Just venting here.. Thanks for listening..
So at the end of last year I volunteered for a separation package along with 10,000 other managers from my company. My wife and I thought there is no better time to make the move to NC than now. So in the beginning of the year the house went up for sale and by June we sold the house and we are renting in North Carolina outside of Raleigh.
I haven't looked for a job outside of my past company in a very long time. I thought with my background and education I should be able to land a decent job rather quickly, 1 to 2 months.
That is not the case. I have been doing this for about a month and all I have netted is 2 calls and 1 interview. The one interview is for a job I am very well qualified for and I really would love to do but I feel that I bombed the interview. I was rusty. First question was tell me about what I know about their organization..That wasn't what I was expecting to be the lead off. I felt like a boxer that got rocked with the first punch and took a bit to get my feet under me. I was still reeling during the second question but got stronger as I moved on. By the end I was almost at my usual form. I know I stumped them on my questions. There was silence for a bit after each one. I will know next week if I move on to the next step but I doubt that is happening. It is what it is.
Indeed seems to be useless as LinkedIn Premium.
LinkedIn is comical with them matching me for gas station attendant with Speedway or store manager with Victoria's Secret. I have a technical degree and background with 31 years experience. 23+ as a manager and leader. I have no idea how they come up with that?
It's only been a month but I am starting to think maybe I should have just stayed put with my old company and not have made this drastic change.
Can't undo it, have to use it as a lesson learned. Now I have to come up with a solution..
Anybody know of good job search websites?
Thanks again for listening!
Did you try Zip Recruiter?
If I were shopping for work I would def use Linkedin Premium and network as many colleagues as possible in Raleigh. Try to network the C level executives and work down. Look for recruiters there as well.
If it doesn't happen, might sound crazy but pick some companies and do a drop in with a resume and ask to meet the hiring manager. Just a quick convo may be all you need to land a interview. Good Luck.
Good luck!
Damn you. There goes my coffee all over my shirt
to expect from the time you submit a resume to getting a job to be 1 months is unrealistic unless you are looking at retail, customer service or other high turnover low skilled jobs.
LinkedIn is actually a great resource, but I agree I have found no value in LinkedIn premium.
Using LinkedIn you can see many companies open positions and then if you are connected to anyone at the company. Employee referrals in many cases carry more weight than unsolicited applications.
You don't work in pharma by any chance? One of my close friends is the head of talent acquisition for a pharma/life sciences company that has a big presence in Raleigh.
I got laid off for the first time in my life this spring, while I’ve had quite a few full time gig interviews, none of them really planned out in the end. I applied to a part time/ temp job at a University and they hired me within like 15 minutes of talking to me. They just extended my contract another couple of months too, which is perfect as I am in the process of opening my own business and it provides me some flexibility right now to get it up and running.
My advise to you is be open minded and flexible with opportunities you may not have considered, don’t take any job hunt personally (it is just a job overall if your not a fit then move on), remain positive and keep trying, something will come into place eventually. Good luck!
I have a finance background and I used to pull financial statements as well as all available info from search engines.
(I guess I should add...not that any of this helped, but that's a story for another thread) ;)
When you do your mock interviewsfind people that are brutally honest find people thru friends that have never met you so they’re not pre-disposed At all about you....
Good luck
Did you try Zip Recruiter?
If I were shopping for work I would def use Linkedin Premium and network as many colleagues as possible in Raleigh. Try to network the C level executives and work down. Look for recruiters there as well.
If it doesn't happen, might sound crazy but pick some companies and do a drop in with a resume and ask to meet the hiring manager. Just a quick convo may be all you need to land a interview. Good Luck.
I know but they asked it first .. I was rehearsing the tell me about yourself to death.. kind of threw me off my game to start.
Verizon back in September 2018 offered a voluntary separation package to their managers. 10,000+ accepted and we all got our wish. I had 31 years so I pushed the retire button also.
We weren't laid off. We left voluntarily.
I have a finance background and I used to pull financial statements as well as all available info from search engines.
(I guess I should add...not that any of this helped, but that's a story for another thread) ;)
I did research them and while I had the answer it didn't come out naturally, I sounded unsure.. or at least I feel I did. my mind was geared for a different question to start.
I only interviewed internally over the past couple of years for transfers. It is what it is.
Financially I am fine. Mentally I am bored. I am too young to be retired.
I know it can take up to 3 to 4 months to land a job..but I was thinking get some calls, some interviews on the phone.. get geared up again. The problem is that I really wanted this job and they called first. It is the direction I wanted to go and I know I am what they are looking for. I am a strong leader, coach and mentor. That came out later in the interview.. I took for granted that the first question was going to be tell me about yourself.. caught me off guard.
It won't happen again to me. I will be ready for anything next time. If I do get the opportunity to go to the second round I will nail face to face.. I hear it is all day with different departments.
I am ok .. just venting. My wife doesn't understand.
You don't work in pharma by any chance? One of my close friends is the head of talent acquisition for a pharma/life sciences company that has a big presence in Raleigh.
