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[Mupod]

AAAAHHH I got an offer! They still have to check my references which should be fine, but they want me in next Monday.

It's like a fucking dream to me right now. 65% salary increase over my current (if I was even being paid right now, which I'm not) AND benefits. Full time permanent, no more shitty contracts.

My inner pessimist keeps expecting a piano to fall on me or the deal to fall through at the last second but I'm just so happy right now. Goddamn. I can't believe I applied less than a week ago, too.

 

[spuckthew]

When Junior/graduate positions ask for 2 years experience.

This was always the worst when I left college. I have 2 1/2 years experience now, but I still see a lot of lower-level positions asking for 3 years.

I get a lot of calls and emails [from agencies] for jobs, but 90% of them suck. Even though my CV opener blatantly hints at my desire for a more senior/responsible role, I still get a lot of junior and 1st-line positions shoved in my face (some do actually pay more than my current position, though, but I'm horribly underpaid where I am).

 

[ibu]

Since being let go (officially) at the end of March (but on leave from early March), I've had a mare of a time with jobs and interviews. I've been interviewed for at least 3 jobs with no luck (although one job has said the next time a role comes up it will require only an informal chat instead of an interview), and countless rejections. I must have applied for 40+ jobs, it has been a full time endeavour.

In the meantime though I've decided that I will take some more courses in order to up skill in areas that will help me going forward (ITIL etc) and I'm going to do something simple in the meantime. It's not the dream job but I have an informal interview tomorrow (on my bday no less) about some bar managing work, I've plenty of experience in this sector so hoping it pans out well and I can work in this role until I complete a couple of helpful courses and then I can move on.

I have to do something to keep me ticking over and keeping money coming in, mortgage and car to pay for and I'll be damned if I'm going on jobseekers for even a brief period of time. Thankfully I've been frugal and haven't gone overboard on spending, the most I've spent has gone on car insurance and MOT (£300+). Thank god for an understanding, patient and supportive partner otherwise I may well have lost my mind.

It is soul sucking and confidence shattering, but just have to pull up my socks and keep slogging on... Patience is a virtue after all and we are shaped by our experiences (good & bad). So on I go.

 

[Sora_N]

Would a few of you be willing to look over my CV please? It would be greatly appreciated.

Is it too much of an info dump?
Not creative enough?
Needs rewording//Formatting/restructuring/overhaul?

Any input would be appreciated and can PM a link to download.

Not a pro but anyone help you yet?

 

[NYCmetsfan]

If a potential job is paying travel costs to an interview that's a sign you've got a pretty good shot no? I figure they're no gonna pay if they think your so so and have already done a skype interview for over an hour

I would take that as a win. Unless you're earning high school- or college credit, you should be paid for your labor.

you should still be paid

 

[EmptySpace]

Don't feel this way. Job searching is 1/3rd qualification, 1/3rd charisma, 1/3rd luck.

Be so happy that all your prep got you to the #2 spot. You can't control if someone else exists who happens to have worked in the field a year or two longer and thus looks like a better deal to the hirer. That's out of your hands. You can control how awesome you are, and you clearly did an awesome job here.

It's 1/3rd luck/chance/perfect storm, so you know you're good, just going to take some more frequency. Keep your head up!

well, i guess i also didn't get the other job from the 2nd interview that i did last week.


how did i know? the hr person called because i'm up for an interview for another job in my current company (i'm on a temp job ending in 2 weeks or less).

so i guess there's that. now i have my 3rd interview in 3 weeks. gosh i feel so drained from all the emotional stress. i think this position will pay less, but it is weird given that a person whose position was the one that i didn't get accepted to, is also looking to apply for this current opening.

 

[Memento_Mori15]

This is my first time asking people to read my cover letter and critique my resume, but could you someone lend a hand? I feel like it's not strong at all since I rarely hear back nowadays.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Not a pro but anyone help you yet?

Not yet. Would if be OK to PM it over to you?

