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Question: I live in east Houston
and can’t seem to ever find a good job. I haven’t had a job since last
September. I don’t have any money to spend. I’m almost flat broke. I
don’t have a high school diploma. I’m 24 years old way behind. Some of
the jobs that I found are always way too far away. In the past I turned
down jobs because I felt I couldn’t do them because of my personality. I
would always find jobs like cashiers or waiter, but I just can’t imagine
myself doing something like that because I’m too shy. All I can do is
keep filling applications and never get hired. What a waste of time.
What kind of job do you think I should start looking for?
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: You have to get a GED if you want to get better jobs. I
hope you’re not always this negative! I used to be shy too, until I
realized that no one cares what I do because they’re too busy living
their own lives. No one who knows me now believes that I was ever shy.
Have you ever heard someone say, “Fake it until you make it?” Act
confident and you’ll be confident.
First – you’re broke and you need a job. Focus on what you can do and
try things you haven’t tried. You could work as a busboy while you learn
how to be a good waiter. Waiting tables pays well when you do a good
job.
The only thing we can control is our attitude. My Mother used to tell
me to complete one task every day that I didn’t want to do. After you do
that everything else will seem easy. You’ve turned down so many
opportunities to succeed. You need to cowboy up!
Question: I’m living with my
parents while I’m looking for a job, and they always mess up my
messages. My Dad told me the other day that he “thought” someone had
called for me a couple of days before, but he wasn’t sure who it was or
why they called. I can’t very well yell at my Dad for not taking good
messages, but I don’t have a cell phone right now, and I need to be able
to get messages. I think I’m getting an ulcer. Do you have any
suggestions?
- Reader in Tomball, TX
Answer: It must be tough giving up your independence to live with
your folks, but think about it, it’s tough for them, too. They’re used
to doing things their own way, and that probably doesn’t include taking
messages. Put a pen and pad of paper beside each of the phones, and
politely let your parents know that you promise to move as soon as you
get a job and a paycheck. Just let them know that the messages they take
may give them back a guest room.
Question: I had an interview
yesterday and I was asked a question that seemed strange to me. I’m
pretty sure that I answered it wrong. They asked me, “What kind of
learner are you?” I wasn’t sure if they meant how do I learn best or
what, so I said, “I like to watch what my supervisors do and then
incorporate their technique into my work.” She looked confused and said
that she meant how quickly can I learn when there is a lot of ground to
cover. Do you think I messed up?
- Reader in Dallas, TX
Answer: She just asked the question wrong. She should have asked,
“Give me an example of a time that you had to learn a lot in a hurry and
then utilize that information.” I don’t think you messed up, I think she
must not interview very often and doesn’t know the best way to ask that
question.
Question: I was in an interview a
week ago and the company has called me to ask for personal references. I
am still worried about one of the questions that I answered in the
interview and wonder if I could call the recruiter and explain my
answer. He asked what personal weakness I have. I said that I am a great
team member, but I don’t feel confident in a leadership role. I realized
that sounded weak, so I added that I coach a rowing team and that
experience has made me realize that I can lead when I have confidence.
Should I call him and explain what I meant?
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: Your answer sounds fine to me. Companies don’t call to
ask for personal references unless they are interested in hiring you.
Don’t focus so much on one question and answer. Recruiters are seeing
the big picture and the whole interview rather than one moment in the
interview.
Question: I had a guy read my
resume to see if it was okay, and he told me to remove the objective and
references. Is he right?
- Reader in Pasadena, TX
Answer: Yes.
Question: Hello, I’m wondering if
you could answer my question? I’m looking into becoming a medical coder
specialist, but I’m worried that they will do a credit check first to
pre-employment. Are there companies out there that hire not based on
credit? I live in Alabama.
- Reader in Alabama
Answer: I’ve learned a lot through my research into this field,
but I didn’t find the answer to this question. I think that you can be
certified even if you have bad credit. It appears that the employer is
the one who would be setting their own requirements about credit. You
are working with payables, and each Dr. may have her/his own rules. Call
the school where you plan to go and ask a counselor if every company
checks credit ratings.
It appears that there are a lot of scams out there, and that you should
avoid online classes and work from home offers. Be sure to go with an
accredited school to get this certification, and do a lot of research
before you commit to a specific school. There are lots of jobs for this
field BUT they are very hard to get without a number of years
experience.
