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Started By
Message
Out of work 7 months and counting...
Posted on 7/6/11 at 11:41 am
Posted on 7/6/11 at 11:41 am
So today is an anniversary of sorts for me. I thought getting my MBA in 2009 was going to help ensure I was bulletproof - if not in job retention than certainly in helping me get another job if the ax ever fell.
I am well spoken, fit, young, able and willing to move anywhere, was promoted 2 times in 4 years, and finished my MBA with a 3.6 GPA while working full time.
I haven't had a face to face job interview in over 2 months now, and my recruiters aren't returning my phone calls.
Is anybody else going through this? I feel like giving up sometimes - I think I've tried basically everything that people suggest - job boards, recruiters, networking, everything.
I'm not tied to my past industry by any means, but nobody is willing to sniff an outsider in this job market when there are 10 qualified candidates with industry experience begging for jobs - even entry level jobs.
I still have my own little side business that keeps me afloat but it's so emasculating to be out of work in my career field for so long (I was a sales manager for a large packaging company).
I am well spoken, fit, young, able and willing to move anywhere, was promoted 2 times in 4 years, and finished my MBA with a 3.6 GPA while working full time.
I haven't had a face to face job interview in over 2 months now, and my recruiters aren't returning my phone calls.
Is anybody else going through this? I feel like giving up sometimes - I think I've tried basically everything that people suggest - job boards, recruiters, networking, everything.
I'm not tied to my past industry by any means, but nobody is willing to sniff an outsider in this job market when there are 10 qualified candidates with industry experience begging for jobs - even entry level jobs.
I still have my own little side business that keeps me afloat but it's so emasculating to be out of work in my career field for so long (I was a sales manager for a large packaging company).
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 11:43 am
7
Posted on 7/6/11 at 11:52 am to AlejandroInHouston
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't really see how an MBA relates to a sales department (even managing the department).
Posted on 7/6/11 at 12:17 pm to AlejandroInHouston
Take the state civil service exam, you might be able to score a job with the state. Even though the state is cutting jobs, there are still positions available. It won't pay as much as you were getting in the private sector (in the short term), but it will get you by.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 12:33 pm to AlejandroInHouston
What kind of positions do you consider yourself qualified for? I know a few business owners who are looking for good people, but I'd like to know more about you before I refer you to them.
Also, are you open to relocate? What is your salary requirement? Does your side business conflict in any way with your full time job?
If you'd prefer not to put this much personal info on this board, send me an email at (email edited out). If I don't hear from you, I understand your reluctance to reveal info to an anonymous board poster. I respect that.
Also, are you open to relocate? What is your salary requirement? Does your side business conflict in any way with your full time job?
If you'd prefer not to put this much personal info on this board, send me an email at (email edited out). If I don't hear from you, I understand your reluctance to reveal info to an anonymous board poster. I respect that.
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 6:04 pm
Posted on 7/6/11 at 12:38 pm to Bard
quote:
Take the state civil service exam, you might be able to score a job with the state. Even though the state is cutting jobs, there are still positions available. It won't pay as much as you were getting in the private sector (in the short term), but it will get you by.
I had to face facts back in 2007. I locked all my loans one morning around 10am after getting a confidential tip from one of my Homecomings Financial (formerly GMAC Mortgage) Account Executives that I would be in an extreme bind if I didn't.
At 1pm, every major lender we used sent out a mid-day pricing adjustment notice (highly unusual; we got rate sheets that ticked slowly up or down as the week wore on, but they came-and still do come-early each morning).
Typically, a pricing adjustment from one day to the next was anywhere from less than 10 basis points to 15 or so.
The mid-day pricing adjustment-across the board-was over 100 basis points, and kept climbing the rest of the week.
Customers that were outraged when I told them what I'd done before lunch called me that same afternoon, or came trickling back in over the rest of the week, groveling an apology and praying I could still close them. I realized then that my way of life and my career path was dead. Real estate finance became a ghost-town within a year.
I smartened up, and I took a position with the state by that August. Really did it on a lark, as my Mom had set my sister up with the interview, but they were hiring a group of people, so I threw my hat in the ring.
It'll be 4 years in August. I've had 3 promotions, and an almost 60% increase in my original starting salary. Even where I am now, I've still taken a huge nosedive in terms of income. We're talking radical income and lifestyle changes, and some gnashing of teeth and slow, sluggish marches to pay down debts run up in stupidity when I made 4 times what I pull in annually now.