I can't even scratch that.. I get rejected immediately. I am telecom, FTTP/FTTH, Field Manager.. and for the last 10 years I was a data scientist on regional and national staff performing executive reporting and automation.
I am reverting back to my roots of field management. Data science is way too competitive and I am not that good to compete with the youngsters. It is a better skill when I am a Operations Manager that has in depth knowledge of Data mining and reporting than a data manger with with field manager experience.
Thanks though!
I am ok .. just venting. My wife doesn't understand.
Maybe use a fabric softener analogy somehow. She will get it...
Quote:
I am ok .. just venting. My wife doesn't understand.
Maybe use a fabric softener analogy somehow. She will get it...
LOL, that made me laugh
Did you try Zip Recruiter?
If I were shopping for work I would def use Linkedin Premium and network as many colleagues as possible in Raleigh. Try to network the C level executives and work down. Look for recruiters there as well.
If it doesn't happen, might sound crazy but pick some companies and do a drop in with a resume and ask to meet the hiring manager. Just a quick convo may be all you need to land a interview. Good Luck.
Thanks Jim!
I have no contacts down here. I have one contact that is high up in a tech company and they are starting to pedal my resume down here.
My 21 y/o son did exactly what you said with stopping in and seeing the HR person.. he eventually landed a nice job.
Or, do something that you want to do which also may be different than what you have been doing for the past 30 years
2. Skip the area newspapers (which are useless) but read the Triangle Business Journal. It has good insight on what is happening here, who is growing, shrinking, etc.
3. There are usually lots of posted jobs with the State or the local universities ... lousy pay but good benefits; networking into these helps.
4. There are also lots of jobs in healthcare.
5. The local municipalities (Cary, Apex, Fuquay) are also growing ...example... I’ve met a bunch of cops who are retired NYPD.
6. Mostly all of the trades are struggling to find good people, & no unions.
Lastly, be cautious on expected salary ... the cost of living here is much lower and is usually reflected in lower salaries. Good luck.
Financially I am fine. Mentally I am bored. I am too young to be retired.
I know it can take up to 3 to 4 months to land a job..but I was thinking get some calls, some interviews on the phone.. get geared up again. The problem is that I really wanted this job and they called first. It is the direction I wanted to go and I know I am what they are looking for. I am a strong leader, coach and mentor. That came out later in the interview.. I took for granted that the first question was going to be tell me about yourself.. caught me off guard.
It won't happen again to me. I will be ready for anything next time. If I do get the opportunity to go to the second round I will nail face to face.. I hear it is all day with different departments.
I am ok .. just venting. My wife doesn't understand.
Tom, have you thought of calling your former leader at Verizon to discuss being a contractor? I live down in Maryland and placed many former VZ employees back in as contractors. Focus on the telcoms and look for consulting opportunities that you can do as a remote employee.
2. Skip the area newspapers (which are useless) but read the Triangle Business Journal. It has good insight on what is happening here, who is growing, shrinking, etc.
3. There are usually lots of posted jobs with the State or the local universities ... lousy pay but good benefits; networking into these helps.
4. There are also lots of jobs in healthcare.
5. The local municipalities (Cary, Apex, Fuquay) are also growing ...example... I’ve met a bunch of cops who are retired NYPD.
6. Mostly all of the trades are struggling to find good people, & no unions.
Lastly, be cautious on expected salary ... the cost of living here is much lower and is usually reflected in lower salaries. Good luck.
Spider, thanks! Great write up. I actually want to work for the state or city. Money isn't a driving force for me anymore. I would take half of what I used to make and be very happy.
I am told by my neighbors here that the wheel moves very slow in regards to employment with most companies.
I was kicking around the idea of opening a pizza place or a bagel place. Lord knows I have yet to find any pizza that is worth eating and as far as a bagel place, that is non existent also.
I love making pizza and 3 of my close friends all own pizzerias back on Long Island. I know I could get some help with that. I just don't know if I want to go that route. I am not a own my own business type of guy.
The right direction will present itself when it is time.
Thanks for the info!
Tom, have you thought of calling your former leader at Verizon to discuss being a contractor? I live down in Maryland and placed many former VZ employees back in as contractors. Focus on the telcoms and look for consulting opportunities that you can do as a remote employee.
I believe there is a catch with VZ. When I signed the voluntary separation it stated that I could not return to VZ in any capacity.
I applied to CenturyLink for a field manager position yesterday which is my roots. I would enjoy that. I also applied with Alarm companies and other low voltage positions.
Something will turn up. I am sure. Thanks for the info!
Btw, pizza is a matter of taste and there actually are a bunch of good NY places in Cary which we all know stands for ‘containment area for relocated yankees’ ... the best bagels are at Brueggers which has multiple locations throughout the triangle. The NY deli as we know it really doesn’t exist because nearly all the supermarkets carry Boars Head cold cuts and make fairly good subs. The one thing we can’t find down here is a true NYC hard roll.
If you do pursue that route however I suggest you buy an existing business. You will need to ask around. Work there for several months with current owner to get a feel for the clients and business operation before taking the leap.
