Need new job!

[GrantDawg]

Hey everyone! I know I haven't been on very often recently, but my work has required me to keep a lower profile online. Basically I was up for a national postition with a church-based (and very anal) program and didn't need the unwanted "attention" that I might get if someoine linked me to post on here (they are very political, and wouldn't like my feelings on certain things). Be that as it may, I have pulled out of the running for that job because they have been dragging their feet for months, and it'll probably be next year before they actually hire.

That brings me to this. I have stayed at the job I'm in for as long as I can stand. As you all may know, I am a minister and have been in the full time ministry for 13 years. It is basically the only "grown-up" job I've ever had. Well, I have finally put in my notice, and as of the end of the year will be unemployed. This needed to be done, and should have been done long before this.

I now need a job, very preferably a secular position. I need the job like now! I have no hope of unemployment when this job ends (churches don't pay unemployment, not to mention I quit), so I HAVE to have something by January 1. I am very open to anything that pays decent. Travel is no problem, but relocation could be. My biggest problems are that a) I have a bachelor's degree, but from a church-based, non-accredited institution. I have further eduacation (in computers and regular liberal arts courses), but most HR poeople I believe are just counting me as "High-school" level education. b) Other than church-work, I have no experience in the "real world."

Anyway, I know a number of you are in the Atlanta area, so I was hoping you might have some ideas, input. I know I can't get a job spell-checking, but other than that I am wide open

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I am very open to anything that pays decent.

Take it off! Take it off!

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Take it off! Take it off!

They'd pay me to put it back on.

[Coffee Warlord]

I'm sure you had your reasons, but if you absolutely can't be out of work, why did you quit before locking up a new job?

[st.cronin]

In today's world, there are really only two options: Higher education or open your own business.

[Eaglesfan27]

No job idea, but it is good to see you back on here.

[mrsimperless]

Can you rescind your notice? If it were me I think I'd look into that STAT...

=)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I'm sure you had your reasons, but if you absolutely can't be out of work, why did you quit before locking up a new job?

Because of several reasons, but most importantly I cannot use the contacts that I have to find a job without annoucing that I'm looking. Once I announce I was looking, then we had to set a time frame because the congregation must find a replacement. If your unfamilar with the way congregations work, it may look confusing, but I really had no choice.

[mrsimperless]

On a more serious note, I had a friend who managed an EB Games store for a couple of years out of college. It gave him some good experience for other jobs, paid decent, and allowed him to be around something that he enjoyed all day.

Given that you likely have great people skills from working as a minister, this might be a decent fit if it's something that interests you.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by mrsimperless

On a more serious note, I had a friend who managed an EB Games store for a couple of years out of college. It gave him some good experience for other jobs, paid decent, and allowed him to be around something that he enjoyed all day.

Given that you likely have great people skills from working as a minister, this might be a decent fit if it's something that interests you.

That is something I am considering. I'm going to go by Gamestop tommorow and check out what I need to do to get a resume in there. I'm also going to a local job fair with a good number of local companies represented tommorow.

[RPI-Fan]

Very few of the retail store managers in the store I work have college education. They don't make awful money, and there is a little growth potential.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Very few of the retail store managers in the store I work have college education. They don't make awful money, and there is a little growth potential.

Which store do you work? EB? I know at one time the starting salary that I saw wasn't bad.

[Craptacular]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

They'd pay me to put it back on.

Double the money.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

In today's world, there are really only two options: Higher education or open your own business.

I agree with him here.....I am working on the first, want to do the second (why work just as hard to make others money?)

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Which store do you work? EB? I know at one time the starting salary that I saw wasn't bad.

I work in a sporting goods store. We do about $10mil per year and I think the sales managers make generally .3-.4% of that. I don't know if that is in the range you were hoping for, and it is also kind of shitty hours. But I know that for someone who needs a job badly you can usually find something fairly quickly, and they give good enough benefits, etc.

