View Full Version : For those of you who have lost a job,
How long did it take to get back on your feet?
I've been unemployed now for 5+ months and frankly I can't believe it. It was never this difficult before.
Checking my saved emails it looks like I've applied online to over 300 jobs in the last 5 months. Most are close to the field I've been working in the last 15 years, some have been a stretch but I though it was a realistic possibility, all local. I've come close a few times but only as close as 2nd place.
So I spend a big portion of my time job searching and the rest of the day trying not to spend a penny. Puttering around the house is getting old.
Just curious how long you found yourself unemployed before the next position came along?
Mostly I'm just wondering if it's me, my age, (58) or what the deal is. Well, or if it's just ME.
newracer
03-23-2017, 12:46
I didn't lose my job but it took about a year of applying for me to get a new one. I applied for about 20 jobs in that time. I was also trying to stay in northern Colorado.
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GilpinGuy
03-23-2017, 12:57
It took me almost a year and a few hundred applications/resumes before I got ONE call back. Hang in there and keep trying.
And I agree that puttering around the house with no money to dive into projects was hard. I did more fishing that year than ever before - it's cheap.
9 months. I started going thru everything in the house. Donating or selling a bunch of stuff.
Circuits
03-23-2017, 13:57
18 months since I quit. Still doin' OK, but drinking a lot more. Day-drinking takes on a new dimension when you're (semi-)retired.
Getting a new, serious job, seems to be harder once you're past 50, if you're not being recruited away from an existing position - ageism. You've got tons of experience they 'd like, but don't want to pay for.
I've been blessed with skills that are pretty much always in demand. I've always been able to find work whenever I want. I've never applied for a job and not been interviewed and have gotten every job that I ever applied for except for two of them.
At 46 years old that may change in the next four or five years. But I took a new job a little over a year ago and they were glad to have me knowing that I have at least fifteen good years to give them before I throw in the towel.
It could be a good time for a career change if you aren't having any luck finding work in your current field.
hurley842002
03-23-2017, 14:31
I would say age has a lot to do with it, as I even notice within my agency, the younger folks (right or wrong) are getting the "good jobs", the promotions, etc. Nobody wants to invest in someone that is going to stick around for a few more years, and then be on their way to retirement. I'm fortunate to be an older "young person", as I left my previous agency after 10 years of service, to start all over.
mattiooo
03-23-2017, 14:51
Since I moved to Colorado over 10 years ago, I was unemployed twice. Both times it was about a year before I found another job. It helped that both times I was let go due to reasons that had nothing to do with my performance. Once because the economy tanked and everyone was shedding expenses, and once because of a company merger. That one I could have requested transfer - back to New Jersey. That would have cost me my marriage. LOL
I was 41 after the second layoff, and though I couldn't confirm it, I think age and salary for my experience definitely played a role in it taking a while to find another position.
Both were difficult times for sure. Perseverance pays off, it's just hard to have patience when you're in that situation. I have felt your pain, friend.
My wife keeps telling me it's my age, not much I can do about that tho.
Circuits, I had to laugh. I've never been a drinker but since all this started I have tried to develop a taste for Scotch, sadly I'm a disappointment to my ancestors, but I'm still trying. Aberfeldy and Cardhu are a couple I can get down.
FYI, my layoff was my 6 year contract was completed, I wasn't fired. I lobbied as hard as I could but they didn't want to make the investment to keeping me.
SouthPaw
03-23-2017, 15:12
Feel free not to answer Robb, but what line of work are you in?
For the past 15 years I've done document control/records management for manufacturing/engineering/energy companies, electrical oil & gas and nuclear.
It fits the bill as it's most a desk job. I need lots of knee work, I can't be on my feet for long before my knees get so stiff I can hardly bend them. Trying to find something along the same lines so I don't have to start a new career at fast food wages.
Might not help but I'm going to shoot you a PM when I get home tonight.
mattiooo
03-23-2017, 15:45
Robb,
One more thing. I got my current job through industry contacts. A Xerox sales rep I knew found out I was looking for work and connected me with a couple of companies she knew was looking for help. It also bypassed the whole HR process, so I was not getting reviewed and filtered by HR standards or employees. I was referred directly to one of the owners and had an interview scheduled as soon as I said I was interested.
