job-seeker contacts/advice

[GAME05]

I'll look into oil stuff again. Can't do CDL driving because of my back and work as a grunt burns people out very quickly. Nice to get some money in my pocket, sure, but then I'm back to where I am now and a year older. So I am focused on career-type work. But I know oilfields do have gauge-watchers and gate-keepers. Lots of competition for those, but once you land one they pay really well. I lived right by a huge shale/oil operation in Texas and one guy told me outer Mongolia has a booming mining industry with jobs that pay gobs of money.

 

I'm still applying at various parks, and currently seeing if I can slide into the energy industry. And next week I'm hoping to get some appointments with some temp-to-hire agencies. I used to know someone who landed a temp-to-hire data entry job. She absolutely hates the work but is now making $55,000 per year, so she's pretty entrenched.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm looking to update my resume and apply for some jobs. My problem now is that in between "real" jobs I've worked some part-time jobs that have little to do with anything I'll be applying for. Should I just leave those off my resume so I have room for relevant work or will the gaps make me look like a bad candidate?

[RobDeer 45]

You could put a section titled something like "various temporary work" with the date you've been working those. Maybe below put specifics upon request.

 

This way you are showing that you worked but that you were not job hopping.

[GAME05]

Me, I wouldn't worry as much about the gaps so that you can squeeze in more work-relevant job duties. May be just me, but I don't think the gaps would shy an employer away from ever interviewing you. When you're qualified for the job, gaps are something more to ask during an interview.

 

I have plenty of gaps in my resume and I don't get asked about the gaps so much as I get asked why I haven't lasted long-term at any of the positions.

[GAME05]

Had an interview two weeks ago for a Park Ranger job where I think I was one of only three or four to be interviewed. The city surrounding it is pretty ghetto, but the job represents an ability to save a considerable amount per year. Minus that, my future as a law enforcement ranger is probably done.

 

But have another interview in a week. What I thought was a basic park maintenance job is more similar to a Ranger job minus the law enforcement and interpretation (teaching). Much more ideal for me. Definitely crossing my fingers on that one.

[TooLiveBrew]

Had an interview two weeks ago for a Park Ranger job where I think I was one of only three or four to be interviewed. The city surrounding it is pretty ghetto, but the job represents an ability to save a considerable amount per year. Minus that, my future as a law enforcement ranger is probably done.

 

But have another interview in a week. What I thought was a basic park maintenance job is more similar to a Ranger job minus the law enforcement and interpretation (teaching). Much more ideal for me. Definitely crossing my fingers on that one.

Good luck, GAME. Sending positive juju your way.

[RobDeer 45]

GOOD LUCK!!

[ilikewisco]

I graduated in May with a bachelor's in chemistry and landed a job in my field in June in the area I'm from. Its a really good company and the benefits are great. The pay is a little lower than what I was expecting but is competitive for the area I live. I have a friend who just went out to North Dakota and the money sounds almost too good to pass up. I'm debating leaving the position I just started and going out there for a few years. I could pay off my loans and save up enough to go back for my master's degree in chemical engineering. If I stay where I'm at I don't think I will get an opportunity to go back. I am already in my mid 30's, so if I am going to do this, it will have to be this spring. Just wondering if I should stay at the position I'm in, where there are opportunities to advance but would probably mean moving, which wouldn't bother me. Or should I take a chance and go for the money, with the plan on going back to school. But I will be leaving a position that fits my degree and is a good resume builder. One other possibility is falling into a career in the oil industry with my chemistry background. I would be applying for chemistry jobs there but I have issues with my driver's license at the moment which limits my search. And that problem will not be resolved until May of 2016, which is the biggest reason I have chose to stay in the area I'm in now, but should not be a problem for the roustabout positions in North Dakota. Any advice would be appreciated.

[GAME05]

my immediate reaction is to worry what would become of not making it in ND, if it turns out you've quit a decent job to last only a month or two up there because of how insanely demanding the work is.

 

With someone of your intelligence, what about school in petroleum engineering? I looked up a site that said entry-level makes about $90K. For a single guy who keeps eating bologna sandwiches that could mean a lot in the bank.

[NeedMoreFans]

While the money in ND sounds great, they have an issue with housing shortages. A high demand for workers coupled with high wages means any housing that is available is really expensive. There are a lot of stories about workers living in campers because there aren't enough houses to hold all of the workers.

 

Something else to consider... My dad's company sells valves and regulators to large industry, and they recently opened an office somewhere in ND. He has been told by customers that it makes sense to drill when oil is above $65/barrel. Apparently, yesterday, oil closed at $68/barrel. If low oil prices continue for any length of time, they may slow production up there, reducing the demand for jobs.

[ilikewisco]

Game, from what my friend has told me I think I can handle the work and the hours, though that is something I worry about. Losing the position I have now is something that sways me to stay too.

 

MoreFans, My luck would be I'd get out there and they'd be packing it in. I'm not making a decision for a little bit here so I will keep tabs on that. The housing situation is not a concern, as the company I would be working for provides it for me.

[LouisEly]

GAME, I'm wondering if there is something a little "outside-the-box" that would be a good fit for you. Are there any specific areas that you have expertise in that you could possibly do consulting or start your own consulting business? With the amount of emphasis being put on sustainability and environmental impact by companies as a result of regulations and public relations, perhaps someone with your expertise in protecting nature and the environment could be in high demand in the private sector as an environmental consultant. Consulting is something you can do part-time while you do a full-time search.

