Job hunt...

HavocXphere

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
33,155
Thinking of making a career move and frankly not off to a good start.

Recruiters...they're all out to make a quick placement fee buck by matching me with whatever position they're currently flogging.

Websites..."Please upload your CV in .doc or .docx"...."We're sorry but .docx isn't a supported filetype"

Connections...not sure...they're being elusive with straight answers. Keep getting vague hints but that's about it. Plus constrained by the need to keep things quiet & would rather not have it come back to my very connected boss.

Linkedin job offers...they all seem equal/lower to what I currently have. Bland mostly.

Staying put ...pretty good gig but would need to stick around at least 2 years for modest advancement while slogging hard.

So what should I try next? Push connections harder? Fight round 2 with job website CV upload widget? Try more recruiters? Give up and become a stripper?

Oh and half my office seems to think I've got 20 offers in back pocket. sigh...I'll settle for 1 good one. :/
 

Drifter

Honorary Master
Joined
Dec 19, 2012
Messages
22,825
In today's employment climate, better the devil you know.
 

HavocXphere

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
33,155
You still wanna stay abroad or do something locally?
Abroad. Though open as to where exactly.

keep trying all avenues.
:( Was optimistically hoping for an inspired mybb way around exactly that.

What industry are you in?
Finance - Private Equity. That's what is causing the headache...quite niche.

In today's employment climate, better the devil you know.
idk...I'll stagnate if I stay.
 

Slootvreter

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
30,273
I know, job advertisements without salary range makes it difficult to gauge whether a job is entry or mid or high level.

EDIT: And EVERY single one I apply for that actually responds, wants to know my current CTC, and it always seems much higher than they are willing to offer.
 

Cius

Executive Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
8,347
Its a time game and unfortunately takes effort. Honestly I would just put feelers out there, and wait patiently for the right thing to come along. Some recruiters are a waste of time but there are others that are in with many good financial companies. I would call up the HR department of a few places I wanted to work and find out which recruitment agents they mostly use. Find the names that keep popping up, get your CV with them with very clear and blunt guidelines on what you are looking for. If they breach your guidelines drop them. The biggest problem in this economy is timing. Many people among your connections may like you but have no vacancies. The people who know of the vacancies are generally the recruiters. Hence the route I proposed.

Use the connections to give you the reference boost you need once you have found the position, not the other way round.
 

cguy

Executive Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2013
Messages
8,527
Is there a shortlist of companies you would want to work for? I would try applying on their websites, and failing a response, Google for the job descriptions on their websites to try identify the recruiters that work with them, and then contact said recruiters.

Often online applications are not responded to because there is no filter on them, so top companies can get hundreds of thousands of submissions per year, of which only 10% are even worth a phone screen. A recruiter, however, is motivated to push you to the front of the queue if they think you can fill a slot.
 

Jet-Fighter7700

Honorary Master
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Messages
31,618
economy in the toilet right now, recruiters are also people trying to make a buck......

for something niche like yours, Id put out feelers, when thing get better then jump.....
then you might get the better offers....
 

HavocXphere

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
33,155
Minor update...director told me today he is leaving an hinted that this new employer is hunting for people. Long shot but progress.

Its a time game and unfortunately takes effort. Honestly I would just put feelers out there, and wait patiently for the right thing to come along.
Working against a ticking clock unfortunately. Thanks to quirky circumstances I either need to resign in the next month or stay another year. All other options work out poorly on money vs effort & stress.

I would call up the HR department of a few places I wanted to work and find out which recruitment agents they mostly use. Find the names that keep popping up
I like that...esp cause I can do it anonymously & at zero risk. Shot bro

I know, job advertisements without salary range makes it difficult to gauge whether a job is entry or mid or high level.
Not only that...diff locations is really messing with salary too. Diff tax, diff CoL etc means I have zero feel for what is "good".

Is there a shortlist of companies you would want to work for? I would try applying on their websites, and failing a response, Google for the job descriptions on their websites to try identify the recruiters that work with them, and then contact said recruiters.

Often online applications are not responded to because there is no filter on them, so top companies can get hundreds of thousands of submissions per year, of which only 10% are even worth a phone screen. A recruiter, however, is motivated to push you to the front of the queue if they think you can fill a slot.
PE companies don't advertise positions externally. Too low volume & niche to have internal processes...so goes straight to head hunters / recruiters. And I seem to fall into the gap between...not senior enough to be head hunted...too senior to be caught by the recruiters aiming for volume.

As for short list...some but frankly in my field there aren't any employers that have massively better reps like say google does in tech.
 

OrbitalDawn

Ulysses Everett McGill
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
47,031
Minor update...director told me today he is leaving an hinted that this new employer is hunting for people. Long shot but progress.

That's cool. By your description it sounds like networking is the best way to find opportunities.

It's something I have to get better at. Cold applications (through websites, or recruitment agents) blow.
 

cguy

Executive Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2013
Messages
8,527
Minor update...director told me today he is leaving an hinted that this new employer is hunting for people. Long shot but progress.


Working against a ticking clock unfortunately. Thanks to quirky circumstances I either need to resign in the next month or stay another year. All other options work out poorly on money vs effort & stress.


I like that...esp cause I can do it anonymously & at zero risk. Shot bro


Not only that...diff locations is really messing with salary too. Diff tax, diff CoL etc means I have zero feel for what is "good".


PE companies don't advertise positions externally. Too low volume & niche to have internal processes...so goes straight to head hunters / recruiters. And I seem to fall into the gap between...not senior enough to be head hunted...too senior to be caught by the recruiters aiming for volume.

As for short list...some but frankly in my field there aren't any employers that have massively better reps like say google does in tech.

It doesn't make sense to only use headhunters and recruiters - some positions are niche, but they still probably need web developers and desktop support. Give me the name of a PE firm you're interested in and I will see what I can dig up.
 
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