WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

Let's talk about the job market inmates....it ain't rosy out here!!!

wet hull

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
1,924
Reaction score
2,746
It’s absolutely tough out there. It took me 3 months to find a suitable replacement position in Aug. and I had to relocate back to CA. Where are you? Have you looked into Anduril? They have been hiring like crazy after their latest round of funding. Are you just applying, or are you sending out messages letting the hiring manager know you’re interested? If you aren’t, you need to. Stand out. If the hiring manager isn’t listed, do some research and find it. Call them, email them. Do whatever it takes to get on their radar. My job search turned around when I figured this out. “Actually my wife told me to do it”
My cousin was just hired there and got a amazing package. He is only 24. Think salary was $80k with $20k signing bonus in stock options once they go public. Bonus schedule in there as well with full benefits. Also he gets friends and family in for stock purchase prior to the public. We will be investing. I think the new funding was around a billion that your speaking about. I may be wrong on this number.
 

whiteworks

Custom Shutters by WhiteWorks
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
15,892
Reaction score
11,140
If they ever kick it me out on my ass, I'm going to barber school. Not sure how I got where I am in my W2 career, but I won't pretend for a minute I'll be as lucky to find a suitable replacement in the same field. I signed my non compete with a smile and said, I have no intention of working in this industry if you fire me, let alone am I dumb enough to work for a competitor, they all suck Ha ha.

Yes Barber school. Our towns Barber is retiring, we are all gonna have to go to the Beauty salon now.
I place way to much value on my time, most of its not for sale. Gonna run it hard and have the time of my life until the wheels start to fall off and then pull the plug. I have some pretty epic mentors who have done quite well for themselves, my key take away has been that they all traded too much time for money early on while they were in their prime. That’s the only constant gripe I’ve heard from any of them.

That barber gig is like 2000 hours to get behind the chair then it’s 10 hours on your feet all day everyday. Kinda like digging a hole, it’s not complicated but it’s a lot of work😂
 

Xtrmwakeboarder

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Messages
5,448
Reaction score
9,059
My cousin was just hired there and got a amazing package. He is only 24. Think salary was $80k with $20k signing bonus in stock options once they go public. Bonus schedule in there as well with full benefits. Also he gets friends and family in for stock purchase prior to the public. We will be investing. I think the new funding was around a billion that your speaking about. I may be wrong on this number.
$1.5B, and your cousin got in at the right time. I'm a big fan of the founder and the business model.
 

monkeyswrench

To The Rescue!
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
29,104
Reaction score
82,693
Heard from a friend of a friend that things are tough out there. 😉😬. It’s no secret that things are a little slow in most industries. The market is being held up by “pending” interest rates cuts. The good news is that there’s plenty of room to cut to get things going. The bad news is that if inflation ticks up the whole party is over. Rate cuts go away, market drops, companies cut costs across the board to keep stock prices up. That means jobs and spending. Double whammy mother f’r. Friend also had his boss clipped last Monday out of nowhere. 2024 can’t end too early.
Well, this post here can have some totally different meaning...

"Friend also had his boss clipped last Monday out of nowhere."

Ya'll are mostly clean cut types. My mind went straight "Goodfellas" 🤣

(Have to add some levity...getting a bit tense in some ways;))
 

lbhsbz

Putting on the brakes
Joined
Jan 11, 2010
Messages
12,998
Reaction score
33,439
I place way to much value on my time, most of its not for sale. Gonna run it hard and have the time of my life until the wheels start to fall off and then pull the plug. I have some pretty epic mentors who have done quite well for themselves, my key take away has been that they all traded too much time for money early on while they were in their prime. That’s the only constant gripe I’ve heard from any of them.

That barber gig is like 2000 hours to get behind the chair then it’s 10 hours on your feet all day everyday. Kinda like digging a hole, it’s not complicated but it’s a lot of work😂
I've got a buddy who is a hair guy (odd, but not gay lol)....my Mom was his first client out of cosmetology school...we used to have squirt bottle fights in the salon lol.

