[warning: words]

I was thinking that you're a bunch of people that know people, and I could exploit you for your networking possibilities. I am currently unemployed in Raleigh, and I'd like to stay here (lots of family, have a house, still taking some classes, etc.) I'd prefer full time with benefits (who wouldn't?), but I would consider part-time work as well. I would be willing to take a job with odd hours, but I prefer evenings/nights to mornings.

I am organized, enthusiastic, creative, and I get along with many types of people. I am intelligent, and I learn quickly.

Below are the fields in which I'd be most interested, in order of decreasing desirability:

Meteorology
- BS in Meteorology
- did two internships in air quality forecasting
- have done one TV weathercenter internship
- trained weather spotter with ham radio license
- little to no experience in modeling or on-camera TV
- ideal positions: off-camera TV, operational forecasting

Communications
- BA in Mass Communication
- 4+ years of production experience (radio traffic)
- one TV website production internship
- ideal positions: TV or radio production

Photography
- took some classes in undergrad
- have a Nikon D70
- photos accepted for two college publications
- some photoshop experience
- I am by no means a professional photographer, but I'm way better than http://youarenotaphotographer.com/
- ideal positions: publication or advertising photography

House/Yard work
- cleaning
- painting
- wallpaper
- tile
- mowing/trimming yards
- detailing cars

This list is not exhaustive, and I'd be thankful for suggestions of other possibilities. If you want any more information, or would like a contact email/phone, send me a PM. Thanks for reading!

[Edited on October 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM. Reason : ]

10/22/2011 11:35:38 AM

I'd need pix to confirm, but you should be able to fall back on whoring yourself all the way to SoCal and then a porn career thereafter.

10/22/2011 12:18:20 PM

This is the lounge dickhead

10/22/2011 12:43:20 PM

Not surprising that the asshole that whined and moaned about transgender equality would act like this.

Stay classy.

10/22/2011 1:59:06 PM

good luck in your search.

on a side note, my roommate was the guy that found that dog at lake johnson

10/22/2011 2:03:59 PM

We should have an opening soon for an entry level climatologist/meteorologist at some point for the state of SC. Not sure when, but I know its in the short term plans.

10/22/2011 2:17:16 PM

^^ Small world, right? Last I heard they had not found the owner, but he had been adopted.

^ cool, thanks. I'd consider it, but I'm really looking for something in Raleigh.

10/22/2011 2:20:29 PM

In this economy, I've found that the people who pick a city as opposed to a field, severely limit themselves and are the type of people that make up the 19%

[Edited on October 22, 2011 at 2:25 PM. Reason : you seem to be a very talented individual tying your hands behind your back in a competitive town]

10/22/2011 2:24:45 PM

i could get you a job if you had a phd in meteorology; i wouldn't do it though.

also, unless you have some really unique circumstances, you are too young to refuse to leave raleigh. i don't know if you've been paying attention, but things aren't getting better anytime soon. if you can find a job, you take that job.

[Edited on October 22, 2011 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ^ said it first, but i had to say it as well b/c it's so true]

10/22/2011 2:26:35 PM

Quote :

"In this economy, I've found that the people who pick a city as opposed to a field, severely limit themselves and are the type of people that make up the 19%"

100% truth. At a young age limiting where you will live could severely impact your career for your entire life. Everything you do will more than likely be based off of the foundation you set early on in your career, limiting yourself now is a poor decision.

10/22/2011 3:13:11 PM

I appreciate the advice, and I have heard that talk from many people, but I am happy here. I have aging parents and grandparents that I want to spend as much time as possible with. I have a home here that I have worked hard to make comfortable and beautiful. I'd rather take a job that's not going to put me on a "career track" than to move to a city away from my family and friends. It may sound silly to you, but that's just how I work. I'd be happier waiting tables here and not making a lot of money than moving to a city where I don't know anyone just to move up in my career.

