12 posts tagged “job search”
Between 2 loads of washing and scrubbing up after the dog threw up not once, but twice on the carpet (thanks a lot!) I reworked that pesky resume and have it away for a look by another set of eyes. Nth time the charm? At least today feels a bit productive
The attached photo is for to show what you as an owner get into when the pet you have is a Golden Retriever.
Learned a month or so ago, about a government relations position for a Euro OEM and applied. Seems like a job I could do very easily and a bonus for me at least is that it is home-based.
As I said, that was a month ago. Mentioned to Auto Gal that this OEM seems to have moved on. In reply I was told a person now working for a domestic OEM is the leading candidate for this job. Learning that, I went to the professional networking site I am on and found this person's profile, and when I looked at it, I was crestfallen.
This person is a political appointee, who landed in the auto industry when it was time to go, and has done peripheral work, but the point being, does not appear, at least from the self-description posted, and deep experience in the industry.
Now my background is weighted on the technical side but thanks to observing, learning and asking the occasional question when Auto Gal & I worked together, I think I have political smarts too and I know the product so to speak better that a politico who I see as basically a hired gun/rolodex.
It makes ya wonder.....
Spotted an open position this morning on-line, applied on-line and within 20 minutes, got an automated response telling me I should continue looking elsewhere. First reaction was a Jar-Jar Banks line from Star Wars, 'How Wude!'
This was quickly followed by the thought about just how with it this firm is, for either this company relies heavily on computer parsing of incoming applications(?!?!?!?!) , or it is so small that they can have someone read resumes and then hit the 'send' button for an automated response.
Being told, 'sorry, but', is not an issue, but being told so quickly is.
Just to show how careful-how much salt one needs to take with customized job posting from Internet job boards.
Based on my resume, which includes staff management, corporate advocacy, negotiating, consensus-building, language skills, working in diverse corporate organizations, problem analysis/ solving reporting, this was among the posted offered to me
What's scary is that the computer parsing of my info says this is a fair match!
Buffer/Polisher
Beretta USA Corp. - Accokeek, MD (Average number of applicants)
(Fair Match)
Posted: 4/30/2009
Just one of those things in life, which leads to a rant. One organization to which I had applied to sent me back a test of sorts, which is a good thing, as it shows you the applicant are under more than just causal consideration.
Worked on it and turn it around in a day. I was then contacted by the HR person and was told what I had submitted was very good and I was asked about compensation. I was asked about a salary figure that was more that my final salary at Large International Automobile Manufacturer #2, but less that my salary at Large International Manufacturer #1, and I said I could live with that. Ok, I was told and the next step would be that he (the HR person) would speak to the hiring manager and get back to me at the end of the week.
The end of the week came and went, and no word. Waited about another week and sent an e-mail thanking them first for contacting me and to simply ask whether I was still under consideration as a candidate.
That too was about a week ago and I've heard nothing. Now I do realize I was among many, many, who applied for this position, and having been on the hiring side, I also know it is impractical, and can be a problem (the applicant goes to EEOC and files a complaint about being discriminated against in hiring) to rely to all applicants. And yes, there are also distractions: meetings,conferemces, key people out on business, illnesses, etc. Here though, I simply asked whether I was still a candidate and a simple e-mail in return telling me 'Yes'/'No' was all I asked. Not given an answer is just plan discourteous, unprofessional, and rude and reflects badly on the organization.
And most important of all, the shoe may very well be on the other foot one day.
Got an e-mail from an organization I submitted by resume to; thought it was a "thanks but....,' note, but no. Seems I tickled their fancy a bit and attached was a document with 4 questions they would like me to expound on.
Wife sniffed at this, but I explained to her this is a good thing for it means you under serious consideration. So I have gotten off my butt intellectually, but am on it physically, to write out a draft response, finalize it this afternoon, and send it back for them to look at.
Just for the hell of it, I submitted my resume for a 'free', 'p[professional review. Should have known better. Got a call and e-mails from a company, who I was told has been in business since 1963, helping people like me and that, oh, there'd be a charge for their services.
That ran up lots of red flags. I was told that for a fee of $1,470 or so, my resume would be professionally reviewed and edited and that they'd then send out a broadcast mail to at least 100 of the hiring decision makers in my area.
Ok, first 'professionally reviewed' can mean anything. Anyone being paid to do this, regardless of qualifications or time to review it, is doing this 'professionally'. Second, sending out a broadcast mailing of 100 or so copies of my resume does not strike me as being close to those who do the hiring and its something I could do. Third, as I have said before, being on the other side of the hiring table, I think I can, and a good interviewer can, spot a canned resume a mile away -not good for the person seeking a job. Second a broadcast, e-mails may get a bite or two, but putting one in the position on the other side, getting an unsolicited resume isn't one to the better ways to get one's foot in the door.
So I politely declined, telling them I do not have the financial resources for this and I don't, but that's beside the point. Paying someone to find a job for you is not a smart thing to do.
The person hoping to snare me was quite persistent, more persistent than I've seen in the past from such firms, appealing to my business sense by telling me if my plan was a business plan and it was failing, what would I do? I would not throw good money after bad.
I need a job, but I am not that desperate to clutch at questionable straws.
Got a call from the mother of one of son's buddies, who works at a local hospital. Seems the hospital's charitable foundation is looking for a director for fundraising and would I be interested.
Hell, yes! While its quite a departure form my to-date career, one thing learned through this hiatus is assessing what are my core skills and looking at where I can apply them. Fundraising is an area where these skills come into play.
I had a disagreement with Pound Salt on how to present or package myself. His advice was to mention either in the cover letter or resume about my fund-raising experience and how I am well-connected. My fundraising experience is very limited and my connections? Well, hardy the stuff to boast about in a job interview, and thus to me there is a line, fine I'll admit about spinning one's qualifications and experience to a new job and just misrepresenting yourself.
But in any case the resume and cover letter are one their way and as I have many times in the past, will wait and see.
Put in an application for work where the wife works, nighttime work, as it would still allow the wife to work during the day and also allow me to shuttle son between schools for his Japanese language class, at least through the end of this school year.
When I turned the form in, I was told there were no openings. Okay, I thought. But yesterday, got a call and a telephone interview for part-time night shift work. I think the telephone interview went well, but I was at a loss to answer the question on what sort of compensation I wanted. I haven't worked an hourly job since college and that was a while ago -not saying how long ago it was! And breaking down my last salary per hour, compensation came to around $60.00 an hour, a bit much to ask for a grocery store job, no?
Anyway, am awaiting further developments.
My wife's reaction, despite her being for many reasons, anxious for me to get back into the workforce, was,
ええええ！！！同じ店で？！ いやた！絶対いやた！
しょがない。仕事は仕事だ。
Wonder if she plans on working incognito I should I get the position there?
Son now has a 5-day weekend as schools around the DC metro area have plugged the plug on classes today. He was up very early, eyes glued to the TV for school closing announcements.
People here seem to go into a quiet panic when the S word is mentioned. Even 2 or 3 inches of expected accumulation is enough to trigger panic and automotive stupidity, provoking many laughs for those from say Michigan, who get far worse weather than we do.
Right now the secondary roads, like the one in front of our house, are basically an ice skating rink. The driveway was, until I cleared it, a sheet of ice as well.
I'm trying to get a letter out as part of my job search and wife, who has the day off won't stop clattering about or making noise or otherwise allowing me to concentrate.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