Reach out to some of your past co-workers and even vendors you worked with. Let them know you're on the market and looking and if they know of anything. If you're not on LinkedIn, get on there and start working your network. Some of the best jobs aren't always even listed on a website.
There was a LinkedIn article that said expect to look 1 month for every 10k in salary you want. If you're just blasting out the same resume, you're probably wasting your time. most companies go through a computer algorithm looking for key word matches etc.
thedave1164
03-23-2017, 16:45
I am having my resume rewritten, I have been updating the same one for 10+ years and it is getting killed by the Applicant Tracking Systems the HR departments use to scan them.
I went 18 months at one point without steady work, last time about 4.5 years ago was 5 months and I am on 3.5 weeks now.
I am 52, and yeah I may be facing some age discrimination, oh well.
I am getting some hours through some contacts I have made through the years, but they are not at my normal billing rate. I would only need 15 hours a week at my full billing rate to replace my normal salary.
I didn't lose a job, -I lost an industry. Try regaining footing after that!
Here's something for a laugh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56eAUCTLok
mindfold
03-23-2017, 18:01
PM sent
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cableguy11
03-23-2017, 19:57
For the past 15 years I've done document control/records management for manufacturing/engineering/energy companies, electrical oil & gas and nuclear.
It fits the bill as it's most a desk job. I need lots of knee work, I can't be on my feet for long before my knees get so stiff I can hardly bend them. Trying to find something along the same lines so I don't have to start a new career at fast food wages.
If something pops up here in Loveland, I will let you know ASAP! Right now just engineering positions.
Great-Kazoo
03-23-2017, 22:42
Last job search was in 04.
Being old school, walk in introduce yourself to owner and or manager with a hand shake for the job the listed. It was hard to wrap my head around doing it with that new to me way of emailing or faxing a cover letter and resume.
It was frustrating for what they wanted, one wouldn't get as much as a Thank you we've received your application and will contact you.
Even then, getting hired was done with a lot of phone calls and emails to friends and people i've done business with. That took 3 weeks to get hired
I believe most job listings are done solely for the purpose of going through the HR hoops, that a job must be posted on line. When they've already hired internally.
What has been your go to resource for browsing and applying so far, Rob?
What has been your go to resource for browsing and applying so far, Rob?
Indeed. By a mile.
It's a much better compiler than anything else I've found. Rarely do I find anything on Careerbuilder, Brass Ring, Monster that wasn't on Indeed... and I don't have much of a presence on Linkedin, just posted my experience and was never into friending on that site.
If there's something more efficient than Indeed, let me know.
My dad went through something similar. Was out of work for over a year in a field that he has decades of experience in. He felt that his age was a factor as well and any place that he go to interview with always wanted to really low ball him. He drives a bus now in douglas county and while it doesn't pay him very much he is happier than when he was sitting around the house worrying about finding work.
My FIL has about 29 years experience doing regulatory contract proposals for bidding .gov/.mil cleanup of bombing ranges, etc. Has a JD, etc. Was a VP of a company dept. which does this until they let him go (cuts). Man has more experience than 4 younger dudes, and it's not exactly like this is physically demanding work. It's all cerebral. He finally found a contract position, but he was looking for a while.
I'm thinking about proposing to him that we piggyback my Disabled Vet status w/ his industry experience and make a company to subcontract -- he always complained that the Disabled Vet/Black/1-16th Native American owned companies would win contracts, since his company did better work. I think it would be hilariously sweet justice if we went against his old company and swiped their contract.
Personally, I don't understand the age thing. As long as the person is current on the industry, they have the experience to solve "old school" problems too.
Personally, I don't understand the age thing. As long as the person is current on the industry, they have the experience to solve "old school" problems too.
I understand the age thing from the employer's perspective. Why would they want to hire a guy that is going to work for them for five to ten years and then leave them looking to once again fill that position? I'd rather hire a younger, less experienced guy even if it took a few years getting him up to speed and experienced knowing I could possibly have him around for fifteen or twenty more years.
