Received an organization news letter today with a couple sentences about the people being laid off. This brought up mixed feelings and since I would still like to get a job at Boeing should probably not say much more.
I’m sure it won’t be my last, but it was my first Dear Christopher letter:
Dear CHRISTOPHER ABBEY,
Thank you for taking the time to complete our online application
process for the following position:
Requisition Job Title
10-1002958 Business Operations Specialist 5
While we appreciate you sharing your education and employment
information with us, we must also inform you that the position
has been filled.
Wish someone would have just said April Fool’s, or maybe I would just wake up. Perhaps tomorrow.
It seems like the number of jobs listed in Boeing is up the last couple of days. Perhaps entering a new quarter and a new month has something to do with it. Had three interesting catches today, and then upon closer inspection ended up throwing them all back so no change in the number of Jobs applied for.
I set up a meeting to give an overview of LinkedIn for people that are new to it. Information can be found in the IT People with Warn Notices group.
Tomorrow: searching
inSite Group 56
Jobs applied for: 30
Rejections: 11
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Day 40 – Warn Notice – reprieve, sort of
Well it is Day forty, though I noticed that we get few days of reprieve. The numbers don’t work out. Boeing likes to give warn notices on Friday so people have the weekend to think about it and not go ballistic in the office. Thinking back to my emotional state on Saturday after finding out, I can understand this. Having no idea why, maybe it the same one or maybe makes it easier or cheaper for them to have our employment end on Friday, hence the day April 23rd for our lay off. The final outcome of this is that we end up with 63 days of warning instead of the 60 as advertised. However it is figured, there are now 23 more days to go.
Didn’t search a whole lot today, but there were two jobs of interest in Boeing, and one job at Microsoft that I applied for. That is more successful than most days.
Some of the overall pressured was relieved in my situation today. My wife, who hasn’t been working in order to stay at home for the children has successfully interviewed and decided to accept a position. We have been in pretty good shape financially, but this will make it easier over the longer run. This will also mean another big pot of change being brewed up, as we figure out how to get things done around the house with all the changes that will be happening.
As I covered in yesterday’s blog, I created a new LinkedIn group called April 23rd Networkers dedicated as a networking resource for the people being laid off in this wave. Today there are 14 registered members in the group. This is a great start.
In searching for a group icon I came across this:
I love the bright colors and the idea of celebration, but in the end I decided on the Butterfly. The Butterfly is a traditional totem of transformation and this is a journey of transformation:
Tomorrow: Search and Apply, hopefully finding at least two more jobs to apply for.
I have to say that it isn’t about making a certain number; it is about being consistent in searching, and applying for the jobs that match what I can do, and what I would like to do.
inSite Group 54
Jobs applied for: 30
Rejections: 10
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Didn’t search a whole lot today, but there were two jobs of interest in Boeing, and one job at Microsoft that I applied for. That is more successful than most days.
Some of the overall pressured was relieved in my situation today. My wife, who hasn’t been working in order to stay at home for the children has successfully interviewed and decided to accept a position. We have been in pretty good shape financially, but this will make it easier over the longer run. This will also mean another big pot of change being brewed up, as we figure out how to get things done around the house with all the changes that will be happening.
As I covered in yesterday’s blog, I created a new LinkedIn group called April 23rd Networkers dedicated as a networking resource for the people being laid off in this wave. Today there are 14 registered members in the group. This is a great start.
In searching for a group icon I came across this:
Tomorrow: Search and Apply, hopefully finding at least two more jobs to apply for.
I have to say that it isn’t about making a certain number; it is about being consistent in searching, and applying for the jobs that match what I can do, and what I would like to do.
inSite Group 54
Jobs applied for: 30
Rejections: 10
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Day 39 – Warn Notice – April 23rd Networkers
Another day of no news, I’m anxious to hear the response from my interview. It has been over 3 weeks. My mind keeps going back to it. I guess I just need to learn how to be more patient.
