Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with jobs

I've been freelancing for 3 years. What the heck do I put on my resume? Say at an interview?

OrangeSoda — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:25:01 -0800

Times are tough, and I am looking for part-time employment. I have been doing freelance video work for the past 3 years. How do I reflect this on my resume and what do I say in a job interview? Has anyone had a similar problem? Any tips so I sound professional and not like I've been slacking off?

How, and when, do I tell prospective employers that I am a non-driver?

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:05:17 -0800

How, and when, do I tell prospective employers that I am a non-driver? I'm in the process of seeking new employment. I work in a field which generally does not involve a lot of transit - but I could be in a position, if I move into a higher level job, where I might have to go places offsite. Even if I don't, I may find myself being asked to run an errand for supplies, or deliver an important document.

The issue here is that I am a non-driver, and it's not entirely by choice. I get debilitating panic attacks when I am on the left side of a car. Not just the driver's seat, but behind the driver's seat, too. I do not have a license, and yes, I have been like this since I was a young teenager. Please don't suggest I get some therapy; that's not what this question is about.

As a result of this, I've learned to adapt. I live in a big city with an excellent public transportation system, and I do not apply for jobs or work anywhere not accessible via public transportation. I would never apply for a job which states in the job requirements that I must have a driver's license. I am aware of my limitations, and being in a big city, they're pretty easy to accommodate.

If someone ever asks me why I don't drive, I generally respond by saying, "I have a disability which precludes me from driving." But is that a good idea to tell a potential employer? I've never actually been diagnosed with anything but high anxiety. If I do tell a potential employer, when do I tell them? In the interview? After they've made an offer? What do I say? I don't want them to think that I'm just trying to get out of what many see as a peripheral job duty - "Drop this at the field office on your way home, would you?"

Atypical ways to get interviews at companies?

kelechv — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:40:39 -0800

Almost every job I have ever received came from responding to a Craigslist/Monster/Indeed.com ad. This strategy doesn't seem to work as well anymore, likely due to astounding increases in online application volume. Besides simply knowing someone at the company, what are other ways you've had success in getting interviews?

Cost of a car

josher71 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:51:07 -0800

How do I calculate if getting a car is worth it? Moving from NYC, I haven't had a car in many years. However, now that I'm in Baltimore it seems that many jobs are out in places where you need a car to reach. Having never, bought, leased, cared for, or had anything to do with a car ever in my life, how much money should I expect this to cost me yearly if I go the lowest cost route possible? Currently, I've got about 200 dollars a month to put towards anything car related.

I'm trying to figure out when comparing salaries what makes sense. For example I might only be able to find a job that pays 30k in the city, but there is job for 35k somewhere I could drive to. However, having a car costs 7k a year so I'd actually be losing money taking the job.

TempToPerm

sophist — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:21:12 -0800

What are your experiences with temp-to-perm contracts? Advice, things to watch out for? I was recently offered a position with a great company in a field I would very much like to move into. While it is technically a 6 month contract, everyone I talked to very much indicated that they were looking for a long term hire. So, if they were happy with my performance and I fit in with the team, I would be offered a salaried position at the end of my contract or before. Should I take them at their word? I have never worked as a contractor before, so I am open to any advice regarding this type of work.

Hates job but does it damn well anyway.

SouthCNorthNY — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:31:40 -0800

Famous people who disliked or even hated a big part or all aspects of their job? It's generally understood that to achieve something great, you have to love your work. But are there examples where this wasn't the case? Off the top of my head I can think of Richard Nixon achieving the highest level of a political career, yet he hated people. Any other examples where a desire for success (fame, power, money) overwrote their dislike for their job? I don't care what field or how famous the person was, I'm just trying to see how many examples of this there are out there.

Jobs for Older People

simpleton — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:16:34 -0800

What are Good Jobs for Older People? Does anyone have thoughts on the best types of jobs for an older person around 63?

A person I know has tried truck driving, taxi driving and its really actually difficult due to health conditions.

