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  1. #1

    Job hunting advice thread!

    So I've seen a fair number of people talk about having difficulty finding jobs in their areas/fields they like/etc, so a vague networking thread and general place of advice seems like it'd be a decent idea.

    So to start, I'm currently pretty gainfully employed but absolutely looking for something much more related to my interests. Or just a place where I'm not the youngest employee by at least a decade! Going out to bars and shilling yourself is only so useful for so long, so where do you usually find yourself job hunting?

    As for location, I'm in the Seattle area.

  2. #2
    Relic Shield
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    I spent 6 months searching every place I could think of for a job before I got my current job. hundreds of websites, friends, friends of friends, family (yes, I was that desperate), employment department, job fairs, and many more. None of those did shit and I never even got an interview. Then, out of nowhere, (stick with me here) my wife's friend's friend's husband heard of a job opening for minimum wage assembling cardboard packaging/pallets. 6 months later, I was the production manager and a year later I was the product development manager. for 5 years now I have been in that position. All that because I was desperate enough to take a minimum wage job.

    Point of story: Networking didn't do shit for me finding a job but was vital in getting promoted once I was in with the company.

  3. #3

    Quote Originally Posted by Arelian View Post
    So I've seen a fair number of people talk about having difficulty finding jobs in their areas/fields they like/etc, so a vague networking thread and general place of advice seems like it'd be a decent idea.

    So to start, I'm currently pretty gainfully employed but absolutely looking for something much more related to my interests. Or just a place where I'm not the youngest employee by at least a decade! Going out to bars and shilling yourself is only so useful for so long, so where do you usually find yourself job hunting?

    As for location, I'm in the Seattle area.
    What is your field? For instance, I'm involved in the drug discovery process and work with a lot of automation so I became a member of a Laboratory Robotics group. They have postings occasionally on there and that is how I got my current position so why not see if there's something related to your interest?

  4. #4
    C A P S UNLEASH THE FURY
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    General: My first piece of advice is to apply constantly. Whatever a good number of applications you think might be, double it. People say "looking for a job should be your full-time job" but people don't seem tounderstand what that means. I'm talking anywhere between 10 and 30 applications a day. Getting hired is largely a numbers game AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SUCK! If you suck then sorry, you suck.

    Resume: Have someone look at your resume. Unless you're a friendless basement dweller you probably know someone that works in HR or other managerial capacity who knows a good vs bad resume when they see one. Solicit their help. I recommend using a QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY, a brief two-sentence intro about yourself and how you match up to the PARTICULAR JOB YOU'RE APPLYING FOR - meaning this must be edited for every single application.

    Resources: Use everything at your disposal. Craigslist, CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed, google, company websites, university web sites, job fairs, friends, family, acquaintances, LinkedIn, etc. There are jobs everywhere and they're listed everywhere. You can almost always find 10+ things to apply to per day, 7 days per week.

    NOTE: don't sleep on Craigslist. I've actually found all of my best work there, including my full-time salaried position. Don't overlook it - tons of places use it, especially companies too cheap to pay for other site services.

    Other options - Head hunters / recruiting agencies can be great resources. They get paid by helping you get a job - they will work hard for you. Reach out if you have to, but I'd avoid this at first, because (not always, but sometimes) it can affect your overall final pay since they get a cut.

  5. #5
    Electric Six groupie
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    From a designer standpoint (I like Xajii's format so stealing that) -

    Resume / Portfolio: Your resume and portfolio should look nothing like someone in the business field. You are a designer. Maybe check out Behance.net for ideas. Have a generic cover letter built (the body) and change it up to cater to the person/firm you are applying.

    Searching: For me, as an architect, I had tremendous help from professors and other colleagues that helped point me to different firms. I collected contacts and started from there. Most were no-hits, but I was able to establish a good relationship with a few. I would periodically go back to the ones with positive feedback and continue the conversation. One of them helped me land an interview at another firm I did not have on my radar, in fact.

    I never went to a resume collection convention or website - I like the more personal interactions and direct contacts. Apparently actually going up to the firm/business is a great way to ask for an interview. I had a couple friends walk around Chicago and visit a few firms with their portfolios and resumes asking for interviews - they got quite a few.

  6. #6

    Quote Originally Posted by Penthesilea View Post
    What is your field? For instance, I'm involved in the drug discovery process and work with a lot of automation so I became a member of a Laboratory Robotics group. They have postings occasionally on there and that is how I got my current position so why not see if there's something related to your interest?
    I'm currently in medium-scale marketing and analytics. Ideally I'd like to get a position tracking and analyzing video game usage. It's a really weird, niche field but figuring out who is using your product and how to make it better is super interesting to me.

    Edit: I should say that the advice so far is great! I really wish it was possible to call or just show up to some of these bigger companies and talk to someone nowadays. Applied at places like Nintendo and some bigger companies and it's super easy to get lost in the applicant process. Being local should still be an advantage, dammit!

    As for Craigslist, yeah. It's an incredible resource. I've gotten more interviews from replying to those than I ever got with online applications.

