who needs a job?

[keyclone]

-- off topic but in General for visibility --

ok, i have read more then a few posts asking how people pay for boxing or that their current gig isn't paying. well... i've always been pretty good at finding work. as such, i offer up my services to help members get a (better paying) gig.

please provide:
your A/S/L (age, gender, location; zipcode helps ... sorry, US only, i'm not that familiar with other regions) education completed
capabilities (have car, bilingual, able to do construction, etc) minimum hourly rate, hours available, and days of week
any restrictions (can't travel, allergic to dogs (can't be a dog walker)... etc)i'll do what i can to provide links to various gigs in your area. one thing though.. you must be a hard worker and willing to do what it takes (within reason of course) to get the job done.

i also have quite a few contacts in the IT sector (years of consulting work). if you are looking for IT work, and don't mind travelling, i'm sure i can find you something. if you can't travel... still throw it at me and i'll see what i can come up with.

one mantra that always helped me on the crappy jobs was... "i don't have to love it, i just have to do it"

[Multibocks]

Wow that's magnanimous of you!

[sqeaky4100]

Sweet man. I'll send a PM your way when I get home and don't have to type on a 1"x1in keyboard.

[Tdog]

This would of been a great offer a few months ago before I finally got my job with the USAF. O well, I think I'm going to really enjoy the military anyways.

[Marathon]

This would of been a great offer a few months ago before I finally got my job with the USAF. O well, I think I'm going to really enjoy the military anyways.

Like enlistment ? or government contract work ?

[keyclone]

the USAF can be a great opportunity, if you treat is as such. grab as much training and education that you can while you're in. any and all leadership training will help set you up for management gigs later on (meaning, more money)

[Marathon]

i spent 11 years in the Army. It was one of the best things that i ever did with my life. And even after being out for almost 7 years it is still opening doors for me. It paid for college, gave me leadership training and just having it on the resume will command respect.

[Effex]

any chance of helping a UK citizen get a short term contract in the US ? would be a nice change for me and the mrs ? :)

[keyclone]

it would probably be a bit tough, prolly requiring a visa, but i can check.

[lans83]

8o Can you pimp me out to some hotties down here!? Will travel if pay's right :thumbsup:

J/K man. This is great how you're offerin to help others this way. I'm tryin to start up my own little business on the side as well. Not doin too well at the moment. Slow down here during the summer for everyone. I live near an Army base and everyone takes off for the summer. Later on I might consider on higherin others to work for me if I can get it goin enough, that way I can branch out. I'll let ya'll know when I get to that point. Props to anyone who joins the military and fights for our country. I tried the Air Force right out of highschool, but due to medical and other reasons, I wasn't cut out for it. I'm still young, so if it comes down to it, I could always try other branches.

[heyaz]

skills: security analysis and digital forensics
rate: $90/hour

whatchew got for me mang

[keyclone]

@heyaz
are you saying you are out of work and have been looking for a while?
do you have a CV? location requirements? flexible on the rates? etc

[Otlecs]

It's a kind gesture, but I'm taking bets on how long it'll be before KC regrets this ;)

[Effex]

it would probably be a bit tough, prolly requiring a visa, but i can check.

no need atm! just had a call and it looks like Ive just landed myself a new contract. quite a nice one too. 1 days rate will pay for 10 wow subs for a year :D

[Tonuss]

no need atm! just had a call and it looks like Ive just landed myself a new contract. quite a nice one too. 1 days rate will pay for 10 wow subs for a year :DDamn, keyclone is even better at this than I thought. 8|

[Tdog]

the USAF can be a great opportunity, if you treat is as such. grab as much training and education that you can while you're in. any and all leadership training will help set you up for management gigs later on (meaning, more money)O I know :) I'm planning on going career with the USAF. Who else is even offering retirement anymore little alone a 20 year one? Definitely going to be going to school the entire time I'm in. Not full school load the entire time mind you, but one I get a degree I'll be taking a class or two here and there just taking it at a steady pace. Afterwards I'm planning on trying to get a job with the DoD or some other goverment position for a 2nd pension after another 20 years and be retired before 50 :thumbsup: That's what my brother is doing anyways, he's done with the USAF next summer and already got a very nice paying job lined up with the DoD.

