Tricks to get a job

[ar81]

Ok, until now I have brought media bad news to you.
You probably know someone who is unemployed by now.
During past economical crisis in my country I was unemployed too.
Do you want to pass that person some tips to get better?
This is the best compilation of tips based on my experience.

1.Unemployment teaches you to achieve peace of mind, to connect to what many people know as "soul" or "the divide part of you" (for religious people), or the wise side of you (for atheists). Once you learn that, you do not need unemployment anymore. I learned that materialism sinks you into depression. But once we learn that money is an imaginary invention, a game that humanity plays, you start playing better.

2.Unemployment lowers your selfesteem. So you will take your 8 working hours and you will do this:

-During morning you will look for a job. People in the morning are more receptive to candidates, in the afternoon they are tired.

-During afternoon you will dedicate this time to do things that make you feel good (no drugs please) to improve your selfesteem. To get a job you need selfesteem, so it is not wasting your time. It is investing your time.

3.Look for yellow pages. What kind of company you might like to work for? Submit your resume, a printed copy, no matter if they have no vacancies today of if they are not looking for candidates. Companies are sluggish, and when time comes to hire, having a printed resume at hand is pretty convenient for them. Submit resumes every 6 months, most of companies discard old resumes every 6 months. Internet websites, HR companies, are very ineffective. Job fairs may or may not work. It is better to do things on your own.

4.Keep a log of everything you do, contact information, interviews and any relevant info that helps you to remember what you have done with certain company.

5.Send at least 100 resumes. Normally 100 resumes lead you to 10 interviews and 1 job. If you have not submitted 100 resumes, you have not done enough.

6.Looking for a job is selling. It shows nothing about your skills. There will be plenty of time to show your skills once you are hired.

7.Listen instead of talking.

8.Unemployment represents a heavy load. Do not mistake your interviewer with a psychologist or a therapist. Do not tell him about your problems. He does not care.

9.Sometimes they will ask tricky questions like "what do you think your worst defect is?". You need to be smart. "My worst defect is that I like to finish things so much that I do not stop working until it is finished" "Hey, but that's not a defect!!" "It is for me, as it denies me spare time"

10.Do not be impressed by the amount of people looking for a job. A job that is meant to be yours, will be. You are selling the best product in the world: Your work.

I know how much unemployemnt hurts families, people, you. I hope lessons I learned could bring some relief to someone.

 

[Eagle]

0. Be positive and smile! Remember that you're smart, attractive, and people like you!

 

[Ghostrider]

11. When sending resumes, tailor them according to your target.

12. When summoned for an interview, dress smartly and behave in a self-confident manner. You may need the job, but you've got to make those guys think that they need you as well.

 

[cjp]

I'm about to graduate, and looking for a job too. Probably the worst time possible to graduate, but at least the house prices are dropping. And people are still looking for high-tech skills, it seems.

12. When summoned for an interview, dress smartly and behave in a self-confident manner. You may need the job, but you've got to make those guys think that they need you as well.

I know a guy who's looking for a computer vision expert for his company, and he explicitly asked for me. I don't know whether I'm a computer vision expert: I only have about one year experience, and, as Socrates said: "the more you know, the more you know what you don't know". But at least I can say I know more than almost anyone else.

I AM really good with computer programming, though. And I'm fast when learning new skills.

Anyway, in a situation like this, should I go for it, or should I look whether there's something better? Well, I guess looking for something better is always possible.

I hope I didn't make people too jealous...

 

[Brad]

13. Be HONEST. If you don't know the answer to a question, state so, but inform the interviewer that you will find out. Don't try to BS your way through an interview. They'll likely see right through you.

 

[wehaveaproblem]

Some good general advice here from ar81 and others.

But, personally I wouldn't use number 9 as ar81 suggests. Having a weakness is not a hindrence, it's what teams are for, the important thing is that you have strengths to contribute. You don't want to appear as arrogant with your response to this question.

Also, a double stress on Ghostrier's #11.

 

[garyw]

Refer to the interviewer by name.
Thank the receptionist.
Be polite to the security guard.
Don't be late.
Research the company that will interview you.

Personally for the "what's your weakness" question I always answer that I have tunnel vision on a problem and will keep on plugging away at it until I've worked out what it is, even if that means other, more important things, get put aside.

 

[ar81]

I hope I didn't make people too jealous...

I bet that from your good position you will try to do your best to help others. So instead of seeing jealous people, you will find the joy of helping people.

 

[garyw]

I'm about to graduate, and looking for a job too. Probably the worst time possible to graduate, but at least the house prices are dropping. And people are still looking for high-tech skills, it seems.



I know a guy who's looking for a computer vision expert for his company, and he explicitly asked for me. I don't know whether I'm a computer vision expert: I only have about one year experience, and, as Socrates said: "the more you know, the more you know what you don't know". But at least I can say I know more than almost anyone else.

I AM really good with computer programming, though. And I'm fast when learning new skills.

Anyway, in a situation like this, should I go for it, or should I look whether there's something better? Well, I guess looking for something better is always possible.

I hope I didn't make people too jealous...

I work in the IT dept of a software dev company and we are still hiring like mad so high tech skills are still in demand at least in the UK market. The thing is it's still hard to get GOOD high tech skills be that storage, networking or even programming so don't expect to be made a senior programmer straight away. You will have to start out near the bottom rung and work your way up.
Saying that, I'd suggest you mail shot a few companies and see what they have to say. Would also be worth talking to a few recruiment agencies.

 

[ar81]

But, personally I wouldn't use number 9 as ar81 suggests. Having a weakness is not a hindrence, it's what teams are for, the important thing is that you have strengths to contribute. You don't want to appear as arrogant with your response to this question.

