anyone else unemployed?

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Zoe

Member
Most would advise me to look out for my own interest, but I'm not sure if it's an entirely professional thing to do. I certainly don't want to burn any bridges or make enemies...

Thoughts?

You've only been there for a month or less. You wouldn't get a worthwhile recommendation out of them anyway. Did anyone give you a reason to believe someone would hold a personal grudge?
 

TCRS

Banned
Worked on trial basis for two days as a pizza delivery driver. They said they'll call back. Four days later still no call. Was a shitty job anyway, low pay and most of the time I helped out in the kitchen with cleaning and shit. The reason I'm not really depressed about it is that I've applied for another job as a postman. They're looking for quite a lot of people, I think I have a good chance of landing a job there. Will be hard work, but it's full time and good pay. I can do that for three months and then hopefully I'll start with my Masters.

edit:
One problem though, I haven't been payed yet for the two days... have to sort that out.
 

LuchaShaq

Banned
What's good, GAF? Am stuck in a bit of a dilemma...

Last month, I accepted a position (after being unemployed for a month and a half) that requires two employees to maintain it. The other employee who works with me is getting married and will be out for weeks in September, leaving me solely in charge of the day-to-day operations. NO ONE ELSE BESIDES US KNOWS HOW TO RUN THE SYSTEM. Now, the dilemma...

I've been offered a position to another job, for better pay, benefits, and it's closer to home. There's no way my current employer will match it. If I were to leave, they're going to need to bring someone in ASAP to teach them the system and standard operating procedures in a month (not going to happen). Essentially, the department and the company would be screwed if I were to leave now, unless they can convince my co-worker to take a shorter break for the wedding and abandon the subsequent honeymoon altogether.

Most would advise me to look out for my own interest, but I'm not sure if it's an entirely professional thing to do. I certainly don't want to burn any bridges or make enemies...

Thoughts?


Look out for yourself.

If it fucks them that bad that you're leaving they should pony up the dough to try and keep you.


Our our outsourced IT is 100% incompetent run by people who passed a few comp sci classes in college and honestly are the type to have 100 IE toolbars. (contract running out in a few months won't be renewed)

When the only non IT besides me who knew computers left I asked for a raise even though I'm part time. Why? Because I knew they would pay up since they would have been fucked within a week without someone computer literate around, and I even said so when I brought it up. Also knew they didn't have the money or time to train anyone new for my actual job, let alone make sure they could fix their IT issues as well. (personally don't mind fixing computer issues even though it's not in my job title. Fuck it I'm on the clock anyways.)


Companies use leverage to pay you less/fire you all the time. Zero reason not to do the same when you have the leverage.


Care to mention why?

The few times we have gotten pictures with resumes we threw them in the trash without reading.

Putting a picture with a resume seems like something a serial killer/guy who wants to wear your skin as a suit would do.
 
Well, hell. The consumer electronics store I work at has acquired a new regional manager who is cutthroat when it comes to sales, and has unrealistic expectations. She has said she will fire associates who do not make their sales goals, so it looks like I'm going to take a preemptive strike and look for a replacement job.

Today I printed out some resumes, and tomorrow I'm going to take them to the coffee shops around town. I have barista experience, and here in a college town I think I'd have a lot more fun working in a coffee shop and interacting with all the girls here, haha. Plus networking with other good students. I'm basically going to pester the coffee shops until they give me an interview for a fall gig.

Wish me luck gaf.
 

Timo

Member
I'm in Savannah, GA looking for a job for a week now. Things aren't looking so super. I'm going to a open interview tomorrow for a Front Desk job at a hotel, hopefully they bite.
 

Magnus

Member
Well, hell. The consumer electronics store I work at has acquired a new regional manager who is cutthroat when it comes to sales, and has unrealistic expectations. She has said she will fire associates who do not make their sales goals, so it looks like I'm going to take a preemptive strike and look for a replacement job.

Today I printed out some resumes, and tomorrow I'm going to take them to the coffee shops around town. I have barista experience, and here in a college town I think I'd have a lot more fun working in a coffee shop and interacting with all the girls here, haha. Plus networking with other good students. I'm basically going to pester the coffee shops until they give me an interview for a fall gig.

Wish me luck gaf.

Good luck! And high five; while looking elsewhere and landing interviews for other full time positions, I decided, what the hell, I'm going to try for a barista position at Starbucks. It'll likely be part time and a good (fun?) supplement to whatever else I land.

