Time to shave my beard??????

[scdmarx]

I've been starved out in the pursuit of cheaper talent. It's underhanded, but it's just business. I blame the economy, really. I've been sweeping the floor while watching a part time student do my work, asking me for pointers and asking to borrow various tools. Started to feel as though it was costing me to go to work. The new manager who's been there about a month was riding my ass yesterday and I basically handed him the broom and wished him a nice day. I haven't done a job search in 6 years. I'm a bit rusty. Too bad I can't just stay home and pay the rent. Anyways, how is this done these days? What are the names of some of those websites where I can look for a job locally? The want ads in our local newspaper are down to just about a quarter of a page. And that looks to be more for nursing, or stuffing envelope type jobs. Is it still acceptable to print out a stack of resumes and flood the county on foot?

 

[dan filipi]

Whatever is "acceptable" doesn't mean it will work.

An unusual, needed talent is what you should focus on.

Anyone that comes to me asking for work turns me off right away if they don't show me what they can do for ME.

I had a helper, treated him good but work slowed.
I gave him a choice, take a temporary pay cut and hand out flyers or go look for another job. He chose the latter so goodbye to him.

When I talk to prospective emplyees anymore they must be able to sell my services besides do the work.
I think many employers are looking for the same.

 

[danf]

Him asking to borrow your tools is freakin wrong man.... :shock:

 

[bk2valve]

Good luck on your job search. I haven't looked for years so can't be much help. I always thought beating the pavement was the way to go but I am told by my son that doesn't work so well any more...Have you looked on Craigslist? I have heard people getting jobs from that....
It is tougher as you get older I found...
There is a good mechanic here in town that has a mobile service and he only does work at the client's place. He works out of a retired Snap-on or Matco truck.
anyway...good luck
Brian in NM

 

[scdmarx]

Him asking to borrow your tools is freakin wrong man.... :shock:

I get paid flat rate. That's like "piece work" to most of you contractors, except that I'm not self employed and have no say in how the job is bid. I don't know how they can get away with this pay system, but it sure makes up for the slack in management skills. I don't blame the young'n. He's just working his way though school and don't really know any better. He does have a tacklebox full of screw drivers and pliers, etc. But sometimes that just ain't enough to do the job right. He seems to have aptitude and ambition. My problem is with the higher up. I'm struggling to pay my rent while training somebody's kid to do my work for minimum wage. A lot of companies have had to downsize, and even close up shop in this economy, (but it's not a depression) so my situation ain't that much different than many, many other folks. I'm kinda wishing now that I hadn't shared so much info, because that's not what I wanted this to be about. I intended to ask where do we look for jobs these days? Used to be websites full of job listings. Are they gone or just moved to different names? What's popular? I'd like to search local, as I have no way to pack up and move to the other coast.

 

[dan filipi]

I don't think there's anything wrong with visiting the shops in your field even though that might not be viewed as being "politically correct" these days.
I'm sure you must know some of your former employers competition, that's where I'd start.

Just trying to help.

 

[scdmarx]

Good luck on your job search. I haven't looked for years so can't be much help. I always thought beating the pavement was the way to go but I am told by my son that doesn't work so well any more...Have you looked on Craigslist? I have heard people getting jobs from that....
It is tougher as you get older I found...
There is a good mechanic here in town that has a mobile service and he only does work at the client's place. He works out of a retired Snap-on or Matco truck.
anyway...good luck
Brian in NM

I've been looking at craigslist. Seems like a lot of kooky people there. I did find one that didn't look too scary (gave the name of the shop) and shot him a short resume. He did email me back wanting to know if my smog license was current. He stated he was already considering someone, but wants to talk to me after the holidays. Maybe that's his way of not seeming anxious?

 

[bk2valve]

Well amigo, I'll certainly keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Brian

 

[scdmarx]

I don't think there's anything wrong with visiting the shops in your field even though that might not be viewed as being "politically correct" these days.
I'm sure you must know some of your former employers competition, that's where I'd start.

Just trying to help.

