How long did it take for you to find a job?

[Nightfall]

Tomorrow marks my second full week of unemployment. The last two weeks I have been interviewing very heavily with various companies. I have talked to a lot of headhunters and they in turn have submitted my resume to other places I haven't looked. I had a couple of second interviews and am eagerly awaiting getting to a 3rd interview and maybe a job offer....

Maybe I am a bit too impatient, but I really want to get back to work. My wife and I have things settled where I don't need to worry heavily on finding a new job. We have close to 4 months where there are no worries financially. However, I am just getting worried. I haven't heard anything from a bulk majority of the companies I have sent my resume to. You would think with my 8 years of hands on technical and management experience with a college degree on top of that....things would have moved a little faster. Either that or I had too high of expectations.

I am trying to pass the time now by studying for my MCSE and working on my small network test lab. However, there is only so much I can handle before I start checking emails again and the internet for possible job opportunities.

For all you salaried folks out there that have been laid off in the past....

1. How long did it take for you to find a new job? Was it longer or shorter than you expected?

2. Were you concerned or worried that you wouldn't find something at any point in time?

3. Am I worrying a little too much at this early stage?

 

[pontifex]

after i finished my tech school it took me a few months to get a job. after that it took me about 3 years to find my next one. one that i wanted anyway. was stuck at that hellhole for 4 years total.

 

[RichardE]

Last time I lost my job, took a year.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: RichardE
Last time I lost my job, took a year.

Thats reassuring. Why so long? Did you get offers but not take them for some reason?

 

[bmacd]

I just lost my job the other day. We'll see how long this takes!

-=bmacd=-

 

[Nyical]

Hmm no clue to be honesgt with you, I have been on disability for almost 2 years now since that azzhat nailed my truck in the rear while doing 80mph and me going 0mph.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I've been laid off twice in the last 15yrs

First time it took 11 months, second time 2 1/2 months

Don't be ashamed to take a part time job, or a lessor job to hold you until you find what your looking for. The old adage "It's easier to find a job, if you already have one" is certainly true, even if your current job is flippin burgers or pumping gas

 

[JDrake]

I applied to Acme and they gave me a job, but I didnt want it

 

[Vette73]

Been looking for a year now.

Either not enough Exp. or to much education.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I've been laid off twice in the last 15yrs

First time it took 11 months, second time 2 1/2 months

Don't be ashamed to take a part time job, or a lessor job to hold you until you find what your looking for. The old adage "It's easier to find a job, if you already have one" is certainly true, even if your current job if flippin burgers or pumping gas

I hear you on that. However, I make more from unemployment than I would at a McDonalds or so on.

 

[rudder]

I was laid off 3 times between 2001-2002. Longest time being unemployed was 6 weeks. I was starting to get nervous because there was absolutely nothing open at the time. IT hiring had slowed to a crawl where i lived. BUt I was persistent. Went on an interview and was told I was not qualified, call back and explained I was, then got the job. Been there ever since.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I've been laid off twice in the last 15yrs

First time it took 11 months, second time 2 1/2 months

Don't be ashamed to take a part time job, or a lessor job to hold you until you find what your looking for. The old adage "It's easier to find a job, if you already have one" is certainly true, even if your current job if flippin burgers or pumping gas

I hear you on that. However, I make more from unemployment than I would at a McDonalds or so on.

Yep, thats a common problem. When I was unemployed for almost a year I thought my family would starve and even with unemployment and food stamps we were'nt making it.
Luckily I had a buddy in the construction industry that could give me some cash work that wouldn't mess with my unemployment Not exactly a straight up thing to do but when your desperate you do what you gotta do

 

[Ime]

Never been laid off *knock on wood* but in 1999 it took me 4 months to find a job I liked.

I just started looking again, and I won't be surprised if it took a few months to find the job that fits me.

 

[Nightfall]

I guess I am not looking at the positives. I have only been out of work a week and already gotten a lot of interviews. Headhunters are really working hard to find me something as well. I guess that I should be more patient.

 

[puffff]

if you've gotten multiple interviews in just two weeks, i'd say you're doing pretty well. i wouldnt expect companies to make hiring decisions so quickly, you're probably still in the running for some of them. i'm sure it'll pan out

 

[DaTT]

Jobs always fall into my lap.

