So…I’m still unemployed.
I’m not worried, but we’re going on a month now. My insurance coverage runs out at the end of the month and my severance ran out ages ago. I’ve had a couple leads, a couple interviews, but I’ve also had several rejections (with no explanation) and I’m thinking I’d better start considering contract work or perhaps a different career.
So here’s the point of this post:
I’d like some suggestions for what I should do.
Here’s some background:
I graduated from a liberal arts school where I majored in Communications. I worked for the school newspaper as the features editor before I was unceremoniously canned by the crazy Serbian Editor-in-Chief whom I opposed at every turn. I wrote a massively popular weekly column (analog blogging) and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a business minor as well.
Worked for 6 ½ years at a great software company here in KC and watched the company grow from 18 employees when I was hired in 2000 to over 300 by the time I left in late 2006. The growth of the company meant that I was asked to adapt to many different roles on the marketing team. I started as a writer, focusing on case studies and brochures, but dabbled in web content and documentation as well. I started to teach myself graphic design and also managed the logistics for the 80+ trade shows the company was going to annually. (Not very fun.)
After that, I began working full-time as a graphic designer. I had taught myself enough to get by both as a print and web designer and so I was asked to do both at times. In addition, I started teaching myself Flash and was doing interactive pieces for the company as well. This led to me focusing solely on interactive design in my final years at the company where I was responsible for interactive presentations, flash advertisements, and other stuff like smacking down sales representatives whose PowerPoint decks got out of control.
Late in 2006, some stuff happened that made a once-awesome place to work a little less awesome. The place itself was still a great place to work (and still is), but my little corner of the company was not a fun place to be at the time. So I started looking. And I found something at a financing company in Fairway. And they liked me. A lot. I was going to get to write again, while still using my design capabilities and the marketing strategy skills I had acquired along the way. But it was tough. I was going to have to leave a very comfortable place and strike out on my own. It was scary, but it was the right thing to do.
OK, maybe in retrospect, after being laid off, it wasn’t perfect, but for me at that time, it was right. I spent 2 years working for a financial services company, learning the ins and outs of the equipment leasing industry and discovering how to identify the difference between a Kenworth and an International dump truck. I wrote copy. I strategized. I designed. I made good friends with some really smart developers. I worked under a great boss who never let me forget that I once assumed he was five years older than I was even though he was 3 years younger.
But I got laid off.
All along the way, my fascination with all things web-related has persisted. I’ve continued to hone my craft as it pertains to web design. I write clean HTML and CSS. I understand and engage in Social Media. I also love movies and music and television (and just about everything pop-culture related). I’m a pretty good public speaker, a skill I’ve crafted by preaching sermons over the past few years.
I’ve got a really great skill set. I just happen to be stuck in the middle of this crappy economy where very few companies are hiring, which is unfortunate for folks like me.
So I’m beseeching my readership. I know you’re out there. I’ve seen my stats. Considering you now have a better understanding of who I am as an employee, what are your suggestions for careers I should pursue? I’m open to entertaining new career paths. I realize that this request may very well result in ridicule from some of you, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
I think you should pursue something that has to deal with movies or music? Maybe a critic or something like that. You have a huge passion for both of those areas. Although you tend to like alot of girly movies and alot of sad bastard music. hmmm. I don’t know. Maybe in these times of economic troubles you shouldn’t be looking for a “career” job, but just something to get you by for the meantime. Either way, I’m here for you, brother. Anything I can do to help.
Shane,
I can’t give you leads or tell you who you can contact. I’m fairly new to the area, not to mention to the country.
What I see from your post is that you are a highly talented person who would be able to fill many positions. But you already know that, right?
I guess all I wanted to do is wish you good luck in the job search. I think I told you this already, but I know you are a person of faith. God will guide you and present you with the opportunity that better fits your needs and dreams.
Hair model
I could see you doing something in talk radio. You have the personality and are up to date in current affairs.
Volleyball coach
Like Jake said, might have to do something less than desirable to get buy until the market picks back up. You have a great family behind you that will support and encourage at every turn.
Contact every magazine and publication in the area. The Kansas City Star is outsourcing its design work so I would think that those further down the food chain would be doing the same. Go freelance with that and maybe something full time will come with a better economy.
I would normally tell you to do what you love and let the money follow.
However, in the given market, that’s probably less than sagacious.
As such I would recommend you honestly survey your core competencies – those skills, talents and experience that you effortlessly possess; those things you can (magnificently) do in your sleep – and refocus your resume and job objective to that end.
Finally, I would also like to say, consider your Government. I’m in IT, have been since Nineteen and Aught…well, a long time. Not everyone in the Government is sitting idly and wasting your tax dollars, many many many people are doing hard, cutting edge work. Yes, you will not start out at 100,000K, but with your background and experience I can see some agency bringing you in at #65-70K to start.
Is it the best of all worlds? No. However, it’s not bad…ask around.
Good luck.
maybe radio advertising like tracy thomas but less dickish:-)
Dude, I would never make light of your situation. But I would make light of the fact that you’re a dirty hippie.
My suggestion, flood the market with your resume’ get your name at a bunch of companies. Also on the web sites Monster, Career builder, and all of those. I still get calls from when I out mine on those almost 4 years ago. (Took me 6 weeks to get this job)
Treat your job search as a job you should be sending out at least 4 resumes a day. Each tailored for the position you want.
Finding a good job IS a job.
Shane:
As Joseph Campbell said, follow your bliss.
If you are entrepreneurial and get access to some start up money, how about starting your own small web advertising and design business? Market to other small and medium businesses and non-profits who can use your expertise to keep their business competitive during the recession then flourish when it is done.
