How to get a job (or not)

[Ajidica]

I agree with Sommerswerd. I got rejected by a bunch of jobs when I was looking because I was overqualified, but ended up getting hired for the job I thought I was underqualified for.
I also echo the temp agency. Do a little research on them before giving them your application to check to see what type of placements they do, but if you can do basic office tasks you'll be snapped up.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I just have never known an employer to give two craps about AA's when hiring for entry level jobs in that field. If he wants any job, thatst different. But in his field, nah they don't care.

 

[Sommerswerd]

By his comments indicating he's in desperation mode, I kinda wrote off the whole job-in-chosen/target-field thing. My comments are directed at a guy who's looking for gainful employment ASAP, not someone looking to start their career.

Listing one Associates degree might be OK, but TBH if you're applying to Macy's or Comcast you really don't want to overdo it with the qualifications... you want them to think there is at least some possibility you might consider staying long term. They are going to spend the time/money to train you afterall.

Think of it this way. If your resume makes you more qualified/educated than the manager who is interviewing you, you aren't getting the job, because hiring you would essentially be signing their own pink slip as you would be a shoe-in to replace them.

 

[warpus]

Are cover letters not done these days? I had the best luck customizing the cover letter to the specific company and position I was applying to. I figured if they read the cover letter and saw that it was custom tailored to the specific job they were advertising, they would assume I was probably actually interested in the position, and wasn't just blasting out resumes to everyone hoping some would stick.

Of course some places will scan your resumes for keywords and pick candidates based on that, but if you're emailing your resume in and not filling out some online form, then somebody is probably going through the applications manually.

 

[caketastydelish]

I am one lucky son of a *****, which explains how I have 3 degrees, no work experience, and no student debt. I am a trust fund babe even if the money finally ran out.

You all have given really great advice and I'll seriously consider that. I hadn't even thought about taking my degrees off the resume because it makes me overqualified.

Another thing I've decided, the kind of options only a lucky son of a ***** has: I have relatives in the Dallas metroplex (obviously much bigger than this miserable place) and if I continue hustling like this for the next 3 weeks- 1 month or so without a job I'll just go over there and try where there are more opportunities.

 

[Oerdin]

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?

Move. That town is too small to have a healthy job market. Go where there is opportunity.

 

[Sommerswerd]

Nepotism is king in small towns (everywhere really, but especially so in small towns)

 

[really]

I just got a very odd ad in Korean advertising for work and I realised that it is because in am listening to music in work it knows who my employer is. Pretty random. I guess it is a competitive area.

For the person in a small town - is remote working a possibility or desirable? I know a company near me just advertised lots of jobs (in Europe) and that most of them are remote as they physically don't have the desk space for them.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I just got a very odd ad in Korean advertising for work and I realised that it is because in am listening to music in work it knows who my employer is. Pretty random. I guess it is a competitive area.

For the person in a small town - is remote working a possibility or desirable? I know a company near me just advertised lots of jobs (in Europe) and that most of them are remote as they physically don't have the desk space for them.

Remote work is a growth industry and lots of employers are hiring. You will need a solid and fast internet connection.

I concur with the previous suggestions to take the AA degrees off your resume unless they specifically support the position you are applying for.

 

[rah]

I'm with Warpus. Cover letter. When you have 100s of resumes on your desk the cover letter can make you stand out. (and it make it look like you actually care about the position instead of just shotgunning your resume to everyone) The over qualified never bothered me unless I though it would force me to overpay. Otherwise I thought I'd be getting a bargain. But then I'm old.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I'm with Warpus. Cover letter. When you have 100s of resumes on your desk the cover letter can make you stand out. (and it make it look like you actually care about the position instead of just shotgunning your resume to everyone) The over qualified never bothered me unless I though it would force me to overpay. Otherwise I thought I'd be getting a bargain. But then I'm old.

I agree, a well crafted cover letter can get you an interview in spite of a weak resume. Such letters have several components:

1. One to one links between your experience and the stated requirements for the job
2. Measured results of your accomplishments
3. An ask for an interview

Numbers 1 and 3 are most important. Of course, good spelling and grammar are a must. The cover letter is how you tell the employer that you are qualified for the job by the standards they set in their ad. The resume is just a history of what you have done. If they say they want 5 years experience in X, a degree, and knowledge of Y, then in your letter you list a requirement they want and state how you meet it. the more of their requirements you meet the harder it is for them to deny you an interview.

College degree required: graduated from UNC with a BA in 1942
5 years senior marketing experience: Director of Marketing at CFC, 2010-2017; raised unique visits 25% to a record of 2,500 visits per day not counting bots.
.
.
.
Do this for each requirement they want in a candidate. If you lack a requirement you can skip it if it is not an important one; but if it is important, then you want to show them how you do meet that requirement in a partial way. The ask for an interview should be at the end of your cover letter. If they ask for your salary requirements, try to find out the range in their geographic area and say something like like:

Salary Requirements: $45-65,000 depending upon the package offered.

 

[Farm Boy]

Being open to considering a move to the Big Chitty to get your feet wet is pretty solid advice. Pay your pound of fleshtime. 25,000 is a regional city, if you like that scale, consider if you'd be open to all the cities that size in your state.

I did several years in Cook county while to get bills paid while learning to write a better interview-getting package. High point, all those people whining about cost of living are forgetting that saving 3% of small budgets doesn't buy the same amount as saving 3% of a larger budget. It's easier to get out than get in once you have a skill people are willing to trade.

CDLs are worth about 60k these days, I think a former truck driver told me. I wouldn't make that a long term game plan though.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Pretty cool story.

Link is dead now...

 

[rah]

That story is an old one that has gone around in many different versions. But yeah, I always like it.

 

[Birdjaguar]

True or not, it makes a strong point about how to invoice clients.

 

[rah]

More of an example of why you should have a clearly defined terms of service agreement when hiring consultants.

 

[Birdjaguar]

One perspective versus the other side of the arrangement. With my CEO hat, you are correct, but when I put on my think tank hat, Where to tap is more important than just knowing you have to tap.

 

[Hygro]

High point, all those people whining about cost of living are forgetting that saving 3% of small budgets doesn't buy the same amount as saving 3% of a larger budget. It's easier to get out than get in once you have a skill people are willing to trade..

Gotta do it. We don't have a draft anymore etc, but that doesn't mean you don't have to pay your dues to our culture's unwritten rules.

Hygro theorycrafting trigger warning: Consider 30 hours a week full time. You need 5000 hours surplus. GET IN THERE.

The only place you'll get the pay, training, reprogramming (patched), etc. to be an independent modern man is the urban core.

Move to Seattle.

 

[Farm Boy]

Hope they wrote down where the starter is or they're going to get another 10,000 bill when they have to call him back out when it stops on the broken tooth again.

>.>
<.<
>.>

The only place you'll get the pay, training, reprogramming (patched), etc. to be an independent modern man is the urban core.

Eventually I decided to choose not putting a gun in my mouth over being high class, but I think most people don't have the same specific bugbears.

 

[rah]

One perspective versus the other side of the arrangement. With my CEO hat, you are correct, but when I put on my think tank hat, Where to tap is more important than just knowing you have to tap.

Yeah, back when I was a consulting developer, One line of code $2, knowing where to put it $9800.00
As a management lackey, 15 minutes of work, I'll pay the $125 for the first hour.