01-19-2006, 01:31 AM | #1 |
Goon Squad Leader
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 27,063
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The Quest
I held a different thread hostage for several posts and I would like to move the discussion to here.
I lost my job in December, and now The Quest for financial validation of my professional contribution to the success of some local business has begun. Like every other great quest, the Hero will be embark on a journey or effort in pursuit of a goal, often lengthy, ambitious, or fervent (thank you wiktionary). Before I go any further, I wish to thank (in order of posting): Sundae Girl glatt Undertoad jinx Brianna dar512 Griff Marichiko Happy Monkey Clodfobble Beestie wolf xoxoxoBruce justmehere99 limey Brett's Honey Cyclefrance mrnoodle warch zippyt Elspode LabRat and especially staceyv for finally, mercifully, taking the spotlight off me. Your support immediately following this very unexpected and frankly unwelcome news was a godsend to me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. This thread has been gestating quite a while, and now it's here. I have made many posts to it in my mind, held many conversations with all of you, in my mind (you're all wonderfully compliant, polite, and supportive in these conversations :p ). But it's time to "get real", or as real as this internet thing gets. So it has begun. And the first step of that beginning is thank you all. Onward!
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01-19-2006, 01:47 AM | #2 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
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Yessir, onward! But you know, your previous posts and support and stories were what earned you that level of support back. You got what you gave, in this case. (Doesn't happen in every case.)
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01-19-2006, 01:54 AM | #3 |
lobber of scimitars
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phila Burbs
Posts: 20,774
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What did you do and what do you want to do?
Opportunities like this can take you to some interesting and exciting places.
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wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis |
01-19-2006, 02:03 AM | #4 |
Goon Squad Leader
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
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Lest you think I am facing this quest alone in real life, I assure you I am not. I am blessed to have the caring support of a few very good friends out here in 3D land, and their contributions have proved invaluable.
In no conscious order, Steve C, Walid F, David C, Dave M, Howie K, Tim H, Mark G, ... wow, the list really does go on and on now that I try to enumerate them. Some highlights, while I can recall them. I was given a couple of binders of good information from a dear friend who was laid off from a local bank. The bank's program included professional third party outplacement, and the material he gave me was their documentation of the whole "get back on the horse" process. It includes many (manymany) steps. It is very thorough, and I'm about 25% the way through it. I'm filling out all the worksheets as though I'm in the self study version of their program. It has been very enlightening. Another friend, mrnoodle, very generously assisted me in the proofing and editing of my resume. He is as professional as he is brutal. I wouldn't want him as my personal trainer--I'd collapse. Thankfully, I don't get winded as easily when I'm only exercising my yap (or my typing skills). That led to another problem, actually, and he coldly and efficiently solved it. My longish resume now has *no* surplus verbiage (is that redundantly repititious, I wonder?) Regardless, thanks to him, I now have something to distribute with confidence. I feel my resume looks very professional, and I expect it will be recieved and percieved that way too. Many folks, trying to be helpful, offer suggestions for where to apply (at their own company, mostly) or where to look for openings. Most of these suggestions were pretty good, especially the ones that were job posting sites, a'la Monster.com. Monster.com *is* the king of these kinds of affairs, and I've gotten a couple of nibbles from that source. Also worthwhile are: nwjobs.com, dice.com, **new** craigslist.com, and to a lesser degree, usajobs.com, and jobdango.com. I'm a computer professional, and I'm looking for a job in technology. This is a good location for that search, and the prospects are promising. I'll post some of the openings I've set my sights on.
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Be Just and Fear Not. Last edited by BigV; 01-19-2006 at 02:53 AM. Reason: remembered a good site! |
01-19-2006, 02:17 AM | #5 | |
Goon Squad Leader
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Quote:
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01-19-2006, 02:48 AM | #6 | ||
Goon Squad Leader
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
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Quote:
Quote:
At the last job, I ran all the technology. If it had a blinky light and a power cord, it was my responsibility. I don't mind that work, the variety can be very stimulating. I especially like helping people. Solving problems. I get a charge out of fixing stuff. And I like to talk about it, often while it's being worked out. Not in a showoff kind of way, but more in the "hey, this is cool, check this out" or "Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State." (thanks Fletch!) kind of way. So I can do mostly all the stuff, I prefer a position that has contact with others, both users and teammates. Oh, and a boss that knows what he's doing. That's not too much to ask, is it? Actually, wolf, I recently had an interview here. They have some rockstar gear, and (yay!) more than one person on staff supporting and maintaining the technology. One of the informal tests was to leave me in the lobby for 10 to 15 minutes so I could get a chance to be with the clientele. I did, no biggie, and the first question was, How would you handle being around people like that? No problem. I have my own personal space that can be invaded, like everyone else, but I'm a big boy now and I can take care of myself. Plus, I'm mature enough to consider the source and not make more (or less) of any given interaction. Fine, I don't mind working in a place where some of the people in the building have mental problems. Actually, I think if that was a problem, the universe of potential employers would shrink dramatically, perhaps to a singularity. I've already decided I don't like to work alone--bring on the characters.
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01-19-2006, 04:11 AM | #7 |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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OK, so your habit of training people, walking them through the problems/solutions while you solved them, with maybe an extra effort to make everyone self sufficient while you were in LA, led management to decide they didn’t need you anymore?
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
01-19-2006, 09:16 AM | #8 |
I can hear my ears
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 25,571
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wow. totally missed the announcement that you were sacked. that sucks in december.
two things to remember: talent can go anywhere the cream always rises to the top everything else is details. good luck
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This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan |
01-19-2006, 04:31 PM | #9 |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
01-19-2006, 06:49 PM | #10 |
LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 7,661
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BigV , Dude I do the same thing , train the least able to do the most , AND understand what they are doing and WHY !!! I have left the suits and ties standing in the middle of production areas befor , JUST so I was comfedent that their workers were compatant at running a new process, THEN I would go meet with the folks that spent all the money .
Have you thought about teaching classes , or joining a training company that gives training on speficic equipment or software ???
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"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner |
01-19-2006, 10:25 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Parts unknown.
Posts: 4,081
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Lemme tell you. For years, I went from one job to another trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Scoured the net for ads. Send resume's online. Deafening silence. One Sunday, my wife asks if I checked the paper (Wash Post). I rolled my eyes and told her that nobody advertises in the paper that isn't already on the net so I checked the ads just to humor her. Found ad. Job description was perfect. Sent resume. Got call same day. Had job 3 days later. 6 years later, I'm still there. Blind ass luck but it came from not assuming anything and looking under every rock and being patient (I'd been looking for a good long while).
So the point is that you never know where that perfect job is. Could be down the street or right under your nose. Patience. Diligence. Basically, you are hiring yourself to find a job for yourself. Treat yourself as you would someone you were paying to find a job for you.
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01-20-2006, 06:44 PM | #13 |
Encroaching on your decrees
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland
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Keep at it BigV! I'm with those who say if you like people and talking things through then don't ignore the training type jobs ...
Anyway, best of British to you!
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Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of |
01-20-2006, 06:51 PM | #14 |
LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 7,661
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I had a thought BigV , if you are hurting for cash there is all ways the geek squad http://www.geeksquad.com/ ,
One thing though , if you go that rout we HAVE to have a pic of you stylin in front of your geek mobile !!!
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"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner |
01-20-2006, 08:04 PM | #15 | ||
Goon Squad Leader
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Quote:
I followed that link, and I am in the middle of a rather laborious login/registration/application process. As part of that process, I found a couple of interesting questions. The first one made me laugh out loud (yes, I know there's a smilie now. Hush.) The question, and I paraphrase, but only a little, asked "Do you have one year of specialized training OR a PhD in the area of interest?" Ah, *snicker*, I'd like experience for $100, Alex. 1yr=PhD? Ooooookay. I hope it gets easier from here. Later, there was a good question, an essay question. Here is the question and my answer. All editing, proofing and content criticisms are invited. Constructive ones will be considered, humorous ones will be laughed at and I'll disregard the bs ones. Here it is: (yes, they end it with a question mark, not my typo.) Quote:
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Be Just and Fear Not. Last edited by BigV; 01-20-2006 at 08:08 PM. |
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