 

If you're ok with staring at a computer screen, there are coding "boot camps" that you can learn how to code in a couple of months and have a good shot to land a $60-75K/year programming job in six months or less. Or learn SQL; if you can do SQL queries all day long there will be no shortage of analyst job opportunities for you.

[nate82]

 

If you're ok with staring at a computer screen, there are coding "boot camps" that you can learn how to code in a couple of months and have a good shot to land a $60-75K/year programming job in six months or less. Or learn SQL; if you can do SQL queries all day long there will be no shortage of analyst job opportunities for you.

 

While true there is a high demand for people to do SQL queries I have found that some of the even entry level positions for some strange reason are asking for 3-5 years of experience with SQL queries. Which makes no sense at all as most of the entry level jobs that require SQL are basically a click and run SQL queries that are already made for you.

[RobDeer 45]

High risk high reward. If you think you will always regret not going, then go. If you think it will be out of your mind in a few months, then stay.

[GAME05]

Thanks, LouisEly. I'm confident I'll land something soon enough. Strange it's taken me so long, but I think it's more about the poor choice that Parks&Rec was to study. But opportunities come open here and there and at this point I think I'd like to stick with what I know I'm good at. Being 37 years old has kind of hampered my desire to experiment with careers. Also I'm not good at staring at a computer. Everyone at my current work loves me because I work hard and am good with the customers, so I think that's a good indication that outside work is where I belong.

 

Apparently a new Director has put a hurry on hiring, so I'll probably hear about a Park Ranger job soon (be it good or bad), and I'm very qualified for an interview I have tomorrow.

[jjkoestler]

Does anyone have contact info for a good recruiter/headhunter? The job I was supposed to start in January fell through and I'm scrambling to find a new gig. I was working in politics but my background is in marketing/non-profit. I have a MBA and I am also swell guy.

[jerichoholicninja]

I have a phone interview with our Chamber of Commerce for a job tomorrow. I'm a little but nervous about them asking me about working for the place that refused to pay me - one of the many illegal/unethical things they did. I really have nothing good to say about my time there and especially about the owner himself but he's a Chamber member and has been promoting his new "business" through the Chamber lately and I don't want to speak ill of one of their members. I know it will come up because a lot of the things I would be doing for the Chamber I did at that job.

[Invader3K]

I would try to keep it general and not get into specifics. Maybe you could say something like, "I didn't feel I was a good fit there because I had different work philosophies than some of the management there, but I did learn some valuable skills that I know would translate well to this position."

[jerichoholicninja]

I would try to keep it general and not get into specifics. Maybe you could say something like, "I didn't feel I was a good fit there because I had different work philosophies than some of the management there, but I did learn some valuable skills that I know would translate well to this position."

 

In every interview since I've worked there I was asked why I left that place. I'm assuming they will ask me as well, and I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but are you saying I should lie instead of tell the truth that I was let go (because the CEO was using shady accounting practices to make the company look successful to investors until he ran out of money and was eventually sued by multiple people)?

[Baldkin]

I would try to keep it general and not get into specifics. Maybe you could say something like, "I didn't feel I was a good fit there because I had different work philosophies than some of the management there, but I did learn some valuable skills that I know would translate well to this position."

 

In every interview since I've worked there I was asked why I left that place. I'm assuming they will ask me as well, and I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but are you saying I should lie instead of tell the truth that I was let go (because the CEO was using shady accounting practices to make the company look successful to investors until he ran out of money and was eventually sued by multiple people)?

 

Saying "The company went out of business" or "I was let go due to budget constraints within the company." is a perfectly acceptable answer to that question. You don't have to delve deeper into it, really.

[jerichoholicninja]

I wasn't asked about it during my phone interview today but I have an in-person interview on Monday. We'll see if it comes up then.

[FVBrewerFan]

If it were me, I would have to feel out the interviewer to see how open I would be willing to be. Most importantly, try to be calm and stick to the facts. Acting and sounding emotional, calling him a crook, etc. will make you look bad. (Not that you would do that, just saying.) If he and his company are getting sued a lot, you can look all that up in public records, a lot of it is right out there on the internet.

 

How about something like "I know rule #1 in interviewing is to never say bad things about your former employer. But in my case, certain things happened that just can't be ignored. " I think you can get away with telling the truth. I mean, look at former Enron employees, they have valid reasons to say their former employer acted unethically. The whole key is to not sound bitter, and even talk about all the things you liked about the place, and more importantly all the great work you did.

[logan82]

Where was the advice about filling out a resume? I have never had to make one and after 19 years at the same job have no experience at interviewing. In fact I have to say that I have never in my life had a job interview where the interview actually mattered.

[GAME05]

Had a final interview 12 days ago against just one other candidate. I'm very overqualified and almost all of the interview questions reflected that. They're understandably nervous that I'd be one to quit after just a few months of working, so it looks like their decision will be based on that.

[GAME05]

Nope, didn't get the job. A friend of mine is going to be an insurance claims adjuster. I guess it's a four-day class then you pay the fee to get licensed, then you apply to the insurance companies. He says the work pays ok and as an independent it can pay a lot.

 

I keep thinking that if I stayed another summer as a low rung I could be a Park Ranger, but the job pays $32K, almost never gives raises, rotating shifts, weekend work...Maybe the negatives are just too much that something else would be a better idea.