Still Looking for Work

cmort666

cmort666

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City & State/Province
Rocky River, OH, USA
I'm still looking for IT (network or workstation administration/support) or shipping & receiving management work. I've got 20+ years experience with Novell, Windows, Linux, hardware (including builds) and software. I did most of the shipping and receiving/customs paperwork for my last employer, arranged inbound and outbound foreign shipments of containers, and domestic deliveries. I completely reorganized and automated the shipment records. I also ran the ISO9000 quality program.

I'm starting to get a few nibbles here and there, but no bites so far. Unless you're dealing with the Cuyahoga County Auditor, you can't buy a job here.

I'm willing to relocate.

If anybody's got any leads, I'd appreciate hearing about them.

Thanks.
 
My current job (site manager of a low-income senior citizens' apartment building) is almost nothing like what I used to do - law firm legal assistant to partners/paralegal to general counsel.

I am prepared to do my current job because my past training helps keep my organized with all of the tenant recertification requirements, general lease paperwork, record keeping and bookkeeping, but at least I was able to segue into another field.

Maybe you can find something similar to what you used to do even if it's in a totally unexpected field.
 
If you are interested in a civil service job (good benefits, etc.) try looking at: USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site They have jobs listed everywhere.

I searched "Rocky River, OH" for you and it hit 60 jobs just there; a number say "IT" and even some look like shipping/receiving...? As said, they have jobs pretty much everywhere listed.
 
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Took me 18 months and over 50 applications to find my new job, and in all those application only got 2 interviews. Most places I applied to didn't even respond back to having received application, as they had received so many. Remember one place I called to verify they received my application and resume, and they told me they had received it along with 60 or so others, and would call me if interested.
 
I feel your pain, I was walked out the door in July '09 after 13 yrs. of service with my Fortune 500 employer. At age 59 1/2 with one daughter in college and the other a HS senior that was a rather unkind blow. Seems the powers that be in the corporate office a thousand miles away decided to eliminate my job. Years ago there were no end of small manufacturing shop where a Tool & Die Maker with 35yrs of experienc could find a job. No more, lots of that work is being done in China now. How that makes any sense I'll never understand. You have to keep your options open to doing most any kind of work that is remotely comparable. And get used to the fact that you'll be making only 50-60% of your previoius earnings, working the same number of hours a lot of times more and on off shifts. such appears to be the way of the world now a days. I look on the bright side and treat unemployment as an opportunity to seek a job doing what I really want to do.
 
novalty said:
Took me 18 months and over 50 applications to find my new job, and in all those application only got 2 interviews. Most places I applied to didn't even respond back to having received application, as they had received so many. Remember one place I called to verify they received my application and resume, and they told me they had received it along with 60 or so others, and would call me if interested.
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That's been my experience as well. There are a LOT of people chasing after VERY few jobs. In a lot of cases, they'll hire an untrained kid who'll screw up whatever he does until he learns the job or moves on to something else.
 
bitstream said:
If you are interested in a civil service job (good benefits, etc.) try looking at: USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site They have jobs listed everywhere.
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I'm waiting on a couple of civil service jobs. You'd think that usajobs would allow you to provide a resume (you really have to enter it, since uploaded resumes aren't searchable) and apply to any job there. Not a chance. Every agency seems to have it's own online hiring mechanism, requiring you to start the process all over for every agency. There were some IT openings with Customs/ICE. I'm waiting to find out about those. Last I heard was a "You haven't been eliminated yet" message in March. Those jobs close at the end of the month. Hopefully, I'll hear something positive. I applied around the end of last year.
 
BarbC said:
My current job (site manager of a low-income senior citizens' apartment building) is almost nothing like what I used to do - law firm legal assistant to partners/paralegal to general counsel.

I am prepared to do my current job because my past training helps keep my organized with all of the tenant recertification requirements, general lease paperwork, record keeping and bookkeeping, but at least I was able to segue into another field.

Maybe you can find something similar to what you used to do even if it's in a totally unexpected field.
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My last job wasn't a computer job, but I ended up building the server and all of the workstations.

I applied for a couple of shipping & receiving jobs with AreaTemps here and never heard a word.

If I can't find an IT or at least IT related job, I don't know what to look for.
 
I would apply for anything and everything and if they call tell them how your training/experience can be of benefit to their company: Detail oriented; meticulous; organized; problem solver; solution seeker; staying with a task until it is resolved, etc.

You may have to customize a letter for each company you apply to, bending your skills to suit the open position, but it's worth a shot.
 