He has clients everywhere 100 miles north and south of the Hermosa Beach area, where he worked and owned his salon. These days, he goes and see's them....loads his dirt bikes in a 20' toy hauler and heads out....does a few high dollar hair jobs, rides dirt bikes, then comes home and fucks off for a few days. Doesn't seem like a bad gig
 

DWRAT

Banned
Joined
Apr 11, 2012
Messages
123
Reaction score
188
Since your reading comprehension skills need some work, let me spell it out for you, okay?
Say what you want about my skills, if I didn't have a job, I wouldn't be to good for the job that was offered to you.
just sayin.
 
Last edited:

jet496

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
3,620
Reaction score
6,360
I just wish we could find an HVAC Service Manager and some good HVAC techs. We pay great & all the benefits here in San Diego but the last ad in Indeed for just a field service tech offering up to $140k per year yielded only one local applicant. Two others from out of state who were not serious. So, maybe this market depends on type of skills.
 
Last edited:

BHC Vic

cobra performance boats
Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
25,651
Reaction score
20,211
I place way to much value on my time, most of its not for sale. Gonna run it hard and have the time of my life until the wheels start to fall off and then pull the plug. I have some pretty epic mentors who have done quite well for themselves, my key take away has been that they all traded too much time for money early on while they were in their prime. That’s the only constant gripe I’ve heard from any of them.

That barber gig is like 2000 hours to get behind the chair then it’s 10 hours on your feet all day everyday. Kinda like digging a hole, it’s not complicated but it’s a lot of work😂
I like that a lot. What I do is not complicated but it’s a lot of work 😂😂 I’m stealing that
 

was thatguy

living in a cage of fear
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
52,967
Reaction score
100,745
Whoa settle down Tex😁
You wanna really see him mad just change your screen name.
This is a seriously accurate statement..... "Agism" is actually a term broadly used in corp speak currently. I loved working as I got into my best years ~45-60 but definitely felt interviews/ opptys slipping past my grasp once I got to face to face staged interviews later in career. I had some younger friends in the HR world insisting I die my hair to appear younger. I could tell times had changed... or at least I had changed in age more accurately.

It entirely makes sense when you consider their position.... they can pay someone younger so much less money as well as have the benefit of their skills for a much longer period of time.
Shoulda tried the Mohawk.
 

HubbaHubbaLife

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
7,032
Reaction score
8,910
You wanna really see him mad just change your screen name.

Shoulda tried the Mohawk.
Brilliant... I love it.... can you imagine the response! Hell, I might start trying some video interviews remotely with the suit on for reactions. Not to take away from the OPs challenges but it'd be fun.
 

rrrr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
15,848
Reaction score
35,273
I was surprised by your earlier post mentioning the difficulties of finding employment. I know you're fully qualified in a field that requires specialized knowledge, and the absence of an offer is puzzling. Didn't know the market had tightened up.

I hope you get that offer soon.
 

CLdrinker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
9,438
Reaction score
19,041
@CLdrinker did mention in another thread a couple months ago that there is gonna be some serious restructuring at Edison by the end of the year
Yup people are getting scared. I first heard end of this year now I’m hearing Q1.

At first I thought I had nothing to worry about. But I have heard people may be eligible to bump down. So who knows.

I have excellent yearly reviews and consistently high numbers so we shall see.
 

4Waters

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2016
Messages
34,111
Reaction score
86,493
Yup people are getting scared. I first heard end of this year now I’m hearing Q1.

At first I thought I had nothing to worry about. But I have heard people may be eligible to bump down. So who knows.

I have excellent yearly reviews and consistently high numbers so we shall see.
Good luck
 

Sportin' Wood

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
2,559
Reaction score
7,636
I place way to much value on my time, most of its not for sale. Gonna run it hard and have the time of my life until the wheels start to fall off and then pull the plug. I have some pretty epic mentors who have done quite well for themselves, my key take away has been that they all traded too much time for money early on while they were in their prime. That’s the only constant gripe I’ve heard from any of them.

That barber gig is like 2000 hours to get behind the chair then it’s 10 hours on your feet all day everyday. Kinda like digging a hole, it’s not complicated but it’s a lot of work😂
I don't idle well. The being on my feet part might be a concern. Seems like a good place to go hide from the wife. I like digging holes.

