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Job hunting - A different kind of happy ending


Macanudo

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3 hours ago, DToro said:

It finally happened. Got my job offerer and passed the background check last week. I will be staying in marketing and in the credit union industry, but I am going to have to move from SA to Houston. 

This was an unexpected journey. I voluntarily resigned in Oct 2021, took time off and then started my search in 22. I have my BA and MBA, and a career I'm proud of with no really bad marks (never fired, laid off or reassigned). I sent countless resumes (close to 500 in that time), took free-lance, consulting and substitute teaching jobs. It sucked. It was a brutal road, but I always knew what I'm capable of and what I'm worth. 

I know many of you are going through the same thing. I've kept up on this tread because of @Macanudo's post. I thank people like @Dbeasy who helped me out. It wasn't an easy time for me, but would come back to read everyone' s story and I kept going. 

It happened. It will happen for you. Don't give up. 

 

Boom!

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6 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  

This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  

Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  

 

Congratulations Mac, that is fantastic news and I am extremely happy to hear it! I've been following this thread since the day you started it.

Super happy for you!

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12 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  

This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  

Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  

 

image.gif.12d6637765d1470c5093ea006a8766e8.gif

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UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  
This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  
Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  
 

Dude. I’m seriously happy for you.

I’m gonna send you a toaster.
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47 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  

This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  

Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  

 

Really glad to hear it. 

Congratulations Congrats GIF

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34 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:


Dude. I’m seriously happy for you.

I’m gonna send you a toaster.

It is now safe to do so.

Congrats Mac, really glad you landed well even if it took longer than you would have hoped.

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  • immamac changed the title to Job hunting - A different kind of happy ending
UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  
This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  
Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  
 

That’s awesome man. Congrats!
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16 hours ago, Macanudo said:

UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  

This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  

Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  

 

Congrats, Mac! So awesome. I'm really happy for you. 

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7 hours ago, Tylerocks said:

I guess there is something in the air...

 

Just received/signed an offer as well!

Similar to @DToro I voluntarily left a long time job with a great company in Jan 2021 to explore other opportunities, unaware of just how awful the job search was going to be.  I naively thought that someone with 20 years experience in sales/account management would be a cake walk finding a new role.  Couldn't even get a sniff.

Over the last 3 years, I've worked 3 contract jobs in 3 different industries, none of which I wanted to be in or have the contract extended.  It was brutal.  My confidence was shot, my marriage was on the ropes.  Getting your teeth kicked in on the reg by computer programs/algorithms or ignored by 23 year old HR folks or recruiters takes it's toll.

 

My only advice and to be fair I didn't do this as much as I should have....use your friends.  Use your connections and your friends connections.  I didn't do it as much as I could've out of embarrassment/shame.  I wanted to do it "on my own".  What a fucking idiot I was.

 

That being said, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Stay the course.  It's going to happen.

I can finally breathe.

 

Completely agree about leaning on friends.   Another thing that lead to more interviews for me was reaching out to people on LinkedIn.  I tried to figure out who the hiring manager was and then hit them up.  That got me more interviews than just blindly sending in apps ever did.  

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Completely agree about leaning on friends.   Another thing that lead to more interviews for me was reaching out to people on LinkedIn.  I tried to figure out who the hiring manager was and then hit them up.  That got me more interviews than just blindly sending in apps ever did.  

Also, giving the hiring manager an enthusiastic handy didn’t hurt your chances.
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Still no bites on my end. I think I just need to switch careers completely and give up any Asia stuff. I've been doing part-time "consulting" for a year to get by, along with investments (I'm actually quite a decent day trader), but I think it's time to just change it up. Insurance would be nice.
 
Again, does Surly have any connections? Looking for remote work in whatever sector, doing basically whatever.
- MA/PhD from UT
- 10 years as a professor
- Many publications (=strong communication and writing skills)
- All the skills of a Project Manager but I don't have the certification (doesn't seem like any company will touch me without it, and it's roughly $5k + 6 months to get it)
- I tried starting a "sweaty" startup and almost got evicted; other than that, I don't have any "practical" skills like construction, etc. I'm a jacked nerd with a PhD and an ex that looks like Margot Robbie.
Any y'all Surly businessmen got any ideas? [mention=429]closetojumping[/mention] etc.?