[sabotai]

I hear Wal-Mart is a good place to work....

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by sabotai

I hear Wal-Mart is a good place to work....

That's funny, because I was at a job fair and did give a resume to work at the Walmart disribution facility. Looked like good pay and great benefits.

[GrantDawg]

Well, updating the job search...

I have an interview Monday to see about working with a local company that packages CD's. I would be up for one of three jobs, but the starting pay for all three positions are half of what I am making now (at least for the first 90 days). Two of them are set hour jobs that leaves me open to find a second job, so I'll look at them.

Tuesday, I am interviewing with a car dealership. I have already been offered a job through a placement service for car sales, but unfortunately you have to go through this two day training seminar that I'll be out of town for. I am really hesitant to get into car sales because of the risk. You can make a lot of money, but it seems 9 out of 10 people don't last three months on the job. Anyone have any car sales experience you can tell me about? The good news on it is that it seems most companies are no longer doing the straight commision/draw that they used to do. You now have a base salary with bonuses for sales.

Anyway, I'm still listening for suggestions. I'm worried about taking these early offerings because something better might come along, but then again I am afraid to not take these offerings because maybe nothing will.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Well, updating the job search...

I have an interview Monday to see about working with a local company that packages CD's. I would be up for one of three jobs, but the starting pay for all three positions are half of what I am making now (at least for the first 90 days). Two of them are set hour jobs that leaves me open to find a second job, so I'll look at them.

Tuesday, I am interviewing with a car dealership. I have already been offered a job through a placement service for car sales, but unfortunately you have to go through this two day training seminar that I'll be out of town for. I am really hesitant to get into car sales because of the risk. You can make a lot of money, but it seems 9 out of 10 people don't last three months on the job. Anyone have any car sales experience you can tell me about? The good news on it is that it seems most companies are no longer doing the straight commision/draw that they used to do. You now have a base salary with bonuses for sales.

Anyway, I'm still listening for suggestions. I'm worried about taking these early offerings because something better might come along, but then again I am afraid to not take these offerings because maybe nothing will.

I was in car sales for about a year. It's easy work - I made good money that year. The downside is that pretty much everybody in the industry is absolute scum. I had two different co-workers pull a gun on me, and that was in Madison, Wisconsin, which has a non-existent crime rate.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I was in car sales for about a year. It's easy work - I made good money that year. The downside is that pretty much everybody in the industry is absolute scum. I had two different co-workers pull a gun on me, and that was in Madison, Wisconsin, which has a non-existent crime rate.

That's always fun. That is another thing I'm leary on. I know many people in the industry are just greedy-evil. I have met several that have been successfull that didn't go down that route. though.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I was in car sales for about a year. It's easy work - I made good money that year. The downside is that pretty much everybody in the industry is absolute scum. I had two different co-workers pull a gun on me, and that was in Madison, Wisconsin, which has a non-existent crime rate.

The army? Navy? Air force is always hiring and they are always in need of chaplains especially these days.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Galaril

The army? Navy? Air force is always hiring and they are always in need of chaplains especially these days.

Ummmmmmm.....no. Been there, done that, and burned the t-shirt.

[GrantDawg]

GRRRRR......

I got a call from a company last week setting up a phone interview today 10AM. Here I sit at 11:15 and no call. Next time, I am getting a call-back number. I've never been asked for a phone interview before, but I never dreamed they wouldn't cal me. The thing that sucks is this is a job I really want.

[GrantDawg]

So, over a month later and I have zilch. I have until December 31 to find a job or I am dead. I'll have no job and no paychecks coming. Looks like I might be asking "would you like fries with that?"

[Anthony]

with the holiday season coming up i'm sure you won't have a hard time getting a job at some retail company.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

So, over a month later and I have zilch. I have until December 31 to find a job or I am dead. I'll have no job and no paychecks coming. Looks like I might be asking "would you like fries with that?"