The other issue is that for other jobs like office jobs, there really is some ageism out there and people don't want to hire older people for a number of reasons, including health care costs.

What can my friend do that is not so strenuous yet can provide a reasonable income.

They are willing to go and get a certificate or training for something.

Quit now, or wait to be laid off?

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:44:01 -0800

My friend has been in a job in NY State for close to 2 years. From the start her salary was substantially lower than she felt she should be paid and she was verbally promised a bonus which never materialized. Nevertheless she stuck with job. Now, the company is going down the tubes. Many people have been laid off. She's been hoping for many months to be laid off herself so she can get unemployment benefits to aide in a transition. But, for a variety of reasons -- mainly that she's a very efficient employee -- she hasn't been let go. This stressful climate of layoffs and, with it, an increase in workload for her, has made it a very inhospitable workplace. She wants to quit ASAP. But she also doesn't want to miss out on unemployment benefits. What are her options? More inside... Specific questions: (1) Can she argue that the nature of her job has changed, so she can no longer work at the company, and therefor, despite quitting, is deserving of unemployment? (2) If, after quitting, she's able to find a short-term work (a week or so) paid through a payroll company with taxes taken out, would this then qualify her for full unemployment? (3) What if she quit her current job because she was offered another job, but that job fell through -- would she still qualify? (4) Should she suffer through additional weeks and months until she is laid off, knowing that the ship is likely going down? (One potentially complicating factor: The failing company where she's currently employed is switching to a different 3rd party HR company and has asked her to fill out some paperwork so her paychecks come through them, beginning Jan 1.)

Can I take 1099 work if I am receiving unemployment in NJ?

minsid — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:45:03 -0800

Can I take 1099 work if I am receiving unemployment in NJ? Can I take 1099 work if I am receiving unemployment in NJ?

I am getting umemployment in NJ. I am in the IT field. I come across projects ranging from week to couple of months. My concern is can I take these projects? I know cash is ok but these pay 1099. I am a bit scared to move forward on these projects because after for example a week project I do not want to be left out of unemployment insurance. Do I have to tell unemployment? If i tell them do they stop and resume?

Please advise...

What should I do about my dishonest job interview?

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:41 -0800

I was not truthful about my past drug use in a job interview. Now I have a job offer and need to get a secret security clearance. What should I do? I smoked weed five days a week for most of this year (from maybe January to halfway through August) before quitting and moving out of the college town. In the past couple years before that, I have a smattering of other drug uses (shrooms, coke, addy; 3-5 times each and in small quantities). I might be able to make a case that I was in a different situation then since I had become a member of a fairly drug laden crowd which I'm now completely disconnected from.

Two weeks ago, I went in for a job interview at a defense contractor and things went smoothly. Towards the end, the interviewer asked me if there was anything that would prevent me from getting a secret level security clearance and listed off a couple of things such as bankruptcy or a criminal record. I said no. After I said no, he made some joke about drugs and we laughed. I silently realized that my drug use might be an issue, something I hadn't thought about until that point. I'd previously figured they'd give a drug test, I'd pass, done deal. Last week, I got call from them saying they were going to be offering me a job.

I've been doing research on security clearances and realized that past drug use can definitely be grounds for clearance denial, but the details on how much use and how long you've been “clean” are fuzzy. I'm not sure if I should even be thinking about accepting their offer. I'm nervous about going for the clearance and ashamed that I ended up being dishonest to the interviewer (even though it was mostly accidental). As soon as he mentioned drugs, even though it wasn't a direct question, I should have piped up but I didn't and now here I am.

My main question:
How should I approach this? Should I call them up and say “I've made a mistake and was dishonest, take me or leave me”? Maybe it's not as bad as I think and they can still work with me. It would be a nice job if I get it. Or should I turn down the offer, give some vague reason, and make the problem go away? I don't need the money and have plenty of time to keep looking for other jobs. I'd still feel bad about the whole thing, but nobody would have to know.

The third possibility, which I've been rejecting as unethical, is not saying anything them, accepting the offer, and then acting surprised if my clearance ends up being denied.

