Laid Off, Job Wanted

[musicman]

furneral homes are making a fortune. forest park lawndale cheapest funeral(besides cremation) is 10.4k. will leave it at that

[TheNiche]

I'm guessing it's too late to take the offer in Dallas doing legal services?

I could probably still make that happen, but relocating to Dallas for <$12/hr. to work for my mom's first husband is sort of a last-ditch or possibly more like a post-bankruptcy option.

[AtticaFlinch]

I think you should try a different interview technique, one more suited to your personality:

[brian0123]

Remarkably and perhaps embarrassingly...policing Canada would appear to be the best opportunity available to me at this time. Thank you. I'll apply.

EDIT: Actually, their website says that they're not actively recruiting international applicants. Are you sure that it's Edmonton?

If joining the police is an option... why not HPD? They are actively hiring for a lot of different positions. The city also has various job postings that you might want to look into... http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm If you need part-time work, I understand that the census is trying to hire anyone w/out a criminal background right now.

[TheNiche]

If joining the police is an option... why not HPD? They are actively hiring for a lot of different positions. The city also has various job postings that you might want to look into... http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm If you need part-time work, I understand that the census is trying to hire anyone w/out a criminal background right now.

I actually have a supervisory exam tomorrow morning for the Census, so yeah I'm already involved in that one. But from the sounds of things, veterans tend to bump out even people who score perfectly on this kind of thing, so I'm expecting field work. Still, it pays $17.75/hr. for central Houston, and that's incentive enough.

For HPD, starting salary is $32k, not as high as Canada...and I'd have to police Americans. I'd rather do military service anyway.

[editor]

Remarkably and perhaps embarrassingly...policing Canada would appear to be the best opportunity available to me at this time. Thank you. I'll apply.

EDIT: Actually, their website says that they're not actively recruiting international applicants. Are you sure that it's Edmonton?

Yep. I saw a big billboard when I was in Seattle, and I also saw a report about it on NWCN. I think I read an article in the New York Times, too.

Here an article from the Cleveland paper: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/11/canadian_ppolice_to_recruit.html

Here's an article from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010066754_copjobs15m.html

That last link says the starting salary is US$48,000 and rises to US$75,000 within five years.

Maybe they know you're from Texas. There's a line buried deep in the Seattle article: "They're not recruiting in Southern states."

Looks like the Edmonton Police Service Recruiting Unit has a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/joineps

Maybe you could ask them there if they're still taking Americans. There's an "International Questions" section in the Facebook page's forum.

[TheNiche]

The portion of the 'We may not be as immune as we thought' thread that went OT is transcribed below:

heh

houston apartment update

Run for the hills! It's a blood-bath, I tell ya'. ;-)

Not just quite yet. But once my military enlistment (prompted by the failure of the real estate development biz) goes through and I get trained and shipped off, I'll be sure to communicate back the number of confirmed kills.

WTF Niche!!! You did NOT! That's not just crazy, that's Roky Erickson crazy.

Maybe he wants to work in the Kremlin with a two-headed dog.

Army?

Possibly. We'll see.

he he. Nice one. But now we've gone and given the lad ideas.

Nothing is official just yet. Still have to go to MEPS.

The ASVAB test is basically an IQ and aptitude test covering things like mechanical ability' date=' organization and work efficiency, reading comprehension, and the like. It's designed to seperate the people able to re-wire a circuit board from the mouth breathers.

ASVAB has quite a few different scores that it spits out once it's graded but I believe the 'G.T.' score is the one most look at as a basic indicator of the testees ability to perform brain surgery and/or put food in their mouth when they are hungry and dress themselves with their underwear on the inside of their clothes.

I believe 60 is the low end and with a score like that you can pump gas, make a burrito, and point and fire your weapon in the general direction of brown people. Your essentially a high functioning excitable fixed gear enthusiast with a score like that but you're still good enough for the military.

90 - 110 is above average and you're probably capable of doing just about anything in the military while 120 and above is way above average and you won't even be offered shitty jobs once you have your sit down with the recruiter at the MEPS station. You will be offered jobs that can be very lucrative in the civilain sector so you will be offered big bonuses tacked on to longer then average enlistments.

