Job Advice

lrh17 · March 2012

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LetsHikeToday · March 2012

Hi! I just went through this went we PCS'd at the end of january. My advice would be to not leave your employment until two weeks before you move. I was a teacher so Christmas break was a natural time for me to quit. It was nice to have a week or so to feel ready for the move. Now I don't know what you do for a living or where you're moving but I haven't been able to find a job here. It sucks. But we are able to do it on his salary so I'm so super concerned. I started looking for jobs as soon as I told my employer but being honest, no one took me serious because I was living in Virginia it moving to Georgia. Let me know if you need anything or have any general questions. I'm glad to help. :-)

Irishcurls · March 2012

Dang, welcome to my life. I have no fucking clue, but I wish us both luck!! H has a start date of mid June at his new unit, so I'm getting out my networking feelers now and have started browsing job listings but haven't "applied" for anything yet. My current job knows I'm leaving, just haven't officially given a date because I want it to be as late as possible. My fear is moving without having a job lined up as well.

Might depend on your field, but what job search engines are you using? I've had better luck with non-monster/career builder stuff. If you can go right to the company's website, that's even better. Do you have professional contacts? LinkedIn? References from your current job? All good things to get going. And an updated resume and well written coverletter will do you well too.

AmandaSC1988 · March 2012

Oh girl, I went and got my laptop because I couldn't answer this question on my phone

I was in the exact SAME situation. I had an internship and a great company last summer... the liked me and asked me to work throughout my fall semester.... then then offered me a full time job. I am honest to a fault and I told them that it was painful, but I couldn't accept and explained my situation... I knew my supervisor could relate because her H was in the Navy when they were younger too. They wouldn't take no for an answer, so they hired me on contract basis until move.. and they love me so much they have offered me a position working from home (in Florida) until I find a job out there.

I know my company is the exception and most employers aren't as are flexible..but I'd like to think that honesty is the best policy... My boss's boss told me he appreciated my honesty and that was part of the reason they wanted to try and keep me as long as possible. In the long run it is better for my career to not hide things from my employer.

As far as resources... head hunters and networking are my best suggestions..see if your school has an alumni group in your new town, also talk to some professors at your school and see if they might have any suggestions. I have found applying on the corporate website gets better results than most job boards.

But, I feel your pain.. I am very serious about my career and it scares me that having no experience will hurt me a lot....but it will all work out in the end if you just don't give up.

lrh17 · March 2012

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lrh17 · March 2012

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Irishcurls · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_job-advice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:eeffa3c4-6592-40f4-942c-8c88d0be1887Post:9e0a6f3f-55e2-43d8-9b3c-ebb49c3909f7">Re: Job Advice</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Job Advice : Oops, we must have posted at the same time. WOW! That is freakishly similar to my situation haha! I was very honest with them in the fall. When I accepted I basically said I really do hope it works out, but no matter what happens, I hope to have their understanding whether that's transferring me or understanding if 'things don't work out'. I promised to inform them of any information I received or decisions we made. They know where H is stationed, so they probably do know there's a chance I'll leave. I guess I could talk to them and see if they would just let me stay as long as I'm here. Unfortunately working from home really isn't an option. Thank you so much, ladies. I feel more encouraged now. <strong> I was starting to feel selfish for being so worried about me, me, me. I think I just need to find the balance of what's best for mine and H's relationship while still acheiving my own goals.</strong> Alumni network and going to professors are excellent ideas as well!
Posted by lrh17[/QUOTE]
Ok yes yes yes!!! DO NOT feel guilty about wanting a career or having your own goals, whatever they may be. I JUST told H tonight while we (sorry, he) was cooking, "You're making some sacrifices too!" He's completely understanding of that, especially because I've been super up front with him the whole time about prioritizing my career right now. It can't work out all the time for both parties and it is about sacrifice and balance, but getting into a career path is hard so best of luck to you!!

lrh17 · March 2012

Thank you for saying that, Irish. Before H and I even got engaged we sat down and had a looooong chat to understand each other's goals and expectations. But now the time has come for us to actually make decisions and it ain't easy!

Irishcurls · March 2012

Seriously, not easy. And plans will change for you and for him, so make sure you keep discussing! Growing up sucks.

cescob01 · March 2012

I've been trying to figure out a similar situation, too! Does your company offer any sort of remote employee access? You could work from home a few days a week and head into the office for the others? My company doesn't offer that, but I used it as perfect timing to finally go to grad school. If you realy have to move, check out sites like LinkedIn and the pages specific to jobs in your field. Also, use everybody you know to network!

I struggled with this for a long time. Even with fiance's support on whatever I wanted to do, it was a tough choice to make. I just talked to my boss about everything last week, so it was finally real that I'm leaving (now, I'm excited about it).

calindi · March 2012

Definitely okay to focus on your own career. A good marriage is about being a team, in my opinion, and sometimes that means compromise. That compromise depends on the couple and what is most important to them - if it means you live apart for a year if he's likely to deploy and you want to get your career started somewhere else, then do it if that's okay with you both.

I know that my FI told me if I wanted to go back to school (I had debated getting a law degree at one point) that he'd support me long distance as long as necessary. It meant the world to me that he was willing to be flexible and work with me to meet MY goals and needs, not just treat me as an accessory to be shipped around the country at the military's whims with him.

I second the suggestion for LinkedIn - connect to as many people as possible, even just friends, because it widens your network considerably. Consider connecting with "LION" - LinkedIn Open Networkers. LinkedIn isn't like Facebook in that you'd want to keep it private and be selective with your friends - with LinkedIn, you literally want to connect with as many people as possible to open your ability for more people to view your profile, and for you to see more opportunities. I can help with specific tips if you'd like, I just didn't feel like typing out a novel here as I'm prone to do sometimes.

Then implement the coffee technique - ask people (either alumni of your school, random contacts on LinkedIn, friends of friends, whatever) to meet you for coffee to 'pick their brain' on the local job market and where you can best apply your skills and experience.

Notice that you're asking for advice, not 'job hunting'. As soon as you say 'job hunting' to someone, they typically think, "Well, I don't know anyone hiring, so I'm no help and won't waste my time." They also tend to think you'll be begging them to find you a job, so they're disinclined to meet. If you ask for advice, people LOVE giving advice!

So invite them for coffee, meet at a Starbucks (sometimes they invite you to your office, but it's always nice to offer them something in exchange for their time, and you are a poor job hunter, so treating them to lunch would be a luxury you probably can't afford, but coffee is cheap!).

Every single person you meet with, your goal should be to get them to introduce you to 3 more people, and statistically 2 of whom will probably meet with you if you follow up with them. So you're building your network, and that's immediately 3 more people who know who you are, what you're looking for, and have their eyes and ears open.

And you keep doing that, and touch base with each person every 2 weeks to update them on your search and let them know where their introductions have sent you. Eventually you have a huge network of people keepign their eyes out for you!

I've done this method 3x now, and the longest I've job hunted from when I started that method was 2 months. In a totally new city where I knew no one. It works!

lrh17 · March 2012

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AVBarto · March 2012

Has anyone tried to file for Unemployment? If you have a job and have to leave due to your husband being PCS'd you may be eligible, depending on state, for unemployment. I'd file and check with your state.

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