How to get a job (or not)

[Darsnan]

So since this is a thread about jobs, I've been given the green light by my work to post here for a Test Engineering position in our FAA Programs division. Upside is that you get to work on cutting edge software and systems which really make a difference in this world (if you've seen any news reports where Air Traffic Controllers are saving the day from a near collision between two jets, invariably there is an automated system squawking an alert in the background - that's our predictive software at work alerting the controller to a potential incident). Downside is that you'd have to work with/ for me.

Here is a link to the position: https://saabgroup.com/career/vacanc...neer-for-faa-programs-air-traffic-management/

FYI in case there is anyone here who's looking for a challenging Test Engineering position or is looking for a way into Systems Engineering, as a lot of our Test Engineers move on to Systems Engineering. Any questions let me know, and I'll try and answer them.

D

 

[Birdjaguar]

Let's hope you get some takers.

 

[Alexius08]

If you're trying to get a programming position and your best programming-related experience is contributing to someone else's Civ mod (contributing code, looking for bugs, etc.), how much would an endorsement or a character reference from the people you worked with be worth, if it's worth anything at all?

 

[rah]

It's not meaningless. Probably worth almost as much as any other reference. It's still not a job reference though.
I hired a guy based on him modding civ and work on a web site.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Here's something I'd like to share:

If you're unhappy with aspects of your job then you owe it to yourself to at least take your problems/desires to management. They can't read your mind so if you aren't vocal about your problems then don't expect them to go magically go away. Obviously, if you hate your job then walk. Or walk if you are pretty sure you can get a better deal somewhere else. Sadly, these days companies don't put much value in retention - they'll pay out the butt for new hires but then throw piddly raises to their current employees. This encourages job-hopping and I'm all for that. But at the same time, if you don't ask for a big raise or perks or concessions or whatever then you're going to put a lot of effort into unnecessary job searches and changes.

I've had a few friends over the past few years complain to me or friends about specific things at jobs but never speak up about it before they resign in frustration.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Yes, but....

Be careful how you complain. If you are complaining about how you are treated, it is different than complaining about conditions, policies, colleagues, etc. It is always worth trying to make your complaint sound like a positive suggestion that benefits more than just you. And be careful who you complain to. Who would be best and not piss somebody else off. HR? Your supervisor? Your supervisor and his boss? CEO? Colleagues?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

In my experience, never complain to HR about compensation or working conditions. I don't know if the roles of HR have shifted over time but at least in my brief career all they are there for are to enforce the rules of the office and deal with paperwork related to compensation. They have the power to prevent compensation packages from going through (i.e. they stand between you and a raise) and are never on your side in any kind of salary dispute.

 

[rah]

yeah, the only thing to go to HR for is sexual harassment or something along those lines.

 

[Lexicus]

HR's goal is not to help you out with any of that stuff. It's to resolve all those issues in whatever way generates the least work and inconvenience for the company.

 

[rah]

But you need documentation that you went to HR for your Sexual harassment complaints to win the inevitable lawsuit.

 

[Lexicus]

Well yeah, I'm not saying don't go to HR, I'm saying understand that going to HR is something you do to line up your bureaucratic ducks, not something you do to actually resolve the problem.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

But you need documentation that you went to HR for your Sexual harassment complaints to win the inevitable lawsuit.

This depends on how egregious the harassment is and how much documented evidence you have. To give an example I've used before, the girl who got a faxed copy of her paystub from the boss with a handwritten note at the bottom, 'How big of a raise do you want for a <sex act>? ' would have been a slam dunk sexual harassment suit without the need to involve HR. In fact in that case I suspect HR would only work to lesson the impact to the employer rather than help the aggrieved employee.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Yes, but....

Be careful how you complain. If you are complaining about how you are treated, it is different than complaining about conditions, policies, colleagues, etc. It is always worth trying to make your complaint sound like a positive suggestion that benefits more than just you. And be careful who you complain to. Who would be best and not piss somebody else off. HR? Your supervisor? Your supervisor and his boss? CEO? Colleagues?

