I hate looking for a job... Any tips for a software guy?

[high density]

I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science a couple of years ago and I have yet to put it to use. Even after my resume was delivered to a couple of good insider connections earlier this month, I have been unable to find employment in my field. I did some consulting (as a software engineer) for a startup company for about one year after I graduated college which I got paid virtually nothing for (considerably less than an offshore worker, which not an exaggeration) but earned what I thought would be valuable experience. Now it has been about a year after that project ended and it seems that a years worth of experience is as worthless to potential employers as no experience.

So could anybody out there give me some tips about how to find a decent job in this country? I'm currently making a lousy wage doing a dead end job that it is really starting to change me in a negative way, not to mention that I'm still living with my parents. I have a resume that friends of mine in the industry have helped me develop, a glowing letter of recommendation, and great reviews from my current employer, but I'm obviously not doing something correctly or I'm looking in the wrong places. My primary job hunting is done online (Dice, HotJobs, Monster, CareerBuilder, various newspaper sites) and in the job sections of the Maine Sunday Telegram and the Boston Sunday Globe. Online searches are very, very disappointing. They typically lead to lead to rude listings or dozens of 3 month contracts that require the applicants to know the entire universe of computing knowledge. Human responses to my resume have been very weak. Over the past two years I have had three interviews (December 2004 & January 2005), one phone interview (June 2004), and two emails telling me that the job had been filled or withdrawn.

... So yeah, I'm just a little bit desperate at this point. I've saved up some money to relocate to anywhere in the country but I am concerned about moving somewhere without first lining up a permanent job there in my field. Sorry for my rambling, but thanks for any tips you could possibly offer. I'm kind of at my wits' end because I'm coming to the realization that my little experience and education are getting very stale at this point. :shrug:

[Trajan]

1. For Technical Jobs ...

I would try http://www.aerotek.com, or even http://www.jobcentral.com

I often think of the millions of BSCS's out there cast adrift by outsourcing ... It breaks my heart .....

Good Luck ....

PS: I'm sure there are other job search websites out there as well ...

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. The tip most folks don't want to hear..."network."

SO many highly qualified tech folks out of work. The competition is insane. So you need to put yourself in a position where people can meet you, LIKE you, and will want to hire you.

Your one year of experience isn't worthless...it's just that there are so many people out of work and looking who have two, three, four, five years' experience and beyond, and right now it is a "buyer's market." Employers have a bit of a chip on their shoulders because they know they can pick and choose.

A lot of people on DU are going through what you are going through, so as you work through this process you can post your progress here if you want support / ideas / feedback / etc.

How does one "find a decent job in this country?" If your "primary job hunting is done online," you need to change that. Utilize these services, by all means...but make it a fraction of your effort, not your primary method.

Go to Kinko's or your local copy shop and have some business cards printed. Every time you go to the supermarket, a restaurant, ANYWHERE people congregate, have them with you. Strike up conversations. Be brief, respect the other person's time, show an interest in their situation as well as communicating your needs.

Consider any local business groups like your local Chamber of Commerce. I belong, and the purpose of the monthly luncheons and other functions is for people to meet and interact in a low-pressure, pleasant social situation while exchanging business cards and leads.

I know this is easy advice to give, but try not to be at your wits' end. When you make a statement like "I'm kind of at my wits' end because I'm coming to the realization that my little experience and education are getting very stale at this point"...even if you honestly feel that way...and you project those feelings to a potential employer, you won't get the job.

It's tough out there right now. You just need to keep telling yourself that you're tougher than the situation, and don;t give up until you get what you want. A little effort, every day. Treat the job search like a full-time job, because it is. Learn to brush off minor setbacks and defeats, and just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you are where you want to be.

:toast:

[high density]

4. I've had a little "networking" going on

My geographical location is kind of hampering me a bit. I'm in Maine and we're not exactly the best place to be when you're trying to be a software engineer. I've had a little progress as a direct result of networking so far (an interview at least) but finding people to network with are as hard to find as the job listings in the newspaper.

Thanks for the tips, though! I do my best not to project my annoyed mental status to potential (and current) employers, though I think it's rather normal to feel depressed given my situation.

[RazzleCat]

15. revamp the resume, show all your skills

I to am a tech (net admin). After over a year of no job I revamped my resume. I still placed the tech certs and degrees right up front, but I added in such items as office experience. Customer service experience. I did get a job (whoo-hoo), what I found after changing my resume is that a lot of smaller companies need a tech person, but not as a full time one. Just someone who can maintain and update one small domain and 20 or so workstations. So adding in my other skills, and creating a cover letter that emphasized that I was a two for one deal, (office administration, and technical support), did the trick. You say you work in a bank right now, do you have book keeping skills? If so, add them right up front, and your customer service skills. With so many companies downsizing, offering experience in more than one type of office position is a way of making your self a "better deal". When I would get an interview, I made a point of getting across to the potential employer that I can do more than one position, hence, yes I can keep your network running, set up software, and do what is necessary to keep it secured, but I can also manage your office, and or have experience in HR. So I can be a back up to many of your current positions as well as take over all your computer related issues.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. I hate to say this and I'm not being flip. Retrain.

Yes, I know you have all that education and like computers, but they've outsourced the jobs to India etc.

I have a good friend in pretty much your same position. He's been out of work for about 2 years.