You could do it from home to start with on probably the computers you have. Use your social media skills to market your services and provide some free and useful tips that will entice clients to use your services.
If you have expertise in a particular field, use your contacts in that field, which might be financial services to land those type of clients. Smaller local banks and mortgage companies might be the right fit.
As a part of this, you might also be able to attract some bands and artists to promote. Not profitable but if even one hits the big time, you might have yourself a gravy train.
Myself, I’d like to find a reasonably priced web designer who could do a good website for my medium sized law firm. God knows there are plenty of lawyers who need good and reasonably priced marketing services.
Seems to me you’ve accessed your skills. While social media is great, I have found that it is my circle of professional friends and people I have met through politics, community groups, professional organizations, and the like who have ended up giving me jobs. Network in the Old School way as well as the New School way online.
Work hard and plan but don’t discount serendipity in your quest.
I wish you the best of luck. It’s a tough time to be looking but with the right product, skills, and attitude, you can find something decent.
Best regards,
Todd D. Epp, Esq.
Kansas Watch http://www.kansaswatch.net
Think out of the box. Don’t go where you’ve been before where you already know they’re not hiring. Go to anything medical..drug companies … medical labs …where they are hiring and where computer skills are needed.
yeah, usjobs.gov has an editor/writer posting … civilian position in KC for army corps of engineers … pay is decent. i see tech writing jobs posted all the time; you have tech writing skills. also, i wouldn’t work freelance without an advance (or good knowledge of contractor labor laws).
I recommend freelance as well and also considering contract work. Both are great ‘ins’ to making yourself invaluable to a company that maybe wasn’t sure they needed a [insert new job here] full-time permanent. Some of the best gigs I’ve ever gotten came that way. I don’t recommend applying for tech writer jobs since I am also applying for those and I don’t want to be pitted against you after reading your exp.
I showed this post to a friend who is starting up a consulting job and looking for web developers and liked the graphical design thing. He said he would be in touch with me when he starts hiring ( a few weeks at least) and I can point him back here.
Thanks so much to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I like the idea of being a talk radio host. Maybe I should start a podcast…
Hi, Shane. Found you via Twitter.
You’ve already gotten a lot of good advice here, and I don’t have anything to add regarding the job search. Something did stick out in my mind about your insurance situation, however.
Have you looked into COBRA continuation coverage to extend your health benefits? You’ll have to pay your own full premium, but it may still be cheaper than buying your own coverage.
Two options:
1. Start your own consulting business. You’re the kind of person that will NEVER be happy working for someone else. Web and graphic design are things that are easily outsourced and there’s no reason why you can’t get a piece of that pie.
2. Go to law school. This way you can delay having to get any kind of gainful employment and simply live off student loans for the next three years. Of course, you’re too late for the fall ’09 class, even if you take the LSAT now. You could work at Chipotle for another year and a half until you get in the ’10 fall class.
OK, I’ve been thinking about this question for awhile, and I think I have an idea. How about going into business development for a design/photo agency or studio? Here’s my thinking:
1.) It’s a people job. You’re a “connector” (to use a Gladwell reference), and this position is all about connecting businesses to a vendor that will do great work.
2.) It requires travel. You don’t have kids and you like to drive around, so you could meet prospects across the city (or hell, country) without huge impact on the home life.
3.) It requires a lot of independence and self-start initiative because most likely you’ll be on your own. You clearly have a knack for getting stuff done.
4.) You are an experienced designer and photographer, so can already speak the language of your company. And because you’re intelligent, you can translate the complicated nonsense into normal people terms that clients can understand.
Think about it.
USAJOB.gov works, BUT, for most jobs, hiring preference will go to veterans (5 and 10 points). Just so you know. That was put in to law 2 years ago.
You aught to look into to teaching. NOt glamorous but it pays, failing that the porn industry needs some help. :)
Good luck,
@smedrock –
“That was put in to law 2 years ago.”
You wouldn’t be a jarhead, huh, where counting was considered being ‘overeductated’?
; ‘ )
Veteran points in Federal hiring has been around since at least the 80s, probably longer….
Army. And we just had to count to 4. Started over at 5. :)
But it was not a law, it was a guideline. Now HR is required to check that first.
@smedrock
huh. couldn’t have told it by the department where i work – veterans have always* gotten preference…
off topic:
i also went RA. was just gonna be a normal eleven bannnas, too, until one day at benning for boys i got out of a long line to get in a short line. next thing i know i’m at north fort in tacoma singing about being too tough to die, too stupic to care…then they kept sendiong me places to prove it…
but that whole 5 after 4 thing…wow. that’s a concept.
stupid lines…
* where ‘always’ equals ‘since the invention of dirt’.
you army guys don’t make any friggin’ sense. does anyone else understand what they are talking about? it’s like another language. i love and respect anyone who fights for our country, but all i hear is gibberish.
@jake -
RA: Regular Army
eleven bananas: MOS, or Military Occupational Specialty, in other words, what i did. 11B or 11 Bananas, means Infantry.
Benning for Boys: Ft. Benning, GA, where 11Bs are trained.
North Fort, Tacoma: Ft. Lewis, Tacoma, WA
“too tough to die, too stupid to care”: an in-joke among certain SOG (special operations group) trainees, usually offered as a morale booster on mile 16 of a 20 mile (75 pound ruck, fully loaded pig) forced march through 3 feet of snow in the dead of night.
i don’t remember anyone laughing.
I saw a couple of positions on Careerbuilder this morning that looked like a good fit for you. One was an eMedia Web Developer (and they will accept experience instead of a degree in CS) and I have a friend who’s worked at Ascend Media in OP for about 4 years now and loves it. Also, RiverPoint, a consultant group has a Web Developer listing but the pay looked a bit low.