definitely underemployed

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

6/9/2011 6:36:31 PM

Got a phone interview lined up for tomorrow. Its only a 2.5 month contract type position, but its very related to what I want to do so it could be a good resume builder/connection maker. On the one hand it would be great while it lasted, but on the other hand I kind of dread having to basically restart the job search in September. I almost don't know if I'll be more relieved if I get this job, or if I don't get it.

6/9/2011 6:46:16 PM

^in the past 2 years i've had 3 of those such jobs with companies that went under, so i was never kept on....the bonus of having a job like this is:

1) employers are stupid and only want to hire someone that already has a job, knowing that you'll only have this one for like 3 months, you're basically being paid to have a job search.

2)you may meet some people or impress management and if your companies don't go under you may be kept on

save everything...I saved a solid 60% of my paychecks..and its good..because I'm unemployed now..been so for a month

6/9/2011 6:59:56 PM

Scored an in person interview for next week out of that phone interview. And another place I applied to got back to me, so I've got 2 in person interviews next week. One for a temp summer position which would be a better career builder (which carries some risk given this economy), and one for a perm position which wouldn't help career-wise but I could enjoy doing it for a year or two to keep getting a paycheck.

6/10/2011 3:14:33 PM

Kind of off topic, but why would any recruiter prefer someone with 1 year of experience versus a fresh graduate? In my mind if you only survived one year somewhere, most likely you either got fired, are flighty, or the company started failing. Two of those three options do not reflect well on the candidate.

I don't think I've ever worked with an entry level engineer, but intern and co-op kids are usually pretty up to speed within a few weeks. I think somewhere between 0-2 years experience would be the territory where I would be skeptical.

This job posting is what made me think of this:
message_topic.aspx?topic=614105

6/11/2011 11:53:03 AM

Its probably tailored for students with intern/co-op experience, like you said

6/11/2011 12:03:15 PM

I meant the students who are actually doing their interns and coops can get up to speed fairly quick.

Do people usually count interns and coops towards "years of experience"? I never thought of it that way.

6/11/2011 12:08:15 PM

I did

I had like, 2 co-ops, 3 summer internships, 1 school semester research gig, and a self-proposed and guided senior design for 2 semesters. You bet your ass I counted that as years of experience over someone who flipped burgers over the summer

6/11/2011 12:19:45 PM

1-3 isn't that crazy. They're basically looking for someone who has been in the work force but will take an entry-level position and probably entry-level pay. It's not like they're not going to interview the person, check references, etc. And they'll probably ask why the person left or is leaving their previous position. Sure, they can lie... but anyone can lie about anything in an interview. But they're not going to look at two resumes and see one candidate has no real work experience and the other has 1.5yrs and take the second candidate based on that information. And my guess is that they'd consider someone with no perm. job experience who has done an internship or co-op.

Plus, there are A LOT of perfectly good reasons for changing jobs in less than 2 years or even a year.

[Edited on June 11, 2011 at 12:34 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2011 12:33:59 PM

I do feel like these types of postings are also meant to eliminate true entry level personnel, or in other words, people who don't have the confidence in their own abilities to apply to a position that says they need work experience.

6/11/2011 12:43:44 PM

I've got a few emails back from interviews i've done (on the phone and physical) telling me they've gone with other candidates - is it ok to thank them or just ignore it and move on? i just don't see anything good coming out of a reply.

6/13/2011 12:27:38 AM

Thank them and tell them if they have future openings in their department to keep you in mind.

6/13/2011 8:22:25 AM

^ agreed.

If it was a company you were seriously interested in and actually got to a point where they let you know they went with someone else I don't see why you wouldn't write them back to say thank you and to tell them to keep you in mind.

[Edited on June 13, 2011 at 9:02 AM. Reason : .]

6/13/2011 8:52:57 AM

yeah, thank them for their consideration and ask them to keep you in mind. my sister actually just started a job because of this; the company was impressed by her but another applicant had a little more related experience. they let her know, she said thank you and asked them to keep her in mind and a couple weeks later she got a call from another company. apparently the hiring manager at company b was in a professional group with the hiring manager at company a and since company a didn't foresee any other positions opening in the near future he recommended my sister to his friend at company b.

6/13/2011 8:59:54 AM

Interesting thing about referrals...I had an interview at a company that fell through because, in my opinion, I said I wanted to get into military applications. I said to keep in touch, blah blah...Another branch at the company emailed me a few days or week after the denial and I mentioned I had an onsite interview recently. I gave the name of the guy who recruited/interviewed me and...never heard back

6/13/2011 9:58:28 AM

I'm contracting now at Talecris which last week became Grifols. Grifols bought Talecris out last year and they recently completed the merger. Their will only be a 5% in job cuts across the board. Many of the job cuts will be at the HQ in RTP from what I understand. I'm at the Clayton plant and we want be affected by the job cuts. I'm relieved I'll still have my job but keeping an eye open for potential permanent jobs there.

