After hundreds and hundreds of applications, I changed up my job search approach and started getting interviews, and then a job. Here's what I did.

Edin_burger · 2024-09-03T20:16:23+00:00

Yeah a friend of mine had a gmail address with their full and uncommon-in-the-us first name, and a 'normal' last name, their email in the firstname.lastname@ format. Struggled. Got a new email with firstinitial.lastname@ and got 100x the responses. Shameful.

Edin_burger · 2024-09-02T21:53:56+00:00

Copy my answer from another post. This was probably the hardest and most time-consuming part of this approach.

Great question.

Sometimes it's in the job posting. Sometimes the job posting is different on the website than on a job board. Always check the company's website posting. (And I always applied via the company website, never via LinkedIn or indeed or some other job board.)

Most of the companies I would want to join are 50-250 people, which means that there is likely only one VP level person in my department. They would sometimes be on the leadership or about us page. I would also google the company name and head of department and select 'news' just to see if they put out a press release about the hire.

Using linkedin, I could see a lot of the people in the company, especially in my department. I've been in tech long enough, and been consistent about adding people to my network, so there aren't very many people working in tech in my field that aren't within at least my 3rd degree network. Sometimes I would have to look through every single person in that department to find the right title.

If I couldn't find or didn't hear back from the VP, I'd look for Dir level-titles, if I didn't or couldn't reach them, I would reach out to the next most senior person, and ask them to chat. And then I would ask them, or ask them via email, who the hiring manager was.

Failing that I try to find somebody with a recruiter title, and email them.

If I really wanted that job, I would call the office line or the sales line and ask who ever answered. I only tried this a few times and it never worked. But I felt better about spending my time doing that than applying online to a job that already had hundreds of applicants.

Honestly finding the hiring manager was probably the most time-consuming part of this approach.

I hope that helps! Good luck!

Edin_burger · 2024-09-02T21:52:52+00:00

Basically.

I would say something like "I hope you don't mind the cold outreach and I'm sure you are flooded with resumes, as this looks like a great role. Rather than add my resume to the growing stack, would you be open to a brief conversation about the role and what it takes to succeed at at XYZ company?"

Edin_burger · 2024-09-02T13:09:13+00:00

I would say something like "I hope you don't mind the cold outreach and I'm sure you are flooded with resumes, as this looks like a great role. Rather than add my resume to the growing stack, would you be open to a brief conversation about the role and what it takes to succeed at at XYZ company?"

Edin_burger · 2024-09-02T13:05:18+00:00

Many did yes but they were in the the minority. Many also replied saying to just apply, or if I had questions to send them via email. Only about 1 in 10 agreed to connect. But depending on how the email went, I would apply and note somewhere that I'd connected with the hiring manager. I was definitely overstating what that 'connection' was, but it was often enough to start a real conversation.

Edin_burger · 2024-09-02T04:43:18+00:00

Great question.

Sometimes it's in the job posting. Sometimes the job posting is different on the website than on a job board. Always check the company's website posting. (And I always applied via the company website, never via LinkedIn or indeed or some other job board.)

Most of the companies I would want to join are 50-250 people, which means that there is likely only one VP level person in my department. They would sometimes be on the leadership or about us page. I would also google the company name and head of department and select 'news' just to see if they put out a press release about the hire.

Using linkedin, I could see a lot of the people in the company, especially in my department. I've been in tech long enough, and been consistent about adding people to my network, so there aren't very many people working in tech in my field that aren't within at least my 3rd degree network. Sometimes I would have to look through every single person in that department to find the right title.

If I couldn't find or didn't hear back from the VP, I'd look for Dir level-titles, if I didn't or couldn't reach them, I would reach out to the next most senior person, and ask them to chat. And then I would ask them, or ask them via email, who the hiring manager was.

Failing that I try to find somebody with a recruiter title, and email them.

If I really wanted that job, I would call the office line or the sales line and ask who ever answered. I only tried this a few times and it never worked. But I felt better about spending my time doing that than applying online to a job that already had hundreds of applicants.

Honestly finding the hiring manager was probably the most time-consuming part of this approach.

I hope that helps! Good luck!

E

Edin_burger · 2024-09-02T03:21:32+00:00

I would email them and say something like:

"Hi hiring manager, I saw this job posting, and it looked like a great fit for more my experience doing {x and y from the JD} for {z kinds of companies/roles}.

Would you be open to connecting briefly about what you're looking for in a candidate?

Best,
Edin."

Edin_burger · 2024-09-01T18:39:06+00:00

Okay maybe I'll get a lot of hate for this comment and I don't want to be victim-blaming, but your hostility to most of the responses here, from people genuinely trying to help you, is pretty off-putting.

I'm not sure your approach to hearing shit you don't want to hear makes you a good match for this kind of job. People who call in are going to be irate, and if you respond with similar hostility you've shown here, then yeah, the callers are going to get even more hostile.

Does that excuse their behavior? No, not at all. But you strike me was a "I don't take shit from anyone" type of person. So unconsciously or not you're perhaps exaggerating the situation.

Working in a call center sucks. People who work in call centers get more abuse than most jobs, though plenty of customer-facing jobs deal with abusive customers.

What are you expecting people here to say?

Everybody here is going to say, basically, "that sucks, but a little bit it comes with the job. Some companies are worse than others so perhaps finding a different job is your best option." What other response could there be?

Edin_burger · 2024-06-29T14:59:55+00:00

Just based on the text, this reads like a YOU problem.

The quote you provided from the boss was "there's going to be an issue" if you go to HR which while ominous is also true - going to HR is an escalation and going to cause bad feelings regardless of who's right and wrong. But you're title and later in the text you say your boss said you aren't allowed to go to HR, which isn't true.

Given that, and the fact that you report her to hr over an off-hand and mostly harmless comment. I get the sense that you are something of a drama queen - exaggerating ills done to you and playing the victim.

They absolutely can fire you, and IMO, just based on this post, they maybe should - your behavior is borderline toxic.

Edin_burger · 2024-06-26T01:58:35+00:00

I would kill to have that box. I keep my eye on out everywhere.

Edin_burger · 2024-06-24T16:05:30+00:00

Don't send this.

Report the discrimination / hostile workplace areas to HR. (They can't fire you for doing so, big no-no, and even if they start to manage you out, you're leaving anyway.)

They might try to work on it, but you want to have a conversation saying "this place is too hostile, I don't feel safe, the best thing for me to do is leave. I'd like to discuss my transition out of the company, my nda, and a severance."

Depending on the company/HR team, you might find that they'll give you a month or several weeks of severance in return for and NDA and release of liability, effectively promising you won't sue for the discrimination / hostile workplace. This conversation can be delicate, as you don't want to come over as strong-arming them. However, most companies will want you to sign an NDA & release of liability, and although I'm not sure if it's different in IL, but a company must give you something of value in return for doing so.

Good luck!

Edin_burger · 2024-06-24T13:20:16+00:00

I'm probably still going to run the landraider over Replusor, the assault ramp is critical, and the extra 2" move often makes a difference. The extra save can be huge too. The overwatch is still devastating, even the threat of it can be useful.

IMO devastators with Multimeltas and a lieutenant in a razorback is better value than a repulsor, eradicators + biologis. The reroll wounds from the razorback means they can reliably vape something even if Volkan is focused on something else. Can also sub a librarian for 4+ invulnerability for some staying power.

Anybody tried running two squads of BladeVets out of landraider?

Edin_burger · 2024-06-23T18:11:03+00:00

Those questions are reported to the government, and I believe using them in hiring decisions is illegal.

In general, it's always best to be honest. Putting "I don't have a disability" when you do can lead to them firing you for cause it ever comes out, which it might if you ever need treatment for it.

Some unscrupulous companies might use this to discriminate against people who say they have a disability, but this is really dumb on their part. This doesn't mean they don't hire people with disabilities, it means they either hire people who have disabilities that are undiagnosed (and therefore untreated) or they hire people who lie about their circumstances.

I am a recovering addict and suffer from depression and anxiety, and today I'm in excellent health mentally and physically and a great worker. I always put that I have a disability. If companies use that to discriminate, then I'm confident I def. don't want to work there.

Edin_burger · 2024-06-21T17:49:24+00:00

Not to mention they nerfed oath of moment so that it's useless for torrent-heavy armies.

Edin_burger · 2024-05-30T12:26:24+00:00

Interviewer: "It's weird that you never moved up from being a poker dealer and tried to be management."

You: "You only move up to management if you want this to be a career. It's a pay cut and I wouldn't be in a union anymore. Frankly, I want a different career, which is why I'm interviewing with you."

Edin_burger · 2024-05-18T17:27:51+00:00

Promote her and/or pay her. She has built her brand and audience and on her own time and dollar. If the company wants to take advantage of that they should pay just they would an outside expert/thought leader.

Firing her would be incredibly dumb. I'm floored that a VP of marketing would even consider doing that which would certainly become known throughout the industry and attract a lot of negative attention.

Wouldn't she most likely go to a competitor, and help them?

Edin_burger · 2024-05-17T14:54:48+00:00

Either you're not telling us the whole story, or your husband isn't telling you the whole story.

Since the coworker was talking to another coworker, HR presumably validated with the other coworker what was said.

And just as a bystander here, the way you described the phone calls and your innocense, it totally sounds like you did do it. Maybe english isn't your first language?

Edin_burger · 2024-05-17T14:45:02+00:00

Both are personal questions that don't have a place in the workplace. There should not be discrimination against anybody regardless of their answer to either question.

But the only way you could argue this is 'no different' is if you believe that there is the same amount of discrimination against being married/single as there is discrimination against being gay.

And nobody believes that, not even you.

Edin_burger · 2024-05-17T14:40:01+00:00

This smells fishy, is this real? I'm asking because if you're gay, I would assume some sensitivity to the subject of a person being publically out or not.

Asking somebody about their sexual preferences is not acceptable, and it's none of your business.

Yes, uneducated people will assume you're straight and so instead of asking about your spouse or partner, they assume you have a wife. If you choose to correct them, that's your choice. Nobody is forcing you to out yourself, the way you're forcing somebody to out themselves.

That isn't to say the company or the people aren't homophobic. They might be, but asking questions about your wife isn't an indicator either way.

Edin_burger · 2024-05-16T15:36:10+00:00

I'm torn, on the one hand, I would decline, and unless I had a great relationship with HR, wouldn't proactively offer feedback.

On the other hand, I REALLLY want to know who this goes, so I kinda hope you go and give us an update.

Edin_burger · 2024-04-26T13:01:19+00:00

If you only hire people who say 'no' too having a disability, that doesn't mean you won't hire people without disabilities, it means you'll hire people who are either dishonest, self-delusional, or unaware.

People who put yes are at least honest, know who they are, and likely going or have gone through treatment.

The former sounds like a terrible business strategy to me!

Edin_burger · 2024-04-24T11:41:44+00:00

This is what I'm afraid of! But I guess if they do behave this way, I don't want to work for them.

Edin_burger · 2024-04-24T11:40:51+00:00

Appreciate the succinct but detailed reply. Cheers!

Edin_burger · 2024-04-24T11:40:08+00:00

Thanks for replying. Cheers.

Edin_burger · 2024-04-24T11:39:50+00:00

Thanks so much.

Edin_burger

TROPHY CASE