June 9, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Alvin Ramard (6/9/2015)
Matt Miller (#4) (6/9/2015)
Yes - agreed Eric.Clearly have a profile on LinkedIn, but making massive changes and/or listing yourself as looking for work in this scenario might cause relatively nasty side effects (like limiting what you work on, or worse since you are now a flight risk). That's what I was cautioning against (Steve mentioned possibly adding that to the OP's LinkedIn profile).
I remember someone saying you should update your profile every month. That way any changes you make when you start looking for another position will not be as obvious.
For the much same reason, career experts reccomend you cultivate a reputation around the office for having an eccentric personality; that way when you start looking for a job, then again... it won't seem suspicous. :hehe:
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
June 9, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Eric M Russell (6/9/2015)
Alvin Ramard (6/9/2015)
Matt Miller (#4) (6/9/2015)
Yes - agreed Eric.Clearly have a profile on LinkedIn, but making massive changes and/or listing yourself as looking for work in this scenario might cause relatively nasty side effects (like limiting what you work on, or worse since you are now a flight risk). That's what I was cautioning against (Steve mentioned possibly adding that to the OP's LinkedIn profile).
I remember someone saying you should update your profile every month. That way any changes you make when you start looking for another position will not be as obvious.
For the much same reason, career experts reccomend you cultivate a reputation around the office for having an eccentric personality; that way when you start looking for a job, then again... it won't seem suspicous. :hehe:
Dress up twice a month and pretend you have an interview? 😎
For best practices on asking questions, please read the following article: Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url]
June 9, 2015 at 3:46 pm
... just keeping in mind that your own company representatives might also be scanning LinkedIn. Depending on how much discretion you want (or how worried are you if your existing company sees this new status), you may consider NOT doing this on LinkedIn. You still can do it the old fashioned way and post to Monster or to any of the larger consulting firms without necessarily blaring it from the treetops (i.e. LinkedIn).
Companies will also search Monster and CareerBuilder type sites for their own employees to see how has posted their resume, updated their profiles, or just have an account. Most companies pay for the "recruitment" access so they can search for their own employees. I have heard of this before from HR folks, but whether they take action or not I don't know.
Being that the OP is a contractor it should be no shock of having a LinkedIn account nor that it might say anything to the tune of looking for new opportunities.
Shawn Melton
Twitter: @wsmelton
Blog: wsmelton.github.com
Github: wsmelton
June 9, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Alvin Ramard (6/9/2015)
Eric M Russell (6/9/2015)
Alvin Ramard (6/9/2015)
Matt Miller (#4) (6/9/2015)
Yes - agreed Eric.Clearly have a profile on LinkedIn, but making massive changes and/or listing yourself as looking for work in this scenario might cause relatively nasty side effects (like limiting what you work on, or worse since you are now a flight risk). That's what I was cautioning against (Steve mentioned possibly adding that to the OP's LinkedIn profile).
I remember someone saying you should update your profile every month. That way any changes you make when you start looking for another position will not be as obvious.
For the much same reason, career experts reccomend you cultivate a reputation around the office for having an eccentric personality; that way when you start looking for a job, then again... it won't seem suspicous. :hehe:
Dress up twice a month and pretend you have an interview? 😎
Dress up twice a month and pretend like you and the wife routinely go out for romantic formal dinners after work.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
June 9, 2015 at 9:38 pm
jasona.work (6/9/2015)
Starting from the bottom:Jeff: Yes, I'm currently up in Clinton Township.
As for the commute, Toledo would be a last-ditch resort, unless the telecommute option was on the table (I work with a guy currently who lives out in Jackson, telecommutes 2 days a week, and another guy from in Ohio somewhere who comes in once a week.)
I do need to get in and update my LinkedIN profile, it's been a while.
I've currently got about a year-and-a-half before the end of the contract, so I'm not quite actively looking at the moment, just planting the seeds as a just-in-case.
On that note, give me some idea of where you'd actually like to work, area wise.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
June 10, 2015 at 11:52 am
Personally I have just let employers know when I'm looking. Nothing wrong with that. If I'm not happy or want something else, I'm open. Especially with a contract.
June 11, 2015 at 6:44 pm
Jeff Moden (6/9/2015)
On that note, give me some idea of where you'd actually like to work, area wise.
Jeff, realistically, I'd probably (for the right price) go as far as Ann Arbor. For the most part though, staying in the Metro Detroit / suburbs area would be preferred.
When I was last looking, I was considering and applied for a position out at Domino's Farms (never heard from them.)