But, I've done it, while paying for two automobiles in full, as well as every debt I have down to the last $1600 or so on my credit card, including all my student loans and collections.
It was a very, very bitter pill to swallow to do this, but in reality, it was one of the single best decisions I could've made. I hear from friends all the time now who are struggling, looking for the next pot of gold at the end of the next rainbow.
They act as if the big money from the mortgage industry is somehow just a few months or the right opportunity away still.
Swallow your pride. Do what you need to do. Don't be afraid to start over. Everything happens for a reason.
Sounds cliche, brother. Believe me, I was thinking the same thing for a long time. It's the truth, though.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 12:39 pm to LSURussian
Russian, YGM.
/Hijack
/Hijack
Posted on 7/6/11 at 12:43 pm to GFunk
What's up gary? how ya doing? If you are not who I think then my apologies. 
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 7/6/11 at 12:48 pm to GFunk
quote:
Swallow your pride. Do what you need to do. Don't be afraid to start over. Everything happens for a reason.
Well stated.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:00 pm to LSURussian
Ruskie,
Thanks much - I just emailed you with my background and resume.
Thanks much - I just emailed you with my background and resume.
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 1:09 pm
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:03 pm to Brightside Bengal
quote:
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't really see how an MBA relates to a sales department (even managing the department).
Point somewhat well-taken. However, I'd argue that my MBA helps me drastically in seeing the big picture even at a sales manager position. I care way more about margin and profitability than other reps who only care about maxing out their bonuses in the short term. I see and understand the big picture, and I truly treated my territory like it was my own company.
Obviously somebody who gets their MBA while working full-time isn't likely to want to stay on the sales side forever. In my last company literally every executive started in sales and worked their way up - which is what I was obviously trying to do.
I do agree that MBA's seem to be overrated these days. I wouldn't still be looking for work 7 months out if that wasn't the case. However, nobody told me that when I was thinking about taking the plunge or while I was working my butt off 70+ hour weeks for 3 years. My company paid for it and I took that as a blessing that they were on board and valued me. Why else would they have paid over $40,000 for it?
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 1:06 pm
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:22 pm to Fat Bastard
quote:
What's up gary? how ya doing? If you are not who I think then my apologies.
I'm good, relatively speaking. I'd want to guess that I may know who you are, but I don't want to risk offending you by saying, "Your username gave it away."
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:23 pm to AlejandroInHouston
So they paid for it then let you go?
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:29 pm to kfizzle85
My company didnt really let me go, a multi-billionare venture capitalist from New Zealand named Graeme Hart acquired the company and employed his slash and burn tactics. Reps who weren't in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta (the major cities) got let go. They didn't factor in salaries, experience, education, performance, etc. Only geography.
What's worse is this was the largest company in our industry so the workforce is still flooded with dozens of my former colleagues, and we're all competing for a startlingly tiny number of job openings. Plus most of us have non-competes so it's tough sledding.
What's worse is this was the largest company in our industry so the workforce is still flooded with dozens of my former colleagues, and we're all competing for a startlingly tiny number of job openings. Plus most of us have non-competes so it's tough sledding.
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 1:31 pm
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:30 pm to TheHiddenFlask
quote:YGM. I replied to you message.
TheHiddenFlask
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:32 pm to AlejandroInHouston
quote:You might want to check the address you sent it to. I have not received it and it should be here by now.
Ruskie,
Thanks much - I just emailed you with my background and resume.
Edited to remove email address.
This post was edited on 7/6/11 at 6:04 pm
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:35 pm to LSURussian
forwarded it - I copied and pasted this time.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:35 pm to AlejandroInHouston
I can't imagine a non-compete has any weight in that scenario, nonetheless, that's a shame. I wouldn't expect it to take 7 months for someone with experience and an MBA to find another sales job, that's rough.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:43 pm to AlejandroInHouston
Got it! I'll get back to you soon. I have an appointment I have to leave for right now so I can't read your cover letter or resume now and give it the proper attention.
I'll just respond to you via email.
I'll just respond to you via email.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:45 pm to AlejandroInHouston
quote:
AlejandroInHouston
Now I know why you are so cranky.
Posted on 7/6/11 at 1:50 pm to LSURussian
This thread appears proof that differring politics can remain just that. Differing politics.
Hopefully, Ruskie is able to help.
Hopefully, Ruskie is able to help.
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