10/22/2011 7:45:27 PM

keep telling yourself that when you don't even make enough to meaningfully help out your parents in their old age

[Edited on October 22, 2011 at 8:27 PM. Reason : lol

10/22/2011 8:27:16 PM

Working in Meteorology or TV production is going to 100% require moving. There is virtually no way you are going to get a career job in either field locally.

Start looking through trianglehelpwanted.com

Or just get a job waiting tables.

10/22/2011 8:27:39 PM

^^ you've been nothing but a dick in my thread. could you just go away if you're not going to contribute?

Let me rephrase... a job in my field will eventually come available in this city. It's pretty much inevitable. I'd rather wait it out while doing a job that is not necessarily relevant than chasing an entry level position in another city. I'm not hurting right now - I live in a house that is paid off, so I have no rent. I have a roommate that helps pay the utilities. My living expenses are minimal, and I have the good fortune of being able to wait to find a great job, so I choose to stay here. I may have different priorities than many of you, but that doesn't mean I'm doomed to mediocrity for the rest of my life.

[Edited on October 22, 2011 at 8:37 PM. Reason : ^s]

10/22/2011 8:32:55 PM

unless you are that much more qualified than others looking for a job in this city in your field ( this is not limited to people that are in Raleigh looking but outside of Raleigh as well ) , then I would start waiting tables if i were you.

I hate to sound like a debby downer but unless the above is true, you better start looking outside of Raleigh.

10/22/2011 8:35:52 PM

Quote :

"a job in my field will eventually come available in this city. It's pretty much inevitable."

Yeah it might become available but that does not mean you will get it. Someone who spent their time gaining relevant experience would have a much better shot than someone who waited tables.

10/22/2011 9:15:51 PM

Raleigh is a pretty upmarket city. You should know this, that no one starts in television or radio in a city this large. Especially not being a weatherperson.

Maybe if you commute a couple of hours daily to a much smaller market in the east, maybe.

10/22/2011 10:36:56 PM

Of course I understand that I probably can't walk into an on-camera role in a top 25 market fresh out of college, but I'm not interested in that. Then again, it's not impossible, either... News14 has been known to take entry-level people. Right now I have no business being on camera - I just don't have the skills. I'm interested in production, and I have 4 years of experience in that already. There are also lots of operational meteorology jobs that don't involve broadcast.

The point of this thread is not for you all to tell me where I should or should not be looking for jobs. That's my burden to bear. I'm searching in many different ways for available jobs, and this is just one more resource to utilize. I'm only two months deep in unemployment, which means I still have the luxury of being picky. Things may change in the future, but right now I'd appreciate suggestions for jobs in the Raleigh area. If you don't have any, that's cool! Wish me luck and be on your way.

10/22/2011 11:29:21 PM

I wish I could say I knew people in your field to help out. Since I don't, my advice is to try and get an internship (even if unpaid) at the facilities you're interested working for. You gain even more relevant experience and gain networking.

Have you hit up your contacts from your previous experiences?

10/23/2011 3:30:22 AM

Is there a minimum wage/salary that you desire at this point in your career search for a job to be worth your while?

10/23/2011 5:01:14 AM

I was a tv producer/reporter for years. Fun field. Exciting work. Terrible pay. I started in the Raleigh market. You can get hired straight out of college. You will make no money, but if you don't mind that, you're fine.

If you're okay with the lack of pay and job instability, go for it. News 14 is your best bet for entry level in the area. Of course, it's not a great shop. It won't really look good on your resume.

WRAL is the best shop in town. Apply there. Be willing to do anything. Even part-time midnight shift on the assignment desk. It won't be fun or easy, but you'll get your foot in the door at the best station around.

Good luck. PM me if you want specific details.

10/23/2011 5:27:23 AM

Also, as soon as I sold out and left TV, my salary doubled. 4 years later, my salary has more than tripled. So, if you really want to make decent $$$, consider other avenues. You'll make more money bartending or waiting tables than you will in TV.