If you're not opposed to sales, call Ackerman Security. They hired my brother with very little sales experience, and he's done quite well with them. Can't give you a whole lot of information about salary/commission, but from the looks of it, he's going pretty well.

[BuffaloHuskey]

I think you would be perfect for most sales jobs. I would imagine that based on your experience as a minister, you are comfortable talking to people and over the years you have developed a presentation style which allows people to warm up to you. I think you would be able to leverage this expereince during both the interview proccess and ultimately when you land a job.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Because of several reasons, but most importantly I cannot use the contacts that I have to find a job without annoucing that I'm looking. Once I announce I was looking, then we had to set a time frame because the congregation must find a replacement. If your unfamilar with the way congregations work, it may look confusing, but I really had no choice.

I'm heading up the pastoral search for our church right now, and none of the potential candidates have informed their congregation that they might be leaving. As far as a time frame allowing the congregation to find a replacement....We started our search in July, we should have a pastor by February or March.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by BuffaloHuskey

I think you would be perfect for most sales jobs. I would imagine that based on your experience as a minister, you are comfortable talking to people and over the years you have developed a presentation style which allows people to warm up to you. I think you would be able to leverage this expereince during both the interview proccess and ultimately when you land a job.

I agree, but so far I haven't gotten to the interview process! I have had a couple of people look over my resume, so that isn't it (at least I don't think). I am wary of most sales jobs (my emergency fall-back job is car sales, but I would prefer not to have to work every Saturday).

I just got off the phone with a company that has some potential. It is b2b sales, selling POS credit card and checking readers. They provide all appointments, and all I do is sell. It might be a good start.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Have you checked some of the temp services?

With your background dealing with people, if you could tolerate it, I'd think you'd be a vast improvement on most of the "1st contact" telephone/front desk people I run into.

Just a thought.

edit to add: I'm thinking more as a short-term solution here, but short-term provides more time to find the right long-term job. Beats the crap out of 12/31/05 anyway.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I'm heading up the pastoral search for our church right now, and none of the potential candidates have informed their congregation that they might be leaving. As far as a time frame allowing the congregation to find a replacement....We started our search in July, we should have a pastor by February or March.

I know, but I was trying to use church contacts to look for a job outside of preaching. I couldn't do that without announcing. I promise you, I didn't let congregations know before hand when switching churches until I knew I had the job.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Have you checked some of the temp services?

With your background dealing with people, if you could tolerate it, I'd think you'd be a vast improvement on most of the "1st contact" telephone/front desk people I run into.

Just a thought.

edit to add: I'm thinking more as a short-term solution here, but short-term provides more time to find the right long-term job. Beats the crap out of 12/31/05 anyway.

Yes, I've looked in to it. A temp job like that is a huge paycut (like half of my current salary or less). That is another "if I find nothing else" idea for a month or so from now. The good thing about those positions is it would allow me to work a second job if I had to. It is just then trying to find a second job that has decent income.

[GrantDawg]

BTW, the thing I am kicking myself for at this point isn't resigning. It is turning down a job at a large congregation the next town over from me. I just didn't want to pulpit preach anymore, but at least I could have put off this search and had good pay to boot! The good news in that is my Brother-in-law got the job, so I'll most likely be attending there after the end of the year.

[Dutch]

Have you tried Monster.com and things like that?

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Dutch

Have you tried Monster.com and things like that?

Yes, about 12 different services. I'm sending out 5-10 resumes a day.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Yes, about 12 different services. I'm sending out 5-10 resumes a day.

When you find a job, let me know how you found it, because I'm desperately looking for one, too.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

When you find a job, let me know how you found it, because I'm desperately looking for one, too.

If your interested in sales, then this job I'm going for Monday might be good. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Cringer]

The road is whispering in your ear......

Naaa, I wouldn't try to talk you into driving. You didn't sound very high on having to go into it the other week, which probably isn't the best way to go into it.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Cringer

The road is whispering in your ear......