Back to the OP; Did anyone Call LOF? He said in the Hold Your Hat thread we should call him when people start losing jobs.

I think more job loses are coming. Detroit seems to be trying to rebrand itself an aerospace hub, but they are doing it to back fill the auto manufacturing jobs, so I don't see tremendous opportunity there for a man of your skill set @Tremor Therapy but perhaps take a look. I know Detroit seems like a shitty place, but I have 5 employees there who love it. They don't know any better I guess.

I missed it, but are you in Procurement, or Operations? Seems like both are universal skill sets that tend to be in demand.

I met an inventor when I was in my early twenties, who told me most people will shift careers three times in life, maybe it's time for a massive pivot into a new career path? Sometimes the stars give us a little nudge. I'm on my third now, completely unrelated to the first. I had to reinvent myself after the 2008 crash, I'm thankful I did. It sucked ass for a decade, but now it's good. Each step has given me the experience to get to the place I am today. Sometimes the steps are uphill, sometimes down hill.

Keep charging hard.
 

DarkHorseRacing

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2014
Messages
6,485
Reaction score
12,860
@CLdrinker did mention in another thread a couple months ago that there is gonna be some serious restructuring at Edison by the end of the year
That’s crazy. Edison is trying to ramp up on the electrical side of the house due to all the requirements for EVs by 2035 and they say they are busy doing that. It’s seems unlikely they’d cut workforce when they have a mountain of work staring them in the face.
 

TripleB

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 27, 2017
Messages
1,565
Reaction score
2,558
im a boss and hire people, when I look at resumes I look at employment history. Anyone that has a large gap between employment time sends up a red flag. What I like to see is people who stay employed, my advise would have been to take the lower pay and keep looking or prove your worth more than the pay.
 

just_floatin

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Messages
5,715
Reaction score
18,449
I work as an IT Program Manager for a Fortune 500 company. Our work is getting offshored to India and the Philippines as part of an efficiency tuning effort 🫤. I am literally onboarding my replacements on how to do my work 😡.

I know my days are numbered and will receive a six month severance package sometime this year. I have been actively searching for work for the past three months to no avail. It is a very competitive job market with highly qualified candidates applying for the same roles.

@Tremor Therapy is correct in his assessment of the job market. While I have many years of experience and an MBA in Information Technology, my phone and e-mail remain silent for the most part. My plan when displaced is to network my brand as much as possible all the time. Car meets, LinkedIn, Boating websites, wherever. I am convinced the only way to find my next job is through networking versus applying to hundreds of job postings and speaking with recruiters who are not actually looking to fill the role, just their rooster with qualified candidates. My side hustle of restoring classic cars may become a full time gig if I can’t land a job in the next eight months.
 
Last edited:

DWRAT

Banned
Joined
Apr 11, 2012
Messages
123
Reaction score
188
im a boss and hire people, when I look at resumes I look at employment history. Anyone that has a large gap between employment time sends up a red flag. What I like to see is people who stay employed, my advise would have been to take the lower pay and keep looking or prove your worth more than the pay.
You must have reading comprehension skills that need some work (like I do).
This guy was making $120K more at his last gig (that fired his ass).
He wants to make more then the last gig (that fired his ass).
So instead of taking a lower paying job, he comes on RDP to bitch about his lack of pay, hoping someone on here will want to hire his ass.
I'm guessing this guy is 100% a Biden - Camel toe - Walz - O Bummer supporter and just needs to live off the gov like 70% of the Cali folks do.
Look on the bright side, I hear Cali is going to start giving $150K home buyer assistance so maybe you can scoop in on that.
I could be all wrong because I have " reading comprehension skills that need some work".
 

