Job hunting - A different kind of happy ending

[Macanudo 12979]

I'm looking to move on from my current gig.   We're going through a layoff and my team is among those on the way out.  I have until April but the severance isn't enough to make me stay if something attractive is out there.  

So far, I've just been checking LinkedIn, Indeed and The Ladders for whatever gets posted there.  I started applying last week and have gotten the normal "We're reviewing your resume and will let you know" along with my first two declinations.

For reference, I currently manage a training team.  Before this week, I had 10 trainers.  2 have already jumped to other jobs (internally).   We train the backoffice work for retirement (contribution processing, Distributions, loans, RMDs, death claims, etc.   Before this I spent my career in operations doing everything from plan design and implementation to regulatory compliance testing.

Id really like to stay in the L&D world rather than go back to the other stuff.   

So with all that, any other recommendations in job boards?   Google searches turn up a lot of specialized ones focused toward IT type stuff.   

Ideas?

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

[TKthunder2 4992]

Not sure if your location, but ladders generally means you’re looking for $100k+
 

Getting into tech training, specifically Fintech would likely be a good career move.

PM me if you want to apply, they prioritize referrals.

 

https://q2ebanking.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Q2/job/United-States/Sr-Manager--Training_REQ-7973
 

https://q2ebanking.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Q2/job/Austin-TX/Enterprise-Training---Development-Specialist_REQ-7907

[Macanudo 12979]

You're assumption on why I use Ladders is correct.   

As for Fintech, I'm not opposed.   I have project management experience but no accreditation.   

And another dumb question....  as I'd prefer to stay working remotely as I am now.  For remote interviews should I Atul put on a jacket and tie?  I guess that kind of depends on the organization and what kind of vibe I think they have, correct?

[MonkeyDoughnut 10253]

Interview attire doesn't change based on virtual or in person. Where what you would wear as if going in person to the company.

 

[Bevo 13577]

Virtual interviews have to suck ass.

[Quagmire 2147]

Interview attire doesn't change based on virtual or in person. Where what you would wear as if going in person to the company.
 

But u don’t needs pants right ?

[MonkeyDoughnut 10253]

 

[TKthunder2 4992]

Pants optional.  I ditched the jacket and just went shirt/tie.

Most are still open to remote work for lower levels, but it’s starting to turn a little bit in the industry back to in person requirements.  They are saying ‘hybrid’ but most mean you can work from home 1-2 days a week. Not saying I agree, it’s just what is being pushed in general.

We get 10x the applications for full remote jobs as we do office/hybrids.  So for big salaries they are really pushing back to office, unless you are a 9/10 on what they are looking for.

[fattyflattie 4639]

6 hours ago, Bevo said:

Virtual interviews have to suck ass.

I bombed the fuck out of one about 3 weeks ago. Big time. By “virtual interview” it means being asked a question, recorded, and it distributed thru the network.  Not a zoom with other live people, or a call.  I have 0 issues presenting in front of people, I am responsible for board presentations etc.  Zoom, no issue. But just speaking into a camera at length and being recorded was not a good spot for me. I figure I got one good move left before I need to settle in for a solid position where I can potentially not “age out”. If this recorded interviewing is the future, I need to land that final move sooner than later.  
 

*note - I wasn’t actively looking to move, but have an in with a very attractive long term option. If I could not bomb the virtual stuff, that is.  fml. 

[Bevo 13577]

50 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

I bombed the fuck out of one about 3 weeks ago. Big time. By “virtual interview” it means being asked a question, recorded, and it distributed thru the network.  Not a zoom with other live people, or a call.  I have 0 issues presenting in front of people, I am responsible for board presentations etc.  Zoom, no issue. But just speaking into a camera at length and being recorded was not a good spot for me. I figure I got one good move left before I need to settle in for a solid position where I can potentially not “age out”. If this recorded interviewing is the future, I need to land that final move sooner than later.  
 

*note - I wasn’t actively looking to move, but have an in with a very attractive long term option. If I could not bomb the virtual stuff, that is.  fml. 

Makes me grateful that I'm sef-employed

[Helobious 9454]

6 hours ago, TKthunder2 said:

Pants optional.  I ditched the jacket and just went shirt/tie.

Did this for my last in-person interview (wore pants though). The jacket is generally overkill, no tie is usually too informal. 

[statsman 5471]

Reconnect with old colleagues for lunch. Catch up. Don’t ask for a job. If they have one, they’ll offer it. If they don’t, you don’t want to put them on the spot, and if an opportunity comes up, they’ll remember you. 

[Celery Man 20962]

Oh man I did a few of those “get a prompt and record your answer” interviews and they were the worst. So much worse than remote interviews, which I did not mind. But it was also 2020 and I think there was more forgiveness to having a janky setup.