Naaa, I wouldn't try to talk you into driving. You didn't sound very high on having to go into it the other week, which probably isn't the best way to go into it.

The travel part real does appeal to me. That is the biggest selling point. The problem (as I was telling my wife) is that I just don't know if I could drive the big old things. I'm not that good at driving with a boat! When I was younger, learning would have been no problem, but the older I get the more I question my ability to do it.

[Dutch]

LOL, I was actually going to mention that you should be a truck driver, because while I only know one, he really likes being a trucker. Plus you get to taunt assholes in Jetta's on the interstate. Something to think about.

[GrantDawg]

Update on job:

Went through training class and recieved a lot of information on the product and service (CC machines and proccessors). I'm excited about the opportunity, though there definitely some down points to it. Made my first calls today, and they went fairly well. The day before thanksgiving is not the best time to be calling on small business owners, but I still had some success. I'm off until Monday, and I think next week will really tell the tale of whether this will work out or not.

[CamEdwards]

good luck, GD! If you became a raging conservative, I could help you get a job in talk radio

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by CamEdwards

good luck, GD! If you became a raging conservative, I could help you get a job in talk radio

How about an ex-raging conservative.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Update on job:

Went through training class and recieved a lot of information on the product and service (CC machines and proccessors). I'm excited about the opportunity, though there definitely some down points to it. Made my first calls today, and they went fairly well. The day before thanksgiving is not the best time to be calling on small business owners, but I still had some success. I'm off until Monday, and I think next week will really tell the tale of whether this will work out or not.

So, on futher review, this company is totally ripping people off on the machines (like 1000% mark up). I am once again job hunting, and I am this point in panic mode.

[judicial clerk]

The Holidays are not the right time to find a job. Many businesses are not doing special projects like hiring new people this time of year. Instead they are having christmas parties and taking time off. The good news is that after the first of the year, businesses should be hiring for the positions they put off filling because of the holidays.

It reads to me that you only have job prospects from sales-type jobs you might find advertised in the paper. Often times, the good job you want is not going to be advertised or the position is already being held for somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. You need to be that guy. I recenlty changed careers and I left my old job on good terms. Before I left, my boss got 2 resumes per week wanting my job. When my boss advertised my job, we got about 400 resumes. You know who got the job? The son in law of a guy that went golfing twice with my boss when he vacationed in South Carolina.

you need to network. Let all your friends and associates know you are looking. For me, this is not a fun process, but it is the way to a better job.

[DaddyTorgo]

Grant...how do you feel about retail? Starbucks is a good job, working with people in some way/shape/form. Good company to work for, but not sure it's for you. I could tell you more if you were interested though.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Grant...how do you feel about retail? Starbucks is a good job, working with people in some way/shape/form. Good company to work for, but not sure it's for you. I could tell you more if you were interested though.

Interested. I'm interested in anything.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind Starbucks, it is just the pay that has me nervous. At this point I may just have to sell stuff and teach my kids to eat Ramien Noodles.

[WrongWay]

Have you ever though about being a teacher?

Should be able to slide into a Private School pretty easy with your Church Degree.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Interested. I'm interested in anything.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind Starbucks, it is just the pay that has me nervous. At this point I may just have to sell stuff and teach my kids to eat Ramien Noodles.

well i'm not sure what the payscale is down there in GA, but I could definately find out with a quick phonecall. i'll do that tomorrow and shoot you a PM to see if it's even anywhere near what you'd need it to be.

that private school teaching idea sounds good too, especially if you were to find a religious school so you could use your church experience as a hook in...

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

well i'm not sure what the payscale is down there in GA, but I could definately find out with a quick phonecall. i'll do that tomorrow and shoot you a PM to see if it's even anywhere near what you'd need it to be.

that private school teaching idea sounds good too, especially if you were to find a religious school so you could use your church experience as a hook in...

Thanks, I would appreciate it much. Not enough private schools in this area of my affiliation. Most others have different requirements. I did explore that option with no luck.