Pics of ex pls.
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29 minutes ago, UT_OB1 said:

I’m afraid to ask, but wtf is a sweaty startup?

Haha, it's a trendy term from a podcast about simple, workman-like businesses that are easy (but sweaty!) to start, like powerwashing, gutter cleaning, car detailing, etc.

 

Despite being from a blue collar family from Flint, MI, I have no hands-on skills like that. I was a computer nerd (A+ certified in High School! ... in 2002) who went on to become a professor of dead languages. I was stupid, I know, but now that I'm almost 40 and the University system has blown up completely, I'm in the middle of a change.

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27 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:


Pics of ex pls.

Just do an image mashup up Margot Robbie and Troy-era Diane Kruger and... you get the point. Can't share pics of an ex.

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Just do an image mashup up Margot Robbie and Troy-era Diane Kruger and... you get the point. Can't share pics of an ex.

Foul. I’m calling foul. Red card. 15 yards and ejected from the game. All of that stuff.
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3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:


Foul. I’m calling foul. Red card. 15 yards and ejected from the game. All of that stuff.

Y'all help me get her back... I'll gladly share a pic of us together again. This isn't ex-wife, just ex-gf.

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On 5/8/2024 at 11:10 AM, Tylerocks said:

I guess there is something in the air...

 

Just received/signed an offer as well!

Similar to @DToro I voluntarily left a long time job with a great company in Jan 2021 to explore other opportunities, unaware of just how awful the job search was going to be.  I naively thought that someone with 20 years experience in sales/account management would be a cake walk finding a new role.  Couldn't even get a sniff.

Over the last 3 years, I've worked 3 contract jobs in 3 different industries, none of which I wanted to be in or have the contract extended.  It was brutal.  My confidence was shot, my marriage was on the ropes.  Getting your teeth kicked in on the reg by computer programs/algorithms or ignored by 23 year old HR folks or recruiters takes it's toll.

 

My only advice and to be fair I didn't do this as much as I should have....use your friends.  Use your connections and your friends connections.  I didn't do it as much as I could've out of embarrassment/shame.  I wanted to do it "on my own".  What a fucking idiot I was.

 

That being said, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Stay the course.  It's going to happen.

I can finally breathe.

 

Way to go @Tylerocks! I'm happy for you and glad it all worked out. I agree with your advice, too. I was guilty of many of the same things. We live. We learn. We keep moving forward.  

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On 5/8/2024 at 8:49 PM, cb866 said:

Haha, it's a trendy term from a podcast about simple, workman-like businesses that are easy (but sweaty!) to start, like powerwashing, gutter cleaning, car detailing, etc.

 

Despite being from a blue collar family from Flint, MI, I have no hands-on skills like that. I was a computer nerd (A+ certified in High School! ... in 2002) who went on to become a professor of dead languages. I was stupid, I know, but now that I'm almost 40 and the University system has blown up completely, I'm in the middle of a change.

Have you considered something like Stratfor?  
 

If I had a PhD in Asian Studies I’d also be looking at anything Federal related (State, DoD contractor).  Once to get your foot in the door it should be pretty easy to shuffle around and this probably makes your resume better for a future return to academia if you hope for that.  

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5 hours ago, LCHorn said:

If I had a PhD in Asian Studies I’d also be looking at anything Federal related (State, DoD contractor).  Once to get your foot in the door it should be pretty easy to shuffle around and this probably makes your resume better for a future return to academia if you hope for that.  

This is generally reasonable advice, but the current market is down due to Government funding getting continuously kicked down the road.  Until both sides stop pointing fingers and decide to work together, Federal positions are going to be limited and niche-specific.  It never hurts to look, especially if you have a unique skillset, but keep your expectations tempered.    

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  • 1 month later...

Merger and reorg happening at work, I’m going to go ahead and get rolling.

A saw a post for a really interesting position yesterday. Searched on LinkedIn for “companyname” + “jobtitle”, found a post with a link to the job from talent acquisition and then found another post from an engineering manager promoting. DM’d the manager with a quick “this seems really cool, here are some things from my career that it reminds me of, I find this stuff very exciting and would love to talk more and see if I can help your team” blah blah blah, I had an interview lined up by the end of the day.

I’ve never been super comfortable just reaching out and connecting with recruiters, which I guess I’ll get over but this feels like a good hack. I often see hiring managers post about open positions with an invitation to connect.

