September 18, 2017 at 9:09 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Library Job Hunt
September 19, 2017 at 3:06 am
Normally I'd go with you Steve, but a library wouldn't really help me IMO. I know what jobs might use my skills. Any jobs I'm going for are likely to be undersubscribed, at least by qualified applicants anyway - it's a seller's market here. I'm all for taking the hunt seriously but to me that means targeting the right jobs when I'm ready.
September 19, 2017 at 7:45 am
... Far too many of us look for jobs when we need them, often feeling financial pressures to accept the first offer we get. The pace of hiring usually prevents us from considering multiple offers, as the timing of interviews may not align. We make decisions for expediency, more than any other reason. ...
If an otherwise solid candidate were temporarily between jobs for a reasonable amount of time (like a few weeks), I wouldn't be less likely to consider them or use it as leverage in a negotiation. Life can happen to even the best of us, and even if the unemployment were voluntary, it takes guts to walk away from a bad situation.
Regarding the library, I agree that when you need focus it helps to be in an environment that is conducive to maintaining focus. Distractions, or even familiar surroundings, can cause one to follow past patterns, while changing you're surroundings can unclog the creative process. Personally, I've found that after taking a brisk 20 minute walk during lunch break, or going to my car and closing my eyes, when I return to my desk I'll often have fresh angle with which to approach a task I'd been stuck on earlier in the day. Especially when you're job searching, you want to be operating at peak creative mode, opening your mind to new ideas and not spend your days ruminating on the same stale leads or negative thoughts.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
September 19, 2017 at 9:38 am
call.copse - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 3:06 AMNormally I'd go with you Steve, but a library wouldn't really help me IMO. I know what jobs might use my skills. Any jobs I'm going for are likely to be undersubscribed, at least by qualified applicants anyway - it's a seller's market here. I'm all for taking the hunt seriously but to me that means targeting the right jobs when I'm ready.
It's not just finding skills or jobs, but getting focus on a job search. Getting away from your normal space can help.
September 19, 2017 at 10:59 am
Interesting timing of your post Steve. I recently found myself in a position that I've never been in my whole life: unemployed. I was on a contract-to-hire back to the company I worked at previously when instead of hiring me at the end of the 6-month period, they merely extended my contract a month. The following week they announced the sale of the company. The tech staff was not part of the sale as they have an off-shore team, so after a "knowledge transfer" period I was let go. Those who were on the payroll got a severance package, but since I was "only" a contractor I got nothing. Now, I'm doing a job hunt like never before.
So, if anyone knows of a position for a Sr. Healthcare Data Architect with a specialization in Clinical Quality Measures, please let me know. 🙂 I would prefer a remote position like I've had for the past 5 years which allows me to travel around to various SQL Saturday events in our RV while still getting the job done.
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September 19, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Aaron N. Cutshall - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 10:59 AMInteresting timing of your post Steve. I recently found myself in a position that I've never been in my whole life: unemployed. I was on a contract-to-hire back to the company I worked at previously when instead of hiring me at the end of the 6-month period, they merely extended my contract a month. The following week they announced the sale of the company. The tech staff was not part of the sale as they have an off-shore team, so after a "knowledge transfer" period I was let go. Those who were on the payroll got a severance package, but since I was "only" a contractor I got nothing. Now, I'm doing a job hunt like never before.So, if anyone knows of a position for a Sr. Healthcare Data Architect with a specialization in Clinical Quality Measures, please let me know. 🙂 I would prefer a remote position like I've had for the past 5 years which allows me to travel around to various SQL Saturday events in our RV while still getting the job done.
What metro area, or does it matter?
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
September 19, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Eric M Russell - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 12:23 PMWhat metro area, or does it matter?
If it's not remote, I'd prefer someplace that has year-round camping as we'll be living in our RV for some time. Winters are not favorable to RVs! 🙂 Therefore, warmer climes would be nice although I'm trying to avoid heavily congested areas like Los Angeles.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sqlrv
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sqlrv
Website: http://sqlrv.com
September 19, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Aaron N. Cutshall - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 12:28 PMEric M Russell - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 12:23 PMWhat metro area, or does it matter?If it's not remote, I'd prefer someplace that has year-round camping as we'll be living in our RV for some time. Winters are not favorable to RVs! 🙂 Therefore, warmer climes would be nice although I'm trying to avoid heavily congested areas like Los Angeles.
There are many healthcare related IT companies down here in Atlanta, and the job market is growing so much you'll be overwhelmed by all the open job postings. A lot of companies have moved outside to the surrounding suburbs (particularly places to the northside and eastside like Alpharetta, Norcross, and Kennesaw) where traffic is less congested, and there you'll also find of mobile home communities. The winters are relatively mild compared to what you'll see up north. Based on what you've described, it seems ideal.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
September 19, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Nashville, TN has a ridiculous number of Healthcare IT jobs, especially SQL Server and .NET. If you can do those, you can almost write your own ticket here. Not sure about camping around Nashville, though... you'd have to hunt around for info on that.
September 19, 2017 at 6:02 pm
I got laid off just once due to a company restructuring/physical move and it was with only 2 weeks notice with a pitiful severance. I got really lucky (or maybe it's because I made finding a good job my full time job) and found a good job in a little over a month. It was a good thing because I had no liquid savings that I could get to, the non-liquid stuff was really small, and I was sure that I'd lose my house because the job forecast (at the time) said 12-14 months was the average time to find a job. I vowed to never go through that again.
