Help me fix my broken my job hunt
August 30, 2015 3:05 PM Subscribe
I am stuck in a constant cycle of deep underemployment. I live a life of sheer financial terror and bitter dissapointment. I can't continue like this.
(This post is not totally unlike posts I have made before...but I am still searching for answers. I am starting to think I am a truly imbecilic person who just doesn't "get it". So bear with me, and treat like a 10 year old if need be...)
Stats: 42, male, Toronto, Ontario
As of now, and for the past 2 years, I have an income of as little as $650 to no more than $1200 a month. It generally sits at about $800. My rent is now $500; this is because I now live with two psychopaths who make me want eat bullets.
The only jobs I have been able to get are in retail merchandising. These positions are always part-time, and while I work for two agencies, the shifts are overlapping. Often shifts are cancelled or run short. Minimum wage with no chance of advancement.
I *used* to have an almost-career that I miss terribly. I was a territory sales rep / merchandising supervisor for an agricultural supplier. I fell into this gig; I started as a (surprise!) merchandiser and impressed the higher-ups suitably enough to be offered my own territory. I did very well at it and lasted 7 years until the company restructured and elimented the sales force. It did not pay that well, for the record. That was two years ago, since then I have had no luck in finding a similar role. I am becoming convinced that jobs like that no longer exist.
Brass tacks: I am obviously not marketing myself correctly. My resume is a piece of shit, no matter how hard I try I can't make it sound good. How do people know how do this? I'm such an idiot. I've read articles and used templates...nothing sinks in. Fail.
I also have no idea where to seek out these kind of jobs. I've scoured Kijiji and Craigslist, Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, local job banks, Addecco, Randstad, SalesRep.ca....No avail.
What I am finding too is most positions in this field require experience and education far beyond what I have.
Here are my skills, I think:
I read planograms. I can write them too (I've never been able find this job listed).
I can sell. If I understand the product well enough, I will sell it. I would educate the potential buyer on the benefits of said product, and demonstrate its competitive value. I always dealt with re-sellers (B2B), thus I would present a whole catalog to the customer, help assess their needs and then build orders.
I would help the customer best present the product (display). Then, the follow-up. Markdowns, damages / returns, I would lead the process.
One of my specialties was conflict resolution...my bosses nicknamed me the Hostage Negotiator. I would put out fires...Things go wrong sometimes, our company would screw up - and an owner would be ready to cancel all orders and send our stuff back. I'd show up, and with a little soothe-saying some olive branch offers they would double the original order.
On top of this, I built, from scratch, a solid team of seasonal merchandisers that I would send into the stores. These guys would come back to me year after year; I loved them and the stores did too.
Other skills? 15 years ago I went to community college for graphic design; I didn't finish. I was a hack. I'm good at photoshop, though.
I'm pretty good with a socket and ratchet set. I'm a low-rent musican, too.
So, thats what I can do. I don't know how to traslate that into a resume that would make a hiring manager drop everything and call me in.
A few things I have found: Many sales positions are commission-only. This will not work, I need an initial income to survive and do the job properly. Also, territory sales rep jobs require a car. I do not have one, nor can I get one. I can't even rent one, with my bad credit.
(I really, desperately wish I could go back to school. Event Co-ordintor calls my name, it seems to play to the best of my abilities. But I am ineligable for OSAP, and will never ever see the $7000 or so it costs to go. So that's out.)
At this stage, if I could just get a gig that pays $2000 a month, I'd call it a win. Is that too much to ask? Maybe I'm not worth it. So many folks I know make much more then that, I wish I were as capable.
Do jobs that fit my skills even exist? I can't find them. Are there alternatives?
Is my age getting in the way? I'm competing with people 10 years younger and way more education, do I have a chance?
Or should I just get used to poverty for my remaining life?
(Sorry, that's bitterness ripping through. I've just...never really lived, you know. I want to travel, do things...get my ugly teeth fixed, get the sleeve inked that I've wanted forever. I can't even date. I've struggled for years it seems to get nowhere. This life sucks, that's all...)
(This post is not totally unlike posts I have made before...but I am still searching for answers. I am starting to think I am a truly imbecilic person who just doesn't "get it". So bear with me, and treat like a 10 year old if need be...)
Stats: 42, male, Toronto, Ontario
As of now, and for the past 2 years, I have an income of as little as $650 to no more than $1200 a month. It generally sits at about $800. My rent is now $500; this is because I now live with two psychopaths who make me want eat bullets.
The only jobs I have been able to get are in retail merchandising. These positions are always part-time, and while I work for two agencies, the shifts are overlapping. Often shifts are cancelled or run short. Minimum wage with no chance of advancement.
I *used* to have an almost-career that I miss terribly. I was a territory sales rep / merchandising supervisor for an agricultural supplier. I fell into this gig; I started as a (surprise!) merchandiser and impressed the higher-ups suitably enough to be offered my own territory. I did very well at it and lasted 7 years until the company restructured and elimented the sales force. It did not pay that well, for the record. That was two years ago, since then I have had no luck in finding a similar role. I am becoming convinced that jobs like that no longer exist.
Brass tacks: I am obviously not marketing myself correctly. My resume is a piece of shit, no matter how hard I try I can't make it sound good. How do people know how do this? I'm such an idiot. I've read articles and used templates...nothing sinks in. Fail.
I also have no idea where to seek out these kind of jobs. I've scoured Kijiji and Craigslist, Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, local job banks, Addecco, Randstad, SalesRep.ca....No avail.
What I am finding too is most positions in this field require experience and education far beyond what I have.
Here are my skills, I think:
I read planograms. I can write them too (I've never been able find this job listed).
I can sell. If I understand the product well enough, I will sell it. I would educate the potential buyer on the benefits of said product, and demonstrate its competitive value. I always dealt with re-sellers (B2B), thus I would present a whole catalog to the customer, help assess their needs and then build orders.
I would help the customer best present the product (display). Then, the follow-up. Markdowns, damages / returns, I would lead the process.
One of my specialties was conflict resolution...my bosses nicknamed me the Hostage Negotiator. I would put out fires...Things go wrong sometimes, our company would screw up - and an owner would be ready to cancel all orders and send our stuff back. I'd show up, and with a little soothe-saying some olive branch offers they would double the original order.
On top of this, I built, from scratch, a solid team of seasonal merchandisers that I would send into the stores. These guys would come back to me year after year; I loved them and the stores did too.
Other skills? 15 years ago I went to community college for graphic design; I didn't finish. I was a hack. I'm good at photoshop, though.
I'm pretty good with a socket and ratchet set. I'm a low-rent musican, too.
So, thats what I can do. I don't know how to traslate that into a resume that would make a hiring manager drop everything and call me in.
A few things I have found: Many sales positions are commission-only. This will not work, I need an initial income to survive and do the job properly. Also, territory sales rep jobs require a car. I do not have one, nor can I get one. I can't even rent one, with my bad credit.
(I really, desperately wish I could go back to school. Event Co-ordintor calls my name, it seems to play to the best of my abilities. But I am ineligable for OSAP, and will never ever see the $7000 or so it costs to go. So that's out.)
At this stage, if I could just get a gig that pays $2000 a month, I'd call it a win. Is that too much to ask? Maybe I'm not worth it. So many folks I know make much more then that, I wish I were as capable.
Do jobs that fit my skills even exist? I can't find them. Are there alternatives?
Is my age getting in the way? I'm competing with people 10 years younger and way more education, do I have a chance?
Or should I just get used to poverty for my remaining life?
(Sorry, that's bitterness ripping through. I've just...never really lived, you know. I want to travel, do things...get my ugly teeth fixed, get the sleeve inked that I've wanted forever. I can't even date. I've struggled for years it seems to get nowhere. This life sucks, that's all...)
Are you in touch with your former team of seasonal merchandisers? What are those folks doing now?
posted by yarntheory at 4:12 PM on August 30, 2015
posted by yarntheory at 4:12 PM on August 30, 2015
I did very well at it and lasted 7 years until the company restructured and elimented the sales force.
One of my specialties was conflict resolution...my bosses nicknamed me the Hostage Negotiator.