  7. #7
    Member since 2006 and still can't think of a title.
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    Craigslist is huge. Just about every job my wife has had since she moved to California has come via craigslist. While you probably won't find something exactly in your field, check your local city and county websites for jobs. The process is typically slow as shit unless they are desperate to fill a job, but you can pretty much find anything from being a janitor to sorting mail, on up to medical and just about everything in between.

  8. #8
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    I get lots of emails just by having a very basic Linkedin profile up, so going to second that one.

  9. #9

    I need to start making some more connections. Finishing up my B.S in IT/Security Emphasis. Hardest part is getting clearance since no one wants to help with that due to the cost. Been updating on Linkedin and I know a few people in the field already, one at NASA, who have talked about getting me work.

  10. #10

    Sweaty Dick Punching Enthusiast

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    Maybe it's just where I live but the only jobs I ever see get posted to Craigslist are very obvious scams ("Just send us $100 for training materials!") or people looking for actors/actresses for porn.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Anoat View Post
    Maybe it's just where I live but the only jobs I ever see get posted to Craigslist are very obvious scams ("Just send us $100 for training materials!") or people looking for actors/actresses for porn.
    CL cannot be relied upon where I live either. It's 80% scams, 15% "sales opportunities", and 5% legitimate listings with ridiculously low wages. "Electrical Engineer with experience in industrial manufacturing control ssytems" (spelling errors included) Pay: $12.50/hr. Must have 10 years experience in leadership position, etc. etc. etc. The bullshit goes on and on.

    Sometimes though, there are a lot more real listings than fake or "sales positions". Especially within the last 2 weeks or so, there seem to be a lot of companies hiring all over. Intel in particular is canvassing the local college campuses and recruiting like mad.

  12. #12
    Because She's the woman Blue Gartr deserves, but not the one it needs right now.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Anoat View Post
    Maybe it's just where I live but the only jobs I ever see get posted to Craigslist are very obvious scams ("Just send us $100 for training materials!") or people looking for actors/actresses for porn.
    You definitely have to weed out the shit but I have known many not including myself and not just those with customer service/retail background that have found lasting jobs or careers , it's like anything you just have to sift through that shit. That goes for any website/listing site , etc. It's how I found my most recent job and trust me when I say I almost missed out by thinking I wouldn't qualify and that's my tip - Apply for everything even if you think you don't fit every criteria. I found a job and company I love this way.

    I wish you the best of luck.

  13. #13
    The Shitlord
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    Quote Originally Posted by Astylla View Post
    Apply for everything even if you think you don't fit every criteria.
    this is extremely good advice.

    also, as mentioned in the video game resume thread, spin EVERYTHING. if your job requires a certain skill, and you have it, put it on your resume. even if you developed that skill by whacking off, or video games, or whatever. obviously you don't say "good hand-eye coordination- whack off a lot" you just say "good hand-eye coordination" and leave it at that. Spin everything you can to sound professional-related. Leading dynamis groups becomes "Regularly led task-oriented groups of 30-40 people, keeping them focused and on-task in 3-4 hour increments." under the category "Why should you hire me?" or something like that.

    Depends on the job, of course. But for most corporate jobs, you'll need to speak the language, which is basically just spin. Started a small business? list it as "Extensive first-hand entrepreneurial experience." That kind of shit.

  14. #14

    Quote Originally Posted by Jaybar View Post
    From a designer standpoint (I like Xajii's format so stealing that) -

    Resume / Portfolio: Your resume and portfolio should look nothing like someone in the business field. You are a designer. Maybe check out Behance.net for ideas. Have a generic cover letter built (the body) and change it up to cater to the person/firm you are applying.
    This is very true, and don't let non-designers convince you otherwise. Your resume is the first thing they'll see about you and it needs to make an impression, or at least hint at what you have to offer. Something that sparks interest and shows the tip of your capabilities.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jaybar View Post
    I never went to a resume collection convention or website - I like the more personal interactions and direct contacts. Apparently actually going up to the firm/business is a great way to ask for an interview. I had a couple friends walk around Chicago and visit a few firms with their portfolios and resumes asking for interviews - they got quite a few.
    Yeah, can confirm: walking up to a firm not only shows interest but a hands-on approach and the balls to actually do it. It's things like this that will stand out in the mind of the interviewer, along with your portfolio.

    Even if you're not a designer these still apply to you, don't overdo your resume but one color (like dark cyan or orange) along with black makes it stand out immediately versus the all-blacks, and it doesn't make it any less professional.

    Quote Originally Posted by Astylla View Post
    Apply for everything even if you think you don't fit every criteria. I found a job and company I love this way.
    Same here. They hired me solely on my future potential, as I didn't have many of the skills they were looking for but they saw different things in me - I caught a lucky break.

  15. #15
    D. Ring
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    Double post

  16. #16
    D. Ring
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    I second applying to everything.

    I am living and breathing with Finance, but it is by applying to other roles I got my current job as a Business Developer abroad. Which opened up several other doors like learning a new language, international experience and money for masters degree.

    Also my Greek friend with Economics degree sent around 100 CV's, mainly focusing on banks. After widening his scope he secured a job at Google.

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