Your ad here

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
5,008
Reaction score
8,390
You must have reading comprehension skills that need some work (like I do).
This guy was making $120K more at his last gig (that fired his ass).
He wants to make more then the last gig (that fired his ass).
So instead of taking a lower paying job, he comes on RDP to bitch about his lack of pay, hoping someone on here will want to hire his ass.
I'm guessing this guy is 100% a Biden - Camel toe - Walz - O Bummer supporter and just needs to live off the gov like 70% of the Cali folks do.
Look on the bright side, I hear Cali is going to start giving $150K home buyer assistance so maybe you can scoop in on that.
I could be all wrong because I have " reading comprehension skills that need some work".
You did miss the point. On the wage part he never said what he was making prior... Maybe $300k, maybe $200k a year. $200k minus $120k leaves you with a $80k year salary. Would you take that or hold out for your worth?
 

TripleB

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 27, 2017
Messages
1,565
Reaction score
2,558
Just an fyi, I know nothing about the thread starter but what was posted, all I wanted to post is how some potential employers could look at it, nothing more nothing less.
When I speak about break in employment this is a true story of one of my employees, 30ish years ago a local company shut down noon on a Friday. One of the guys laid off was in my building filling out an application that Friday at 1pm
I hired him on the spot and had a great employee for 25 plus years.
In my mind he was a go getter and refused to collect unemployment
 

Your ad here

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
5,008
Reaction score
8,390
Just an fyi, I know nothing about the thread starter but what was posted, all I wanted to post is how some potential employers could look at it, nothing more nothing less.
When I speak about break in employment this is a true story of one of my employees, 30ish years ago a local company shut down noon on a Friday. One of the guys laid off was in my building filling out an application that Friday at 1pm
I hired him on the spot and had a great employee for 25 plus years.
In my mind he was a go getter and refused to collect unemployment
That was 30 years ago... internet was still new, resumes were probably still turned in by hand and not pre read by computers, millennials weren't in charge in HR departments, interviews done in person.
 

FROGMAN524

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
5,703
Reaction score
10,441
I hope to never be in this position


Maybe what you posted OP is why so many Gen Z and Millennials are becoming “wanna be” “influencers.”

Mr. Beast, who grosses like $750,000,000 a year from his businesses, warns “wanna bes” that he’s 1 in a billion and basically not to waste their time.

I’ll be telling my kids, if they don’t make it to the MLB, NFL, NBA, PGA, NHL or NASCAR that they should make sure you go into the military as an Officer candidate, trade school in something valuable or to college with the intent to get a degree in something like engineering, law or medicine otherwise they’re going to end up as a disposable and replaceable employee by AI or offshoring at one point or another, as are we all.
 
Last edited:

Tremor Therapy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
1,406
Reaction score
512
It’s absolutely tough out there. It took me 3 months to find a suitable replacement position in Aug. and I had to relocate back to CA. Where are you? Have you looked into Anduril? They have been hiring like crazy after their latest round of funding. Are you just applying, or are you sending out messages letting the hiring manager know you’re interested? If you aren’t, you need to. Stand out. If the hiring manager isn’t listed, do some research and find it. Call them, email them. Do whatever it takes to get on their radar. My job search turned around when I figured this out. “Actually my wife told me to do it”
Funny you post this.....I have an interview with one of their internal recruiters Wednesday morning at 8 am! Thanks for the good vibes!!!
 
Last edited:

monkeyswrench

To The Rescue!
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
29,104
Reaction score
82,693
im a boss and hire people, when I look at resumes I look at employment history. Anyone that has a large gap between employment time sends up a red flag. What I like to see is people who stay employed, my advise would have been to take the lower pay and keep looking or prove your worth more than the pay.
As a bossman, how would you look at someone that was self employed for a length of time? It's not a lack of employment, but I would think there would be questions as to why you aren't anymore. I kind of wonder if there is a point where it helps or hurts. In some of these managerial rolls, I would think it could be beneficial, and even common. In a more "labor" focused environment, I don't see that being the case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DWC