:) It's always easier to find a job when you have a job. That being said look for 3 or 4 part time jobs. Like grocery stores, pizza delivery, waiter in a restaurant. There are jobs out there you just have to be willing to work at anything that becomes available. Good luck!!! Don
 
You might already know this but just in case, I'll throw out some thoughts. Have an extemely well written resume, and you don't have to pay $350 for one, just search online and also ask some human resources people what they think of yours and how to improve it. Always, always, always write a cover letter for each application and explain your experience and why they should interview you for the job. I think a lot of companies get so many applications they are throwing all resumes in the trash that don't have a cover letter. Make sure your computer has Windows Word software, because Works, Open Office, etc. don't cut it, and you want to tailor your resume to each and every application to have the most key words to get selected by their hiring software. A lot of jobs might ask if you are familiar with a certain government form, and if you just have a tiny bit of familiarity, I would say "yes" because you can spend dozens of hours researching and getting familiar with it before your interview. Try Linkedin for job searches if you haven't already, and good luck, I heard the recession is over!!!!!..........?
 
Farmer17 said:
You might already know this but just in case, I'll throw out some thoughts. Have an extemely well written resume, and you don't have to pay $350 for one, just search online and also ask some human resources people what they think of yours and how to improve it. Always, always, always write a cover letter for each application and explain your experience and why they should interview you for the job. I think a lot of companies get so many applications they are throwing all resumes in the trash that don't have a cover letter. Make sure your computer has Windows Word software, because Works, Open Office, etc. don't cut it, and you want to tailor your resume to each and every application to have the most key words to get selected by their hiring software. A lot of jobs might ask if you are familiar with a certain government form, and if you just have a tiny bit of familiarity, I would say "yes" because you can spend dozens of hours researching and getting familiar with it before your interview. Try Linkedin for job searches if you haven't already, and good luck, I heard the recession is over!!!!!..........?
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I've got most of those things covered, although it didn't happen all at once. I'm not buying Word. I simply can't afford it. I've got Word Perfect and Open Office. They'll have to do.

I applied for a couple of jobs at Boeing this afternoon. This is the first time in months they've had anything relevant.
 
cmort666, I just read in this morning's paper that an IT firm is relocating to Suffolk, Va soon and will be creating 200 plus jobs. The firm is ISHPI and is based in Mount Pleasant, SC. Their web site is ishpi.net. Good luck with your search. You may be able to find the article if you go to dailypress.com. If you get a job you owe me a cold one.:o
 
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I understand the reasons for not wanting to buy MS Word but I'm telling you from experience you are wasting a bunch of time and are probably sending resumes that are no going through to the recruiters. If I had to sell a gun to buy Word software I would do it because it makes applying so much easier. There are some free download versions of Word, but they don't allow certain things and some hiring search software won't accept them. You might try calling some computer repair shops because they get old computers that have Word loaded and they would probably let you have it pretty cheap. I got my Word software free because my buddy at church owns a computer store and he gets some free test software from the manufacturers, and he gives it away to a few "choice friends".
 
fiasconva said:
cmort666, I just read in this morning's paper that an IT firm is relocating to Suffolk, Va soon and will be creating 200 plus jobs. The firm is ISHPI and is based in Mount Pleasant, SC. Their web site is ishpi.net. Good luck with your search. You may be able to find the article if you go to dailypress.com. If you get a job you owe me a cold one.:o
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Thanks. I'll check them out.
 
The key, although it can be hard at times, is to stay positive and view looking for work as a full-time job. If you worked an 8hr day, spend 6 hrs Mon-Fri looking for work. If the locality won't support it, consider commuting up to an hour in any direction. Gather a resume, post on every site you can. Jobsin.com, Indeed.com, monster.com, careerbuilder.com, everything you can find--create an account and send em' out.

Never loose sight of who you are. Good luck.
 
Man I am sorry to hear of your challenge. Hang tough, it will get better.
 
Kanewpadle said:
Hey Cmort, take a look at this company.

Don't know much about them but they just opened a warehouse here locally. They also have locations around the country.

Did some work for them last week and the guy mentioned that they were looking for an IT guy.

Good luck!

ULINE - Cardboard Boxes, Shipping Supplies, Packaging Materials, Plastic Bags
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Now there's real irony! I used to buy their big cardboard bins for work! Our first idiot supplier in India used to send us so many bad parts that I spent half my time shipping parts to and from machine shops, having them magnafluxed, sorted and ground. His crates were so bad, we usually needed to replace bunches of them with U-Line's boxes.

I've check them out.

Thanks.
 
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I'm in the same boat with you, can't find a job. Been a Supervisior for years trained as a electrican but I can weld, machine work, do paper work for Haz-Mat, drive anything with wheels or tracks but no one needs you after you are past 55.
 
