Anyone else looking for work right now?

[Arkitech]

This sucks man, I can't see to find any work these days. I've been in IT for 15 years and all of a sudden I can't get a call back on any of the resumes I send out. I'm back in school to get a degree and a few certifications, but in the meantime it's been really tough.

I've applied for jobs at Best Buy, Fedex, warehouses, hospitals, banks, etc.. but still no calls. I've been doing PC repairs on the side but even that's glacially slow.

I'm desperate

 

[DougK62]

When you did work in IT, what kind of work did you do?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

What part of the country maybe someone knows somewhere near that's hiring?

 

[96Firebird]

I have a job, that pays pretty decent, but I don't like it. So I am looking for another job, only 3 months in on my current one. Looking to do something a little different than sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day...

 

[Arkitech]

When you did work in IT, what kind of work did you do?

My last job was in early August, I was doing PC repairs. But the owners of the shop were shady, they would short my checks. I ended up leaving there, the hours were declining anyway. Before that I did a little of everything, desktop support, administration, networking, etc..

 

[Arkitech]

What part of the country maybe someone knows somewhere near that's hiring?

I stay in Park Forest, which is about 20 minutes south of Chicago.

 

[Arkitech]

I have a job, that pays pretty decent, but I don't like it. So I am looking for another job, only 3 months in on my current one. Looking to do something a little different than sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day...

What exactly do you do?

 

[lokiju]

Maybe it's the area?

IT is pretty hot right now in the ATL. But it's for a certain skill level.

Have been flooded for Sr. Sys admin/engineer jobs for the past few weeks.

Not sure how the desktop support/PC repair side of the biz is doing though.

 

[SandEagle]

good luck OP. job market is ass right now. thanks GWB

 

[Rumpltzer]

The IEEE Salary Survey came out this morning. Gonna see where I stand on the salary scale, and I'm thinking that that might motivate me to look for something new.

I keep hearing that they don't have enought talent in the Bay Area to fill the technical jobs. I read that Google gave across-the-board raises this year to keep people from leaving.

 

[brblx]

you're overqualified.

haven't you heard? we had to simplify the country because of the enonomic downturn. now you either get to be a millionaire or perform skilled labor for the same pay as a fry cook.

good luck!

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'm in the Chicago area too, I'm happy with my current job, and my employer has some openings... . YGPM... that said, it's a tough market, and I know they are getting lots of "hits", still, if you see something you are interested in, doesn't hurt to apply...

 

[Gibson486]

I have a job, that pays pretty decent, but I don't like it. So I am looking for another job, only 3 months in on my current one. Looking to do something a little different than sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day...

Are you the guy who negotiated his start pay for an ME job? If so, then what did you expect? Didn't they tell you upfront that you would be doing lots of cad? Anyways, if you want to do something besides being infront of a computer, try going into a company like CDM or some other design firm that deisgns buildings or processes for plants. You get to go out in the field a lot. It's the one thing I know i will miss about that industry.

OP, yeah, it 's getting pretty slow. When I got laid off, my phone was ringing a lot when I put my resume out there. Now, it has been really quiet for the past 2 months. In my networking meetings, I have literally saw attendance double in the past month....

 

[BoomerD]

I'm half-heartedly looking. We have an official unemployment rate of about 18%, but the unofficial rate is over 20%. Employers are now asking for bachelor's degrees for entry-level bookkeeping jobs.

 

[Gibson486]

I'm half-heartedly looking. We have an official unemployment rate of about 18%, but the unofficial rate is over 20%. Employers are now asking for bachelor's degrees for entry-level bookkeeping jobs.

yeah, for engineering, all the entry level positions need 2-5 years experience doing the job they are applying for.

 

[classy]

I know in the Philly area, there are quite a few jobs.

 

[96Firebird]

Are you the guy who negotiated his start pay for an ME job? If so, then what did you expect? Didn't they tell you upfront that you would be doing lots of cad? Anyways, if you want to do something besides being infront of a computer, try going into a company like CDM or some other design firm that deisgns buildings or processes for plants. You get to go out in the field a lot. It's the one thing I know i will miss about that industry.