Aced the first interview, was immediately granted a second for this weekend.

Good times.
 

LuchaShaq

Banned
This is probably a long shot but if any gaffer is unemployed and is looking for mechanics work in Rhode Island I can get you work at my job.

Don't need super duper crazy experience, but if we have to baby sit you on every job ehhh.

Last few guys didn't work out. Idiots leaving oil caps off, not properly tightening on wheels. Ugh simple shit a highschool kid would know not to do.
 
Okay how do you get past this "Entry Level position: 3 years of experience required" bullshit? Where do you GET that experience?

Man, this is the absolute WORST. I'm freshly graduated from college (had an internship my entire last semester), so I've been on the hunt for roughly two months now. I've been caddying to make some spare money on the side, but I need a full time job.

Roughly applied to around 20 places so far, not even ONE call back yet. Starting to get very frustrating. I am starting to wonder if one internship just won't cut it. Seems like 3 is the bare minimum these days...
 

ToddGoku

Banned
So there's a good chance I'm starting a file clerk job soon. Unlivable wages but I'm excited to get back to regular employment. The thing is after 90 days they offer benefits including tuition reimbursement which would be pretty helpful considering I'm planning on re-enrolling in school once I have a regular income.

The thing is, it's an unskilled job in a corporate atmosphere in a bad economy so I fully expect to be a) turned down when I apply for tuition reimbursement or b) layed off during the 90 day probationary period because I asked about their benefits package and expressed interest in the tuition reimbursement package. So GAF am I being wildly paranoid or am I right in thinking I'm putting myself in a bad spot by trying to use the benefits they offer?
 
Man, this is the absolute WORST. I'm freshly graduated from college (had an internship my entire last semester), so I've been on the hunt for roughly two months now. I've been caddying to make some spare money on the side, but I need a full time job.

Roughly applied to around 20 places so far, not even ONE call back yet. Starting to get very frustrating. I am starting to wonder if one internship just won't cut it. Seems like 3 is the bare minimum these days...

I found that most positions labeled on websites as "entry level" didn't carry a years of experience requirement. And I still applied to those that required 2 years or less, citing my college experiences that were above average (like an internship) as experience. And I really got close to landing one with Ball Aerospace in laser weapons research in Albuquerque that said "2 years of experience". And this was with only a BS in engineering physics, and I only lost out to a guy with a damn Ph.D. (not a fair fight really).

As far as the rate of response on applications, I had a similar experience. About 1 in 20 applications would get me a return phone call, but once I got those, I think I converted about 8 out of 10 into interviews, and then 1 out of those 8 into a job (finally).
 

1stStrike

Banned
Look out for yourself.


Companies use leverage to pay you less/fire you all the time. Zero reason not to do the same when you have the leverage.

This is good advice. I'm in a unique position at my job where my leaving would put significant strain on management, not to mention the money they'd have to put into training someone to replace me. My job is also one that not just anyone can do, as you really need to be driven and have specialized skills.

So, I used leverage to my advantage and applied to a couple of other places in May to see how my prospects were looking. Both places I applied to offered me jobs for more than I was making, so I went back to my company and had a meeting with management. They brought in the CEO and within 20 minutes I had a $5000 a year pay raise.

Now that's how you use leverage.
 

dark_chris

Member
I'm starting a new job today. A huge company and its an honor to do it... but Im so nervous in starting today. Any advice to make it through the day not being nervous?
I've never been nervous before in starting but this time, i am.
 

1stStrike

Banned
I'm starting a new job today. A huge company and its an honor to do it... but Im so nervous in starting today. Any advice to make it through the day not being nervous?
I've never been nervous before in starting but this time, i am.

Take some deep breaths and just focus on work. Don't think about anything else. The key to not being nervous is to have enough self control in order to calm yourself.
 
What do you guys think of customer service jobs for men? I got this certificate called CSC that allows me to work at a back as a teller but I don't like customer service jobs. I worked at tim horton's a few years ago and some of the customers used to really piss me off....also I am not good with mental arithmetic (I can do advance math but if someone asks me what's 48 - 19, I wouldn't be able to answer). Plus I have anxiety problems....

Pretty much all the jobs in this field, I have to go through the customer service/teller position first. I am completing some advance math courses atm and I want to get into programming or engineering but that road seems long...all my friends and family are leaving me in the dust and I am here with no money or friends.
 

Kamaji

Member
Is it possible getting a job overseas withouth special education? I'd like to move and do wathever to earn money.McDonalds etc...
Overseas where?

