Out of work, first time in 20 years

[RANDY P]

Buy this book.

[asphaltgambler]

I may be in the pool of doom and gloomers but the low unemployment rate does not reveal what's actually going on - especially for the skilled middle class worker. Just because you are employed today, does not mean it's the same rate prior to the recession. Or the fact that many people may be employed in 'gigs' like uber - where there are no benefits, no retirement, no security, etc, etc.

Those figures also don't tell where people have lost their jobs / careers and then exhausted any unemployment benefits that were available. So they aren't drawing benefits, they aren't working - they have become invisible...................

[vash]

yea..

i took the "mission statement" for this thread to be offering J words of encouragement. a pep talk so to speak.

hate to see some of you at a funeral.

to the widow:
"sorry for your loss, he was a great man and will be missed"
"thank you, thank you for coming to honor him"
"sure..did you know, statistically, the spouse's death follows within a year? which is a kind of a good thing, because of the crushing depression which is an absolute possibility. oh, i hope you had a living trust!?"

[wayner]

Good post Vash.

People need cheerleaders.

We should be focussed on providing ideas that represent tactics to be applied
"Give up" is terrible advice

There is a wealth of opportunities out there, perhaps just not in the traditional sense, but for me I recognized that traditions ended back in the 80s.

Its a new world, with a new way of working, and a new way of connecting with opportunities.

For instance, benefits are over rated. (price out buying them yourself and compare that to a healthy annual income and while a nice perk, would not lock me into a sub par low paying job).

The new world is about networking with successful people, becoming known and being the name that pops up in a discussion when someone asks "do you know someone who..."

The real exciting jobs don't go through job boards.

[jhelgesen]

Sign of my future.

Yesterday Bitsy, a twenty something at company X (a real company) messages me through linkedin.

“We really like your background and would like to setup a phone interview. Please jump through all the hoops to apply to this position online, fill out a questionnaire, and send a word copy of your resume asap”

John jumps through said hoops and complies, responds with all documents and says look forward to discussing further.

Today I get a reply. “We have decided to go another direction and pursue other candidates”

Gee thanks....

I replied with “can you please tell me what determined going with another direction?”

I don’t expect an answer.

Plan B looks better and better

[wayner]

Part of my business is coaching other consultants

I’d be happy to help you at no charge
Others on this board have done me favours and I’d be happy to give back

Pm me if you’d like some help in that area

[jhelgesen]

Nothing a little acid washing and body sanding won’t fix. Great therapy.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

John, you strike me as the sort of person that doesn't wait for things to happen but puts the effort in to make it happen

Just checked out your Linked In page and it reads well to me

Design/engineering is going through a boom time so I'm sure it won't be too long before you are neglecting your car project

GOOD LUCK

[jhelgesen]

The MSO Market Development Manager will be the SME support to develop and win large project and revenue opportunities. Further enhance the credibility and leadership in the deployment and education of solutions within the MSO community. Better position FTTx product portfolio to be aligned with the network transformation of the MSO community from HFC to Fiber Deep and eventually FTTH.

What!?!???!?

[MysticLlama]

Originally Posted by jhelgesen

The MSO Market Development Manager will be the SME support to develop and win large project and revenue opportunities. Further enhance the credibility and leadership in the deployment and education of solutions within the MSO community. Better position FTTx product portfolio to be aligned with the network transformation of the MSO community from HFC to Fiber Deep and eventually FTTH.

What!?!???!?

I understand what that means and still absolute hate how it's phrased. And because I hate how it's phrased, I'll probably equally dislike talking to that person if they call to sell me something.

My guesses, thought they could be wrong:
MSO - Multiple Systems Operator (we sell internet/phone/cable connections on other peoples' stuff)

SME - Subject Matter Expert

FTTx - Fiber to the wherever
FTTH - Fiber to the Home

Edit, and missed HFC, hybrid fiber / coax. Meaning, we use the wire that works best where we need to.

[jhelgesen]

Originally Posted by aigel

I wouldn't. Too much "sour grapes".

What may work is emphasizing that you are a consultant, helping turn around product lines and companies and not pointing out these were FTE positions. Don't lie but steer the reader in that direction? It may help with that first hump of people thinking "job hopper".

I do agree a career coach may be a good idea here!

G

Pondering how to change my summary to empasis the projects I have completed in the last 5 years. I’m having a hard time with how to get past the screeners who are kicking me out due to short tenures.

[wayner]

I haven’t had to show my resume to anyone in 20 years

They are not your buyer

Looking forward to our scheduled chat

P.S.
Emphasize results, not skills

Especially if big results can be correlated to short assignments

[SeanPizzle]

Two years into my business, I hit a rough spot. First year I made good money, second year saw some changes with customers and vendors that made me pivot and made a lot less money. I have been thinking of maybe getting a W2 job again and was asked for a resume last week. I haven't done a resume in 14 years.

[tabs]

You people piss me off...you cant get past facing the unpleasant reality of the new economy.

I never said roll over and die just know what you are facing. Dieing is not an option. You have to make money to live. So you have to start thinking out of the box.

Start your own business. Or work for someone and run your own business on the side.

What they taught you in school about success does not work anymore. The game has changed. You have to adapt. You have to play the game for yourself and no one else.

When they tell you your tenure has been too short is just an excuse. It has no bearing on your worth. Especially when that is now sop in the new economy. Employees have become expendable. And for the most part companies think tough shyte.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jhelgesen

Pondering how to change my summary to empasis the projects I have completed in the last 5 years. I’m having a hard time with how to get past the screeners who are kicking me out due to short tenures.

Because I love you guys I’ll share this little bit of secret sauce.

If you don’t know by now that submitting via online is an utter waste of time let me just say, it’s an utter waste of time.

