Category: Jobs and Employment
Well, after five years with the same company, I have decided to start throwing resumes out there. I have enjoyed my job, but right now it has proven not to be a good fit for me anymore.
Just hoping for some encouragement here... I can do this, right?
Kate
Absolutely. Best of luck
Thanks, Izzy!
You can. You may not find something right away. It's hard for anyone to get a job these days with the way the economy is.
Hello:
First off, please don't quit your job until you've landed another more secure position. Think long and hard about what you want to do, and how your work experience would translate into another position. If you're able, try to tap into any blind-related job training programs, or employment agencies. For instance, I worked with a Business Outreach Specialist with my Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Use sighted peers to help you get connected to other job leads. Make sure you really think your job sucks before you quit. Everyone has really crappy down times at work. Besides, you don't wanna leave your boss with a bad impression of you. If you're looking for another job, you don't wanna burn any bridges with your current employer.
Don't expect to make the same salary you do now. You may have to start out at the bottom and work your way up the chain so to speak.
If you land a job interview, try not to schedule it during normal working hours, and definitely don't tell your boss unless you've gotten hired and know you're ready to change jobs. Okay, hth and PM me with any questions.
I agree with post number 5. Don't quit the job before you find a better one.
Keep on searching, and if you find a right one, just migrate. Be patient till then. Just my opinion.
Raaj
Normally I could not agree more. Believe me, I understand about down times and bad times and whatnot... I've lived through both. I just seriously can't take it anymore, and honestly believe that my mental health is at risk at my current job.
Thank goodness, my boss is amazing... and it's almost impossible to schedule interviews outside of working hours...
Have you talked to your boss about your current situation? Maybe your job duties could switch, or you could adjust your time if necessary. Are there factors outside of work that are contributing to your crappy feeling at work?
My boss is talking about a wholesale job swap through all employees... but I honestly just want out of the company altogether... been feeling that for a LOGN time!
Perhaps I will lay it all out for my boss... but I don't want to tip my hand...
First callback for an interview! WOOHOO!!!
Tomorrow morning I wil be interviewing for a position of calltaker/dispatcher for a plumbing company.... possibly could entail office manager duties as well!
Even if it's not a good fit, interviews are always positive!
Great to hear! Pullin' for you out here.
Thankya, Leo,
Interview was ok... not sure it's quite a good fit, both with accessability concerns and with the time commitment (they would want more overtime than I am willing to give). Interviews are always, always positive!
I had an informal chat with my boss this afternoon letting him know my plans to leave. While some might say that's not advisable, he has been the best boss a girl could ask for over the past five years, and he deserves nothing less than the full truth.
Considering that he was planning a major office restructure, my lack of presence will greatly determine how he will handle it.
Got a few more irons in the fire.... so we can hope!
Good luck! :)
Well, it's the point of no return...I gave my notice, and my last day is December 21.
I have had a ton of interviews, most positive, and no job offer yet... but I am hopeful... if a bit discouraged...
It's easy to get discouraged in today's job market, but don't give up. I know from firsthand experience that you never know when and where a job opprotunity will crop up. Furthermore, as long as you have the means to support yourself until you get your next job, it sounds like you did the right thing in leaving your current one. Something else I learned firsthand from a job is that when an environment becomes toxic to your mental health, it's time to go. Best of luck!
Becky
Wow, Kate, that's a big step. It is easy to get discouraged while job hunting. I'm feeling that way myself right now, actually. But I'm glad you've had some positive interviews, and I hope something that's a good fit for you comes open soon. Keep us posted about this. I'd like to know what happens.
SUPER bummed! I thought I nailed an interview last week, and they gave the job to someone else. It REALLY sucks because they actually seemed pretty open-minded about the whole my being blind thing... is it wrong to wish their new hire sucks so that they'll call me back in a couple months?
Meanwhile, I have three interviews Wednesday, and am sending out job applications for companies and positions that interest me.
It's been a terrible, horrible, no good, VERY BAD DAY, and I thank God every minute that I am leaving my current job. It makes me sad because I am leaving great people, but I can't take it anymore... and everyone knows it.
Sounds like you did the right thing in leaving your current job, but I really do hope something opens up for you soon. Maybe you have a better job market in Canada than we do right now in the US. I hope so, for your sake. It's very discouraging when you think you nailed an interview and they give it to someone else. Frowns. Good luck with this next set of interviews.
Back in 2003 my first summer out of college, I had 47 interviews with various companies. This is not an exageration!