Yes, that was me. I told them during the interview that I was a hands-on kinda guy, and they appreciated that. But ever since I started I have been in front of the computer. When I am waiting to hear back on something, I used to go out on the floor and help assemble/organize things. I got an e-mail from one of the guys pretty much telling me that I shouldn't be out on the floor and that I should be at my computer working on my machine (that is already designed, I am waiting for the parts to come in...). Ever since then, I have been looking for another job. Plus, every project that we have is late, and the project manager is not very good at his job. I'd rather not be stuck here and have it drag me down...

 

[jingramm]

I got laid off on Friday so I'm looking.

 

[brianmanahan]

learn java or c# and actually know how to program and you will be able to find a job anywhere

 

[Gibson486]

Yes, that was me. I told them during the interview that I was a hands-on kinda guy, and they appreciated that. But ever since I started I have been in front of the computer. When I am waiting to hear back on something, I used to go out on the floor and help assemble/organize things. I got an e-mail from one of the guys pretty much telling me that I shouldn't be out on the floor and that I should be at my computer working on my machine (that is already designed, I am waiting for the parts to come in...). Ever since then, I have been looking for another job. Plus, every project that we have is late, and the project manager is not very good at his job. I'd rather not be stuck here and have it drag me down...

yeah...that sucks. people get threatened for no reason or they feel like you taking them off their horse when all you are doing is being helpful and productive. I have been there and done that. Politics can kill a job.

 

[mmntech]

I've been looking for professional work for over a year now. I do broadcast media, been keeping up my skills volunteering for community TV. Nothing, no callbacks, no interviews. Just too many equally qualified people applying for too few jobs. I do work though. I have six years of education and I clean cars of peanuts. I'm at the point where I'm about to resign to pushing paper in an office or working on a construction site. Construction flag men (sign flippers) get $20/hr! Almost double what I get.

I'm half-heartedly looking. We have an official unemployment rate of about 18%, but the unofficial rate is over 20%. Employers are now asking for bachelor's degrees for entry-level bookkeeping jobs.

I wonder how much it is with underemployment factored in. All the jobs are being replaced by part time and contract work. In my line of work, part time is impossible to survive off of, because so much of it is on call. I couldn't realistically take on a second job. That is if I could even get one. Contract is a little better, until you realize you can't get long term loans (ie a mortgage) because you're a high risk.

Underemployment can be just as bad as unemployment. It can trigger a brain drain. As skilled workers leave, it creates shortages and can decrease economic activity and stifling innovation and creativity. It also creates a situation with a large talent pool is being wasted because supply vastly outweighs demand.

It also begs the question of whether higher education is becoming undervalued. That a degree is not worth nearly what it once was. With tuition fees skyrocketing, kids today are being robbed blind. It's a manufactured problem. The government tells them to go to school or they won't be successful, they do, get loans to pay for ever increasing fees, and graduate with few job prospects and in debt up to their eyeballs.

Society is at a bit of a crossroads right now. I think we really have to reevaluate the way people are education, how companies are hiring, and what realistic opportunities future job markets will hold. Obviously what's been built over the last 30 years is no longer working.

 

[Specop 007]

Last I knew, and it was some time ago, Helmerich and Payne were hiring starting at 29 an hour with OT after 40.

Of course you work 12 hours a day for 14 days straight through. But then you get 14 days off. Oh, and its outside. And you do hard work.

But the money is good.

 

[Farang]

learn java or c# and actually know how to program and you will be able to find a job anywhere

This. At least in Seattle, the market for devs is exploding.

OP, how exactly are you looking for work? Who is talking to you/seeing your resume?

 

[eldorado99]

Society is at a bit of a crossroads right now. I think we really have to reevaluate the way people are education

Sorry, I know I'm being an asshole but that is a funny-ass typo.

 

[jTanked]

I've been looking like a madman. Been in IT since 95, and getting few calls back. Not only that, but if I try to apply for some grunt tech or helldesk job they say it's obvious I'm taking what I can get.


Well DUH!