June 11, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (6/10/2015)
Personally I have just let employers know when I'm looking. Nothing wrong with that. If I'm not happy or want something else, I'm open. Especially with a contract.
Well, right now I'm happy where I'm at, but the rumblings are that the company that currently holds the contract has a good chance of not getting it next time. Some of the "old timers" who've been through a couple different contract companies have said that generally when a new company gets the contract, benefits get trimmed, pay gets cut...
Depending on the cuts, I might be able to take it, and stay, or not.
June 11, 2015 at 10:22 pm
jasona.work (6/11/2015)
Jeff Moden (6/9/2015)
On that note, give me some idea of where you'd actually like to work, area wise.Jeff, realistically, I'd probably (for the right price) go as far as Ann Arbor. For the most part though, staying in the Metro Detroit / suburbs area would be preferred.
When I was last looking, I was considering and applied for a position out at Domino's Farms (never heard from them.)
Since you say this evolution might be a year and a half away, give me a shout when you know for sure and I'll dig up a list of good recruiters in the area for you.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
June 11, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Piling on, there is nothing wrong with being prepared, much better than frantickly having to start looking. Get someone to review your CV, maintain your Linkedin profile, gather some connections there and you will be hitting the ground running when/if the time comes.
😎
June 12, 2015 at 6:15 am
Jason, the local PASS chapter is called SPID. It meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the Microsoft office in Southfield and starts at 6:00. It's located at the intersection of 10 Mile and Northwestern Highway. The closest mile road intersection is 10 Mile and Evergreen. The next one should be on 7/9/2015.
The site is http://detroit.sqlpass.org/. If you're interested, let me know and I'll PM or email you when the next one is announced.
June 12, 2015 at 7:39 am
jasona.work (6/11/2015)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (6/10/2015)
Personally I have just let employers know when I'm looking. Nothing wrong with that. If I'm not happy or want something else, I'm open. Especially with a contract.Well, right now I'm happy where I'm at, but the rumblings are that the company that currently holds the contract has a good chance of not getting it next time. Some of the "old timers" who've been through a couple different contract companies have said that generally when a new company gets the contract, benefits get trimmed, pay gets cut...
Depending on the cuts, I might be able to take it, and stay, or not.
From what you've described, it doesn't sound like you're in immediate peril of losing your job, even if the office rumors turn out to be true. Walking into the office one morning and discovering you have a new set of grumpy budget cutting managers is a hell of a lot better than discovering you're suddenly laid off. That's basically your queue to put your "bug out" plan into play.
In addition to polishing up your resume and investigating nearby job markets, what you need to do at this point is have a "what if" discussion with the family. For example, get a feel for how it might impact them if they had to relocate a couple hours drive away or move to another school district. Also build up a cash emergency fund enough to cover three months of basic living expenses. You may end up needing that to pay bills or at least move into a new apartment.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
June 12, 2015 at 7:44 am
Whenever I get a message or e-mail from a recruiter, I save their e-mail address in a group. When I'm looking for work, I send an e-mail to that group with a copy of my latest CV and some information about where I'm looking, asking them to get in touch if they have anything suitable.
You have to sift through a lot of crap, but there are nuggets that come in.
June 12, 2015 at 8:17 am
Eric M Russell (6/12/2015)
Also build up a cash emergency fund enough to cover three months of basic living expenses. You may end up needing that to pay bills or at least move into a new apartment.
I got laid off just once in my life and it scared the hell out of me. I had nothing liquid that I could draw on for cash and the separation pay was just enough to last for a month (which was better than nothing). It was in my younger days so it took me a month to land another job but it did teach me a lesson and I've been squirreling away cash with an automatic withdrawal since then so I don't miss it. If I had a family, they'd be safe because I've got more than a year of "we can survive on this nicely" cash set aside that is accruing a decent bit of interest that I can get my hands on tomorrow if I need it for such a thing.
I can't describe how frightening the layoff was because of not having a war chest. I still wouldn't want to be laid off ever again (knock on wood). Having more experience now than then, I could probably find a job in fairly short order but it wouldn't be nearly as frightening thanks to the war chest and I could make sure that I was finding a good job with the right environment. Hell, I might even enjoy the time off. 😀
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
June 12, 2015 at 8:19 am
jasona.work (6/11/2015)
For the most part though, staying in the Metro Detroit / suburbs area would be preferred.
That's where all the all the recruiters I know are at... between downtown and Pontiac.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 32 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply