Copa
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So I have an interview scheduled for next Wednesday. It’s not quite the type of position I’m targeting, but I applied knowing I’d be a strong candidate and that it’s a stepping stone toward what I want. So I’m open to it if things go well.
What do all of you tell your current jobs when you need to duck out to interview? I lucked out when I interviewed at this company — both days I had to be here in person, I already had off work. The recent interviews I’ve been on were flexible with their timing, so I was only 30 minutes late to work (not an issue where I am).
This company wants to meet me midday. The main office is in another city and it sounds like the director of the department will be at the office near me for the day to interview candidates. I’m planning to ask if they have any flexibility (like meeting me toward the end of the work day), but I have a feeling they won’t have a ton of flexibility and that I’ll need to find a reason to be out. (I hate lying for these things because it’s never a sure thing until you have received and accepted an offer.)
@veritek33 I’d take it personally, too. It’d be hard not to even if you logically know it’s not performance-based. I don’t think my job is a great long-term fit, but I genuinely like and care about my team, and one who started here a few months after I did was laid off from her previous job. My team is pretty close for a group of co-workers, and she didn’t tell us until recently that she was laid off. Not that she owed us that, obviously, but she felt embarrassed about it because it still felt like it must’ve been at least a LITTLE personal. So yeah, I’m sure everyone who has been there feels the way you do!
In other, non-news news, Dimples wants to go out tomorrow and I have a (super late!) holiday party for one of my client teams. I’ve been looking forward to this party for months, but I’m so sad I won’t get to see Dimples again as soon as I would if I were free.
@MissDre – I think I’d HATE guided imagery. Years ago, I tried getting into yoga after my first big break up/when I had just graduated from school and had literally no job prospects in sight and the instructor was big on meditation, always telling us to clear our minds, let go of our worries, imagine ourselves doing things we wanted to do. What I wanted was to stop thinking about my ex, and to imagine better things for myself. And I just… couldn’t, not in that quiet, sweaty room. Being told to clear my mind just seemed to make me focus on my stress and sadness more and it frustrated me. Like @shakeourtree, I had to find something that required concentration to quiet my mind. A couple years ago (after another breakup) I started running, and it helped because it was just me and my goals and my trail, and nothing else mattered for those 30 minutes. Nowadays, I get that same hour of peace of mind at Crossfit of all places — the movements require so much concentration that it’s become the one hour of my day where I literally think of nothing but the task in front of me. Point being, keep looking for other ways to get that peace of mind if meditation isn’t working for you. Physical activities that I think I can’t do work for me — and there’s that added confidence boost that comes with accomplishing goals you never thought were possible.
@veritek – I’m sorry you were laid off! I’ve never been through that before, but I have been prone to thoughts of “omg, I have no skills, nobody is going to want to hire me ever again and I’m going to die at this job” — I have those about once a week right now, even though I’ve gotten a couple interviews. It helps me to remind myself that no employer is interviewing me to be nice, and that there is interest in my skills — so even if THIS opportunity doesn’t work out, someone will be interested in my skillset again. Good luck! I hope you get good news about the jobs you’ve been interviewing for soon.
Does anyone know if there is a way to use LinkedIn Premium withOUT having that banner on your homepage that basically announces to everyone that you’re using Premium? I’ve considered this before at the recommendation of a former co-worker who swears by contacting recruiters on LinkedIn, but she has had bad luck with layoffs and super crappy jobs (that she’s quit) in the past few years. I’d like to be discreet about it, and hate that LinkedIn displays when people have paid memberships.
So when all of you update your LinkedIn profiles, do the descriptions/information you include match what’s on your resume? I’ve been doing what AAM suggests and making my resume more accomplishment-focused, but should LinkedIn be the same?
I updated it accordingly, but I’m looking for something fairly specific. I took a scenic path to where I am not (i.e., have a graduate degree that’s totally irrelevant to what I’m doing, but is, I think, the reason I got a couple interviews off the bat last fall). I’ve always felt like job hunting is hard for someone who didn’t take a linear path from Point A to Point B because I have to defend why I’m not working in the field I went to grad school for every. single. time.