One interviewer said to me at the end of a rather lengthy interview, and I quote "so you want the job" My response: absolutely, I think I'll do a great job and make a good fit for this company! His response "fine! it's yours" I left there with a promise to hear from them in a few days regarding new hire training ETC, thinking yes, I landed a decent sales job, and I think I'll make great money and support my family! Never heard from them again! I called twice within a week or so later to follow up and see what the next steps would be, and no one would ever return my call. My last interview that summer was with a male order computer company. The interview went fairly well, but I got the sense after I left there that they were not going to hire me as they were a small company and had no interest in working with someone who was visually impaired as well as having to potentially purchase any accomidations. Much to my surprise two weeks later, I was called in to meet with the other sales staff and offered the job. So, Guess I wrote all that to say, you just never know when interviewing with a company, so it's best to do your due diligence as it sounds like you are, and knock on as many doors as you can until you find that right fit.
The other thing I learned is take away every bit of knowledge from a job that you can, as you never know how this will work to your advantage later. I learned the ins and outs of running a business, and in my next job with a bank I learned more than I ever wanted to know about finance. I was able to turn that in to a skill set that helped me start my own company and 6 years later, I'm still doing so.
Hey!
OK... so four interviews today. Two went pretty well (by that I mean I think I have a decent shot at the job), one TOTALLY tanked, and the last one that was booked last-minute I am cautiously optomistic about.
Thanks for the encouragement!
BigDogDaddy, I re-read your previous post and had to laugh out loud. Interviews have gone very well, with my thinking that I was a lock for a job, only to have employers say they hired someone else... but over the last 48 hours there's been a big shift. Two super successful job interviews... and a job interview I thought I TOTALLY flubbed last week has resulted in a call-back requesting information regarding assistive technology. LOL That's a whole other story, but will mention in another post. Been out of work over the holidays, enjoyed the break, but want desperately to get back to work!
OK, so this job interview story.. if I actually get this job, I will have to laugh so hard...
So, I sent in my resume for a job posting about 6 weeks ago. Didn't hear anything. THey reposted the ad about a month ago, so I reapplied. Didn't hear anything until about two weeks ago. They asked if I wanted to come in on Dec 21st for an interview. Normally, I would jump at the chance, but Dec 21 was my last day at my former job. They were really understanding and booked the interview for Dec 27 at 1:00.
For some reason, I had it written down, and figured in my head, as 2:00... so I start the interview off by showing up an hour late, getting lost in their parking lot, etc., etc., etc. Needless to say, I thought we were all just marking time, doing the professional thing... they also didn't seem totally convinced about my abilities as a blind person...
Well, you could've knocked me over with a feather yesterday afternoon when I got a phone call requesting further information regarding assistive technology, who covers the cost, etc., etc. I explained, in layman's terms, how it all works, who funds it, etc., and then thought I would get the phone call of "we've hired other applicants."
This morning, I got an email from the support manager with a test log-in to see how well jaws or nvda works with it. Looks good! He gave me some more information (like hovering over a link to get the box to expand), and I am on a roll...
Perhaps I have a job?
This is awesome. MAy I ask what your job was doing that you left and what you are looking for? Speaking of something crazy, I moved to VA in April. I interviewed with a bank in August. It was like my 10th interview and I was sure I had it. They wanted the tech guy's info, wanted to get him in there, and everything. Wouldn't you know three months went by with them telling me they still were taking applications. I thought oh they hired someone and stopped trying to contact them. A few days ago right after I started my new job Kisha from the bank calls and says they wanted to hire me. Haha.
LOL that's funny!
I am looking for office/call center work... I am quite good on the phone and in office settings, but I don't want straight-up sales or invoicing. Kind of a niche market. Perhaps this summer will take a book-keeping course.
So where are you working now?
Wow, that's awesome your interviews are oing well and hielding results. Where idd you go job hunting--online, in newspapers, etc?
Well, the good news is... looks like the company listed above wants to hire me... bad news: they can't do so until March. Basically, during the entire month of February, the people who would train me, as well as the people I would be working with, are all going on holidays. This would leave me as a rookie with little or no support. WHile it is disappointing, it is good to know that the company is interested. They have not made me obligated to hold out for them, but basically when they reopen the posting, I get first crack. Go me!
Gracesong, to answer your question, I have primarily been using Kijiji (some regions use Craiglist more often) and indeed.ca Both have been great!
Hold out for this job IMHO. At least something's coming down the pike so to speak. You can use the extra time to get anything technology-related in place. Good luck!
I agree. I refuse to put all my eggs in their basket, so to speak... just in case I get burned, but I am only applkying for jobs now for which I am extremely interested...
