If anyone here has lost their job, I did last April. I spent about 10 months dialing in my resume and finding >500 contacts on LinkedIn. This all yielded precisely two interviews which I was not selected for. I eventually changed the emphasis of my resume to focus on something I used to do and submitted it to Monster and some other posting engines. Monster seems to have done the trick. I was immediately swamped with emails and calls (my phone number is on my resume) from recruiters. I ended up taking a 1 year contract position less than 20 miles away. The company is considered essential so we’ve continued working.
Recruiters may be your best shot at landing a job. They get paid by the hiring company if you are hired so it costs you nothing. In some cases they may even coach you for an interview. They also have lots of contacts in a variety of fields.
I love my new job and look forward to each day. I really hope the company picks me up permanent.
@tweezak Make sure you factor in things like your vacation and sick time into your rate. The contracting firm has a bill rate for you that is more than what they pay you. Since they aren’t paying you when you’re sick or the company has a holiday, you need to plan for that in your rate. You also need to factor in your health insurance you may or may not be able to get through your contracting firm, and there is usually a lack of 401k or other benefits.
Oh, and if your contract ends, they won’t want to pay you for riding the bench for very long.
The good news is that it is pretty easy to find a new pimp, er, I mean contracting house.
Basically, you’re paying them (a cut of what they get paid for bringing you in) for their contacts and network. You are their inventory, and as soon as you are stale (don’t fit their “reqs” or openings), they’re not going to be much help.
That said, there are some quality contracting firms that give you flexibility in structuring your pay package - directing a portion to bank sick/vacation pay (or not and do it yourself), different healthcare options, a 401k, etc. It just depends on their network and clientele (which firms are they listed as a “preferred vendor” for staffing).
There are also headhunters that look for people in permanent positions too, but that’s at the higher end, executives and very specialized skills/niche positions.
There is benefit to paying someone else with loads of contacts with hiring managers all over the place to find you a job on an installment plan after you get the job.
I’ve worked from home for years and I can’t even begin to figure out what the obcession with cameras is. We’ve been using Skype/Lync every day for all sizes of meetings at a large company for over a decade and not once has anyone felt the need to turn on a camera.
Then the people you work with are intelligent about what it takes so accomplish work individually and as a team.
There are some few occasions when cameras are needed or useful. But I suspect that 99% of cameras-on remote work protocols come from v unprofessional managerial high-personal-insecurity issues. And incompetence.
Often this counterproductive pressure seems to be coming from some of the higher company authority/jobtitle levels. Or so I’ve heard.
@f00l@unksol Although there is less misunderstanding if one can see body language, you can adjust what you say as you see how people are responding to what you have said… I’ve been part of zoom meetings for the last 3 years and about 1/3 of us have just our name up there, another third have a static picture. The rest are live shots. On the other hand some of the “live shots”, when talking, people are showing their computer screen (power points, lists, etc.).
If I have to have live sessions teaching (often teaching online is asynchronous though) I prefer to see who is talking (as zoom switches to whom is talking unless it is on the setting where one person controls the “big” view picture with their computer screen), and to be able to scroll through students logged on. Easier to catch looks of puzzlement since some students will never ask questions even if they need to.
Teaching situations differ from “competent adults working individually and as a team” situations in terms of what visual personal info the participants need to send or receive, as you mention.
Training/edu participants often need, or can benefit from, a higher level of transmitted personal info and interaction.
@f00l@unksol Of course teaching has some different requirements. Research with this in the work world also document that unless folks know each other really well, already know how to work together as a team, that there are more misunderstandings the less non-verbals are involved in communication. And separate research in the communication and psych fields indicate that most of a message is via the non-verbals, When you remove them misunderstands become more frequent.
Agreed re the “human” stuff: Teaching, much or most of medicine, psych, etc. and plenty other stuff.
But, I think, @unksol is referring to a coding or tech job; involving competencies and tasks for which spoken word or text communication and info are primary, and extra time- or brain-bandwidth spent dealing with video or other extraneous data input is simply counterproductive and distracting.
@f00l@Kidsandliz yes I suppose. If I was training a new guy maybe it would be different. We still do a lot in chat. Constant communication. Even about bullshit. It has been a while since I had to train newbies.
@unksol My team uses cameras every day. Primarily so we can all compare our bad haircuts and beard growth. Sometimes we wear silly hats. None of it is required and it’s almost entirely for shits and giggles. Any actual work usually is done via screen sharing.