This is my first time asking people to read my cover letter and critique my resume, but could you someone lend a hand? I feel like it's not strong at all since I rarely hear back nowadays.

I can help you out mate. PM it to me.

Would it he OK to send you mine in return for a quick skim read?

 

[machemachete]

One month and a week ago, one friend of mine gave me the contact of the marketing chief of a VG company that was looking for marketing guys for the latin american market.

Having just graduated from university last year(communications) but having worked for a lot of years in marketing, I applied and got to talk to her, the last mail from the chief was something like: "Ok, I just send your mail to HR, if you get hired by us you have to came to the US because we still don't have offices in LATAM" and i was like: "Ok, no probs, i would move if necessary"

One month passed and I'm starting to question if usually is this long or if do I have to send a mail to her asking about my situations.

Companies in US take this long?

 

[Ultimadrago]

AAAAHHH I got an offer! They still have to check my references which should be fine, but they want me in next Monday.

It's like a fucking dream to me right now. 65% salary increase over my current (if I was even being paid right now, which I'm not) AND benefits. Full time permanent, no more shitty contracts.

My inner pessimist keeps expecting a piano to fall on me or the deal to fall through at the last second but I'm just so happy right now. Goddamn. I can't believe I applied less than a week ago, too.

Congrats Mupod!

 

[Roland_Gunner]

One month passed and I'm starting to question if usually is this long or if do I have to send a mail to her asking about my situations.

Companies in US take this long?

I would have sent a follow up email after a week. You should definitely check now. Things get dropped if people forget about applications.

 

[machemachete]

I would have sent a follow up email after a week. You should definitely check now. Things get dropped if people forget about applications.

Its my first time applying to a US company so I thought that asking "how is it going" is going to sound rude or desperate.

In case is common or not rude, what should I ask say in the mail?

"How is it going?"

"Any news about my apply?"

"Do HR said something?"

Like that? D:

 

[Roland_Gunner]

Its my first time applying to a US company so I thought that asking "how is it going" is going to sound rude or desperate.

In case is common or not rude, what should I ask say in the mail?

"How is it going?"

"Any news about my apply?"

"Do HR said something?"

Like that? D:

Asking if they heard anything from HR is good since it doesn't sound like you're pushing them directly. You could also mention having interest from other companies and wanting to see if they are moving forward. That puts a little pressure on them.

 

[lordfuzzybutt]

Would a few of you be willing to look over my CV please? It would be greatly appreciated.

Is it too much of an info dump?
Not creative enough?
Needs rewording//Formatting/restructuring/overhaul?

Any input would be appreciated and can PM a link to download.

This is my first time asking people to read my cover letter and critique my resume, but could you someone lend a hand? I feel like it's not strong at all since I rarely hear back nowadays.

I would take a look if you guys still need.

But I must say first that I am no professional. I helped some friends and they all got calls to interviews. But that's it.

 

[machemachete]

Asking if they heard anything from HR is good since it doesn't sound like you're pushing them directly. You could also mention having interest from other companies and wanting to see if they are moving forward. That puts a little pressure on them.

Ok, I just send the mail and now im waiting for the reply.

Getting to work in a big VG publisher in USA is going to be a big breakthought in my career (now Im working on a south-korean VG company in Perú).

Thanks for the advice

 

[spyder_ur]

The best advice I've received on answering questions about your weaknesses is to list things that used to be problems but you've taken steps to address. For instance, in school I had problems with organization so now I schedule all of my time on a google calendar. This shows that you're aware of challenges and willing to change things.

I really like this advice. I probably wouldn't use disorganization as an example as that is a red flag of sorts for many task-oriented jobs (even if in the past), but the thought process is solid.

Just found out this morning I'm a part of a layoff. In two weeks is my termination date, and then my severance will cover the next 3 months.

Going to take a couple days, then it's time to hit the road running. I'm sure I'll be joining you all in here more frequently.

Sorry to hear, but for what it's worth getting laid off about 5-6 years ago happened to be one of the best things that has happened to me professionally. Landed a better job on a slightly different career path and it was a move I might not have been incentivized to make otherwise.