I understand the age thing from the employer's perspective. Why would they want to hire a guy that is going to work for them for five to ten years and then leave them looking to once again fill that position? I'd rather hire a younger, less experienced guy even if it took a few years getting him up to speed and experienced knowing I could possibly have him around for fifteen or twenty more years.
The way I'd approach it is understanding they will be able to set up a solid system, mentor younger folks looking to eventually be there, and perpetuate a cycle of controlled attrition. Attrition will happen, regardless. At least with a known entity in a senior position, it's less likely they will jump and they can set up a good process, training, etc.
ETA: Any company which wants to keep a person for 15-20 years needs to act like it -- including how they compensate. Too many companies have an approach where, if in a dating situation, they want to "trade up" for someone more attractive in the short term. It would behoove a company with such a plan as retention to have a plan for it, understandable to their employees. An internal career track shouldn't be "well, if Jimmy retires, you might get his spot". That's crap.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 07:28
I understand the age thing from the employer's perspective. Why would they want to hire a guy that is going to work for them for five to ten years and then leave them looking to once again fill that position? I'd rather hire a younger, less experienced guy even if it took a few years getting him up to speed and experienced knowing I could possibly have him around for fifteen or twenty more years.
Yup. Part of investing in your company, is maintaining a long term workforce, having to retrain new hires every 5 years on company policy and practices ads up. Not only that, but sometimes companies like hiring younger inexperienced minds, that they can mend how they wish.
I work for a large company that values it's employees enough to make sure and retain them by compensating them well. At thirteen years in, I'm still one of the newer guys. Many of the people I work with have twenty-five to forty years working for the company. We've had four guys retire so far this year and I think over the next three years we are going to see a lot of experienced people leave. The positions that are being filled have been being filled by people transferring in from other areas of the company who also have a good deal of experience and seniority.
My current position was vacated by a guy that retired in late 2015. I knew he was leaving and was interested in his position but when he left they posted his job as a different, lower paying position. I went to the manager and pretty much told him that I was really interested in the job but that there was no way I would put in for the position they had posted. He went higher up the chain of command and convinced them to change the job posting to a different position in order to bring me onboard.
thedave1164
03-24-2017, 08:27
Too many companies do not value their employees, and do not desire to treat them like they want them to stay around.
Anymore, a company that does is the exception not the rule.
I have a recruiter now that is wanting me to give him 2 more references, I already gave him one, and I know the guy gave me as good a recommendation as you could get, this is just to be submitted to the client for consideration.
And I have been strung along by recruiters for this client before, I am not sure I want to even bother with this one, certainly not going to use up my references time just trying to get an interview.
I understand the age thing from the employer's perspective. Why would they want to hire a guy that is going to work for them for five to ten years and then leave them looking to once again fill that position? I'd rather hire a younger, less experienced guy even if it took a few years getting him up to speed and experienced knowing I could possibly have him around for fifteen or twenty more years.
What kind of company can realistically expect people to stay that long anyway? There are always going to be people who are lifers at any job you go to, but there will also always be people that leave for one reason or other. Seems silly to discount an older person because they might only stick around for ten more years instead of 30. Even a full on company man that bleeds the company colors is more likely to change jobs, or even careers, the younger they are.
I could argue both sides of the coin I guess.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 09:13
I could argue both sides of the coin I guess.
Yeah, I've been arguing both sides in my head. I'm not a business owner, nor do I have a degree in business, so it's all just speculation on my part, based on my experiences.
I see the exact opposite in my field. I've got friends that have been shafted twice by younger employees that have sucked up time and resources and training before imploding in the way that only Millennials seem to be able to do. Now my friends won't even consider hiring anyone without some years' experience, and they would prefer a Gen X'er or someone older, with a concept of work loyalty and ethics. Right now, they're not even considering employees so much as subcontractors.
It's a shame they're not in the same field of work you are, Robb!
While I've not been part of the official hiring process, my friends were. The company I worked for couldn't even get someone who was a manager at a Chilis to come on board because the company wanted to start her at only 60 or 70% of what she was making. IMO, she was smart to stay away as she would have been treating get hair out with stress and corporate BS for way less money. When companies aren't competitive with wages, then they are fools to worry about snatching people up for the longterm. While that is certainly not specific to the industry I was in, I'm sure it's not quite the same in other professions.