Kachina26

Inmate #RDP158
Joined
Sep 28, 2007
Messages
10,534
Reaction score
17,439
You must have reading comprehension skills that need some work (like I do).
This guy was making $120K more at his last gig (that fired his ass).
He wants to make more then the last gig (that fired his ass).
So instead of taking a lower paying job, he comes on RDP to bitch about his lack of pay, hoping someone on here will want to hire his ass.
I'm guessing this guy is 100% a Biden - Camel toe - Walz - O Bummer supporter and just needs to live off the gov like 70% of the Cali folks do.
Look on the bright side, I hear Cali is going to start giving $150K home buyer assistance so maybe you can scoop in on that.
I could be all wrong because I have " reading comprehension skills that need some work".
I didn't really take this thread as a pity party, more of a cautionary tale about being thankful for what you have. I could have jumped ship when the company announced the move to Texas. (Texas ain't bad, it's just way further from family than what I was aiming for when I hired on). There were jobs in So Cal doing what I do, but they are not as stable as where I am which means I may have ended up in the job market again at my age, looking at jobs that don't pay the same nor have the same stability. I agree with the 'any port in a storm' attitude you have with the job that pays considerably less, but I don't see the need to talk shit on the guy either.

🤷‍♂️ My .02
 

DWRAT

Banned
Joined
Apr 11, 2012
Messages
123
Reaction score
188

You did miss the point. On the wage part he never said what he was making prior... Maybe $300k, maybe $200k a year. $200k minus $120k leaves you with a $80k year salary. Would you take that or hold out for your worth?
I would 100% take it and maybe keep looking at the same time.
 

Your ad here

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
5,008
Reaction score
8,390
As a bossman, how would you look at someone that was self employed for a length of time? It's not a lack of employment, but I would think there would be questions as to why you aren't anymore. I kind of wonder if there is a point where it helps or hurts. In some of these managerial rolls, I would think it could be beneficial, and even common. In a more "labor" focused environment, I don't see that being the case.
Our best superintendents were ones that were former business owners.
 

C-2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2007
Messages
12,591
Reaction score
8,284
Not a recommendation, per se, but look at government jobs as well. Less pay, good benefits, less likely to get let go.
That's what I did after being a W-2 employee, then owner of the company, to being self-employed for the past 20-years. In 2012, I saw the writing on the wall for my career - it would soon be extinguished due to the Internet and the way information is exchanged.

So, I returned to community college during the evening at age 48 and earned enough units to be hired for the position I was seeking with the State. I started with the State at $54K and 7-years into it, I have literally doubled my salary. Love it, and even though I don't need to, I apply the same work ethic as I did while self-employed.

http404 - keep trying with the .gov, it took me about a year to get in, but once you're in, and if you do a good job - you can advance quickly. Go in as an Indian and not a Chief; plenty of time and opportunities to reverse roles, if desired.

Best of luck guys. I too am on the bandwagon that having a job while searching for the job you want is a good approach. 👍
 

CLdrinker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
9,438
Reaction score
19,041
That’s crazy. Edison is trying to ramp up on the electrical side of the house due to all the requirements for EVs by 2035 and they say they are busy doing that. It’s seems unlikely they’d cut workforce when they have a mountain of work staring them in the face.

I think that’s the problem. We have tons of work to do but not the money to do it with.

So the fluff is going to get trimmed so we can put people where they can be productive.

I think my group has a good chance of growing during this.
 

monkeyswrench

To The Rescue!
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
29,104
Reaction score
82,693
Our best superintendents were ones that were former business owners.
I've seen it work well in construction, as guys age out, or just get tired of the headaches involved with being an "owner". My view of the world is pretty small though, not having seen how other jobs are, like manufacturing, sales and stuff like that. Some of the best sales guys I've run across never really installed the products they sell, but bounced from supplier to supplier...and seemed to do really well.
 

Tremor Therapy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
1,406
Reaction score
512
I didn't really take this thread as a pity party, more of a cautionary tale about being thankful for what you have. I could have jumped ship when the company announced the move to Texas. (Texas ain't bad, it's just way further from family than what I was aiming for when I hired on). There were jobs in So Cal doing what I do, but they are not as stable as where I am which means I may have ended up in the job market again at my age, looking at jobs that don't pay the same nor have the same stability. I agree with the 'any port in a storm' attitude you have with the job that pays considerably less, but I don't see the need to talk shit on the guy either.

🤷‍♂️ My .02
Thank you sir.....exactly!

