NEed a JOB!

[Infiniteness]

Truck driving is an inherently physically demanding job. My uncle was a truck driver and I worked for the biggest privately-owned trucking company in the US, Schneider National, for a minute or two ;). I also contemplated going through training for my CDL. You'll want to consider the conditions which permeate the life of a truck driver: lots of time spent away from home. A typical schedule is working for 3 weeks straight, with no days off, then going home for 5 days and starting the process all over again. For some people, that is exactly what they want. Time spent on the road away from home. Of course you can choose to be a "local driver" but they'll probably suggest you do national first. Everyone wants the local gig!

Their are other jobs which require a CDL which do not take you away from home for such long stretches and don't require working 21 days without a day off. For example, you can drive a dump truck which would keep you in town. You can operate heavy machinery like bulldozers, backhoes, etc. Depending on your locale, their should definitely be local construction openings for people with CDL licenses. You can usually find those in the classifieds.

I agree. I was financed to attend a truck driving school and I got my CDL back in 2001, but I don't have it anymore. After graduation, I went into training with a company. My on-the-road trainer had three words in his vocabulary: ROLL, ROLL, ROLL! Heck, I couldn't even get enough sleep, not to mention having to retrain my bathroom habits. :P

So, if that's what you want to do, don't take your Father for granted - not even for a second. It will probably be much easier for you to learn while riding with him.

I third this, my father is also a truck driver for more then 15 years. He use to go long haul about 8 years ago, but he now is a local driver and at times he spends about 14 to 16 hours at work a day . Its a very psychically demanding job and it takes a toll on your body, but if you think you really need it and are up for it, then go for it.

 

[domi]

I third this, my father is also a truck driver for more then 15 years. He use to go long haul about 8 years ago, but he now is a local driver and at times he spends about 14 to 16 hours at work a day . Its a very psychically demanding job and it takes a toll on your body, but if you think you really need it and are up for it, then go for it.

I would suggest teaming up with somebody for long haul driving. I know of two couples that did this (one still) and besides the good money they spent lots of time together seeing various parts of the US.

 

[Keit]

It kind of means don't just put in applications, actually talk to other people that can help you.

Yeah, your friends, or anyone you know, including people you meet in a course of your daily life like groceries shop owner if you happened to drop by and buy something. Even if they can't help at the moment, maybe if they will hear about something they will remember you. It also depends on what kind of job your are looking for. In a situation where you are out of job and have to have money to survive (even if you still live with your parents, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't contribute your share), it is best to be in a frame of mind that no job is shameful. In fact, cleaning apartments or offices (including cleaning toilets) sometimes appear to be the most easiest source of quick money.

I personally wish I knew how to make that work better. I've been unemployed for 8 years. My first application was actually sent in before the layoff (we knew it was coming) and I didn't hear anything so I found someone to email and I got an interview but not the job (one guy said I was too geeky or something like that).

My father got me an interview and I was apparently considered very smart but very introverted. For Radio Shack the interviewer kind of paused at the masters degree on my resume and muttered something about she guesses everybody has to work somewhere. I took a Restaurant Management course where the teacher said don't hire people with masters degrees for dishwashers. Apparently one can actually be overqualified. My sister in law who works at Walmart says they don't care about degrees there, she may get me in there some day.

Then how about making several different resumes and adapting them to a specific job you are looking for? I am about to start looking for a job myself, and so in the process of brushing up on my job hunting skills, and one of the main points that are advised is to adapt yourself for the job you are looking for, including emphasizing the points that are needed for the job and not mentioning (or reducing them to one line only) ones that might interfere with it. It is not really lying because the whole point about a proper resume is to be invited to the interview (and while there, if you'll be asked about your education, you can mention as if off hand that you have a high one, but reassure them that this is not what you are looking for at the moment). Managers might get lots of resumes a day, and they spend only several seconds on each. So it is of most importance to create a resume that will present you as the best candidate for a job.

