How Do You Get A Job?

[Plecostomus]

What kind of work do you do? What are you willing to do?

I think you need to consider doing a couple things.

1. Realize that most people are just regular people. Treat them as such and don't think that they hold your future in your hands, because they don't.

Steer clear of people who think they can control you and think they are in charge of every aspect of your working life. They are out there, I walked out of a job at a print shop awhile back because of this. There is a fine line between micromanagment and obsessive control-freaking.

For example, I worked for many companies until about 12 years ago when I just said...enough. I wanted to control my own time and my own income. Now I control my future. I currently do management consulting, importing, and credit repair. I started several businesses, and while it wasn't easy, I have never been happier.

Trying to do this now, I'm getting sick and tired of empty promises by employers that bitch about not having good workers... yet they do nothing to retain.

You'll never work harder for someone else than yourself. And you can start a business on the side if you are working full-time. Just find what interests you and have the stones to go for it.

Whatever you do network network network then network some more. Most of my customers came from asking around... asking EVERYONE. One of my biggest projects came from a lady who I would have never pegged as an inventor.



Good luck, don't let the chronic unemployment thing get you down. Some people take longer than others to find a career. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

 

[DarthAkuma]

I am unemployed. Not only that I am one of those really chronic unemployed people you feel sorry for when you read about them in the paper. Mostly jobless since November 2007 with only a few temp jobs to count. Not only that but I am a lousy candidate for a job being 39 with only moderate skills and unimpressive work history.

The main problem as I have revealed in the past is my long time social anxiety which prevents me from really getting out and pounding the pavement. I prefer to job-hunt from where I feel safe, behind the computer. As I have learned that is a really horrible way to get a job. In the past almost all the full-time jobs I have gotten have been through temp agencies. But they pretty much have nothing right now. I am told the best way to get a job is walk right in and ask around even if you don't know if they are hiring.

Is this true? As I said my work history long and steady, but unremarkable so I am not looking for a great job. Do people really just walk in to a store ask if they are hiring and that actually leads to a job? Has anyone found other ways of job hunting in tough times that have paid off? A relationship and a life may hang in the balance.

The first thing I'd tell you is that looking for a job IS A FULL-TIME JOB. That means if you're unemployed, you should be spending 40 hours per week looking for a job. No joke. This time can be spent creating/editing your resume, writing cover letters, practicing interviews, discovering what it is you actually want to do, investigating potential employers, doing online searches and applications, network network network, and yes, pounding the pavement.

 

[DarthAkuma]

I always dread when people tell me to depend on contacts. Ususally that is just because of my shyness, but now I have a good excuse. I am new to the LA area, I have only been here eight months, so I don't know anyone but my girlfriend. I suppose that really is kind of a poor excuse though it should give me an incentive to go out and get to know people, but introversion gets in the way.

Here's the trick. Do the people you know, know people in LA? I was new to a particular city and needed a summer job. I didn't know anyone, but I called my contacts from a previous city and one of them happened to be good friends with someone living in the same city as me. It got me a courtesy interview (they didn't have a position), but now I have a contact in my city I can always turn to or suggest others to contact.

I actually have a fair bit of education and am the kind of person other people say is realy smart. I have a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy. I always wanted an academic career, but one of the big problems in my life is I think I am rather anhedonic. I have interests, but no real passions so I never pursued anything. What I really always wanted to do was be a writer, but again I sam so out of practice I don't feel I have anything valuable to offer anyone.

Have you ever thought about writing restaurant or movie or destination reviews for fun then sending them in to the local newspapers/magazines? I've heard that's one way to get some freelance work as a writer and build a name for yourself.

 

[Danoz]

Every job I've ever had has been through:
a. Connections
b. Networking
c. Well-crafted resume/cover
d. Well-rehearsed 60 second sales pitch (for yourself!)

As you were saying about the initiative, it depends. If you want to work for Best Buy, you apply online and take a personality test that checks for inconsistencies, you go into a massive pool of applicants and are selected this way. Salary jobs and locally owned business like the people who walk in, talk to the owner, and ask for a job (though, in this economy, all jobs are sacred). When I move on from this job, I'll start by talking to the senior-level people I work with and ask for their advice (I want to teach English abroad). What you do next also depends heavily on your responsibilities (wife? kids? child support?).

I read above that you don't have any real passions-- but then you talked about how much you'd like to be a writer. Look, people like passionate people. They hire them. When I interviewed for a job with a wildlife preservation non-profit, I walked in like a lifelong activist with an unrivaled passion for conservation. Research the jobs you apply for, know how they work and what they do before you ever talk to somebody. Also, don't be afraid to look more closely into industry-- get a full-time factory job and a trade, make money, write evenings and weekends-- you'd be surprised at how much time you can spend planning a storyline while you're operating a machine in a warehouse.

As my father always says-- true "job security" is the ability to land another job should you lose the one you have. Network network network. Every happy hour is a potential lead to useful connection. Not sure how useful this is to you, though... I'm in D.C. culture doing nonprofit work.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

What kind of work do you do? What are you willing to do?

I think you need to consider doing a couple things.

1. Realize that most people are just regular people. Treat them as such and don't think that they hold your future in your hands, because they don't.

Steer clear of people who think they can control you and think they are in charge of every aspect of your working life. They are out there, I walked out of a job at a print shop awhile back because of this. There is a fine line between micromanagment and obsessive control-freaking.

For example, I worked for many companies until about 12 years ago when I just said...enough. I wanted to control my own time and my own income. Now I control my future. I currently do management consulting, importing, and credit repair. I started several businesses, and while it wasn't easy, I have never been happier.

Trying to do this now, I'm getting sick and tired of empty promises by employers that bitch about not having good workers... yet they do nothing to retain.

You'll never work harder for someone else than yourself. And you can start a business on the side if you are working full-time. Just find what interests you and have the stones to go for it.

Whatever you do network network network then network some more. Most of my customers came from asking around... asking EVERYONE. One of my biggest projects came from a lady who I would have never pegged as an inventor.



Good luck, don't let the chronic unemployment thing get you down. Some people take longer than others to find a career. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Who wants to grow up?!!!