10/23/2011 5:35:11 AM

I had the same mentality when I graduated with my MS in Meteorology. I did odd end temp jobs for a year after I graduated just to stay in the area. But after nearly a year I got sick of working for such low pay while my peers were moving on with their career. So I eventually just decided it wasn't worth waiting around for the right job, and moved to Oklahoma to get job experience. I was out there for about 2.5 years before I got the job here in Columbia, SC doing air quality forecasting for the state (only 3 hours from the Triangle). Honestly, I'm glad I made the choice to move because now I appreciate NC a lot more for what it is than I used to. Being only a few hours away, I can still visit on weekends and shifted my schedule around where I can have 3 day weekends. Plus, I get a good amount of leave and comp time to use when I like. I'm perfectly content with where I am now, but I hope to eventually land a job in the Triangle as that's where I want to settle. For me, being away 3 years is nearly nothing compared to the (hopeful) 40+ years I'll spend there once I move back. I strongly advise you to find an entry level job anywhere possible, preferably in your specific field of choice. Then after 2 years or so, apply to anything and everything in Raleigh.

10/23/2011 11:45:27 AM

Another idea I didn't see floated was, when you move somewhere for that first job, rent your house
out to another roommate. The second roommate will pay for upkeep of the house, and you might
be able to tuck away some money on the side.

I had several friends in meteorology, and neither stayed in the area. One got a job at AccuWeather
in State College, PA and another ended up moving to the rural Midwest in a small market.

10/23/2011 1:16:14 PM

Quote :

"I appreciate the advice, and I have heard that talk from many people, but I am happy here. "

I know it's been stated ad nauseum, but this can't be stressed enough. The way this works is the biggest restrictions you place on your own marketability, the less you can complain when no one buys the product you're selling.

When I was in my graduating semester, I had heard from someone at a career fair (useless for finding jobs, but good for information gathering) that there was a job fair for a Naval Base that would be held in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I had very good plans that weekend, but I cancelled them and drove up to Fredericksburg on my own dime the next day. I also invited a friend who kept bitching that it was too far away and he had better things to do, but he eventually came to. Both of us got jobs within the next two weeks. The moral of the story is that the more out-going you prove yourself to be, the more an employer will realize you are a motivated person that will be a good worker. Be it right, wrong, or indifferent, having the mentality of "I refuse to look anywhere else but in the Raleigh-Durham for a job" sounds like someone who is willing to do what it takes.... as long as it fits in their comfort zone.

---

Sidenote: Virginia has some of the most aggressive job growth of anywhere in the country, and it's not just because of public-sector jobs. There is a massive weather center in Norfolk for the Navy and a NWS center in Wakefield, VA (which is close to the NC border). Both of those are shorter distances than it takes to get from Raleigh to Charlotte so maybe that would be a good "first place away from home" to look.

10/24/2011 9:49:23 AM

Quote :

"Sidenote: Virginia has some of the most aggressive job growth of anywhere in the country, and it's not just because of public-sector jobs."

a good friend of mine, who studied construction management at penn state, wanted nothing but to move to DC. i didn't think there'd be any way that he would find a job w/ such a specific area in mind, but he got like three offers right away. blew my mind.

10/24/2011 9:52:09 AM

bump

10/26/2011 10:11:40 PM

I'd be willing to bet you already know all my local meteorology contacts/friends.

10/27/2011 12:17:31 AM

http://www.bom.gov.au/careers/MeteorologistProfessionalOfficerClass2.shtml

10/27/2011 12:46:22 AM

PUBLICATION PHOTOGRAPHY.

try to freelance for indyweek or something.

10/27/2011 4:01:35 AM

i'm going to use this thread to ask what i was considering making into its own thread, but figured there was one in existence already and didn't feel like catching flak

what are the best sites for searching jobs? http://www.indeed.com/ is the only one i use because it SEEMS to aggregate the others (careerbuilder, monster, etc)...any y'all use in addition to indeed?

