Reverse Transcriptase
"you're a poet whether you like it or not"
- Local time
- Yesterday 4:10 PM
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 1,369
- Location
- The Maze in the Heart of the Castle
Hey folks,
So I'm searching for a job. It's pretty discouraging. My friend described the truth of the matter very eloquently:
I also had a range of reaction- one company was actually going out of business, a handful were downsizing. Most had no job openings, and one company had just hired two people (so they were set for now).
Unfortunately, I don't feel that the walk-ins have given any more benefit than emailing and phone-calling would do. I usually didn't get farther than the receptionist in any companies, despite asking politely to talk to someone in the Research department.
So, what do you guys think about job hunting? What are good ways to stay disciplined and motivated? What are good strategies to land a job faster? I've been trying to network, but it's weird... and a little awkward. Not to mention hard to find the right people- companies really hide who their employees are, besides the executive management.
So I'm searching for a job. It's pretty discouraging. My friend described the truth of the matter very eloquently:
if it were more of a game it'd be fun. but you've already got your skill set, and they've already got their needs. there's no negotiation, just a big numbers game of how many applications you can get out and maybe make some sort of impression
I tried going to where I wanted to get a job (San Fran) and do lots of walk-ins and try to set up appointments with people to talk to. I did get one informational interview- and walked into 20ish companies. My experience had a large range- I talked to mostly receptionists, but also a few higher-ups (like VPs and Chief Scientific Officers. This mostly happened in small companies.)
I also had a range of reaction- one company was actually going out of business, a handful were downsizing. Most had no job openings, and one company had just hired two people (so they were set for now).
Unfortunately, I don't feel that the walk-ins have given any more benefit than emailing and phone-calling would do. I usually didn't get farther than the receptionist in any companies, despite asking politely to talk to someone in the Research department.
So, what do you guys think about job hunting? What are good ways to stay disciplined and motivated? What are good strategies to land a job faster? I've been trying to network, but it's weird... and a little awkward. Not to mention hard to find the right people- companies really hide who their employees are, besides the executive management.