As I tried to restate, our conversation was really around all of the people I had run across who were complaining about what their employers were asking of them, and that they were just going to quit. I couldn't believe it. I mean look at what just_floatin posted......he knows he is training his replacements and that the day is coming!! DAMN!

If you have a great opportunity, go for it. If you have a job, even if you are unhappy right now, I wouldn't trade it for the alternative.

Oh and by the way DWRAT I voted for Trump twice and will a third time.
 

Joker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
19,877
Reaction score
15,399
I think that’s the problem. We have tons of work to do but not the money to do it with.

So the fluff is going to get trimmed so we can put people where they can be productive.

I think my group has a good chance of growing during this.
That’s exactly where he said the cuts are coming from. The people he interacts with directly.
 

was thatguy

living in a cage of fear
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
52,967
Reaction score
100,745
Everyone needs to calm down! Kamala will be here in 2 months to fix Everything!
IMG_5316.gif
 

Flying_Lavey

Dreaming of the lake
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
21,216
Reaction score
18,871
I just wish we could find an HVAC Service Manager and some good HVAC techs. We pay great & all the benefits here in San Diego but the last ad in Indeed for just a field service tech offering up to $140k per year yielded only one local applicant. Two others from out of state who were not serious. So, maybe this market depends on type of skills.
This right here PERFECTLY exemplifies the shift in the work force that we are seeing. I think it was somewhere around the late 80's to early 90's when computers REALLY started to become common place in homes and offices that the shift occurred. It went from "Develop a skill and earn a degree so you you can get a good job" to "earn a degree and the skills are secondary to get a good job". This has resulted in the bloat of the white collar sector while the blue collar is suffering. I am constantly hounded by head hunters because of my diverse background in the HVAC/R trade. Like you, every company I have worked for cannot find qualified techs. There is an influx of younger guys getting into the trade (that I have seen in the LA area) which makes me hopeful, but without the senior techs to lead, they are in an uphill battle.

Matter of fact, I just got my buddy a job at our central coast branch (starts today) as a journeyman service tech making over $50/hr. He has only been in the trade for about 7 years.

Sorry to say it, but if you are just doing logistics and programming type of work....... I'm not too sure how much longer those jobs will be high paying.
 

85RiverRAT

Working my way up!
Joined
Mar 20, 2012
Messages
339
Reaction score
722
I am in the same boat now since the end of June. Lots of good points being brought up here. I think if I ran my stats, it would paint a similar picture, approaching 100 jobs applied to, ~3 phone screens, 1 in person interview, several recruiter contacts.

What is unsettling is how true the reality of the market is. I've got similar things to float, and we are needing to watch our wallet really closely. I sure hope this doesn't continue for 3+more months.

I am finding out too, that you have to outsmart the system to sell yourself. I used my own resume/cover letter writing thus far, and it is not getting very far.

Many HR websites are using software to pre-screen candidates, and we used to do this at my last job. The software filters you based on key-word searches before a Human Rep. even reads it in some cases.

If your resume, has an unfamiliar font or layout, never mind the content, it won't populate in their software correctly and may miss details. I need to update mine and get it back out there. Professional writing is a great suggestion, and last week, I played with ChatGPT, to write a summary of interests statement to drop into an email.
 

Sportin' Wood

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
2,559
Reaction score
7,636
We trade labor, time and expertise for a return, normally money, sometimes knowledge, sometimes shares of a company or flexible working environment. The bottom line is we should know our worth. I see a delicate balance of taking an offer vs holding out, but every person knows their own value and risk vs holding out.

A challenging moment in my life was after my plumbing construction business blew up and I had to do an interview to take a journeyman plumbing job with another company for a fraction of my annual salary. Before I started my own company ten years earlier I was well out of the field working as an engineer, so that was multiple steps backwards. I was of the mindset I was much more qualified than the person interviewing me, but I had to check my ego, because they were still in business and I was not.

The business ended up being a shit show, how they stayed in business was a miracle, but I gave them what they paid for and maybe a little extra, but I spent most of my effort building my next business (King of the hammers) and nearly phoned in my effort in my day job.

