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Job hunting - A different kind of happy ending


Macanudo

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Hey everyone,
Long time lurker (for football reasons, obviously) but today I come to you with the real pickle I'm in.
I'm a 2x UT grad (MA and PhD) and lost my job suddenly last year (I was a professor at Trinity in San Antonio). Since then, I've been working odd jobs and freelancing, thinking I'd slip into the private sector somewhere quite easily since I have interesting experience (I'm an Asia specialist), high degrees, and am generally a smart and with-it person. However, I thought wrong. It's now been almost a year of mostly unemployment. This has caused serious strain as I've also now entered into divorce as well.
I don't live in Texas anymore (living with family to save) but thought there might be a small chance somewhere here could help me out. I know it's pathetic and desperate but I know some of you have legit good business connections. Not only am I having a hard time brainstorming _what_ to do next, everything I've _tried_ to do has failed (including starting my own business).
In any case, for a fellow UT grad, does anyone have any connections that might be able to help, or know of companies that are hiring directly? Yeah, I stupidly went into the Humanities but to be fair I was a professor at some top schools for 7 years. Just the new horizons in academia are not benefiting me and I've been pushed out.
Any help or advice would be much welcomed. I can provide more details in DMs or by email, of course.
Thanks!

What about some of the foundations that focus on Asian affairs, like the Mansfield Foundation?
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3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:


What about some of the foundations that focus on Asian affairs, like the Mansfield Foundation?

Yeah, definitely a good idea. I have some think-tank connections I've also been trying to exploit the past year but to no avail. Many foundations only hire specialized grant writers or donor services type people, which is its own specialized industry that I cannot seem to break into. I have some connections, too, to various institutes but nothing that's led to any kind of job. I'm also trying to avoid living in Asia, since I've already done that for many years, and it has largely cost me any semblance of a real life and has partly been a factor in my divorce. Now, I'm kind of a bind because I need to try to take care of family stuff (another reason I've moved out of Texas).

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I think the advent of AI has really hurt people like me since a lot of "communications" or "writing" jobs are now easily outsourced either to AI directly or to internal comms people that just use AI. I've noticed that within the past year the number of freelance writing jobs are drying up really really quickly.

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7 hours ago, Da Fino said:

Are you looking for remote work? You never mentioned where you are looking. Also, how did you suddenly lose a job at Trinity? Are you going to be able to pass a background check? 

Remote work would be ideal given my family situation but willing to consider other options. I'm currently in Michigan. Trinity had me on year-to-year contracts and decided to outright replace my specialization with something else. And yes, I can pass background checks. No problems with my past.

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Posted (edited)

What about think tanks?  With an Asian locale background that might be something to look at.

Edit:  Oops, didn't read the last page before I posted.   Other places to look would be at places like S&P Global (yeah, Standard amd Poor's),  large banks with an overseas presence  and the like.

With your education they should see that as a plus.  

Edited by Macanudo
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On 4/13/2024 at 4:57 PM, Macanudo said:

What about think tanks?  With an Asian locale background that might be something to look at.

Edit:  Oops, didn't read the last page before I posted.   Other places to look would be at places like S&P Global (yeah, Standard amd Poor's),  large banks with an overseas presence  and the like.

With your education they should see that as a plus.  

Have never seen a position I could apply to at a place like that. But yes, I do hear about some PhDs making that kind of transition. I met with a friend of a friend who has the same degree/speciality as me and he got in with McKinsey. However, he had a brother or brother-in-law or something get him in. Always need some connection I fear.

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4 minutes ago, cb866 said:

Have never seen a position I could apply to at a place like that. But yes, I do hear about some PhDs making that kind of transition. I met with a friend of a friend who has the same degree/speciality as me and he got in with McKinsey. However, he had a brother or brother-in-law or something get him in. Always need some connection I fear.

Maybe, maybe not.   But get adventurous.

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  • 2 weeks later...
1 hour 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. 

 

Hey nice work! Congrats!

Still on the hunt here. Things are getting worse and worse.

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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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On 5/2/2024 at 6:52 PM, 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.  

 

Amazing news!!

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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? @closetojumping etc.?

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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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