This is the thread about job searching.

Man, if you know AMA and have worked for a science journal then you should have no problem getting into medical copyediting, which typically pays reasonably and could provide plenty of flexibility if you don't need it to be your sole income.

Revive! I need a job in or around Boston. My only skills are digging holes in the ground and speaking mediocre Russian. I can also be nice to customers and tell them about why they need to get excited about whaling history. Am currently applying for mostly museum-related jobs.

If you have any advice for writing cover letters, especially as a relatively unskilled and unexperienced applicant, it'd be great.

There's been a few redundancies in our IT dept today, I've survived but am now wondering what the job market's like in these dark times. Anyone know if there's much out there for a SQL Server and/or Python developer in London?

Covering letters keep them short, a couple of paragraph and draw them to any points in the resume that may be appropriate to the job.

christ, not this.

glitter is also a nice addition to any cv.

Scented paper gives it that little something extra.

do you think they'd be impressed if i burned the edges and dipped the paper in tea so it would look more antiquated?

i need a job in chicago

hook me up d00dz

okay i wrote five cover letters
how long do i have to wait after sending them to call and harass?

Have just found out, i may lose my job in ten days.
Best get looking for another pretty quick just in case.

I've been looking for a new job for the past few months and not yet found one. I've been to plenty of interviews, and been turned down. What I do keep seeing here, though, is that a lot of the jobs I'm being interviewed for, they're not finding anybody they like for - a week later, the same job will have a new advert up on the job sites.

Quick question:

There are two positions that interest me at a DC think tank. The first, a Research Associate position, is probably aiming a little high for me, but getting hired for it is not out of the realm of possibility. I turned in my application for it a few hours ago.

The second, a Research Assistant position, is more likely because the qualifications are a little more relaxed.

However, I haven't applied for that second position, because I'm worried about the signals it sends out. If you were reviewing an application and you noticed that the same person was applying for a "lower" position, would this suggest to you that the applicant didn't actually think they were good enough for the "better" job? If that's the case, should I just stick with the one application I submitted, and hope that if they will also consider me for the other job? Or should I just turn in another application for the second job and not worry about it?

To make matters worse, I've had to resort to the "Dear Human Resources" opening to my cover letter, because no one will respond to my emails asking for the appropriate person to address it to, and it says "NO PHONE CALLS PLZ".

Shit, I'm going to end up at Long John's again, hopefully as a fucking manager this time.

lol cover letters and worrying about the human resources person having time to connect the dots and figure out that you are totally applying for two jobs at the same time

i feel like the dear whoever convention of cover letters must be a relic from the past, b/c even when i've called people asking about it they've acted like "who the hell are you and why are you asking this"

you should apply for both jobs

cover letters 100% get thrown in the trash afaict

then again I have not applied for a job using anything other than e-mail resumes or web-based application systems ever

Believe me, I wouldn't be fucking around with the cover letter except that the job posting says "Please submit a cover letter indicating that you are applying for the Energy-Research Associate position, resume (including the names of three references with email addresses and phone numbers), writing sample, and transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) using our online form."

OK, it's official then, I'll apply for this other job too.

I applied for two jobs in the same organisation recently, got interviews for both, on separate days, and I don't think anyone actually twigged I was in twice. I was hired for the one of the positions, and I spoke to the HR person and she said they'd done so many interviews that it wasn't surprising that no-one joined the dots.

Er, so yeah. Apply for both.

(also do "Dear Sir/Madam" rather than "Dear Human Resources")

I was using "Dear Sir or Madam", but then the first google results for "addressing a cover letter" all advise that using that is really out of date and should never be used.

Yeah I don't think you should be scared about applying for both jobs. I applied for two at the company I work for now and they actually gave me the better one despite knowing I applied for both. I just don't think it's something people normally make a value judgement about.