I turned that switch on and… crickets. I’m in a fairly niche area, and trying to get OUT of that.
You guyssss. I’m in like. 🙂 I went on another date with the guy I’ve been out with a few times — I’m going to start calling him Dimples if I haven’t already on here — and he’s just so kind. And good-natured. And smart. And handsome. We went to a cooking class and it was so much fun, and he let me take home both of our leftovers. Letting me have all the leftover cake is truly romantic in my book. 😛
We went for a drink at a nearby bar after and talked about what we’re each looking for and for now it seems we’re both on the same page (both looking for a real relationship, neither of us is seeing anyone else). Still super early to know if we’ll find what we’re looking for with each other, but I’m definitely enjoying my time with him, and it seems like we both want to continue to see where this goes for the immediate future.
I will say, though, that even though all signs at this point are positive, it’s harder than I thought to be hopeful about this. I’ve gotten to the point where I genuinely do think I’m going to be ghosted by every guy I meet. Or that things will otherwise fall apart.
Oh, and @ktfran, I downloaded the Hater app just to see what it’s all about. You have the option of loving, liking, disliking, or hating different prompts — everything from “YOLO” to “the guy should pay on the first date.” I hadn’t heard of it before and I’m guessing it hasn’t picked up steam yet because there weren’t a ton of men to swipe through. I’m not interested in meeting anyone else right now, but I did match with and receive a message from a guy who seems nice and normal. If things go south with Dimples I may give it a real chance.
Yay veritek! I’m so jealous of your interview since I’m stuck in a now month-long waiting game on that front.
Do you have any tips for finding the best recruiters to talk to? The one company I know of, I only know of them because they contacted me a couple years ago about a position when I wasn’t looking to change jobs. They specialize in the field, which is nice, but I’d rather not rely on just one company/contact.
I did realize last night as I was searching LinkedIn that a former colleague of mine works in the type of position I’m trying to get into, but at a higher level than I’d be aiming for. She lives in a different city now, but I did meet her at this job, so she may have contacts here.
I’m super frustrated to have no answers about the job I interviewed for in December. I assume this is all leading toward eventual rejection, but the waiting game is hard for me.
Thanks, everyone.
All three companies I’ve worked at, I applied blind and had no internal contacts. The two companies I interviewed at within the past few months are very, very large law firms and I applied through online portals. So, I do know I can be hired and/or interviewed without connections — but I’ve heard the same thing Kate mentioned about most jobs NOT being advertised, so I’m sure internal contacts certainly make things easier.
I’ve started tapping my internal network, but because the jump I’m trying to make is a bit of a career change, I feel like I don’t have a ton of people to reach out to. When people Network on LinkedIn, is it acceptable to reach out to people I don’t know?
Back in maybe November, when I was very worried about my job, I reached out to a recruiter on LinkedIn. A couple years ago, she reached out to me about a job that’s similar to the kind I’m targeting now. One of her colleagues reached back out to me and we had an informal phone interview about my background, what I’m looking for, and how the company can help. Since then, nothing… I should probably reach back out to remind them I exist.
The primary thing I can think to do to grow my network is to attend networking events. There is an organization that is devoted exclusively to the type of job I’d like, and as I mentioned they’re a client of my current job. I am actually considered a staff member of the organization (through my job), which makes things tricky. At least a few times/year, I go to conferences/events for this organization — but I’m there representing the organization as staff. It seems like a conflict to try to make connections for my own purposes. It’s frustrating, though, because on a daily basis I work with people in the area I’m trying to transition into.
In any case, I’m fully prepared for the job hunt to take… awhile. Luckily things have calmed down at work so I no longer feel like I need to leave (or that I’ll be asked to leave) immediately. I’d even LIKE to stay at least a year. But longer term? I have my sights set, and I’m trying to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B.
@ktfran – pretty sure the class is at the Chopping Block based on location he gave (Merchandise Mart).
@veritek – good luck with your interview. My favorite pre-interview advice is from Ask A Manager: Think about that one truly weird co-worker you have or once had. Someone hired them, and you can get hired, too!
