sigh

[oyceter]

Just went with the boy to see his new dorm and the business school at Stanford, and am now quite depressed. I don't feel like I'm going anywhere.. here is the boy off to do shiny new things in his new environment, while I am sitting at home doing what? working on my silly webpage or playing with LJ. Or really nothing substantial at all. And I think the career services people at the b-school said they don't help SOs of their students. Ugh. I feel like quite a loser -- here I am, having gone to a good university with honors in my degree, and I am looking for work in bookstores. And even the bookstores aren't calling me back. I just don't know what to do with myself...

Sigh, sorry, indulging in ... er, self-indulgence. Yes...

Comments

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

OK here's a freaky thing.

I emailed you BEFORE I opened LJ....twilight zone them song plays in backround...

[oyceter]

Whoa... weird. I've just mostly been feeling quiet lately, and, well... kind of lost in general.

(((HUG))) Now, enough with that mushy stuff...

[knullabulla.livejournal.com]

It's hard, I know... I've been in your shoes. The going to a good university, getting honors, and then suddenly going "but why won't you give me a job?" All I've managed to get are temping positions, and it's nothing that you really need a degree to do... and they only last for so long before I'm back to not having a job again. Still, it is nice to work, even if it is short term... which is why I'm going to suggest that you register with some agencies.

The thing with applying for jobs that you're over qualified for is that they're thinking "Oh, this person is overqualified, I bet they'll get bored and quit within a week..." So as sucky as it may seem, they're not calling back cause you're just too dang good for you own good.

Temping usually works to your advantage, cause they can feel free to drool over you cause you're a college grad AND since they know your short term anyway they're not likely to panic about you possibly leaving early.

It is tricky to find the right agency, though. You basically have to register with every single one you can find... but once you do, all you have to do is give them a ring about once a week and somebody will usually have something. Also, if you don't like your initial recrueter, feel free to not ask for that person when you call... recruiters make a commission when the place you in a temp position, so if a recruiter you're currently working with isn't finding you anything, see what the next person can find you.

Oh, and even though all you're doing is filling out some paper work when you register, WEAR A SUIT. It increases the likelihood of them placing you in a position right away by, like a gazillion precent. I've gone into agencies where they've actually placed me the same day, after they told the gal-in-jeans in front of me that business is slow.

Good luck!

Re: (((HUG))) Now, enough with that mushy stuff...

[oyceter]

Thanks! Um... completely ignorant here, but what exactly is an agency? How would I find one?

Re: (((HUG))) Now, enough with that mushy stuff...

[knullabulla.livejournal.com]

Where do you live? I'll post you some links for temporary employment placement agencies in your area.

Hiring people is expensive, companies have to pay all kinds of additional fees and taxes... so when the position is only going to be short term, why bother? The agencies take care of all the taxes and paperwork and stuff--all the fees and who-is-getting-paid-what details are kept quiet, but basically the company you work for might be charged $20/hr... $15/hr will go to you... and the remaining $5/hr will go to the agency to pay things like worker's comp insurance, overhead, and of course, a commission to the person who found you the job. I haven't found much difference in how much I make at these jobs verses people doing the same thing but in permanent positions... but the companies that hire temps end up saving money cause they don't have to spend on things like benefits or pay unemployment taxes or workers comp insurance fees. No benefits is the big draw back, but there are "just in case I get hit by a truck" insurance plans out there.

Re: (((HUG))) Now, enough with that mushy stuff...

[oyceter]

Ahhhh, I see. Okay.. I'm in Mountain View, CA right now..

Thanks again for the info!

Found some links

[knullabulla.livejournal.com]

This site listsemployment agencies throughout the greater San Jose area (http://www.allsanjosejobs.com/employment.htm).

Here's the Yahoo directory listing (http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/U_S__States/California/Metropolitan_Areas/San_Francisco_Bay_Area/Business_and_Shopping/Business_to_Business/Corporate_Services/Human_Resources/Recruiting_and_Placement/) of temporary employment agencies in the bay area.

Not every agency listed will be right for you, but this should give you enough places to try.

Oh, one last tip... before you even fill out the online applications, call them up and ask to schedule a meeting. Just say, "I'm interested in doing temporary work through your agency. When can I meet with a recruiter?" A lot of agencies have open door policies: you just show up and the first available recruiter will sit you down for an interview.

oh, and one more tip! Start gathering references. Don't worry if you don't have past work experience, you can put down old professors or your land lord/apartment manager or anybody else who can say what a terrific little worker you'd make. Just be sure to warn your references in advance. No need to be shy about it, just tell them you're hunting for jobs right now and would appreciate it if they put in a good word for you if somebody calls them.

Good luck!

Re: Found some links

[oyceter]

Thanks so much for the tips!