Seeking advice: Just began job search. (Las Vegas: sales, how much, look for a job)
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I had been an entrepreneur for several years, but to make long story short, I had to end my business at the end of last year. I took some time off to relax & re-energize, and now I'm looking for a job, specifically some type of mid-level professional/management position. I have a couple of degrees from prestigious universities and have solid work experience. I guess the big red mark would be that I was self-employed for the last few years, doing my own thing, and I know corps don't look at that favorably.
Just quickly browsing through this forum, it seems like Vegas is still a horrific place to look for a job yet simply going to a job listing site, like Nevada JobBank for example, there are literally 1000s of jobs posted, and I'm talking about full-time jobs within 25 miles of where I live.
Granted, I won't be applying to most of them, but I saw about 10 jobs that I could apply to in the 1st 100 listing on that list alone.
Now the question is whether this is the right way to go about applying for a job: simply filling out online applications & attaching resume, and waiting to hear back...in other words, just be one of the lemmings hoping to get noticed somehow and get picked.
Or should I be taking on a more "aggressive" hands-on approach where I personally go visit/call HR/recruiters and keep "bugging" them (daily if I have to) until at least they seriously consider my application. I keep reading that in Vegas, it's not how much you know, but who you know, and people get jobs through already having or building personal connections.
I specifically would hear from those who have managed to get a job (mid-level professional type) recently in Vegas and what they had to do.
I feel like with so many people looking for jobs, with a small percentage of those folks having similar qualifications to mine or better, I have to somehow find a way to stand out more.
I have looked for a 'real job' here since 2009 and so far, no luck. I am older than you and that's a big part of the problem. I have 3 degrees and more than 30 solid years of experience. I don't look like Quasimodo and I am socially adept.
When I say 'real job', I'm not asking for much. Just a living wage, benefits, and paid time off.
What I have been able to find here is work. Part time, no bennies, no PTO. It's a hard life to work for YEARS without a vacation day, just hoping you don't get sick or have car trouble. To get that job, I had to take off all the higher education and well paid jobs OFF my resume. I was rated an excellent employee but I was laid off in January when my husband died unexpectedly and I HAD to take off more than 3 days to handle his affairs. Now if you ask them, they were doing me a favor because laying me off meant I could get unemployment!
In the big scheme of things, you are also over educated and over paid to work here. Don't expect too much. Remember the business here is customer service and it doesn't pay well. People want to live in Vegas and we have more people than jobs. Supply and demand.
Most places will only accept online apps. It's much tidier than dealing with the great unwashed in their reception areas. Usually you will hear nothing. They will not even send you a rejection email. It's not impossible to work here, you just have to flexible and very patient.
What field are you in? If it's one I'm familiar with, I might be able to offer a lead.@Yellowsnow, never put more than ten years of experience on a resume, and never put down your graduation dates for higher ed. People are a lot less age-prejudiced when they actually meet a person face to face. It's awful easy to round-file a resume based on "overqualified" (cough- too old- cough) though.
This is a who-you-know town, so work your contacts, and make sure your linked-in profile shines and your facebook is private because HR will be googling you.
I had been an entrepreneur for several years, but to make long story short, I had to end my business at the end of last year. I took some time off to relax & re-energize, and now I'm looking for a job, specifically some type of mid-level professional/management position. I have a couple of degrees from prestigious universities and have solid work experience. I guess the big red mark would be that I was self-employed for the last few years, doing my own thing, and I know corps don't look at that favorably.
Just quickly browsing through this forum, it seems like Vegas is still a horrific place to look for a job yet simply going to a job listing site, like Nevada JobBank for example, there are literally 1000s of jobs posted, and I'm talking about full-time jobs within 25 miles of where I live.
Granted, I won't be applying to most of them, but I saw about 10 jobs that I could apply to in the 1st 100 listing on that list alone.
Now the question is whether this is the right way to go about applying for a job: simply filling out on-line applications & attaching resume, and waiting to hear back...in other words, just be one of the lemmings hoping to get noticed somehow and get picked.