 

If you target a few companies I would hit up their recruiting people on LinkedIn and definitely look for any informational events they are doing. I got sent a link to some MSFT career information thing and quickly from there was working with a recruiter who set me up with a few interviews. 

[fattyflattie 4639]

1 hour ago, Celery Man said:

If you target a few companies I would hit up their recruiting people on LinkedIn and definitely look for any informational events they are doing

So the one I spoke of bombing was a O&G major; I have a feeling they’ll be using it for awhile.  The guy that got me the interview was talking to his HR about where they are hunting people, and she told him mainly just hunting LinkedIn lately.  I thought it had gone the way of Facebook.  I’ll get a face to face with the ops and this should correct itself.  The recording thing just wasn’t for me.  I even did an hour or so of their “practice”. Funny thing to me is ive spent the last 20 months cleaning cleaning up 3 projects for a guy who could “talk the talk” with the best of them.  His issue was running 8 figure projects into the ditch.  

[Macanudo 12979]

I submitted an application for a job that asked for a 2 minute video.   Kind of hard to cram in why I'm posting and why I'm their guy in 2 minutes.

[fattyflattie 4639]

4 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

I submitted an application for a job that asked for a 2 minute video.   Kind of hard to cram in why I'm posting and why I'm their guy in 2 minutes.

Trust me, it’s better than 6 or 7  3 min videos. 

[Macanudo 12979]

Oh, I re-recorded it several times. 

[CooterBrown 18014]

I don’t see how a video recording is valuable. You can’t really get an idea about a candidate without follow up questions to really gauge their experience.

[TKthunder2 4992]

2 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

I don’t see how a video recording is valuable. You can’t really get an idea about a candidate without follow up questions to really gauge their experience.

I wish we had that.  I could probably exclude about 25% of the people I interview on a short video. The amount of obvious “no”s that gets past HR is ridiculous. That being said if you hire only off a video, that’s dumb.

[Bevo 13577]

1 hour ago, TKthunder2 said:

I wish we had that.  I could probably exclude about 25% of the people I interview on a short video. The amount of obvious “no”s that gets past HR is ridiculous. That being said if you hire only off a video, that’s dumb.

Is that stuff public because I bet some of it is hilarious? I imagine some guy putting together a fake resume and then creating a special video for the interview - Dick Butt. But the real stuff would be even more funny. I think as a hiring manager it would be so boring going through those things that you skip right past them to get to the "High Guy" with a mullet and a Van Halen t-shirt.

[fattyflattie 4639]

1 hour ago, Macanudo said:

Oh, I re-recorded it several times. 

Several? Damn. Mine was one retry. If you chose a second shot, that was the one they took regardless.
 

I hope your search is successful. 

[Bevo 13577]

14 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

Several? Damn. Mine was one retry. If you chose a second shot, that was the one they took regardless.
 

I hope your search is successful. 

I don't know what it is like for Mac's industry, but I put out an ad for a front desk person on Zip Recruiter last week and got 4 views: I think they were all mine - making sure that I didn't fuck the thing up.

Edited September 9, 2022 by Bevo

[fattyflattie 4639]

14 minutes ago, Bevo said:

I don't know what it is like for Mac's industry, but I put out an ad for a front desk person on Zip Recruiter last week and got 4 views: I think they were all mine - making sure that I didn't fuck the thing up.

That would be a useful execution of the video interview, imo.  

[Updawg 2266]

Can’t believe nobody has said the world always needs ditch diggers


But good luck and start looking now. It’s always easier to get a job when you have one. Plus holiday times slow it down

[DalTxHornFan 3102]

 

[deadshank 24653]

Good luck, Mac.  We met a few years ago while watching the B12 Championship.   You seem like a normal, well-adjusted guy with your stuff dialed in.  Certainly you’ll have several opportunities to consider.  
 

 

[South Austin 52515]

You’re young, you got your health, what you want with a job?

[RDCanecutter 26446]

Assert dominance during the video interview. Let them see the whiskey bottle label so they can see that you only drink the good stuff. Mute them while you take a swig. About halfway through the session, stop them in the middle of whatever jargon they're babbling to tell them you are going to recite some poetry, like they did in ancient days before battle. Then make something up on the spot, this shows fearlessness and improvisation skills.

After that, they'll pause at the awesomeness of the moment, then try to crawl back into their mediocre normie vibe by going back on script. This is where you bust in and demand that THEY recite poetry too. This will freak them out, they'll lock up, and here's where you give them tough love, yell like a Drill Sergeant until they sack up and let loose with their inner poet as well. Hell Yeah. You're a leader.