 

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Merger and reorg happening at work, I’m going to go ahead and get rolling.
A saw a post for a really interesting position yesterday. Searched on LinkedIn for “companyname” + “jobtitle”, found a post with a link to the job from talent acquisition and then found another post from an engineering manager promoting. DM’d the manager with a quick “this seems really cool, here are some things from my career that it reminds me of, I find this stuff very exciting and would love to talk more and see if I can help your team” blah blah blah, I had an interview lined up by the end of the day.
I’ve never been super comfortable just reaching out and connecting with recruiters, which I guess I’ll get over but this feels like a good hack. I often see hiring managers post about open positions with an invitation to connect.
 

Well?
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27 minutes ago, Handcruser said:


Well?

Well I wasn’t wrong to be concerned about the leadership change - my group got axed. Such is life. Interview with the engineering manager went well - he seems like we’d work well together, I think he got a decent sense of what i am and what I’m not, he said at the end that i was the second person he hasn’t rejected outright and he’d set up some interviews with the team. I’m a little antsy because I was hoping to hear before the end of the week and I have not. I have another interview set up for a different position at the same company (big industrial) but I think I’m less of a fit. Would love to land this gig and pocket the severance - this would be my third organization doing digital industrial analytics and i feel like it would set me up well.

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UPDATE!!!   I got an offer.    I'll be working as the retirement plan administrator for a mid-sized employer based here in Houston with employees spread across the country.  It's a nice bump in comp over my prior role.  
This is not the job I detailed above.  I last talked with them two weeks ago and was told what the hold up is.  I'm 95% sure that their offer is going to come in below this one.   I think my work here is done.  
Talk about a wave of relief.   Nerves really hit right after the offer call.  Wow, just wow.  
 

I totally missed this so a bit late.

A sincere congratulations to you, Mac. Way to persevere through, it’s been a real crappy market. Your girls are super blessed to have a father like you. Cheers!
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  • 1 month later...

Long time listener, first time caller.  I need help prepping for interviews.   Been applying for internal role with my employer, all of them "the next level up" in my career.  Had an interview this week.  Did all the prepwork you do; networked with all four members of the hiring team, got insight from a few trusted coworkers adjacent to this role, spent two days working our my answers to the "behaviorally-based interview questions" we use.

The interview did not go well and I didn't get the job.  When he called me to give the news, the hiring manager suggested I work on my interview skills.  "Your qualifications are good, your references were good but you didn't show us that you're the best person for this role."  I put the time and work into prep, but I obviously prepared for the wrong things.  

So I need to get better at prepping for an iterview and likely the interview itself.  What options do I have?

TIA

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There was a thread a few years back where I was asking about Toastmasters. I had been curious about it generally just trying to find things to do as someone new to an area - with a bit more experience with it as an organization now I can say that it is not where I’d go looking for friends and is in fact kinda full of weirdos. But anyways - my last company had a corporate club that I ended I joining. One of the things that  you do in every meeting is have “table topics” where you can volunteer to receive a prompt and then give a quick 3-5 minute speech on the spot. I am extremely glad I did that and got a ton of reps doing exactly that thing, because my interviews this time around all went great.

Short version of what I’m saying is that if like me your problem is about of nerves and trying to keep your mind calm and relaxed as you both speak and attempt to come up with the next thing to say, the answer is reps. I think there may be some places you can find people to mock interview with. There is toastmasters. You could look for any other opportunities to do public speaking.

 And then past that, there’s basic stuff like STAR method, books about how to interview for different positions. I like to just fill my head with content - I was interviewing for a lot of product management jobs, I listened to a lot of Lenny’s Podcast leading up to interviews and I did find myself more easily accessing useful words and phrases to answer questions.

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6 hours ago, Pods said:

also @LTbear, though the question @Bevo was asking was UT specific. 

 

Not that I want to feel like a theropod, but I remember when you were leaving Austin and looking for a faculty position (in Colorado maybe?). How many years/websites ago was that?

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8 hours ago, Bevo said:

 

Not that I want to feel like a theropod, but I remember when you were leaving Austin and looking for a faculty position (in Colorado maybe?). How many years/websites ago was that?

Probably on the Shag. It seems like a lifetime ago. 

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