Freedom 34 has gone sideways and crashed

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
10/18/2018 at 12:11 • Filed to: None

So anyways, a few years ago, thanks to a sudden move back to Seattle and child care malfunctions, I looked at the bank balance and decided to take a few years off with the kids. Fast forward to now, and wife’s job situation seems to have an end date a few years out. My wife makes bank, so this is a bit of a problem. Even given that, she tends to have to deal with a lot of garbage (long hours and lots of travel) at work thanks to my perceived competence as Mr. Mom .

In any case our youngest is off to Kindergarten and I need to go back to work to take some of the pressure off. Does Oppo have any advice for rejoining the workforce? Is anyone hiring in DC?

Applying for jobs here seems to be more a matter of calling Mommy or Daddy’s friends as opposed to submitting resumes even at the mid-career level. Since I know pretty much no one here, and my parents don’t either, that’s an issue.

Should I just take a retail job and make the best of it, or aim higher?

I’ve worked in commercial/retail banking, developing simulation software (and consulting for lots of government and corporate clients), taught engineering for four years at a U.S. service academy, did consulting in college for aluminum companies and one of the Big 3, and worked with a bunch of startups. Kinda pulling my hair out at this point as I can’t even get an interview.

So Oppo, throw some advice my way. Or post awesome rally videos. Both will help.

DISCUSSION (21)

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 12:18

take the retail job and aim higher

easier to get a job if you got a job... even if its a shitty one

someassemblyrequired > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/18/2018 at 12:23

Yeah that’s the thinking I’m coming around to...

Great video, BTW. Mk.2 Escorts don’t get enough love.

fintail > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 12:24

Me ga Millions is at 970MM - win that and your job search is over.

someassemblyrequired > fintail
10/18/2018 at 12:26

bwahaha - off to 7-11 I go...

Future ND Owner > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 12:40

I live/work in DC in the AEC industry and may be able to help with advic e. What field are you looking to get into?

Sovande > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 12:47

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I don’t think this is the case for grown up people, nor was it ever the case for me. I think the problem is that you have been out of the workforce for a period of time and that is working against you. People tend to not like gaps in work history, especially in an economy as strong as this. The other thing that jumps out (and I am probably incorrect about this) is that at first glance it looks as though your work history is a bit varied? I think industry folk like to see industry jobs represented on a resume.

I would decide what you want to be when y ou grow up and tailor your resume to that career path. I would contact a recruiter, get your LinkedIn game strong and respond to every inquiry that comes around. It also might not hurt to get the help of a resume writer who can help you to highlight the important aspects of your resume and to put it all together well. I did that once and I found the money spent to be very well worth it.

As for what job you want to take, that’s obviously very personal. I would imagine that if you need money now, any job would help. If you are looking for a career, you might be better served to wait to find something a bit more rewarding.

I work in construction, and any warm body with ambition, common sense and the desire to learn could probably get a job as a Project Engineer and work your way up.

Sovande > Future ND Owner
10/18/2018 at 12:49

I am in the same industry in DC. There is a ton of work out there right now.

someassemblyrequired > Sovande
10/18/2018 at 13:20

Ha maybe that’s just a Fairfax County thing. We have bounced around a lot thanks to the wife’s job, so I’ve worn a few different hats (and honestly moving around frequently is probably working hard against me too). It probably doesn’t help that I’ve got money in the bank and can kind of afford to be picky... for now.

You’re probably right, no one likes a generalist anymore. I kinda see it as a selling feature, because I’ve kicked ass in several different fields, but Heather in HR might not care/understand . Probably a good call on the resume writer. I have lots of B ig I mportant F riends on LinkedIn, but that doesn’t seem to be cutting the mustard with recruiters here...

Like I said, money’s not a huge issue at this point, just sort of getting the ducks in a row for the transition that’s coming up.

I’ve done property management and construction management before too... lol. I didn’t even put that in - I generally buy fixer uppers and then fix them when we first get to a new place and rent them out when we move...

Kinda thinking I should start something again. Buy a Ford Ranger and a lawnmower or something. Might be easier than going back to corporate life .

someassemblyrequired > Future ND Owner
10/18/2018 at 13:22

Just kind of looking to restart the career. I used to do a lot of risk analysis/reliability consulting and software development, but kind of just looking to get out of the house as well. I’m a mechanical engineer by training, but I’ve done lots of construction/renovation work (at least on homes). Any HVAC companies that don’t need a security clearance?

Sovande > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 13:37

I would guess that I get 15 emails a week through LinkedIn from recruiters and in-house HR reps asking if I am looking for a new position. It is to the point that I have a canned response that basically says “If you can beat this commute and this salary, I will discuss it. If not, I’m not currently interested.”

I think that there are so many qualified people here that companies are probably seeking specific qualities in a candidate. Employers can choose to be very picky because the field of candidates is very qualified.

Email your big important friends from LinkedIn and see what they might know? Call former employers and see if they have contacts in this area? I am not a huge fan of social media, but for some reason LinkedIn has been a very valuable resource for me. With very minimal input, I have been able to make pretty good connections which resulted in very good leads the last time I was looking for a job.