Unless you are using key words and phrases directly from the job description in your cover letter and resume you are not even making it 2 feet past the submit button.

Put another way, if you are not customizing each and every resume submission just stop now, you are just wasting your time.

Here is how you get your resume seen.

Get on linked in, pay for a premium or job seeker account.

Search the company for anyone who works there, department or position does not matter. If you have people in common it helps but is not necessary. Lower level employees are generally better, you are not looking for the CEO but an ordinary shlub like you.

Get in touch with that person or persons, call, in mail, whatever you have to do.

All you want from that person is the name of the hiring manager for the position.

If they don’t know ask them to share who might. Work the leads. Ignore HR contacts, you want to bypass them anyway.

Once you’ve identified the hiring manager or decision maker FedEx that person your resume, tailored to the job description.

Everyone, without exception, will open a FedEx delivered to them.

Good luck.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by wayner

I haven’t had to show my resume to anyone in 20 years

They are not your buyer

Looking forward to our scheduled chat

P.S.
Emphasize results, not skills

Especially if big results can be correlated to short assignments

Wayner is not wrong here.

If you have short tenure positions reposition them as consultant gigs.

You are The Guy they picked to solve the problem no one else could.

There are variants on this but think S.T.A.R.

Situation, task, action result.

S. Their **** was broken

T. Fix their broken ****

A. Do some awesome ****

R. Their broken **** got fixed, they increased ROI by 10,000% and the CEOs wife started giving him head again so he dumped his mistress and everyone lived happily ever after

[bickyd]

Originally Posted by tabs

You people piss me off...you cant get past facing the unpleasant reality of the new economy.

I never said roll over and die just know what you are facing. Dieing is not an option. You have to make money to live. So you have to start thinking out of the box.

Start your own business. Or work for someone and run your own business on the side.

What they taught you in school about success does not work anymore. The game has changed. You have to adapt. You have to play the game for yourself and no one else.

When they tell you your tenure has been too short is just an excuse. It has no bearing on your worth. Especially when that is now sop in the new economy. Employees have become expendable. And for the most part companies think tough shyte.

Whether you like it or not , Tabs exhibits a modern opinion. JHelgesen. why do you want a job? IF you have a legitimate commodity of value , why would you ask for a percentage of the net? Man up, take the hit and grow your own value. Modern business today is laden with overburden and this is where your advantage is. Dedicate yourself to mastery of subject, advertise your advantage, set up your inner core of trust, delegate, and monitor. All this inane succubus towards recruiters who have no real commodity of value is nonsense and nothing but a revolving door to nowhere. After a year and a half of fighting for my life from colon cancer, I have zero patience for bull**** or cancer and I have developed a very clear vision. I know this is harsh. you live in a harsh world.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Because I love you guys I’ll share this little bit of secret sauce.

If you don’t know by now that submitting via online is an utter waste of time let me just say, it’s an utter waste of time.

Unless you are using key words and phrases directly from the job description in your cover letter and resume you are not even making it 2 feet past the submit button.

Put another way, if you are not customizing each and every resume submission just stop now, you are just wasting your time.

Here is how you get your resume seen.

Get on linked in, pay for a premium or job seeker account.

Search the company for anyone who works there, department or position does not matter. If you have people in common it helps but is not necessary. Lower level employees are generally better, you are not looking for the CEO but an ordinary shlub like you.

Get in touch with that person or persons, call, in mail, whatever you have to do.

All you want from that person is the name of the hiring manager for the position.

If they don’t know ask them to share who might. Work the leads. Ignore HR contacts, you want to bypass them anyway.

Once you’ve identified the hiring manager or decision maker FedEx that person your resume, tailored to the job description.

Everyone, without exception, will open a FedEx delivered to them.

Good luck.

I like this

[tabs]

Originally Posted by bickyd

Whether you like it or not , Tabs exhibits a modern opinion. JHelgesen. why do you want a job? IF you have a legitimate commodity of value , why would you ask for a percentage of the net? Man up, take the hit and grow your own value. Modern business today is laden with overburden and this is where your advantage is. Dedicate yourself to mastery of subject, advertise your advantage, set up your inner core of trust, delegate, and monitor. All this inane succubus towards recruiters who have no real commodity of value is nonsense and nothing but a revolving door to nowhere. After a year and a half of fighting for my life from colon cancer, I have zero patience for bull**** or cancer and I have developed a very clear vision. I know this is harsh. you live in a harsh world.

I would humbly venture to say that your illness sharpened your focus. It cleaned the krap off the table and has given you a clarity as to what is truly important in the short time we all have here.

The world has always been harsh, but for awhile Americans were lulled into complacency by great prosperity. Which turned them into grazing Eloi...why is it that so many young folks think they are entitled to their safe zones, and whose work ethic is I want to be CEO tomorrow. The problem is that most Americans dont want to face the unpleasant reality and want to continue to mindlessly graze on a prosperity that no longer exists. I generalize of course to convey a sentiment in a few words.

[bickyd]

Originally Posted by tabs

I would humbly venture to say that your illness sharpened your focus. It cleaned the krap off the table and has given you a clarity as to what is truly important in the short time we all have here.

The world has always been harsh, but for awhile Americans were lulled into complacency by great prosperity. Which turned them into grazing Eloi...why is it that so many young folks think they are entitled to their safe zones, and whose work ethic is I want to be CEO tomorrow. The problem is that most Americans dont want to face the unpleasant reality and want to continue to mindlessly graze on a prosperity that no longer exists. I generalize of course to convey a sentiment in a few words.

For the same reason the yearling wildebeast wades into the Nile without knowing what a crocodile is. Few words are good. I would have said fewer but my point would have been lost in bluntness. I really wanted the point to make it home. Life is for the living.

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