Secondary question:
What are the chances of me actually getting a security clearance given my habitual drug use until three months ago?

Related question

Dog Walkers Share Info, Please

VC Drake — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:38:46 -0800

Any experienced dog walkers out there in MeFi land? I'm curious how you charge? How much? What is the typical day like in the life of a dog walker? How do you usually find work? Do the dog owners have you take their dog(s) out more than once a day? If you could share with me any information about being a dog walker, I would certainly appreciate it.

How to maximize jobs with an obscure MA?

flibbertigibbet — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:40:01 -0800

Starting fall 2010, I'll be going to grad school (Master's) in a pretty esoteric field (studying texts from late antiquity, written in an obscure language). If I decide not to go on to the PhD, what can I do now and during my Master's to maximize my job opportunities when I get out? Are there any skills you would really strongly recommend that I pick up? If it helps, I'll be in Ottawa, Canada. My program can withdraw your funding if it finds out you're working more than 10 hours/week, and most of those 10 hours are taking up with your TA work.

Is there a website that tracks information about companies that have offshored information technology jobs?

cosmic.osmo — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:25:50 -0800

Is there a website that tracks information about companies that have offshored information technology jobs? I'm looking for a website that tracks companies that have offshored information technology jobs, and that can provide information about the locations and sizes of their offshore offices.

I've seen references to one at techsunite.org from around 2004, but it appears to be defunct.

What is asked in the 3rd step of a job interview?

beerbajay — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:06:17 -0800

I'm applying for a programming job. I've had two steps of interviewing so far. What are they going to ask in the 3rd step? This is for a firm which has historically done all of their development through contractors. The first interview was with a HR person and someone who seemed like they would be my direct superior; they asked mostly general personality-based questions (why do you live in this foreign country, would you work overtime, how do you want your coworkers and superiors to act). The second was a phone interview with a consultant who asked entirely technical questions. I have a scheduled third interview with the vice director of the firm on Monday. What would they possibly ask?

What did you do with your degree?

mellifluous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:13:36 -0800

Have you managed to turn an undergrad degree in the humanities/liberal arts into a satisfying and intellectually challenging career? Please tell me about it. I'm finishing up a social science/humanities degree (philosophy/psychology/cognitive science, if it matters.) I'm considering graduate school, but I'd like a sense for my other options - what can I do with my degree? Standard answers like "education, research, law, academia, marketing, etc" are vague, and of little use in forming a concrete plan. I'd like some specific examples of possible paths (the more details, the better), and some reassurance that my degree is at least somewhat useful.

So I'd like to hear how you turned your liberal arts/humanities/social science degree into an intellectually challenging and reasonably fun career, one that utilizes abilities like:
- writing clear, succinct prose
- research skills
- reading and summarizing abstruse/academic material
- analytical/problem solving skills
(etc.)

I should mention, also, that I've taken some computer science courses - I don't want to become a programmer, but if you have a relevant job that requires some modicum of technical skill, that's fine.

I'm not looking for something particularly lucrative, but extra points if your story doesn't involve a dying industry (e.g. print journalism.)

Extra, extra points if it's a career that I've probably never heard of.

Opportunities for a Citizen of the World (or at least the EU and US)

verevi — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:30:33 -0800

Are there any occupations or financial opportunities that are made possible or made better for people with dual citizenship (specifically EU and US)? For example, could someone with dual-citizenship more easily broker real-estate or other deals for ex-pats?

I know dual-citizenship isn't all that unique, but I was just curious if there were some opportunities of which I was not aware.

Mefites: Please hope me!!!

bebrave! — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:38:11 -0800

I need to take two exams in order to continue to compete for a job I have applied for. I very much want and need this job, or something like it (I am truly desperate!) The tests take place in about a week. The email that arrived from the HR person states that the exams I need passing scores on are: 1. Software Function and Use WOQAA198
2. Financial Services Basic Exam WOQAA130

This job is an intern (training) position for a state agency, after the year's training period the successful trainee will no longer be an intern and will probably get a small raise and a title of sorts, and have the security of a government job, which would be a HUGE relief to me.

