Job hunting - A different kind of happy ending

[BigDHornfan 6504]

Wife is looking.
Anyone know anyone looking for a stock plan administrator or Compensation Analyst?
DFW area or remote.

[UTPhil2006 3753]

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!

[Macanudo 12649]

On 3/21/2024 at 2:06 PM, Macanudo said:

I've used jobscan versus just eyeballing it myself and have gotten about the same success rate with getting past the ATS systems.   

I applied to and interviewed with my old company for a near lateral move (salary and responsibility wise) in January. 

- Application was sent in on 1/08. 

- Interviewed on 1/23 with the hiring manager then 1/26 and 1/30 with others for the 2nd round.   I have known the hiring manager for 20+ years.

- She called me on 2/5 to let me know that there was an internal candidate that she wanted to talk to but that was most likely just going to be a courtesy interview for that person.   

- I followed up on 2/20 via text to find out that those interviews hadn't even happened yet.  I also foudnd out independently that the hiring manager's mom had just passed away the night of the 19th.  Ugh.   

- We talked on 3/7 and she confirmed that I would be her choice and they she would be meeting with her boss on Friday to start the process.  

- I followed up yesterday (3/20) via text.  She told it was still in approval limbo.   FWIW, at my prior employer, req and candidate approval go all the way to the CEOs desk before they get green lit.  

- Got another text literally just now as I type that the approval is sitting on here boss's boss's desk.   Then it goes through 3 other people before final approval.  

In conclusion, the corporate hiring process absolutely sucks ass.

On the plus side, I have been substitute teaching since early Feburary.   I have learned that I never, ever want to teach middle schoolers.   High school has been pretty decent the freshmen are something else too.  

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.  

 

[KaiserSoze 948]

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!

[UTPhil2006 3753]

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.  

 

[Brisketexan 103143]

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.

[MonkeyDoughnut 9944]

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. 

[Celery Man 20535]

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.

[Mother mopar 3262]

Hell yeah man, congrats!

[Handcruser 2799]

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!

[DToro 90]

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. 

[Macanudo 12649]

On 4/30/2024 at 7:17 PM, BigDHornfan said:

Wife is looking.
Anyone know anyone looking for a stock plan administrator or Compensation Analyst?
DFW area or remote.

Does she look here?  https://employeebenefitsjobs.com/

Blue Ridge handles ESOPs and currently has openings listed there.

[fattyflattie 4631]

On 5/2/2024 at 6:02 PM, KaiserSoze said:

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!

Same. Congrats @Macanudo

[Bevo 13417]

Nice happy ending. Not as nice as the extra benefits that may come with a hot and naughty secretary, but nice none-the-less.

[Tylerocks 2532]

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.

 

[Macanudo 12649]

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.  

[Brisketexan 103143]

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.

[UT_OB1 2193]

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

[Brisketexan 103143]

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.

[cb866 140]

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.

[cb866 140]

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.

[Brisketexan 103143]

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.

[Chewbacca 7612]

Nm, Brisket handled it

[cb866 140]

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.

[UTPhil2006 3753]

AI is getting weird 

[DToro 90]

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.  

[LCHorn 2527]

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.  

[idigTexas 2257]

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.    

[Celery Man 20535]

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.

 

[Firemans4Horn 16852]

hustle on LinkedIn (and through mutual connections)
 

[Handcruser 2799]

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?

[Celery Man 20535]

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.

[William_Cannon 86]

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!

[Celery Man 20535]

On 6/28/2024 at 6:13 PM, Celery Man said:

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.

Well they took for goddamn ever but after a month and a half and I think 6 interviews I got the offer for that job today. Stoked to be out of the wilderness.

[UTPhil2006 3753]

21 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

Well they took for goddamn ever but after a month and a half and I think 6 interviews I got the offer for that job today. Stoked to be out of the wilderness.

[Handcruser 2799]

My brother in law just went through 11 interviews for a COO position. 3 months from start to finish.

This week they offered him the CEO position instead.