Bullseye Smith said:
I'm in the same boat with you, can't find a job. Been a Supervisior for years trained as a electrican but I can weld, machine work, do paper work for Haz-Mat, drive anything with wheels or tracks but no one needs you after you are past 55.
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Bullseye--

I'm in the same boat --been a pipe fitter/welder w/nuke certs. but nobody wants you until all the young ones are hired. I'm in my 60's and I'm about ready to pull the pin. Have 3 nukes I know I can work starting after the first of the year then I'm going to quit this game--turn 62 in May and I'm going to retire and find some part time stuff just to keep me from going nuts.

A friend of mine that just retired had the perfect saying--once you turn 55 you're part time help--and that's exactly what's happened to me.

Best of luck to all that are unemployed right now.

Steve
 
After 35 years with one company, myself and about 30 people that worked in and around the Chicago area were given the "opportunity" to take an early out package. This was in 2001. I was 55, and ill prepared financially for the news. Ignoring the "opportunity" was out of the question. It was obvious they just wanted to be rid of older high wage earners. Everyone took the early out. Quite a few of us were friends and we kept in touch over the last ten years. Some of the guys were 60-62 and they just sat it out till retirement age. Those of us around 55 yrs old have had a tough time finding jobs. I've had three jobs in ten years all in IT and computer repair. None of those jobs paid well, and all involved a lot of long distance driving. I don't know what it's like around the country, but around here there's a lot of out of work IT people. There's an abundance of 25-35 year olds in the field and they are hired first, over an old guy like me. I'm probably the only one of the bunch that took the out that stayed with IT. Everybody else didn't want any part of it anymore and found something else to do.
 
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JcMack said:
After 35 years with one company, myself and about 30 people that worked in and around the Chicago area were given the "opportunity" to take an early out package. This was in 2001. I was 55, and ill prepared financially for the news. Ignoring the "opportunity" was out of the question. It was obvious they just wanted to be rid of older high wage earners. Everyone took the early out. Quite a few of us were friends and we kept in touch over the last ten years. Some of the guys were 60-62 and they just sat it out till retirement age. Those of us around 55 yrs old have had a tough time finding jobs. I've had three jobs in ten years all in IT and computer repair. None of those jobs paid well, and all involved a lot of long distance driving. I don't know what it's like around the country, but around here there's a lot of out of work IT people. There's an abundance of 25-35 year olds in the field and they are hired first, over an old guy like me. I'm probably the only one of the bunch that took the out that stayed with IT. Everybody else didn't want any part of it anymore and found something else to do.
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It's the same here, but maybe even worse. Years ago, I could get part time IT work whenever I needed it. All of the consulting companies I used to do work for here have DRASTICALLY reduced business.

There are definitely people who don't want to work, but that's not the norm. In a lot of places, there's no work, not even part time work, especially if you're not entry level.

This is a NATIONAL problem, one which Comrade Urkel (BHO) is only making MUCH, MUCH worse through his wildly irresponsible and irrational economic "policies". My last job was at a two person company, the owner and me. I learned a lot about running a small business there and EVERYTHING Comrade Urkel is doing is GUARANTEED to tank small business. It's not going to get any better until somebody snatches the checkbook out of his hands.

I had a girlfriend when I was at Ft. Knox whose mother had Alzheimer's. As long as she had checks, she firmly believed she had money. She might just as well be President of the United States. And like my girlfriend, we and our great grandchildren will be chasing after the bad checks for decades to come.
 
cmort666 said:
I had a girlfriend when I was at Ft. Knox whose mother had Alzheimer's. As long as she had checks, she firmly believed she had money. She might just as well be President of the United States. And like my girlfriend, we and our great grandchildren will be chasing after the bad checks for decades to come.
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Sounds like your girlfriend was BGF's with my ex. My son (who's 35) has been a body n fender man working for the same place for the last 15 yrs. It's a fairly stable job, I taught him enough about OS's and AP's he does shop work, estimates, and billing. They work on only rental cars, and everything is cut and dried, per damage, per job. I thinking the kid is farting thru silk. He calls me and says he's thinking of going to a tech "college" heavily advertised on TV. He wants to pursue IT training. I tried to give him the lowdown on IT employment opportunities around here.
 
Just got a call from a guy about a job in Columbia, MO, one of my favorite places. After a run around with bad phone connections and misunderstood email addresses, I sent him a resume, then a revised resume. This is limited duration, but I'm checking to see if it's a temp to work situation.

Maybe if this turns out to be permanent, I'll go to the Chapman Academy... if it's still there.

I went to Westminster College in the '70s, so I know the area well, although it had changed a lot when I went back for a reunion a few years ago. Graf's had moved from where they were when I lived there.
 
Good Luck! As you know Columbia is a real nice town

Jeff

PS: I went to Westminster in the 60's, and my Dad went in the 30's
 
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