My advice is to connect and network with as many people as possible at your current company before you go. I was really fortunate to have a job after 6 weeks or so. I also think that just going through the actual layoff can be informative and revealing, changing your mindset on jobs and working in a helpful way.

 

[Big Chungus]

Should I email and snail mail my resume to a place im applying at?

 

[Sotha_Sil]

Would a few of you be willing to look over my CV please? It would be greatly appreciated.

Is it too much of an info dump?
Not creative enough?
Needs rewording//Formatting/restructuring/overhaul?

Any input would be appreciated and can PM a link to download.

I finally got around to looking at your CV, details in PM.

 

[Memento_Mori15]

Not yet. Would if be OK to PM it over to you?



I can help you out mate. PM it to me.

Would it he OK to send you mine in return for a quick skim read?

I would take a look if you guys still need.

But I must say first that I am no professional. I helped some friends and they all got calls to interviews. But that's it.

Thank you guys, I just pm it and look forward to your responses.

 

[ElTopo]

I've been un-employed for 2 months. I've applied to everything I can find within my vicinity and nothing has come up. The only thing I got was a phone interview for a college but I was told it would take them a few weeks to get back to me.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

I had my interview today and I don't know how it went. I did my best and think I did well but now is the waiting game

One of the interviewers said I did good and better that a lot of other applicants but the head guy was this really new York type and I couldn't tell if I was screwing up or he was just trying to teach me stuff with that nyc bluntness.

 

[hitme]

Time to join you guys. I'm tired of my job (grocery retail for 3 years) and in need of something I would really like to do for the long run.

 

[Mix Master]

Interview last week and going through background check now, its at harris teeter but its a job atleast.

 

[Magnus]

Holding to hear about two very promising full-time positions with two major leaders in this business. (not contract, actual full-time, ongoing positions, which never seems to happen at my level in my biz)

-

My ego just got a little shattered though. Finding out that someone that graduated from my own program a full year after I did managed to convert their internship into a full-time position at the very company I'm now working on short contract for....depressing. I network and hustle with the best of them. I was a networking machine as my last contract dwindled, and landed so many high-profile interviews that all lost to internal candidates and interns with far less experience, or people with entirely too much experience (like management) coming down and stealing away these more junior positions

Alas. I had the misfortune of interning with a company that was going through massive transformation and layoffs right as my placement was ending. There was no hope for keeping me on, as much as they claimed to love me.

 

[Cth]

So, Cliff Notes are in order..

- Laid off 4 years ago.
- Eventually found 2 PT jobs.
- 1st PT job laid me off 3 months ago.

I'm down to one PT job now, and the hours are sporadic. This past month, 5 positions opened. Some FT, but most PT. Outside of management, I've been here longer than anyone else (1.5 years). I'm looking to move up, for the bump in pay, additional responsibility, and to show future employers I didn't just sit around content.

5 interviews. I was their "second choice" for each one.

This last one was the worst, as it was the first to go to a 2nd round of interviews. The frustrating part? It's an assistant retail manager position. Of the final 3 candidates, I'm the only one in retail "full time".. the other two are in different departments.

The company likes my ideas, having solicited them and implemented multiple ideas. I'm the top salesperson. I've been there the longest. And yet, they went with one of the other two.

The frustrating part is that both of them are friends with the manager (going on vacations together). The manager wasn't involved in the decision, but the appearance is what's frustrating to me.

I'm not the type to give up, but honestly this is starting to get to me. I just want to be able to contribute to my family financially. I don't want to keep scrambling to somehow make house payments. To stop going to the food bank each month because we can't afford food.

Anyways, thanks for letting me vent.

 

[theepicoftyler]

Hello everyone! I was informed today that my contract will not be renewed on June 30th. So I am once again on the market.

This was my first job out of college, and I'll have been there for a year and a half as of June 30th.

They gave me 2 months notice, so that was nice of them. I'll have plenty of time to look. I have experience now, so hopefully this job search will be a little easier. I am a geologist/environmental scientist.

Time to upgrade the resume.

 

[Jpop]

I just want to say I hate cover letters. I get the reason for them, but I hate it at the same time.

I can't tell you how many times I've left a reference from another company in them when I've applied for jobs. T_T

 

[Sora_N]

Not yet. Would if be OK to PM it over to you?



I can help you out mate. PM it to me.

Would it he OK to send you mine in return for a quick skim read?

Sorry Ive been tired as hell from work...still new and learning.

Can PM me and I can help if you still want. I will look at it tomorrow night or the weekend.

 

[Necrovex]

Hello everyone! I was informed today that my contract will not be renewed on June 30th. So I am once again on the market.

This was my first job out of college, and I'll have been there for a year and a half as of June 30th.

They gave me 2 months notice, so that was nice of them. I'll have plenty of time to look. I have experience now, so hopefully this job search will be a little easier. I am a geologist/environmental scientist.

Time to upgrade the resume.

I have to give a company some major props when they give their employees a notice like that. Good luck finding a new job, mate!

 

[BobLoblaw]

I just want to say I hate cover letters. I get the reason for them, but I hate it at the same time.

I can't tell you how many times I've left a reference from another company in them when I've applied for jobs. T_T

Lol! That's the first thing I change. Just keep a seperate template without any company-specific information and then fill it in for each new company.

 

[JPeeples83]

Had a second interview with Best Buy on Thursday, and that alone was exciting. Hell, just hearing back from them on Saturday was a surprise and now I've gone from no job to possibly having the exact retail job I wanted. It's good - but I'm not done looking for other work since this is part-time.

 

[Krappadizzle]

Haha. Funniest shit happened. So I spent the last 8 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, decided to get out last year thinking I would find work relatively easy. 7 years of literally working on and training on the latest cutting-edge navigational/radar/comms suites in the military. i whored myself as possible this last year. Appy's everywhere Airports, FBI, Northrop-Grunman, so on and so forth. No luck. 6 mos. into the search was pretty depressing. My wife asked if I wanted to see if I could get an interview at the opthomologist clinic she works for. She did, the whole week her friends and family are asking me if I'm nervous(which tbh I wasn't) about the interview. I'm not gonna sweat about a job I don't have.

Went in today, doctor looked at my resume, talked with me for 10 minutes and said ,"you're hired." He was impressed that I asked if their was required field maintenance and calibrations on a machine I'm to be working with. I guess the last guy wasn't as "knowledgeable." I thought it was hilarious. So I start as a Visual Field Technician next week. Starting pay isn't great $18/hr. But after 3 mos. it's bumped and every 6 mos after, which sounds awesome, plus full bennies. And holy shit do the doctors treat their employees well, often taking them out for dinners and bonuses and shit. Very excited to get back to work. Just wish it could've waited one more beautiful month for Witcher 3 release! I'm on the moon right now.

Keep pushing guys. You never know when the next opportunity will strike!

 

[Black Republican]

anyone know any entry level office type jobs i should look for?

 

[industrian]

anyone know any entry level office type jobs i should look for?

Clerical assistant.
Data entry.

Both are mind-numbing but a foot in the door, especially if it's in the public sector.

 

[Nelo Ice]

Well got the Costco job!. Good luck to job hunting GAF out there and here's to hoping you guys get lucky too. I'm still in shock I managed to land a Costco job that isn't seasonal and without a reference.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Sorry Ive been tired as hell from work...still new and learning.

Can PM me and I can help if you still want. I will look at it tomorrow night or the weekend.

Cheers but its fine now.

I made a separate thread and created a new one. Got a job offer the day after submiting it.

It makes the difference.

 

[Sora_N]

Cheers but its fine now.

I made a separate thread and created a new one. Got a job offer the day after submiting it.

It makes the difference.

Congrats!!