6/13/2011 6:57:57 PM

I meet many people who cant pronounce that company name always comes out Tellercrist or something

6/13/2011 7:54:33 PM

I have several interviews including some onsite interviews but no offer yet. Mainly b/c i'm a F1 student

6/14/2011 4:19:42 PM

I am so excited! I have an interview tomorrow! If that wasn't good enough news, the company with whom I interviewed last week is having me back on Friday for a second interview!!

6/15/2011 7:29:02 AM

I got a job offer!!

6/16/2011 9:56:29 PM

wtg

6/16/2011 10:02:15 PM

Hope it's a good one! Congrats!

6/17/2011 1:31:10 AM

Quote :

"who is still unemployed"

*raises hand* im so desperate, i'm looking at jobs in BRASIL

6/20/2011 8:17:20 PM

After 11 months of unemployment, I was offered a job this past week, contingent on a background check! It's hard to believe it finally happened.

6/21/2011 12:24:10 PM

Another rejection. That interview had some overly retarded questions though so something tells me I'm okay with this outcome.

6/21/2011 1:43:14 PM

going on 2 months now

this is stressful

6/21/2011 2:10:34 PM

^^^^What's Brasil?

6/21/2011 2:13:00 PM

^^^^ congrats

6/21/2011 2:24:29 PM

It was a good offer. I am accepting it in the morning. Slightly sad that I never heard back from the other company with whom I interviewed, but I think I am going to enjoy my new job.

Good luck to all those still searching.

6/22/2011 9:16:16 PM

I applied to several positions but get no replies yet. Is it because summer is not a hiring season?

6/23/2011 12:33:52 AM

^ Not really. There could be a countless number of reasons why you haven't heard anything. Plus, it's tough to say if it really has even been that long without knowing how long ago you've submitted these applications. Be patient.

I think a lot of posters in this thread would agree that while you want to hope for the best, you have to be prepared for the long haul. I was unemployed for 6 months. Someone on this page said they were out of work for 11 months. I hope it doesn't take nearly that long for you. But I applied for "several" position every half a day... for months on end. You may not hear back about many... that's just how it goes. It's possible that you'll apply to so many that once you do start hearing back from a few, you're gonna have trouble remembering submitting a resume or application for those positions.


^^ Congrats on the offer!!

Did you ask the second place when they expected to make a decision (always ask about the decision process after an interview)? You had the second interview on Friday the 17th, right? It has only been 3 business days since your second interview... that's not really that long unless they told you they were going to make a decision at the end of Friday. And even then, sometimes things just come up that keep them from making a decision right away. I mean it could be something as simple as someone involved in the decision process has been out sick, or has been stuck in meetings. 3 days isn't that long... and most likely (if they're the least bit professional), they'll let you know that they decided to go with another candidate if they do so and that person accepts. So for now, I'd look at it like it's still a real possibility -- nothing to be sad about.

I'd contact them in the morning (call) and ask where they are in the decision process and if there's anything further that you can do to help. Don't hesitate to tell them that you're very interested in the position but have been made another offer. Make it sound like you are genuinely more interested in their position (even if it's not true)... don't make it sound like it will only depend on the money. It could entice them to try to make something happen quicker. Maybe not, but you have an offer on the table so what do you have to lose?

And don't be afraid to ask the first company for more time to make the decision. They're not going to rescind the offer just because you ask for a few more days. They're either going to say "sure" or they're going to say that they want to work with you on that as much as possible but need a decision by "X."

Of course, if the first job is hands down your preference of the two (not even a much higher salary could sway you), then just take the job. But I'd suggest not notifying the other company. Let them notify you whether it's to make an offer or to tell you they went with another candidate. If nothing else, it could be a safety net in case something falls through with job 1. My roommate moved to greensboro from raleigh for a job on very short notice... showed up for his first day and they told him they tried to reach him over the wkend but they lost funding for the position or some crap. Cost him hundreds for moving trucks and left him right back where he started.... don't count your chickens until the hatch.

[Edited on June 23, 2011 at 5:21 AM. Reason : .]

6/23/2011 5:13:56 AM

oh yeah, I guess i should post an update in here -


took the second offer I got, will be starting my job on July 5th. Super stoked because I found out a good friend of mine is also going to be joining the team as well.

Quote :

"I'd contact them in the morning (call) and ask where they are in the decision process and if there's anything further that you can do to help. Don't hesitate to tell them that you're very interested in the position but have been made another offer. Make it sound like you are genuinely more interested in their position (even if it's not true)... don't make it sound like it will only depend on the money. It could entice them to try to make something happen quicker. Maybe not, but you have an offer on the table so what do you have to lose?"

and this. very much this.


I did the exact same thing and it couldn't have worked out better for me. If you are a desirable candidate, companies will break their backs to get you onboard.

[Edited on June 23, 2011 at 11:47 AM. Reason : .]

6/23/2011 11:45:00 AM

Had a good phone interview followed up by a good physical interview this week. will know something by today or tomorrow.