I have a buddy who owns a local landscaping company. He started with a pickup and a lawnmower. He still has the pickup and he also has about 60 employees. He just sold his 46' boat because last year he was only able to spend two months cruising on it after his kid was born. Nothing wrong with getting off y our ass and cutting that grass.

someassemblyrequired > Sovande
10/18/2018 at 13:53

LOL yeah the recruiters only hassle you when you don’t need a gig. I can empathize with your priorities though.

That’s probably a good point about qualified candidates - the piece of paper might be worth more than the experience, but it’s a little shocking when you see the same jobs posted over and over again by the same employers, especially if you’ve got lots of experience in the field . You’d think a warm body would be better than going short.

I hate leaning on friends for jobs, because it puts them in a bad spot, but you’re right, that might be more useful than shotgunning resumes and writing cover letters.

No kidding - I started a landscaping company back in high school. It just finished up its 22nd year - I paid for engineering school with cash money, it keeps my Dad in newish Buicks, his MG and motorbike on the road and pays for 2-3 months/yr in Florida. I took a pay cut to take my first real job.

Sovande > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 14:01

Nice. It is always funny to run into this guy. He is always in something new and fun and seems to enjoy the work.

I don’t look at the networking thing as leaning on people so much as it’s preemptive favor returning. You ask, they oblige and reach out to someone they know and then when you can help them out in some way you will. I also genuinely think people like to help other people, especially in the business world. It makes people feel relevant and important to know that a simple phone call could end up getting someone they know hired on.

My experience with recruiters was interesting. I got so tired of them not listening to specifics (no, I WILL NOT interview with a company in Rockville) that I made the conversations adversarial, made lots of demands and basically acted as though they worked for me, instead of the clients they were trying to assist. It worked with a few.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 14:25

I’ve got nothing for you other than this video of Jari-Matti Latvala throwing a MK2 Escort through the woods of Finland:

TheRealBicycleBuck > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 14:53

If you have your P.E., you shouldn’t have too much trouble even if you haven’t been in the work force in a while . If you don’t have your P.E., it might be a good idea to get licensed.

If you have experience in construction, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding work as long as you are willing to start at the bottom. Speaking a foreign language will help. I’m not sure where you live, but a lot of crews will be heading to the Carolinas and Florida. That will create a vacuum in your area, so it might be a good time to get licensed as a contractor and start your own business.

someassemblyrequired > Sovande
10/18/2018 at 14:57

Yeah you’re outside in the fresh air, and at the end of the day, the job is done.

That’s a good point about hitting up the old colleagues and connections. They may need it at some point in future, and truth be told I’ve helped a few out back in the day.

I always found external recruiters to be huge time wasters when I was on the other side of the desk - that’s kinda colored my views of them in general - I always ended up poaching unhappy Amazon/Real Networks employees from the bar I hung out at , as that was cheaper and less painful. They always seemed more desperate then the person looking for work - I guess they are in effect a salesperson, with all that entails.

In any case, thanks for listening to my gripes - it’s been really helpful to get my head straight . I’ll let you know how it goes.

Sovande > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 15:04

I bet it will work out well.

someassemblyrequired > TheRealBicycleBuck
10/18/2018 at 15:06

You can only count two years of college teaching towards your PE in Washington State so I’m short a little less than a year, even though I’ve had my EIT forever (sadly no PEs in the software firm where I worked). So I’d need to do it in another state besides WA. But yeah, I should probably cross that t at some point, or at least go do the ethics test for my P.Eng. in Canada (because I just need to fill out the paperwork and sit the ethics test). Since one of the classes I taught covered engineering ethics, I’m guessing I might have that one nailed...

I keep getting pulled into doing small jobs in the neighborhood since the contractors charge a fortune around here. It may be time to stop doing that for beer.

someassemblyrequired > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/18/2018 at 15:08

That counts. Also Mk2 Escort is best Escort.

Future ND Owner > someassemblyrequired
10/18/2018 at 17:27

If you want to work on the construction side, a ll of the big MEP firms in DC are hiring Mechanical Engineers (no security clearance required) :

https://aecom.jobs/jobs/?q=mechanical+engineer&location=washington+dc

https://ghtltd.com/employment-opportunities/

http://www.aeieng.com/index.php/careers/established_professionals

DLR

Dewberry

Cannon

On the consulting side, I’ve got friends at Deloitte and Northrop Grumman who are always hiring.

https://jobs2.deloitte.com/us/en/Experienced-all-jobs?icid=top_

https://northropgrumman.jobs/usa/jobs/?q=engineer

https://careers.boozallen.com/en-US/search?keywords=engineer&location=

someassemblyrequired > Sovande
10/18/2018 at 21:38

Here’s to hoping.

someassemblyrequired > Future ND Owner
10/18/2018 at 22:06

Hey thanks for those tips. I had looked around here, but searching mechanical engineers on the job sites in DC returns 1 bazillion TS/SCI+Poly jobs, which I’m just not dealing with when we’re likely only in DC three more years or less. No time to jump through those hoops, even if I was inclined to.

Deloitte’s an excellent idea. I should probably bug some people I know there.

One of the folks I do know here works for Northrop, he told me to get a job at Wal-Mart because it would suck less even given the pay differential . Not exactly a ringing endorsement, and again you have the clearance issues working there too. BAH used to be ok back in the day , but again probably not practical given we’re not here long term.