What do I need to do to get a job?

[Ohio Joe]

I've been unemployed for almost two years now. I still send out 40-50 resumes a week for something in my favored line of work (IT, programming, management, testing/QA, design, DBA, I have experience in all of these). For the last 8 months I have also been trying to get pretty much any other job... flipping burgers, stocking shelves, ringing a cash register... anything and everything that will let me fill out an application.

I'm running out of gas... How is one supposed to keep the will to keep looking? I will very soon be joining the ranks of the homeless if I don't get something.

I'll head somewhere where it will be warm at night. Where is a good place to be homeless?

[angrycarpenter]

1. I'm in the same boat

been looking for 15 months now.

There is no good place to be homeless but if you must go somewhere where the weather is nice like south Florida.

I would offer a pep talk but it would ring pretty hollow coming from a guy like me.

[Gman2]

4. Some of the best homeless weather on earth, is found in San Diego.

And if you wish, it is legal to live on the beach, around trestles area. I did a stint of homeless for a year. The cops are the first enemy, then, anyone that might try to play you. You must have a car though.

[Dappleganger]

31. Don't go to South Florida, love...

actually, FL is a horrible place to be homeless because they have cut all the services back to practically nothing. SF is full of homeless right now so you'd be competing for just a few spots with thousands of homeless folks.

[panader0]

2. Puerto Rico

It's a US protectorate, it's inexpensive, and the climate is 80's in the day, 70's in the night.

[Mind_your_head]

3. Go out and MEET people.....develop relationships....TALK with people

let people get to KNOW you and get to know other people as well. You may not be comfortable with that at first (if you're not used to it). Now is NOT a time where 'shy' people get ahead.

Best of luck to you! :hi:

[Ohio Joe]

8. heh, shy is the last thing I am

I appreciate the advice. I assure you though, I am easily a people person, I can schmooze with the best of them... and I am doing that. heh, I strike up conversations even with people I am waiting in line with and casually turn it to if they are aware of any jobs :D Talking and networking I can and actively do... it just has not worked yet.

[kestrel91316]

32. Go to LinkedIn (business networking website) and get busy building contacts and

looking for jobs on there.

http://www.linkedin.com/

[tammywammy]

39. +1 for LinkedIn n/t

[rox63]

46. +2 for LinkedIn n/t

[Warpy]

5. Ohio is particularly desperate right now

and relocation might be your best bet in the long run, especially if you're looking for a stopgap Mcjob. Anywhere there are tourists is a good bet because a few people will be traveling this summer since prospects are starting to look up in some job classifications in some parts of the country.

I honestly don't know what to tell you about your field since US employers would rather go halfway around the planet than hire Americans right now. It sucks.

Being shoved out of a job you've spent your life educating yourself for and working to hone your expertise at is beyond my experience, although my health has forced me out of more than one job I've loved.

Good luck. Know you're not alone out there, probably part of the problem, but this can't last forever any more than the boom times can.

[Ohio Joe]

11. I already have

Last September I moved to MA. I should have given more thought to my screen name :D

[Warpy]

28. Mass. should be picking up a little bit by now

although the situation for IT people is continuing to be pretty desperate unless they have enough money to open up their own shops and find their niche.

FWIW, I loved living there. I just got too old for those winters.

[rox63]

35. There are companies starting to hire in MA

What sort of programming do you do? I work for a small software company (just doing customer support while I finish school), and many of their staff work remotely from around the country. So you may not be all that limited by area.

What web sites have you been using? Web sites I've had good luck with are indeed.com and simplyhired.com. They aggregate job listings from other sites. And don't rule out temp. My current job started as a temp gig that was only supposed to be for last summer. I'm still working there, and it will be a year in May.

[Ohio Joe]

37. I'm a mainframer

JCL, IMS, DB2... If it is done on a mainframe, I can do it in my sleep.

I'm on Dice, Real Match, SMUZ, Job Fox, The Ladders, Jobs in Pods, Thingamajob, Computer Work, Glass door, Vault, Job.com, Job Warehouse, Career jet, Indeed, Simply hired and beyond. So... yeah, I'm on a lot of sites :(

My last gig was a temp job for the state of Ohio, it was supposed to be for three months and I was there for a year and a half. I talk with over a dozen temp/contracting agencies every day or two.

I do appreciate all of your advice.

[rox63]

43. What part of the state are you in?

There isn't as much going on with mainframes as there used to be. :(

Are you near Boston, 128, Metro-West? That's where a lot of the action is. Also, are you on LinkedIn? You may want to check into non-IT workplaces that have IT needs, like hospitals, universities, etc. I've had some IT jobs with health-care related companies.

