is the role of the manager to help employees grow. If not, then you're just a bad manager. On the other hand, if I pay someone a good chunk of change, I usually just try to get out of their way and let them do their job and only get involved when they need support.

And I rarely check recommendations when I'm hiring because I know they're not going to give me the name of someone that's going to trash them, and you really have no clue about what the persons true position is. It's enough that they can list them.
 
I don't really feel that what you define to be a manager is all that different from what they actually are in the tech world.

Zelig's using a non-standard definition of what managers are/do.
Thanks.

Isn't this a tad bit idealistic and unrealistic?

Maybe some people are lucky, but I'd wager that for a large number of workers, any request for references from past managers typically go unanswered. People just don't reply to requests - maybe they're too busy or maybe they'd rather just do things that urgently need to be done. In the marketplace, there is no real incentive for them to provide you with references.
I am both idealistic and unrealistic. Helping a good employee find and get a great job is satisfying in and of itself. It is just the right thing to do.

A good manager provides references for past (and sometimes current) employees. The incentive for managers to provide references is to boost the perception of the employer in the greater industry. Typically, an employee looking for a reference is within the same industry. By providing a reference, an employer can boost the profile of her company within the industry not just with the former employee, but also with the employee's new employer. Goodwill, even between competitors, is valuable.

It is also a question of loyalty. A good employee deserves to be rewarded. Providing a reference is a good way to issue that reward.

However, there are a lot of bad managers out there who shrug that responsibility.
^^^ This.
 
Gotta give recommendations, falls under the "do the right thing" category. You can even take a selfish view of it, more people doing well at different companies means better opportunities for you.

I've had people list me as a reference even though I've had to let them go. Good people with good skills, wrong job.

I'm honest. If I have someone who didn't excel in a high stress position, that comes up. If they weren't good at corporate bingo, I'll mention it.
 
And don't forget the best reason. One of those people you recommend might be in a position some day to advance your career. I've worked for someone that worked for me once already. Treating him with respect and assisting him in his climb paid off. You never know what the future will hold.
 
At one point, a couple of years ago now, the Royal Navy had a submarine commander who just 'got' mentoring and training his subordinates: he did so well at it that a fair majority of the submarine commanders in the fleet had at one point been officers under him, as well as an awful lot of people high up the chain of command. Being able to ring up all of those people whenever he needed to pull some strings or wanted to know something, and being the person they'd come to to sound out ideas or get some advice, made him a very powerful chap.
 
Don't ask for one. . A reference from a current manager is good, but hiring managers know that many ppl don't want their boss know they are looking for another job. You can often specify that you would prefer your prospective employer not contact your current one.
 
And in all honesty, most prospective employers will not be able to identify your current manager unless you tell them. I don't know of any large company personnel departments that would give out that information. Which is another reason why I don't put much credence in them. For all you know the guy gave you the number of his brother who will say whatever is needed. I caught one kid who even tried to fake a company switch board. Now with cell phones dominating, you don't even have to do that.
 
What if the manager is a dorkish scumbag who is in fact the main reason for the guy to search for another place to work, and you ask the guy for a reference from that manager?

Ask the one you had before. If you think every manager you've ever worked for is a 'dorkish scumbag' who makes working for him intolerable, maybe there's a bigger problem.
 
I have a phone screening for a job scheduled for 3pm on Monday.

I think this job is a much better fit for me than the Civil Site Engineering position for which I was passed up a few weeks ago.

It is an Engineer Intern (EIT) position in the Utilities division of a consulting firm down in Tampa, Florida.

http://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj05/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=JONEEDMU&cws=1&rid=136


It is a full time entry level position with no experience required (although they do prefer having internship experience and/or masters degree, which I lack), focused on water, wastewater, and water resources.

Hydraulics, Hydrology, and Water Quality were my favorite classes at Georgia Tech. I still have all the textbooks and most of the homework assignments for those classes, which I intend to start reviewing over the weekend.


The job does still require using AutoCAD, with which I have only limited experience. I noticed though that AutoCAD 2017 was just released within the past couple weeks, so I can download another 30 day trial of the latest version for practice. I plan to take notes on exactly what tutorials I use this time, as I think a weak point of my last interview was when I did not recall enough details to relate what I had practiced with my trial of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 last summer.

Does anyone have any more advice on how to prepare for the phone screening?