 

[Tonza]

After a long job hunt, I am starting my new job next week. I am excited and a bit nervous. I think a key factor for me was making my own projects during the job hunt.

Good luck to everyone looking a job.

 

[s2000]

This is completely random but some of you should consider applying to work at a bank. I started as a teller and now everyone is transitioning to all banker staff. It's a job with good hours, bonuses, and a path to even better positions (financial consultant/ LB etc). So, if you don't know what you want to do or are looking for an office position, just try applying to a bank. They're everywhere.

pm me if you need tips on applying

 

[theepicoftyler]

I have to give a company some major props when they give their employees a notice like that. Good luck finding a new job, mate!

I am obviously upset, but in that respect I am very fortunate. It's one of the benefits of working for the government and being represented under a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

It's my first job out of college, and the day my job contract ends is also the day my lease is done, so if worse comes to worse, I'll be able to move out of a place I can't afford without a job, and I have a while to get situated.

I've even been removed from regular project duties at my job in the meantime, so I've actually been working on my resume this morning.

I'm trying to stay positive.

 

[MrNelson]

So, I'm graduating in just a few weeks with a B.Sc in Management Information Systems. It took me a bit longer to get here than I expected, and partially because of that, my GPA isn't exactly stellar (I spent about 2.5 years bouncing between majors, got some mediocre grades before I found the one that I really enjoyed). I've spent the last 4 years working part-time in retail to help pay for expenses (I live at home, commute to Uni), I have no experience in the field outside of my studies. The closest thing to relevant experience I have is some remote QA testing, which is mercenary work at best, considering I can go weeks/months without an assignment, I'm really considering just removing that from my resume because I feel it will be more of a hindrance when I reveal that it only entails looking at games for 2-4 hours every few weeks/months.

A lot of the jobs I have been looking at are asking for GPAs of 3.0 and higher, and while my major GPA fits that with no issues, my overall GPA is lacking. What worries me is that some of these jobs are requiring me to only put my overall GPA, and I fear that I won't be able to find a job because I'll keep getting passed up just because I fucked up classes not even relevant to these jobs.

So far I've only had 2 "successes". I got two phone interviews back in February, the first said to get back with him in March to get the ball rolling on the job, but he seemed to just dodge my emails until I got a response saying the position was filled (the guy was from a staffing firm, so I think I dodged a bullet really). The second one went all the way to a 4 hour in-person interview. They said they would contact me by the next Tuesday with an answer. That Tuesday came and went without a word, so I shot them an email the next day and didn't get a response until Thursday that I wasn't a fit for the job. I asked for tips and they said it was against policy to elaborate on hiring decisions (fair enough)

This past Tuesday I participated in a "Virtual Career Fair" and submitted about 7 applications. I haven't heard anything back yet, but I am hoping for the best.

Is there any advice that Career-GAF can impart on me?

 

[Pastry]

GAF I could use some advice please, I'm really uncertain of what to do here. I'm an MBA student that is also working a full time corporate job as a Pricing Analyst for an oil and gas company. My job pays decently well, looks good on a resume for what I want to do but I don't necessarily like it. In December 2015 I will graduate with my MBA and I will have been in this job for a full year in November 2015.

I know I can get a job I like more with probably better pay if I spend some time with applications but I have only been at this job for six months. Should I wait until I finish my MBA and have been at this job a year? Or should I start job hunting now while still finishing my MBA and I've only been here six months? Either way I plan on applying for other jobs when I finish my MBA in 7 months.

Im worried it'll look worse in the future having only six months at this job plus it'll look better on my resume when I'm applying with a completed MBA. But I don't necessarily like my job right now but for what it is it's actually decent.

 

[RustyNails]

GAF I could use some advice please, I'm really uncertain of what to do here. I'm an MBA student that is also working a full time corporate job as a Pricing Analyst for an oil and gas company. My job pays decently well, looks good on a resume for what I want to do but I don't necessarily like it. In December 2015 I will graduate with my MBA and I will have been in this job for a full year in November 2015.