Once your test has been graded you'll have a sitdown with a MEPS recruiter who will pull you back in an office cubicle and present to you a piece of paper with a bunch of jobs on it like 'helicopter rotor washer', 'fuel technician', 'chalk block'. Never select these jobs unless you want to make bread pudding all day, wash dishes, fill fuel tanks, or basically just stand around trying to look busy. these are 'Needs of the Military' jobs and they are offered to everyone who sits down.

the good jobs are in the computer and you have to ask to see them. they will be dictated by your ASVAB score and there is no getting around this so even if you want to fly Apache's really really bad if you have an ASVAB score of 70 the closest you will ever get it filling it's fuel tank.

as for how the different militaries dictate job placement i know this...

Air Force - they will let you pick a career field dictated by your Asvab. You will not be able to pick a specific job. so say you really want to work in Network management on the IT side of things. you can pick that field but you might end up pulling and digging trenches for cat-5 cable through a war zone. air force...additionally everyone at one time or another wishes they had joined the air force instead of army/navy/marines/coast guard. their bases are always in big cities next to big airports or in amazing places like the mediterrain or some coastal tropical island.

Army - you can pick your specific field and job. you will get stationed in shit holes through out your career. You will wish you had joined the air force.

Navy/Marines - I believe you get to pick your specific field and job but i could be wrong. i didn't even talk to either of their recruiters because I know I don't like sitting on a boat in the middle of the ocean for 6 months out of the year and Marines are always deployed to conflicts and war first.

let me know if you have any other questions.[/quote']

I've received several panicked PMs and text messages today over all this, so I probably need to put some details out there.

Up until this week, the niche sector that I'd been courting was the economic development industry, where my real estate experience and business degrees would be a good fit. However, as I've done my research and looked at the kinds of people that get these jobs, I've realized that a job of this nature would probably not be attainable even if I'm qualified on paper. Old farts with connections to the community tend to get jobs like these. Additionally, this would merely be a job, not a strategic career advancement. I wouldn't derive much satisfaction, even if the pay were decent. Worse, actually, it'd basically be about administering corporate welfare. So yeah, that just seems to be a way to assure the continuance of my present bout of self-loathing.

That was Plan A. Plan B, if that didn't work out, was to pursue a military commissioning or enlistment in the reserves or national guard and to use the funds to help finance law school. I'd rather not actually practice law, however my frustration with not being able to find a job during this past year would probably have been avoidable if I'd had some graduate-level credentials. But since I've already got a business degree, an MBA is largely redundant. And since I'm qualified for the CFA and intend to also pursue that designation, getting an MS in Finance would also be largely redundant. I don't like being taught at and don't respond well to merely jumping through academic hoops, so I probably wouldn't excel at these programs for lack of discipline. And for once in my life--for the last time that I'll likely ever be a full-time student--I want a traditional student experience where I'm not working full time (or overtime) in the private sector. I want to be a good student, have a good GPA, and rank highly, for once. Student debt is cheap and plentiful, and so I'll embrace it to the fullest extent possible. The military will supplement my income, allowing a few luxuries that would otherwise be beyond my reach...and hopefully will provide an initial bonus that will keep me going this year until I would start law school in the Spring of 2011. That'd give me the opportunity to take care of military training requirements and also get the CFA wrapped up this year, all without having to worry about job-seeking or month-to-month finances.

Longer-term, whether I start off as an officer or not, I'll probably be a good candidate after several years. And once I'm a reserve officer and have a law degree and have passed the Bar exam, I'd have the option to transfer into a JAG reserves capacity. That'd be sort of a wet dream, actually. I'd milk that opportunity for all it was worth, staying in until they retire me, while simultaneously creating a private-sector career for myself.

So that's the plan.

In the short-term, my options are diverse. The only limiting factor as to what I am qualified for is my eyesight. ASVAB is not any kind of obstacle for me. I am limiting my investigation of particular jobs to the Army Reserves or National Guard, Air Force Reserves or National Guard, and Navy Reserves. Having said that, I'm biased against the National Guard because they're everyone's b*tch. The Marine recruiters tried to get me to perjure myself on the initial medical screening forms, so that doesn't exactly reflect well on them...there's also that bit about "every marine a rifleman," and they mean it. And the Coast Guard doesn't offer enlistment bonuses to reservists, and is incompatible with other branches where personnel transfers are concerned.

