After the shit I found out on Saturday

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
06/07/2015 at 22:35 • Filed to: None

My want for a new job burns brighter than it has in a very long time. But when I say down to my computer today, I could do nothing but think about the countless resumes I’ve sent out over the last couple months, and how other than a few that turned out to be major steps backward, I’ve had no real callbacks. Despair and hopelessness setting in...

DISCUSSION (27)

dogisbadob > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/07/2015 at 22:38

Sorry to hear you’re down on the job search, Good luck though!

scoob > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/07/2015 at 22:39

Kinja'd!!!

Sneaky Pete > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/07/2015 at 22:47

What bachelor’s degree do you hold?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > scoob
06/07/2015 at 22:49

I just wish I could even get to the interview part. I know I could seal the deal. But I don’t even get call backs...

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Sneaky Pete
06/07/2015 at 22:52

Information Systems and Operations Management. It’s a combination of InfoSys, Logistics, Business Analysis, and Project Management. I’ve had 3 jobs in the two years I’ve been out of college, but I’ve never been fired, and always left on good terms. Plus, before that I had two jobs for 7 years, combined. Really, 5 jobs in 8 years isn’t bad. At least I don’t think so...

Grindintosecond > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/07/2015 at 23:14

How wide is your job search? (states)

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Grindintosecond
06/07/2015 at 23:26

NoVa, DC, and parts of MD. My wife has a pretty good job that is preventing us from leaving the area.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/08/2015 at 03:22

Sorry to hear about the situation—it sucks.

Unfortunately HR departments, by and large, are basically set up to weed people out, not pull people in. They often lack the flexibility to say, “well, the guy has succeeded at x, so it’s not such a stretch for him to do thing-that-is-similar-to-x...” You have a better shot if you can figure out a way to the hiring manager themselves and make your case.

Meanwhile, I'm keeping good thoughts for you!

Sam > scoob
06/08/2015 at 04:04

That’s the easy part. You just tell them what they want to hear. It’s getting there that’s hard.

orcim > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/08/2015 at 04:45

Hrm.. reading your other response, you’re like a Practical MBA or something.

Just curious - does your resume tell the reader what result you can do for them if you’re hired? Another way to ask that: If I read your resume, will I understand what *you* think you can do for me if I hire you?

Ops mgmt/program-product mgmt/info mgmt are all hot areas. If no one is calling back, I’d think (based on 3 mins of thought and a few words from you, so basically nothing) that the resume isn’t giving the right message if no one is calling. Don’t self-limit, let them set the bounds on what you can do (based on what they read).

random001 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/08/2015 at 06:20

usajobs.gov?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > NotUnlessRoundIsFunny
06/08/2015 at 07:38

Thank you. I need all the positive vibes I can get at this point.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > orcim
06/08/2015 at 07:40

No, I haven’t narrowed it down. In fact, my “objective” is as broad as possible for that reason.

orcim > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/09/2015 at 03:30

Maybe narrow down one aspect - not what you can do, but what hiring you will result in? (Not necessarily in these words.)

“I love to find ways to be more efficient and reduce costs for better business performance.”

“I look at business operations like a puzzle and focus on fitting them together in the most efficient and smooth way.”

Etc. You get it I’m sure, since your education and experience seem to be those things. Just make sure you’re saying them clear enough? After all, more profits give corporate hirers boners/wetness, yes?

Leon711 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/10/2015 at 09:26

I know that feel.

so does ktfright.

from earlier- http://oppositelock.kinja.com/grown-up-life-…

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/10/2015 at 09:28

What kind of jobs are your applying for? The reason I ask is I see that you’re in the same boat as me - stuck in DC area because your wife has a good job that doesn’t make sense to leave. Literally the exact same boat.

Are you looking at large companies or small? I ask because coming out of college in 2013, the market for engineers was dead. I did the same thing as you, sending out a million resumes. I managed to get a few interviews but they all ended with “well, we’d love to hire you but we don’t know what our budget is, but maybe in a few months when congress gets their shit together...”

I had hit up the .gov sector and all the big players in the defense industry (prior Navy + engineering degree so that made the most sense). My job now is with a little small defense contractor thats only about 250 people. I got in because HR is about 3 people, so they farm resume collection out to the employees, encouraging people to go recruit at their colleges, etc., and give referral bonuses for bringing good people onboard. That also means resumes usually go employee -> manager -> department manager -> HR, and not the other way around like it does at larger companies.

So my advice is look for smaller companies - it’s tough because there are a million in the MD/DC/VA area but it may be a better bet.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Leon711
06/10/2015 at 09:37

At least we are not alone.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/10/2015 at 09:40

I’ve been applying to mostly IT jobs, but also some analyst jobs. My degree is ISOM (InfoSys and Ops Mgmt), so I have a wide net of abilities. Out of curiosity, is your company hiring?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/10/2015 at 09:57

Actually, we are hiring, mostly looking for engineers but there are some positions for program managers and program analysts open. Take a look at the careers section of the website and see if anything strikes your fancy. If you find yourself interested in anything let me know and I can do my best to put you in touch with the right people. http://www.gibbscox.com/

Naval architecture is an interesting field, but it’s kind of a niche market. I like this company because we are independent, so we are currently or have worked with almost all the major players in the industry. And that gives us a broad field of work - we do clean sheet designs sometimes, and other times act as a design agent for customers, helping them solicit and evaluate other companies designs. We also do life cycle support on our ships and other ships, everything from conception phase to end of life.

Leon711 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/10/2015 at 09:59

I fought my way through eventually, you can too.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/10/2015 at 17:09

I don’t have any engineering chops and it looks like the operational positions are outside the area. Is there anyone in the office you could ask about a local Business Analysis/ Info Sys/ Operational position?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/11/2015 at 08:49

I think so, I can talk to my boss about it at least, and see if he can point me in the right direction. Do you have a current resume you can send me? Let me know when you see this and I’ll throw my e-mail address up for a few minutes so you can send it to me.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/11/2015 at 14:45

I’m gonna be on oppo for the next 20-30 minutes or so.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/11/2015 at 15:23

Or instead, just email me. Sampson1tenew_era@yahoo.com.

That’s my junk email, but I’ll email you back from my good one.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/11/2015 at 22:32

I sent it. Did you receive it? I switched emails in the app on the reply, so I’m not sure if it made it on its way.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/12/2015 at 08:57

I got it. I’ll talk to my boss today and figure out who to route it to.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/12/2015 at 16:12

Thanks buddy. I appreciate it.