tips for making the job search go faster?

[larussel03]

So I just moved to Ann Arbor, MI from Boston and am starting the job search but I have to tell you sitting around is driving me crazy!!! i''m applying to jobs from careerbuilder, monster and on local business websites but is there anything else I can do to move this along faster???

 

[ephemery1]

I would imagine it varies by field, but I definitely feel your pain... a few years ago, I was job-hunting for college administration positions (primarily academic advising/counseling). When I found something interesting, I would call and ask if I could bring over a resume in person... I got a LOT of interviews (and eventually the job I wanted) that way. Also, even if a place isn't advertising a position, that doesn't mean there isn't an opening... a lot of times if they lose an employee, they are too busy making up for the loss to find time to post the job. So call and ask, or at the very least, send a resume.

Think of it through the employer's eyes... if you were busy and stressed and needed to hire a competent person, after sifting through stacks of resumes and applications... the proactive person who walked through your door and shook your hand is going to make the biggest impression.

As for making the time go faster, it helped me to establish some sort of routine for my day. Get up at 8, go out to get coffee (forces you to shower and get dressed... haha), come back and do job-search related things for a few hours, then go for a walk (or to the gym or to run errands or whatever). The worst days were the ones where I slept in, put the TV on when I woke up and just left it on all day, ate last night's leftovers for breakfast around noon, never bothered changing out of my pajamas... then suddenly it was dark out. Even if I did some job-search stuff somewhere in there, I still felt miserable by the time TLC's daytime line-up shifted into evening programming. Fortunately there were only a few of those days!!

 

[gailrmv]

Network! You never know who know who that is hiring... is there a professional organization you can join and go to meetings? A class you can take related to your field where you might meet other professionals? Good luck!!

 

[robbie3982]

You could try to get a temp job in your field. That''s what I''m doing right now. I basically spent the last 4 months living ephemery''s bad days

.

 

[monarch64]

Sweetpea, there will come a day (probably sooner than you think) when such a qualified gal as yourself will start having to turn away the offers! Every time I have job-hunted, it''s been famine for a few weeks, then FEAST! It''s some strange phenomenon, I think...in my case, each time I started posting resumes, replying to ads, etc., I would go for 2-3 weeks without hearing anything, than BAM! I would get like 10 calls a day. Enjoy your free time now, I have a feeling that you will land something sooner than you think.

In addition to ephemery''s advice, I would say take advantage of your "down-time" now to get your work wardrobe completely in order, you know, get everything cleaned, get your shoes polished, handbags cleaned out, any repairs/alterations made, etc. Also draft thank you notes for interviews you will go on (nothing says "I want this job" to employers like a well-thought out, thank-you-for-your time note--that''s how my DH got his last/permanent position), and you could even spend some time volunteering/honing computer skills you might need to expand on, etc. That way when an employer asks you what you do with your free time, you have examples of how you''ve been spending your time waiting for a job to come through. (I''m not making assumptions here, just throwing out ideas--I''m sure you''re a very busy lady!) You can also prepare lists of potential questions you''d like to ask during interviews, if you haven''t done so already. I used to deal with HR in my previous position, and did a lot of interviews in which the candidate was totally unprepared. It wasn''t a huge negative, but I always liked to hire people who were not only qualified, but brought a little extra something to the table as far as being informed and organized.

Best of luck to you in your job-search! Let us know how it goes!!

 

[larussel03]

Thank you everyone so much for your replies! I do like ephemery''s idea of going down and handing them my resume, the only thing is I''m broke at the moment and do not have a printer or nice paper...I''ll get a final paycheck (for unused vaca days and one day in Sept) at the end of the month, so that''ll likely be the time to do that. Unless I just buy the paper and head to my FI''s lab and print a few copies, which may work. It''ll force me to drive around and learn michigan better too...

I''ve been emailing the contact person listed on job postings on Monster directly with my cover letter as the body of the email for any job posting that has a contact person rather than hitting the "apply now". Hopefully that''ll help a little bit.

I guess that I just thought that I''d have more offers coming my way since I used to previously work at a large genome sequencing facility at MIT and was told by so many people "oh with that experience, you''ll have no problem"...the only thing is I forgot how long it takes for anyone to actually even see your resume.

I guess I can use this time to work out a bit, get everything in order as monarch suggested. I adopted a 2 year old dog as well (something FI and I had been wanting to do for a long time) so I guess this is good down time to bond with her as well. I''ve managed to keep myself busy getting the new apartment in order and getting the dog, but now I''m getting into the nothing to do stage...

 

[rfath]

''pea, were you at the Broad Institute?

If so, then small world

My last few attempts at getting hired were really slow at first. It takes a while for your resume to get to the right people and then for them to actually LOOK at it. I know it doesn''t help when you''re unemployed and anxious to start, but there IS hope!

Fingers crossed that you hear something soon!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/22/2006 3:41:48 PM
Author: rfath
''pea, were you at the Broad Institute?

If so, then small world

My last few attempts at getting hired were really slow at first. It takes a while for your resume to get to the right people and then for them to actually LOOK at it. I know it doesn''t help when you''re unemployed and anxious to start, but there IS hope!

Fingers crossed that you hear something soon!

Yep, do you work there too? I loved working there, but we moved to Mich b/c FI is doing his PhD out here.

 

[aussiegirl23]

SweetPea : )

okay, this is making me laugh! you were at Broad? I was just there on an interview... ended up deciding on another place in town... the one with lots of ivy... but I was very impressed with the Institute...

-are you looking at academic labs too, or would you rather industry?

-is your resume looking like genomic sequencing is your ''one'' skill? make sure you''ve got a variety of things on there so you could jump in doing many tasks and be versatile

-get someone else to look at your resume (even apart from your fiance) to find places to improve it

-any chance people you worked with at Broad know anyone out near Ann Arbor? I know it sounds far-fetched, but possibly an old tech moved out there and is doing their pHD? networking can do wonders, no matter how distant

-it WILL happen... my search was pretty dead for like 2 1/2 months... then a bunch of interviews all at once. a few weeks later I had 3 offers and I was desperately trying to decide between them... so it WILL happen! I promise!

best of luck... and I''m still laughing about how SMALL this internet is! rFATH... dare I ask if you currently work there??

Aussie

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/23/2006 11:52:21 AM
Author: aussiegirl23
SweetPea : )

okay, this is making me laugh! you were at Broad? I was just there on an interview... ended up deciding on another place in town... the one with lots of ivy... but I was very impressed with the Institute...

-are you looking at academic labs too, or would you rather industry?

-is your resume looking like genomic sequencing is your 'one' skill? make sure you've got a variety of things on there so you could jump in doing many tasks and be versatile

-get someone else to look at your resume (even apart from your fiance) to find places to improve it

-any chance people you worked with at Broad know anyone out near Ann Arbor? I know it sounds far-fetched, but possibly an old tech moved out there and is doing their pHD? networking can do wonders, no matter how distant

-it WILL happen... my search was pretty dead for like 2 1/2 months... then a bunch of interviews all at once. a few weeks later I had 3 offers and I was desperately trying to decide between them... so it WILL happen! I promise!

best of luck... and I'm still laughing about how SMALL this internet is! rFATH... dare I ask if you currently work there??

Aussie

Haha, small world, huh? Funny.

Yeah, I think my resume is pretty good, I also do freelance medical writing, so that's on there as well as my wet lab experience...the only thing is that I'm not super psyched about getting back on the bench, at all, but I kind of want to go for a clinical managerial or a clinical research associate type position, so I have a feeling I may have to get into a lab and work my way back up. The work I was doing at Broad was great, but I dont see alot of analysis type positions available here unless you have alot of computer science skills, which I do not. I hate sitting on my butt with no job b/c I feel like I'm wasting my savings

 

[rfath]

wow... it really is a small world!

I think your enjoyment at the Broad definitely depends on where you''re working. I''m miserable in my group.. but I''ve met many more people who''re thrilled with their jobs.

Aussie - I used to work at Harvard and miss it desperately! Dang grants ending!

Sweatpea - how did you get into medical writing? I''m curious to find out what *else* I can do with my degree and experience other than being a tech and doing the wet work...

 

[Molly1024]

robbie3982-

I saw in another thread you''re from Youngstown, Ohio- so am I!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/25/2006 11:33:58 AM
Author: rfath
wow... it really is a small world!

I think your enjoyment at the Broad definitely depends on where you're working. I'm miserable in my group.. but I've met many more people who're thrilled with their jobs.

Aussie - I used to work at Harvard and miss it desperately! Dang grants ending!

Sweatpea - how did you get into medical writing? I'm curious to find out what *else* I can do with my degree and experience other than being a tech and doing the wet work...

I have a friend who does it and she referred me to her editor b/c she was annoyed with having to fix up other freelancer's work and she knew that I can write well and that I was really interested in it. She was actually a sociology and english major, I beleive, and so many technical/medical writing companies actually look for english majors...although alot look for science majors as well. It's hard to get into though, I'd been trying on my own for a couple years. I'm hoping to eventually do it full time, esp since I could do it from home just as easily as from an office.

Yeah, wet lab work really is no fun, I dont enjoy it at all, but I was mostly on a computer and I think that the people I worked with in my group made it better b/c if I didnt get along with them so well, it would have been harder.

 

[rfath]

ahh... more networking! I''m still trying to decide what''s next for me. Can''t stomach the thought of going on to get more advanced degrees doing bench work. Love the analytical side of it, but don''t have the technical training yet to break into that side of things.

How''re you liking Ann Arbor? I used to live in MI and loved the area (spent a lot of time on the medical campus when I was little)... unfortunately, the contacts I still know in the state are at MSU.

And I used to live in Ohio, too!

Hope to hear many positive updates that they''re beating down your door with fabulous offers!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/26/2006 9:40:58 AM
Author: rfath
ahh... more networking! I''m still trying to decide what''s next for me. Can''t stomach the thought of going on to get more advanced degrees doing bench work. Love the analytical side of it, but don''t have the technical training yet to break into that side of things.

How''re you liking Ann Arbor? I used to live in MI and loved the area (spent a lot of time on the medical campus when I was little)... unfortunately, the contacts I still know in the state are at MSU.

And I used to live in Ohio, too!

Hope to hear many positive updates that they''re beating down your door with fabulous offers!

I''m liking Ann Arbor so far but starting to be a little lonley. FI met some great people through his program, one of the girls and I get along well and we had 3 people over for dinner last night, but it''s still not the same as my friends from home.

Job searching is no fun...still no word

 

[Rosebud8506]

Sweetpea: I live in the metro Detroit area as well, and it is a hard job market here right now. I know personally, because I was let go from my job the DAY BEFORE MY WEDDING?!?!?!?! (I''m over it now, but I am still bitter - grrr). They eliminated my department altogether - its been a tough search for me as well.

If there is any advice I can give you, it would be to keep trying!!!

Here is another local site you may want to check out in addition to what you''ve already looked at.
http://www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage

I also heard on the news the other day that Google has now moved an office into Ann Arbor, and they have tons of job opportunities posted on their website.

Good luck!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/26/2006 12:52:21 PM
Author: Rosebud8506
Sweetpea: I live in the metro Detroit area as well, and it is a hard job market here right now. I know personally, because I was let go from my job the DAY BEFORE MY WEDDING?!?!?!?! (I''m over it now, but I am still bitter - grrr). They eliminated my department altogether - its been a tough search for me as well.

If there is any advice I can give you, it would be to keep trying!!!

Here is another local site you may want to check out in addition to what you''ve already looked at.
http://www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage

I also heard on the news the other day that Google has now moved an office into Ann Arbor, and they have tons of job opportunities posted on their website.

Good luck!

Thank you soooo much for that Rosebud! I will definately be checking it out!!

 

[royalasscherlover]

hey sweetpea,

i''m normally just a lurker here, but i live in ann arbor and work in a medical/scientific field. my company actually employs 4 medical editors, but unfortunately i don''t think that we''re looking for any more right now. i''ll keep my ears open for you, though.

also, i''d be happy to meet up for coffee sometime if you''re looking to meet more people in the area or have any questions about town (though i''m not quite sure how we''d arrange it, since there''s no way to exchange personal info here. i guess just pick a place and a time, huh?)

 

[aussiegirl23]

Rfath : )

Sorry about your grant ending : ( The lab I just joined is doing fine in terms of money, so hopefully it''ll be around for a while! Not liking Broad?? Can I ask what you do there? This sounds like an invasion of privacy, but even if I knew your position, I''m guessing there are TONS of people who are working in that sort of job. Maybe I''m wrong, I''m just curious about why it stinks : ( I almost ended up there and am curious if I made the right decision -- but it could be something very specific to your group or your position... Tell me to butt out if you''d like : )

SweetPea... Thinking about you and hoping the flurry of job offers starts REALLY soon!

Aussie

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/26/2006 9:40:58 AM
Author: rfath
ahh... more networking! I''m still trying to decide what''s next for me. Can''t stomach the thought of going on to get more advanced degrees doing bench work. Love the analytical side of it, but don''t have the technical training yet to break into that side of things.

How''re you liking Ann Arbor? I used to live in MI and loved the area (spent a lot of time on the medical campus when I was little)... unfortunately, the contacts I still know in the state are at MSU.

And I used to live in Ohio, too!

Hope to hear many positive updates that they''re beating down your door with fabulous offers!

Thanks rfath! I hope so too! Maybe you should take advantage of the tuition reimbursement--I took one class at Harvard, although I have to admit, I did not find the class, nor the prof impressive, although ti was stuff I kinda knew already...I only knew some UNIX and that''s it, but I got the job as a data analyst with the genomics background I had from my masters.

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/26/2006 3:11:57 PM
Author: shortblonde
hey sweetpea,

i'm normally just a lurker here, but i live in ann arbor and work in a medical/scientific field. my company actually employs 4 medical editors, but unfortunately i don't think that we're looking for any more right now. i'll keep my ears open for you, though.

also, i'd be happy to meet up for coffee sometime if you're looking to meet more people in the area or have any questions about town (though i'm not quite sure how we'd arrange it, since there's no way to exchange personal info here. i guess just pick a place and a time, huh?)

hey, I'd be up for that! Whereabouts would be good for you and when?