Right now, I'm actually training to get out of IT and into a health-care field, cause it's harder to outsource.

[Ohio Joe]

47. Yes, I'm on LinkedIn

I actually joined a number of years ago... Well before I lost my job. I'm in Natick, not far from Boston and will look into what you suggest. Thanks!

[rox63]

48. Is it possible that your skills are out of date?

I found that out about myself a couple of years ago, after 15+ years of supporting enterprise apps running on various flavors of Unix. I was hating my job, looking into moving on, and realized that I would have to take a major pay cut if I were to change jobs. I started training for more up-to-date technical certifications (like MCSE and the like), and realized that my heart was no longer in it. That's when I decided to make the change to a new field.

I'm now 2 months away from graduating and reinventing myself in a new career. I realize that you may not have the resources to do that. I lived on my 401K money for the 1st year, and student loans and part-time tech work for the 2nd year. But in May, I will graduate, take my board exams, and start a new career as a respiratory therapist. It may not pay as well as I made in IT, but it does pay pretty decently. And it can't be outsourced.

[louis-t]

6. Summertime in Michigan,.

Two guys moved into a historic mansion I sold. They forwarded their mail there, put the electric in their name, and won't budge. It will take a court date, a 7 day notice to quit, and a bailiff to get them out. Squatters have 'rights'. Tragically, the price was only $113,000. If they strip the house, the value will drop $20,000 or more. I keep thinking "why am I killing myself to pay my house payment? I could move into a mansion and live there free."

[Hannah Bell]

7. & the relationship to the op is?

[louis-t]

9. "Where's a good place to be homeless?"

Sorry about the sarcasm. Lousy week.

[Ohio Joe]

12. np - That I understand! - nt

[Greyhound]

10. There's no good place but SoCal is warm and not quite as terrible as AZ, TX, etc. n/t

[Hansel]

13. I'm sure you have, but just in case...

have you tried temp agencies that specialize in technology? I lived in MN where the unemployment rate tends to be lower than the national average, but the temp agencies are really picking up steam here. That is usually a good foot in the door.

[JBoy]

17. Temp agencies are the first to pick up in a recovery.

First you see overtime hours increase, as the staff left after layoffs try to handle the increased load. Then the companies, maybe not yet confident enough to hire, will go to a temp agency for relief.

[customerserviceguy]

27. Temp agencies are about the only way anymore

Companies don't want to commit to hire someone who will be a pain in the ass to have to get rid of, they'd rather see a person's work ethic, and how the work and play with others before making the decision to hire.

No doubt the OP's mainframe skills might just be useful for a little here-and-there work to deal with the aging mainframe infrastructure we still have.

[Glimmer of Hope]

36. I done this before and landed my current job this way. It is hard but

it is a good way to network. My firm just called back a lot of contract employees after cutting them back last year.

[Ohio Joe]

38. MN?

I can relocate and have not tried anything in MN, thanks for the heads up. I will contact agencies in MN. Thanks!

[jody]

14. If you've been looking for two years you've already checked USAJOBS.

Hope you find something soon.

https://my.usajobs.gov/Login.aspx

Jody

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. I Don't Know

My fiancee is a senior accountant with twenty years of experience and she's having a hard time finding a job.

[The Straight Story]

18. Been out of work since last July, IT field also, had some interviews - over qualified

Time and again. Other jobs 'not enough experience' in some off the wall software program.

Last one took me out to lunch, was very impressed, high paying, then the company decided to go with a temp agency to save money. No benefits, can let them go easy if they don't like them, etc (and yes, I am listed with all the agencies here - but they don't call, they just post jobs to build up their resume data base).

I interviewed for Wendy's as a burger flipper - sorry, too much experience elsewhere and you will leave when you get a better job BS. Hell I used to manage a pizza joint, worked in manufacturing, was a cop, I have solid work experience in many fields.

Nothing. Too old, too much or too little experience, credit shot since I don't have a job....

[malmapus]

40. Same freaking boat!

IT, been out of work for 2 years here like the OP. But for most things I have too much experience. Then if I try for a "burger flipper" type deal, they figure I'll jump ship as soon as something opens (which I can't really blame them for that).

My wife and I figure we're on our own, so we've been trying to start a freaking business. Figure the only way to get a job now is to make one. But that's just damn near impossible with the way the credit system is all fooked up.