Or should I be taking on a more "aggressive" hands-on approach where I personally go visit/call HR/recruiters and keep "bugging" them (daily if I have to) until at least they seriously consider my application. I keep reading that in Vegas, it's not how much you know, but who you know, and people get jobs through already having or building personal connections.
I specifically would hear from those who have managed to get a job (mid-level professional type) recently in Vegas and what they had to do.
I feel like with so many people looking for jobs, with a small percentage of those folks having similar qualifications to mine or better, I have to somehow find a way to stand out more.
I did a lot of hiring in my time, and also did a lot of job searches. But from the standpoint of hiring, what I observed was that you have to be in the right place at the right time. Those people who constantly bugged me about a job when I didn't have an opening were the first ones I thought of when I did. And I saw it throughout every industry. Oh, and after TV, I had a career in Employment Services for The State of Nevada.
My recommendation is to #1, get a copy of the book, What Color is My Parachute? It used to be revised every year, but I haven't checked it in a while.
#2: Find out where you want to work then call them up and ask the receptionist for the name of the hiring authority, the manager, the CEO, or whatever. You don't want to talk to him, just know his name. Then a day or two later, call and ask for him by name. When you get him on the line ask for an appointment to sit down with him and present an idea. (2a, have an idea.) Don't talk about employment on the phone as he will more than likely just blow you off.
It's just typical sales stuff. If you were self-employed you probably had to do a lot of selling. You are still selling a service ...what you can do for him. So ask him what is needed and wanted and tell him that's what you provide ...whatever it is.
But get the book, even if it's an older copy. It's contains the definitive method of finding a job.
Buzz123, thank you for helpful tips. I'm going over to the library today to check out a copy of that book and start diving in right away. Also, your 2nd tip is an intriguing one. If roles were reversed, I would certainly hire someone who would take initiatives to do something like that and present me with an idea or two! You're absolutely right that I'm in a way selling my service, and it's rather difficult to demonstrate what I can do for them via resume/online apps. I'm going to have to do whatever it takes to help me stand out from the crowd.
NLVgal, I was a consultant (in the healthcare industry) in my previous corporate life and have experience with project management, facility utilization improvement & process optimization involving information technology.
yellowsnow, I can understand your rather pessimistic stance on the employment front here in Las Vegas based on your personal experience, but don't lose hope. There are jobs out there. People are receiving full-time job offers in Vegas every single day. Why not you!
Thank you everyone for your tips. I've set a goal of getting a full-time job within 2 months! Let me see what I can do!!
Buzz123, thank you for helpful tips. I'm going over to the library today to check out a copy of that book and start diving in right away. Also, your 2nd tip is an intriguing one. If roles were reversed, I would certainly hire someone who would take initiatives to do something like that and present me with an idea or two! You're absolutely right that I'm in a way selling my service, and it's rather difficult to demonstrate what I can do for them via resume/online apps. I'm going to have to do whatever it takes to help me stand out from the crowd.
NLVgal, I was a consultant (in the healthcare industry) in my previous corporate life and have experience with project management, facility utilization improvement & process optimization involving information technology.
yellowsnow, I can understand your rather pessimistic stance on the employment front here in Las Vegas based on your personal experience, but don't lose hope. There are jobs out there. People are receiving full-time job offers in Vegas every single day. Why not you!
Thank you everyone for your tips. I've set a goal of getting a full-time job within 2 months! Let me see what I can do!!
The book Buzz recommended is a good one.
I am not at all pessimistic, I love it here. It will work out! Las Vegas has given me a do over and it's been a ball. I sing once in a while and I've been a radio actress here as well. Before I was a corporate drone. I made a lot of money but life was passing me by.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to have the paychecks I used to have. But there's no way I want to go back to that life!
What field are you in? If it's one I'm familiar with, I might be able to offer a lead.@Yellowsnow, never put more than ten years of experience on a resume, and never put down your graduation dates for higher ed. People are a lot less age-prejudiced when they actually meet a person face to face. It's awful easy to round-file a resume based on "overqualified" (cough- too old- cough) though.
