Free Career and Job Search Advice

mrscott · Newbie Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

I’ve been having trouble finding work, and need some advice. I have been self-employed running my own shop for the last 15 years. I’m in a small community with a shrinking population, and I finally decided to stop fighting it and close the shop. Now with a shrinking savings, I took a temp job in a factory, which is about to kill me, not to mention that I’m just barely making it on the meager pay.

I started looking about 2 years ago, and not finding any ‘bites’ I decided to go back to school and finish my degree. As of a few months ago, I have a BS in IT with a concentration in Project Management, and I graduated summa cum laude. This past year I’ve had a few interviews (some I thought went well) but no offers. I know one of my drawbacks is that being a business owner, I’m a jack of trades, master of none.

Asking why I’m not hired doesn’t yield much information. I get the standard off the cuff answers like “we hired someone with better matched qualifications” or “we have decided to eliminate this position.” It has been suggested that being an ex businessman really hurts me, so I have been addressing this in my cover letters. I’ve even had some bad interviews in which the potential employer was just plain rude to me. Some employers claim that they want quality employees, yet they’re rude to a potential hire. As a ex businessman, I think I have more to offer than most potential hires, but I don’t know how to dispel the myth that ex self-employed people can be great employees.

I’m open to just about anything, able to travel if a job required it, and willing to relocate to just about anywhere. I’ve received so many rejections or ‘non-responses’ that I wonder what’s wrong with me that nobody wants me? Did I waste a lot of money finishing my education?

Somebody please help. My savings is nearly gone, and I’ve emptied my retirement accounts. I’m 45, and here I am starting over. It’s seriously depressing. I'm desperate, so any advice is welcome.

Scott

cv

Hi Scott,

Can you give more information on what jobs are you exactly applying for.
Project Managment, Junior Programmer , Systems Administrator.

This is my area so I can give you a tip or 2 but I need some more information.

It all depends on the jobs you are applying for.

Let us know

C.

mrscott · Newbie Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

I have been applying for anything that I think I am remotely qualified for. Director of IT, Project Manager, Systems Analyst, Administrator, Systems Integrator, Help Desk Team leader, Technical writer, and IT Business Analyst. I have no certifications but I would like to eventually get the PMP and MCSE certifications (they’re expensive). The career counselor at school told me that companies are reluctant to hire employees if they have to relocate them, so I haven’t been applying to many out of state. I have been concentrating in the Des Moines area, and I’ve applied for several in Texas. I figure if I have to move it may as well be for warmer climate (and I've heard Texas is a good place to live). But as I said in my orginal post, I'm willing to move to just about anywhere.

My ideal position would be with a company in a smaller town. I think I have a lot of good qualities to offer someone that would hire me.

I know that I have some things to learn, and I am able and more than willing. You can see my resume here: http://www.sbleier.com/resume/

cv · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:48 am Post subject:

Are you in possession of any qualifications at the moment though ?

There are 2 things you can do in my opinion, get the qualifications (MCSE is quite good) and start looking for a job.
else
look for work now, but apply for a junior position first than it is easier to chnage jobs once you are employed, I would also consider an internship or working for an NGO (IT department) to get some job experience.

If you have no job experience you have to be creative and ready to start at the bottom of the ladder.

C.

mrscott · Newbie Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Did you have a chance to look at my resume? I have been in the IT industry for 18 years. I've done a little bit of everything. I know it's a little bit of a problem because I've become a jack of trades (in IT) but master of none. I have looked at entry level positions, but still no bites. I'm strapped for cash so getting a certification is out of the question for now. Eventually I do intend to get a couple of those certifications. My first one will probably be the MCSE, and next will be probably PMP (the concentration in my degree). I will also probably look at getting a security+ certification since I did well in a prep class for that certification.

I'm willing to take an entry level job. Like I say, I can do a lot of things, I just need something (someone) to give me a chance so I can get started. How do I convince a potential employer that I can be an invaluable asset? They don't seem to like that I was self-employeed for so long. I apply for 4 or 5 jobs a week in the midwest and southwest. I use Monster, Dice, and Careerbuilder.

cv · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:35 am Post subject: Career Advice

My only advice is keeping trying

Try an NGO which offer less salary then a commercial company
Try to get help from goverment unemployment agencies
Try to find work online - http://www.scriptlance.com until you get a full time job.

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
- Winston Churchill

suirvale · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:51 am Post subject: ireland

hi scott i feel very much in the same position,.i was well trained and great career in an american multinational health care company,.i am glad i left but the experience i got was too specialised and not much use in a small town,.,.
i am about to finish getting a truck drivers licence and i also am starting a new concrete kerb business as a hobby and maybe make some money at it,.,but do not despair is the first thing alway keep upbeat, i go to gym and look fit ,.
i have my old business but i am getting tired of hiring guys who have drug or alcohol problems and also not having good cash flow,.i thinkk its good to talk in hardware stores as they know manyjobs as sales executives etc best regds mike

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