easier to get a job when you have one?

[gdnagle]

Started working in the 60's for shipyard worked there for about 10 years got laid off collected unemployment until it ran out, working under the table, got another job working for the railroad a week later. Worked for them for about 5 years and got laid off again, collected unemployment until it ran out again, got another job working for the subway system in Md just before benefits ran out. Worked there while I tried to get hired to work for the government for 4 years, then got the government job and quit the subway. Worked for the government research lab for about 25 years until I had to retire with disability a few years ago. I guess I was fortunate that I had a education and good training and skills, or was just lucky. At those tomes you didn’t need high school to get a good job but times have changed. Now they would prefer you have a college degree to work at Mc Donald's. I am also a jinx everyplace I’ve worked at has closed for good. First job grocery store closed about 1969, second shipyard closed about 1980, third WMRR closed about 1976 at Port Covinting Md, Baltimore subway still open but should be closed as it can’t pay it’s own operating expenses at least when I worked there. DTNSRDC in Annapolis Md, closed about 1996, then NSWC in Bethesda Md still holding on. It is always better to look for a job before you need to and the suggestion about not telling anyone you are looking is sound advice until they call for references. You never know who your friends are when you look for another job.
This is based on me at a eailer time in history your results may vary.

 

[Fishslayer]

I started a new short term (6-8 weeks) contract a couple weeks ago. Got two calls from recruiters today, one for a permanent position.

 

[wanderlust]

I think it's definitely easier to get one when you're already employed. If you're unemployed, you open yourself up to the question of why you're unemployed, and unfortunately assumptions will be made.

I've found that when I was job hunting, it was much easier for me to get calls for interviews while I had a job. I didn't get as many calls when I wasn't working.

 

[feralmerril]

I always found it was eaiser to get a new girl friend while you had one too.

 

[Poodle Soup]

Ive never understood references... when do you stop using a person as a reference? Do you call and ask them EVERY time you submit your resume somewhere? And what if you dont have any other than people you have worked for?

Im 23 and the only "real" job I have had is the hell hole I work in now that I have been in for the last 3 years.

I always found it was eaiser to get a new girl friend while you had one too.

Lmao women come crawling out of the wood work when you have another one on your arm or waiting at home.

 

[wanderlust]

Ive never understood references... when do you stop using a person as a reference? Do you call and ask them EVERY time you submit your resume somewhere? And what if you dont have any other than people you have worked for?

Im 23 and the only "real" job I have had is the hell hole I work in now that I have been in for the last 3 years.

For references right now, I'd use my current supervisor or another supervisor at another location within my company. I've worked there for about 3 years now, but I'm not looking. If I was looking, though, I'd use those people.

I personally wouldn't use a reference from four years ago who I don't have much contact with.

 

[LVSteve]

There is some truth to this, although in my case it has not made a lot of difference. My first employer NEVER gave references, only confirming the dates they employed you. My next employer had worked within the same employer so that was easy.

Now that job has gone away the folk that wish to employ me now are being frustrated by a government "job's-worth" who will not accept the proof of previous employment that already exists in the US. He/she wants it out of the UK for some reason. As a result I've seen a lot of soccer, Olympics, tennis and Star Trek reruns over the last few months.

 

[kamloops67]

as a carpenter i have had good success with the "walk on" approach, find someone in charge and sell your skills. my reputation is pretty solid in the kamloops area ,so if i can make myself available at the right time, i will often land the job.
trouble is i have grown to hate what im best at, which is layout carpenter/foreman for commercial/residential concrete and framing.
im not really kidding when i say i think i have developed PTSD from the long hours and stressful enviroment . some mornings i was nearly in tears at the thought of "entering the breech" again.
i was in charge of idiots and knownothings usually friends or relatives of the employer. always given unrealistic deadlines ,which i almost always met. which just encouraged tighter deadlines...i told my employer of 12+ years that it was taking a toll on me,that i was planning to land a govt job to save my sanity. he said he understood and fired me shortly thereafter thinking that my apprentice could take the helm in my place...he couldnt hack it.
that ex-employer has tried to rehire me several times to no avail, he has had to strap his belt back on and do the job himself.
i just do renovations now, with a good friend and shooting buddy. i dont make the same dough as i used to ,but now if schedule permits we will take a range day or family day or soon a boating day .
most of our work is by referal, and we have several long term clients that keep having us back.
im still after that govt job though, third year in a row that i wasnt even granted an interview, always next year i guess .
short answer is networking i guess, people will often go with the name they know over the one they dont. probably why i havent heard from the municipality .

 

[feralmerril]

I never wrote a resume. I wouldnt know how. I just always knocked on doors and walked in. I guess it was a different day and age. I would be in deep trouble nowdays if I had to get a job. Years ago I had a job as a foreman treating old utility poles for groundline decay. The job was usualy a month or three at locations all over the states. I was expected to arrive at a location, hire a crew of two to four guys and be on the job the next morning! Not once did I ever hire someone out of a employment office. On top of that, the guys were paid minimum wages for a hard dirty job of digging. I never had a problem putting a crew together. My usual method I most used was to go to a filling station, talk to the owner, tell him I would be buying my gas there etc if he would give me a small space to have my supplys delivered to. I would start out by asking him if he knew anyone that wanted a hard, dirty job that didnt pay much for a month or two. They always had a son, nephew or someone they knew that needed work. Once I would get that young man he almost always had a couple buddys that also needed a job. I did that job for about 3 1/2 years and probley hired a 100 guys or so in that time. I NEVER had a problem putting a crew together.

 

[kamloops67]

I never wrote a resume. I wouldnt know how. I just always knocked on doors and walked in. I guess it was a different day and age. I would be in deep trouble nowdays if I had to get a job. Years ago I had a job as a foreman treating old utility poles for groundline decay. The job was usualy a month or three at locations all over the states. I was expected to arrive at a location, hire a crew of two to four guys and be on the job the next morning! Not once did I ever hire someone out of a employment office. On top of that, the guys were paid minimum wages for a hard dirty job of digging. I never had a problem putting a crew together. My usual method I most used was to go to a filling station, talk to the owner, tell him I would be buying my gas there etc if he would give me a small space to have my supplys delivered to. I would start out by asking him if he knew anyone that wanted a hard, dirty job that didnt pay much for a month or two. They always had a son, nephew or someone they knew that needed work. Once I would get that young man he almost always had a couple buddys that also needed a job. I did that job for about 3 1/2 years and probley hired a 100 guys or so in that time. I NEVER had a problem putting a crew together.

every once in a while i run across a guy who was crazy enough to do that job for a season, pretty rare to find someone who made a "career" of that thankless job for 3+ years -WE are in a"special" club you and i BC Hydro test&treat program 89-92 i quit that job to go shingling ...thats how bad it was haha

 

[feralmerril]

Wow! It sure was a rough one wasnt it! Osmose wood preserving co. out of buffalo N.Y. 1962 to december 1964. What it did for me was make me not afraid of any other job for a few years, but then I got soft!

 

[kamloops67]

Wow! It sure was a rough one wasnt it! Osmose wood preserving co. out of buffalo N.Y. 1962 to december 1964. What it did for me was make me not afraid of any other job for a few years, but then I got soft!

yep, worst job i ever had but funny how i have so many good stories from it.
saw a lot of the province .met a lot of people .learned how to handle a shovel ,which is good i guess
went through a lot of helpers for sure...used em for backfill and kept going

 

[kmyers]

I have always heard it is true and especially with long term unemployed. The comment I saw used in a couple of articles was "if nobody else wants this person then why would I?". That was especially true if the person had not worked for a year or more.

 

[Jefftyler]

I have always heard it is true and especially with long term unemployed. The comment I saw used in a couple of articles was "if nobody else wants this person then why would I?". That was especially true if the person had not worked for a year or more.

Same thing goes for getting a girlfriend.

 

[kamloops67]

as a freelance renovator, if a perspective client asks me if im busy i always say "YES-but i can probably fit you in somewhere". image is important, you dont want to come off like they are your only client. even if they are.

 

[feralmerril]

Kamloops67, you been there! Did your outfit use "osmoplastic"? I enjoyed the traveling, meeting all types etc. The work sucked, but my company pretty much left me alone to my own methods on handeling the guys etc, just wanted the production. A thousand storys and memories. Most my counterparts were charactors. About the time I met a girl the company would ship me off. If nothing else that job would make or break you quick.
I remember getting $2.30 a hour plus a bonus for the poles that would vary depending on the "norm". The more poles I treated the more I got for each pole. Thats how the company would try to get you to push your crew.
I traveled some. They would give me $6.00s a day for travel pay. That was suppose to pay my motel and eats while driveing across country to my next contract! The result was I would sleep on the truck seat, and I am huge. There was no retirement, 401K, medical or vacations. I met a guy from my old outfit working in the field here about 5 months ago. I didnt ask him about his pay. Sometimes I have missed "the life" but I sure havent missed the job!

 

[kmyers]

Same thing goes for getting a girlfriend.

Already got that covered by being married to a gorgeous woman.