Job-Hunting

May 26, 2004 5:48 AM

I've been trying to get a job in a city 90 miles from my current residence, but not having much luck. Part of the problem is that I'm new to the management class and not really familiar with how job hunting is done; part of the problem is that my degree is irrelevant to my current and prospective work. [emm eye]
posted by yesster to work & money (8 comments total)

I'm currently supervising a crew of 5, heading the Engineering R&D department of a manufacturing company. I want to move to a city 90 miles away. I've been looking for a job there for 2 months. I've tried the classifieds, online job listings, etc., and have only found 2 jobs that are up my alley. Neither employer called back after I sent them the standard resume plus cover letter.

I don't have an engineering degree or a business degree (I have a philosophy degree). But I do have a solid track record, with impressive accomplishments.

What am I doing wrong? I understand that management-class jobs often aren't listed in the usual places --- in fact, might not be listed at all. So how do you find them?

Headhunters seem to be interested in job seekers that they can place anywhere - i.e., who are amenable to relocation depending upon the job. I'm the reverse - I want to live in a specific city. Will they still be interested in me? How would I find a headhunter? Are there headhunter outfits to avoid? Any comments on MRI?

Help?
posted by yesster at 5:53 AM on May 26, 2004

<not helpful>

yay philosophy degree!

</not helpful>

Have you tried contacting the two companies directly? I find that submitting a resume, by email, fax, or via some jobhunt website, is in a word, bunk. You will not be called back, because the signal to noise ratio is tremendous.

The HR guy/gal at the company has 300 resumes on his desk in a big pile. How will he ever find yours, even if you're perfect for the job. If you're qualified like you say you are (i.e., industry experience, professional accomplishments), I'd call the company's main number, and when they answer, ask to be transferred to development / engineering / whatever. If you have to, google up somebody's name from the web, so that you'll sound more credible. Just get transferred around until you talk to the guy who knows the girl who's hiring for the position and get her email address.

I've gotten a few jobs this way.
posted by zpousman at 6:16 AM on May 26, 2004

Wow. You have a philosophy degree and you're supervising five engineers? I know a lot of people, myself included, who would probably pay to get job-hunting advice from you.
posted by bingo at 9:55 AM on May 26, 2004

bingo - hah! I stumbled into an entry-level position that the company had just created, and I worked my ass off. Actually of the 5 I supervise, only two are engineers; the others are technicians and a drafter.

To be honest, I've been damned lucky. Plus I've been very aggressive and just competent enough to back up my aggressiveness. But it's also a trap - I've been promoted to a point where I'm not likely to be seriously considered for a similar position by any other company.

I'm starting to think that I'll have to lower my expectations, and hope to work my way up again.

zpousman - I've tried your advice, and it didn't seem to help. Though I will continue to try, those 2 jobs appear to be closed now.

I'm really stuck right now because I can't find any openings at all. I will pursue a heavy self-sell, but there's literally nothing open as far as I can tell. If I can ever get to the interview stage, my chances will be much better, since I know that I interview very well.

So my first challenge is finding a job opening. The second challenge is getting an interview.
posted by yesster at 10:09 AM on May 26, 2004

What city are you in? Have you tried the standards — Craigslist, Monster, HotJobs? Have you joined LinkedIn to do some professional networking? Are you a member of any professional societies for your trade? 90 miles isn't that far away (in my neck of the woods), have you considered commuting?

How about your current job — sounds like you've excelled, does your boss know your plans to leave? Have you considered asking them to help you network with firms in the new city?
posted by silusGROK at 11:50 AM on May 26, 2004

when i moved, i applied for whatever i thought i could do. i eventually got a job i ended up hating, but it was good experience, and i more than doubled my salary (which was a surprise, not the motivation, and partly down to unusual circumstances, but it gives you some idea of the level you can "jump") 18 months later.

it's easier to find a job when you have one, and it's easier to find a job locally, because you can network. the only downside i can see is that you stop looking (like i did) and end up stuck in something horrible. eventually it gets bad enough that you get motivated to move again...

also, if you've worked your way up, it probably wasn't (just) luck, and you should be able to do so again. again, that argues that getting your foot in the door is more important than the decision.

so i'd say, if moving is very important, get any job you can and then keep looking. but i had very specific technical skills - things may be different in your case (it was clear what i could do, or couldn't, really, and i had no choice (well...) about moving).

(also, you're a philosopher supervising engineers. it doesn't make sense to me that there are only two job openings suitable. sounds like you either accept there's none - because philosophers don't supervise engineers - or that you should go for anything that a smart person can do that doesn't need highly specialised knowledge, and i can;t believe that boils down to just 2 jobs).

(also, something i tried once though it wasn't successful, was putting together a "distinctive" cv and mass-mailing companies that i'd like to work for. it almost worked - got some interest - so you could try that. bullshit something.)
posted by andrew cooke at 11:51 AM on May 26, 2004

Thanks for the additional responses.

My current employer doesn't know I'm looking. They would not be happy with me if they knew.

Commuting isn't really an option. My current employer is the largest employer in a small town. The city I want to move to has a population of only about 120,000, but it is an active manufacturing center, with many different companies.

The main reason I want to move is that I've no romantic prospects where I currently live. I'd already decided to move, and started looking for work, when I met someone who has become very dear to me. Let me be clear: I'd be moving even if it weren't for him.

Andrew cooke -- I like your attitude -- yes, I can do anything that a smart person can do. And I believe that even the most technical skills can be mastered in a short period of time. But the problem is selling an employer on that.

I've tried monster.com and hotjobs. Haven't tried craigslist yet. Nobody recommends headhunters?
posted by yesster at 12:21 PM on May 26, 2004

yesster usually headhunters ignore you unless you are an exact match for a job they already have open. I am in *exactly* the same situation - looking for a job 90 miles away, no prospects in one-employer current town, mini-management background. liberal arts degree.

I've found going to seminars/participating in professional groups/volunteering at professional conventions to be a pretty good way to get people to "know" me even though I don't live there. I try to follow up on every contact later on that week. So far I haven't had any job offers but my goal is to have one by the end of the summer.

Oh - also - I got a "coach" with a background in my field in the town I'm trying to move to - she's helping me with my networking and interviewing skills and hopefully will connect me up with a good match or two.

We shall see. Good luck! In the meantime, I do have lots of experience with resume editing if you want some help.
posted by pomegranate at 6:57 PM on May 26, 2004