I leave for Basic Military Training (BMT) (Boot Camp) on Oct 13 which is the reason why I've been so busy irl lately working 60 hour weeks trying to get absolutely everything paid off before I leave and working out 6 days a week. Actually I need to go workout right now :(

[Starbuck_Jones]

Interesting...

I know in these hard economic times people get let go from their jobs and times can be tough. I also know quite a few people who are jobless and have been jobless for an extended period of time. 2+ months. I have a nice job, chair and AC so I cant complain. However I do know that if I got fired or let go, the first thing I would do is walk across the street and get a job at good old Burger King the same day. I don't have to like it, but working there and pulling in min wage while I look for my next job is better than what I see most jobless doing by passing up jobs because they are beneath them.

[Ellay]

The only problem with that Starbuck is you can't collect on unemployment and your out 8 hours a day of possibly finding a new job in the meantime, it is sometimes counterproductive :( but I do like your attitude!

[zanthor]

Interesting...

I know in these hard economic times people get let go from their jobs and times can be tough. I also know quite a few people who are jobless and have been jobless for an extended period of time. 2+ months. I have a nice job, chair and AC so I cant complain. However I do know that if I got fired or let go, the first thing I would do is walk across the street and get a job at good old Burger King the same day. I don't have to like it, but working there and pulling in min wage while I look for my next job is better than what I see most jobless doing by passing up jobs because they are beneath them.I had this same discussion (read fight) with my ex-wife. While we were together I found myself unemployed and she didn't understand why I wouldn't just go get a McJob. The way the math worked out assuming I worked a 40 hour a week job at McDonalds getting a GOOD wage (say $8.50) I'd be losing about $8.50/hour worked over my unemployment insurance. I'd also spend all my time at work so I couldn't properly research positions with other companies and prepare for interviews.

In my career I've had several points when I was unemployed, and each time I've immediately filed for unemployment and fired up the job-finding-engine known as beating the streets/phonebook/interwebs.

There is no shame in it, it's insurance that you pay for - and by not using it you are only shorting yourself.

[Gurblash]

There is no shame in it, it's insurance that you pay for - and by not using it you are only shorting yourself. I use mine every winter to help compensate for reduced hours. Stupid contractors, I still don't see why they can't pour concrete in the snow!

[falsfire3401]

Interesting...

I know in these hard economic times people get let go from their jobs and times can be tough. I also know quite a few people who are jobless and have been jobless for an extended period of time. 2+ months. I have a nice job, chair and AC so I cant complain. However I do know that if I got fired or let go, the first thing I would do is walk across the street and get a job at good old Burger King the same day. I don't have to like it, but working there and pulling in min wage while I look for my next job is better than what I see most jobless doing by passing up jobs because they are beneath them.I had this same discussion (read fight) with my ex-wife. While we were together I found myself unemployed and she didn't understand why I wouldn't just go get a McJob. The way the math worked out assuming I worked a 40 hour a week job at McDonalds getting a GOOD wage (say $8.50) I'd be losing about $8.50/hour worked over my unemployment insurance. I'd also spend all my time at work so I couldn't properly research positions with other companies and prepare for interviews.

In my career I've had several points when I was unemployed, and each time I've immediately filed for unemployment and fired up the job-finding-engine known as beating the streets/phonebook/interwebs.

There is no shame in it, it's insurance that you pay for - and by not using it you are only shorting yourself.

It's a little different here in Canada. Unemployment Insurance kicks in after about 4 weeks (backdated to 2 weeks after you were let go), and works out to more than minimum wage. Whenever I've been unemployed I figured rather than spend 8 hours a day earning less than what I would earn on UI, I'll spend that 8 hours searching for work, and it's always paid off. The unfortunate thing is there's a maximum amount UI will pay and it's quite low, ridiculously low compared to what I earn, so much so that we couldn't get by on it for long at all. Fortunately the last time I was let go, I found my next job and started it 9 days later, and was still on the six weeks' severance and benefits from my last job (which they gave me in exchange for me agreeing to not file a wrongful dismissal grievance against them), so I was actually collecting two paycheques for five weeks. That was rather nice, but it hurt come tax time the next year, having that double-my-normal-income period of 5 weeks.