I see the exact opposite in my field. I've got friends that have been shafted twice by younger employees that have sucked up time and resources and training before imploding in the way that only Millennials seem to be able to do. Now my friends won't even consider hiring anyone without some years' experience, and they would prefer a Gen X'er or someone older, with a concept of work loyalty and ethics. Right now, they're not even considering employees so much as subcontractors.
It's a shame they're not in the same field of work you are, Robb!
I see it every day. Co-workers who spend 45 minutes jaw jacking and then close out one task, maybe. Spend 2 hours chasing their tails for reasons I cannot discern. They research out the wazoo to find solutions which don't apply to us due to our security posture (registry keys which don't exist, solutions which involve downloading 3rd party software [ a big no no, so not a solution], group policies which cannot be changed, etc.). One of my teammates has closed only 6 tickets this week, which is 30% of our individual weekly standard. I was at 200% of standard before COB Thursday. I'd made standard by COB Tuesday. I'd have likely been at 250% again had base not been closed due to road conditions. And yet I still manage to post on here and two other forums. How? Why? Simple: Time and Resource management. I know what I can do and what I literally cannot do. I cannot remotely update BIOS for a Project Manager showing as logged in and in a meeting cus that involves a restart. I can push software to them via SCCM and run a software scan the next day, see it's installed, and close the ticket. I can replace a keyboard when someone isn't there. I can start going through the OSI model to discern if an issue is physical or otherwise. I can remote into someone's machine if I see they are gone for the day. I can go to their desk, if I have room access, and log in w/ my own profile to try to recreate the issue and I know that if I cannot, it's likely profile based -- I can then rebuild their profile, contact them the next day and ask if the issue exists (it won't). I can look for unassigned tickets in areas I'll be in, and grab those to close them out while making the trek to that area.
I do plan my day each morning, and I work my plan -- if Jimmy in Engineering is #3 on my plan and fails to work out, I move to #4 and add a potential #end+1.
These are not difficult concepts. I learned them in the Army and from, get this, watching the older guys work.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 09:44
I see the exact opposite in my field. I've got friends that have been shafted twice by younger employees that have sucked up time and resources and training before imploding in the way that only Millennials seem to be able to do. Now my friends won't even consider hiring anyone without some years' experience, and they would prefer a Gen X'er or someone older, with a concept of work loyalty and ethics. Right now, they're not even considering employees so much as subcontractors.
It's a shame they're not in the same field of work you are, Robb!
I've seen this as well, and the "millennial effect" with some of the new hires is quite noticeable. One thing is for certain, millennial's do a great job making me look good, as just showing up and doing my job is far and away more than you can expect from them, anything beyond just doing my job is icing on the cake. Worth noting, I fall on the borer of Gen X and Millennial, but considering I have much more in common with the Gen X crowd, that's what I claim.
I've seen this as well, and the "millennial effect" with some of the new hires is quite noticeable. One thing is for certain, millennial's do a great job making me look good, as just showing up and doing my job is far and away more than you can expect from them, anything beyond just doing my job is icing on the cake. Worth noting, I fall on the borer of Gen X and Millennial, but considering I have much more in common with the Gen X crowd, that's what I claim.
Same here. I dunno if I'm technically gen X or Mill. Was born in late 83. I merely mimic the efficient and ignore the losers. Seems to work.
We have certain geographical locations throughout my company where those employees are paid a higher rate in order to retain them.
For example, the guys doing my job in Wyoming make about $10K a year more than I do. (And they don't have to pay state income tax there so that's probably another $10K over what I make.)
We have certain geographical locations throughout my company where those employees are paid a higher rate in order to retain them.
For example, the guys doing my job in Wyoming make about $10K a year more than I do. (And they don't have to pay state income tax there so that's probably another $10K over what I make.)
Wait... you could get paid more for living in a free state and you haven't asked to transfer? :D
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 09:54
Same here. I dunno if I'm technically gen X or Mill. Was born in late 83. I merely mimic the efficient and ignore the losers. Seems to work.
