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Job hunting/interviewing

DougFir1234 | Posted in Business on May 13, 2008 09:56am
I am looking for work.   I posted this on another site so my apologies if you’v read it.

I quit a job as a lead carpenter/superintendent about 4 months ago(11yrs), did a side job that grew bigger and worked on my own house. I need to find a job now. I am a worker bee, not the owner type.

I have been applying for finish carpenter and residential remodel superintendent jobs.

I sent out about 15-16 resumes via Craigslist and have gotten about 6 responses and 5 interviews.

I am torn because on the one hand I would like to go back to just doing the work-high end finish with a big builder and on the other hand I would like to expand my knowledge, skills, and experience and do strictly superintendent work. But I am weak in some skills I think I would need to get a job out of the gate doing this. I could move into it though.

Should I just pick one; finish or super and be done with it? I am leaning toward finish – my best chances of finding work – get away from the hassles of running jobs.

I am looking full time now. Here are my current job hunting strategies are:

answer ads on Craigslist- looking and sending resumes. this is easy!

call/email people I know- I’ve been doing this, but I would like to find a job on the merits not because I know someone.

cold call some companies – is this a good strategy? I have done it but it was 20yrs ago.

Show up on the jobsites? When I was a super I don’t remember seeing anyone come to my job looking for work.

Interview strategies?

this one is hard. I think of all kinds of good things to say and when to say them, but only half of it comes out in the interview. I still have a tendency to come across a little negative about the last job. I know this is not good!

After an interview should I send a thank you email to the interviewer? They gave me their cards w/email?  Also do you think it would be ok to answer craigslist ads months/years old?  Not for the job but to make a connection.  I kept the contact emails so I could send an email later on when I was actually looking and ask if they were looking for someone with my background and could I send a resume.

thanks

DF


Edited 5/13/2008 3:01 pm ET by DougFir1234

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  1. susiekitchen | May 13, 2008 10:29pm | #1

    While I'm not in the same line of work, I sure find myself in some of the same situations these days.

    I have a varied background, but I've found that trying for jobs outside the area in which I have the most expertise gets me nothing. Since I've decided to target just one area I've had better luck.

    You have to learn to conduct your own interview since most people don't know how. I've been to lots where I had to invent the questions and the answers for the person.  I'm coming from a lousy last situation also, so I have to watch being negative, too. When I talk to people I keep reminding myself to "think forward" to what I could do if I had a quality employer again.

    If you want to do something a little past your current expertise, I think it's a good thing to say so to a prospective employer. To me it shows that you're willing to learn and that you also want to advance in your work. Let them be the judge of what skills you might lack - don't sell yourself short!

    I always contact a person who's given me an interview to thank them. I'd rather send a written thanks, but often all I have is email. No matter what the media, don't neglect thanking someone for taking their time to see you.

    I've recently started with a new showroom owned by someone who shares my customer service philosophy, and I'm hoping it works. We both came from unhappy prior jobs, and we're hoping for good things.

    Good luck on your search! Have you posted this in the classifieds on BT?

    1. DougFir1234 | May 13, 2008 10:50pm | #2

      thanks I needed that!

      good advice. 

      I see you like the craftsman style.  me too.  amazing how it is still around and still appealing to folks

       

       

       

       

       

      Edited 5/13/2008 3:52 pm ET by DougFir1234

      1. susiekitchen | May 14, 2008 04:55pm | #9

        Yeah, I'm a nut for craftsman and also the "catalog" houses from Sears, Aladdin, and the rest.

        My dream job would be working for someone who restores those beauties!

        Let us know how your job search goes. I recently teamed up with another designer who's opening a showroom, and this looks very promising, but I still need another job for steady income until this new prospect gets going full steam.

  2. maverick | May 13, 2008 10:54pm | #3

    careful not to oversell yourself. you have a better chance to secure employment if you are under-qualified than if you are over-qualified

    good luck

    1. DougFir1234 | May 13, 2008 11:40pm | #4

      I tend to undersell.