The decision as far as branch will be dependent on what job openings there happen to be at local reserve or national guard units and will probably be made within the next couple of weeks. During this time, I'm also examining commissioning possibilities with the Army (AF and Navy officer commissions are extraordinarily competitive on account of the economy and their relative safety). I will also be doing a bit of research as far as active-duty alternatives are concerned. Active-duty guys get much better bonuses and a far-superior GI Bill that is fully phased-in by the time they get out, so there is a case to be made for it, provided I have an enjoyable job; at that point, bonuses matter less than my personal happiness. For instance: whereas a Navy recruiter might push sexy Nuclear or Cryptologic fields, I'd much rather be the quartermaster (the ship's navigator, akin to Mr. Sulu). It seems like fun, it'd be safe, there'd be lots of interaction with bridge officers, and the commitment isn't as long. That would work for me. Air Force has similar kinds of jobs that appeal to my nature; Army not as much, but again, it's still an option on account of commissioning possibilities.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know when things firm up. But I'm pretty sure that this is my path.

Edited February 19, 2010 by TheNiche

[totheskies]

The portion of the 'We may not be as immune as we thought' thread that went OT is transcribed below:

Good luck, and thanks for wanting to serve our country. Do you play any instruments or can you sing?? That's a nice avenue to take in the military IMO. Every military branch has its own structure and arrangement of musical groups.

nt isn't as long. That would work for me. Air Force has similar kinds of jobs that appeal to my nature; Army not as much, but again, it's still an option on account of commissioning possibilities.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know when things firm up. But I'm pretty sure that this is my path.

[ricco67]

Well, I am glad that you're able to handle the blows in life with composure. I've met people that simply would have fallen apart as the lives they knew fell apart and sincerely wish you the best on that.

[TheNiche]

Good luck, and thanks for wanting to serve our country. Do you play any instruments or can you sing?? That's a nice avenue to take in the military IMO. Every military branch has its own structure and arrangement of musical groups.

Yep, they give bonuses for military band members, too. It's a nice gig if you can get it. But as for me, I'll sing Roy Orbison sometimes after I've been drinking...but nobody should ever be subjected to me attempting to yodel in the high registers. That'd have to be a violation of the Geneva Convention, somehow.

Well, I am glad that you're able to handle the blows in life with composure. I've met people that simply would have fallen apart as the lives they knew fell apart and sincerely wish you the best on that.

It hasn't been easy, but I've suffered my indignities in private.

[ricco67]

Yep, they give bonuses for military band members, too. It's a nice gig if you can get it. But as for me, I'll sing Roy Orbison sometimes after I've been drinking...but nobody should ever be subjected to me attempting to yodel in the high registers. That'd have to be a violation of the Geneva Convention, somehow.

It hasn't been easy, but I've suffered my indignities in private.

Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's not. Life is full of these little inconveniences, at least, that's what I keep telling my college kid. Esp when she whines about some injustice done to her.

Being an adult sucks and I want my legos back.

[crunchtastic]

Well, I'm glad that I apparently wasn't the only person sending a "WTF!!! call me!!!!!" text.

You discovered what I recently did, that the formerly choice AF OCS is impossible to get into these days. My SO was a Navy

man and would recommend Amphib. Small ships, (relatively) shorter floats, with only a couple of big Med and North Altlantic

cruises during his enlistment. Home base is VA Beach/Norfolk, which does not suck. He was one of those smartypants with big scores and took the crap job of boatswains mate when he went in. Other than the occasional 'problem with authority' on account of being a smartass (you two are

alike in ways) it was a good fit for him. We should probably stop with all the unsolicited advice. You'll figure it out.

[TheNiche]

Well, I'm glad that I apparently wasn't the only person sending a "WTF!!! call me!!!!!" text.

You discovered what I recently did, that the formerly choice AF OCS is impossible to get into these days. My SO was a Navy

man and would recommend Amphib. Small ships, (relatively) shorter floats, with only a couple of big Med and North Altlantic

cruises during his enlistment. Home base is VA Beach/Norfolk, which does not suck. He was one of those smartypants with big scores and took the crap job of boatswains mate when he went in. Other than the occasional 'problem with authority' on account of being a smartass (you two are alike in ways) it was a good fit for him. We should probably stop with all the unsolicited advice. You'll figure it out.