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 9/20/2006 5:19:36 PM
Author:*~Sweetpea~*
So I just moved to Ann Arbor, MI from Boston and am starting the job search but I have to tell you sitting around is driving me crazy!!! i'm applying to jobs from careerbuilder, monster and on local business websites but is there anything else I can do to move this along faster???

I love Ann Arbor.

Seen a lot of posts, and...reviewing what you'd specifically mentioned your doing...wanted to mention what may not be obious. Read the local classifieds. (And as appropriate, campus paper and nearby/Detroit paper ads.

I'm in metro DC, and despite finding what seemed to be the most efficient method of searching, to use the Washington Post's electronic classified resource, where you could implement a variety of useful sorting options...the print classifieds was the only listing resource used to post the job I have now. Best to at least include that for due diligence. A friend recently was mentioning job hunting who was pretty net savvy. I mentioned this to her...and she said all that was just too much. Go figure.

This, then, as one of a two tongued approach. In addition to being reactive, also, proactively, research and determine where you'd like to work, and go after that.

And...enjoy your coffee with our PS friend.

Regards,

 

[royalasscherlover]

How about the Starbucks at Main and Liberty (downtown)? Say, 2:00 on Sunday? Does that work for you?

LOL at your comment (before revision) about Dunkin Donuts. I went to school in Rhode Island, so I know all about the obsession - but I didn''t realize that there was one anywhere remotely nearby!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/27/2006 10:52:52 AM
Author: shortblonde
How about the Starbucks at Main and Liberty (downtown)? Say, 2:00 on Sunday? Does that work for you?

LOL at your comment (before revision) about Dunkin Donuts. I went to school in Rhode Island, so I know all about the obsession - but I didn''t realize that there was one anywhere remotely nearby!

Downtown AA? Sounds good to me, I will be there at 2 on Sunday! Looking forward to hanging out!

Haha, yeah I edited it when I reread it and felt I was rambly in the post

 

[Mara]

one thing i read about recently was that there are online job sites that are specialized and those are becoming way more popular for job seekers. so it''s not just about monster and hotjobs or whatever but specialized industry search engines. and that companies are using those more and more because they are specialized...not so vague. if you have not already looked for them via google, i''d try that. also check into consulting...or contracting or temping in the meantime. there are typically online consulting firms that would have your industry, you just have to find them. networking is awesome too. when you send a resume in, follow-up. putting yourself in front of them will most likely get your resume viewed quicker since sometimes companies can take a while to filter through things! anyway, sometimes it can take a while to get things going while looking but then it all seems to just happen at once! Good luck!

 

[royalasscherlover]

yep, i meant downtown AA, sorry if i confused you. see you sunday!

 

[larussel03]

YAY see you Sunday! I also mentioned to Blenheim that we're meeting up, she's from AA as well!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/27/2006 3:53:30 PM
Author: Mara
one thing i read about recently was that there are online job sites that are specialized and those are becoming way more popular for job seekers. so it''s not just about monster and hotjobs or whatever but specialized industry search engines. and that companies are using those more and more because they are specialized...not so vague. if you have not already looked for them via google, i''d try that. also check into consulting...or contracting or temping in the meantime. there are typically online consulting firms that would have your industry, you just have to find them. networking is awesome too. when you send a resume in, follow-up. putting yourself in front of them will most likely get your resume viewed quicker since sometimes companies can take a while to filter through things! anyway, sometimes it can take a while to get things going while looking but then it all seems to just happen at once! Good luck!

Good advice...I started looking at company websites after reading this as well as craigslist.org...figured can''t hurt to try. I spend at least 3 hours either every or every other day job searching with the cover letter writing and finding new jobs to apply to...hopefull it''ll pay off soon!


I may just apply at the flower shop nearby for the time being just to have some $$, they need workers and I need to get out of the apartment. As long as they''re ok with me leaving when I get a full time job...we''ll see how that chat goes...

 

[Blenheim]

Hey!

I think that I might have a study group tomorrow at 2, but I''m not quite sure (the idea was discussed but not finalized). It''s in a class that''s pretty hard for me, so if it comes together I should go, but if not I''d love to meet up with you! I''ll have a better idea by some point tomorrow.

 

[royalasscherlover]

Hey Sweetpea,

We seem to have missed each other somehow! While I was waiting, it occurred to me that there are 2 Starbucks on Liberty. I was at the one at Liberty and Main, but there is another one a few blocks away at Liberty and State. I wonder if you were at that one instead (there''s a movie theater, Urban Outfitters, and Borders right nearby)? I actually walked down there to look for you, but it was 2:40 by then.

Anyway, sorry for the mixup. Hopefully we can reschedule sometime soon!