      Thanks

      I have run out of leads for the moment.   I have one offer -remodel carpenter- for about $4ph less.  no herd ridin.

      I dont need to take it just yet, but.......

       

  3. Jim_Allen | May 14, 2008 12:18am | #5

    I've read hundreds...maybe thousands of resumes. The first thing I would do is get that spiffed up.

    Send it to me or post it, and we can help you out on that.

    I've done some craigslist ads and gotten lots of replies. They range from laughable to cryable to downright stupid. Many are sent with no message..only an attached resume that sometimes doesn't open.

    Your 11 years with the same firm is the thing that would attract me the most. Don't undersell that. Don't undersell yourself. Don't undersell yourself.

    Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

  4. junkhound | May 14, 2008 12:41am | #6

    Don't undersell that

    Amen!  Well said 3 times....

    Have worked for the same large company 41 years and never even laid off - that is often enough to drop jaws. 

    While work usually comes looking for me as an internal consultant, there are still questions as to 'how good are you at such and such' from those I've not worked with before.  If I can say so without prevarication, usually answer is 'probably the best, have only met a few as good'. 

    Humility can be a fault in a job search; however,  never say something like "I can make a stairs as fine as Stan" <G>. 

    1. Jim_Allen | May 14, 2008 01:48am | #8

      "Humility can be a fault in a job search"I agree. I don't want humble. I want confident. Not cocky...well, maybe a little..but I certainly want someone who knows their capabilities. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

  5. Schelling | May 14, 2008 01:29am | #7

    I sit on the board of a nonprofit that just hired an executive director. The woman we hired was the #3 or 4 of our interviewees based on their resumes.

    We chose this woman based on her energy and enthusiasm. She had clear goals which coincided with what we were looking for. The impression she made at the interview catapulted her over the other more experienced candidates.

    Don't try to bs the interviewers. Nothing will turn them off quicker and don't think they can't tell.

    Show your passion. That will get you the job if anything will.

  6. DonCanDo | May 14, 2008 06:06pm | #10

    Here's a tip for you.  During the interview, find a reason to say your own name.  For example, while relating something about your previous job, say something like "my former boss always said to me, Doug, you're really good at details".  If they're doing a lot of interviews, it can only help if they can more easily remember your name.

    If you get an email address, send them a thank you.  If only because they now have your email address readily available.  In the thank you, try and write something that will help them to remember which interviewee you were.

    An email address with your name (instead of something like hunkofman23) is also a good idea.  Mine is [email protected].

  7. mrfixitusa | May 14, 2008 06:16pm | #11

    I've had interviews with "human resources" people and then I've had interviews with the owner of a business.

    I would much rather interview with the owner. Just one on one and talking about the industry you are in.

    If you talk to him and have an intelligent conversation and tell him something he doesn't know, then most people would be impressed.

    A job interview is just a situation where the parties involved evaluate each other and "can I spend 8 hours a day with this guy"?

    When people connect in a job interview then you have a good shot at the job.

    One book suggests you find a way in the interview to talk about a real life experience in your field where you encountered a problem or obstacle and then you explain how you solved it.

    Many job interview start with introductions and then the guy says something like "Joe - tell me about yourself"

    If you're not ready for the question then sometimes it can throw you for a loop.

    When they ask you that question you should give a brief answer.

    Such as "I'm married, have two children, I grew up in Calif, spent five years in the Navy, and now I've been living here in ____ for the past X number of years"

    They will describe the job and ask you if you have any questions about it.

    Those kinds of things.

    Some places are very touchy about what you wear to an interview.

    Good luck!

    +++

    Spring Break = Summer Broke

  8. MSA1 | May 14, 2008 09:18pm | #12

    I'm finding lately that you really ned to sell yourself, your the best damn "whatever" you're selling. I'm running into alot of people shopping price only on things I wouldnt have expected.

    I had one lady that needed trim boards repaired 2 floors up. I told her I back prime all my exterior work and (for this small repair) it would be $200. She called more than four contractors for this little repair.

    I'm finding alot of tire kickers right now and I think you really need to sell them on quality.

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