You know what really grinds my gears?

[youvalss]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Yeah. And today everything becomes online networking/social media and all that, which is everything I can't stand. I hope to find a decent job where there are people who have been working there for 15+ years. Being in my 40's, I need a good job that hopefully will last until I can retire. It will be harder to find a job in 5-10 years, so I'm trying to make it happen now.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

The biggest problem I have with job applications are the ones that require you to create a login/account.

[pietasterp]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Is it "too bad" when the reason you don't is because you're not putting forth the proper effort?

Networking is an incredibly important part of job hunting. It's common knowledge that people who "know someone" are much more likely to get a position than someone from the outside, given similar qualifications. Hell, you may be even more qualified, but people like working with people they know and like.

This is true, but my personal experience is that professional relationships that end up being close enough to actually result in a job are almost never developed (or start from) "networking events", however you want to define that.

Again, just in my own experience, worthwhile professional relationships develop somewhat naturally from working with someone or interacting with them in some meaningful way in a personal or professional capacity, not from having chatted with them over a beer at a phoney-baloney networking event where people just swap cards and then forget about it. Those events tend to be very shallow and while certainly sometimes they can result in professional connections that are worthwhile, I would say the hit rate is pretty low (to the point of extremely diminishing returns on your time).

But having said all that, forcing yourself to go to one perhaps once in a while is probably not the worst thing you can do.

[youvalss]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

The biggest problem I have with job applications are the ones that require you to create a login/account.

I don't like it either, but it has become more and more common these days. So I register and upload my resume - either for an actual position or for future consideration. You never know... And for me, it can be any company, as long as it's not a 5-man operation, as long as it seems like a pretty large place with nice benefits, and as long as they have/should have a job in my field.

[Blzer]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I love, love hanging with my relatives in person, but I have no want or will to speak on the phone with them and play catch-up. It always feels too contrived and disingenuous. I don't even think when I become an uncle (23 days!) or grandfather that phone calls are going to be the way I want to stay connected with my younger relatives, and I'd totally get if they're not the kind who keep up with me making phone calls.

Heck, I probably just don't like connecting with "small talk" anyway. Even when getting a haircut I kind of want to just close my eyes and rest for a moment.

Anyway, I was watching Family Guy and this came up. I can't stop laughing at this.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1qZ-FHUflOc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[slickdtc]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Heck, I probably just don't like connecting with "small talk" anyway. Even when getting a haircut I kind of want to just close my eyes and rest for a moment.

I'll put off a haircut for days (which eventually become weeks until I can't stand the way my hair grows in some places) so I don't have to stare in the mirror for 15 minutes.

The person cutting your hair makes all the difference though. Some people you just have a more natural flow to a conversation, other people it's like pulling teeth. I'm one of those people who are quiet by nature but I can get going if the conversation is natural instead of forced. Just don't ask me a series of questions. Talk.

[pietasterp]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

I love, love hanging with my relatives in person, but I have no want or will to speak on the phone with them and play catch-up. It always feels too contrived and disingenuous.

I couldn't possibly agree more with this. I love hanging out with family, but I really have to force myself to call periodically and it's always such a dreaded chore for some reason, even though I enjoy their company (in real life). It's pretty much the same conversation every time anyway, so I can't even see how it's enjoyable for anyone involved. At least it usually ends up being pretty cursory and <10 minutes, which is all I can take.

[Caulfield]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Unfortunately I'm aware of that, but my networking is almost non-existent. I hardly know anyone here, and of all the little networking I used to have several years ago nothing came out. Only one time I heard of a position through someone who used to work with me and then got another job, and told me about an available position. Other than that, I found every job on my own.

I wish I knew more people, but I don't, and I'm not really the type of a guy who hangs out with people or get contacts. I know that's how things work, but it's just not something I do. I'm totally out of the social media thing (by choice), and don't follow any of these trends.

But I know I can find a better job, I'm working on it and I know it's going to happen.

yeah, it sucks its a ''its who you know, not what you know'' world. I couldnt look myself in the mirror if I got a job knowing I wasnt the best person for the job, but got it instead because of ''connections''. thats the downside of a conscience I guess

[Blzer]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

yeah, it sucks its a ''its who you know, not what you know'' world. I couldnt look myself in the mirror if I got a job knowing I wasnt the best person for the job, but got it instead because of ''connections''. thats the downside of a conscience I guess

Totally different example but still true here:

On the Giants/Warriors/49ers main radio station, former NBA player Tom Tolbert has a show ("The Mr. T Show") and once explained the players coaches select for their Pop Warner football teams are the ones with the hottest moms.

[youvalss]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Hopefully I can become one of those guys people need to have connections with. That has never happened. But maybe some day...

I would have all this money, and people would love me. Then they would come to me.. and beg! And if I felt like it, I would help them out. And then they would owe me big time!

[youvalss]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

yeah, it sucks its a ''its who you know, not what you know'' world. I couldnt look myself in the mirror if I got a job knowing I wasnt the best person for the job, but got it instead because of ''connections''. thats the downside of a conscience I guess

Yeah, that's what I always used to think. These day, I just want a decent job. I've gone to the dark side, I guess.

[Majingir]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

Yeah. And today everything becomes online networking/social media and all that, which is everything I can't stand. I hope to find a decent job where there are people who have been working there for 15+ years. Being in my 40's, I need a good job that hopefully will last until I can retire. It will be harder to find a job in 5-10 years, so I'm trying to make it happen now.

yeah, it sucks its a ''its who you know, not what you know'' world. I couldnt look myself in the mirror if I got a job knowing I wasnt the best person for the job, but got it instead because of ''connections''. thats the downside of a conscience I guess

Sucks for me because I'm running out of time. Gotta find specific type of job ASAP or else it'll screw things up for me for at least the next year, maybe more.

And a non-guarantee of a basically nothing job for a short period of time sucks too.

[youvalss]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

So, I saw a job opening and decided to apply. On the job ad they say that in order to apply, I need to go to their website and there go to the career section. I go there, but this position doesn't show up. So I find another position and it has the email address where to send my resume.

I email my resume there, then I get a message that the email can't be sent to this address. The weirdest thing is that they say you can apply by email or in person - and specify their address. Is this the 90's? Can I just go there and get an interview then and there? Every day I feel like I'm becoming more and more George Costanza. Maybe I should just go there, pick a desk and start working, like Kramer.

I'll try to email again tomorrow, but if it doesn't work, I might just go there. It can be a fun experiment...what's the worst that can happen? They call security and kick me out?

[Majingir]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

It can be a fun experiment...what's the worst that can happen? They call security and kick me out?

And on the way out security will be like "You'll never work in this town again!" lol

[youvalss]

Re: You know what really grinds my gears?

And on the way out security will be like "You'll never work in this town again!" lol

As long as it sound like something from TV or a movie, I'm ok with that.