This isn't a political story, but it intrigued me nonetheless. So a couple weeks ago, my company fired the exec assistant, who I was good friends with, and replaced him with this annoying, middle aged woman. She's already driving everyone crazy and they wouldn't mind getting someone less crazy as a permanent assistant, since her role is slightly more temporary. I asked my friend Tony if he knew anyone and he reminded me that our friend Alex (who is 29) is still unemployed. he used to work as an assistant and in AP at Universal Music, which means he has some of the requisite assistant experience that my company is looking for. I told Tony to tell Alex to get me his resume. He called yesterday and Alex said he'd send the resume. Do you think he's sent it yet? It's been over 24 hours and we haven't heard a peep. Keep in mind he's been unemployed for many months now. I'm not using this story to make generalizations about other unemployed people, this is just a standalone story. But still, it just amazes me. He should be sending resumes and references to every possible opening. I'm just shocked that he hasn't bothered to capitalize on what could be a good opportunity

As someone who spent 8 1/2 months unemployed between October '10 and July '11, I'd have hand-delivered it.

But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

Unemployment length is inversely proportional to the quality of your network. Hell, that's half the value of a decent MBA.

(02-14-2012 07:43 PM)Smaug Wrote:  But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

he has no kids, just a girlfriend and he doesn't live with her. he lives at home

(02-14-2012 08:11 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Unemployment length is inversely proportional to the quality of your network.

yup. I am planning to leave my job early this year. I could get another job in no time because I've kept up contacts and performed well wherever I've been.

(02-14-2012 08:29 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 08:11 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Unemployment length is inversely proportional to the quality of your network.

yup. I am planning to leave my job early this year. I could get another job in no time because I've kept up contacts and performed well wherever I've been.

And I sucked?

My former employer imploded out from under me. I was in a pretty niche-y field (admittedly my own doing), and managed to land a similar gig literally right down the street from the old one.

(02-14-2012 09:17 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 08:29 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 08:11 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Unemployment length is inversely proportional to the quality of your network.

yup. I am planning to leave my job early this year. I could get another job in no time because I've kept up contacts and performed well wherever I've been.

And I sucked?

My former employer imploded out from under me. I was in a pretty niche-y field (admittedly my own doing), and managed to land a similar gig literally right down the street from the old one.

No, i dont think you suck at all. Every situation is different. I have had the opportunity to plan my job change. Your situation sounds like it was sudden.

(02-14-2012 10:15 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 09:17 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 08:29 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 08:11 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Unemployment length is inversely proportional to the quality of your network.

yup. I am planning to leave my job early this year. I could get another job in no time because I've kept up contacts and performed well wherever I've been.

And I sucked?

My former employer imploded out from under me. I was in a pretty niche-y field (admittedly my own doing), and managed to land a similar gig literally right down the street from the old one.

No, i dont think you suck at all. Every situation is different. I have had the opportunity to plan my job change. Your situation sounds like it was sudden.

In all honesty, it wasn't so sudden that I shouldn't have seen it coming, at least for a couple of months, but live and learn.

(02-14-2012 06:56 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  This isn't a political story, but it intrigued me nonetheless. So a couple weeks ago, my company fired the exec assistant, who I was good friends with, and replaced him with this annoying, middle aged woman. She's already driving everyone crazy and they wouldn't mind getting someone less crazy as a permanent assistant, since her role is slightly more temporary. I asked my friend Tony if he knew anyone and he reminded me that our friend Alex (who is 29) is still unemployed. he used to work as an assistant and in AP at Universal Music, which means he has some of the requisite assistant experience that my company is looking for. I told Tony to tell Alex to get me his resume. He called yesterday and Alex said he'd send the resume. Do you think he's sent it yet? It's been over 24 hours and we haven't heard a peep. Keep in mind he's been unemployed for many months now. I'm not using this story to make generalizations about other unemployed people, this is just a standalone story. But still, it just amazes me. He should be sending resumes and references to every possible opening. I'm just shocked that he hasn't bothered to capitalize on what could be a good opportunity

Yeah, that's disappointing. I've seen it myself. Networking is 10x more valuable than sending out resumes to ads on Monster.

Only thing I can think of is that people don't want to get their hopes up when a friend/colleague says they know of something. It may be one of those weird, counterproductive defense mechanisms.