In any event good luck with your "retirement"
The Summer is a terrible time to look for work. Most people in hiring positions are on vacation, just getting back from vacation or heading out to vacation. A lot are planning on sending kids off to college next month. Filling open positions usually doesn't heat up until the Fall.
That being said, NC is a job-rich market. When I've put resumes out there, responses come in quickly and headhunters are calling daily. You should probably give a once-over on the resume to make sure there aren't any obvious red flags or typos.
Also, know as much as you can about any company you interview with - even if it is to go to their website and get 3 bullet points on their core competencies. If you are surprised about a question asking how much you know about their company, you'd probably get caught off guard when they inevitably ask you "Why do you want to work here"? It's about as standard of an interview question there is - in fact, if I give an interview, it is one of the first things I ask to see the interest level of the applicant.
I think it could be confusing for a hiring manager to decide what am I?
I tried reinventing myself 12 years ago. Where what I did worked for where I was, it was not specialized enough for the companies seeking similar workers. I am good as an Analyst, SQL guy, Metric design... I am an excellent Field Manager. My most recent work is as the Analyst/SQL guy. I would put my skills as a middle of the pack candidate.
But if you put me as a Field Operations manager that can also do the Analyst work I feel that I would be more valuable.
I am working towards building my resume to show that moving forward.
Once they finally reached out to me about a position I applied to, I told her I was surprised I didn't get a call from them sooner. I am a perfect fit for 4 or 5 roles they had listed.
And she said pretty candidly, you applied for 12 positions across multiple fields. When people do that they get the sense the person doesn't really know what they want to do and they more or less eliminate you. It was only per employee referral I got past my own indecisiveness.
I too had experience in many different tech roles, from hands-on implementation roles to professional services leadership/management to pre-sales and sales.
Figure out what you want to do, and be selective with what you apply to. Sounds like you're not desperate financially, so target a company (very important to find a culture fit and a manager you can work with) and a role and make it happen.
Once they finally reached out to me about a position I applied to, I told her I was surprised I didn't get a call from them sooner. I am a perfect fit for 4 or 5 roles they had listed.
And she said pretty candidly, you applied for 12 positions across multiple fields. When people do that they get the sense the person doesn't really know what they want to do and they more or less eliminate you. It was only per employee referral I got past my own indecisiveness.
I too had experience in many different tech roles, from hands-on implementation roles to professional services leadership/management to pre-sales and sales.
Figure out what you want to do, and be selective with what you apply to. Sounds like you're not desperate financially, so target a company (very important to find a culture fit and a manager you can work with) and a role and make it happen.
Excellent advice! I totally agree with this. This is my first time really doing this, so I am learning as I go.
This rings true to me! Thanks pjcas18!
I love making pizza and 3 of my close friends all own pizzerias back on Long Island. I know I could get some help with that. I just don't know if I want to go that route. I am not a own my own business type of guy.
As someone who was self employed for much of my adult life IMO that you feel this way is reason enough that you shouldn't start a business. You really should have a burning desire to do it's or probably not for you. While it can be very rewarding the long hours and extra headaches take their toll and unless you have a true passion for it you will likely regret it, or even grow to hate it.
A big one, is go easy on yourself. I can feel your anxiety in your words. This might take some time, and you have no financial worries to truly weigh you down mentally.
Also, have you tried researching companies you would like to be apart of and trying to apply internally?
What kind of background do you have?
I think it could be confusing for a hiring manager to decide what am I?
I tried reinventing myself 12 years ago. Where what I did worked for where I was, it was not specialized enough for the companies seeking similar workers. I am good as an Analyst, SQL guy, Metric design... I am an excellent Field Manager. My most recent work is as the Analyst/SQL guy. I would put my skills as a middle of the pack candidate.
But if you put me as a Field Operations manager that can also do the Analyst work I feel that I would be more valuable.
I am working towards building my resume to show that moving forward.
Build resumes that are geared towards both, and submit the corresponding resume to the right one.
Salary requirements - NC is not NY. You are going to have to take a pay cut for the most part. Dont overprice yourself if they ask requirements. Try to get as much info on what they pay through glassdoor or other sites so you know what to ask for.
Time - give yourself time to find the right job. 1 month is not enough, it could take several months and also consider a career change to a different market
Rely on connections, put it out there that you are now looking in raleigh and since your are renting you could also look in Charlotte. Wilmington is hard to find work since there are very few companies but its still worth looking.
Positive attitude about your past job and experience. Companies dont want to hire a Debbie Downer. Spin everything positive. "I loved my job, my family wanted to make a move to NC." is better than "My company offered a buyout and I took it."
I lived in NY and moved to NC a few years ago, the hardest challenge for me was the salary difference. I had to take a paycut. I was a recruiter and have seen a ton of people hate on their old jobs and that was a major pass for a lot of companies. Your challenge is also that you have been with the same company a long time, sometimes that is viewed negatively so make sure that you highlight any promotions over the years so people don't think you are complacent.
Goodluck
If a recruiter scans to quickly, and misses your address they'll think you still live up North. It happens.