In this country it has worked for some people.
Probably that's because people here are so individualistic that teamwork is not very common. You may see it in soccer, you may see it at many workplaces.
If teamwork was more common, instead of making addons alone I would have partnered with someone else here.

You may not expect a team to help you here in this country too often.

It is not an arrogant answer. Bosses like hard workers.

 

[RocketMan_Len]

2.Unemployment lowers your selfesteem.

Not necessarily...

I do construction work, and end up unemployed whenever the project finishes. I know that it has nothing to do with my abilities, or my attitude, or my willingness to do any particular task. (Truth be told, I've been told that I do GREAT work more often than I've been told that I suck. :lol: ) The job is done, and I just have to wait until the next one starts.

Times of unemployment provide me the opportunity to catch up on the *other* things I like to do - my build projects are in the debugging stage, getting ready for flight-tests in the spring... and I'm giving some thought to engineering a peroxide/methanol engine for performance tests.

That's one of the benefits of working a trade - you bust your tail for nine months out of the year... and you can save up enough to relax for the other three.

It *is* a mindset that takes some getting used to, though - not everybody is cut out for such a life.

But I like it... :speakcool:

 

[ar81]

When you work for a project you know it ends.
But normally people do not expect their job to be terminated or cut.
Improper management of such situations is very common.
It is specially hard when a person has years of working for a company.

---------------------------------------

And some extra advise...

14.Your resume is like a business card. Do not add data that could allow employers to discriminate you, like age, date of birth, sex, photo, address, etc.
Resume needs to have the info of a business card.

I have seen people being discriminated for a wide variety of reasons.
"he was a cab driver, cab drivers are sharky"
"in this photo she does not wear a bra" (under the blouse)
"she is too pretty, could distract coworkers"
Do not give them any excuse to discriminate you.

 

[TSPenguin]

In germany and many other countries information like date of birth, address, sex and a photo are mandatory in a VC. Hell, it was/is usual to include the job your parents have!
I don't like it and think it is good that countries like canada i.e. banned this information.

 

[ar81]

Well, whenever possible, do not include such info that could allow discrimination.
Resume is like a business card, in case of doubt check any business card to see its contents about personal info.

 

[Torgo]

I just started a new job last week, after 7 months of unempl... er.. professional gaming

I actually had my first interview with this company a month after my old one moved away. My old company recommended me to the new company. I thought I had done really well on the interview, and after I followed up everything seemed positive, but then all contact from them stopped.

I figured they had hired someone else or something, and forgot about them until the Friday before Labor Day (here in the US). There had been all sorts of internal red tape trying to get a position created for me. They did hire someone else to take the job for which I interviewed, but they liked me enough to get a new, better position created. I needed to come back and interview with some of the Directors, which was the middle of September. It took two more weeks to hear back that I was being given an offer. Then, I had to go through the background and reference check, which took another two weeks. Then it was on to the drug test and finally orientation.

The biggest tips I could give anyone, though, is to network, network, network. Talk to people you know. You never know who those people know. Never come out and act desperate for a job. Instead, ask if they could review your resume and make any suggestions on how to make it better.

And when you do get an interview, use the internet to research everything you can find about your prospective employer. Know their vision and mission statements, and be ready to talk about how you fit in with them. If possible, know their products or services, and how they fare against their competition. Being able to talk with your interviewer about the business shows that you really are serious about getting the job. I found a white paper my interviewer had presented, and I think being able to talk about it with him is what got me the job.

 

[Saturn V]

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but this has always worked for me...

1. Wake up at whatever time will allow me to cope with the hangover.

2. Have breakfast. Rice Krispies may be nutritious, but they're too loud. "Snap, Crackle, Pop" my ass! Keep it down. I've still got a headache. Bread is good...and quiet.

3. Get loaded again. Nothing cures a hangover like a little "hair of the dog."

4. Go to the track. Gamble away your unemployment check. Hey! You never know...you just might double your investment. Even if you don't, the thrill of the hunt puts you in just the right job-seeking frame of mind.

5. Show up for interview. Even if you don't have an appointment. Walk into the office with your finger burried in your nose. Tell them you're pro-union and your nose just went on strike so you decided to pickett.

6. VERY important! Demand to know their attendance policy. Especially enquire as to their position on Monday "no shows"/ call-outs. Do you really want to work for someone who cuts into your "you" time? How can they expect anyone to be productive after a week-end bender?

7. Explain that you're just covering your bases and are seeking employment so you have drinking money when the unemployment runs out. You can start next June. As a gesture of good faith on their part, you'd like to be paid immediately.

8. By now it's probably time for lunch (or dinner...depends on the restrictions placed on your schedule by # 1). Go home. Take a nap. Hey, it was a rough morning...

9. Argue with wife/girlfriend over your lack of ambition. Burn the telephone bill while showing her your completed McDonalds application. If that doesn't work, burn the house while showing her your a** and tell her to pucker up. God, what a b*tch...

10. Repeat as necessary.

I've only ever had to use it once...but it worked like a charm.

 

[simonpro]

9.Sometimes they will ask tricky questions like "what do you think your worst defect is?". You need to be smart. "My worst defect is that I like to finish things so much that I do not stop working until it is finished" "Hey, but that's not a defect!!" "It is for me, as it denies me spare time"

I think that's terrible advice. Interviewers will see right through that and just assume you're being a suck up.
Rather than coming up with some baloney about a strength hidden as a weakness I think it'd actually be better that you mention a proper weakness, the interviewers will appreciate the honesty. Say "I don't find delegating my work easy" or something like that.

 

[Ghostrider]

At one interview, they asked me: "Are you impulsive?" Answer: "Not around firearms. Usually."
That ranks right with a previous one: "So, are you a problem-solver type?" "No, I'm a problem-eliminator type."