A little Hx (I will try to keep this short): I have worked for 25 years in a relatively specialized field that is not really business related (I am a dog /cat wrangler, or, veterinary technician). Except for a little relief work and/or owners of the clinic dying or retiring, I have had the same employer most of this time. This (animal medicine) is a "dream job" for many, as it is all about "saving the animals", and because of my longevity/experience, I have a great reputation and have gone as far as a person can go without a DVM, but the problem is, a person can't really pay their bills or raise a family on the financial compensation. And I like the work just fine, but the money and the "hard labor" aspect can be tough for a woman approaching 50.
This was ok for the longest time, because my job in the family sense was to make a little grocery money and get out of the house a few days a week. Now, the situation has changed. My partner has gone from a hard-charging reliable family guy to one who has decided he will forevermore work only for himself, so he pushes an aerator around and swings a hammer here and there but has for all intents and purposes quit providing for our family (we have two kids and I helped him raise the others he had to adulthood). He gets out of bed everyday between 10 and 11 AM and doesn't see a problem with that. (That whole issue is a whole total 'nother Mefi question, but not today's!) I was a more-or-less suburban housewife encouraged by my spouse to keep that job for it's few bucks and respectability.
A few years ago now, things started to get really tight so, since I realized he wasn't really going to work anymore and he wouldn't support my going back to school (for something or anything) I have been trying to find something or anything else I can do that will pay the bills and keep my kids safe and healthy until they are grown.
I have a Bachelor's (in Biology) in addition to my animal medicine education/experience, but did not use it to do anything else (see above, and yes, my fault).
So a couple years ago I found a great job with decent money and benefits (which I formerly depended on my spouse for) which worked me hard but I loved and was related to animal medicine, but they canned me after a year and would not say why. It has been painful but also qualified me for unemployment insurance which has actually "paid" better than my vet tech job. I have used this time to try like heck to find a "real" job. I have applied to every job I can find that I am qualified for and think I would like to do. I keep getting axed at the final weed-out (when I am 1 of 6 or 1 of 3, out of an initial 100-ish). This, I don't think, is so weird, things are tough out there right now. But the unemployment money is about to run out for real, and I need to know how to ace these tests. If they don't pick me for another reason, then, fine. But I don't want it to be because I can't pass, and I have no experience in "business".
I can do anything, do any job, have proved myself a bazillion times at my hard work and adaptability.
I think they want to know I know computer and business basics. The reference librarian sent me home with a small armful of books, but can anyone out there help me get ready in a couple of days?

Will My Dept Sink Me With A Prospective Employer?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:46:00 -0800

Will a prospective employer not hire me when they find out I'm repaying money to the IRS? I'm in the running for a job I very much want, and in the course of my research on the company discovered that they run routine credit and background checks on prospective employees.

I have minimal outstanding credit card debt and no collection agency reports on outstanding bills. My concern is this: although I've filed my taxes every year, due to a drop in my income, I didn't have enough money to pay what I owed for tax year 2008.

Since I'm currently a freelancer, it was a substantial amount ($4000). I worked out a payment plan with the IRS immediately, and the debt is being deducted bit by bit from my bank account every month, but I assume that it will show up on a credit check.

However, I don't want to give any reason for my prospective employers to not hire me. Would this give them pause? Should I try to find a way to clear the debt immediately, say, by asking a family member for a loan to pay the IRS?

I also would appreciate any information on when these checks are usually conducted. For example, are they conducted during the interview process, or after they make a tentative offer subject to the results of these checks? I haven't signed any authorizations to make these checks, but I'm not sure if they need my permission to do them.

Thanks for your help.