Have you called all of your contacts from your former job -- bosses as well as people at your own level and networked with them? Not, "Hey, hire me," but "Hey, what have you been up to? Me? Well, that's a long story, but basically I've been doing X, but am trying to look for Y." If reading resume books and trying to follow templates isn't your thing (and it's not really anyone's thing), talk to career counselors. Call your public library system and ask if they have training sessions for putting together resumes; most libraries do. Post on your FB page for friends of yours who do have good skills at these things and ask for help -- people who are good at this kind of thing generally like fixing other people's errors and making things look/flow better.
Until then, just make a random list of all of your positive attributes in overarching categories (people skills: excels at conflict resolution, high achiever in sales; technical skills: adept at Photoshop, etc.). Once you have a list, craft a well-written paragraph (about three sentences) with an anecdote reviewing how you achieved that success or what you did with that skills. Just writing these paragraphs will remind you of the abilities you have. (My best friend sounded just like you after 10 years as a SAHM mother; after this exercise and some prodding, we turned her ability to catch the PTA treasurer embezzling into a tale of strong research, investigative, communication and conflict resolution skills. Make a game of investigating yourself for attributes you no longer remember.)
If you have a small business development center or small business incubator, go there and read the bulletin board and hobnob at local delis/diners, because that's how people get an "in" with jobs, by making random connections with people who need sharp people to help them. My sister's entire second career came from bumping into a husband of a daughter of my mother's friend in a common city, mentioning she'd quit her career path and was trying to figure out what to do next. She's been doing it 30 years.
Also, starting this very minute, stop saying ANYTHING that approaches, "Maybe I'm not worth it." or "I am starting to think I am a truly imbecilic person." or "I'm such an idiot." Aside from how it reinforces negative thought patterns in your own head, it makes other people uncomfortable, like you're asking them to disprove it, and it takes away from the more productive task at hand. It's like Facebook -- only put the best, happiest, most hopeful version of yourself out there for people who aren't your spouse or your mother or your therapist. :-)
Spend 90% of your waking time (not spent working, eating or grooming) on looking for a job; the other 10% on doing things that don't cost money with people who have positive attitudes. It'll make a world of difference. And then use the first of the money to move.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:32 PM on August 30, 2015 [8 favorites]
One of my specialties was conflict resolution...my bosses nicknamed me the Hostage Negotiator.
Have you called all of your contacts from your former job -- bosses as well as people at your own level and networked with them? Not, "Hey, hire me," but "Hey, what have you been up to? Me? Well, that's a long story, but basically I've been doing X, but am trying to look for Y." If reading resume books and trying to follow templates isn't your thing (and it's not really anyone's thing), talk to career counselors. Call your public library system and ask if they have training sessions for putting together resumes; most libraries do. Post on your FB page for friends of yours who do have good skills at these things and ask for help -- people who are good at this kind of thing generally like fixing other people's errors and making things look/flow better.
Until then, just make a random list of all of your positive attributes in overarching categories (people skills: excels at conflict resolution, high achiever in sales; technical skills: adept at Photoshop, etc.). Once you have a list, craft a well-written paragraph (about three sentences) with an anecdote reviewing how you achieved that success or what you did with that skills. Just writing these paragraphs will remind you of the abilities you have. (My best friend sounded just like you after 10 years as a SAHM mother; after this exercise and some prodding, we turned her ability to catch the PTA treasurer embezzling into a tale of strong research, investigative, communication and conflict resolution skills. Make a game of investigating yourself for attributes you no longer remember.)
If you have a small business development center or small business incubator, go there and read the bulletin board and hobnob at local delis/diners, because that's how people get an "in" with jobs, by making random connections with people who need sharp people to help them. My sister's entire second career came from bumping into a husband of a daughter of my mother's friend in a common city, mentioning she'd quit her career path and was trying to figure out what to do next. She's been doing it 30 years.
