Monday career improvement check in

[rubytue]

I'm in all day meetings and not much time to type. Here is last weeks post: pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=28&action=display&thread=437735

Any updates? Any good news?

My news kinda sucks bc I'm not out of the running for all 3 positions I thought I had a chance at. HR declared me not qualified for 2, which makes no sense and makes me want to cry.

I hope everyone else had better luck.

[krystee]

I'm sorry, rubytue.

I am making small steps toward getting excited about my career again. I am reading Do Over by Jon Acuff, which is about building your career savings account (through relationships, character, skills and hustle) so you are ready whenever you need a career do-over, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

I am making notes as I go and hope to have some good action items to take when I'm finished with it.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Lots of resumes out ... not much by way of responses

I'm hoping I get this long term temp position at an F50 company id love to work at - anything to get my foot in the door . Also hoping to hear back from my recruiter re another position - more money and way closer to home.

[bernergirl]

That sucks, rubytue

I applied to 3 more jobs over the weekend and have 3 more to apply for tonight. I realized that the same (national) recruiter has 2 positions open in different cities that use different parts of my skill set, after I applied for the job with the more narrow skill set. Oops? But the posting for the other city says to send resumes to their email address, as opposed to through their site, so maybe no big deal.

Also, side we widened our search area to cities b-d, I've found so many more potential jobs for me in city c. Which is kind of a bummer. I mean, I'd be ok to move there, otherwise it wouldn't be on the list! But it's hard to change gears after starting to make so many plans for city a.

[jinkies]

Both the jobs I applied to last week listed 4/15 as the closing date for applications.

I'm hoping to hear something this week or next.

I am trying to brace myself for the fact that I may not hear from either, no matter how qualified I feel.

Not a lot of other part time options out there right now.

I may contact my old boss and ask him to keep an ear out for opportunities that might work for me. He knows a lot of people, and is/was a great advocate for me.

[hulley]

Applied for 23 jobs (10 in one school district, 12 in another and 1 in my own). Haven't heard anything aback but hooping to at least score an interview in my own town, especially since I worked in the school that is hiring before.

I got an unsolicited reference letter sent to me by a former supervisor who knows I am looking.


I'm feeling stagnant, and like I'm not even sure I want to continue to pursue this teaching thing, and then like a failure because I spent so much time and money to go back to school just to become a teacher.

[LoveTrains]

I have decided to reinvigorate my job search.

I have two interviews next week.

I also found two opportunities today that I will work on applying to.

[explorer2001]

I'm trying too keep breathing while working through some stuff that will either set really favorable or unfavorable precedent depending on how things turn out. I know it could be a reputation making moment in my career and I'm trying not to stress too much but boy it there pressure on this work right now. It's exciting but scary at the same time.

[dreamcrisp1]

Nothing is happening here. Applied for a ton of jobs over the past week and weekend. I did have a recruiter call me with a great job but they're not willing to sponsor a visa and its in new York. So why call me?! I'm in toronto! Only call if willing to sponsor. I'd gladly move for a job. I'm that desperate. She did tell me my resume was really great so that was nice to hear but makes me me more perplexed as to why I can't find a job.

[orangeblossom]

I'm sorry rubytue

I passed my certified nursing aide exam today. I'll be able to look for part-time work until I start school in the fall.

[monsterz]

I have received a couple of rejection emails, I always wish there was more information in them as I honestly feel I am qualified for these positions. On the plus side I have a phone interview tomorrow or a contract position with a company I have been wanting to get into. I also have an in person interview with another company next week.

[rubytue]

Apr 20, 2015 15:35:10 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

rubytue I get your frustration. I got a "Your application does not show that you have the length of specialized/specific experience needed for this specialty and grade" automated email.

Except I've been a GS 13 for 4 frickin' years!

Buncha jerks. I almost want to contact them but that seems desperate

Seriously! I'm considering marching into HR and asking what the heck I need to do to qualify. Realistically, I'm considering appealing. Since its internal, I think I can ask why happened.

[steph96]

I was turned down (no interview) on the financial analyst position that is within my company. I really think they needed someone that already has experience as a financial analyst. They are a small department and they technically don't have any accountants or finance people. I don't think they could handle training someone from square one.

I interviewed for the bank financial analyst position last week. I don't think it went well. The more I think about it, the more I don't want to work for the guy that interviewed me. I have a feeling that he is a major prick.

I applied for a lateral move at my current company. According to HR, I have been referred to the hiring manager. Fingers crossed for an interview! One of my references actually used to work under this manager 10 or so years ago (he left on good terms and she took his job), so I'm hoping that will be a huge plus for me.

I'm really feeling discouraged. There are hardly any opening anywhere that I am interested in. It seems like everyone is either wanting someone with 5+ years of experience or they want someone fresh out of college (a $15k pay cut for me).

[pinkdutchtulips]

Apr 20, 2015 15:13:26 GMT -5 milsaroo said:

hulley -not a teacher but I feel similar.

+1 here too

[idahome]

I found out I got passed over for both of the jobs I'd been referred to. Need Tom irk on changing my resume and looking for other opportunities. I am seriously considering looking for international positions at this point. I just need a change, desperately.

[xokell2]

I might read that book krystee, thanks. im planning on taking a certification review course and exam this summer.

[hulley]

milsaroo pinkdutchtulips - any plans to make a change? I'm at a standstill, myself.