Not surprising, it is a small world. 6 1/2 years ago this employer called me back, then I returned his call to set up an interview. At that time he mentioned a couple of my previous employers and said he knew who I was and didn't need to interview me and asked when I could start. Seems that birds of a feather flock together. It's like all the high end shop owners know each other, the middle class shops all know each other, and all the "hole in the wall" shops know each other. There's a considerable amount of networking that goes on. Like a general repair type shop that doesn't sell tires will sublet tire jobs for their customers, or transmission rebuilds and such. I myself have actually been headhunted a couple of times.
Seems not all that long ago I could hit the bricks with a stack of resumes on Monday, and by Friday have my pick of 3 different places to go to work. It's a changed world now, though. It's more of an employers market now. And like bk2valve says, I'm a little older now, my body hurts, and I'm finding it harder to stay current with tooling and technology. And now I have to cut my footprint and establish myself in a new environment again. I'm feeling a little intimidated. Not to mention the ol' lady giving me my issue. :whip:

 

[duke182]

i hope you find something.
i know how it is tostruggle.

i would say try
newspapers
private and govmt employment agencies
grab a yellowpages and see if something grabs you and go introduce yourself
try monster.com--its the only online job search i know
as mentioned advertise yur services and work out of your truck if necessary.

i hope some of this helps
duke

 

[mcgovern61]

Ron, when I had my ferry business, I appreciated potential employees that were willing to come and introduce themselves, not put on any phoney nonsense about what they could do, just the real skills they had and especially the skills they wanted to do! I would hire those people first because they knew how to communicate, didn't beat around the bush, didn't need to change their image for me (or the job...keep the beard!) were honest about their skillset and willing to engage me with what they enjoyed doing (within their skillset). I found that they enjoyed the job more than anyone and would be great assets! My company had very little turn over and maintained 26 employees at a time.

When I closed my business, I used the network that I developed in my industry and found that other employers liked the same thing! (I always called first and then came in...mostly cold calls.) My industry is unique and requires special skills and Licenses...sounds like yours does too!

 

[scdmarx]

My industry is unique and requires special skills and Licenses...sounds like yours does too!

I think I'd like to work for you. :yahoo:

Perception is everything, so I've decided to shave the beard for now. Well...ok, maybe tomorrow.

Your special skills look like fun. But I'd wanna practice on a playstaion first, though. :smilie_happy:

The problem with my special skills is the misconception that anybody can do it because they bought tools at Sears and swapped out a set of brake pads on their grandmothers 1992 Oldsmobile one time. :head bang: So, how much could it be worth?

Someday I'm gonna buy those knives on the TV and do my own brain surgery, and see if they'll still cut tomatoes. :Egyptian:

 

[AApple]

It IS tough out there right now, for sure. I don't see why putting out resumes in person would be bad...I've done it. That's how I got the job I have now. The shop owner called me from Colorado, and hired me, sight unseen. He did check previous employers for references.

Also, you might check with your Crap-On, Matco, Mac, or whatever tool guy you use, and see if they might know of anyone hiring good talent.

Best of luck....I hate looking for work...

Anyone out there ever use Angie's list? Don't know for sure what it is, but it is a business related "Craigslist", from what I hear...

 

[slabghost]

Best is face to face job inquiry before you are unemployed. Seems easier to get a job if you have one. Then there are tons of online places to look too.
https://www.google.com/search?q=califor ... =firefox-a

 

[bk2valve]

I don't know what your feelings about working for the feds are but if you are interested in federal jobs, here is the site to use for those:

https://www.usajobs.gov/

I retired as a WG-7 Automotive Worker which is basically a bolt-on mechanic. I maintained a 52 vehicle fleet with tons of other equipment and stuff to play with...If you have the skills of an automotive tech, there are much better jobs than I had.

I had the opportunity to do all my work in either National Parks in Alaska or on the 2 million acre Kenai National Wildlife Refuge managed by the USFWS. The gov't was good to me, the workplace amazing and the co-workers like family and the benefits are good. If you are a veteran you have a 5 or 10 point advantage in the hiring process.

All that and I had a permanent job that I was only required to be at for about 6 months of the year. The winter is UIB time. There were other jobs that were full-time but I avoided those like the freeking plague.

It isn't fashionable to want to work for the government and a lot of folks have an attitude about it. If you don't there are many good possibilities and if you are willing to relocate the chances are even better....
Brian

 

[scdmarx]

I wouldn't have attitude about a government job, but they might have a little attitude toward me.

I think angieslist is a place for yay-hoos to badmouth businesses.

 

[scdmarx]

WOW! This is bad! I haven't found not even one (1) ad for a mall santa.
They still have Christmas, don't they?

 

[detdrbuzzard]

the tv stations in my area have job postings on their website

 

[mcgovern61]

WOW! This is bad! I haven't found not even one (1) ad for a mall santa.
They still have Christmas, don't they?

Thats because they were all hired in July...you know....the month before the Holiday season starts!! :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: (I saw Christmas stuff going into the upper shelves in August around here)

 

[scdmarx]

Thought maybe there was a santa's union or something. :yes: