Topic: Looking for a job sucks...

[DammitDan]

Cover letters, tailored resumes, company research, thank-you notes, walk-in interviews, applications...

Ugh. 

Sometimes I envy you old established people 

[Terry in Australia]

Hey Dirty Dan, come out to Oz and I'll get you a job working with me mate, the pay's crap, and the conditions are poor, but no-one else wants it, so it's nice and secure, ha ha!

[DammitDan]

Ah, if only Australia had open immigration, Terry...

Oh, and ties.  I don't like ties. 

[Terry in Australia]

Ah, if only Australia had open immigration, Terry...

Oh, and ties.  I don't like ties. 

Mate, you'd have no problems coming here, and it'd be nice to have an immigrant who can speak english and actually likes Australia, unlike a lot of the middle-eastern and african immigrants who are streaming into Oz at the moment. They don't like us, they just want to live here................ 

Ties? Ha ha, I'm supposed to wear one when I go to a business meeting, but my (and my staff's) normal dress is company supplied steel capped work boots, jeans and "high visibility" tops. Bit silly really, because we're essentially office workers, but we visit warehouses with forklift trucks and other machinery, so we need to dress like the natives, I guess. Cheers, Terry.  

[BobbyR]

Dan,  What kind of work do you do and what kind of work are you looking for?

[DammitDan]

I just graduated Middle TN State with a BS in Recording Industry Production & Technology, minor in business administration.  Finished my internship at a recording studio in Nashville and found out that I don't wanna be a recording engineer.

I have a lot of experience with computers, having being a network administrator for a year, and I have experience with billing and office assistance as well.

So basically I just want to get a career started in something other than grocery store assistant manager or professional ice cream scooper.

I applied to all the banks in town today as a teller, but either no one is hiring, or they're only hiring part time (which I'll take if nothing else).  I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that something will show up in the music business in Nashville (publishing, digital editing, broadcast, copyright, labels, etc.).  My degree gave me a pretty broad basis of knowledge, it's just applying that knowledge to something useful in the real-world that's proving difficult.

[BobbyR]

Off the top of my head, I would check out Dice.com. One area that seems to get some play is e-learning which combines many of your skills. I am not sure if TN is a hot spot for that, but it costs nothing to check it out. With your background in music engineering and computers, Multimedia seems a fit. Also check out ASTD for e-learning jobs. Indeed.com is a mega job search engine. I changed careers a couple of years ago and I was over 50 which is a killer. Also check out IBM, they have a lot of Consulting positions around the Country. 

[Burke]

Good luck DD. It's hard out there right now.

My Fiance has been looking for a job for 5 months here in MI, and no luck. Her background is similar to yours (BA from CMU in Broadcast Arts and Graphic something, something). Interned all the way through school, then a Radio DJ for a few years out of College, then a APD. Then, boom, no job.

She's working on forming a Production Company (making Radio commercials, voice overs, and such), and she does alot of voice work and copy work from home. Maybe you could freelance doing that type of thing?

Also what turned against being an engineer?
I am a (recovering ) musician and have recorded many times in many places. I alway thought that being a Engineer would be a cool job.

[kghost]

Man that sucks...sorry to hear your having a hard time.

Are you committed to staying in Tennesse?

[mrblasty]

Ah, if only Australia had open immigration, Terry...

Oh, and ties.  I don't like ties. 

Mate, you'd have no problems coming here, and it'd be nice to have an immigrant who can speak english and actually likes Australia, unlike a lot of the middle-eastern and african immigrants who are streaming into Oz at the moment. They don't like us, they just want to live here................ 

Ties? Ha ha, I'm supposed to wear one when I go to a business meeting, but my (and my staff's) normal dress is company supplied steel capped work boots, jeans and "high visibility" tops. Bit silly really, because we're essentially office workers, but we visit warehouses with forklift trucks and other machinery, so we need to dress like the natives, I guess. Cheers, Terry.  

What is it that you do Terry, I've been trying to figure a way out of the states for some time now, My wife could get us out of here but that would require some effort on her part and that ain't gonna happen.  Not looking for a job, casting lines so to speak.

[BobbyR]

If you like Texas, you will like Australia. Australians are very much like Texans.

[mrblasty]

If you like Texas, you will like Australia. Australians are very much like Texans.

I'm not sure I could grow accustomed to walking around with wool stuck in my zipper.

[Uncle Ernie]

Then get a hair cut, for cryin out loud.


My last application was as a golf cart attendant.  I'm not kidding.
I'd set up a shoe shine stand, but everyone wears hiking boots around here.

[Terry in Australia]

Ah, if only Australia had open immigration, Terry...

Oh, and ties.  I don't like ties. 

Mate, you'd have no problems coming here, and it'd be nice to have an immigrant who can speak english and actually likes Australia, unlike a lot of the middle-eastern and african immigrants who are streaming into Oz at the moment. They don't like us, they just want to live here................ 