Should be getting technology in place and training on new Windows system and Microsoft Office 2010 in February (I hope!)
OK... so been a LONG time since I updated this one...
Well, that job that could hire me in March... they ahve since had a hiring freeze and are unable/unwilling to hire new employees at this time. Kinda frustrating, but not entirely unexpected... so back to the drawing board I go.
I have had a couple of super positive interviews over the past few weeks, which is keeping me from completely throwing in the towel and donning an apron full-time. Tomorrow is a busy day on that front... I had an interview today that requested I do an assessment on one of their computers, and unfortunately the computer was SO old that NVDA couldn't be installed on it without giving it the approximate speed of a turtle on land... so am going back tomorrow to do that.
I also have a friend who works att a call centre for a pizza joint... it's not my dream job (obviously), but it'll get me money in my pocket; they're testing jaws on their system tomorrow afternoon.
How do people not just jump out a window? I seriously want to know...
Kate
Honestly? I had a wife. That's how I managed it. unemployment is a frustrating thing to go through. Especially when you see all those people doing jobs you know you can do, but those people seem like they'd rather be anywhere else.
UGH! How true is that!
Both assessments went well today... so I think Mamas gpmma ne gettomg a moce sjomu mew kpn sppm!
Kate, believe me, I am damn near ready to jump out a window. To say I'm frustrated with my employment search is a huge understatement! Have even been having trouble finding volunteer work to fill my time. So yes, jumping out the window may be in my very near future. Sorry you're back to the drawing board, but it does sound like you've got some positive things going. Keep us posted!
I AM EMPLOYED!!!
I got the job at the pizza joint! While, as stated above, it is not my dream job, Jaws and braille display works great on their system, so I'm good to go! It'll be a lot of evening/weekend work, but since hubby has been asked to work night shift 3 of the last 4 weeks, we'll still be able to spend time together... unlike if I got a standard 9-5 job.
Obviously, if something sweeter comes up, I'll take it.... but Mama's getting a paycheck!
Looking out my wonderful window on the sunsetty evening... no jumping now!
Kate
Congrats, Kate! I know it isn't your dream job, but a paycheck is an excellent thing, and it sounds like the timing of your and your husband's shifts works out well. Glad to hear you got something.
Congrats. Best of luck
Well done you! I hope you eventually find something a little more to your liking and, in the meantime, enjoy the paycheck!
Congrats! I'm heading down the same path now, as I am in need of a job again. Here's hoping I have better luck than I did last time. lol
Becky
Very nice. It's a huge load off one's shoulders. At least, it was for me. Spent about four years being more or less unemployed until getting into RBC. Gave my wife and I a lot of time together, which is the only up side. Well, that and free time.
Awesome Kate! congrats, and I'll keep my fingers cross that something more to your liking will open up soon!
Congratulations.
Thanks, guys! TBG, you are right... HUGE load off... and I am just going to decide to roll with it... fun job, no chance I take my work home with me mentally... my health club has a location in the same building I work in... if hubby works nights (like he is right now) I can spend time with him... discounts on pizza... flexible schedule... what's not to like?
First day of training done yesterday... training accessibility SUCKED! But I am up and running, hopefully taking calls tonight!
I work part-time next week and full-time the week after that. Huzzah!
Good luck!
Indeed. Best of luck to you, and congratulations on the new job.
Awesomeness. Good luck. Oh and to answer your question from many moons ago, I am a customer care rep at National Industries For The Blind in VA.
1st day taking calls went OK... jaws was in demo mode, so I was midway through a call and had to wave my supervisor down to complete it... I'll have my own work station this week so can use my authorization key when I go in on Thursday
CM, I'd consider buying a jaws dongle it's about 45 bucks US, but this way you can plug it in and work at any machine you need. It's nice for when systems go down, it insures you can still be there working! Have a customer right now who I kept encouraging to get a dongle, and he didn't see the need so in any event, his system has been down for a week, and he's had to shuffle between three or four different systems to work, so we've killed all his keys and last week when the whole staff was there, we pretty much had to call it a day because the machine he needed to install on was different than the other machines we had already authorized. Needless to say he bought a dongle last friday!
Updating on this post... My boss was unable/unwilling to license a dongle, which hasn't really been a problem since I have had my own work station for the past six months.
I may in fact be making another career move... will explain later!
Kate
Career move completed!
Just before Christmas I had a job interview that went REALLY well, and they offered me the job! I started this past Friday and got myself all up and running. I think I will take BDD's suggestion and pitch the idea of a Dongle license for JAWS to our office manager; I doubt they will say no!
Kate