There are many sites that explain how to write a good resume, but the most important thing, as I said, adapting it to the company in question. Also important to search or find out about the company and what they do. If they have a website, see what kind of buzz words they are using and incorporate them into your resume while you describe your skills and prepare for the interview.

Knowing how to conduct yourself during the interview is even more important than your resume. If you received responses that you appear as too introvert or geeky, then see it as a constructive feedback and adapt your body language and the way you speak and appear. Managers like people who are engaging but calm, excited about the job they are about to win (even if it's washing dishes. Make them feel like you'll be their best dish washer!) and are interested in the company and its success. Ask questions about the company and your position, etc. Keep good eye contact and calm body language. Even for geeky positions, employees like to have people who show more than brains but also ability to work well with others, be self motivating and "open" people in general.

Also if possible, and if you are not sure of aware of how you appear to others, either ask on of your friends to do a role playing exercise with you and give you feedback, or rehearse in front of a mirror.

Here are couple of links with interview tips:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20045.htm
http://www.jobopenings.net/interview_tips.htm

But there are loads of them on the net. The key is preparation and adaptability. In a sense, it can be a great opportunity to work on yourself, where you have to go beyond your personal believes about your abilities and about the way you perceive yourself, or be attached to your expectations, be they positive or negative. It is in a way a test to see if you can adapt to situations beyond your comfort zone. Hope it helps.

ADDED: Oh, and another thing that can help you a lot is also adapting your skills to the desired position. For example, if you found something you would like to apply to but they have a note that experience in X is desirable or required, send the resume anyway. And if they invite you to the interview, see if you can quickly teach or familiarize yourself with this X. Obviously, if it is something major like knowing specific programming language, you probably won't be able to pass as an expert, but if it is something like specific computer program, or even waiting tables, see if you can find online information or ask friends to help you and teach yourself this skill quickly. You might pass, you might not, but at least you tried. And any skill might come useful, so your study won't be wasted. :)

 

[RyanX]

There are many sites that explain how to write a good resume, but the most important thing, as I said, adapting it to the company in question. Also important to search or find out about the company and what they do. If they have a website, see what kind of buzz words they are using and incorporate them into your resume while you describe your skills and prepare for the interview.

In the tech world where I work, this is key. Although, I imagine it is probably true just about everywhere else. I know the one magic buzz word that would lead to a much higher probability of being hired in my department. I've told this to some friends, but they don't seem to believe me that one buzz word can make that much of a difference. But I've been part of the interviews and it really does have an impact.

 

[John G]

Then how about making several different resumes and adapting them to a specific job you are looking for?

One problem is I had the same job for most of my 18 years at IBM. I spent about a tenth of a percent of my time writing CAM scripts and the other 99.9% of my time running the scripts and doing line support for them. I did have other short term projects and I certainly mention them in my resume and tweek the resume for specific jobs.

I kind of never felt like an expert when beginning a new project and I think I'd have to become an expert after starting any new job but somehow I guess you have to make your resume and interview appear like you have expertise even when you don't? I did that with a few resumes but got caught during the interview. One interviewer at a sprinkler company was expecting me to have more manufacturing floor operations experience for example.

I paid someone to write my first resume before the layoff, another was written by the people IBM sent me to after the layoff, my father (an engineer) wrote one, my sister (an advertising exec) wrote another, and elements of all four are in my typical resume.

One problem with places like Radio Shack and AOL call centers is they have applications that ask for your highest level of education so you can't just leave that out.

Also important to search or find out about the company and what they do. If they have a website, see what kind of buzz words they are using and incorporate them into your resume while you describe your skills and prepare for the interview...

adapt your body language and the way you speak and appear. Managers like people who are engaging but calm, excited about the job they are about to win...

Ask questions about the company and your position, etc. Keep good eye contact and calm body language. Even for geeky positions, employees like to have people who show more than brains but also ability to work well with others, be self motivating and "open" people in general.

