Its a numbers game... keep applying. Don't ever take yourself out of the running by not applying. Many times less qualified people get the job... so don't exclude yourself from that possibility. Go to job fairs. Go to a Between Jobs Ministry (a big one is at Northwest Bible Church in Spring)... free job search training, resume help, networking, and support. Plus its a place to go, and provides you a feeling of accountability. Go to the library and research companies you would like to work for. Work on your resume. Work on your LinkedIn profile. Network.
You're right that Taleo and other applicant tracking systems (ATS) do often use screening criteria to weed through large applicant pools. But keywords from the job description will almost always get you through it. Additionally, employment law, EEOC and AAP requirements, etc... often make it difficult to automatically screen out applicants and remain compliant. The job market can be tough for both job seekers and employers, and any good recruiter will take the time to dig through as many apps as possible to find the right canidates. I wouldn't at all discourage anyone from from applying for positions posted on a Taleo system or any other ATS. Especially a position that they are TRULY qualified for.
Good stuff. I appreciate the kind words. I work in O&G in an analyst level and have about 3 years experience in a few different roles at a large, reputable company*. It's pretty good experience but my qualifications aren't going to give anyone a hard on. I'm not as worried as I probably should be. I'm young (27 as of Sunday!), healthy, no kids, no debt, and my wife has a job (albeit low paying). I work with others who are in much worse situations. I definitely don't have that 6-month rainy day fund I always hear people talk about, but I could continue on for at least a couple months before I need to hit the panic button. We already live a relatively modest lifestyle so I won't really have to make any major adjustments in that regard. Honestly, at this point I'm just ready to go. I was a little saddened when I came in this morning and saw that everything was still going on business as usual. It's weird to know it's coming but to act like it's not. Just get it over with. Anyway, I didn't start the thread looking for help, but if anyone has anything to offer I would welcome it. I'm not going to give out my personal information on here so if you are inclined to see if there's anything we can work out, send me an email through the BBS. *In an ideal world, I would just work somewhere else for a year or two and then come back here when the dust settles.
Glad to hear your keeping a positive attitude! There are people who would react to this in a negative, "The sky is falling" mentality, which does absolutely nothing to help the situation! All this means is that you'll probably be expanding your horizons elsewhere! Which could be the best thing that's ever happened to you. (P.S) 27yrs ? Dang your old!...:grin: ....... ....... .......
Laid off in 2008 during recession. Told I was making too much money. Was replaced by my assistant who made much less than me. I did file unemployment on my last day and collected for six months. Was told on Monday that Friday was my last day. Medium size company. About 500 employees. Six weeks pay lump sum severance package. Worked there seven years. Industrial maintenance. Very experienced middle management. They did not help me find another job. Yes I was and still am sour about it.
Haymitch, you never know, I have been through this when I was at your age in the dotcom burst days. You will do fine. I decided to get a license and be a professional. So I went back to school at age 32. It is only going to make you stronger.
Once for me, a little less than two years ago. Did you know about it beforehand? Not exactly. We knew there were changes coming along but I thought I would have a role going forward. Was it a small/big company? Global Fortune 500. Did you get a severance package and if so was it generous? Yes and pretty generous. About 4.5 months. How long had you been working there? 2.5 years. What was the industry? IT in an O&G company. Were you entry level, mid-career, or very experienced/executive? Very experienced. Did they help you find another job? They paid for a placement service but I didn't need it. Found a new job in a couple of weeks and banked the severance. Are/were you sour about it? Yes, at first. The severance helped. And now I feel better about it because my friends who got stuck behind hate it but don't get a severance if they quit.
You'll be able to get unemployment which will keep your bare minimum expenses covered at least. I'd start hooking up with Staffing agencies. Riverway in particular is top notch. Get your resume to about 5-6 staffing agencies because you can get hired quick. The downside is it may be temp at first, but I know several people who are now where they are due to staffing agency. Some companies will only hire through them.
once upon a time I worked for a big energy company call Enron.... was only there for less than a year when they started to "downsize"
Just to update.... Happened today. Didn't get laid off. Moved to a similar position in a different region, still based in Houston.
Great news. Was just about to post my experience which was similar to yours. I got laid off twice from Boeing. I was an hourly employee at the time so I was under union rules. The first time, my boss found a way to move me to a different department - lay off saved. Second time, engineering department heard of my situation and offered me a promotion. It was one of those blessings in disguise that changed my life completely.
My degree actually has nothing to do with my job. I have a BBA in economics and international business double major. I'd like to get into midstream: gas scheduling, trading, trading analysis, etc., as that could utilize my degree and industry experience. And has better long term prospects. As someone who's not an engineer and who isn't going down the finance or accounting route, I feel very limited in upstream. So even though I didn't get laid off I think I'm still going to continue looking elsewhere. Going through this made me really think about what I want to do. I was in the "don't like my job but get paid too much* to quit" camp for a while so I was just accepting a career path I had stumbled into. But now I have a better idea of what I want. *"too much" as in I'm not worrying paycheck to paycheck. Not "too much" as in I'm a bigtexxx style bigballer.