[Ohio Joe]

41. I understand

There is a Five Guys Burgers place opening u[p here in Natick and they were taking applications the other day. I showed up and the guy asked me "What are you doing here?" I really froze... I tried to think of something clever to say but instead just told him the entire truth. He told me I was not what they were really looking for, they wanted part time high school kids but that he would see if he could do something for me. heh, it is the best I've heard in a long time, I hope he calls.

[OhioChick]

19. I'm sorry to hear this....

It's tough out there. Hope you find something soon.

[Donnachaidh]

20. DH had the same problem

of course, he doesn't have your credentials.

However, he signed on with a LOT of temp agencies. I lost track, but he had a pile of cards and would call EVERY day. The only time he didn't was when he was too sick to get out of bed. He pretty much told him he'd take *anything* And for a while it was *anything* thrown at him.

But he found a couple of agencies that had workers who were go-getters and would really try to get him longterm jobs. And he has one now that is going to permanent.

Do expect to take a pay cut. That's a given. Smallest cut would be 25% of your old salary, possibly more. But with your computer skills you should be able to find something through the agencies.

And don't listen to the BS the agencies say -- *only call once a week* - that's a crock. Call DAILY. They will find something for you - if only to get you to stop calling.

Good luck hun.

[Lyric]

21. Come to West Virginia.

Seriously. Apply at West Virginia University, Ruby Memorial Hospital, and Mon General Hospital. Apply at NIOSH, the federal research center in Morgantown. Apply at the FBI center in Clarksburg. Our jobless rate is lower than almost anywhere else, and if nothing else, there are LOTS of retail and service jobs available right now in Morgantown because it's a college town and summer vacation is coming up soon--so the student workers will be leaving, and vacancies opening up everywhere.

Consider it. Ohio is only just next door...

:hug:

[Dappleganger]

30. That's actually a great idea! nt

[Ohio Joe]

42. Thanks, I will look up all of those places

WV is also not a place I have looked at and I can relocate. Thanks!

[Jkid]

22. Job hunting is a face

The best way to get a job in this shit economy, or in any economy is via temp agencies and by having connections. When I mean connections I mean your friends, family, old classmates, teachers, and professors; anyone you know.

[Initech]

23. I'm going back to school in the next year - year and a half.

My job is literally hanging on by a thread, and I don't have a lot to my name that would make me employable if I lose it so I'm spending the next couple months figuring out what to do about going back to school (and I'll probably have to relocate across the country to be able to do so), and I'll live off of student loans in the mean time. I think by the time I graduate the market will stabilize and I'll be able to secure a job easier.

[Touchdown]

24. You have to be chinese and be available for work in China.

That's the only way.:(

[janet118]

25. Have you thought about freelance web design or computer repair?

Small businesses in my area (Plymouth) are always looking for an IT guy to help out with little problems that come up with their computers. Also, designing websites for advertising purposes. Massachusetts is really a tough place to find a job these days. The mini career centers have all kinds of resources and job fairs. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Eg-ptiangirl]

26. Do you have a degree?

If you have you should search for work in Golf countries and cities like Dubai. Can you communicate in any other language to work as a foreign teacher? cause in many countries you can work as an English language teacher if you are from an English speaking country.
But don't be sad please I am sure you will find a job soon I am going to pray for you.

[kestrel91316]

34. Welcome to DU!

[Ohio Joe]

45. I have considered such

But I do not speak any other languages then english, so english teacher is out. I have applied for programming jobs from Guam to China, relocation is not an issue for me.

[Dappleganger]

29. Just trying to think outside of the box here...

I know it's tough, dh has been looking for permanent work for well over a year now. He did take on a contracting job with lower pay and no benefits, but it's keeping us afloat until something better comes along.

I don't know your personal situation but is it possible to move? Maybe dig up some names of friends or relatives in other states who can give you a couch or a basement until you find something more lucrative? Obviously if you have a mortgage and family it'll change all of that.

We have been looking in *every* single state, including Canada. The interviews for senior level engineers have been picking up the past two weeks, however. There's been nothing since last June...NOTHING. Every other opportunity has fallen through even after positive 2nd/3rd interviews and visits. Employers are contracting out jobs like crazy, either locally or overseas.

I'd also suggest temp agencies, it may give you a foot in the door.

If I'd had anywhere to choose to be homeless right now it'd probably be Austin, Texas.

[rucky]

33. Keep hitting up friends and family

to hook you up with any friends or family of theirs that may be hiring.

I think it may be the only way anymore.

Or since you're in IT, check the "no" box when it asks you if you're a US Citizen, but make sure you let them know you don't require H1-B sponsorship.

[Liberal_in_LA]

44. suggestion...when applying for fast food/low wage jobs don't appear overqualified