I know I can get a job I like more with probably better pay if I spend some time with applications but I have only been at this job for six months. Should I wait until I finish my MBA and have been at this job a year? Or should I start job hunting now while still finishing my MBA and I've only been here six months? Either way I plan on applying for other jobs when I finish my MBA in 7 months.

Im worried it'll look worse in the future having only six months at this job plus it'll look better on my resume when I'm applying with a completed MBA. But I don't necessarily like my job right now but for what it is it's actually decent.

Your thinking the right way. Wait until you finish your MBA first. That way you can land a better salary. Secondly, I usually advise people to stay in their job for at least 2 years. If you skip just after a year, hiring people might think you like jumping jobs and it might look bad. But if you have a good explanation (it was my first job/too much travel/no growth), it works out. Just dont say things like "I didn't lile the job". Good luck.

 

[Jpop]

Lol! That's the first thing I change. Just keep a seperate template without any company-specific information and then fill it in for each new company.

I do that now, its really easy to miss something if you don't.

 

[Kaladin]

Tried out a new tactic I learned in a phone interview today.

I've been using the follow up question "Can you go beyond the job description and explain what you are looking for in the ideal candidate for this position?"

and today I followed it up with:

"Based on my resume and today's interview do you have any concerns with hiring me for this position?"

The first one tends to get them to reveal what they're looking for specifically and the second one worked in my favor today and I got to address a few concerns they had with me right off the bat.

I've also used something like "If hired, what could I do in this position to make your job easier?" but I feel like that's a little off putting sometimes.

Hope these help someone.

 

[Pastry]

Your thinking the right way. Wait until you finish your MBA first. That way you can land a better salary. Secondly, I usually advise people to stay in their job for at least 2 years. If you skip just after a year, hiring people might think you like jumping jobs and it might look bad. But if you have a good explanation (it was my first job/too much travel/no growth), it works out. Just dont say things like "I didn't lile the job". Good luck.

Yeah the no growth thing is what's bothering me, I could stick around here if I felt like there was room for growth. This isn't my first job though. Prior to this I was a marketing manager for 3.5 years at a law firm so I feel like that helps show that I can stick around somewhere for a long time and I'm not just hopping around. And I had a good reason for leaving that job, spent a full year doing grad school full time.

 

[Goodlife]

Had a second interview for new job today.
Now going through the whole "should have answered that better" "should have said that" process in my head.
Now got to wait until next week before I get any feedback, which is a bit of a pain.

When I asked about the next step in the process, they said they've got a few more interviews booked in for next week and they are going to have to see everyone "out of courtesy"

I'm trying not to put too much hope into that, probably just said it without thinking.... But, you never know...

 

[Wilsongt]

Had a second interview for new job today.
Now going through the whole "should have answered that better" "should have said that" process in my head.
Now got to wait until next week before I get any feedback, which is a bit of a pain.

When I asked about the next step in the process, they said they've got a few more interviews booked in for next week and they are going to have to see everyone "out of courtesy"

I'm trying not to put too much hope into that, probably just said it without thinking.... But, you never know...

I'm in that same position... I was the first one in a set of people for a second interview nearly a month ago... I felt I did well because the questions this time were much more focused and less personality/what would you do in this social/work situation questions.

I am now in the process of applying for a lot of jobs again...

 

[Raguel]

Well, I am joining all you brave souls in this thread. Just got terminated from a company I have worked with for close to 3 years. Oh well, new phase in life. I am now determined to focus on my writing and find something in that field. I know it very competitive but it's do or die for me. If anyone knows of some writing position please let me know. And since i have free time (lots and lots now), I will try to visit this thread often and offer my services to edit resumes when I can. Just PM me.

 

[BadTaste]

I had a job interview on Monday, I didn't expect it to be a group interview but it went quite smooth, they tasked us by doing group exercises and such then at the end it was a 1-to-1 interview. Looking back I know I could have answered the questions better as I have previously worked in the same field before (retail).