10/27/2011 10:10:57 AM

last time i was looking, i got better success with craigslist than any of the big job listing sites. for IT, nowadays I'd probably start with http://careers.stackoverflow.com/

10/27/2011 10:13:09 AM

Quote :

"Raleigh is a pretty upmarket city. You should know this, that no one starts in television or radio in a city this large. Especially not being a weatherperson. Maybe if you commute a couple of hours daily to a much smaller market in the east, maybe. "

I am not saying this is not true, but for some reason I LOL'd

Probably because a step down from a Weatherperson on WRAL puts you somewhere along the lines of a staff columnist for the Technician on my personal celebrity scale

10/27/2011 3:33:10 PM

Raleigh is the 29th largest TV market in the country. The top 40 TV markets are considered the top-tier.

10/27/2011 4:03:50 PM

^ number 24 now

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/02/1454369/raleigh-durham-top-tv-market.html

[Edited on October 27, 2011 at 6:38 PM. Reason : link]

10/27/2011 6:37:33 PM

bump

11/1/2011 4:38:31 PM

WhydoIevenbothersayingthis: A lot of the folks here are professionals and are trying to give you relevant career advice and you are shooting it down. So don't get fussy when no one wants to magically hook you up with a nice cushy job offer. It comes off as condescending.

11/1/2011 7:00:02 PM

Quote :

" WhydoIevenbothersayingthis: A lot of the folks here are professionals and are trying to give you relevant career advice and you are shooting it down. So don't get fussy when no one wants to magically hook you up with a nice cushy job offer. It comes off as condescending."

11/1/2011 11:15:27 PM

Something else that hasn't been mentioned yet (maybe because we're assuming that there are things in your OP that you wouldn't tell an employer), but some work experiences you just want to leave out of any kind of resume/job application letter because it makes it sound like you're grabbing at straws (this is just from my experiences so someone may be able to tell you otherwise). When you list as a job experience that you did "yard work", that gives me the instant impression that in realty you haven't done much and you're just trying to take up real estate on your resume and/or you haven't done a lot in terms of improving yourself professionally and you really think doing yard work is important for your employer to know.

Another way to go about that is to try to find links between your 'lesser' jobs and what you are going out for. Example: I spent a couple years working in a warehouse in Charlotte when I wasn't in class. Part of the job was working to inventory and change the floor processes (what gets moved, when, and how) to minimize the amount of time a truck was occupying a bay and get more trucks loaded/unloaded in any given shift. So instead of saying everything I did at the warehouse, I focused on the idea of "leaning" our logistics processes as a floor/fork operator. Probably not a lot you can do in terms of convincing anyone "yard work" will help you working for a media outlet, but with photography, there may be a way you can discuss how you selected subject material, who you delivered products to, or something along those lines.

11/2/2011 9:20:38 AM

I'm going to bet TenaciousC is going to be jobless for a while.

11/2/2011 9:47:50 AM

^^ this list above is jobs I'd take, not a resume. The things listed below the main points were just to give an idea of my skills to those who might have an open position. I have resumes available for anyone who wants to take this seriously.

11/2/2011 12:03:35 PM

11/2/2011 12:16:44 PM

Ten, we're taking it seriously and trying to offer you serious feedback. If you thought you were going to have a meteorology position manager hop on TWW to see if someone needed a job, you're just not being realistic.

I would also suggest that if you are saying these are things you would be interested in, again, remove the yard work thing. If I'm considering someone for a position in a college-educated field (which I've done recently), then I don't want someone who evaluates their working potential as "I'm good at mowing lawns".

You need to ask yourself if at this time you're looking for serious employment or just some scratch on the side. If you just want a side-job, stop asking us and start looking in the classifieds or drive around looking for help wanted signs. If you want a serious job, then we can start talking about some of those degreed qualifications you have in communications and meteorology.

PS: And if you are looking for a serious job, I'm not involved in either of the two fields you are interested in (except for yard work and I'd hire the 13 year old down the street to do that, not a college graduate), but I would be more than happy to take a look at your resume and offer feedback. I've been doing that for my wife and a couple other individuals recently, anyway.