Do you have experience in anything that doesn't require customer contact (restaurant work, warehouse work, logistics, industrial work etc). If such is the case I would recommend Norway. Although living expenses are high it's possible to live nice on a unskilled job (for example McDonalds pays 23-24$ an hour).

A social-democratic, european welfare state with large oil reserves. Neat country with just 1-2% unemployment in most cities. I'm there looking for work right now (i'm from a neighbouring country with quite high youth unemployment levels).
 
I'm going to an interview for Comcast tomorrow as field tech :)

Hopefully everything woks out, job seems righ up my alley being on the road with some tech knowledge involved.

$14.05 to start with 11 weeks of "tech school" of some sort.

Its about 90minutes away but they said the home office I'll be working out of (Trenton NJ) is a smaller office so I'll be able to advance faster and within 6 months I can ask to be transfered closer to home in the Cherry Hill NJ area.

I'm incedibly nervous tho...I havent been to an interview in years.
 

Xero

Member
I have an orientation + test at amtrak tomorrow, before I go to work at my current job. Then I have a test to take for a city position. I'm not holding out for much from the city position since they notoriously bring in hundreds of people for those things. I'm hoping for another shot at amtrak though. It pays $20 and hour, with amazing benefits. Worst case I wait for another amtrak listing and try again.
 
So I had a really good interview about a month ago and the guy I interviewed with said, "Give us a call if you don't hear anything in two weeks." So two weeks come and go and I don't hear anything. I give HR a call and they tell me that a decisions hasn't been made yet but I'd definitely hear something in the next day or two. I don't. Call again, and next they tell me I'll hear from them by the beginning of next week (which was last Monday). A week later and still nothing.

Really frustrating because I need this job, it was the last interview I had, and it went really, really well. Argh.
 

bcl0328

Member
So I had a really good interview about a month ago and the guy I interviewed with said, "Give us a call if you don't hear anything in two weeks." So two weeks come and go and I don't hear anything. I give HR a call and they tell me that a decisions hasn't been made yet but I'd definitely hear something in the next day or two. I don't. Call again, and next they tell me I'll hear from them by the beginning of next week (which was last Monday). A week later and still nothing.

Really frustrating because I need this job, it was the last interview I had, and it went really, really well. Argh.

usually the ones that go well, didn't.
 

Newline

Member
So I had a really good interview about a month ago and the guy I interviewed with said, "Give us a call if you don't hear anything in two weeks." So two weeks come and go and I don't hear anything. I give HR a call and they tell me that a decisions hasn't been made yet but I'd definitely hear something in the next day or two. I don't. Call again, and next they tell me I'll hear from them by the beginning of next week (which was last Monday). A week later and still nothing.

Really frustrating because I need this job, it was the last interview I had, and it went really, really well. Argh.

This has got to be one of the most frustrating things i've been through. The constant anticipation, thinking its going to be resolved soon and then having it dragged on for longer. I feel for you :/

If it's any benefit, it worked out well in the end.
 

EYEL1NER

Member
Ugh, just got notified that I have an unemployment review interview scheduled for me in a week. Sounds like its gonna be a pain in my ass, pouring over 60 or so job searches.
 
Just thought i'd chime and say , was unemployed but now working in a shitty shit call centre earning £400 pound a month .

really feel like quitting but sticking with it and looking for something else cause jobs are hard to come by.
 

Hindle

Banned
Yep, the hardest thing is stopping your motivation from going. Its just so demoralising when you apply and apply and no one gets back to you.
 

DSN2K

Member
Just thought i'd chime and say , was unemployed but now working in a shitty shit call centre earning £400 pound a month .

really feel like quitting but sticking with it and looking for something else cause jobs are hard to come by.



thats really low wage...you might be better off on JSA what pretty much sums up the system.
 
Oh hey, this thread popped up at the perfect time. After two years of searching I've finally got at job :D It may be just a casual position at KFC, but damn I am so SO happy. I figured out where I'd been messing up (interviews, being too nervous and quiet) and tried to fix that - and it worked!! I think I got some help here several months ago, so thanks for that guys.
 

TxdoHawk

Member
What's good, GAF? Am stuck in a bit of a dilemma...

Last month, I accepted a position (after being unemployed for a month and a half) that requires two employees to maintain it. The other employee who works with me is getting married and will be out for weeks in September, leaving me solely in charge of the day-to-day operations. NO ONE ELSE BESIDES US KNOWS HOW TO RUN THE SYSTEM. Now, the dilemma...

