Job Hunting

Videodrome

Videodrome

Truckinator
Sep 12, 2013
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I already vented a bit about my college degree in another thread so I don't want to totally revisit that. At this point, I'm just looking for some kind of work whether or not it's in IT.

I decided to flee Michigan because my home state was already in a recession before the SHTF with the housing bubble. I happen to have relatives near Birmingham, AL so I'm staying at their place. Since I'm living cheaply, I'm open to part time or temp.

I've been at the job hunt here for about 3 weeks and it's just going slow. I'm not discouraged, but feel like something isn't working. It is worth noting the whole area slowed down from the unusual winter weather though.

I've tried going to a career center and just filling out apps. i've also gone to groups on Meetup.com just to meet people and network. I have made good contacts but they haven't panned out yet.

I have even considered rejoining Facebook (cringe) in case it gives me another way to job network. I'm really not a fan of Facebook as it's mostly people posting bulls***, but if it might help me as a job resource I'll try it.

This week I attended a Unitarian Universalist church so I also met some nice people there.

I'm going to a job fair at Gamestop on Wednesday lol.

Anyway, I'm just open to suggestions or hearing other people's experiences trying to scrounge up work. I do have truck driving experience, but I really am sick of driving semis to small customers. I would consider Box Trucks or courier delivery though.
 
Good luck, man. Job hunting sucks. I've experienced that many years ago.

EDIT: are you open to any fast food jobs? At least you'll make money until you find other job that you like to work.
 
Videodrome said:
I already vented a bit about my college degree in another thread so I don't want to totally revisit that. At this point, I'm just looking for some kind of work whether or not it's in IT.

I decided to flee Michigan because my home state was already in a recession before the SHTF with the housing bubble. I happen to have relatives near Birmingham, AL so I'm staying at their place. Since I'm living cheaply, I'm open to part time or temp.

I've been at the job hunt here for about 3 weeks and it's just going slow. I'm not discouraged, but feel like something isn't working. It is worth noting the whole area slowed down from the unusual winter weather though.

I've tried going to a career center and just filling out apps. i've also gone to groups on Meetup.com just to meet people and network. I have made good contacts but they haven't panned out yet.

I have even considered rejoining Facebook (cringe) in case it gives me another way to job network. I'm really not a fan of Facebook as it's mostly people posting bulls***, but if it might help me as a job resource I'll try it.

This week I attended a Unitarian Universalist so I also met some nice people there.

I'm going to a job fair at Gamestop on Wednesday lol.

Anyway, I'm just open to suggestions or hearing other people's experiences trying to scrounge up work. I do have truck driving experience, but I really am sick of driving semis to small customers. I would consider Box Trucks or courier delivery though.
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Are you on LinkedIn? It's the professional version of Facebook. No BS, just plain people looking for jobs, sharing their experience and what not. Since you already moved, how willing are you to move again? Would go somewhere else if there was a job waiting for you? Sometimes that's what it takes. Not the most ideal situation, but you can get that experience and eventually look for something more to your ideal location.
 
At your age and stage of your career, I'm not sure if this will help (yet), but for people who are older with job experience, hardly anyone even applies to postings anymore. It's all about linking up, emailing or calling recruiters who will do the digging for you. I have no idea if there's recruiters who will find young guys like you a job.

Don't get me wrong, I've applied to jobs online as well, but I think I've had a grand total of one call back. The rest of the real jobs I've got (excl. summer jobs when I was at university) were found from friends who knew about job openings, or from chatting with recruiters.

I'm always on the look out for new roles (assuming it close and pays well). I've got maybe 15+ of them on my linked in.
 
I might consider relocating if I thought I could afford it.

I have considered "Restaurant Crew" at regular restaurants like Olive Garden or Ruby Tuesday, but not quite Fast Food.

I am on LinkedIn already, but I haven't made serious job connections with it.

I'm trying a few "Networking" methods. Hanging out with groups from Meetup.com. Most staffing firms / temp agencies around here have a reputation of incompetence, but I've applied to one with a good reputation. Maybe I should try more.

Today, I was at the library and there was a guest University of Alabama - Birmingham speaker from the neuroscience department. At the end, there was some mention of driving studies at the campus with a simulator. I said I have a Class A license with commercial driving experience and they gave me a business card. If this is a paying gig, it would be my weirdest job lead ever.
 
LinkedIn has helped with my networking. I did "link" up with a guy have partnered on a few projects that have turned out successful and we think there will be more down the road.
As far as jobs, its really who you know not what you know most of the time. So don't get discouraged, i think you are doing the right thing and getting out there and meeting people.
Have you tried putting in a classified ad? advertise yourself in any publication?
 
Just to help you look for IT jobs, I'd recommend throwing your resume on here:
http://www.dice.com/

When I was about to graduate I put my resume on dice and I'd get emails from recruiters every single day. You have to weed out the automated/spam ones, but there are definitely some legit jobs to be found on there.

I'd also make a LinkedIn account. Facebook wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it'll help much either.
 
Just keep spamming resumes everywhere and hitting job fairs and such (I would skip facebook for anything useful, unless you want to see pictures of random people's kids eating). There's no real secret to it other than to keep doing what you're doing.

Depending on what is around you might be able to get some temp IT work. Better experience than just taking any old job.
 