Also, starting this very minute, stop saying ANYTHING that approaches, "Maybe I'm not worth it." or "I am starting to think I am a truly imbecilic person." or "I'm such an idiot." Aside from how it reinforces negative thought patterns in your own head, it makes other people uncomfortable, like you're asking them to disprove it, and it takes away from the more productive task at hand. It's like Facebook -- only put the best, happiest, most hopeful version of yourself out there for people who aren't your spouse or your mother or your therapist. :-)
Spend 90% of your waking time (not spent working, eating or grooming) on looking for a job; the other 10% on doing things that don't cost money with people who have positive attitudes. It'll make a world of difference. And then use the first of the money to move.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:32 PM on August 30, 2015 [8 favorites]
What does your cv look like? We're in the wrong part of the world, but we've been looking for coworkers with B2B sales on their resume, and it's a really scarce skill-- I don't need it enough to move you to Hong Kong, sadly, but I have a difficult time believing jobs aren't out there for you in Ontario. If you want, memail me your cv and I'm happy to take a look.
You said you are working with agencies? What kind of feedback are they giving you on your cv?
The Wrong Kind of Cheese has some really good advice. If you send these kinds of messages about yourself when talking to potential employers, you'll put them right off. Is there something you can do for yourself which gets you into a social circle (running or hiking or something) which can help build your confidence?
posted by frumiousb at 4:46 PM on August 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
You said you are working with agencies? What kind of feedback are they giving you on your cv?
The Wrong Kind of Cheese has some really good advice. If you send these kinds of messages about yourself when talking to potential employers, you'll put them right off. Is there something you can do for yourself which gets you into a social circle (running or hiking or something) which can help build your confidence?
posted by frumiousb at 4:46 PM on August 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is there a reason you aren't looking at retail? Your skills sound ideal for department stores, electronics stores and customer services. It may not be what you want to do as a lifelong career, but at least you're more likely to find regular full time hours.
posted by tinkletown at 5:18 PM on August 30, 2015
posted by tinkletown at 5:18 PM on August 30, 2015
What exactly do you mean with you "can write planograms"? If this means you're fluent with the software and can design Planograms making assortment recommendations that take into account item efficiency, inventory on hand requirements, etc.? If so, you could look at head office jobs as a shelf analyst or assistant buyer/buyers assistant. Your in-store experience would be an asset, and you'll be dealing with vendors as well. Look for jobs directly on the corporate websites for Toronto based retailers and target retailers that have a lot of items and a lot of shelves as they'll have the greatest need for this skill set (e.g. grocers, drug stores, general merchandisers)
posted by dismitree at 6:00 PM on August 30, 2015
posted by dismitree at 6:00 PM on August 30, 2015
Have you kept in touch with your old contacts? You probably have a lot of goodwill. All you have to do is ask them for advice, and 2 people to talk to. Say you're "looking for a job where you can be successful like you were last time... what kind of job would that be?"
Keep contacting people and build on your skills. It's the only way.
posted by Nevin at 10:18 PM on August 30, 2015
Keep contacting people and build on your skills. It's the only way.
posted by Nevin at 10:18 PM on August 30, 2015
For the short term; Shopper's Drug Mart is always looking for merchandisers, esp. if you can handle shiftwork. I had a friend that would do this at 2 or more SDM locations as needed. Bonus is the staff discount and I think they have reasonable benefits. You can start here and keep looking.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 10:20 PM on August 30, 2015
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 10:20 PM on August 30, 2015
I just want to add - don't beat yourself up over this. It's tough out there. Canada's economy is sinking to where the US's was 7-8 years ago. Our country was so smug at the time, but all we did was delay the inevitable. It's not your fault the economy sucks.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 10:27 PM on August 30, 2015
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 10:27 PM on August 30, 2015
Recruiters- there are recruiting firms for some really niche areas. They find the job, negotiate a salary (the bigger the salary the more money they can make) and you just show up for the interview. They find several positions, ask which you are interested in and off you go. You may be doing contract work but many positions are temp to perm.
There are lots of sales rep recruiting firms- maybe not in your field but I would start there. They can also help with your resume as they want to sell you as badly as you want to be sold for a job.
I have found 2 fantastic jobs thru recruiters and could not be happier. Both were game changers for my finances.
posted by shaarog at 10:48 AM on August 31, 2015
There are lots of sales rep recruiting firms- maybe not in your field but I would start there. They can also help with your resume as they want to sell you as badly as you want to be sold for a job.
I have found 2 fantastic jobs thru recruiters and could not be happier. Both were game changers for my finances.
posted by shaarog at 10:48 AM on August 31, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks everyone.
