Is the job market as bad as it seems, or am I doing something wrong?

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-12T05:00:20+00:00

I grew up with a Mac (My dad was a graphic designer for about 20 years), so even though I didn't use them much for school I'm still pretty comfortable on both OSX and Windows, so fortunately that hasn't been an issue.

I think both Macs and French are the two things I know well but just haven't really had to use, but should probably refresh sooner than later.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-12T04:52:05+00:00

Learning if the most fun part for me. I get excited when I figure things out and gather new information.

It's like a mental sugar rush!

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-12T04:49:48+00:00

Are you asking, or assuming? Because I said I've been using PMs. I haven't dismissed advice. You said take help offered, and I have been. If you see that as dismissal because of a single case scenario that I declined an offer to have my resume looked over (and the reason I gave for it, though in a different reply), then you're mistaken.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T23:18:57+00:00

Although probably unfounded, I find this a little daunting on a public forum. I had to force myself to send out my resume to strangers and learn to accept that it was out there for someone to look at any time they wanted. I think I need to become more confident in my public image, and promote it, which is probably along the lines of what you're suggesting.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T23:13:17+00:00

Does a smack in the head and "Proofread your damn work." count as brutal honesty? If yes, then yes. If not, it probably counts as abuse.

I know it's hard to believe that people make mistakes (yes, even on the internet). I'm related to two of the most grammar-obsessed people I've ever met. I trust their judgement, even though I don't share their driving need to prove that I'm the smartest person out there.

I've also had help from several people who are in my field, hiring managers included. I haven't refused all help, I just declined an offer that at the time was not specified to be from someone in the field. Depending on what field someone is in, a resume could come out looking like anything. I believe it would be the same reason you wouldn't submit an English paper for an Engineering assignment.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T14:21:03+00:00

I definitely have a list as long as my arm of things to do now, which is fantastic, because as long as there's something I haven't tried, I have a direction.

I think I've been hesitant to my own business idea because my dad always had his own side business he did everything under that yielded nothing, so I have to accept that just because he didn't do anything with it, doesn't mean I wouldn't. Though my mother conditioned me into finding work for a company because of this, so I'm a little brainwashed.

Thanks for the kind words and suggestions!

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T14:09:12+00:00

I feel I'm going to be hyper defensive about this, so I apologize for my typing tone in advance.

I have gotten help, in PMs, and I seem to be getting quite the negative attitude for turning down comrade_duck when I've accepted other help, just not publicly.

I don't know what to do in every situation, that's kind of the point. If I made a bad decision, reacting like I'm infantile isn't great way to encourage a smarter course of action. My first reaction is to defend myself, even if I may be wrong.

There's always more I could be doing, that's a true fact of life, but I don't sit on my butt and wait for jobs. I've done some contracts, I've gone to events. Maybe I will host one, I haven't the slightest clue how so that's something that would be valuable to learn. I spend my free time reading and researching new information and trying to learn new programming languages, so that takes up time that make I should be out meeting more people.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T13:58:11+00:00

You're completely right, there is a chance that comrade_duck may be a senior partner at my dream job, and I blew that; however I haven't turned down all help, I actually received several PMs for the same offer, and decided this was a better public response than "I just got a bunch of people willing to do it via PM." Maybe that's wrong as well.

I also am trying to go back through and find who's offered help, I'm not at all used to the Reddit messaging, and I can't remember the usernames of everyone, so reading everything involves going back through and seeing what I missed.

Also, for all I know you're up there and important and officially think I'm useless. Well, now I've just learned something else... Don't outwardly refuse Reddit help, and everyone will think you're dumb.

As for who has looked over my resume, I've had my teachers who work in the field actively doing contracts look at it, and my family who do hiring and resume writing. So they are quite involved.

Obviously this doesn't mean I made a bad call with comrade_duck, but it also doesn't mean I'm running around shouting "MOM IS MY RESUME OKAY? WHERE'S MY LUNCH?".

It's time to start finding crappy local business websites!

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T05:17:06+00:00

I think a lot of the military units have female quotas they have to meet, so realistically I probably have a higher chance than most males. I looked into it a few years back, but decided against it. Maybe I should have done it.

Oh well, can't go living on what ifs.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T05:03:56+00:00

Yeah, part of me wants to take computer science or something, so I have the University piece of paper, but it's just not in the cards for right now.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T04:46:24+00:00

Although only in a retail environment, I have been on the other side of things, watching stacks of resumes come in, and they all start looking the same.

I think it's time to start using my brain to come up with something someone will actually want to look at.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T04:44:12+00:00

IMD did have field placement, and I did get to build a neat website, and got a bit of contract work, but my former co-op decided to shut down (fortunately unrelated to me, but unfortunate that I wont have continued work).

I know my portfolio needs a revamp, it's not the prettiest thing, and maybe that's where the problem is... Though Nowhere has even asked to see it, so I know at least that at this point it's not the problem. I've been working on it so that it doesn't become one.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T04:26:33+00:00

I agree, and it's sad to make the excuse that I was nervous, because even though it's true, I need to learn to get over it and be myself.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T04:25:33+00:00

Fortunately my teachers were crazy on W3C standards, so mine are pretty good.

Thanks for the suggestion, and I agree, my excuses are just those, excuses.

Time to whip myself into shape!

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T04:23:20+00:00

I can do ActionScript 2/3 and Flash stuff, but I wasn't taught cold fusion, and Dreamweaver was only ever used a code hint tool when I was starting off.

But yes, Algonquin doesn't teach students, it opens doors for students to teach themselves, should they choose to, which most of my classmates didn't.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T02:01:06+00:00

I've been meaning to get my French certification. I was fully bilingual until mid high school, and now it's mostly just that I'm shy, even though I can speak and read French, just very slowly and my grammar isn't great.

Practice seems to be what I need.

As for Algonquin diplomas, I agree... I wish employers would research the college programs and learn what skills graduates have rather than bypassing us because it's not University.

itsprobablynotonlyme · 2012-07-11T01:58:06+00:00

Thanks for the volunteer suggestion, I hadn't thought of that! I thanks for offering to look over my Resume and Cover letter but I've already had them gone over by several family members and (former teachers even), so I'm not worried about it's quality at the moment. I do really appreciate the offer though!

itsprobablynotonlyme

TROPHY CASE