Tips on strategies for findind a new job. What has worked well for you? 5

[OCsurfer]

Hi all,
I'm in the midst of finding a new job in a different state (moving back to my home state of California) and it's a bit frustrating at the moment. I only have been searching for 2 months but my findings for Avaya/ voice engineer job openings are low. I am using Dice.com, Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com, networking to peers, and IT recruiting agencies. What else could I be doing to find openings or job postings related to my field?

 

[johnherman]

even NEWSPAPERS. Yes, they are still being used; some newspapers better than others. You can even try sending a resume with a cover letter COLD to a place where you think you might want to work, a place you have researched some on the web.

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advanced cognitive capabilities and other marketing buzzwords explained with sarcastic simplicity

 

[Mike Lewis]

You can even try sending a resume with a cover letter

I agree. Some folk will frown on that approach, but there is nothing wrong with it.

But, for goodness sake, write the covering letter carefully. Even in my minuscule business, I often get unsolicited resumes. I don't mind that. But it is amazing how many of the letters I receive contain spelling errors, bad grammar and sloppy wording. Not a very good advertisement for a potential employee, especially as there are plenty of resources available that show how to write a decent letter.

Mike

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Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads

 

[gbaughma]

I was once asked in an interview to describe myself in 5 words.
I replied "Efficient".

(Not really.. just wanted to share... lol)


Just my $.02

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

 

[OCsurfer]

Thanks for the tips y'all. And good one Greg lol..

 

[SamBones]

If there are any companies out there that you've ever thought you might like to work for, try their website. A lot of companies have an "Employment Opportunities" section.

Occasionally my work goes through layoffs and staff reductions. For the last couple I prepared myself by finding some things that I was qualified for and might like to do. My boys really pushed hard for me to apply at Blizzard Software, a computer game company. It's in my neighborhood and they had a lot of jobs listed on their site that I was well qualified for. I'm not a big gamer, but it did sound like more fun than what I'm doing now. One interesting thing, apparently one of their interview questions is, what are your favorite games? They like hiring gamers, which I think is great.

Anyway, think of who you might like to work for and check out their web site. Target them. Knowing a lot about them and actually seeking them out looks good to them. It shows you really do want to work there and you're not just shopping for a gig till you get a decent offer.

 

[OCsurfer]

Sam, I know Blizzard very well. Are they still based in OC? I'd love to work for a gaming company but as a voice engineer I'm not sure if they need someone like me. Anyways I'll follow your tip and start looking at company's web sites. Cheers!

 

[Professor Shadow]

Just be sure to keep up with the times...

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"Thank you for calling Technical Support. If you feel you have reached this number in error, please hang up and try again." ~Jane Barbe

 

[johnherman]

@Professor Shadow - love it!! I just saw several government positions for "Human Capital Management". Oh boy! Leave it to the Feds to further obfuscate the traditional "Personnel Department".

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/548569800

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/547264800

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advanced cognitive capabilities and other marketing buzzwords explained with sarcastic simplicity

 

[SamBones]

I'm not sure if Blizzard is "based" in OC, but I do know they have a presence in Irvine. There's a Peruvian restaurant I like to go to and there's always a lot of Blizzard people there. It's in the same business park I believe.

Here's a link to Careers: [URL unfurl="true"]https://careers.blizzard.com[/url]

If you spend a little time on their site, it looks like a very fun place to work.

 

[SamBones]

Looks like under "Sound", they have openings for one Audio Technical Manager, and two Sound Designers.

https://careers.blizzard.com/en-us/disciplines/art-animation-sound

Heh, Blizzard sound designer sounds like a lot of fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJyk5do5pq0

 

[Saviom Software]

Hi,
Hopefully it's not too late to dive into this discussion.
I think what counts here is your ability to network too. And as Mike rightly said, a covering letter tells a recruiter that you're willing to make that extra effort and that you've done some research on the company, culture and employees. Try to find a people specialist, HR generalist to address this to and tailor your cover letter to the interest behind the position and what you can bring to the table. It's also your chance to set your own expectations.
I've found Linkedin, Glassdoor and Monster.com somewhat useful, but some job boards on the website itself cut down the time to find what you're after. I hope you found what you were looking for!