 

[nmcglennon]

Originally posted by: joedrake
I applied to Acme and they gave me a job, but I didnt want it

Didn't want to deal with Wile E. Coyote's defective returns?

 

[JS80]

My profession = Job Security. I can pretty much find a job and start within 1 week in any major metropolitan city.

 

[jlee]

My last job 'expired' (driving for a friend's business until he got his license back) Jan 31st. I'm halfway through an interview process now..hoping for the best.

 

[joinT]

make sure you treat getting a new job like a job itself.. get up at 9 or something and give it a good 7-8 hours.. research some job finding techniques, just sending in your resume doesn't cut it in most cases.. cold calls/follow up, etc..

if you are getting interviews that means you've probably done a decent job on your resume, do you have lots of interview experience? some basic tips;
- every question they ask you is from the job posting or your resume. research what they expect from the employee, ask such questions during the interview..
- they want the format of your answer to every question to be a real-life situation with similar elements. be clear about the situation, your task, your actions and the result.. try to quantify the result if you can..
- be confident & calm, think before you answer, take notes, but avoid fidgeting with anything you bring.
- lots of eye contact, as little "hand-talking" (can't remember the term) as possible.

 

[SunnyD]

3 years.

That's to get to another professional position in the same field (remotely) as to what I was at. As far as getting a job, I got one as soon as I milked my unemployment which was 9 months (extended cause of 9/11 layoffs). But that job was just retail put food on the table until I got my current position.

 

[ViperSSD]

Originally posted by: JS80
My profession = Job Security. I can pretty much find a job and start within 1 week in any major metropolitan city.

gigolo?

j/k, I just accepted my first job offer at the end of December and began the search in September. However, I don't graduate till May and I don't start work till June. In most cases, you should expect around 6 months, though if you're going on a lot of interviews already, you should be doing alright. Just remember that while it is tough to be jobless atm, you now have the time to do some of the things that just aren't feasible when you're working.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: joinT
make sure you treat getting a new job like a job itself.. get up at 9 or something and give it a good 7-8 hours.. research some job finding techniques, just sending in your resume doesn't cut it in most cases.. cold calls/follow up, etc..

if you are getting interviews that means you've probably done a decent job on your resume, do you have lots of interview experience? some basic tips;
- every question they ask you is from the job posting or your resume. research what they expect from the employee, ask such questions during the interview..
- they want the format of your answer to every question to be a real-life situation with similar elements. be clear about the situation, your task, your actions and the result.. try to quantify the result if you can..
- be confident & calm, think before you answer, take notes, but avoid fidgeting with anything you bring.
- lots of eye contact, as little "hand-talking" (can't remember the term) as possible.

I feel my strength is interviewing to be honest. My resume is also very nice. In most of the interviews I have had I have been asked back a second time, which is a good thing. I have to keep in mind that a bulk majority of the jobs I have applied for were applied for about 2 weeks ago. A lot of these companies are still collecting resumes for positions. I have to wait to see what comes up from those and it may be a few weeks. For the interviews I have now, I just have to stay patient and realize that they aren't going to move fast and have multiple interviews to do.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: ViperSSD

Originally posted by: JS80
My profession = Job Security. I can pretty much find a job and start within 1 week in any major metropolitan city.

gigolo?

j/k, I just accepted my first job offer at the end of December and began the search in September. However, I don't graduate till May and I don't start work till June. In most cases, you should expect around 6 months, though if you're going on a lot of interviews already, you should be doing alright. Just remember that while it is tough to be jobless atm, you now have the time to do some of the things that just aren't feasible when you're working.

Thats true.

I am playing a little more hockey and reading up on my MCSE to be honest with you. It passes the time, but still its hard for me to NOT be pursuing a job....even if I am doing other projects. I guess after 2 weeks its just something where I want to be productive in another place of employment.

 

[aidanjm]

I'd recommend dropping into a book store like Borders, and picking up a few books on the job hunting and interview process. I found getting an outside perspective from reading books helped me a lot, it also gives you ideas you might not have thought of. It can also help you pick up on any mistakes you might be making in your approach.


I remember your thread from about a month ago, where you were talking about that new female manager. Is she the person that laid you off? I remember you saying how much effort you had put into that job. Sorry things didn't work out there.