How I get job?

[Apelila]

Ok, so I don't really know anyone in real life who I wouldn't be embarrassed as hell to ask this question. Its been 5 years since I last had to go job hunting, and that wasn't so much 'job hunting' as it was I walked into the damn thing. I've never actually had to dedicate myself to looking for employment, and thus I'm not really sure how to begin.

I'm not newly out of work, but I'm well past the point where I no longer enjoy waking up everyday. Currently I'm in a call center, and would be interested in trying to find something in IT. Where I am right now wasn't always 'dead end' but they've starting hiring outside for the 'real' IT positions in the company instead of internally, and they way they judge statistics keeps changing at the end of the month when its too late to do anything about it. Also, they've changed the numbers in a way that precludes me from applying, because I work 10 hour shifts my daily stats can't match what they're expecting, and they refuse to make an exception.

I just dont know where to begin looking, and thats what I need help with.

Edit: renamed thread title, little bit more information in OP.

[Cheerios]

Are you good at doing anything?

[Shalyn]

Give them your job levels and a list of merits?

But srsly, what Cheerios asked + what kind of work do you want/like?

[Vuitton]

http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/az

Choose your region, then select the "field" you'd like to find work in that suits your skills and experience. Craigslist is great for entry level work to build up your resume.

[Shalyn]

You have to wade through a lot of spam in Craigslist so be aware of scams and shit.

[Apelila]

I've been working at call centers for 6+ years now, 2 of them overnight with no supervision. Ideally I'm looking for something tech oriented, not a call center because its soul sucking work where most managers have no idea how the policies they implement actually affect those implementing them.

[rithridan]

Do you have any degrees you can use on your resume? or maybe related to the work you did at the call centre job?

My brother had the same problem a year or so ago. He never really finished college and didn't have any degrees before he went working at a call centre that supported various 'tech oriented' hardware and software (things like AND routeplanner, siemens products, rosetta stone). He worked there about 5 or 6 years aswell before he just couldn't take it anymore and had to find another job. Problem he had is he didn't have any qualifications to do the thing he wanted to do (software developer). Instead next to the 6 years of call centre work he put relevant details on his resume that were somewhat applicable to the line of work he wanted to do. Little things like the fact he pretty much made the entire knowledge base that the call centre used for the products he supported from scratch. He put his revised resume online on a popular job searching website here in holland called monsterboard.nl (I think it's also international ?). Now he works as a VB.NET software developer for a company creating document management systems for hospitals and the like.

Hope you find something you are looking for

[Jefe]

Part - time or full time? Are you a student? If you are, visit your local community college's computer lab, library, or w/e. I should mention that university workers make shit compared to community workers. They get like 9.11 in California (all tutor levels) whereas I get almost $20/hr bucks, not too shabby for sitting on my ass browsing /bg/ >_> If you ain't a student, network with people... friends, ask around.

I admit I was ashamed when I first started lfw (the one above). However, I had to because my mum had to leave due to an emergency, so yeah <_< Good luck

Edit: LMFAO, I corrected "shitting" to sitting, going to sleep hahaha.

[Ace-o-fire]

What type of job do you want?

Will you work with food? People?

When do you want to work?

Physical or mental work?

when you pick your answer for them it'll be easier for ya

my tip: Cruise the malls for jobs. strip malls.

Best job i ever had was stocking early moring 2-8 am at the mall making 24 an hour. and working 12-8 on sunday night. for 30

[Apelila]

Full time, not a student. Rithridan pretty much paraphrased my situation, except anything I've done here in the past for the company has been overwritten by current situations. I dont want to go into software development, which I have a degree in from a tech school. I got a couple classes into it and realized I hated it with a passion, but couldn't quit because by that time the loans had already been applied so that even if I did, I'd still pay for it.

Ideally I'm looking for an engineering or even another tech support job, not ALL phone support jobs are bad. This one has just gone from me enjoying to work here to me wanting to do horrible things at the end of the day. If I could get a job that would allow me to go to school for other, better things that would be awesome but I HAVE to have insurance, medication I take costs 1500$ a month before insurance. I have too many debts (car, cards from having to move unexpectedly) to just up and quit without being in serious financial trouble, and make to much to qualify for help from state/federal.

[rithridan]

If you already know what you want to do its just a matter of putting the focus in your resume on things relevant to that position. Then you scour the newspapers or online for job openings to apply to. Or put your resume in a large and popular resume bank, if its anything like over here then you will be swarmed by phonecalls/offers the moment you put your resume online.

If you feel like you aren't qualified to do the thing you want to do (but you do know what you want to do) then maybe traineeships are something for you. Its where a company trains you in the field you are interested in (as long as its relevent) and then rents you out for profit. The up side of it is you get 'free' tutoring, they usually make a deal with you that you have to work for them for x hours or you pay whats left of the tutoring fees. They also have a lot of connections and can much more easily find work for you. The down side is you are more expensive since there is another company basicly getting money of your back. You don't get less salary but the company hiring you just has to pay more for you.

It gets more problematic when you don't know what you want to do which was basicly the problem I had a couple of months ago (I got sacked and had to find a new job). I can't really help you out there, even tho I got a new job now I still don't really enjoy it :/ It just fits with my degrees and I guess I'm not exactly bad at it but w/e.