Question: Dear employer: I am
sending you my resume because I am very interested in your job. Please
contact me with more information.
Houston Reader
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: Guess what, Sparky: I don’t think you’re interested in
that specific job at all because I can see that you have sent this email
to a grand total of 29 employers. You included all of their email
addresses, so forgive me if I’m not feeling special. These email
addresses show me that you aren’t even being picky about the KIND of job
you’re seeking or trying to match your experience and skills with a
position. As employers, we like to think that you have an actual
interest in our company, and when we see that you are simply sending a
shotgun response to everyone for every position, we lose interest in
you. While I realize that you are probably just trying to show that you
are applying for positions so that you won’t lose your unemployment
benefits, it’s obvious that you aren’t really trying to get a job.
Seriously, do you think I’m going to contact you with more information?
Question: I need a short term,
evening job so that I can look for work in my profession during the day.
Do you think I should let the recruiter know that I want to work for
only a few weeks?
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: It depends on the job, the company and the recruiter.
Play it by ear.
Question: I’ll bet you’re tired
of resume questions, but I haven’t ever had to have a resume before.
I’ve always just gotten jobs because I knew someone at the company or I
just walked in and interviewed. I want to work at better places and have
better jobs now that I’ve finished my Associates Degree at Lone Star
College. I’ve attached the resume that I’ve worked up. Can you look at
me and tell me what I should do different?
- Reader in The Woodlands, TX
Answer: A resume is just like a quick snapshot of your work
history. It’s used simply to open the door so that you can walk in to
the company and impress them. The resume you sent me is full of
misspelled words, grammatical errors, and personal information. Go do
some research. There are books about writing resumes, there is
information online, and your friends should be able to help you – but
make sure that they can spell and their grammar is okay. Don’t be lazy
about this because it’s important that you do a good job. Remember the
door I told you about? That door will be slammed in your face fast if
you send a resume like that.
Question: I get so tired of waiting.
I have sent resumes to companies, and they say they will get back with
me so I wait. They don’t call. I call companies and they say they aren’t
hiring anymore, then I go to their location, and I see signs that say
“Now Hiring.” I have talked with companies, and they say I don’t have
enough experience. I keep having all of these people telling me to be
patient and wait, but I need a job. I have started calling back the
companies that said they would call me. They either don’t give me any
information or they won’t take my messages. I love to work and am a
really dedicated worker. What am I doing wrong?
- Reader in Spring, TX
Answer: I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. It sounds like
you are following-up with the companies and working hard toward getting
a job. I know that it’s hard to wait, and I know it gets frustrating.
There are a lot of reasons however: When you see a “Now Hiring” sign, it
could be for a different position than the one that you wanted. When
they don’t return your call, it could be that they are swamped and just
can’t call everyone who sent a resume. I’m not making excuses for
recruiters, but there are always two sides to every story. You are
applying for jobs that your experience doesn’t match because you don’t
have enough experience. You have only had two jobs, one was for just a
month and the other one was for three years. You have to realize that
they are getting scads of resumes from people with the exact experience
they need. Keep on keeping on. That’s all you can do. You’ll find
something great and begin to build your resume so that they next time
you are job searching, you’ll have more options.
Question: I have been
self-employed for a long time and haven’t had a resume. I did one though
now because I’m looking for a job in the northwest part of Houston. When
I gave my resume to the interviewer, she told me that I made a mistake
to put my social security number and driver’s license number on the top
of the resume. Is that right? I thought that they needed that info.
- Reader in Alvin, TX
Answer: Never include personal information in a resume. Never.
The company will ask for that information when they need it in the
hiring process. Until then, you are just asking for trouble. And
speaking of personal information, please don’t include the name of the
hospital where you were born, individual names of your family members,
and your elementary school. It’s smart to have someone else read it when
you finish so that you can be sure that you didn’t say that you are
“contentious” when you meant to say “conscientious.”
Question: I am completing my Masters
degree in May, and I have an offer in my field for a job in Alaska, that
sounds really good. I have asked a lot of questions and feel comfortable
with the answers I’ve received. The issue is that it is the first offer
that I’ve gotten, and everyone who is advising me seems to think that I
should wait to see what other offers I can get before I accept. I don’t
want to let this opportunity get away while I look at other jobs. Do you
think it’s okay to accept an offer without more interviews?