You might take one of the lower offers, but give them what they paid for as a step change until you find what you are looking for.
 

Tremor Therapy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
1,406
Reaction score
512
Good advice, and I am already on that train. First opportunity was almost 4 months ago, and I was unaware of how challenging the job market is right now.

85RiverRAT, most definitely play around with some of the AI resume sites to tailor your resumes. And remember, your resume goes through an ATS filter before a person ever looks at it, so make sure it is in some kind of ATS format.

Quick example...in one of the second-round interviews I had, I asked the recruiter, "how many applications did they receive for job?" She very casually responded that they had over 750 applications in the first week and had actually closed the portal for almost a month. The job still showed up on all of the boards but was actually closed for applicants for almost a month. I then asked her how many resumes she was actually reviewing for the job. She said it was 10-15, and that in person interviews would be scaled down to 3.
 

Socalx09

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 16, 2018
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
7,736
This right here PERFECTLY exemplifies the shift in the work force that we are seeing. I think it was somewhere around the late 80's to early 90's when computers REALLY started to become common place in homes and offices that the shift occurred. It went from "Develop a skill and earn a degree so you you can get a good job" to "earn a degree and the skills are secondary to get a good job". This has resulted in the bloat of the white collar sector while the blue collar is suffering. I am constantly hounded by head hunters because of my diverse background in the HVAC/R trade. Like you, every company I have worked for cannot find qualified techs. There is an influx of younger guys getting into the trade (that I have seen in the LA area) which makes me hopeful, but without the senior techs to lead, they are in an uphill battle.

Matter of fact, I just got my buddy a job at our central coast branch (starts today) as a journeyman service tech making over $50/hr. He has only been in the trade for about 7 years.

Sorry to say it, but if you are just doing logistics and programming type of work....... I'm not too sure how much longer those jobs will be high paying.
Some of the these companies are offering good pay bumps to jump ship because they just need the techs. Even offering no call weekends. Robert has a great boss and it’s really hard to ever leave with the flexibility he has.

There’s a lot of money in this field to be made. But, techs get burned out a lot- especially in the summer.
 

Flying_Lavey

Dreaming of the lake
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
21,216
Reaction score
18,871
Some of the these companies are offering good pay bumps to jump ship because they just need the techs. Even offering no call weekends. Robert has a great boss and it’s really hard to ever leave with the flexibility he has.

There’s a lot of money in this field to be made. But, techs get burned out a lot- especially in the summer.
Yeah, I think it has a lot to do with what clientele the company goes after. Residential and Refrigeration have tons of OT needs as well as other climate critical businesses like hospitals and such. That is why determining what kind of clientele the company has and what they expect you to work on makes a HUGE difference.

When I was with Source as a remote tech out of Paso Robles, I made good money but it came with a shit ton of OT at all hours of the day and night. If I was single, or didnt have the young kids, I would have stuck around with them longer and racked it in. Easily could have been DEEP into the $100k+ range by now. But it would have came at a tremendous cost to my family.

Right now, my company really isn't working our techs more than 10 hours of OT a week and only 1 on-call week and weekend a month, assuming they arent a chiller tech. Those are in even shorter supply, make even more money, and can almost work as much OT as they would like.
 

CLCookie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2024
Messages
56
Reaction score
152
This sucks, looking for a job is not fun. A couple things that haven't been said:

  1. The chance of making even 70% of previous salary probably isn't going to happen, everyone is resetting.
  2. Positions within companies are not getting back-filled, people leave and the work is being distribute to the other workers.
  3. In Ca, 60% of the workforce is government in some way. So, if you are only looking at the private sector, you are limiting your search. I think in AZ that number is closer to 40%?
  4. Always remember Gov jobs are not Apple to Apples to the private sector. The benefits alone can really ad up.
Good luck to you
 

HubbaHubbaLife

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
7,032
Reaction score
8,910
That was 30 years ago... internet was still new, resumes were probably still turned in by hand and not pre read by computers, millennials weren't in charge in HR departments, interviews done in person.
Informed post right there
 
Top