This job landed in my lap!

Success Story

Bob, Connie, Rosie, Pro-Matchers and Fellow Post Pro-Matchers,

This is written by a "Most Diverse Project Coordinator, with experience supporting research at Sun Labs and Stanford, also looking for work in events."

This is also written by someone who, apart from a short, crummy temp job, has been unemployed for 37 months. Yet again, I did not get my job through networking, although I think that effort helps to keep one aware and looking.

My success story is so sudden and amazing, about one of those so aptly named hidden job market positions. It was not posted; the recruiter saw my resume posted on DICE.

Within six days, a company recruiter phone screened me, I met with hiring manager for a face-to-face interview at Double Tree Inn, San Jose, and I received an offer during the interview and via letter (email) the same afternoon. Mission Critical Technologies wanted a Program Accounts Manager / Coordinator to monitor and report on various stages of a NASA grant that they subcontract. The position also will help with a large onsite conference for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)--Research and Events in one.

The recruiter's interview was more of a conversation. After describing the position, she looked at me and said, "I want a take-charge kind of person: someone who is independent,someone I can trust, someone mature who will make this job their own." She couldn't have described me better. The R&D, scientific and engineering backdrop, and college interns suit my background perfectly.

On Monday, October 3, I start as a full-time employee of Mission Critical Technologies [based in S. California], as Program Coordinator, at Nasa Ames Research Center. A very good salary - lower than Sun Labs, but better than Stanford.

Mission Critical Technologies contracts with government agencies and commercial businesses to perform R&D, engineering, training, and related work.

Thanks to Bob for purging his database to find company contacts for me.

Thanks to Connie for suggesting the book Transitions.

Thanks to Rosie for expert use of her hotline to edd.

Thanks to Manny Ramirez, my first new friend at Pro-Match who kept reminding me that I was a

talented person -- Chin Up -- focus on the right kind of job. Thank you to my other Pro-Match friends.

With much gratitude and excitement,

[name withheld]

Advice for Job Seekers

ESPECIALLY: Reassess, from time to time, what is working for you, and what is not. Keep what is working, revise or eliminate what is not working. Which job boards are working for you, which not? Try a new avenue. It may or may not work, but it might get you an interview, and that keeps hope alive. One thing that kept me going was that I kept getting interviews and phone screenings, even if less often than when first unemployed. This motivated me to think that somewhere, somehow, something would kick in.

What cover letter is working, which is not, in what respective venue(s). What resume is attracting attention. Try rewriting your resume as an experiment -- it might work better than you think.

Keep a routine, so as to stay in practice (no matter how futile it may seem). Socialize, try to have fun, do something for yourself where you can see results -- even if its not a new job. Get out of the house and go on a long drive, or to a a really good movie (double feature), something to truly escape and allow yourself to relax -- this is necessary to keep anxiety at bay, if you can afford the gas and tickets.

If you are socializing with people who, despite their best intentions, are getting on your nerves or pressuring you, avoid them for a more comfortable group or friend. I don't do well with the cheerleader type -- and had to stay away from one person in particular. Do whatever it takes to bring out your best self for interviewing, mingling.

Do keep trying (and that's hard). I was simultaneously preparing for the possibility of not obtaining work, while continuing to look, apply, and interview.

Profile

Job Title:

onsite Manager / Program Coordinator

Occupation:

Research

Industry:

Defense (Aerospace)

Salary:

$50K - $99K

Start Date:

10/2011

Age:

60+

This job landed in my lap!

Post new comment