Propitious places to move to & unusual living situations for having 3 or 4 days a week free to work on personal project

cotesdurhone — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:39:38 -0800

I'm working on a project that requires at least 3 or 4 full days attention each week. What are some places in the US or world I could move to, &/or unusual living situations, that would give me a good chance of doing this? Other considerations:

• Part-time job terminating Jan 1, and definitely want to move elsewhere (currently live in Boston)
• Have $5000 savings. Will probably also be able to continue receiving unemployment (about $1,000 month) if I move out of state (but not country, obviously)

• Age 30. US Citizen.
• Languages: English, Russian
• Skills: Writing and editing, visual art, Russian translation (but no graduate-level degrees to show this)
• BA from Liberal Arts college + semester (2 terms) at Oxford

Any and all reasonable options considered.

• Preferred urban environment: vibrant arts scene, inspiring architecture, not overrun with college students or sports fanatics, ethnically and age-ally diverse
• 'Ideal' destinations: Montreal, France
• Hypothetical order of preference: 1. Montreal & France (tie) 2. EU, Scandinavia, & Turkey 3. Eastern Europe 4. USA & Canada 5. South America 6. Asia 7. Australia/New Zealand 8. other

• Preferred rural environment: the more (interesting) people around, the better

• "unusual living situations" = housesitting - caretaking - living in some cabin - (earnest) meditative community - collective farm - kibbutz - teaching abroad - or anything else

• If it's helpful to know— the project is of a literary nature (a novel and other writings)

Finally, what are the very best resources (books, websites, magazines, etc) that might be of help?

All my dreams are coming true!

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:13:41 -0800

I have been called back for my dream job - an internship on a public radio program. Please help me impress my potential employers and get this position! In October, I applied to intern on a weekly public radio program that does news and analysis type programming. The internship sounds great: I would pitch stories and have my hand held through the entire production process, and my stories would end up on the air. I am so incredibly excited at the prospect of doing this.

Yesterday, they called me back; unfortunately, I don't think I came off all that great over the phone. I was kind of caught off guard (was at work; wasn't really expecting a call, office is under construction and loud), and I just don't think I was at my best. They offered me a chance to tour the studio and I jumped at it in the hopes that I could present myself a little better in person. The tour will be conducted by one of the show's producers (the same person I spoke to on the phone).

I would love to get a little input from the hive mind about what kinds of questions I can ask, what I can expect, and generally how I can impress them.

Information on me
-Have a lot of experience with audio recording/editing
-Have a degree in journalism
-Am a public radio fanatic

Any suggestions you could give would be huge. If you have any questions for me, you can post them in the thread and I will email the mods, or you can contact me at throwaway email : radiodreamjob@gmail.com.

reference advice

crazylegs — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:03:32 -0800

What is the protocol regarding asking for academic recommendations? I am a recent PhD seeking a job in academia. I've been feeling badly about burdening my former MA and PhD advisors for job references, because I know they're very busy people. But I tell myself "hey, it's part of their job, don't feel badly". Well, yesterday I received an email from one of them that smacked me down pretty hard. She took me to task for a couple of other things, and said that the references were "a lot to ask" (I have sent her around 10 or 12, most of which could be an identical letter, sent to a different institution).
Is there any other way to go about this job search? It seems that my advisors are the best people to use for recommendations; as I am not yet published (and even if I were), who else is familiar with my work?
Did I do something wrong? The last thing I want to do is to alienate the people who, to some extent, hold my future in their hands.

Structuring a confusing resume

MPnonot3 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:46:02 -0800

Another resume question. For the past 4 years I've been going back and forth between freelance grip work and a self-started videography business. Where do I place these on my resume? I'm a recent college grad and over the past year and a half I've had your traditional post-college-film-major jobs (kids camp video instructor, unpaid internship at a DVD distribution label, night shift mosquito sprayer around rural Illinois). These have all had firm beginning and end dates and on my resume I've listed the most recent first and go back chronologically from there. So far so good.

What I'm trying to figure out is if I should place the videography business and freelance work "jobs" above these clear cut job jobs since they presently pay the bills and also explain the month or 2 (or 4) long gaps between the more traditional work. These ongoing projects have been on and off for about 4 years and have made the move with me from Philly to Chicago so I'm worried it might look weird having a "Freelance Film and Video Production....Philadelphia, PA;Chicago IL....6/2004 - present" above a "Mosquito Job...Chicago, IL...5/2009 - 8/2009" for reasons of the massive date/location overlaps.