I've been offered a position to another job, for better pay, benefits, and it's closer to home. There's no way my current employer will match it.

Ultimately that is their problem, not yours. It sounds like they've done a poor job building in redundancy because they don't want to hire or train more people, like most companies nowadays. You should be polite and give them as much notice as you can once you clinch the job offer, but your obligation ends there.
 

Darren870

Member
What's good, GAF? Am stuck in a bit of a dilemma...

Last month, I accepted a position (after being unemployed for a month and a half) that requires two employees to maintain it. The other employee who works with me is getting married and will be out for weeks in September, leaving me solely in charge of the day-to-day operations. NO ONE ELSE BESIDES US KNOWS HOW TO RUN THE SYSTEM. Now, the dilemma...

I've been offered a position to another job, for better pay, benefits, and it's closer to home. There's no way my current employer will match it. If I were to leave, they're going to need to bring someone in ASAP to teach them the system and standard operating procedures in a month (not going to happen). Essentially, the department and the company would be screwed if I were to leave now, unless they can convince my co-worker to take a shorter break for the wedding and abandon the subsequent honeymoon altogether.

Most would advise me to look out for my own interest, but I'm not sure if it's an entirely professional thing to do. I certainly don't want to burn any bridges or make enemies...

Thoughts?

Always look after yourself. Your company might just screw you over later down the line any ways. Plus they could always hire a short term contractor to make up for the gap...
 
Overseas where?

Do you have experience in anything that doesn't require customer contact (restaurant work, warehouse work, logistics, industrial work etc). If such is the case I would recommend Norway. Although living expenses are high it's possible to live nice on a unskilled job (for example McDonalds pays 23-24$ an hour).

A social-democratic, european welfare state with large oil reserves. Neat country with just 1-2% unemployment in most cities. I'm there looking for work right now (i'm from a neighbouring country with quite high youth unemployment levels).

Hehe, Norway sounds so boring. I'm Swedish ;)

I have a friend who recently moved to Australia and started working at a Café. So it's doable. Large step to make though.
 

Magnus

Member
Got the barista job, and they're already telling me they want to accelerate me through and get me to shift supervising and management because I'm overqualified to just run the counter/make drinks, haha. Feels good to get a yes of any kind; this year's been shitty. It'll be nice to have any kind of cash coming in now to support me while I continue to search for jobs in my field.

I dig crowds/people/constant interaction, and it's one of the busier mall SBux stores, so at least the days will be brisk and packed.
 

aett

Member
I have a problem similar to The Horror's...

I applied to over 100 open positions (each one was the same job title) for California state. The first place I interviewed at hired me right away, just about a month ago, and now I get a few calls each week trying to schedule me for interviews. I don't care because they all offer the same pay and benefits. However, there is an out-of-state office in Houston that offers 15% more pay, in a city where the cost of living would be significantly lower, and they want to interview me. My family currently can't afford to live off of my paycheck alone here in California so we're living with my wife's grandparents, but in Houston, we could easily support ourselves.

Would it be in really bad taste to interview for this job? They're both California state jobs so there would definitely be some communication between them and I don't want to not get the Houston job and have my current bosses be upset with me.
 

Xero

Member
I had my testing at amtrak this morning there was 7 of us for 1 position. That seems to be one of the better things about amtrak, at least with customer service jobs anyways, is a lower amount of applicants, since they only show job listings on their website, and I think most people don't even think about it. If you are looking for a customer service style position I definitely recommend checking back on their websites. You can move into any position, so you can start off in customer service, and then eventually become an engineer. Good pay and great benefits. Some of the jobs aren't for everyone though. Like the train attendants who might be gone 6 days at a time. Both positions i've applied for have had guaranteed hours though. This one i applied to is sort of an on call position, but so long as I'm available I always get paid for a full 40 hours a week. So if they have a week they don't need me I would still be paid for having worked 40 hours.
 

Kamaji

Member
Hehe, Norway sounds so boring. I'm Swedish ;)

I have a friend who recently moved to Australia and started working at a Café. So it's doable. Large step to make though.

A friend of my friend also worked in Australia with practically no experience. So yeah, it seems doable. Otherwise I don't know any suitable countries. Perhaps the UK or Canada.
 