- Reader in Dallas, TX
Answer: I know that it’s exciting to have such a cool offer in
hand and that it’s tiresome to keep listening to people who want you to
be cautious. You have always worked at 2 or more jobs while you’ve been
in graduate and undergraduate school – and you’ve maintained a great
GPA. In addition, you’ve been involved in college sports. That’s a great
example of your perseverance and good judgment. All of that experience
means this really isn’t your first rodeo, and you know how to handle
employment. In addition, you have covered a lot of issues with the
company and their answers have made you confident in what they are
offering. Having said all that, I still believe that you need to
interview more and do a really close comparison with other positions in
Alaska. If you decide that this offer is exactly what you want and that
it’s going to give you exactly what you need, ignore all of us and just
do what you think is best. But ALASKA???? Good grief, I want you to stay
in Texas.
Question: I’m an unemployed
physicist, but I want to work as a data analyst. Most physics positions
are funded by grants and are temporary. The high salaries that you see
on the Internet are for physicists higher in the food chain than I am.
I got this nice response to a resume for data analyst, but I guess he
thinks I’m overqualified for the position: “Thank you for your resume.
You have the mathematical background we need, and I'm glad to see that
you’re a Toastmaster, too. I belong to a different chapter. I don’t know
if we could keep you challenged, or if our compensation is enough. If
you can answer these questions, we might be able to set up an
interview.”
Sadly I replied with a very bad email: “Thank you for your
consideration. To alleviate your concerns about “challenging work”;
data analysis and graph preparation would keep me engrossed. The salary
you advertised is what I made as a physicist. Thank you for your
interest, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
I sent it two days ago and still haven’t heard anything. I’m trying to
write a recovery email that will help me overcome this bad communication
and need help deciding what to say. I also don’t know when to send this
letter and would appreciate any help you can offer.
- Reader in Spring, TX
Answer: His email was warm and welcoming, and yours was icy cold,
but It wasn’t all that bad. Pick up the phone and call. Don’t apologize
- act like it never happened. Just talk about Toastmasters or the
weather and THEN ask if they are still hiring. Let him see that you have
a good personality. Act quickly, and you may be able to salvage this.
Question: I have been interviewing for two months now, and I
just don’t get the job. I know that I have a good resume and that I can
do the jobs I apply for. What’s going on?
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: I met you on Friday, and I’m just making a wild guess
that you don’t dress correctly for your interviews. It’s not a good idea
to wear a hat, ragged jeans, a T-shirt with pictures of beer bottles on
it, and 6 inch stiletto heels for an interview. I’m sure that you’ve
lost the opportunity the minute they see you.
Question: How old do you have to
be to work in Texas? My son wants to get a job, and he’ll be 15 next
month.
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: I checked the
Texas State Child Labor Laws and with a few exceptions; it’s illegal
to employ a child less than 14 years of age. (One of the exceptions is
if your child is a movie actor!) However, there are some permitted
occupations for 14 and 15 year olds. They can work in retail, food
service, and gasoline service establishments in specific jobs BUT the
hours they can work are really limited. I know that both you and he are
anxious for him to start working, but you don’t want him to trade his
education and his tomorrow for a few dollars today.
Question: Diana, I wanted you to
know that I just got a really good job. It’s close to my home and pays
the same money that I was making before. I’ll still pick up JobSparx
though, because I love your column and Dave Ramsey’s. I’m really happy
to be working again and wanted to let you know.
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: I am so glad to hear from you and am really happy that
you got a job that fits you so well. You’re a really hard worker and
always give 100%. I know the company will be happy they hired you.
Question: Why do some companies use
“blind” ads? It makes me mad that I can’t tell who is advertising. What
are they hiding?
Answer: Companies run blind ads for a lot of different reasons.
Sometimes the search is confidential because someone is being replaced.
Sometimes it is a sensitive position, and the company is using a
headhunter. Sometimes they want to review resumes and not have to field
a ton of calls – they’ll call only people who actually qualify. AND if
someone in the company answers the ad, they’ll know that person is not
happy. Most blind ads are used to save time and effort on the part of
the recruiter.