Federal job applications are insane

Ah, OK, I am a Britishers where we still do antiquated and outdated things.

some xposts there

Are they? I'm looking at a few positions on usajobs but I haven't actually followed through yet. At times pursuing the federal route seems promising, because technically I should be qualified by education alone for GS-9 jobs and under, provided I have the relevant skills.

xpost to ailsa
No, don't feel too out of date, I thought "Dear Sir or Madam" was fine too. I just wasn't made for these times..

This is so my thread, but i'll do it tomorrow!

I was surprised by how un-insane applying for a GS position was, but then again my last three jobs were all in the federal sphere, if not direct employment under the civilian executive branch. the most insane job application process, if you were to call it that, is enlisting in the military. I don't think too many other careers start off with nearly as much paperwork, much less a full physical examination.

some are better than others, i suppose, but KSAs - gah

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants' experience will be assessed against specific position-related assessment factors which are directly related to the position being filled and are essential for successful job performance. Candidates who do not fully address all of the Mandatory Qualifications will not be given further consideration. A reference to the resume itself will be considered insufficient.

MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS: (Each must be addressed separately in your
supplementary narrative statement. Applicants who fail to provide
the narrative statements will not be considered.)
1. Expert knowledge and experience in information technology cyber
security.

2. Demonstrated success in using information technology to improve
the delivery of program products and services to customers in an
efficient way.

3. Expert knowledge of technological trends in information
technology, and the evaluation of these trends and the use of this
information in managing IT systems acquisition and operation so as
to take advantage of new technology at the lowest cost, using new
technology to meet performance-based program goals.

4. Expert knowledge of national security systems policy and
experience in implementation procedures.

You will not be considered for the position if any part of the
application is incomplete.

narrative statements are pretty much the key. a lot of folks turn in resumes which are concise bullet statements about responsbilities, the govt prefers you to tell a story about how you kicked ass at whatever, not a list of what you had to do. a "narrative statement" can still be one sentence, btw.

Ugh. Summer job searching.

Oddly enough, I've never had to go through a proper job hunt. My first semi-real job was through a friend, my first internship was through another friend (not that the friend literally got me the job - neither case involved having the power to do so - but they got my foot in the door). Then my first real full-time job was like the third job I applied for, and the job I did after that I got through someone at that job.

This is my first "serious" job search where I actually have a good degree and feel like I could finally get a decent position that I don't hate. I think my lack of confidence may come back to bite me this time, though. I'm not sure how I'll react when I've sent in 30 applications and still have made no headway.

I just "finished" my first real job search after three months, and I've ended up with three part time jobs, zero benefits, zero days off (shifts from 3-7 hours, 7 days a week) and worries that I'm still going to have to ask my parents to help me out with rent in a month or two. I'm sort of still searching, but there's not going to be anything in the fields I'm interested in and qualified for until March or April. Also, I'm glad I applied to grad school for next fall, because it means the odds that I'll be stuck doing this for longer than that are pretty low.

The federal jobs I applied for had the most ridiculously long applications I filled out. One had around eight specific and detailed questions to answer in the cover letter, and one had an online questionnaire that took a while. I never heard back from one. A month after I applied for the other I got a letter saying my ranking was NC-93 or something (no explanation of what that meant) and my application would be past on to the person doing the hiring (no name given). Never heard anything after that.

how many of the govt agencies want that shit because they outsource it to some hiring agency that doesn't know anything about anything

christ, not this.

― J4gger Dynamic Pentangle (Just got offed), Wednesday, 1 October 2008 17:28 (3 months ago) Bookmark

also good luck everyone searching for employment, from what i've seen so far you need it

I just applied for two admittedly very similar jobs within the same department at a pretty small organization so I hope that's not a problem. I say go for it ZS.

I've been job searching for quite a while now - but my degree type doesn't offer many possible places to apply to.
Makes me sad.

Thanks for the advice everyone. btw, I switched over to "Dear Hiring Manager", which sounds...slightly better. I will likely use this thread to whine and complain A LOT about searching for a job, until I finally get a decent one.