I'd also like to say that for sure I'm not just saying march into the CEO's office with a ranting list of demands. Of course you need to use tact and be strategic with your complaints/demands. What I was really trying to get at is the thought process that goes, 'Well this one aspect of my job freaking sucks, I haven't mentioned my annoyance with anyone in management but I think I'll just quit a job I otherwise like'. I've seen that play out and it's frustrating. To be fair, I think in many of these cases, the employee would not have gotten what they wanted. But in at least one case they easily would have gotten what they wanted if they had just spoken up.

 

[rah]

IT all depends on your boss. If I had a valuable employee I was always really receptive to hearing complaints before they became job quitting issues. I made many concessions over the years. On the other hand, if it was just an employee that I didn't value, I'll admit that my willingness to address their complaints was very low. And then there are some bosses that are so into themselves that they really don't care and won't lift a finger to resolve anything.

 

[caketastydelish]

I have a lack of work experience, 3 degrees: Associate of Arts, Associates applied in Computer Information Systems and Support services, Bachelors degree in Computer Information Systems and a Minor in English.

I live in a small town (roughly 25,000 people). Obviously, I'd prefer to work in my field but am open to about anything for the moment as long as I don't completely hate it. Trying to get employed ASAP. I have a LinkedIn and have been applying both in person (while dressed professionally while going applying) as well as tons of online applications.

Still no bites. Any advice?

 

[warpus]

Are you customizing your cover letter and resume for the job you're applying to? Is your resume to the point and only 1 page? That's a good start.

With 3 degrees some employers might also find you overqualified

 

[caketastydelish]

I just send the resume, it's barely over 1 page and it is to the point.

I'm desperate for just about anything as long as I can tolerate it.

 

[Synobun]

With the greatest empathy, if you're in a position to have three degrees but no experience of any kind, you're in a tricky spot without nepotism.

If you're entry level, and especially with no experience, your resume should not be over a page.

Get relevant volunteer experience ASAP. Only put one degree on your resume for jobs that aren't in your target industry.

LinkedIn is essentially useless at the bottom of the career ladder, especially if you're in "I'll take anything" territory. You'll just be farmed by shotgun-approach recruiters.

 

[Sommerswerd]

If you're in "desperate for work mode, here are some suggestions

1. Take your degrees off your resume - I experienced something similar straight out of college. I wasn't ready to go to grad school and I wasn't in "career" mode. I just wanted to room with somebody and get a simple job, any job somewhere. I wasn't getting any callbacks and I complained about it in a conversation with my mother... who promptly asked me if I was putting my degree on my resume, to which I replied I was. "That's your problem right there. Take it off" she said, "Your degree makes you overqualified." I took the degree off and put only some summer courses that I had taken at a different school. At the very next job I applied to I was hired on the spot.

2. Sign up with an employment or temp agency, like Adecco, or Kelly Services. I've used them in the past when I've been in a pinch and they get you jobs quick as long as your flexible and willing to take whatever. They take a cut out of your paycheck, but they give you access to tons of jobs that you would have no access to otherwise.

3. Try FEDEX and UPS they are always looking for temp drivers in September/October because they have massive upticks in deliveries during the holidays. If you can't land a driver job, go for package handler. Just be warned that both jobs are VERY physically demanding, ESPECIALLY package handler and even more especially for "loaders" as opposed to "unloaders". But the turnover for loaders is high and they are ALWAYS hiring, especially during the holidays. The pay is actually pretty good.

4. Large retail stores like Macy's, Sears, Best Buy, Kohls, Home Depot, Target, etc., are in peak hiring season gearing up for the holidays. They will pretty much take anyone, and they expect it to be temporary... expect to be laid off right after the holidays unless they want to promote you to management... which they might... they also have ridiculously high turnover. Obviously the pay sucks, but its work and its not terribly demanding.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

The two associates degrees won't overqualify anyone. In fact since, he has a bachelor's degree employers in his field won't even notice the associates degrees.

If he's looking for any work then maybe it would help to cut all his degrees out but if he wants to work in IT or CompSci then AA's won't over qualify him.