[Edited on November 2, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Reason : ...]

11/2/2011 12:58:04 PM

First of all, TWW is not the entirety of my job-searching. LOL if you thought that. The point of this thread was, "well damn, it couldn't hurt." I have no expectation of it actually returning a job, but I didn't see any reason why I couldn't give it a shot. Think of it like online dating - you're not expecting a marriage out of it, but it worked for *someone* you know, so you can't count it out.

The reason I included the yard and house work stuff was that I would be willing to do some of that on the side while I wait for a real job to come along. It's no different that other users making "let me haul your stuff" threads just because they have a truck and some free time.

Again, I appreciate the advice. However, even if I wanted to remove the last section in the OP, I couldn't... they don't take kindly to two-week old edits around these parts.


[Edited on November 2, 2011 at 1:14 PM. Reason : ]

11/2/2011 1:11:21 PM

Quote :

"First of all, TWW is not the entirety of my job-searching. LOL if you thought that."

Never claimed it was.

Quote :

"I have no expectation of it actually returning a job, but I didn't see any reason why I couldn't give it a shot."

Can I create a thread that says, "Hey, someone give me a dollar"?

Quote :

"The reason I included the yard and house work stuff was that I would be willing to do some of that on the side while I wait for a real job to come along."

I guess we just have different opinions on the kinds of things that you ask other people to find for you. Networking is a great thing to use for jobs that are scarce. Random part-time jobs aren't that difficult to find if you are willing to do a little investigative work (you know like... looking at the classifieds in the paper or walking around the mall asking if they need seasonal help). I see someone say "I want a fulltime job in Meteorology" then I see the same person say "If you don't know of anything like that, then someone find me some yard work to do" and it doesn't inspire me that you're a motivated individual.

...I have issues with the whole "it's just like someone saying they can haul stuff" comment you made because (a) not everyone owns a truck and (b) not everyone who owns a truck is will to let stranger throw shit in the bed. On the other hand, you're just throwing it out there to TWW that you are basically an able body that can perform simple tasks. In this economy, that's nothing that I need to find some "highly qualified" individual for. Again, the 13 year old down the street can accomplish that. Those types of know-nothing jobs are things you need to go out and look for, as in an active search, not just throwing it out there that you aren't handicapped and therefore and mow a lawn and passively hope someone contacts you.

11/2/2011 1:29:54 PM

Maybe you're misunderstanding what I mean by "help me find a job"... I don't expect anyone to actively go look for a job for me. That would be pretty lazy on my part. My hope was that one of two situations could arise:

1. A person that read the thread would have a direct need for a skill that I offer
2. A person that read the thread would know someone with a need for a skill that I offer

By no means am I wanting YOU to go out and find me employment. That's not really what networking is. It's about making connections that may eventually lead to other connections. If I don't tell everyone I can that I have a certain set of skills and would like to make use of them, how will anyone know?

11/2/2011 3:10:49 PM

Mole hill was successfully turned into a mountain. (Not a rip on you, TenaciousC)

Quote :

"If I don't tell everyone I can that I have a certain set of skills and would like to make use of them, how will anyone know? "

I still think you're going about it in the wrong way, but I don't blame you for what you're doing. The job market sucks and you're 100% right that you have to do whatever you can to get your name out there. I just happen to think there are probably other places you could be going to, besides The Lounge on TWW to accomplish that task.

If you really want to try using the internet, go to USAJobs.gov, create an account, and sign up for everything you possibly can. As was mentioned time and time again, but being unwilling to relocate you are dramatically decreasing your chances of finding something, but there are jobs out there.

11/2/2011 3:18:37 PM

You need to find a husband stat before the looks go (doctor/engineer/lawyer/CEO etc). That way, you can work at Starbucks and stay in Raleigh forever.

11/3/2011 1:09:48 AM

is that what you did, rod?

11/4/2011 5:01:42 AM

^^she needs to post pix first so we can tell whether the looks have already gone

11/4/2011 6:08:56 AM