Yeah, Jan of 84 here. Demographers and researchers suggest Gen X ended in early 80's, but the Millennial generation also began in the early 80's. I attribute my work ethic to how I was raised, and not what generation I grew up in, but I'll be damned if I lump myself in the same category as a millennial lol. Sorry for straying OP.
It sucks being damn near 60 and job hunting, I garontee.....
thedave1164
03-24-2017, 13:41
So I got a response from the recruiter, basically said with my attitude I was not a good fit and he would not be submitting me to the client.
LOL
Well, good news, sort of.
I just got an offer letter, the place is in Brighton so maybe 20 minutes away on a bad day.
The bad news is the pay is below a break even point for us. No way we can tread water on the fast food salary they're offering. But I'm going to accept and keep looking. Just getting this offer took me about 5.5 months, not much unemployment left and I really don't want to dip into the retirement funds I've scraped and saved.
I HATE having the attitude that every job is a stepping stone. I would love to find a good situation and be at the next job till I hang it all up, but this isn't going to be it. I just don't see any other choice.
Thanks for the tips and leads some have sent in, sadly I'll still be keeping an eye open.
Any chance you can counter offer?
thedave1164
03-24-2017, 15:46
Always easier to find a job if you are already working
Any chance you can counter offer?
Always easier to find a job if you are already working
Both of these. I'm total garbage when it comes to negotiation, but I know that other people have had luck with it.
Well, good news, sort of.
I just got an offer letter, the place is in Brighton so maybe 20 minutes away on a bad day.
The bad news is the pay is below a break even point for us. No way we can tread water on the fast food salary they're offering. But I'm going to accept and keep looking. Just getting this offer took me about 5.5 months, not much unemployment left and I really don't want to dip into the retirement funds I've scraped and saved.
I HATE having the attitude that every job is a stepping stone. I would love to find a good situation and be at the next job till I hang it all up, but this isn't going to be it. I just don't see any other choice.
Thanks for the tips and leads some have sent in, sadly I'll still be keeping an eye open.
Gotta do whatcha gotta do. I worked nights at Home Depot for a couple years until I got a better job. Fucked up both of my shoulders, but kept us alive.
I'm concerned I won't make it through this year, or possibly the next and am trying to plan a way to just retire early (sort of) but have also been passively looking and networking when safe. It's hard to network the same field when you're gainfully employed in an industry.
No CC debt, no car payments, health ins is through the wife's employer. Unfortunately, too much of her pay goes to student loan debt for her and my son. They're up to their eyeballs in it.
I'm concerned current employer is creating a paper trail for employees that don't end up meeting their "goals" to deny unemployment claims and any sort of severance pay. Problem for me is they have slashed our feeder system (presales/architecture/sales) so I don't have the product to work, While at the same time, increasing goals and placing other restrictions on deals that make it harder to meet as a whole. Sadly, it appears the company is changing direction and if you're a square peg, you're not going through the round hole to the other side.
I could use my employee stock payout minus penalties to make my mortgage and the basic household bills for the 5 years they can take to pay out as I'm over the cap on lump sum payout, but would rather roll that into another retirement plan. I have only 6 months (net pay) salary in savings at the moment, with a couple big hits coming (taxes) and some home & auto repairs that will cut into that. We've taken some big, unexpected tax hits and a few other events that depleted the savings I had built up prior.
Hoping I don't have to hit the 401K before 59-1/2 and take that extra tax penalty hit. I will probably hit SS as soon as I'm eligible if it's still around. Trying to cut way back on everyday expenses but it seems the cash outflow demand never slows. If I had a stock portfolio the size of my 401K, I could probably retire early. Hoping the market gains keep up for a while as I made a killing in the last 12 months. OTOH, I'm concerned my leverage in higher risk holdings are going to bite me when the big dip comes. Hope in one hand, shit in the other right?
Getting hired in IT these days at 56 and with a narrow product focus on a dying market and little mgmt experience is tough. I thought I could stay behind the keyboard forever, but it's proven to be a fallacy. I can PM from the technical side pretty well because I'm extremely pedantic in that regard, but was never formally trained and don't always handle difficult customers as well as I should.