Question: I’ve been looking for a
job here in Alabama and have had absolutely no luck. One of my friends
told me that Houston is a good job market, and I should move there. What
do you think? Is Houston a better job market than Birmingham, Alabama?
- Reader in Birmingham, AL
Answer: Yes, it is. I saw a list called The 10 Hardest Cities in
Which to Find a Job, and Birmingham was ranked number 9. Houston has not
been as impacted by the recession, but everything depends on your skills
and experience. You don’t want to just move here and be unemployed in a
strange city. Do you know anyone in Houston? If you do, find out if you
can stay with them while you job search (make that a short stay so
you’ll still be friends when this is over!) Do your homework ahead of
time by researching jobs –
www.JobSparx.com – sending resumes and talking with recruiters.
Arrange a number of interviews so that your time in Houston will be
productive. Let me know how you do.
Question: It’s practically
impossible to get a job in this economy. What hints do you have? I’ve
been sending my resume to every single ad that I see, and I’m not
getting any call backs. I’m getting depressed.
- Reader in Dallas, TX
Answer: You are depressing yourself by applying for jobs you
can’t get. You have to apply for the jobs that are at a fit for your
experience and skills. My Goddaughter, who is graduating with a Masters
Degree in Speech Pathology, has job offers in hand as we speak – of
course she applied only for Speech Pathology jobs. If you are sending
your resume to everybody and her dog, you’re not going to get a
response. If I’m advertising for a Rocket Scientist, I’m not going to
respond to a rock singer. If I’m advertising for an Electrical Engineer,
I’m not going to hire an electrician. READ the ad. If you are qualified,
respond. If you are not qualified, move on to the next ad. This is going
to save you a lot of frustration and get you more real responses.
Question: I’m getting ready to
retire after 30 years as a chemical engineer, but I really don’t want to
stop working. I don’t have hobbies, and I think I’d go crazy not
working. I might want to work just part time. Do you think there are
opportunities out there for a 57 year old guy?
- Reader in Houston, TX
Answer: Sure there are. Companies love experience, and you’ve got
that. You must have lots of contacts in the industry. Contact some of
them to see what’s shaking. Just remember that you have the time to find
exactly what you want.
Question: Can
you be an ultrasound tech if you have a misdemeanor?
-Reader from
Great Falls, Montana
Answer: I don’t know. It’s
difficult to research the regulations for Ultrasound Technicians in
Montana. The best bet is to contact the
Montana Board of Medical
Examiners. They regulate Acupuncturists, EMT’s,
Nutritionists, Physicians (including Residents), Physician’s Assistants,
and Podiatrists. The
State Radiology Board
might regulate Ultrasound, but their web page shows Radiology. If I
were you, I would call a Montana commissioner’s office and ask them if
you have a problem. And then I would resolve to stay out of trouble.
Question:
I
know the job market is tough right now, but I have decided that my 2010
New Year’s resolution is to get out of this job and find a new one. I
will stay until about March because we get our 2009 bonuses in February
instead of January. I’ve been here for three years and have been
unhappy for the last year and half. That’s when we got a new manager
who does not respect any of his employees. He talks to everyone like
he’s a king or something. I was promoted in September and have to work
with him more closely than before, and he’s driving me crazy. When
should I give my notice?
Answer: You give notice when you
have a new job. Remember that you owe your current company your best
work while you are on their payroll – keep on doing a good job. You
have to go on interviews, but play fair – don’t lie to get time off
(don’t tell them you’re sick). Use your vacation days to interview –
you won’t need them if you’re leaving the company. Get your resume
updated and don’t discuss your move with ANYONE at work. Even friends
with the best intentions will spill the beans. You might end up without
a job if your boss finds out that you’re looking for something else.
Question:
I graduate in May 2010 with a BS in
Chemical Engineering and am getting anxious about starting to search for
a job. Is it too early for me to start looking?
Answer: It’s not too early,
but you’ll have to find companies that can wait that long before you
start. It might be a good idea to get a part-time job with a company
that wants to hire you full-time after you graduate. Congrats on the
BSChE!
Season’s Greetings:
One of the real joys of the Holiday Season is the opportunity to say
Thank You to our readers.
Celebrate Each Day!
Happy Holidays from Diana and all of us at JobSparx.