Kneepads aren't becoming attire for anyone. The only way you can deal from a position of strength in a job search is to not actually need a job to survive for a year. Make it a priority to save enough liquid money to be able to live (not extravagantly but comfortably) for a year. The amount you have to save for survival is a whole lot smaller than you might think. Science out what you need, make a plan for saving, and don't quit until you have it saved... especially if you have a wife and/or kids or other people that won't make it without your help. Once you have that warchest stashed safely away, do it one more time so that you have 2 years of survival month stashed away. Make sure you don't "borrow" from it because you'll never pay yourself back.
If you do get laid off... don't forget to study like a monster. You can do an awful lot of studying when you suddenly have 40+ extra hours and no commute. Whatever time out of at least 8 hours a day you're not spending on finding and landing a job, you should be studying as if it were your job to do so.
Sorry... that sounded like a rant. Hope no one takes it that way. It's how I overcame being laid off and, if it ever happens again, I'm ready for it. You can be too.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
September 20, 2017 at 3:54 pm
Jeff Moden - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 6:02 PMKneepads aren't becoming attire for anyone. The only way you can deal from a position of strength in a job search is to not actually need a job to survive for a year. Make it a priority to save enough liquid money to be able to live (not extravagantly but comfortably) for a year. The amount you have to save for survival is a whole lot smaller than you might think. Science out what you need, make a plan for saving, and don't quit until you have it saved... especially if you have a wife and/or kids or other people that won't make it without your help. Once you have that warchest stashed safely away, do it one more time so that you have 2 years of survival month stashed away. Make sure you don't "borrow" from it because you'll never pay yourself back.
If you do get laid off... don't forget to study like a monster. You can do an awful lot of studying when you suddenly have 40+ extra hours and no commute. Whatever time out of at least 8 hours a day you're not spending on finding and landing a job, you should be studying as if it were your job to do so.
Very good advice, I have been looking to change jobs for six months now, in a very slow job market. The current company, arrived at by a merger is quite toxic and dysfunctional. I have recently given serious consideration to taking some time out and doing some current certifications. A timely post.
On the same note as your post, you would probably like this guy also. http://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/06/why-you-need-f-you-money/
October 4, 2017 at 8:23 am
L30 - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 3:53 PMJeff Moden - Tuesday, September 19, 2017 6:02 PMKneepads aren't becoming attire for anyone. The only way you can deal from a position of strength in a job search is to not actually need a job to survive for a year. Make it a priority to save enough liquid money to be able to live (not extravagantly but comfortably) for a year. The amount you have to save for survival is a whole lot smaller than you might think. Science out what you need, make a plan for saving, and don't quit until you have it saved... especially if you have a wife and/or kids or other people that won't make it without your help. Once you have that warchest stashed safely away, do it one more time so that you have 2 years of survival month stashed away. Make sure you don't "borrow" from it because you'll never pay yourself back.
If you do get laid off... don't forget to study like a monster. You can do an awful lot of studying when you suddenly have 40+ extra hours and no commute. Whatever time out of at least 8 hours a day you're not spending on finding and landing a job, you should be studying as if it were your job to do so.
Very good advice, I have been looking to change jobs for six months now, in a very slow job market. The current company, arrived at by a merger is quite toxic and dysfunctional. I have recently given serious consideration to taking some time out and doing some current certifications. A timely post.
On the same note as your post, you would probably like this guy also. http://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/06/why-you-need-f-you-money/
I would advise choosing what you study with great care. When I was unemployed and hitting 50+ ageism I initially focussed on later versions of SQL Server and C#. Then an advisor suggested upgrading my limited web skills. I never finished the course I paid for as the company running it sunk without trace. In the end I have never used anything I had learnt but know that I would avoid HTML like the plague!
October 4, 2017 at 3:11 pm
mjh 45389 - Wednesday, October 4, 2017 8:23 AML30 - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 3:53 PMI would advise choosing what you study with great care. When I was unemployed and hitting 50+ ageism I initially focussed on later versions of SQL Server and C#. Then an advisor suggested upgrading my limited web skills. I never finished the course I paid for as the company running it sunk without trace. In the end I have never used anything I had learnt but know that I would avoid HTML like the plague!
What did you end up doing, still the SQL and C#? And do you think any of certifications you got made a difference in getting your current position?
I am in the same boat as you, well into my fifties, which mostly seems to disqualify you fast for job positions.
October 5, 2017 at 8:21 am
L30 - Wednesday, October 4, 2017 3:11 PMmjh 45389 - Wednesday, October 4, 2017 8:23 AML30 - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 3:53 PMI would advise choosing what you study with great care. When I was unemployed and hitting 50+ ageism I initially focussed on later versions of SQL Server and C#. Then an advisor suggested upgrading my limited web skills. I never finished the course I paid for as the company running it sunk without trace. In the end I have never used anything I had learnt but know that I would avoid HTML like the plague!
What did you end up doing, still the SQL and C#? And do you think any of certifications you got made a difference in getting your current position?
I am in the same boat as you, well into my fifties, which mostly seems to disqualify you fast for job positions.
These days I am mainly working in Python, SQL and some C. Although I had no previous experience of Python the company felt that I should be able to pick it up fairly easily, which bar dictionaries I did (the first explanation caused more confusion than clarity).
Certificates did not really come into it. In an interview in early 2014 the fact that I had 2008 and not 2012 was used as an excuse (in my opinion) for not taking things further. Previously I had done some serious project management and even had references from two (very) large organisations I had worked with. However the fact hat I was not Prince II certified was used against me. I ended up thinking that a lack of certification was a useful tool for employers to hide ageism!
Good luck with the job hunt!
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