Job searching again

[HAULN-SS]

I always made it coincide with something legitimate. Lunch with a friend coming in from out of town, day off to get the car worked on etc. Most companies were obliged not to tip off current employer, and I have an interview next week that they are taking me out to dinner. My big thing isnt so much the first interview, it's getting the other company to stop insisting on a 2nd interview - i.e. ensuring the relevant people are actually at the first interview.

[.RJ]

If you're not seeing eye to eye with your boss, then step out of the office to make the phone calls. If your boss questions it then you tell them you're talking with your doctor or your wife/kids doctor. If you're on good terms with your boss tell him you're looking around and it will be much easier.

For interviews, schedule time off for a "doctors appointment".

[Apoc]

Physical therapy is a great excuse because there are semi-routine appointments. This way you can interview with a number of companies and go on follow ups without ever really being questioned. Of course don't tell them you hurt your back and then move boxes around your desk.

[HAULN-SS]

Meh - I might just stay where I am for a few more months. Booz Allen never could give me precise details on what I'd be doing, for who, and for what money even though I "have an offer" from one of their groups. All the while, I keep getting more recruiters calling from there. Of the other 3 companies one made an offer, one passed, and I told one no-thanks before getting that far. None of the actual jobs seemed quite as interesting as I have here (but this one is def moving to springfield next year..eff that drive).

I think I can squeeze out a pay increase here from my efforts at least though. And I had to put down an old manager for a reference for one of the jobs, so he knew I was leaving. He sent me a message saying he'd love for me to go back to his group..and as he put it he's "feeling particularly generous these days." That sounds ok - but that job wasn't what I really wanted to be doing either, and it's on a contract that has basically ended all major new development. O&M contracts suck, so I hear.

[Steve85]

To close the loop on the hijack, third question was salary requirements...they are looking for a recent grad and paying accordingly. I appreciated to up front approach to not waste time.

Back to the OP...HP software group is hiring and I believe you would be 100% work from wherever the internet is as he does. A few years ago they shut down a shitton of offices and said "send us your internet bill". I doubt you'll get the benes you've mentioned in this thread but you might find something you like. Let me know if you're interested I'll give you his contact info. :dunno:

[HAULN-SS]

HP as in Hewlett Packard?

I appreciate the looking out, but that sounds like it's probably uncleared work. At this time I am pretty much only looking for places that will keep me active at my current level.

[HAULN-SS]

ha! Integrity Applications called me back today saying "some new developments" shaped up and they do want to extend me an offer. I havent called back just yet to see what that's about

[WRXtranceformed]

I should have studied computer nerd-dom in school, I wish I had people literally sucking my dick to come work for them

[HAULN-SS]

i wish i had gone back and studied Petroleum engineering. i just saw a list today that they are the top paying industry out there with starting salaries in the 90s.

Called the company back. The "new development" was that some algorithm development people got wind of my resume/interview notes or whatever last minute and want to bring me on board. The job I had originally interviewed for was more of a web-services type job. They didn't think that was going to be a good fit - even though they did like what I had to say, and my experience level.

The other company did the same thing - I interviewed for more of a webservices type job there too (this is partly because job postings are so vague it can be hard to tell what the job is). They came back with an offer from their algorithm development people. This is in spite of the fact that I told them all I would be open to learning new skills and such.

Both places have come back saying they would rather me do this because of my previous experience (optimizing code, redesigning algorithms, etc..there's a thread on here from last year where i was talking more about this stuff), and my heavy math background. I am kind of back in the same situation i was in last year. Do I want to still keep being "the algorithm development guy" or do I want to do more of the front-end web service work. I guess I will refer to the old post. I think I do like doing the back-end work better, but I dont want to be completely ignorant of the other stuff. If i take one of these jobs I might ask to be sort of cross-trained so I can still learn some new stuff.

[Apoc]

I doubt anyone is going to hire you to be a front-end guy if most of your experience is in algorithms. The answer is to ask for opportunities to do that sort of work as it relates to your job. Tell them you want to leverage your strengths while continuing to grow, expand, blah blah blah.... If the company you're at now doesn't see that as a path for you, then find one that will. Of course that means your job will be 90% of the stuff you've already been doing until you can prove competencies in the other area and actually have some accomplishments to cite.

[HAULN-SS]

Well, if we are getting down to the root of the situation - which kind of developer is most in demand? Is that a fair question to even ask? Is it unreasonable to think you could have skills in both and never have to worry about being able to find a job?

Also - why would companies look at my resume and bring me in for a java/ruby/whatever job in the first place? They know more about the specific jobs than I do.

[.RJ]

They know more about the specific jobs than I do.

HR/Recruiters are just playing buzzword bingo.

[HAULN-SS]

Accepted a job today with Integrity Applications. I think i am going to like it. I was doing a little digging on their products and it seems right up my alley. I recently found out this guy in Denver I email with occasionally for some problem solving works for them. He said it was the best company he has worked for so far by far. He said employees get treated really well and there are a lot of perks. This year they were apprently all given Macbook Pro's and iPads. Hopefully I will get in on some of that.

[.RJ]

Where are you finding jobs? Monster, careerbuilder, etc?

[HAULN-SS]

I posted on Monster and Clearedjobs.com and I had a couple word of mouth referrals. This job I am taking was from monster I think. Internal recruiter emailed me. Seemed like that moved a little slower than word of mouth referrals, but got the job done.

[HAULN-SS]

Just broke the news I was quitting today to my boss at LM. This is the first professional job I ever had to quit. What an awkward conversation that was. I gave about a month notice, so I feel like that's about the best they could ask for. I basically said my schpeel and got a bunch of blank stares. Eventually I got a half-hearted "Well, congratulations, but I'm disappointed"

Guess they should've thought of that when they were deciding to do piss-poor raises and bonuses this year.

[Mike]

disappointed? definitely sounds like a shitty place to work if they can't respect you even that amount.

[Apoc]

Make sure you give them an actual letter of resignation with today's date, your last date of work and the reasons (BS something about opportunity) you're leaving. That way if things get nasty for whatever reason, you have that to point back to.

Mike, I don't understand your disappointed comment.

[Mike]

Mike, I don't understand your disappointed comment.

they should be nothing but happy for him. he's a human being and he's making a big jump in life, which he thinks is good for him. disappointed infers he's doing them wrong. fuck that.

[Apoc]

disappointed infers he's doing them wrong. fuck that.

They can be disappointed about losing him without thinking he's wronged them.

Disappointed in him is a different thing, which I don't think he was saying.