6/23/2011 11:58:26 AM

^^ good shit! glad to hear you're doing big things. you still local?

6/23/2011 12:12:07 PM

Quote :

"^^^^ congrats "

Thanks I am REALLY excited about this one!

Quote :

"I think a lot of posters in this thread would agree that while you want to hope for the best, you have to be prepared for the long haul. I was unemployed for 6 months. Someone on this page said they were out of work for 11 months. I hope it doesn't take nearly that long for you. But I applied for "several" position every half a day... for months on end. You may not hear back about many... that's just how it goes. It's possible that you'll apply to so many that once you do start hearing back from a few, you're gonna have trouble remembering submitting a resume or application for those positions."

qft...I figure over the 15 months I was job searching, 11 of which unemployed, I applied to nearly 200 positions. I didn't apply every day, but I did keep a spreadsheet of the jobs that I had applied for, title, location, contact etc. so i would know who was calling me about what when they wanted an interview.

It was a long haul, but there were a number of jobs that I applied for that I never heard from, including ones that I interviewed with that never got back to me either. Don't let no news be disheartening, just continue to apply.

After 15 months of applying to just about everything, and interviewing for jobs I didn't REALLY want, I ended up with a job that I know is the perfect one for me. Just keep at it and best of luck.

6/23/2011 1:01:26 PM

So, it seems as though this is happening quite frequently and I wanna know if any one is having the same issue:

So I have interviewed for quite a few positions. A few of these positions have asked me to go back for a second and sometimes a third interview. And then, I don't hear a damn thing or they keep stringing me along. For example, I interviewed for a company three times. They then proceeded to ask me to consult with them. I asked if they were still hiring and they said yes. So I am confused. Anyone know WTH is going on?

6/23/2011 2:03:22 PM

I've had that happen to me twice now. It really sucks and is depressing me.

6/23/2011 2:09:54 PM

Hiring you on as a consultant is much cheaper. They don't have to pay for your bennies. It's a sign that the company has a growing workload but that they may not feel confident enough in the market to start hiring FT employees.



It's really up to you if you take it - I'd probably suggest that everyone independently contract at some point in their lives. It's a good character builder.

6/23/2011 2:59:01 PM

^ agreed. I'd come up with some retainer type work if needed. Helps pay the bills.

6/23/2011 6:22:56 PM

Is modifying resume to meet requirements of each opening necessary? Feel tired about that.

6/24/2011 4:54:01 PM

^ You definitely don't have to, but as a hiring manager I tend to toss out the generic resumes without cover letters even for candidates that meet the minimum requirements. Some evidence that you took the time to look at what you're applying for goes a long way in making it past my 30-second review, and beyond my pickiness there's also a secretary throwing out resumes before I ever even get an opportunity to form an opinion.

6/24/2011 5:03:42 PM

Quote :

" Is modifying resume to meet requirements of each opening necessary? Feel tired about that."

I've always thought no, despite what the experts say.
On the other hand, I was un/underemployed for a long, long, long time.

6/24/2011 5:04:51 PM

So attaching a cover letter is always necessary? Is this the reason I haven't got replies yet?

6/24/2011 5:59:02 PM

I'd say for professional jobs the cover letter is most certainly necessary. If you can't be bothered to write one, why should they be bothered to consider you?

6/24/2011 6:20:14 PM

I would say that if you're not tailoring your resume to fit the job you're applying for, then you are most certainly doing it wrong.

6/24/2011 6:34:38 PM

I had a phone interview today, was not expecting it, was at work, the number came up restricted so I didnt take the call...she left a message and I went outside. She was like can you do it now and I was like ok, she said it would be just 10 minutes (was a little more). So it is like 72 hrs after the phone interview, if you do not get a call for a in person one (she said 2 weeks), then probably no deal? I was pleasantly suprised at getting the call, since two weeks ago I emailed the contact in the annoucement (generic HR address) and the person replied saying they decided not to fill the positions (had many openings), lol.

[Edited on June 27, 2011 at 8:01 PM. Reason : w]

6/27/2011 8:01:22 PM

Yeah I would say if you haven't heard from her in 48 hours after thanking her for the phone interview, shoot her an email saying thanks again, reaffirming your interest, and asking which days work best for an in-person email and if she needs any additional information from you in the meantime.

6/27/2011 8:10:47 PM

Quote :

"I would say that if you're not tailoring your resume to fit the job you're applying for, then you are most certainly doing it wrong."

Yeah, for real

For jobs that I really, really wanted I'd make a special little page in my portfolio for them. They'd go bonkers over that shit. Anything you can do to hammer home that you want this job way more than the other guys, do it.

6/27/2011 8:14:40 PM

heck, i dont even know here email address, the one that I sent an inquiry about the job was just a HR one. I was shocked because I had basically Xed it off my list.

6/27/2011 8:32:43 PM

Do you know her first and last name? That's usually enough to make an educated guess on the email address with most companies

6/27/2011 8:39:13 PM