Scirrocco

Member
I just found out my city's GIS office is hiring. I'm at the library now, which is like 100 feet from their office. Talk about good luck Going to prepare for an hour and then pay them a visit in person, just to say hello. I don't have quite as much programming experience as i'd like, or they want, so i might not get it.

Think i should not mention it or just admit I may not be quite as knowledgeable but am dedicated to taking more classes about it? The latter wouldn't be a lie since i definitely do want to learn more programming.
 

ATF487

Member
I had my testing at amtrak this morning there was 7 of us for 1 position. That seems to be one of the better things about amtrak, at least with customer service jobs anyways, is a lower amount of applicants, since they only show job listings on their website, and I think most people don't even think about it. If you are looking for a customer service style position I definitely recommend checking back on their websites. You can move into any position, so you can start off in customer service, and then eventually become an engineer. Good pay and great benefits. Some of the jobs aren't for everyone though. Like the train attendants who might be gone 6 days at a time. Both positions i've applied for have had guaranteed hours though. This one i applied to is sort of an on call position, but so long as I'm available I always get paid for a full 40 hours a week. So if they have a week they don't need me I would still be paid for having worked 40 hours.

Shit, I'm going to have check this out.

I've just run out of money, was hoping I could survive for another month or two but I have to actually buy books for my last two classes. Time to accelerate the job search...
 

Xero

Member
Shit, I'm going to have check this out.

I've just run out of money, was hoping I could survive for another month or two but I have to actually buy books for my last two classes. Time to accelerate the job search...

They rarely post jobs though, so you have to check back weekly. A lot of openings happen when people retire or move up in the company. Sometimes they legitimately have new positions though. The last job I applied there I'm not sure how many total applied, but there was like 30 in my group and I think there was 3 other times. So I estimated around 100, it was for 10 positions though. Which is much better then when I applied to the sheriff department for a evidence room clerk, and there was more then 400 people for 2 positions. I actually have another testing for a customer service job with the city, and I'm not looking forward to how many people will be there.
 

BigDug13

Member
Is it possible getting a job overseas withouth special education? I'd like to move and do wathever to earn money.McDonalds etc...

If you have a college degree and a pulse (and especially if you are white) you can teach English overseas in China, Korea, Taiwan, etc. Make good money, have housing paid, etc.

Beats McDonalds.
 

Xun

Member
It really does piss me off seeing a guy who is less talented get into a company that I've applied for, and wanted to get into.

It's a fucking joke, and it really puts a downer on me.
 

Cloudy

Banned
I feel guilty reading this thread since I quit my job a few weeks back cos it was too much of a hassle to job hunt and work full time (don't try this at home!).

I'm happy to say I have one offer right now and I'm stalling because I have one more interview and I want to go to that one cos the job sounds like an even better fit.

This was my first time being unemployed since 2005. Some observations:

- Don't you hate when the interviewer is a top-level exec who doesn't know shit about the position and looks at you dismissively cos you can't dumb it down for them? I am used to being interviewed by direct supervisors who know the work. This company was micro-managing and I was so thrown off that the interview was a disaster lol

- All but one interviewer looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I quit my job because I wanted to focus on finding another one. They kept probing to see if I was fired or something lol.

- It seems many companies give critical-thinking tests these days or have you give detailed answers so they can judge your writing

- Pretty much every job I saw required a 4-year degree. Anyone thinking of quitting school, don't do it!
 

MC Safety

Member
It really does piss me off seeing a guy who is less talented get into a company that I've applied for, and wanted to get into.

It's a fucking joke, and it really puts a downer on me.

I've learned you can't take a rejection personally. Companies hire for a lot of reasons, and very few of them have anything to do with the meritocracy.
 

malfcn

Member
Okay how do you get past this "Entry Level position: 3 years of experience required" bullshit? Where do you GET that experience?

Oh, and what exactly is Technical Editing? My portfolio is built up for writing and editing right now, and "Technical Editor" comes up a lot. What is it?

Not currently unemployed, but that is bullshit. I look around and I see entry level with 5+ years experience and all these requirements..how? wtf.
 

Prine

Banned
Might as well chime in.

Took 3 interviews recently, all 3 returned with an offer - but i accepted the 1st and played with the other 2, knowing if things get a little hairy i still have the 1st job.

So i got the last offer recently, now i have to let the 1st company down. Feel terrible as they really wanted me. Even bought me a new MacBook Pro (solid state) and booked a flight to Germany for some training. But i need to think of my future and i can see myself gaining more with the company i've chosen.

Dreading reading the email they'll reply with.
 
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