I tend to gradually accumulate clothes as the day wears on. Only rarely will I actually wear a towel to a conference call. T-shirt’s usually a gimme. Jeans… eehhhh… less if I’m standing, more if I’m sitting.
Everybody else at the company has started turning on their cameras but I’ve not. On the one hand, my actual face looks almost as bad as the photo, I think, and on the other hand, the camera’s way off center because of monitors. And crucially, I must conserve that precious resource: plausible deniability.
The psychology behind getting dressed for work helps to focus on work. That way there is some difference between weekends and weekdays besides conference calls.
Most work days I take a hike in the woods at lunch time, so in the morning I dress for that, which means older jeans and a shirt that I don’t care if they get a little dirty. No cameras on at twice a week work Skype meetings.
I wear a nice shirt and no pants. I’m a counselor and I video my clients. Next time you meet with your therapist, just know that they might not be wearing pants.
The one thing that I like right now is that everywhere you go people are dressing so relaxed (sweats, yoga stuff, pjs) I don’t have to worry that people are staring bc I wanna be lazy.
If anyone here has lost their job, I did last April. I spent about 10 months dialing in my resume and finding >500 contacts on LinkedIn. This all yielded precisely two interviews which I was not selected for. I eventually changed the emphasis of my resume to focus on something I used to do and submitted it to Monster and some other posting engines. Monster seems to have done the trick. I was immediately swamped with emails and calls (my phone number is on my resume) from recruiters. I ended up taking a 1 year contract position less than 20 miles away. The company is considered essential so we’ve continued working.
Recruiters may be your best shot at landing a job. They get paid by the hiring company if you are hired so it costs you nothing. In some cases they may even coach you for an interview. They also have lots of contacts in a variety of fields.
I love my new job and look forward to each day. I really hope the company picks me up permanent.
@tweezak
Thats great, perseverance is always the way to go! I hope you get a permanent position, fingers crossed!
@tweezak Make sure you factor in things like your vacation and sick time into your rate. The contracting firm has a bill rate for you that is more than what they pay you. Since they aren’t paying you when you’re sick or the company has a holiday, you need to plan for that in your rate. You also need to factor in your health insurance you may or may not be able to get through your contracting firm, and there is usually a lack of 401k or other benefits.
Oh, and if your contract ends, they won’t want to pay you for riding the bench for very long.
The good news is that it is pretty easy to find a new pimp, er, I mean contracting house.
Basically, you’re paying them (a cut of what they get paid for bringing you in) for their contacts and network. You are their inventory, and as soon as you are stale (don’t fit their “reqs” or openings), they’re not going to be much help.
That said, there are some quality contracting firms that give you flexibility in structuring your pay package - directing a portion to bank sick/vacation pay (or not and do it yourself), different healthcare options, a 401k, etc. It just depends on their network and clientele (which firms are they listed as a “preferred vendor” for staffing).
There are also headhunters that look for people in permanent positions too, but that’s at the higher end, executives and very specialized skills/niche positions.
There is benefit to paying someone else with loads of contacts with hiring managers all over the place to find you a job on an installment plan after you get the job.
Does a tshirt and yoga pants count?
@tinamarie1974 That’s pretty much what I wear 24/7.
Nope. I’ve heard my wardrobe described as “business nude”.
@jst1ofknd Is that a new oxymoron?
@jst1ofknd only the top is clothed?
@tartanknickers
Only on Zoom calls.
I’ve worked from home for years and I can’t even begin to figure out what the obcession with cameras is. We’ve been using Skype/Lync every day for all sizes of meetings at a large company for over a decade and not once has anyone felt the need to turn on a camera.
@unksol
Then the people you work with are intelligent about what it takes so accomplish work individually and as a team.
There are some few occasions when cameras are needed or useful. But I suspect that 99% of cameras-on remote work protocols come from v unprofessional managerial high-personal-insecurity issues. And incompetence.
Often this counterproductive pressure seems to be coming from some of the higher company authority/jobtitle levels. Or so I’ve heard.
@f00l @unksol Although there is less misunderstanding if one can see body language, you can adjust what you say as you see how people are responding to what you have said… I’ve been part of zoom meetings for the last 3 years and about 1/3 of us have just our name up there, another third have a static picture. The rest are live shots. On the other hand some of the “live shots”, when talking, people are showing their computer screen (power points, lists, etc.).