Someone from the HR dept at a job I really want just called and surprised me with an initial telephone screening. I was a little out of it because I'm not feeling well today and hope I didn't screw up. :-(

awww.. good luck babe! (obviously the phone call bit is done, but I am being optimistic and wishing you luck for your second interview!! ;)

Thank you!! I do hope they call back. I just didn't expect to get that call and was really caught off guard. Argh. So stressful.

pretty much want it, yes. big pay hike and good career progression.

you're both right, a telephone interview seems like the way to go

After Christmas, I'm quitting my awful food svc/retail job of the past five years and planning to move from NJ to Philadelphia with the meager savings I will have accrued by then. In the meantime I've been scouring LinkedIn, Craigslist, Indeed, etc. for jobs in the city (I won't have a car, and would rather do without one), and coming up with practically nothing. I did find a research assistant job at UPenn that would be an almost ideal fit, and applied, but it's probably a long shot. I'm a guy with a linguistics degree, aspirations to be a science writer, and not many "professional" or technical skills. How fucked am I/what ought I do to be less fucked?

learn about 'data'

About to apply for a job that asks for 5 yrs experience + a master's degree in public policy, and is basically all program support & admin. Like literally "order office supplies and meet IT needs." WHAT? In what fucking world, bozos.

Hey, my employer is merging with another biggie in the field! Just overheard a conversation featuring "For those of us who survive..."

Please send out good-thought waves for the job stability of a 50+ aged guy with chronic illness and total inability to care anything except cancer and moviegoing.

Fingers crossed, Doc. :/

An org I applied with last year (who never even called me) just specifically asked me to apply for their new opening. And I was told from the inside that I'll get a call soon, possibly today, about coming in.

So my 2-yr idyll could be almost over...although let's wait and see what the pay cut before I get too excited.

xpost: doc I feel you about 50+ best of luck to you and in orbit too. heading in to year 2 of my idle after an idyllic one-year contract job at that big tech co. freelancing aint what it used to be and it was always inconsistent even in the best of times. still, i just submitted yet another application and january remains the month of fresh hopes.

should i should i not apply for an amazing looking job at the, uh, h0l0cau5t mu53um

i can't stop thinking about that onion article about the HM cashier having 'yet another depressing day in a seemingly endless string of depressing days'

I all but literally stumbled into my current job. I want to leave said job more than ever, so does anyone have any advice on looking for a new job while one is still employed? (I am conflict-avoidant in the best of circumstances, and right now do not feel comfortable about openly looking for a new job.)

Most would-be employers are cool with you wishing to remain discreet in my world.

One way to do it is to apply for everything you want online. Some applications have an option for "do not contact my current employer or some such."

If there is a phone screen, schedule it at your lunchtime or before/after hours; again, these are generally seen as reasonable requests.

For in-person interviews, just take personal time off; it's none of your employer's business what you're doing. The last time I jobhunted, what I did was to schedule a vacation and put as many interviews as I could into that week. I didn't lie about it or sneak - none of that bullshit like wearing a suit to work and then saying "Uh, I have, um, a dentist's appointment! Yeah! That's it!"

At the same time, philosophically speaking, you're not an indentured servant. You have the same right to "fire" your employer as your employer has to fire you. I personally don't get why an employer would stand in the way of someone else's happiness.

Oh, and if you have references from earlier jobs, use those. Or if you have a trusted colleague inside your current organization, who is sympathetic to your reasons for looking, you can sometimes use that person as a reference. Best to stick with prior jobs.

When asked by interviewers why you want to switch, don't neg too hard on your current employer. Not a good fit for my abilities / not what I want to be doing long-term / want to try something new / want to challenge myself more - those are all fine reasons to give. Saying stuff like "My boss is an asshole and my co-workers are a toxic stew of infighting" is nagl.