Job Hunting is sooooo frustrating right now!

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Buck up, Missy! Of course you'll never work in your dream field if you've already convinced yourself that it'll never happen. I hate to sound mean, especially toward someone that's feeling like ass already, but if you really want it, you have to go out and take it. There are many ways to get in to any industry you want. (1) If school is too costly or too time consuming, you have to inch your way toward the industry you desire by working in a connected field. (2) If location is the problem, take the plunge and move. (3) If you're tied down by a relationship, break up. If it's kids, drop them off at the orphanage. Ok, maybe not. Take them with you.

Or if you are like me, do all 3 in the past year (i.e. broke up with a girl I dated for 2 years, moved from Alberta to California, and although money isn't a big issue, I'm trying to get my feet wet working in the industry.

I'm sort of with 4x4 with the attitude, if you want an opportunity, you have to create it yourself. If you accept status quo, you'll always stay where you are, spin the hamster wheel of life and die whenever the grim reaper knocks on your door.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Dion

Unemployed and in Hawaii?

How bad does this person want to work?

Ha, I know a few people like that. A few friends of mine who got layed off, took a trip to Mexico, came back and saw their accountant, then took off to Europe or Asia for a few weeks and to wait the economy out. My sister got layed off a year ago, booked a trip to Mexico that night and her husbands company hired her the next day. If you're unemployed, might as well make the best of it.

Originally Posted by flameswin

Both. There's a few arenas in Calgary that have ice times during the day set aside for pick up hockey. You just show up and pay $5. Sometimes I find other friends who want to come out, or I just go out there by myself, it doesn't really matter to me, I just love being out on the ice.

Thats awsome, how competitive is it? I haven't played hockey for half a decade, but I used to play once a week and loved it.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by HOOT

This will be my second summer like this. When I was 20 I did the same thing and no matter what happens in my life I look back at the summer and just smile. I am hoping this summer will bring the same memories.

It's only been a week today but so far have played 5 rounds of golf. I think the best part is when a friend says want to go out? Want to go camping? Want to go on a road trip? You can always say yes!

I honestly believe everyone needs to have a few months to themselves and just hit the restart button on life. Luckily for me I have the savings but also a very supportive family who can help me out. For example my mom bought my golf membership, love you mommy! (Yes I'm too old to say that but whatever she bought me a freakin' golf membership.)

Just enjoy it! You may never get the chance to do it again.

Definitly. My favorite part so far has been the nights. There's no better feeling than drinking with a bunch of people and not having that 'pit of your stomach feeling' when you look at the time.

My buddy is renovating his house, which has a full soundproof studio with drums, pa, guitars etc, and for the time being him and his family are living at their parents place.

So after hockey last week we went to the pub til about 1am, then grabbed a crapload of beer on the way home, and jammed til the sun came up. It was f'in amazing, and there wasn't one ounce of "oh this is bad because I have to ______ _______ tomorrow. All I did was go for a bike ride around 3pm instead of 11am.

[MissKat]

I heard the new Mega Mall near airdrie is having a job fair this weekend, does anyone know any details? I googled it but nothing.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Thats awsome, how competitive is it? I haven't played hockey for half a decade, but I used to play once a week and loved it.

It varies depending on the day/arena. You get everything from guys who wear sweatpants and 30 year old skates and give hockey hockey a go to pros looking to get some extra skating in.

It works for me because I'm good enough to at least fit in and not be a detriment to the really good guys, but bad enough that I don't get bored and pissed off if it's a weaker crowd.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by MissKat

I hate this economy recession!!! When is it going to improve? I cant find a job for the life of me! I visit these sites several times daily, and to be honest the number of jobs on them have declined progressively throughout the year. Not only that, but it seems half of them are scams. Im sick and tired of seeing nothing but phoney jobs on all these sites, argh.

- workopolis
- monster
- govt of canada job bank
- job shark
- craigslist
- kijiji

Yes thats right, quite a lot of jobs are posting on craigslist and Kijiji cause its FREE! Does anyone know any other sites or ways to find jobs in the city? Workopolis and monster have been dissapointing me this year - it seems to be high end jobs for execs or people with 505 year master degrees and Ive been keeping track of the job postings on there and it blows right now! Heck, you cant even look in the Sun or Herald anymore to find legit jobs.

ANd Im sick of wasting my time going to these interviews, where the person after will literally gaurentee getting back to me and dont. So classless and unprofessional, people who think this is the way to run HR are out to lunch and can kiss my ***!

Is anyone else in my shoes? I know a few others and its so discouraging right now, I feel like crying.

Keep your head up! I was recently laid off at Nortel and approached it with a positive mind set, looking at it as an opportunity to move on to something new and better... but after spending about 18 hours a day looking/applying for work for over a month with only a couple interviews, I started to get a little down. Don't feel bad, it happens to every one... just have to keep plugging away and you'll find something eventually.

It took me close to two months but I finally got an offer last week.

Originally Posted by CMPunk

Burger King always needs people

Stupid comment man... especially during these times.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Ha, I know a few people like that. A few friends of mine who got layed off, took a trip to Mexico, came back and saw their accountant, then took off to Europe or Asia for a few weeks and to wait the economy out. My sister got layed off a year ago, booked a trip to Mexico that night and her husbands company hired her the next day. If you're unemployed, might as well make the best of it.

That's pretty much where I'm at. I have enough money to get by, so I figure why not have a summer where I live life to the fullest and do all the things I never had time for, rather than struggle mightely in the crappy job market.

It's going to be a great summer.

*For example, I have a hockey game tomorrow, and I'm thinking of just throwing my bike and lake kayak on my car, along with my pop tent and some clothes and heading out to BC on Wednesday with no plans of where to go or what to do....and what's to stop me from doing that? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

eventually.

It took me close to two months but I finally got an offer last week.



Stupid comment man... especially during these times.

thats awesome, man!
very happy to hear that!!!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Stupid comment man... especially during these times.

It's a lot better than welfare, social assistance or living on the street. People can't always be choosy during economic hard times. You take what you can get and keep looking in the meantime.

[BergyBoy]

Originally Posted by MissKat

Im in accouting field, but its not what I want to do. Its just a dead end job that ive been working at. My contract is up July 1st (day of NHL free agency woot!) and ive been looking for a new job for the past 3-4 months!

Honestly, right now cause I know my career is shot and wont ever happen with me, when I look for work...Im open to just about anything. When I do see jobs posted for work in my "dream field...that I will never work in", I just ignore it and chuckle in disgust. I dont even bother trying to apply for jobs in my "dream field" cause it will never happen and just be a waste of time. Thats why I apply to just about anything now.

Never give up... I saw this and it has been amazing too me and has helped me feel like I should never give up.
http://www.thesecret.tv/

[DionTheDman]

Another one in the same boat... maybe we should get a referral chain going in case we hear about something. Anyone know of a law firm in need of an Articling student?? I've heard that even people offering to Article for free are being turned down.. insane!

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by flameswin

It varies depending on the day/arena. You get everything from guys who wear sweatpants and 30 year old skates and give hockey hockey a go to pros looking to get some extra skating in.

It works for me because I'm good enough to at least fit in and not be a detriment to the really good guys, but bad enough that I don't get bored and pissed off if it's a weaker crowd.

I'll have to get that info from you if I decide to trip back to Canada this summer. I'm probably on the side of POS quality, I always sucked playing it for whatever reason so I stuck to soccer.

Getting a raft/kayak and pissing off to BC to go do any lake or river would be like a dream.

I'd love to get it white water rafting this summer, whenever my neck feels better I'll have to field a few calls and probably buy some crap since I'm starting from scratch. Being unemployed sort of sucks when you're watching your daily cash flow and current other sports/rec are doing their fair share of (money) damage.

HelloHockeyFan - who did you end up landing a job with?

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Sample00

thats awesome, man!
very happy to hear that!!!

Thanks bud. I appreciated your message on my office voice mail which also happened to be my very last message there!

[MissKat]

Hey Shaun just emailed me and have an interview with him this Wed afternoon for the new hockey store in Cross Iron Mills Mall! Im feeling a bit better now...

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by BergyBoy

Never give up... I saw this and it has been amazing too me and has helped me feel like I should never give up.
http://www.thesecret.tv/

Thanks! Bookmarked

[DOK]

I just have to say that finding a job on line is like finding a career in the newspaper these days. In fact the on line job sites ARE the new newspaper help wanted ads.

With the state of the economy and the fear mongering going on, the best way is to hit the streets. Go into a company, talk to the receptionist, try to find someone you know who works there to get HRs attention. Like someone else said going on line to the companies websites directly is another good idea.

Someone said that only 4% of the jobs are posted on those monster jobshop type websites. The rest are word of mouth.

That being said, i went to a Home Depot because they had a sign outside saying they were looking for pt workers, and I was told to go to the Canadian corporate site to apply. So WTF do I know.

[jammies]

I can't stress enough how important it is to MAKE FRIENDS at every job you ever work at. I haven't had to go *look* for a job since the mid-90's, instead I just put the word out that I'm thinking about a change, and connections do the rest. Networking is the most important skill you can ever develop - the best jobs not only don't get advertised, they get filled by someone who knows somebody.

This might not help you in your current predicament, but it's useful to think about for the future. Make friends with everyone and do people favours - no matter what their current position or authority - because being well-liked and respected is worth a hundred times any qualification you can put on your resume.

[HelloHockeyFans]

^ Excellent advice and so very true.

Who's your boss going to hire if he has the option of paying to put an ad up online or in the paper and have to filter out the sketches through resume revies/interviews vs. a friend of his best employee? Easy decision.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by jammies

I can't stress enough how important it is to MAKE FRIENDS at every job you ever work at. I haven't had to go *look* for a job since the mid-90's, instead I just put the word out that I'm thinking about a change, and connections do the rest. Networking is the most important skill you can ever develop - the best jobs not only don't get advertised, they get filled by someone who knows somebody.

My brother worked as a consultant in the construction industry in Minneapolis. He was involved in a partnership with a few other people. Last March he was let go as projects weren't coming in and he was on the bottom end of the totem pole. He was given a severenace package and money for his share of the partnership.

He has many contacts in the field and yet he is still unemployed. Networking is great when there are job available.

[BlackArcher101]

nevermind