If I have to have live sessions teaching (often teaching online is asynchronous though) I prefer to see who is talking (as zoom switches to whom is talking unless it is on the setting where one person controls the “big” view picture with their computer screen), and to be able to scroll through students logged on. Easier to catch looks of puzzlement since some students will never ask questions even if they need to.
@Kidsandliz @unksol
Teaching situations differ from “competent adults working individually and as a team” situations in terms of what visual personal info the participants need to send or receive, as you mention.
Training/edu participants often need, or can benefit from, a higher level of transmitted personal info and interaction.
@f00l @unksol Of course teaching has some different requirements. Research with this in the work world also document that unless folks know each other really well, already know how to work together as a team, that there are more misunderstandings the less non-verbals are involved in communication. And separate research in the communication and psych fields indicate that most of a message is via the non-verbals, When you remove them misunderstands become more frequent.
@Kidsandliz @unksol
Agreed re the “human” stuff: Teaching, much or most of medicine, psych, etc. and plenty other stuff.
But, I think, @unksol is referring to a coding or tech job; involving competencies and tasks for which spoken word or text communication and info are primary, and extra time- or brain-bandwidth spent dealing with video or other extraneous data input is simply counterproductive and distracting.
@f00l @Kidsandliz yes I suppose. If I was training a new guy maybe it would be different. We still do a lot in chat. Constant communication. Even about bullshit. It has been a while since I had to train newbies.
@unksol My team uses cameras every day. Primarily so we can all compare our bad haircuts and beard growth. Sometimes we wear silly hats. None of it is required and it’s almost entirely for shits and giggles. Any actual work usually is done via screen sharing.
/youtube same as it ever was
@f00l guess I’d better unplug my webcam!! Didn’t realize my whole life would be broadcast to the World!!
/image truman show
@IndifferentDude
Yeah you’d better be careful about who’s watching.
/youtube talking heads life during wartime
I tend to gradually accumulate clothes as the day wears on. Only rarely will I actually wear a towel to a conference call. T-shirt’s usually a gimme. Jeans… eehhhh… less if I’m standing, more if I’m sitting.
Everybody else at the company has started turning on their cameras but I’ve not. On the one hand, my actual face looks almost as bad as the photo, I think, and on the other hand, the camera’s way off center because of monitors. And crucially, I must conserve that precious resource: plausible deniability.
The real question is, what day is it, and when did I take my last shower? no, seriously, I don’t remember.
@oppodude The day is today. Your last shower was the other day. There’s no need to thank me, I 'm gifted this way and simply glad to help.
They still expect pants at the office.
Only if I’m heading out of the house(which I do whenever possible).
Jammies and full make-up. I wasn’t wearing make-up before the lockdown.
It’s clothing optional Friday! Everyday!
I’m getting dressed, but I’ve stopped doing laundry. Three days from now is going to be very interesting.
@Tin_Foil I did 4 loads today. I’m trying to eradicate the burm of laundry in the basement.
The psychology behind getting dressed for work helps to focus on work. That way there is some difference between weekends and weekdays besides conference calls.
@hchavers
My morning routine is basically the same, just half an hour later. That helps me.
@hchavers So you’re saying it’s a bad thing and should be avoided.
@macromeh if thing = work, then good to have a job, else separating work from off-work is needed.
I’ve been retired these past few years. So basically it’s SNAFU: Situation Normal All Fucked Up.
/giphy SNAFU
@Mehrocco_Mole
At least it isn’t BOHICA.
/giphy BOHICA
@mike808 Bending.
I get dressed every day because I don’t own pj’s. But, if I put on a bra, I’m dressed up.
My office is completely casual anyway, so my wardrobe hasn’t changed at all. Not wearing makeup has been nice, though.
I have always worn shorts and tee shirts when working from home, so nothing has changed. I don’t have a camera, so no one cares.
Still retired, still wearing what I always have.
Most work days I take a hike in the woods at lunch time, so in the morning I dress for that, which means older jeans and a shirt that I don’t care if they get a little dirty. No cameras on at twice a week work Skype meetings.
I wear a nice shirt and no pants. I’m a counselor and I video my clients. Next time you meet with your therapist, just know that they might not be wearing pants.
The one thing that I like right now is that everywhere you go people are dressing so relaxed (sweats, yoga stuff, pjs) I don’t have to worry that people are staring bc I wanna be lazy.
Business as usual in my household
Had job interview today, had to wear a neck rag and everything.
@cranky1950
Face mask?
@jst1ofknd Yeah