How Does One Look For a Job These Days?

[toggleswitch2]

So far I stil have one, but still need to be prepared.

The last time I did it was via a direct (cold) mailing of my resume and before that, an employment agency.

yah the computer and iternet, great. But specifics, please.

 

[petek]

Keep repeating

Would you like fries with that?
Would you like fries with that?
Would you like fries with that?

 

[iheartmaytag]

1. networking--you would be surprised how many people know someone that knows someone.

2. Apply where you would like to work, some places don't advertise.

3. List with an agency

4. Church and organizations (Maybe see 1. above. )

5. Hit the streets (Not with hot pants) Knock on doors. When I was still doing collections, one of the best cold callers I knew was my marketing agent. She would go and say "I would like to see Mr._________"
"He is in a meeting."
"I'll wait"
She would sit in his office until he came to see her. This staying power, showed them how persistant our agency was and she usually got me the business.

PRAY, in this economy PRAY A LOT

 

[goatfarmer]

Networking is a good idea. I drive a semi for a living, and I also might be looking for work. When I see other drivers, I ask how things are at their company, and how they're treated. You'll learn a lot, both positive and negative.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've found jobs in the past from want ads (back in the 80's), university employment offices, networking, and most recently Craigslist. I also went door-to-door dropping off resumes last month. One actually resulted in a job offer later, by phone message, but it was taken before I could respond. That's sort of the way it is right now. Luck and perseverance. I'm pretty sure that right now any job I get will not be my "dream job" and will be fraught with difficulties and stress, but at some point you gotta pay the rent and shrug off the rest.

 

[launderess]

Last Friday a young announcer on "Nightly Business Week", stated he came into his current position by posting information and the fact he was looking for employment on his FaceBook page.

Things still haven't changed in terms of employment from yesterdays, many jobs are still either filled internally, or listed the same way. It is crucial to network,network, network and network. The more who know you are looking the better one's odds are of finding work.

With so many out of work, not to mention college grads from last year still looking, and soon a fresh batch in June, it is really important to find away to make one stand out from the herd. One good way is for someone to drop a hint into the right persons's shell like ear.

L.

 

[sudsman]

Its NOT what you know

It is WHO you know!

 

[launderess]

Yeabut

More and more that line is getting people into trouble.

Some persons feel they are shut out of running by the "old boy" network, and have sued because a position went to someone who had the inside track.

 

[ironrite]

Check your skills inventory

A couple of years ago, having worked in call centers, both as an agent and management, I decided that was no longer the environment I wanted to be in. I fell back on a prior skill, working in credit card/fraud processing for a local bank, however in the long run that has no future as well.

With a bit of proding from friends and partner I went back to school and starting taking accounting. I tried that some 30 odd years ago and failed miserably at it. Much to my surprise I am getting a 4.0 grade average. With just the classes, I transfered into an A/P position with my current company. So now I have the job experience as well as the schooling, plus skills that most companies can use. I'm now taking my Quickbooks course.

Also I have a little back up part-time job working in retail on Saturdays. I'd like to just have a 5 day week, but have been doing this for two years now, so it is working.

And remember, the best time to look for a job is while you still have one!

 

[jamiel]

Get out of the house and off the internet. Get where people are who are doing/near what you want to be doing. Industry associations, trade shows, etc are the right place to be.

Looking for a job is the hardest job there is...it's a 4 1/2 day a week job.

 

[everythingold]

Are you kidding? Fix appliances! I was in a bind after spending 10 years in acadamia, then finding out that "PhD" after your name might get you a boring job making 30K. Maybe. There is a shortage of qualified repairmen (anyone ever met an appliance repair woman?) getting paid to do what you love is happiness. matt

 

[jasonl]

Being that I am now unemployed

Dave Ramsey and Dan Miller are now my friends.

Home

Are you running your life, or is it running you?You've heard the old adage, 'Life happens while you're busy making other plans." What if you really COULD predict your future and thrive in it?Building on

www.48days.com

 

[goatfarmer]

(anyone ever met an appliance repair woman?)

I knew of a couple when I worked at Sears service many moons ago. One was a field tech, working on washers, dryers, etc in home, and the other one worked in the shop on vacs, sewing machines, etc.

 

[iheartmaytag]

(anyone ever met an appliance repair woman?)

Goatfarmer,
I have known two. One was a little scarey, and had a drinkie problem, but excellent tech. The other was cute and sweet but knew her stuff, actually works for A&E.

 

[DADoES]

The A&E tech who replaced the clutch on my Neppy TL several months ago was a woman. She got the job done promptly ... but I have to say I noted a whiff of what seemed either alcohol or tobacco + body odor when I opened the front door. It was 8:45 AM, so she should have been fairly fresh into the workday.

 

[washabear]

As far as the Internet goes, if you are in a specific line of work, check out the sites of associations in your field. Many have job boards that post openings from employers. Sure, everyone else in your field is responding to those posts as well, but you never know.

 

[spiralator60]

Out of the house and off the Internet

I'm not nit-picking with you, jamiel, but this only works to a certain extent these days. The last thing that you want to do is to search for a job without exercising due diligence, and today this means becoming quite familiar with an organization's web site and the information on it. It is quite true that you have to speak to people and establish contacts in the working world when looking for a job.

When I was unemployed and looking for a job a few years ago, there very few employers outside of certain service and retail outlets that would accept an actual application in anything other than electronic form. The only paper documents that were expected were academic transcripts and letters of reference. I work in local government, and this is still very much the case today, especially with the Federal Government. Take a look at the USAJOBS.gov site.

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov

 

[jamiel]

Spiralator, thank you for pointing out that I wasn't as clear as I should have been. "Get off the internet" means "get off the Monster/HotJobs/...)" treadmill. You definitely need to use the power of the internet to help your research into companies you WANT to work for, and to research the situation with companies who want you to work for them.

It's very valuable to have a knowledge of the internal workings of a company before interviewing and throughout the interview process. only that way do you know what the "real" story is.

JL

 

[appnut]

Being that I am now unemployed

Jason I am sooo sorry. Am glad Helen is in HealthCare