This is a who-you-know town, so work your contacts, and make sure your linked-in profile shines and your facebook is private because HR will be googling you.
You can Google me till the cows come home. I make it a rule to put nothing online I wouldn't share with my mother. I have no criminal record. I've never even gotten a ticket. Well, other than a parking ticket. Once upon a time, I was a police officer and I'm in NCIC. My FB and LI are clean and my friends are acceptable.
For my last 10 or so working years, I was a Network Analyst. Sort of a high level troubleshooter/problem solver. I was the one you called if there was a flood and the President was coming to town. I worked on the data/broadcasting network for the SLC Olympics. If there was a major failure of a data network or connectivity I was called in. I also did voice and data switching. On a slow day, you might find me working on network upgrades or planning logical network expansions. Or testing and acceptance of new links, setting up equipment. I have stellar customer service skills. People tend to be a bit on edge in crisis situations and I can manage a whole gaggle of them simultaneously.
Before that, I did a long stint in Marketing. I sold those huge data networks, mostly to the financial market. I went to President's Club and was one of their top performers. Back in the early 90's I was meeting and exceeding 3.5M dollar quotas. I was one of the best. I always delivered more than I promised and kept my customers happy and ready to buy more. My customers were so pleased with me that all I usually had to do was walk in and tell them what they needed and why. They even gave me offices at their locations and security clearance. Once upon a time, I even got locked in a bank vault. They forgot I was there and I had to call the sheriff to get out.
Back in the long ago, I was a research scientist, nightclub singer, police officer, bartender, and waitress. I can get along with anyone and be comfortable. I'm smart and flexible. I can adapt easily.
I'm weak in the who-you-know category. I used to have a couple high powered connections but they died. I know mostly musicians and entertainers now because those are the people I see all the time. I probably need to be more social.
NLVgal, I was a consultant (in the healthcare industry) in my previous corporate life and have experience with project management, facility utilization improvement & process optimization involving information technology.
Thank you everyone for your tips. I've set a goal of getting a full-time job within 2 months! Let me see what I can do!!
I heard from a contact that Steinberg Diagnostic is looking for a marketing person with a bit of tech-savvy.
You can Google me till the cows come home. I make it a rule to put nothing online I wouldn't share with my mother. I have no criminal record. I've never even gotten a ticket. Well, other than a parking ticket. Once upon a time, I was a police officer and I'm in NCIC. My FB and LI are clean and my friends are acceptable.
For my last 10 or so working years, I was a Network Analyst. Sort of a high level troubleshooter/problem solver. I was the one you called if there was a flood and the President was coming to town. I worked on the data/broadcasting network for the SLC Olympics. If there was a major failure of a data network or connectivity I was called in. I also did voice and data switching. On a slow day, you might find me working on network upgrades or planning logical network expansions. Or testing and acceptance of new links, setting up equipment. I have stellar customer service skills. People tend to be a bit on edge in crisis situations and I can manage a whole gaggle of them simultaneously.
Before that, I did a long stint in Marketing. I sold those huge data networks, mostly to the financial market. I went to President's Club and was one of their top performers. Back in the early 90's I was meeting and exceeding 3.5M dollar quotas. I was one of the best. I always delivered more than I promised and kept my customers happy and ready to buy more. My customers were so pleased with me that all I usually had to do was walk in and tell them what they needed and why. They even gave me offices at their locations and security clearance. Once upon a time, I even got locked in a bank vault. They forgot I was there and I had to call the sheriff to get out.
Back in the long ago, I was a research scientist, nightclub singer, police officer, bartender, and waitress. I can get along with anyone and be comfortable. I'm smart and flexible. I can adapt easily.
I'm weak in the who-you-know category. I used to have a couple high powered connections but they died. I know mostly musicians and entertainers now because those are the people I see all the time. I probably need to be more social.
That's me in a nutshell...
See my reply to the other poster looking for a job. SDMI is looking for a marketing person with some serious tech-savvy. I am friends with a person who works there.
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