My Laid Off Life: The Job (un)Fair!

Another week without a job!  DAMN!  I can hear the tumbleweeds rolling down the corridor of joblessness!  Now, it's been since January 15th.  And I have to say that I am NOT in a negative space at all.  As a matter of fact, I decided, on January 15th, that I am NOT going to let any of this get me down.  Shit, it ain't no sense in me getting in a rut because I happened to be on the conveyer belt of S*NY's "magna carta" of bad decisions(ringles included)!   Maybe the couple of leads I have will pan out.  One is with JVS Detroit helping other people less fortunate than I am prepare themselves for the job market.  Another is with a wireless provider that a friend is trying to at least get my resumé to the top of the pile.  So, keep ya fingers crossed for me that something will pan out this week.

Working with the career transition company this week was pretty cool.  I had a class on interviewing this week that was very interesting.  I could go on and on and on about the multitude of questions answers, possible questions and possible answers, facial expressions, handshakes, backslaps, cheek pinches, butt touches, handsignals that you should or should not give while you are in an interview.  I could do that!  But instead, I will just say this. If you ain't getting SOMEONE to help you with this part of the job search???  Then job search be DAMNED!  You won't be in the interview 5 minutes before you will be shown the door!  I'm going to have to go into that a little more in another post!  

But, I have to report on the latest job search "flim flam"!  WTF, JOB FAIRS!  Here's my advice on the so called "job fairs"...fuck a job fair!  We all know that every time there is a crisis, the scams begin making their presence known.  They come out like project roaches trying to get a scrap off a piece of fat back!  So, now that there's a job crisis...here come the job fairs, or un-fairs as I say!  In a nut shell, here's who's at the job fairs:

1)Companies with big names...hiring for internships.

2)Multi-level financial companies like Primerica.

3)Low paying, hard ass work jobs like Quicken loans.

4)Military, Corrections officers, Security Guards.

5)Technical/vocational schools, Community colleges, Universities looking to get you to "strengthen your skills" by taking classes.

6)Companies looking for cold calling sales reps.

There's your job fair.  Basically, these companies are promoting...their company!   How is Atlanta having a job fair and Coca Cola, the largest employer in Atlanta, ain't at the job fair?  How is a job fair in Detroit going on and the largest employers, the car companies, ain't there because they are too buys trying to get bailout money? AND all of their suppliers are going out of business!!!  So, here is what you do about the job fairs.  Get a list of what companies are going to be there.  Choose the ones you are interested in and go to their web sites and see what jobs they have open in the area you are looking in. If they do, print it out and take it with you to the job fair and discuss it with the people there representing the company.  OR, you can put it in your own hands and find a way to contact the company hiring manager for those jobs and get your info in their hands if you can.  So, please!  PLEASE!  If you're searching for a job, be very wary and careful of the "job fairs"!  As I leave you and close out this edition of "My Laid Off Life", remember that networking is the #1 way one will get their next job.  80% of people!  the job fair is probably...2-3%.  Which odds do you want to take?  Until next time, let me know what you think.  Ask me any questions. And enjoy the music podcasts over on the podomatic player.  HOLLA LATER!