[terranova]

I have no advice except, I know how it feels. After 8 years working, it felt very alien to me to be job hunting. (And the feeling that my prior experience holds no weight..)

[Septimus]

• Step 1: Understand that your job is just a job- it does not define who you are.
• Step 2: Realize that your job can make you miserable, and life is to short to be miserable.
• Step 3: Imagine what you would like to do for a living. What kind of hours, what kind of company/non-profit, what benefits would you like.
• Step 4: Investigate your dream job, does it exist, and if so, are you qualified to do it? (Yes, we would all like to design video games, or be Vin Diesel's shower back scrubber, but are you really qualified to do it?)
• Step 5: Build your resume. If you are qualified to do your dream job, then make a resume. Find your strengths- you would be amazed at all of the little things that you do at work that you completely forget about when it comes time to write your resume. Find your weaknesses- get additional duties, attend trainings, take classes if you have to.
• Step 6: Show your resume. If you know people who hire for jobs, show them your resume, even if they are not in your field. They can point out problems to you and help you polish it to a sparkle.
• Step 7: Shop your resume. Send it out to places, then send it out to more places, then send it out to even more places. Post it on job search sites, you don't get found by not being seen.
• Step 8: Interview, interview, interview. Make sure that you have a nice suit and tie, for fuck sake, go in a suit and tie. Seriously, don't go in jeans and a tee-shirt, you're trying to impress people!
• Step 9: Determine if the job is right for you. Don't take the first job that is thrown at you as soon as it is thrown at you. If an employer is too eager there may be something terribly wrong. (Bad work schedule, horrible boss, wretched coworkers.) I'm not saying to be evasive, just make sure to visit the workplace and talk to people before you commit to anything.
• Step 10: Fear not starting over from step 3. It is your future and your happiness. You need to be sure that you have the right balance of reality and hopefulness to actually nail down your job.

Anyway, that is my advice. Take it for what you think it is worth.

[Xanthe]

Since you already know what kind of work you want to do, the next step is to determine what sector you want to do that work in. I highly suggest a university setting. It tends to be more laid back (I'm posting this from work right now!), excellent job stability, excellent benefits usually including free courses, and a lot of room for lateral and vertical growth. I have a Bachelor's in Computer Science and am currently working as an Analyst/Programmer for the U of R, not exactly a track I want to stay in, but a great entry point. I hope to move into a more people-oriented IT position down the road and there are plenty of those to be found within the University. Don't be discouraged if you don't find the exact job you're looking for to start. The important thing is to do is get your foot in the door since many times positions are first considered for internal candidates, so already working there in some capacity will work well in your favor. Good luck with the job search!

[rithridan]

List of steps

Where is the "World domination" step?

[Octavious]

I agree with everything Septimus said with the exception of the latter part of step 4. While it is partially true (not talking about Vin Diesel's back scrubber), if you've got the drive and you're willing to put in time to work hard, you can get it done. I've seen people in Engineering degrees that work 3-4x as hard to achieve the grades others do because they love doing it. Some things don't come easy, but if you've got the desire don't let people bullshit you, just work your ass off.

Somethingsomething the arrival, not the journey yea?

[Olo401]

Another thing to think about, considering how the job climate sucks balls, is temp-to-hire work. It's a nice safety net to have in case you're in a position where nothing you apply for comes through. Temp work can give you experience you don't yet have in a variety of positions in many different industries, and allow you to get a feel for a certain company before you get hired directly.

It also can pay EXTREMELY well for menial labor - I had a one day gig escorting corporate executives around Providence, showing them the good restaurants, bars and the mall, and made 20 bucks an hour plus reimbursements.

Plus, depending on your state laws regarding staggered employment, you might be eligible to collect unemployment if your assignment doesn't go permanent and you end up out of work again. Helps out a bit when a company changes its mind about a perm position.

[Elesirdur]

Seriously consider getting professional assistance in helping to write resumes and cover letters. Don't go on what your friends and parents may suggest, a lot of it is just plain bad advice.

I spent quite a long time looking for work after I graduated and fell into my two professional jobs through personal connections. The sad thing is that, no matter what kind of hiring policies are in place to prevent candidates with personal connections from being more likely to get hired, it still happens. I submitted dozens of applications to the BC Gov't before I got my job (which I got through a friend who knew a Director) and never heard so much as a "no thanks" for the majority of them. I got really despondent after a while, especially those few months I was unemployed, as it felt like I was, metaphorically, throwing my applications over a 60' brick wall to try and get in.

Anyway, do look for career counseling services and places that will help tune up your resumes and cover letters. There's a lot of skill in writing them and presenting your skills and competencies in the best way possible.

[Guitarman]

Consider before you get started job hunting; the job market is currently complete, and utter, shit. I've been looking for over a year. People are getting laid off left and right. I'm competing with P.h.D's for fast food jobs, its that bad.

Beyond that, the only advice i can give, is dont burn your bridges. As much as most of us would love to turn and give our bosses the 2 finger salute on the way out the door, you never know if you'll need to crawl your way back to your old job.

[Apelila]

I understand that burnt bridges are often missed, but I cannot stand this place any longer. I think when you start to hope that your place or work burns down while you sleep that means you've hit your limit.