Keep grinding!

[Bevo 13417]

Who is the paleontologist who posts on here? I have a work question for him.

 

[Celery Man 20535]

@Pods

Edited August 10 by Celery Man

[Parliament 13979]

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

[Celery Man 20535]

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.

[Pods 7426]

On 8/10/2024 at 5:52 PM, Celery Man said:

@Pods

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

[Bevo 13417]

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?

[Pods 7426]

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. 

Edited August 13 by Pods

[Storm the Field 5239]

 

[choripan 770]

On 5/8/2024 at 12:10 PM, Tylerocks said:

 

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.

 

TLDR: I'm getting frustrated by the AI/HR grind, am getting rejected in large part for being overexperienced/overqualified so far, and want advice or word tracks for contacting hiring managers, especially where LinkedIn shows 1+ quality connections (not recruiters, not spammy connections).

I am FEELING this. I have been searching for about 9 months and am beyond frustrated by the algorithm/HR grind. For the first 8 months of the 9, I applied to jobs for which I was a great fit, typically slightly or greatly overqualified, and touched up my resume and crafted a directly on-point cover letter. I got ONE interview, where I did well and made it to the hiring manager. I did not get the job and, in fact, the hiring manager contacted me and told me I'd be great for the role except that she was uncomfortable managing someone with more experience than her.

About a month ago, I was out for beers with friends -- one who is in IT and was applying for jobs, another who is in HR/training -- and they told me that almost all medium- or large- companies run all resumes through an AI-based screen prior to a human ever seeing them, and that was probably my issue. The IT guy suggested a particular platform (Teal) that uses AI to synthesize your resume and the job description, plus any custom prompts you give it, to create a cover letter. I do this and then touch up the cover letter because sometimes there's AI weirdness.

This has been great for getting past that first step. I'm up to 5 interviews in the last two weeks. 2 jobs I was a finalist and not selected, 1 a semi-finalist, and I have two pending. So that's progress. but I guess I a frustrated as fuck to keep getting stonewalled when I'm so close. For two of the three where I wasn't selected, I got feedback that they had concerns whether I'd be a good fit for the role because it was a more junior/mid-career role.

• The experience/overqualification issue: For background, I am a lawyer with 15 years' experience, 16 years out of law school. I have some pretty good schools on my resume (Michigan undergrad, Northwestern law, Harvard management) and am an honorably discharged veteran. I spent the first 3 years at a large law firm focused on finance/banking before one of our clients, a public transit agency, hired me to go in-house. I was there for a year and a half before switching cities and staying in house a a quasi-governmental airport operator (900+ direct employees, 19,000+ badged employees through contracts). In that role, I rose to be General Counsel and also had the Government Affairs and Government Departments under me. So I was a do-it-all generalist  -- with a focus on contracting and procurement, as we ground through a few hundred contracts per year -- with significant leadership and budget management experience. COVID hit and I left that job after a few months, in June 2020, because we had two kids under two, my wife has her dream job, and daycare was closed while we were in a ~750ft^2 rental while our house was being renovated. Once daycare and school normalized around here, in September 2021, I went back to work with a large law firm as Counsel, in its Transactional/Commercial Contracts Group. One, I wanted a job, and two, I wanted to rebrand myself outside of the public sector or public sector-adjacent space. This has been good but not great. A couple months after starting, I was seconded to (embedded with) a nascent spin-off of a F500, reporting directly to its GC. Loved this role. But about a month ago, the engagement ended and I'm back to billing hours rather than just entering "Secondment day" and am now reminded that tracking and billing time, frankly, sucks. Also, I really want to get into something more permanent and direct than a counsel/contract relationship.