Great-Kazoo
03-25-2017, 08:07
Getting hired in IT these days at 56 and with a narrow product focus on a dying market and little mgmt experience is tough. I thought I could stay behind the keyboard forever, but it's proven to be a fallacy. I can PM from the technical side pretty well because I'm extremely pedantic in that regard, but was never formally trained and don't always handle difficult customers as well as I should.
That was my wife's problem, shrinking market for the field. The state decided to downsize, eliminating close to retirement personnel . She had 3.5 yrs till retirement. No cross training or internal hiring. They did offer her a custodial job @ $9.20 hr, snow removal a must attend requirement.
Now after a few years with the town (PT) she's done @ 59 1/2. We've been able to get by due to little debt other than the house, which is this close >< to paid off
Wish you and others good luck.
KestrelBike
03-25-2017, 08:13
18 months since I quit. Still doin' OK, but drinking a lot more. Day-drinking takes on a new dimension when you're (semi-)retired.
Getting a new, serious job, seems to be harder once you're past 50, if you're not being recruited away from an existing position - ageism. You've got tons of experience they 'd like, but don't want to pay for.
Ageism is an unfortunate, hard truth. I've seen it first hand and it was quite ugly. I was quitting a job because my bosses were scum-sucking liberal dickbags, but agreed to stay on for my 2 weeks and help them hire my replacement. They literally said that they didn't want to hire someone with lots of experience because "He's too old" and "Why is he going for this job with his experience? It's way more than this position calls for... something's not right!" - Yeah you stupid Fs, it's a difficult economy and this guy is just trying to get back on his feet.
I normally don't wish harm on anyone and can't think of anyone else I've felt this way about, but those 2 f_tards deserved every misery they earned for themselves.
Getting hired in IT these days at 56 and with a narrow product focus on a dying market and little mgmt experience is tough. I thought I could stay behind the keyboard forever, but it's proven to be a fallacy. I can PM from the technical side pretty well because I'm extremely pedantic in that regard, but was never formally trained and don't always handle difficult customers as well as I should.
Look at .gov side. I dunno if it's just my particular location, but a lot of our Engineers/Architects are older guys.
Brutal - you can draw from your 401k before 59 1/2 without penalty. I sat down with fidelity when I was 55 and they explained it to us. A few co-workers have checked with their financial planners after I told them and were surprised it is possible. A co-worker just retired in Dec. at 58 and is drawing without penalty. I believe the main point is you have to identify a withdrawal amount and stick to it until 59 1/2. So, be sure it's enuf for what you will need and account for a possible unexpected expense.
Check with your financial planner to verify and get the details. Hopefully, it's not something you will have to work thru. Good luck.
Brutal - you can draw from your 401k before 59 1/2 without penalty. I sat down with fidelity when I was 55 and they explained it to us. A few co-workers have checked with their financial planners after I told them and were surprised it is possible. A co-worker just retired in Dec. at 58 and is drawing without penalty. I believe the main point is you have to identify a withdrawal amount and stick to it until 59 1/2. So, be sure it's enuf for what you will need and account for a possible unexpected expense.
Check with your financial planner to verify and get the details. Hopefully, it's not something you will have to work thru. Good luck.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.
The company did offer early diversification from the stock plan two years ago, but it wasn't the right timing for me, nor did I meet the requirements anyway. No indication if/when they will offer it again.
I think I should probably start reaching out to a planner to go through some of these what-if's so I can sleep a little better at night.
Look at .gov side. I dunno if it's just my particular location, but a lot of our Engineers/Architects are older guys.
Thanks, How is your AS/400 friend doing at finding work?
P.S. I know Cabela's was looking for someone, but it required a relocate to Sydney NE, Omaha, or a commute to Westminster (longshot location) and no telecommute. However, I haven't seen the position posted still for a while. However, that place is a grinder from what I've heard over the years.
OP, BTW, sorry to go off the rails in your thread.
Thanks, How is your AS/400 friend doing at finding work?