(The master carpenter/contractor for Habitat for Humanity raised the possibility yesterday of hiring me as his assistant rather than just continuing as an unpaid volunteer. I'm not sure if that would involve compensation for the volunteer work I've already done or just work going forward, although I expect the latter. It probably won't come to anything if I get the Tampa job, but if not at least there is a fallback. I've also been asked to be the new co-chairman of the Habitat construction committee. I'm still scheduled to help lead collegiate challenge groups with Habitat for Humanity tomorrow morning and every weekday next week. I'm not sure if it would be better to leave a couple hours early on Monday or take the whole day off to prepare for the phone interview for the engineering job.)
 
Is the phone screening an actual interview or something else.

Getting to be chairman of the charity is a really nice thing to put on your resume.
 
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Technical Responsibility

Perform fundamental design and modeling tasks and assist in preparing permit applications, CAD, or GIS work.
Evaluate, select, and apply appropriate engineering techniques to assigned work.
Participate in data research, collection, and compilation efforts.
Analyze and correlate scientific and engineering data and recognize discrepancies in results using a series of related detailed steps or processes.
Assist in preparation of reports, studies, and technical memoranda.
Engage in continuing professional development.
Quality Program Responsibility

Assume responsibility for the quality of work submitted. Review, evaluate and verify accuracy and viability of designs, data, reports, and other documents before submitting them to the next review level.
Responsible for proper quality assurance and quality control on projects in accordance with the Jones Edmunds Quality Program to ensure projects meet Company, industry, and client standards and expectations.
Adhere to project deadlines and keep the Supervising Engineer or Project Manager informed of any difficulties encountered on assignments.
Submit work for quality control review on time and in a complete format.
Management Responsibility

Responsible for managing self on projects to ensure a quality product is produced in accordance with the schedule.
Marketing Responsibility

Provide information to the marketing team and others in the Company as requested.
May interact directly with clients.
Present a professional and positive image of Jones Edmunds.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: BS in Engineering from an accredited college or university
Registration: Registered Engineer Intern
Certification: None
Experience: None; 1-year student internship or master’s degree preferred
Other: Valid Driver’s License with an acceptable MVR
Plan to talk about what you will bring to the company that will help them succeed. Ask questions about what makes a successful employee at the company. then tell them you hve those characteristics.
Match your skills and experience to those listed in the job description. "You want this; I have it."
Talk about how you can work hard to help make other successful.
 
So I finally got a job offer for $65k or so total compensation as a software engineer. I've accepted it for now but I do want to know something. The offer was from a place different from where I did my internship and I know that the place where I did my internship is interested in hiring me back this year. They told me to contact them in April about the possibility. Will it be a problem if I get a considerably better offer from them and accept it even though I'd be stiffing the people who I've already accepted an offer from?
 
I'm absolutely having no luck in trying to obtain a good job and feel that I'm forced to accept my lot in minimum wage retail job.

I'm really tempted to just forgo a traditional resume and just go with a functional resume and embellish my skill set.
 
LS612: Doing so after accepting a job would be unprofessional. It would have been better if you had demurred on acceptance until you got more info from your prior employer. That doesn't backing out is unwarranted though.

I would consider strongly factors related to the good will of the company currently extending you an offer. If you need or desire to maintain a good relationship with them then that makes retracting your acceptance more difficult. If you don't mind being on their bad side then it is much simpler to retract your acceptance.

At this point, I would contact your internship and let them know they need to move up the time table on hiring you if they want you. You can tell them you are receiving other offers to light a fire under them.
 
LS612: Doing so after accepting a job would be unprofessional. It would have been better if you had demurred on acceptance until you got more info from your prior employer. That doesn't backing out is unwarranted though.

I would consider strongly factors related to the good will of the company currently extending you an offer. If you need or desire to maintain a good relationship with them then that makes retracting your acceptance more difficult. If you don't mind being on their bad side then it is much simpler to retract your acceptance.

At this point, I would contact your internship and let them know they need to move up the time table on hiring you if they want you. You can tell them you are receiving other offers to light a fire under them.

The reason I took this offer was although it wasn't very good (right around the median for my area for new grads) it gave me some certainty that I would have a job after I graduated. I would definitely prefer though when comparing the two places the work environment at the place I had my internship, and I believe they would offer me at least 10% more than the place that has given me an offer at this point. But waiting on them is not really an option because if they can't extend me an offer I'm in the lurch.

I've read articles about this sort of situation such as this one (possible paywall if you don't get the WSJ), which make it sound like this is rather common in tech.
 
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