I forgot to add a goal for this week. Today at work I had a conversation with a coworker about how he could fundraise for a marathon. Whenever this comes up, it is something I feel passionately about. Fundraising and helping other people find jobs/decide what to be when they grow up. I don't know that I could do either as a career, but this week I want to look into these other avenues and see if they may be a better use of my skills.

Careers I am considering: academic advisor, college/career recruiter, PR/marketing. These are likely all just pipe dreams, but I need to make a move. My contract is up this year and I won't sign another PT contract for next year, which is what I know is coming my way next month.

[pinkdutchtulips]

hulley I'd like to stay in law, starting to look at legal secretary positions as well

[tacom]

I've applied to six jobs over the past two weeks and heard back on one for the first time today... the position was filled.

I'm running out of jobs to apply to from the job search engines and need to start reaching out to my network and doing hospital cold calls. yuck.

[LoveTrains]

Apr 20, 2015 12:53:49 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I have decided to reinvigorate my job search.

I have two interviews next week.

I also found two opportunities today that I will work on applying to.

And I applied for both those opportunities tonight!

Question - The hiring manager for one is someone I have met a few times at a conference for our field, plus I have emailed once or twice with her from a list-serv. We also had a phone conversation once, about a year ago, regarding the volunteer committee for a professional conference. Would it be appropriate for me to email her and tell her I applied online? What else do I say? Someone help me!!!

[steph96]

Apr 20, 2015 20:51:58 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Apr 20, 2015 12:53:49 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I have decided to reinvigorate my job search.

I have two interviews next week.

I also found two opportunities today that I will work on applying to.

And I applied for both those opportunities tonight!

Question - The hiring manager for one is someone I have met a few times at a conference for our field, plus I have emailed once or twice with her from a list-serv. We also had a phone conversation once, about a year ago, regarding the volunteer committee for a professional conference. Would it be appropriate for me to email her and tell her I applied online? What else do I say? Someone help me!!!

I think reaching out to her would be a great idea.  I have no clue what to say.  Hopefully someone else will have great advice for us.

To tack onto this question, I applied for an internal position.  I am thinking about reaching out to the hiring manager (I have emailed with him on multiple occasions).  Is it a no-no to use my work email address for that?  I would send it outside of working hours.  I'm just reluctant to use my personal email since many external emails end up in spam.

[hulley]

Apr 20, 2015 19:18:15 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

hulley I'd like to stay in law, starting to look at legal secretary positions as well

My aunt does this. She really enjoys the work, and says she gets to do the best parts of law without all the headaches the attorneys go through. She also makes almost 100,000 per year. Not a bad deal, IMO.

[sweetptater]

I like this thread. Can I join in too?

I just started a new job 6 weeks ago. The work is similar to what I've been doing for the last 10 years, just a different branch of the industry. The problem is that I'm starting to fall into the old habits I had at my last job. I'm not motivated, I don't care. At my last job I was full time WFH and had a terrible boss for the last year I was there, so I attributed my lack of motivation to him and to my not being able to give 100% focus to work (laundry, errands, housework). But now that I'm falling into the same patterns of doing as little work as possible at my new job (which is in-office), I'm starting to question whether or not I even LIKE my career. I'm starting to feel like I may be bored, but the problem is that I have NO IDEA what to do about this. I would think that if I liked what I did (which I've been saying I've loved for the last 10 years) I would be excited to come in and work hard and I'm not. Plus, I'm the manager of the department. I kind of feel like I'm on the edge of a cliff right now. I'm scared because there are very, very few opportunities where I live in my career field, but if I'm bored, do I even want to continue with it?

AHHHHHHHH........it feels good to get that out.

[ssmjlm]

Apr 20, 2015 11:53:36 GMT -5 rubytue said:

My news kinda sucks bc I'm not out of the running for all 3 positions I thought I had a chance at. HR declared me not qualified for 2, which makes no sense and makes me want to cry.

We had this happen to several internal candidates we knew were qualified.  It turned out somehow the system was kicking them out even though their packages were correct with all required degrees, etc.  So I would definitely ask for more information.

[krystee]

I just accomplished my professional goal! I was published in an industry publication and the article featured a case study of a project I helped lead. I normally ghost write for other people, so it's fun to see my name on the article!

[rubytue]

Apr 21, 2015 10:54:34 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Apr 20, 2015 11:53:36 GMT -5 rubytue said:

My news kinda sucks bc I'm not out of the running for all 3 positions I thought I had a chance at. HR declared me not qualified for 2, which makes no sense and makes me want to cry.

We had this happen to several internal candidates we knew were qualified.  It turned out somehow the system was kicking them out even though their packages were correct with all required degrees, etc.  So I would definitely ask for more information.

So I got some info today. No one made the cert. zero. They are reposting.

Edit - I took out a lot of specific bitching.

[steph96]

Apr 21, 2015 19:10:53 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apr 21, 2015 10:54:34 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

We had this happen to several internal candidates we knew were qualified.  It turned out somehow the system was kicking them out even though their packages were correct with all required degrees, etc.  So I would definitely ask for more information.

So I got some info today. No one made the cert. zero. They are reposting.

Edit - I took out a lot of specific bitching.

It sounds like it is a good thing that you asked about it! Does this mean that you will be able to apply again? I'm clueless when it comes to Fed stuff.

[starlily]

I've confirmed two references (out of 5 minimum) and also secured one letter of recommendation (optional but highly suggested).

By the end of the week I hope to confirm at least two more references and two more letters of rec.