[Stabface]

Picking up a McJob instead of drawing unemployment is a bad choice for a lot of people. Not only can you be getting less $ but it can hamper your ability to find a new job in your chosen career because it looks bad on your resume (and no amount of explaining is going to make it look good).

[Ualaa]

Well, you don't need to include it on your resume.

If you want, you could easily say you did odd jobs between X date and present, to get by.
Or just leave your last real job on the resume and not mention the McJob at all.

To take a rather extreme example.
Let's say you hated your last job, to the degree that you wanted to quit/be fired, and as a result were late to work almost every day.
And when you were fired, you got into an arguement with someone and an actual fight occured at the office.
Sure, this probably would never happen to anyone...

But, if it did, would you feel obligated to list this as a recent employment reference?

[falsfire3401]

Picking up a McJob instead of drawing unemployment is a bad choice for a lot of people. Not only can you be getting less $ but it can hamper your ability to find a new job in your chosen career because it looks bad on your resume (and no amount of explaining is going to make it look good).

You don't have to list every job you've ever had on your resume <wink>

My resume only lists my IT jobs, it doesn't list any of the McJobs I had as a teen/young adult.

[zanthor]

You don't have to list every job, but when a company does a background check and finds you've worked jobs that you didn't list it could be a liability. I realize we have a very diverse demographic here, but for at least some of us, the McJob is a McLiability for sure. That and I still haven't heard a good reason to take a paycut for working when you can maintain a higher income by full time job searching...

[d0z3rr]

PM'd you.

[d0z3rr]

i spent 11 years in the Army. It was one of the best things that i ever did with my life. And even after being out for almost 7 years it is still opening doors for me. It paid for college, gave me leadership training and just having it on the resume will command respect.True that. I never was in the military but I have worked with a lot of military people at my various jobs. Mostly marines and navy, few army. I can definitely say all the military people were really good workers, and were awesome to work with. Most of them went on to find really good private sector jobs, those companies love ex military.

[suicidesspyder]

Yea would have been awesome 4 months ago before i had to cancel my 4 accounts but meh. Now i got an awesome job making almost 600 a week but working on getting a second job with an old boss 450 a week under table and only 70 total hrs a week between the two and my weekends off. So i cant wait if i could work a third job from home from the computer when i could and its not a gimmick i would im all about the cash money but who isnt.

[alcattle]

There is no shame in it, it's insurance that you pay for - and by not using it you are only shorting yourself. I use mine every winter to help compensate for reduced hours. Stupid contractors, I still don't see why they can't pour concrete in the snow!So Gurb still lives, I was starting to think a level 85 forum troll had done him in, all the time he is pouring concrete at some RL dungeon. Fenril ismn't nearly as good a target, and gurb does more Deepeessz

[Korruptor]

Interesting...

I know in these hard economic times people get let go from their jobs and times can be tough. I also know quite a few people who are jobless and have been jobless for an extended period of time. 2+ months. I have a nice job, chair and AC so I cant complain. However I do know that if I got fired or let go, the first thing I would do is walk across the street and get a job at good old Burger King the same day. I don't have to like it, but working there and pulling in min wage while I look for my next job is better than what I see most jobless doing by passing up jobs because they are beneath them.In the past I've applied to multiple jobs that could be viewed as beneath me when I've found myself unemployed (contract ended etc) but fast-food and wal-mart types alike wont even consider me because of my skill set and past salary history. They know that I will leave once I find a job that fits my skill set and normal salary so they'd rather hire folks that they know will stay and need them.

So it's not as simple as "Hey, I'm unemployed, I'll walk over to BK and get a job today" for many of us. I recall years ago trying to work as a soldering tech once even though my skill set was an electronics tech/troubleshooter. I took the soldering test, they were impressed, inquired of my skills, discovered I was "over qualified" and didn't give me a job. They gave the jobs to the people that they had to train and were under-qualified. It didn't matter to them that I didn't have a job and needed to eat. Back then my skills as an electronics tech vs a soldering tech were quite closer in salary then what I do now and if I attempted to get a job flipping burgers.