Then turn off your computer right there, and just show up at the workplace ready to go the next morning.

[Texas St. Armadillos 1381]

24 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

Assert dominance during the video interview. Let them see the whiskey bottle label so they can see that you only drink the good stuff. Mute them while you take a swig. About halfway through the session, stop them in the middle of whatever jargon they're babbling to tell them you are going to recite some poetry, like they did in ancient days before battle. Then make something up on the spot, this shows fearlessness and improvisation skills.

After that, they'll pause at the awesomeness of the moment, then try to crawl back into their mediocre normie vibe by going back on script. This is where you bust in and demand that THEY recite poetry too. This will freak them out, they'll lock up, and here's where you give them tough love, yell like a Drill Sergeant until they sack up and let loose with their inner poet as well. Hell Yeah. You're a leader.

Then turn off your computer right there, and just show up at the workplace ready to go the next morning.

Sir, please add me to your newsletter subscription list.  Many thanks.

[Guest]

22 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

I bombed the fuck out of one about 3 weeks ago. Big time. By “virtual interview” it means being asked a question, recorded, and it distributed thru the network.  Not a zoom with other live people, or a call.  I have 0 issues presenting in front of people, I am responsible for board presentations etc.  Zoom, no issue. But just speaking into a camera at length and being recorded was not a good spot for me. I figure I got one good move left before I need to settle in for a solid position where I can potentially not “age out”. If this recorded interviewing is the future, I need to land that final move sooner than later.  
 

*note - I wasn’t actively looking to move, but have an in with a very attractive long term option. If I could not bomb the virtual stuff, that is.  fml. 

Similarly, I hate interviewing with people who already know me/ internal promotions.
‘Bitch, you already know that answer. You have more than 2 decades of evidence on that question.  Why should I enumerate it to you?’

It’s awkward AF for me.  

[Updawg 2266]

Those are awkward. Are we just going through the motions or are you really expecting me to interview.

[Celery Man 20962]

[Macanudo 12979]

Couple of other questions...

1.  If the job is listed on some place like LinkedIn or The Ladders what's the opinion on applying there vs. going to the company website and applying.

2.  If the app site only has a place to upload your resume should I include the cover letter as part of the upload by combining the two or just shoot off the resume. 

It's been 10+ years since I applied for a job outside my company.  Every job I've applied for in those 10 years internally, I've known the hiring director or VP.

 

[RDCanecutter 26446]

What's the stupidest fucking interview question anybody's ever been asked? In my case it was "If you were a character in a work of fiction, which character would you be, and why?"

In this timeline I babbled something off the cuff because I was being polite. If I hadn't been polite I would have just laughed, and left.

But when I perfect the time machine, I'm going back there and my answer will be "I am a character in a book I am writing about job interviews, who is pleasantly surprised that all the job interview questions have to do with knowledge and competence in similar positions."

Yeah. That'll show 'em.

[TKthunder2 4992]

2 hours ago, Macanudo said:

Couple of other questions...

1.  If the job is listed on some place like LinkedIn or The Ladders what's the opinion on applying there vs. going to the company website and applying.

2.  If the app site only has a place to upload your resume should I include the cover letter as part of the upload by combining the two or just shoot off the resume. 

It's been 10+ years since I applied for a job outside my company.  Every job I've applied for in those 10 years internally, I've known the hiring director or VP.

 

1. It doesn’t matter very much IMO. Some recruiters prefer certain job boards, others prefer their internal applications because they can get more information than what comes through a basic job board api. When I’m hiring, I see both options when reviewing my candidates list.

2. If your willing to write a cover letter, I would just include them.  Some companies have policies where they don’t review them (to avoid unintentional bias in the hiring process) but I’ve never heard someone being disqualified for including one.

[CooterBrown 18014]

Saw a cover letter meme the other day that said something like “ why am I required to write fan fiction about my qualifications?”

Put me in the boat of cover letters can hurt you but never help you. I received one that stated “My proudest best achievement was my 3.86 GPA from Texas A&M University.” That one was going in the trash anyway, but that cover letter was atrocious.

I don’t think our HR even forwards cover letters to hiring managers any longer.

[Bevo 13577]

9 hours ago, Macanudo said:

Couple of other questions...

1.  If the job is listed on some place like LinkedIn or The Ladders what's the opinion on applying there vs. going to the company website and applying.

2.  If the app site only has a place to upload your resume should I include the cover letter as part of the upload by combining the two or just shoot off the resume. 

It's been 10+ years since I applied for a job outside my company.  Every job I've applied for in those 10 years internally, I've known the hiring director or VP.

 

I don't know if the problem was the question or the reply.

 

I was interviewing for a management position with a biotech company in the Bay Area.

