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Landing a "Regular Job"?
sfe_software asks: "I'm an out-of-work programmer and systems administrator. I've reached a point where I have to find a job - any job - and I am finding this quite difficult. I'm apparently 'over-qualified' for everything from flipping burgers to fixing PCs at the local CompUSA. Noone wants to hire you at $6-$12/hour when you were making $45-$75/hour on previous jobs, yet, I'm not finding the high-paying work any more and need *something*. As a contractor, I've always kept a savings, but at this point that river is quickly running dry. What are other out-of-work techies doing? How do you convince a hiring manager that you aren't simply using them as a temporary stepping stone (even if this is true)?"
TEACH! In Dallas, Texas there are plenty of community colleges/commercial training places that will hire someone who *knows* what they're talking about(*know, being the key term there). Some will pay up to $50/hr (of course, only 6-8 hrs a week, which still isn't all that bad). It all depends on what you wanna do. Dallas needs some good Unix/Linux classes to take foot and start running....there are a few, but nothing really "everyone take this class" kind of setup.
The solution, of course, is to alter your resume when applying for certain jobs.
The simplest strategy is to simply offer no resume: for the burger flipping job, or many other minimum-wage positions, presenting a resume is probably a red flag all by itself.
On job applications (or on your resume), do just the opposite of what most folks do: understate and deflate your experience.
I suppose the worst problem is how to fill the blanks: if you were working at a dot-bomb company from 1997-2001, you can't just leave those years blank without raising concerns (though if you have young kids, you can report that "following the birth of my first child in 1996, I decided to spend more time at home" without actually lying (maybe you didn't ever manage to act on that decision, for example, until the company's Chapter 7 filing in 2001).
Or just make some minor changes in the way you describe that job: if your resume now says, "Chief Technology Officer supervising 65 programmers and maintenance of 200 web servers from 1997-2001," try changing the title to something that sounds a lot less grandiose (like "Computer Operator" or "Equipment Manager").
Let's face it, being "over-qualified" for a job you want right now, is a problem that most people only dream about.
-- http://www.MarkWelch.com/ Pleasanton California
Toxic gas in the torpedo room. All hands don EABs.
All hands turn to, COMMENCE FIELD DAY.
'nuff said.
One CPU cycle wasted on digital restrictions management is ONE TOO MANY.
Ok, here's how it works.
I didn't have a CDL license, they do it all.
Let me give a run down of the training.
They sent me to Green Bay, WI. Initial training was 11 days, non paid. But they pay for your hotel, transporation to and from training, and give you 2 meal tickets a day. So 100-200$ is all you need for that. Then there was an additional 5 days of advanced training at $250/week, then if you go to be a specialized driver, like me, I took another week in NC learning on hauling glass @ $350/week.
Then you team up with a driver and do teams for 2-4 weeks @ $500/week (Time varies depending on how bad they need you and how well the other thinks you do)
You have to pay for the CDL tests (round 100$) plus give the carrier 150$ for training (The pay the rest of the 3500$ class)its more to hold your seat then anything else, but non-refundable.
So I went in with a regular license and 3 weeks later had a CDL and was driving a semi. It's a lot cooler then I had imagined too. So much free time, and it's a simple job, so the gears tick better when you put your mind to something. Instead of coding all day, coming home and crashing for 5 hours only to get up and do it all again, I feel awake when I come home.
Looking for hardware (Currently need: Large Etch-a-Sketch) Have one? See my journal!
Except that if he was working as a consultant before, he can't file unemployment against the employer (client) because that would be a red flag to the IRS to reclassify him as an employee. The employer (client) would be liable for back taxes and penalties: not a good way to create strong customer relationships!