Also if possible, and if you are not sure of aware of how you appear to others, either ask on of your friends to do a role playing exercise with you and give you feedback, or rehearse in front of a mirror...

if you found something you would like to apply to but they have a note that experience in X is desirable or required, send the resume anyway. And if they invite you to the interview, see if you can quickly teach or familiarize yourself with this X.

I got one interview for Tivoli Network Management even though I've never done network management much less Tivoli. I tried reading about it and memorizing a bunch of protocol acronymns, etc. but it didn't go well.

One thing my dad said I do is turn my head to aim my right ear at people (I'm deaf in my left ear) and I apparently can look goofy doing it, and I certainly lose eye contact that I really don't do much anyways. It's kind of something I've done since I was really young so I do it without thinking. I probably need to work on that. I also probably need to reherse more my exact words cause I take way too long to think up things on the fly to say. Then I just need to be like a politician and try to force my rehersed words into my answers whether they overly fit the question or not.

 

[ocean59]

Hi Nathaniel,

Have you tired going to your local employment agencies, most of them have permanent and temporary job openings. You should Google it, with your cites name and a list will come up. Many of my friends have found a job with these agencies.

Do you have to pay for the angency?

Generally speaking, the agencies do not charge a fee, this is paid by the company who actually has the job available. I just wanted to second the advice of temporary employment agencies as I have used them many times with great results. Often, the work only lasts for 4-6 weeks at a time, but it is better than nothing!

Also, if you are in desperate need of (a small amount of) cash right away, there are agencies that will send you out to work, and pay you on the same day. Labor Ready is the big corporate chain that does this with locations all over the U.S. It can be a bit of a hassle as there is much competition. It is important to show up very early in the morning, looking well-dressed and groomed (most people going to Labor Ready are not), and there is usually 2 hours of waiting (and there might not be any work that day), but it has saved me many times in the past. The pay is not good, but for extremely urgent situations this is an option.

Best of luck in your search! Some really great advice here in the thread!

 

[seek10]

Others have given great suggestions. I will be repeating the same.
Being just came out of very brief unemployment period, I can say situation is very bad. Even in corporations, Hiring Managers are not even advertising the jobs as they were able to fill the jobs with their trusted one's before job is approved by the management. so Networking becomes very very important.


First thing is OPEN yourself up. Beating your self for lack of Job is not going to give the Job. Do EE and detox emotions. Do Pipe breathing and POTS repeatedly if needed.

second thing is Know that you may or may not get a job you want. If you get it think you are Lucky. Every job is under scarcity, so Don't assume that this or that skill will give job, instead short list what you to do , listen to what others or read it needs to get the job and Network . either neighbours or friends or relatives or relatives friends. Ask them to give the recruiters names or people who are looking for help. If you are a professional, do it in LinkedIn. Most effective methods are Network , then recruiters, individual job applications either through internet or in person. If you are a professional LinkedIn presence became very important. People say facebook as a networking site for job, but lots of HORROR stories too. Be ready to move different location, if required and affordable.

If you are a professional, Filling the HOLE of the unemployment period becoming a Very big pain. so solution is Volunteer for some work or job or some charity and FILL it with resume. Of course you need to Justify. Volunteer for a job, instead of sitting idle, that may open door for some thing.

 

[domi]

Domi is right: network, network, network. As the Sufi Shaykh, ibn al-Arabi said, it is not esoteric work if it is not focused on helping others. Gurdjieff said emotions for the self are always impure. Seems that you have been focusing on the wrong things and now it's come home to roost! But, cheer up! If you were of the STS ilk in your basic nature, you would probably have been successful on the STS path you have been on. That's how it goes.

What do you mean by network?

Interact with people.
I would suggest re-reading the posts, opening a dictionary, consulting wikipedia, using a search engine to understand what we mean when we say "network" in more detail.

 

[Eongar]

Working ... Here in Spain the situation is very bad. I do not know the exact dates, but about 20% of the population is unemployed. The atmosphere is very hot and It currently receives a lot of anger... And over in Europe is rumored to happen to us like Greece.

All are lessons, and crises are necessary..

 

[nwigal]

Years ago, before internships became commonplace, I used to offer to work for free for a couple of weeks, risk-free to the employer. I had a chance to prove myself, and pay and benefits could be discussed later, if the employer was suitably impressed. This offer could only be given to the boss, not a middle manager or human resources person.
It changed the employer/employee relationship from the start- kind of like the difference between hiring someone to help you out with a project verses having a friend offer to help for free.
Of course, this method may not be practical in certain areas of the job market, or with certain people. FWIW

 

[Ca.]

Nathaniel , Its good to see that in your job persuits that your thinking large and know there is no limit to what your capable of. If one has the right intention. That being real as to stay grounded to what one can do now for a job. But keeping in the back of ones mind of where it might and may lead to down the road. With thoughts of challenge and change. And that their may be possibly many jobs opportunity's you can have in a life span.

One of the very first jobs that i ever had was working as dish washer in a Chinese restaurant. I Was 16 years old. I had to get a (social security(SS# :evil)) as it was part of the documentation needed to be hired. Now if i recall this when life was pretty easy for society. The hourly wage was about $2.50 an hour. Cost of a movie ticket $1.20, price of a pack of cigarettes $0.30, a dozen eggs $0.62, a gallon of regular gas $0.35, and this is a big one compared to time we live in now, unemployment was at 3.6% with a population of 202,676,946 in the United States.

But it was not about the money, but that i had job. I knew that it was not going to be a life long career, but a life experience. I found at this time, in life, it to be very rewarding job. And in part that it had to do with my enthusiasm. That it had me in team enviormemt, working with other people and even had cultural diversity. As the kitchen spoke very little English, as they were from china and only spoke Cantonese. But we all seemed to be able get the point across to each other, of what needed to be done, to keep the ball rolling, and move to finish our day.

So i statred small, and when the job bottomed out, i moved on and up. As others form member's have posted and have said that part of the many job movements that can be had, were due to having networked with firends, family, job searches. You name it, what ever it took to fill the void. And remember, like others here have elaborated, that the first climb in ladder of life jobs, started with first rug of that climb.

May 13, 1995 F***, Laura, JR and TR, SV
A: Hello.
Q: (L) That is not the point that we were talking about. We were not
talking about moving out of fear. We were talking about moving out
of the simple desire to not live in this area any longer because we
don't like it! I want to get out of the heat!
A: That is 3rd density in the extreme!!!
Q: (T) That is just something we decided to do, like Noah building
the ark, we thought it would be a good idea.
A: Then do it, but don't expect us to be there!
Q: (L) Since TR and JR have the urge to acquire larger space for
themselves, what would you propose they do if not move to North
Carolina?
A: Does larger space automatically equate long distance move?
Q: (J) No, it doesn't, but I don't want to spend the kind of money
required to get a larger house in St. Petersburg. This is something
we have talked about for a long time.
A: Is St. Petersburg your only option?
Q: (J) We don't know, we have to find that out. It depends on what
happens with jobs and other things. (L) Is my financial situation
blocked because of my plans and ideas about moving?
A: Maybe.
Q: (L) If I changed my thought patterns in that regard, would my
financial situation become unblocked?
A: If you open your mind to any and all possibilities, this always
unblocks.
Q: (J) Well, that is what we are trying to do, and one of the
possibilities is moving to North Carolina. (L) Okay, I say that I don't
know what the Universe wants me to do. I am just waiting to see,
and waiting for direction. What more can I do?

A: Good!

 

[Keit]

One thing my dad said I do is turn my head to aim my right ear at people (I'm deaf in my left ear) and I apparently can look goofy doing it, and I certainly lose eye contact that I really don't do much anyways.

I think that in such case it would be totally understandable if you could share this with the manager that conducts the interview. Simply apologize if there will be anything unclear. It might help them to understand where you are coming from and also show them that you are quite secure with your capabilities.