Ties? Ha ha, I'm supposed to wear one when I go to a business meeting, but my (and my staff's) normal dress is company supplied steel capped work boots, jeans and "high visibility" tops. Bit silly really, because we're essentially office workers, but we visit warehouses with forklift trucks and other machinery, so we need to dress like the natives, I guess. Cheers, Terry.  

What is it that you do Terry, I've been trying to figure a way out of the states for some time now, My wife could get us out of here but that would require some effort on her part and that ain't gonna happen.  Not looking for a job, casting lines so to speak.

G'Day Mr B, I'm a defence contractor mate, involved in the provision of "Garrison Services" on all of the defence sites in Victoria. (Army, Navy and Air Force) This includes firemen, storemen, drivers, cooks, stewards, gardeners, cleaners, security guards, and range staff.

The company I work for employs several hundred staff across the state, and I have input into hiring and occasionally firing, all of 60-odd logistics staff (storemen) employed across 6 sites.

I'm not waving the flag for Oz, and I know that the US is a great country, but if you like warm weather, cold beer and great bike roads, you could do a lot worse! Cheers, Terry.

[UnCrash]

I second Bobby's recommendation to look into eLearning.

It's what I do for a living and I really enjoy it.  Check out the eLearning Guild for more details and a job board.  The elearning guild is the premiere industry organization for elearning in the US.  

I'm speaking at the upcoming annual gathering conference and expo in April.  It's taking place in Orlando.

PM me if you are interested in any more details or would like some tips for breaking into the business.

Best of luck.

Job hunting is a frustrating experience.

[DammitDan]

I'm not 100% absolutely against moving, but all of my family lives here (sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, all within a 150 mile radius)  I wanna stay close to my family.

I actually bought the macbook and Mbox 2 for lightweight commercial production and VO work, and even have a contact in a marketing PR company who can farm out work to me, but that kinda fell through after I figured out I don't know where to start (background music, where to find voice talent, etc.)  And professors unfortunately have been willing but unable to help me out, since that kinda work is really more in the radio field.

What turned me off engineer work was the fact that engineers are basically married to their work.  No time for friends, family, work is everything.  Until you're firmly established (after 15 years in the business), then if you turn down a job, they won't call you back the next time.  I already learned what a lonely life that is by living the lifestyle all during college (I managed a 3.6 GPA and worked close to 40 hours a week, but didn't make any really close friends or go out partying because I was always either working or studying).  I want to have a family some day, and as a recording engineer, that would be extremely difficult even if I did manage to find the balance.

I'll check out the eLearning and dice.com, I hadn't heard of them before.

[UnCrash]

At my current job I used to spend half of my time recording and sweeting Subject Matter Expert audio.  I have now trained an assistant who does all that work.

It's a niche and need within training departments that often don't know how to produce high quality audio for their training programs with their own internal experts.

[DammitDan]

You've certainly piqued my interest, UnCrash...  From my limited experience in mastering audio, I know that a little sweetening can go a long way.  People only notice when it doesn't sound good, right? 

I'm all about the niche job markets, I just don't know where I can start looking to offer my somewhat unorthodox services (or even if the people doing the job themselves know that there are those out there who can make it sound even better).

What would you suggest I search for?  If I understand it right, the position you work at with eLearning an online learning course implementing audio and video broadcasts, and behind the scenes one of your jobs is to tape industry professionals for the lessons and mix in narration?

[fuzzybutt]

i want to go work with terry, hell with the prospects for the white house i dont know as i want to be here anymore. i love my country but i fear my government. only downside i can see is i cant bring my guns lol.

[Terry in Australia]

i want to go work with terry, hell with the prospects for the white house i dont know as i want to be here anymore. i love my country but i fear my government. only downside i can see is i cant bring my guns lol.

Nah, you can bring your guns mate, while we don't have a "gotta have dem guns" culture here, handguns and hunting rifles are legal, you just have to have them registered and you have to have a license.

No military style weapons allowed any more after a couple of nasty mass killings a few years ago which is fair enough though, the kangaroos and razorbacks aren't armed, so a .222 or .308 are still more than enough for a fair fight, ha ha!

Oh, and if you really wanna be prez, we'll let you go back for a few years........... 

[DammitDan]

Ambassador Terry, the Great Communicator?

[Sam Green Racing]

Don't worry Dan, you've got youth on your side, somthing will turn up.

Good luck,

Sam.

[neil young]

get into an apprenticeship!
while my friends were paying for school.i was getting payed to learn a trade (plumbing)
now i make twice the cash they do.and side jobs are a real money maker.
good luck with whatever you choose.

[gerhed]

Dan,

You're actually lucky in away.
Last time I was looking I had to chop
25 years off my resume.
Nobody is interested in someone with 40 years of experience ! (in anything)

Good luck

gerhed

[Cvillechopper]

How are you updating your resume?  Do you have a service or are you working on it yourself.  It's sometimes better to have an outside party take a look and remove some of the subjectivity.  I know some people are a little reluctant to share personal info with people they don't really know but I'd be willing to take a look at your resume and offer any suggestions if you like.  Just thought I'd offer.

Good luck.  Something will turn up.