I have tapped the shoulders of people I've worked for and with before, but to no avail.
Also I have indeed submitted many resumes to retail locations, but no responces.
Now, the recruiter idea, that sounds interesting. How do I find them? Does anybody know one in Toronto?
And, can someone answer me this: how do I know my value? How do I know what I am worth?
This has dodged me my entire working life. People seem to just know their market value, and I don't understand how. What am I missing here? In an interview I'll be asked what is my salary expection...and I'll have no clue. Am I worth 45k, or do I top out at $12,000? I really don't know this, and I feel utterly stupid for it.
With my old position of 7 years, I cleared around $24,000 a year. I had many responsibilities including my store visits and order tracking and managing my staff, and would often work 15 hours a day. I was never offered a raise and I didn't ask for one. I did get to know some reps who did a similar job, and they got paid far more for less work.
To this day, I still dont know if I was ripped off, or if I was lucky to get what I got...
I really wish I understood the concept, and I tend to feel that since I don't, I get left behind.
posted by Soap D. Spencer at 2:11 PM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have tapped the shoulders of people I've worked for and with before, but to no avail.
Also I have indeed submitted many resumes to retail locations, but no responces.
Now, the recruiter idea, that sounds interesting. How do I find them? Does anybody know one in Toronto?
And, can someone answer me this: how do I know my value? How do I know what I am worth?
This has dodged me my entire working life. People seem to just know their market value, and I don't understand how. What am I missing here? In an interview I'll be asked what is my salary expection...and I'll have no clue. Am I worth 45k, or do I top out at $12,000? I really don't know this, and I feel utterly stupid for it.
With my old position of 7 years, I cleared around $24,000 a year. I had many responsibilities including my store visits and order tracking and managing my staff, and would often work 15 hours a day. I was never offered a raise and I didn't ask for one. I did get to know some reps who did a similar job, and they got paid far more for less work.
To this day, I still dont know if I was ripped off, or if I was lucky to get what I got...
I really wish I understood the concept, and I tend to feel that since I don't, I get left behind.
posted by Soap D. Spencer at 2:11 PM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
What do your old coworkers say? When you call them for leads or help? Have you ever done a 360 evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses with anyone? Have you had references from your former bosses? Have you asked anyone to review your CV? What kind of feedback are you getting from your network? From the way you write here, I get the impression that you may not be selling yourself very well. You are quite negative about yourself and seem ambivalent about what you want. In a tight job market, if any of that bleeds through, you're done.
As a hiring manager, I look at CVs for clarity, fit and brevity. I don't read long letters. Spelling and grammar mistakes may not dq a candidate (especially if English is a second language) but it isn't going to help. Strange colors, smart ass formats, lengthy blocks of text-- these are all things which get CVs binned. I look more closely at cvs which are handed to me by people I know.
To see what your job is worth in terms of salary, comparing your salary to online vacancies is a good idea. I regularly go to interviews while employed, both to keep my hand in and see what others might offer me. There are also online salary calculators, and forums online where you can ask about salaries for a job class.
posted by frumiousb at 4:48 PM on August 31, 2015
As a hiring manager, I look at CVs for clarity, fit and brevity. I don't read long letters. Spelling and grammar mistakes may not dq a candidate (especially if English is a second language) but it isn't going to help. Strange colors, smart ass formats, lengthy blocks of text-- these are all things which get CVs binned. I look more closely at cvs which are handed to me by people I know.
To see what your job is worth in terms of salary, comparing your salary to online vacancies is a good idea. I regularly go to interviews while employed, both to keep my hand in and see what others might offer me. There are also online salary calculators, and forums online where you can ask about salaries for a job class.
posted by frumiousb at 4:48 PM on August 31, 2015
By the way, volunteering during a job gap or running your own business is a good idea because it fills the gap on the CV and lets you put something on the line (can also build your network). In your case, make sure you list "freelance merchandiser". Being unemployed for a while is not so important, as long as employers see you were continuing to try or do something during that period.
posted by frumiousb at 4:52 PM on August 31, 2015
posted by frumiousb at 4:52 PM on August 31, 2015
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posted by kimberussell at 3:17 PM on August 30, 2015 [1 favorite]