(02-15-2012 08:25 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 06:56 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  This isn't a political story, but it intrigued me nonetheless. So a couple weeks ago, my company fired the exec assistant, who I was good friends with, and replaced him with this annoying, middle aged woman. She's already driving everyone crazy and they wouldn't mind getting someone less crazy as a permanent assistant, since her role is slightly more temporary. I asked my friend Tony if he knew anyone and he reminded me that our friend Alex (who is 29) is still unemployed. he used to work as an assistant and in AP at Universal Music, which means he has some of the requisite assistant experience that my company is looking for. I told Tony to tell Alex to get me his resume. He called yesterday and Alex said he'd send the resume. Do you think he's sent it yet? It's been over 24 hours and we haven't heard a peep. Keep in mind he's been unemployed for many months now. I'm not using this story to make generalizations about other unemployed people, this is just a standalone story. But still, it just amazes me. He should be sending resumes and references to every possible opening. I'm just shocked that he hasn't bothered to capitalize on what could be a good opportunity

Yeah, that's disappointing. I've seen it myself. Networking is 10x more valuable than sending out resumes to ads on Monster.

Only thing I can think of is that people don't want to get their hopes up when a friend/colleague says they know of something. It may be one of those weird, counterproductive defense mechanisms.

10X? try 100X. I swear, those billions of resumes people send out over the internet, go into some internet black hole. I sent my resume to Universal a couple times and didn't hear a peep. Then a connection got me an "exploratory" interview with one of the HR people and she liked me so much that she immediately brought me to see someone at one of the labels who was hiring. Did anything change between sending out the resumes and meeting hr person? nope, but that's how it goes sometimes. Nobody has the time to go through a million resumes that were emailed to them

All that is true, but it's become increasingly difficult to get in front of the decision-makers.

EVERYBODY expects you to apply on line now.

The gig I have now, I'd applied for in March of last year. When they called in June, and invited me for an interview, I said "Sure!"

Then I opened my notebook of positions I'd applied for to see who the hell they were.

(02-15-2012 09:28 AM)Smaug Wrote:  All that is true, but it's become increasingly difficult to get in front of the decision-makers.

EVERYBODY expects you to apply on line now.

The gig I have now, I'd applied for in March of last year. When they called in June, and invited me for an interview, I said "Sure!"

Then I opened my notebook of positions I'd applied for to see who the hell they were.

yeah it's virtually impossible to get in front of someone without a connection. IMO it's better to focus all your time on building your network and not even bother sending resumes online.

So,

Have you recieved the resume yet?

(02-14-2012 07:43 PM)Smaug Wrote:  As someone who spent 8 1/2 months unemployed between October '10 and July '11, I'd have hand-delivered it.

But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

Having a family makes a huge difference...

If I got laid off I would be hitting every burger flipping joint on the way home trying to nail down a job or two until I could get back into my field (or find something else)

(02-15-2012 01:15 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 07:43 PM)Smaug Wrote:  As someone who spent 8 1/2 months unemployed between October '10 and July '11, I'd have hand-delivered it.

But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

Having a family makes a huge difference...

If I got laid off I would be hitting every burger flipping joint on the way home trying to nail down a job or two until I could get back into my field (or find something else)

I was laid off once. That was a scary 4 hours.

(02-15-2012 01:23 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 01:15 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 07:43 PM)Smaug Wrote:  As someone who spent 8 1/2 months unemployed between October '10 and July '11, I'd have hand-delivered it.

But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

Having a family makes a huge difference...

If I got laid off I would be hitting every burger flipping joint on the way home trying to nail down a job or two until I could get back into my field (or find something else)

I was laid off once. That was a scary 4 hours.

You're blessed.

To many eligible for unemployment simply take an extended paid vacation. It always (not really) amazes me how people magically find work as benefits are running out.

(02-15-2012 01:34 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 01:23 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 01:15 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 07:43 PM)Smaug Wrote:  As someone who spent 8 1/2 months unemployed between October '10 and July '11, I'd have hand-delivered it.

But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

Having a family makes a huge difference...

If I got laid off I would be hitting every burger flipping joint on the way home trying to nail down a job or two until I could get back into my field (or find something else)

I was laid off once. That was a scary 4 hours.

You're blessed.

Divinely?

(02-15-2012 01:49 PM)Paul M Wrote:  To many eligible for unemployment simply take an extended paid vacation. It always (not really) amazes me how people magically find work as benefits are running out.

They don't run out. We're collectively buying their groceries and paying their mortgage.

(02-15-2012 01:50 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 01:34 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 01:23 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 01:15 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 07:43 PM)Smaug Wrote:  As someone who spent 8 1/2 months unemployed between October '10 and July '11, I'd have hand-delivered it.

But then, at 29, he might be motivated by people besides himself that he needs to keep fed.

Having a family makes a huge difference...

If I got laid off I would be hitting every burger flipping joint on the way home trying to nail down a job or two until I could get back into my field (or find something else)

I was laid off once. That was a scary 4 hours.

You're blessed.

Divinely?

does it matter what I think?