So the challenge I have on this front is that anything with 10+ years experience I see wants SPECIFIC experience. For example, they want a generalist but someone that's spent [X]+ years in automotive, or at tech startups, or at wherever. Obviously, I don't have this so I haven't bothered applying. OTOH, I'm applying for less experienced in-house jobs with less specific industry requirements and getting through to interviews, but getting the vibe that someone with ~6-10 years does not want someone with 15 years, including leading a large department, reporting to them. It's come up multiple times, and in each case I mention that I took some time off and pivoted industries a bit, so I understand and am completely comfortable with repositioning myself. I suppose either this is not a good answer or it's not coming off as genuine (?), although it is. the fact that this keeps coming up is frustrating. I'm not an ego guy and have reported to people older/more experienced and younger/less experienced than me.

• Contacting people directly via Email/LinkedIn - Catching up on this thread, I see some of y'all have had success reaching out directly to recruiters/hiring managers. Is anyone willing to share examples of word tracks or messages that worked? I'm kind of at a loss at how to approach it with someone I don't personally know but with whom I have connections. For example, "Hi Jane, I'm reaching out because I applied to your open widget sorter position. I see that we have x, y, and z as common connections and I'm sure they'd be happy to vouch for me, if asked. I am very interested in the position and hope you'd be willing to make sure my cover letter and resume get a look. Thanks for your time! - Choripan" But it's hard to make the cold call ask and some forms I could modify would be great.

I realize I've written a novel here, but it's been therapeutic to do so and I'm at a loss. I've never felt so lost and frustrated professionally. Thanks for reading and I'd really appreciate any help with word tracks and advice on how to position myself with respect to being "overqualified." Like, does my answer above just suck?

 

[irishtexan 11413]

Well, I'm crashing the party. 

I've worked for an occupational health and safety company for 13 years with a specialty in pre-employment post-offer physical abilities testing. Basically, I was the commercial SME and sales lead for our testing division. We test workers to ensure that they're physically safe to do the job that they're being placed into. 

The owners of the company sold to a large private-equity backed corporation almost two years ago. That corporation primarily owns physical therapy clinics throughout the US, but has also acquired a handful of commercial entities selling injury-prevention services (onsite early intervention, ergonomics, safety services, occupational medical testing, etc). We were enveloped under one of those entities, and their CEO and COO basically took over our company. There has been constant reorganization of the commercial team over the last 18 months. We hired a team of new salespeople who were supposed to focus on selling all services offered by both companies, as they're somewhat complimentary. But basically the four new salespeople focused on services offered by "their" company and I ended up managing new business development of the testing side of things. My colleague who has been with our company for 27 years was put over customer experience/expansion of our existing clients.

Two weeks ago they eliminated my position, as well as my colleague's, despite both of us outperforming our contemporaries at the "other" company. They didn't even bother to tell our COO before it happened. 

The sale of our company was contentious. Previous owners sold operating interest (51%) of the company, and expected (naively) to be allowed to continue to run the company as they saw fit. Shortly after the sale, the previous owners were unceremoniously told their services would no longer be required or appreciated and they were shown the door. It seems pretty clear to me that they want to cut off any ties to the old owners and get their own people in who will do whatever new leadership says without questioning the commercial strategy (which is pretty non-existent). Get the "yes men" in place regardless of performance. 

This is exceptionally frustrating because we are one of a very small handful of companies that offer employment testing services at a national scale. Most of the time it's done by local physical or occupational therapy clinics, and is a small component of the suite of services they offer local employer clients. Basically, there is almost no opportunity to go to a competitor and continue to apply my expertise. 

So here I am. My last day is October 18th and they've offered a paltry six-weeks severance, which my attorney is trying to renegotiate on my behalf. I can also cash out a month of PTO. Between myself and my colleague they're offering 12 weeks of severance for 40 years of work between the two of us. 

I've got two small kids and we don't have a ton of savings where I can afford to be on unemployment for a long period of time. Reading about @Macanudo's experience is somewhat disheartening, and very concerning. If you're still with me, I guess I'm just venting at this point. 

So anyway, if any of y'all know of anything, shoot me a DM. I've got experience in sales, account management, onboarding and implementation, occupational health and safety, and injury-prevention services. But open to pretty much anything at this point.