Wow, that IS scary. I mean, there are many aspects of my preference surrounding the naval quartermaster example that I didn't flesh out, yet that are aligned with his experiences. The small ship opportunities are among them, for all kinds of reasons. I have to admit, this is a little bizarre.

[Subdude]

But since I've already got a business degree, an MBA is largely redundant. And since I'm qualified for the CFA and intend to also pursue that designation, getting an MS in Finance would also be largely redundant.

I would very much disagree. Whether or not the classes repeat what you may have had as an undergrad, a graduate degree will always look good on the CV and give you a leg up in the job market.

Up until this week, the niche sector that I'd been courting was the economic development industry, where my real estate experience and business degrees would be a good fit.

If you are starting your career, is it the best strategy to target a specific sector? I should think that with a business degree the priority would be to first find a reasonable job and then work to develop an area of expertise.

[TheNiche]

I would very much disagree. Whether or not the classes repeat what you may have had as an undergrad, a graduate degree will always look good on the CV and give you a leg up in the job market.

I agree, actually. This is a problem for a cynic like me, however, because if all I feel like I'm doing is paying lots of good money in order to spend countless hours jumping through academic hoops without intellectually challenging myself on new material, then I'll sabotage my own performance and skate by like I've done for the better part of my life since elementary school. Seeing as this would be a very expensive capstone academic experience, I'd like to enjoy it, actually do well, and have that reflected in my GPA and class rank...and that's only going to happen if I value the experience intrinsically. And if I can maximize my intrinsic satisfaction, frankly, I think that extrinsic benefits will follow later on.

If you are starting your career, is it the best strategy to target a specific sector? I should think that with a business degree the priority would be to first find a reasonable job and then work to develop an area of expertise.

Re-starting my career, actually. And yeah, I've been there and done that. I already had transferable experience and have frequently provided consulting services to organizations within this sector. Also, I had a highly-targeted sector-specific employment campaign in mind. It just occurred to me that pursuing this sector probably would've been a strategic blunder.

[TexasVines]

are you going in to kill 4 years until the economy improves or to change careers?

Marines = the hardest

Army = they still march around places and sleep in tents

Navy = no one marches around a boat (but they do scrape rust) and at least you get to sleep "indoors"

Air Force = no one marches around a plane and they fly to places fast

if you want a career change go in the Navy and go into IT or nuclear propulsion (the nuclear job market is about to explode and south Texas is looking to build two more so you could get a job right close to home)......the problem with nuclear is that big ships go NO WHERE......you can not send a 5,000 person carrier (much less the group) into some small Italian port without people thinking the USA has invaded........they send the SMALL oil burners to places like that......the guys on the SMALL oil burners are the ones that get to see all the coolest places because the USA does not like to burn the fuel and a small ship does not take over a town when they pull in

nuclear subs go NOWHERE.....so if you are looking at getting on a boomer and thinking about seeing the world.......your world needs to consist of home port and UNDER THE OCEAN.......those are the ONLY places that boomers go no matter what anyone else tells you.......so at least get on a surface nuclear ship......if no nuclear go into IT or fire systems control and get on a SMALL boat

you really should look at the Coast Guard if you are looking to kill 4 years

[Dream]

niche,

i really appreciate how you were an "open book" during this whole process of losing your job and going on the job hunt. reading thru the posts from the start and seeing how you dealt with this, planned your next step, and marketed yourself has been a real eye opener. this downturn, esp commercial real estate, has been brutal. the way you have been turned down at every corner must be very frustrating. thank you and i wish you the best of luck.

fyi: my 2 cents: you are a smart guy, you should start your own business, hard work and a little luck is all it takes. what's the worst that can happen, it doesn't work, so what, at least you tried.

dream

[TheNiche]

fyi: my 2 cents: you are a smart guy, you should start your own business, hard work and a little luck is all it takes. what's the worst that can happen, it doesn't work, so what, at least you tried.

dream

Been there, done that, with a partner on a real estate venture that was first conceived of during the heady days of 2007. Needless to say, some of our assumptions about the future sucked. If my partner is unable or unwilling to bring fresh capital to the company, we're looking down the barrel of a commercial foreclosure. If not...the company survives but sees relatively little return on its investment for several years, at least. It's not something I like to harp on, but true nevertheless.