This is geared to a more general resume for marketing positions, administrative positions, anything, etc. I already have a production resume that lists all my projects individually that I use for freelance gigs.

So where should I put these general jobs that span years and states?

How hard is it to become a National Park Ranger?

invitapriore — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:10:19 -0800

How hard is it to become a National Park Ranger if you've got a location in mind? I would love to be a National Park Ranger at either Rocky Mountain National Park, Cascades, or Yellowstone. I have a fair amount of outdoor experience and a solid understanding of basic environmental science, neither of which I have come by in any official capacity like a job or a university class. Either way, I imagine it's a position that a lot of people would like to have and that competition is pretty steep. Is this the case? What sort of experience do they look for in potential employees?

Looking at the job listings, I see a lot of jobs in the locations I am interested that pay by the hour and cover some of the less glamourous aspects of park administration, like "Water Treatment Plant Operator." While I'm obviously less excited about something like that, I'd still take it in a heartbeat. Is there a lot of competition for those jobs too? Anything else I should know?

Should I apply for the same university teaching job twice?

jkl345 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:58:20 -0800

Should I apply to the same academic position twice? I was a finalist and they ended up not hiring anyone after everyone had interviewed (the job wasn't cut because of budget issues or something like that). They just decided not to fill it and passed on me. The Backstory:
A year ago I applied for a teaching position at a cool university where I attended graduate school (many moons ago).

I applied after being urged by two former professors who knew my skillset and thought I could contribute to the school. I thought I had a good shot at the job and love the city and university, so I applied.

I interviewed and was declared a finalist for the job. I was offered another job at another school that was good, but I passed on it with the hopes that I'd get this dream job. I did the in-person interview, guest taught a class (which got rave reviews from the students and the teacher whom I was teaching for), presented to the faculty and then went home and waited.

And waited. Then sent a message to the search committee chair to check in, who said they were still making a decision.

Then I waited more. When my lease was coming up, I contacted them and asked if there was anything new. They said they were going to continue looking, that I was still a 'finalist' but that I should do what I needed to do and not wait for them.

It's several months later now and I checked in with one of the professors I knew and it ends up that they did not hire anyone (and not because of budget reasons). The professor said:

"...What happened is something I’ve seen happen frequently in searches (both here and in industry). The committee fell in love with one candidate (who really was unique and outstanding) and when that candidate turned us down, all the rest seemed to pale by comparison. Don’t take it personally … it was a function of the dynamics associated with that particular search. ..."

The professor also mentioned that for next year, they're going to have multiple similar openings to hire and added this:

"... And if you were not discouraged by your experience the last time, and are still interested, you should consider applying again. If you don’t want to, though, I’ll understand. One small difference this time around: I’m co-chairing the committee..."

The Dilemma:
Should I bother applying again or is that pathetic? I feel like this is going on a date with an ex.

I really like this school, the area it's in and I think I'm capable of doing this job well (it'd be a freaking uphill battle because of some bureaucracy/legacy staff issues but I could do it). I'm also still kinda bitter about what happened last year -- especially after the students gave such a high evaluation of the class I taught. It seems that I didn't get the job because of some political b.s. or something and that the administrators aren't really looking out for finding the best teachers. Part of the prof telling me that I could apply again might just be them trying to be nice, because they are a very nice person overall.

If I apply, should I just use the same resume/cover letter/materials? If I change things, it seems like the original was lies. If I keep it the same, it's like I didn't try applying.

Personally, how can I get over this resentment I feel?

Anyone have advice or experience with this or other things I should be thinking about?

Thanks for your help!

What's the temping market like in Philly?

itsonreserve — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:49:25 -0800

I have some time between the end of my residency and my new job. I'm not really interested in going back to the world of coffee-slinging for a few months. I'm curious about the temping market in Philly right now. Are there jobs? What temp companies do folks recommend? Is there enough temp work right now for someone to sustain a living?