Interviewer: So you are from Texas?

Me: Yes. Are you from there?

Interviewer: No.

Me: Have you ever visited there?

Interviewer: No.

 

Then, dead silence.

 

 

 

[freyguy 4277]

https://youtu.be/D4iFzweRf3E

[MeerkatBong 115]

On 9/9/2022 at 11:31 PM, RDCanecutter said:

What's the stupidest fucking interview question anybody's ever been asked? In my case it was "If you were a character in a work of fiction, which character would you be, and why?"

In this timeline I babbled something off the cuff because I was being polite. If I hadn't been polite I would have just laughed, and left.

But when I perfect the time machine, I'm going back there and my answer will be "I am a character in a book I am writing about job interviews, who is pleasantly surprised that all the job interview questions have to do with knowledge and competence in similar positions."

Yeah. That'll show 'em.

This isn't like you; why did it trigger you to be asked this?

You are using vulgar language and you are a very well-read and literate man of Arts and Letters. This is a softball for a visionary like you.

[MeerkatBong 115]

To OP because I've been on both sides of this the past year or so: ZOOM/Video-only interviews are awkward and suck.

Push to get in front of the hiring manager, even if just for an informal lunch or coffee, during or shortly after the rounds. Even if you have to do it on your own dime, it will be worth it (though any company worth their salt will understand when you expense it).

[RDCanecutter 26446]

5 minutes ago, MeerkatBong said:

This isn't like you; why did it trigger you to be asked this?

You are using vulgar language and you are a very well-read and literate man of Arts and Letters. This is a softball for a visionary like you.

Only God is perfect.

[MeerkatBong 115]

1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

Only God is perfect.

Why do you say good? There is only one good.

[Macanudo 12979]

On 9/14/2022 at 11:08 AM, MeerkatBong said:

To OP because I've been on both sides of this the past year or so: ZOOM/Video-only interviews are awkward and suck.

Push to get in front of the hiring manager, even if just for an informal lunch or coffee, during or shortly after the rounds. Even if you have to do it on your own dime, it will be worth it (though any company worth their salt will understand when you expense it).

Well, right now, I'm focusing on remote jobs.  And the last 2 interviews I did for internal jobs were remote so it's not foreign to me.

[MeerkatBong 115]

18 hours ago, Macanudo said:

Well, right now, I'm focusing on remote jobs.  And the last 2 interviews I did for internal jobs were remote so it's not foreign to me.

Alrighty then.

[William_Cannon 86]

Couple of other questions...
1.  If the job is listed on some place like LinkedIn or The Ladders what's the opinion on applying there vs. going to the company website and applying.
2.  If the app site only has a place to upload your resume should I include the cover letter as part of the upload by combining the two or just shoot off the resume. 
It's been 10+ years since I applied for a job outside my company.  Every job I've applied for in those 10 years internally, I've known the hiring director or VP.
 

Sorry to hear. I know you’ve been with them for a while.

#1 My recommendation is to apply to all of them. It’s hard to say how recruiters are divided. You may have one for the entire job class or it could be divided. I’ve seen some horrible things in recruiting and hope they gotten better as a result of the Great Resignation. Spray and Pray.


#2 just follow directions on the site. If it just says resume, then only resume.

The other thing is to apply for Ops jobs as well. I know you’d rather stay in LD but it’s not bad to cast a wider net in case. It will also help with interview reps and possibly with negotiations if you get Ops offers too. Like others have said, you should be networking and letting people know you’re looking.


Good luck.

[Macanudo 12979]

Yup.   I've been doing that (applying to Ops ones) as well.   I have a phone screen to schedule this week for something that looks interesting but not is probably not going pay what I want.  But the interview experience will be worth it.  

And who knows, right?

 

[William_Cannon 86]

Yup.   I've been doing that (applying to Ops ones) as well.   I have a phone screen to schedule this week for something that looks interesting but not is probably not going pay what I want.  But the interview experience will be worth it.  
And who knows, right?
 

You’re right. Who knows.

The job market is very odd. We have remaining affects of the great resignation and yet we are in the early stages of a recession. Depending on the health of the company and how long and badly they’ve needed this role, they could be hungry to fill it.

[Brisketexan 105152]

Just make sure to ask - at the opening of any interview, in person or on video - “does this job require nudity? Because I’m willing to do so, if it advances the plot.”

[Macanudo 12979]

On 9/24/2022 at 9:25 PM, Brisketexan said:

Just make sure to ask - at the opening of any interview, in person or on video - “does this job require nudity? Because I’m willing to do so, if it advances the plot.”

Yup. But I'm going to insist in catered Texadelphia cheesesteaks and Double Dave's pepperoni rolls on those days.