For those looking for jobs, I noticed that many (other than Brian Rubin) are living in areas that may be economically impacted.
Have you guys looked at jobs outside your current area? If you have, has that been difficult as well?
For those looking for jobs, I noticed that many (other than Brian Rubin) are living in areas that may be economically impacted.
Have you guys looked at jobs outside your current area? If you have, has that been difficult as well?
Ugh, I'm sorry to hear that, divorced. That must've been awful. *hugs*
I have to admit I've at times wondered if the people who turn me down/dick me around by not responding to my emails and phone calls asking for an update have souls at all. I can't even imagine what it's like to have people come in daily and be all "Yeah I've been unemployed for X months but I'm really excited to possibly work for you! This job is exactly what I've been looking for!" and they honestly mean it. And then you have to turn around and tell them no for whatever reason all the while knowing that this dude has to go back to the crappy existence that is unemployment.Originally Posted by mkozlows
This is why I hope to never be a hiring manager. It would eat at me.
Yes. I looked for game development jobs outside of LA for awhile because I knew there was a ton of competition here. I honestly got about the same number of interviews/tests as I did here in LA. My best chances seemed to come from places I had no desire to live.
Just a quick aside that was mentioned earlier, I'm an IT Recruiter focusing mostly on the Atlanta area, although I get some gigs elsewhere in the country as well. If you happen to be looking, feel free to send me a copy of your resume. To be honest so that I don't get anyone's hopes up, although I do this for my friends in need, reality states that the chances of my finding a match for any one person are not great, but at least there is a chance.
It's much worse being the axe man than the hiring manager.
You really just have to assume that the people you're talking to are all going to end up with jobs somewhere (I mean, they were all employed before, right?), and that they're just not a good match for you. Beyond that, well, it's a professional transaction, right, so you just try to ignore how asymmetrical the stakes are.
I think this is a symptom of a trend in the tech field to promote from within, sometimes based on little more than an employee's ability to not be fired or transferred for a number of years. What's lacking is management training and mentoring, and the result is a new class of managers who haven't been instructed in how to behave professionally in situations like the one you describe. It takes a certain amount of emotional discipline and fortitude to return the call of someone you know you won't be hiring. Lacking that discipline, managers will take the easy way out, which is to simply ignore the problem and hope it goes away.
This morning, someone else from a company I interviewed at last week (in which that position had been filled, apparently) emailed me for an interview, so I went in a couple of hours later as requested. Funny thing, one of the interviewers was a friend of mine from two jobs ago.
Anyway, it's a very intense interview, focusing on a part of SEO I have less experience in (linking) than my usual (copywriting). I was nervous, but I tried to do my best, and they seemed pleased with my answers, so I left there feeling fairly confident.
20 minutes later, my friend writes me on Facebook saying that, while he pushed for me, they didn't think I was an expert enough for the job. I was fairly let down, but it was my own fault for getting hopeful, I suppose.
Seriously, I'm getting tired of this song and dance. I want a freaking job. If I don't get one soon, I think I'll start freelancing as an SEO consultant on my own, so at least I'm in control of the situation, rather than this constant hope-followed-by-let-down situation I seem to be in.
Sorry, just in a down mood today. Hope y'all don't mind me venting a bit. Thanks for listening
Last edited by Brian Rubin; 01-19-2011 at 03:11 PM.
We're still listening to you and everyone else out there looking too, Brian. Hang in there, bud.
Thanks mate, I'm trying.
I have had good luck with Monster.com & Careerbuilder.com. But I work exclusively with recruiters and I'm a contractor, so my situation might be different from OP. Good luck to everybody looking for work!
I've been using those, as well as Craigslist and have also been in touch with a lot of agencies.
My wife's entering her second full year of unemployment, so you're definitely not alone. Keep your chin up, and keep trying as best you can. I know it's hard; I see the toll it takes on my wife sometime. But it will end. Even if it doesn't seem like it now.
Wow, that's rough Anaxagoras. I hope your wife finds employment soon. Good luck to you both!
heh. We'll be fine. So will you, though. =)
Good luck.
To you as well, thanks!
Damn, that sucks. I don't know how you have enough money to live on after being out of work that long. Can you get unemployment for that long? At least you get a few temp jobs, but that's got to be incredibly frustrating.
K, this is kind of weirdly awesome.
Got a call from one of the gentlemen I had an interview last week at the place I went to today -- which was for a completely different position -- for a follow up interview from the interview I had last week, which had nothing to do with the interview that took place at the same place with different people today.
Wow I'm confused, yet hopeful.
I'm very good with money, but I've been living on my savings/retirement and that is almost all gone. I have enough for maybe 3-4 more months before it gets very serious as in "living on the street" serious. At the end of most days, I realize I haven't smiled the entire day. My girlfriend tries to keep my spirits up and she's awesome, but what I need is a freaking job. My unemployment ran out over a year ago. So as you can see, it's nothing but dark clouds on the horizon.
Sometimes I try and get lost in a game once in a while, but most nights I'm just too bummed out or down to do anything enjoyable so I just hit the sack. Of course, it's been a while since I could afford to even rent a game, much less buy one. You Don't Know Jack is coming out for the 360 early next month and I would LOVE to have that one! I still have all of the original series from the mid-90's. But there is certainly no money in the budget for video games, even budget priced ones.
I swear, many times I wish I would have stayed in the Army, but of course I ended up getting medically discharged (original Gulf War) so I couldn't even do that. But that pension sure would have helped in times like this!
Thanks for the positive thoughts guys! I appreciate it!
I'm sorry buddy! I hope it turns around for you soon. :)
Welp, my first second interview went well today, I hope. I met with the original two guys, plus three other people this time, and they seemed to like my answers, and I got along with all of them, which I hope helped.
I also have an interview tomorrow, and likely one sometime next week.
I have an interview tomorrow morning at 9. This would be a sweet gig indeed. But first I have to pass a couple of those HR tests that ask questions like "If you saw a co-worker steal an apple, but knew he was struggling to feed his family and had a sick child, would you report him?" There is no set right answer, but there is an answer they are looking for. I hate those kinds of tests. The good news is you find out right away if you passed and get to stay in the hiring process.
Wish me luck!
Awesome, divorced, good luck indeed! :)
Here's my take, and the two times I've had to take one of the stupid things they commented on my high mark afterwards:
There are four answers to pick from. One answer is the "I am a lazy slob" answer and can be immediately ruled out. One is the goody two-shoes answer and should be skipped. The snext most attractive answer should be picked.
Exceptions:
Questions dealing with illegal situations, the media or government (answer: check with my boss)
Goodluck!
If you don't mind answering, what type of position are you applying for that looks at morality issues like this? Also, good luck.
Doesn't matter, I didn't get it. Took two tests and they showed me the door. I've been getting that for 19 months. I'm pretty close to losing all hope. I'm 49, not 29. I can't just go back to school and start all over.
I swear, I have never been lower than I am right now...
My heart goes out to you guys. I've been in the unemployment game before (after the dot com bust) for a very long time exhausting my benefits and it can get maddening (Thank goodness for oddtodd cartoons). My uncle just recently lost his job after being employed for nearly 30 years.
Oh, divorced, I am so sorry...*big hugs*
I've been getting calls from recruiters whose accents are so thick I can barely understand the questions. "Excuse me?" "unintelligable" "Sorry?" "slower, but still unintelligable" "uuhh, yes?" Half the questions I'm not even sure what was asked, so I say "yes". Ugh.
Ask them to send you an e-mail because you're pressed for time right now.
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