The Unemployment Thread

[Matt Doc Martin]

I am getting close to possibly having to join this thread...moving from Florida to CT and no sign of a job yet waiting for me. I have sent some resumes out and am trying to get a remote position for my current company, but no luck.

[bert]

I am getting close to possibly having to join this thread...moving from Florida to CT and no sign of a job yet waiting for me. I have sent some resumes out and am trying to get a remote position for my current company, but no luck.

why did you move to CT?

you should have moved to Austin. . .

[Matt Doc Martin]

why did you move to CT?

you should have moved to Austin. . .

There was a small chance I could have moved to Houston. But Donna is in CT with a good job. I need to get one now.

[ever_seeking]

Yes, this is where I was floundering. I'm beginning to suspect that my job workshop helped me a lot with my confidence, because I'm not feeling nearly as nauseous as usual about the interview. Then again, ask me how I feel on Monday...

If there are any workshops around you for interviews or resumes or whatever, I recommend trying them out. Sometimes even if the workshop isn't so great, getting out and dealing with people who are as desperate as yourself can be helpful.

I wouldn't say it's a confidence thing, I just don't inspire confidence in my abilities I guess.

[ever_seeking]

Ooo, back to postings.

But this one is for potential good news as I took a phone call about a job. I will know today if I will be asked to interview for it.

I know, I know, there's two more steps to the goal, or three if they were to ask for a second, but progress is progress.

[Tegan]

So, "really good place" never called back after the interview, which didn't go well at all. Fortunately, while I was working on prepping for that interview I was busy filling out applications, and I got another interview. It came in two parts.

Right after Emerald City Comicon I went in for the first part of the interview, which was a skills test with a trick question that I *almost* fell for. The biggest problem of the test for me was that it was on a Mac computer, and I'm only slightly familiar with them. The second biggest problem was that the mouse and I didn't get along, and I had a devil of a time getting the cursor to move like I wanted. I was disgruntled when I walked back to see that the tech guys had been watching me on their computer. I mentioned the problem with the mouse, and had already told them I had limited experience with Macs. They seemed... impressed. The IT guy told me that I was the fastest so far, but with a half-dozen more people to go I didn't find that to be an advantage. But they assured me that I would be called in for the second part of the interview.

That second part happened today, a four person panel interview. I have no idea how well I did, but I can honestly say that it was the best interview I've given in my life. I felt in control, I felt like I gave the most honest and best answers I could, I wasn't even slouching in my chair like I normally do. I risked asking how well everyone else had done on the skills test, and the IT guy told me that I definitely blew everyone else away. Sweet. I said that would be my consolation if I didn't get the job. I also said that if I didn't get the position I was interviewing for, I'd love to be considered for anything else they had open, because I really liked the atmosphere the two tech guys gave when I took the skills test.

Now I wait. The HR people said they would know by next week, so I expect a call one way or the other next week. Now it's out of my hands, but I'm hoping for the best.

[Lunar Archivist]

Anyone know of someone in the general Montreal area looking for a lab tech?

[MacQuarrie]

I'd recommend self employment for people who have decent skills that aren't being properly used.

Agreed.

I've given up on the possibility of ever getting hired for a regular job. Employers figure if I'm over 40, I'm going to cost them more in health benefits. And apparently there's a real phobia of adults in LA.

Anyway, I've been focusing much more on marketing myself as a graphic designer, and I've picked up a new client each of the last three weeks. I'm doing all the identity & design for a little Italian bistro that's opening in May, all the promotional material for a non-profit organization to fund research into mental illness, logos and materials for a self-improvement/entrepreneur/inventor guru, an interior designer, and book covers for TokyoPop.

So things are looking up.

[Patrick Gerard]

I think something should be done about the doubletaxing and complications associated with self-employment. If employers won't take the risk on you, creating work for yourself shouldn't have as many hurdles as it does now.

It makes taxes a nightmare for most artists I've known.

And I think this is something you SHOULD be able to get bipartisan support on, given its effect on artists (who skew left) and small start-up entrepreneurship where people pick themselves up by the boots, go out and do something. (Which SHOULD appeal to Republicans.)

[Tyr]

Well my local Borders was one of those to shut down, that's not encouraging. I should be job hunting right now, but I'm feeling really discouraged.