I had to retrain myslef after 30 some years in broadcasting. It was expensive. It was hard. Now I'm as happy as a lark. I charge large $ (my top is right now at $100/hr- I'm trying for $115) for every hour and have a pretty damn interesting job. Plus, I don't have to work every day of the week. (At that rate, I make more than my wife working full-time in 2 days than she makes in the week.) I work in plush offices in the finest addresses in the ciy.

I know, this really isn't advice. But I really think you have to "think outside of the box." Something else. Something you like to do (that is important.) If you have a hobby, look at that as being a career. And what a dream to make a hobby a career.

This may not have been much help, but that's my take.
Good luck to you and keep us posted.
L-in-Tx

[Greyhound]

5. What is your interesting job?

And I agree with you about getting out of tech. I was there with a BSCS for over a decade. The only jobs left are for relatives and those they haven't figured out how to off-shore, L-1, or H-1b.

[high density]

6. I hear you...

I like accounting though I'm fearful of dropping thousands more on another education given that I'm still in debt from my last educational endeavor that ended only two years ago. I'm also afraid that the accounting profession may be the next one to be sent off on the great offshoring bandwagon. I'm currently working in the banking industry, which overall I find very interesting, but they treat me and my coworkers like crap given the critical work that we accomplish for the company. I think most banking jobs are poorly paid and undervalued unless you're a VP or above, which makes me want to get out of this business. (Though I suppose that could be said for any industry.)

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. High Density

My job was outsourced to India also, only, I spent a lifetime (working and building my career rep). I have basically 3 full undergrad degrees.

A friend of mine is doing really well, with a 9 month graphic design degree. He works for a small company and has a lot of responsibility.

I know small company opportunities are not easily found through advertisement, but, if there is a way for you to do it, DO IT!!

[Pharlo]

10. Here's a tip about smaller companies

I have found to be relevant in my area (midwest)...

Papers and online listings are not their first option of choice. Their preference is for temp-to-hire through staffing services. This offers them several advantages:

1) A company with 40 to 50 employees does not necessarily have the resources (financial or time) to maintain a full time personnel department. Instead, they will find a staffing service or two, build a long term relationship with the rep(s), and sub contract their time-intensive personnel searches to these individuals.

2) It allows the employer a degree of latitude if they decide the candidate is not the best fit for the job. It is much easier to dismiss a temporary employee than a permanent employee.

When I was job hunting, I found that by going to staffing services and establishing a rapport with the reps in my field, profoundly enhanced my prospects. These individuals are already networked with the hiring people and the needs of various companies. Add them to your network list. Call the offices of multiple staffing services, make an appointment with the rep(s) in your field, and make an appointment for a personal interview. Follow up with weekly calls.

My last two permanent jobs came through a staffing service (one direct hire, one temp to hire). I can't tell you how many newspaper advertisements I answered and online listings I responded to - but, the best (and most solid) prospects came through staffing services.

Why? Because they know the people who hire, they know what they're looking for, the atmosphere of the company, and the candidates.

(Another bonus is if you decide you don't want to stay at any one company, there are some temp services who - after six months of working for them - make health insurance and vacations available to clients.)

I only used temp services that the comapnies paid for - I never used any where the individual paid a fee.

[abandoned]

8. Possibilities

There still are possibilities in the CS field today although I don't see the "good old days" coming back any time soon. (I recently went through a job search in the computer science field. It took me 2 years to find something.)

Personally I don't really like the online sites for searching for jobs. They are fine for searching for companies but as for a job search they don't seem very useful. So when you find a listing from a company go to their site, use their search to see their current openings, apply using their tools, and follow-up if they give contact information. If they are just a "body shop" and not actually producing anything I would recommend not even bothering (mainly because these places usually want someone with a wide breadth of experience).

As far as an industry, the best possibility is probably the defense contractors. These jobs aren't being off-shored because of the security clearance requirements (for now).

There are other jobs in the commercial sector but they are appear to be going offshore at an alarming rate.

You could also see if local businesses are trying to use the Internet, everything from network administration to web design.

You could always drop more money into school and go for being a professor.

One thing to remember is that a lot of job descriptions are "pie in the sky" listings. If you have a good portion of what they are looking for you might as well send your resume, the worse that can happen is they ignore it or say no.

[LaurenG]

9. Check out your local hospitals

Many times they need software guys. The laws are changing to protect private information. Software/IT is constantly looking for people here. Also, they always need network guys. I hope you find work soon.

[NewJeffCT]

11. you might have to open up your search geographically

I'm sure there are some computer science jobs out there, but you may have to consider relocating from ME / New England, as tough as that may be to consider (as a fellow New Englander!)

[Deja Q]

12. One way plane ticket to India?

Sadly, I'm not joking. It's only going to get worse.

As with manufacturing, IT is finished. And so are we. Our corporate leaders see fit to exterminate us. THAT is what is happening. And they were the same ones that made the cost OF living in America so high in the first place.

[NewJeffCT]

13. to be honest, might not work

I have a friend in the I/T field who came to the US from China to get a master's degree in the field. She is afraid to go back to China for fear she'd never find a job, as the younger graduates getting out of the schools there now are much higher quality than just 5-10 years ago.

[gizmo1979]

14. wow if you can't find a job

we area all screwed.I thoght they were desperate for IT guys and gals?