Got to the job fair and the sign said it was only for the University Students or Alumni. I said it didn't say that on their website so they let me in.

I feel productive about today and had a motherload of job contacts.

Strangely, one of the booths was a trucking company. They might be a lead on getting into logistics. I explained to them I have trucking experience and now IT training from college.

I also have a job interview for Warehouse help / Delivery Driver.
 
if you want a job now and are not picky go to a temp agency. more then likely the job will suck but again more then likely you'll walk out the door with a job.
 
What bout Fed-Ex/UPS? You could drive for them while on the prowl for something else. Doesn't Fed-Ex (or UPS) have a pretty big hub down in Birmingham?
 
I hear mixed opinions of FedEx. That their drivers are kind of like independent contractors.

Anyway, hopefully if I try something like that I don't wind up pissed like the guy flipping HDTVs over the fence.
 
What would happen if I just started working some place for free without being hired?

I just walk into Best Buy wearing a blue polo shirt and tan khaki pants and just try to look like I know what I'm doing there.

Or maybe show up wearing a Red Shirt and challenge the Blue Shirts saying this is now Nerd Squad territory b;tches.

Yeah.... I'm bored.
 
Videodrome said:
What would happen if I just started working some place for free without being hired?

I just walk into Best Buy wearing a blue polo shirt and tan khaki pants and just try to look like I know what I'm doing there.

Or maybe show up wearing a Red Shirt and challenge the Blue Shirts saying this is now Nerd Squad territory b;tches.

Yeah.... I'm bored.
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Probably a ban from the store.
 
Wow. Found one of those jobs where you "Travel and Meet people" a lot lol.

Government work for Deputy Coroner Trainee. $11.96 per hour part-time.

I'm thinking about it.
 
Videodrome said:
Wow. Found one of those jobs where you "Travel and Meet people" a lot lol.

Government work for Deputy Coroner Trainee. $11.96 per hour part-time.

I'm thinking about it.
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Travel and meet people a lot. Dead people? Being a coroner...
 
Well... it's a government job, and in the fine print is says "Must have been a country resident a year". So that's out, and this forum will miss out on a lot of interesting job post experiences that could have come from that.
 
Videodrome said:
Well... it's a government job, and in the fine print is says "Must have been a country resident a year". So that's out, and this forum will miss out on a lot of interesting job post experiences that could have come from that.
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Country or county?
 
Giving some thought to this. I'm going to start a web site. I figure I can say I'm 'employed' as a web site administrator on my resume.

Seems reasonable lol.


Also, I have a job interview for the local IMAX / Cinema. Hoping I get it then I can do further studying on the side for things like Python Programming.
 
Videodrome said:
Giving some thought to this. I'm going to start a web site. I figure I can say I'm 'employed' as a web site administrator on my resume.

Seems reasonable lol.


Also, I have a job interview for the local IMAX / Cinema. Hoping I get it then I can do further studying on the side for things like Python Programming.
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Make the "next Facebook". Easy.
 
Is going to places in person to inquire about work now officially obsolete? This is the classic advice I keep getting from family.

So what the hell. I go to Ruby Tuesday with nice dress clothes and a tie. The general manager greets me, says he'd really like to talk to me, but this is the digital age and I need to go to their website to fill out an application. Then he gives me a business card.

This is kind of a strange new reality of seeking work that I need to sort out. In the meantime, I'm still trying to find ways to network and meet people already working in industry to try and get an edge anywhere I can.
 
Thought I'd do an update to this:

I've been working a lame job in retail trying to bring in money while I continue the search for an IT job. This has included trying to network using sites like MeetUp.com. So far, that hasn't returned any meaningful contacts with serious job leads. It's awkward for me to try and convey to people I'm facing an impending financial crunch if I don't find real work.

There may be other things working against me such as only having an Associates Degree. Also, my Degree is in IT Security and I think only a few big companies here like Blue Cross really invest heavily in that. Birmingham, AL seems more like a programmer/developer city and I don't know any programming languages yet. Birmingham is also a University town with UAB, so I'm probably competing with many of their graduates to. Another issue might be me being a 'Yankee' northerner here. Dumb things like accents and culture could affect my job interview in ways I'm not even aware of.

I'm close to giving up and just living with my parents again to avoid Rent because somehow I'm going to have to prepare to pay back my student loans. I just hope I don't have to return to truck driving.

I suppose if I move back to my folks' house and work any side job, I could try to do computer projects on the side or volunteer just to make my own experience. I have also considered using my skills to be a Grey Hat Hacker to gain experience.
 
Don't give up.
I worked a job(Accounting) totally unrelated to my field(Chemistry) for 2 years after I graduated. Sent resume's everywhere. During that time I tried my hand at everything at my job to show future employers I was versatile and trainable. Made nice with everyone there so I could use them as references. Did some volunteer work/ internships on the side to keep my skills in my field sharp.(NOTE: I HATE WORKING FOR FREE). Eventually I got a call from a mid size international chemical company to work as their entry level chemist. Everything snowballed from there. Once you get a job in your field and work it for a while other, better offers will start rolling in. I've changed jobs like 3-4 times now, each one offering something better.

But DO keep your skills sharp while looking for work. I don't know about IT but chemical related fields tend to give proficiency test with their in-person interviews. Many of which, I more than likely failed early on.
 
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