Question: I am a first class petty officer in the Navy with
10 years in. I have an AS degree in automotive applied sciences. I have
held a TS clearance and was on a submarine for 4 years as a FT2 (Fire
Control Technician). Then I was on a destroyer for 2 years as a QM1
(Quartermaster). Now I work security as a patrolman on NSA Norfolk naval
base. My EAOS is June 18, 2010 and I would be able to start a new job in
late May. I am interested in all positions that I may qualify for.
-Reader from Norfolk, Virginia
Answer: Your experience translates into several different
civilian occupations. One of the best websites that I found is
www.acinet.org/acinet/moc which is sponsored by the US
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and
translates your military job into jobs for civilians. They also have
www.CareerOneStop.org/MilitaryTransition . I also like the GI Jobs
website, www.gijobs.com
, which includes advice about how to use your terminal leave the most
effectively.
In addition to these resources, you can visit Military OneSource at
www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-9647. This is a no
cost, Department of Defense website for active duty military.
If you are interested in offshore positions here on the Texas coast, you
can find jobs operating Semisubmersibles, Drillships and Jackup rigs and
other similar jobs by researching Houston-based drilling companies.
If I find any more information, I’ll email it to you. Good luck and
thank you for your service.
Question: My boss is so difficult
that everyone in the industry automatically asks me how I’m doing and
how it’s possible for me to work with her. The odd thing is that she and
I get along fine. I’m a trader in a crude oil and natural gas
transportation company and have been in this industry for years. I
already knew her reputation before I came here and was nervous, but
she’s been great to me. When I tell people that I like her, they always
imply that I’m just a “teacher’s pet.” Actually they use less polite
language, and it’s starting to get to me. How do I handle this?
Answer: Wow, you say they use “less polite language.” I had to
clean up your question just a little and wonder how much more impolite
the language could be than the language you included! Let your
detractors know that you are aware that your boss is regarded as
difficult. You just need to tell them, “I know her reputation, and I
know she can be a pain. I also know that she and I work well together.”
Question: Pre employment
background check: Do they check your driving record and would a failure
to appear hurt your chances of getting hired?
-Reader from
Montgomery, Alabama
Answer: There must be a lot of background checks going on right
now. Usually your driving record is checked. Whether a “failure to
appear” would hurt your chances is strictly up to the hiring company.
Question: I was trained to be a
shipboard fireman when I was in the military. What jobs would be a good
match for that experience? Also, I had a misdemeanor before I went into
the military and got deferred adjudication, and it didn’t keep me out of
the Navy. I have one other misdemeanor for trespassing that I got after
I left the Navy, but that was really a misunderstanding. Do you think
these minor things will keep me from getting a job?
Answer: Your experience can be used by offshore marine companies
and your fire-fighting experience would probably give you a good start
on a job with a municipal Fire Department. Any company that runs a
background check will uncover the misdemeanors. You need to face this
head-on and tell the company that you have two misdemeanors and a little
bit about the offenses. Recruiters hear these stories every day, and the
decision is made based on company policy and the nature of the offense.
If you wait to explain until after the background check, it will look
like you’re trying to hide it (and it really can’t be hidden.) I know
that it’s sometimes hard to talk about something like this but handling
it the right way will give you answers sooner and make your job search
more worry-free. Thank you for your military service.
.
Question: I am a Professional
Engineer and have never been without a job since I left college. In
fact, I’ve worked at only two companies in the last 20 years. I’ve been
at my current company for 17 years and have been promoted 4 times. I’m
hearing rumblings that sound like layoffs may be coming, and I’m a
little panicked. I don’t know the first thing about looking for a job,
and I feel that I would be at a real disadvantage against new graduates
because they would have lower salary expectations. What would you do to
get ready for this layoff?
Answer: Congratulations on your great career for the last 20
years! Where are you hearing these rumblings? Go to someone who is in a
decision-making position and ask if the rumors are true. Many times
people who are in the “know” don’t want to give that information, but
since you have been there for so long, I’m sure that you have great
relationships with management. You wouldn’t be competing with new grads
because your position is not an entry-level one. You would be competing
with others at your pay scale. It would be a good idea to get a resume
together and start contacting recruiters who work in your industry. They
will know if there are opportunities and which opportunities would fit
you. Don’t panic until it’s time to panic.
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