It's kind of something I've done since I was really young so I do it without thinking. I probably need to work on that. I also probably need to reherse more my exact words cause I take way too long to think up things on the fly to say. Then I just need to be like a politician and try to force my rehersed words into my answers whether they overly fit the question or not.

It is also a good way to learn how to communicate properly, and not only during job interviews. :)

Also, don't know how it is in other countries, but in Israel for example, if you have some sort of technical background, or even if not, you can try and look for a job in technical support or customer service. Granted, it might be a soul killing job where you have to listen or solve people's problems on a daily basis, and sometimes these people can be hard to talk to, but it is doable if you'll learn how to not take it personally. There are so many companies and service providers everywhere, perhaps it is worth looking into.

 

[Windmill knight]

Hi Nathaniel. Another advice to add to the ones on this thread is to volunteer for a charity job. You will not get paid, but you can put in your CV that you do have a job - even if not paid - and it will look much better. It is much easier to find a job if you already have one. Your charity employees will be happy to have a volunteer and should provide a good reference. Possible employers will appreciate that you are willing to work for free to get experience rather than sit at home waiting for things to happen. It could be that the charity itself may pay you in the future if they can. You will get to know people this way, and somebody can recommend you elsewhere, etc. In short, it puts energy into motion and you will be sending a signal to the universe that you are serious about working. This may take some time to bring results but consider it an investment.

I myself applied as a voluntary for a local charity. Even before I started I got two part-time job offers - both of which I accepted to complement each other, so now I will have to decline being a voluntary!

Good luck. Or like they say in a certain sci-fi tv show, "Good hunting". ;)

 

[doublea1535]

One problem with places like Radio Shack and AOL call centers is they have applications that ask for your highest level of education so you can't just leave that out.

I have a hunch that at places like AOL and RadioShack you could probably get away with leaving your Masters off your resume, and almost certainly places like Burger King and the like. I actually worked at both AOL and RS for a short period of time, and I think that at larger companies like that interviewees will get less attention. For example, I think it's less likely that a hiring manager at either AOL or RS would "Google" you and find your FaceBook or LinkedIn profile that lists your education on it. Smaller companies it's more likely I'd say. But even then, if you have a public website or something that lists your education, and the Masters is holding you back (even for the moment), why not "let it go"?

I don't agree that one "can't just leave it out". I guess that's ultimately a personal decision to make though, if one feels they are being dishonest or manipulative by doing something like that. Lying about your qualifications to the point you say you went to school somewhere but didn't, or have a skill you don't strike me as being worse than leaving your Master's out. But perhaps I think this because I am still heavily rooted in the STS mindset.

Just my two cents :)

 

[doublea1535]

And with your resume/cv, make sure to list your previous jobs at the top, the most recent job being right at the top. Under this, you can add any study (college, university, short courses, school). Always list the most recent first. A big mistake a lot of people make is listing their oldest job at the top of the page and working down chronologically. Employers won't bother reading the whole page and your chance of being dismissed is very high. Alternatively, if your last job wasn't that impressive, put your most impressive job at the top.

I agree, but would add that what you want to list at the very top of the resume is ultimately what you want them to see first / what you think they will be looking for first. At most jobs, IMO, this will be work experience. Some places it might be education, or volunteer work. My main point being that you want to consider the person hiring you, put yourself in their shoes. They are not in the business of reading resumes and hiring people. Doing so is an inconvenience and costly (time/money) for them. Their goal is to find someone who can and will do the job, and who they feel fits in (generally, IMHO, fits in with THEIR worldview/reality structure). It's been mentioned somewhere else on the forum how there appears to be a "set" of personalities shared by many people, all across the world. I agree with that idea, and one of the take-away's from that (for me) is that you don't want to remind the hiring manager of someone else they met, that they didn't like. Hard, if not impossible, to do but worth consideration IMHO.