In that context, honestly, it feels a little like I'm 18 again. No transferable professional experience. Degrees that for all intents and purposes barely convey one's stick-to-it-ive-ness anymore. Few attachments. Beans, rice, Ramen, and 190-proof neutral grain spirits mixed w/Tang as staples of my diet. Nothing much to show for my life to this point. ...but having that business is considered an asset on my balance sheet, and that creates problems where either student financial aid or even food stamps are concerned. It really does suck, even to think in those terms, much less to have such meager "entitlements", which I paid towards in better times and as a distressed entrepreneur, denied to me.

It's as though I were a starry-eyed little kid playing a video game, and an impish younger sibling came over and pressed the reset button...and then peed on my Nintendo. Frustrating as all hell, and I can't hurt the bastard or else I'll get in trouble with 'big brother'. In that context, I can't help but wonder whether gaining an 'in' with big brother (i.e. military service) wouldn't be a really good idea, long term. Obviously, I can't survive on my own with any semblance of peace or tranquility.

I'm rambling a bit. Sorry. I know it sounds creepy, but as you might've figured out I do commiserate with Joe Stack...and being stranded in Austin, I've come to find out that I'm by far not the only person, even out of the locals. I only think that his "solution" was suboptimal.

[Subdude]

I'm sure it's small consolation at the time, but life is full of "resets". It's not like you think as a kid, a smooth progression onwards and upwards, with everything you want sort of dropping into place. You'll end up with a lot more careers than you realize.

[AtticaFlinch]

I'm sure it's small consolation at the time, but life is full of "resets". It's not like you think as a kid, a smooth progression onwards and upwards, with everything you want sort of dropping into place. You'll end up with a lot more careers than you realize.

Ain't that the truth. I'm a mere 32 and already on my third career - not third job, third career.

[Subdude]

...and that creates problems where either student financial aid or even food stamps are concerned. It really does suck, even to think in those terms, much less to have such meager "entitlements", which I paid towards in better times and as a distressed entrepreneur, denied to me.

One supposes that just as there are no atheists in foxholes, so there are no libertarians in unemployment lines.

[TheNiche]

One supposes that just as there are no atheists in foxholes, so there are no libertarians in unemployment lines.

One would suppose incorrectly on both counts.

It does seem implied from your assertion that I am in an unemployment line. This is false, on account of that I was a full-time student last semester, attempting to re-tool myself to suit the new economy. But if you're a full-time student, they stop sending you unemployment checks. That doesn't necessarily mean that financial aid is forthcoming...it certainly didn't in my case. It also does not follow that a more in-depth academic background in accounting will get you anywhere in this economy. I can't even get interviews for bookkeeper positions.

[Subdude]

Ain't that the truth. I'm a mere 32 and already on my third career - not third job, third career.

Looks like I may be facing a reset myself. This is out of the blue.

[Triton]

Degree in finance huh?

Well, I know at the car dealership that I work for (Texas Direct Auto), they just lost 3 financiers and they are on the look for people in finance. (TDA is the world's largest seller of vehicles on Ebay and one of the largest in Houston). Check em out... you may want to get a job there if you havent. *sry... didnt have time to read everything you wrote so I wasnt sure if you got a job already*

http://www.texasdirectauto.com/

[shasta]

Niche,

 

Any updates on your job search?

[lockmat]

Niche,

Any updates on your job search?

Most likely you won't ever hear from him again

[infinite_jim]

He's gone full falang.

[scarface]

He's gone full falang.

 

what happened to him?

[RedScare]

He developed an affinity for barbequed field mice.

[lockmat]

He developed an affinity for barbequed field mice.

Th result of such a diet makes you terminally allergic to HAIF.

[scarface]

He developed an affinity for barbequed field mice.

 

what?

 

no seriously, what happened to him? He had been posting for years and even had the highest post count, then all of a sudden... gone?

[LarryDierker]

LATWACS disappeared around the same time, no?

[lockmat]

LATWACS disappeared around the same time, no?

If that assumption is true...lol