 

 

[uoftorange 1383]

On 9/24/2024 at 7:12 AM, choripan said:

About a month ago, I was out for beers with friends -- one who is in IT and was applying for jobs, another who is in HR/training -- and they told me that almost all medium- or large- companies run all resumes through an AI-based screen prior to a human ever seeing them, and that was probably my issue. The IT guy suggested a particular platform (Teal) that uses AI to synthesize your resume

Yes, Chat GPT works for this as well if you actually just spend some time working the prompts well.  
Anyone not doing this is basically saying they don't actually want a new job IMO.  It's so easy to do and will make your resume hit the keywords as well as hit the requirements more effectively.

[uoftorange 1383]

On 9/24/2024 at 7:12 AM, choripan said:

Contacting people directly via Email/LinkedIn - Catching up on this thread, I see some of y'all have had success reaching out directly to recruiters/hiring managers. Is anyone willing to share examples of word tracks or messages that worked? I'm kind of at a loss at how to approach it with someone I don't personally know but with whom I have connections. For example, "Hi Jane, I'm reaching out because I applied to your open widget sorter position. I see that we have x, y, and z as common connections and I'm sure they'd be happy to vouch for me, if asked. I am very interested in the position and hope you'd be willing to make sure my cover letter and resume get a look. Thanks for your time! - Choripan" But it's hard to make the cold call ask and some forms I could modify would be great

 

First I wouldn't do it that way unless I had to.  Instead have the person that you know actually introduce you :  "Hey Sally, I'm writing you to introduce you to Choripan, he's a great guy that is a perfect fit for the role you have open XYZ, we worked together at ABC and I vouch for him"

Even a simple "Hey Sally, I wanted to introduce you to Choripan so it's a warm lead for you and him" is good enough, though the first will hold more weight.

I found that pretty much anyone would do it, even people I had relatively innocuous relationships with because they want you to return the favor if they ever ask.  And I've done it for tons of people over the years.  It takes 10 seconds so why not?  

I did this with every role I applied for recently.  I was fine with my current job just looking to move heavier into the AI/ML space officially if I could and make some more money.  Since I wasn't just throwing my resume at everything it did make it easier but I would have still done it if that was the case too.  I applied to 8 jobs that were excellent fits for me while also being promotions and allowed me to grow.  Got 7 interviews and the 8th one they told me they already had someone they planned to hire.  It works, and works well.  A few of those ultimately the pay wasn't what I wanted and that was clear quickly, 1 I didn't like the manager, and the others I got to final rounds with.  

I started looking specifically because of this thread.  I'm 47 and have had great career experience, but didn't want to get stuck where I was.  We were having some financial issues (the company not me) and I didn't want to find out it was over then have a 6 month job hunt or longer.  What's funny is the job I ended up taking the process was about 1.5 weeks total from resume to final interview and offer.  So weird how sometimes it works that way and sometimes it's 12 interviews and then you get ghosted.  Well, not so funny haha I guess

Edited September 25 by uoftorange

[Jiggy-Z 3419]

This thread terrifies me. 

As 57 year old with concrete construction management ex.perience and also still holding his CPA liscence (I have not practiced in over 25 years), I'm sure there are options for some grunt work.

I feel like I am tainted since I was self employed for so long and my company was not all that successful given the time and place I was in. I kind of feel like a fraud.

I am in a dark place now.

My business partner wants to quit but will keep going, but we need some new work and I just dont feel like I can go forward and it seems like I cant quit.

[Parliament 13979]

Applying for an internal role with my current employer and I see the application page lets me post an optional cover letter.

I’ve worked with the hiring manager in the past and will likely get an interview. So help me pro/con this.  How much does a cover letter help you beyond getting an interview?  What all should I say in the letter.

To get it out of the way, so you don’t hafta ask:

I have my profile pic on our internal “LinkedIn.”

It’s a virtual interview but I’m gonna dress a little bit better than I would at the office.  And wear pants.

I may be required to give a brief presentation.  I’m already prepping for that.

TIA