P.S. I know Cabela's was looking for someone, but it required a relocate to Sydney NE, Omaha, or a commute to Westminster (longshot location) and no telecommute. However, I haven't seen the position posted still for a while. However, that place is a grinder from what I've heard over the years.
OP, BTW, sorry to go off the rails in your thread.
Unsure. I think he is just consulting now.
"Thank you for applying for the Engineering Documentation Specialist at *** *** Systems. At this time, the position has been eliminated due to restructuring. As such, we must rescind our offer of employment."
Damnit! it just keeps getting better and better...
Eek. You could always write back that they might need help in documenting the restructuring and how to integrate seamlessly with the transition from the old system?
Keep at it! You'll get something eventually.
I've been following this thread and one thing I want to add about LinkedIn is that on top of a lot of jobs being posted there, the social networking side of it can be used in unique ways. For instance, if you're interested in a position at a company you can see if any of your contacts have a direct relationship with the hiring manager, recruiter or someone else in the company. Having an introduction can be a huge asset if there are lots of people applying. I get contacted at least once or twice a month to give feedback about a candidate to a hiring manager at our company and others in the tech industry.
I used LinkedIn to get my current job (10 years ago). I was working for a large tech company and decided I'd had enough, I looked up the competitor I had been dealing with for the previous year and found their two employees in Colorado. I sent both of them a connection request in LinkedIn with an explanation of who I was and why I was interested in joining and 6 weeks later I was here. Not many job sites where you can do something like that.
I've been following this thread and one thing I want to add about LinkedIn is that on top of a lot of jobs being posted there, the social networking side of it can be used in unique ways. For instance, if you're interested in a position at a company you can see if any of your contacts have a direct relationship with the hiring manager, recruiter or someone else in the company. Having an introduction can be a huge asset if there are lots of people applying. I get contacted at least once or twice a month to give feedback about a candidate to a hiring manager at our company and others in the tech industry.
I used LinkedIn to get my current job (10 years ago). I was working for a large tech company and decided I'd had enough, I looked up the competitor I had been dealing with for the previous year and found their two employees in Colorado. I sent both of them a connection request in LinkedIn with an explanation of who I was and why I was interested in joining and 6 weeks later I was here. Not many job sites where you can do something like that.
I'm strongly considering reaching out to some of the competition... I do have a few old acquaintances at one or two of them and there's never been any adversarial issues or bad blood/bad mouthing of any parties.
Just not sure they're actively looking for anyone with my particular set of skills, or someone in the industry my age that isn't in management... Seems these job slots just don't come up, which may explain how they're getting filled without advertisement.
I'm really in a quandary. I keep believing that my pipeline is going to run out, but mysteriously, we've managed to sign up enough work to string me along a little longer. I'm loyal enough to the client's not to just walk away and leave them high and dry, yet anxious about my future if I don't actively work to make a move.
Regardless, I really think the tap runs dry Q3 except for a few annual support contracts that just don't generate enough work/revenue to keep me above my utilization requirement. The client's are also loyal to me, but my non-compete is likely to kill any potential carry over unless I can work a deal for the company to relinquish them.
Just thought I'd report in, in case anyone else is in my shoes.
I got an offer the other day, another contract/temp job which really disappoints me, but it's a well timed band-aid or a turniquet as the case may be. I've used up all my unemployment and was working through our savings. I've applied to over 800 positions I felt qualified for here in the Denver metro area, so it isn't easy, or it hasn't been for me at 58. Only slightly better than fast food wages again but frankly I'm happy to have it.
I was on Indeed every single day, including weekends, had my share of interviews but it's damn rare I come in first place. It shouldn't be, there's no reason for it, but at least I have a little cash flow again.
FYI I believe non compete clauses are unenforceable in CO if it interferes with your ability to find work. See the attorney generals web page. Unless you are sharing company secrets you should be good.
Robb, that's great news that you at least have something. I think getting up and going to work will be less stressful than the search and worry. And who knows... maybe they'll keep you on or you'll make a connection for a better position.
Good luck all.
It's a bit scary to think about 20 years from now whether I will still be on the cutting edge of my career vs being the old guy that has been here 30 years.
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