[Iceorbz]

KC,

So IT work is something I have looked at for a bit and would like some suggestions since your in the field. I will list my current qualifications and if you could tell me any weak areas I could beef up a bit to at least get me into a decent entry job.

Navy Fire control technician (Weapon systems, torpedoes ,tomahawks and LAN Networks basically) anything associated with them other then construction. Apprenticeship from the DOL in Computer and peripheral equipment operations. As far as schooling goes related to IT. AA: Applied Electronics Technology , Multiple Navy LAN Admin schools. Able to maintain just about clearance required, and SSBI investigation was only 1 year ago.

Im slightly confused towards the paths I should go, certs or degree? I think it’s kind of hard to do both in my current work areas. If certs which ones first? Currently, Im studying for the SEC+ and should be taking it in the next month.

So my questions are, with my current qualifications... do I qualify for decent jobs? What type of work would I be looking at, hours and pay ect? If you can just answer this for the most part from your experience, I don't want you to waste resources crawling the net and making phone calls I'm mostly just looking for ideas and ballpark figures, along with guidance.

[keyclone]

@Iceorbz
(my folks were stationed with the Navy in HI for a bit... :thumbsup:)

at first glance, i would say it depends on what you want to do. determine if you want to be an operator/technican or a developer. if you like to create new things, i'd suggest going down the developer road, which would mean a BS degree or more. if you like to plug things together and get it all working smooth, then technican... which would point towards certs. technican would take less time, but that relates directly to how much you can ask. (less time == more people will do it == higher workforce supply == lower wages)

with pre-existing clearances, that gives you a leg up... many companies/agencies are looking for people that can do the work immediately, and do not have to wait for the clearances to come in. they are also looking to reduce costs, and there are costs associated with getting the various clearances. so... you want to maintain those, while bumping up your skill set to something more defense companies (ie: northrup, saic, booz allen, etc..) would need, thereby driving up your rates.

also, while you are in, you should push for any leadership training you can get. this would tie directly into management when you get out (which means more $$)

as for actual rates.. tough call (realrates.com ('http://www.realrates.com/') use to be a good site, but the number of submitted rates has dropped radically). depends on where you are located, responsibilities, contract vs full-time, requirements and the target company. as rates go up, the number of positions available at those rates decrease, increasing the difficulty in finding an open position. (this does not include the scenario where you would be replacing someone already in a position... thereby 'upgrading' their slot with your skills). the best way to find the rate for an area/job that fits your skills would be to watch the job sites and newspapers to see what they are posting. you don't have to offer yourself up at those rates, but it gives you a ballpark.

i hope that helps.

Rob

[Stabface]

You don't have to list every job, but when a company does a background check and finds you've worked jobs that you didn't list it could be a liability. I realize we have a very diverse demographic here, but for at least some of us, the McJob is a McLiability for sure. That and I still haven't heard a good reason to take a paycut for working when you can maintain a higher income by full time job searching...

Indeed it can be. Many companies will do background or even credit checks which will show them your current and/or recent employers. Might not be a big deal with some, but others it definitely can be.

[Mystic]

it would probably be a bit tough, prolly requiring a visa, but i can check.

no need atm! just had a call and it looks like Ive just landed myself a new contract. quite a nice one too. 1 days rate will pay for 10 wow subs for a year :DI must say that IS a nice contract. Math says 10 yearly subs is 20 six month subs at $77.94 each. Assuming an 8 hour day, that comes to $195/hr. Even short term consulting gigs revamping whole software development teams and training them in effective project management and software development methodologies, saving these companies a ton of expense short and long term, I've rarely seen a contract rate over $150/hr. You definitely have my curiousity piqued. What sort of contracting do you do at $195/hr?

[5fingersofdoom]

You Sir are a Gent, nice idea :)

[Wilbur]

I may be able to help some people in the London area looking for junior IT positions. PM me if interested.