The biggest event of the day was getting the inSite group together for a telecon today. It was the first meeting and about 14 people attended. Notes were published and sent out to the larger group. It was good conversation, with some information shared that some hadn’t heard yet. And others with additional perspectives were able to add information.
We talked about creating a LinkedIn group so people can continue to network after our layoff date. I actual made this group already; naming it the April 23rd Networkers. I was also asked to put on a LinkedIn training session, which I’m happy to do. We also talked about the Boeing Alumni group that is on LinkedIn, so I went out and joined this group also.
I'm happy that I made it to exercise again today this morning before work.
Tomorrow: Searching and applying.
No changes in the numbers today, so I will leave them off.
The biggest event of the day was getting the inSite group together for a telecon today. It was the first meeting and about 14 people attended. Notes were published and sent out to the larger group. It was good conversation, with some information shared that some hadn’t heard yet. And others with additional perspectives were able to add information.
We talked about creating a LinkedIn group so people can continue to network after our layoff date. I actual made this group already; naming it the April 23rd Networkers. I was also asked to put on a LinkedIn training session, which I’m happy to do. We also talked about the Boeing Alumni group that is on LinkedIn, so I went out and joined this group also.
I'm happy that I made it to exercise again today this morning before work.
Tomorrow: Searching and applying.
No changes in the numbers today, so I will leave them off.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Day 37 & 38 Warn Notice – Just thinking
Two days today instead of just one. Missed yesterday and thought I would add it on to today. I spent most of the day doing other things (like watching Duke earn their spot in the final four).
One of the problems with my searches is getting so many job possibilities that there is no way to get through them all. I have been limited searches as much as I can, like using only jobs that have been posted in the last 24 hours. Searching on terms like change management creates a problem in that it brings up every management position as well as any job with the word change in it and this creates a list of positions that is impossible to get through. Yesterday I learned that if I put this in quotes as “Change Management” then it brings up only those jobs with the whole phrase. This has helped quite a bit, I have several of these phrases—one having the word development in it that brings up hoards of software development jobs. Learning to use quotes to limit the searches further was a big learning yesterday. In the process, I found one job that I’m interested in applying for, though I haven’t gotten to it yet.
Also yesterday, I started thinking about what all I need to do to be prepared for life after Boeing. Thinking about what type of computing equipment and software I will need. What other things like cleaning out my desk and get my personal affects brought home. I also have personal information on my work computer that I would like to save. I will need to get a new mobile phone (need to do this before losing the Boeing discounts).
I have been exclusively using a gmail account for job searching related activities. This is account is listed on my resume. I also have a Google Voice account, this allows me a private phone number supplied by Google that I can use for free calling across the US and can forward to any physical phone I want. When someone calls my number it rings on all my phones not just one. So I can have it forward to my home phone and my mobile. When I leave Boeing, I will need to change mobile phones, but the number on my resume will stay current. I have also been getting my Google calendar ready to be used more. I guess it is ready, I just getting my head around what this means and what I need to do to make it ready.
I have some other smaller things that I have listed that need to be completed. I also have to sign up for cobra about two weeks before my layoff date—I think this is the Friday after next.
Today, I was using what I learned yesterday in my searching. I now have 11 companies that I search directly on their job sites. Today I found 4 or 5 jobs that I want to take another look at and possibly apply for. I have 8 aggregators that I use that I have not gotten through yet, but I pick one and see how far I get. Like today I used Simply Hired (which is my favorite) I got 82 jobs listed I the last 24 hours to sift through. This is great it has been like 5 to 8 hundred. I was able to go through the 80 job quickly and I think I picked 4 that I wanted to read through and get more information. In this process, I decided to add AT&T to my search list and found 3 positions to look more closely at. And then I notice that several of the job where coming from a place call JobFox. So I added my resume to this place.
It turns out that JobFox has a free service and then they have a pay for service area. After I entered my resume it asked a lot of questions to determine more information. I’m not sure of the service, after answering the questions they provide a list of jobs. Some of these were way off, and based on a job history of 15 years ago. So my feelings of this site are mixed right now. If I can adjust the information that they have and make it more relevant to my job history then I think it will be good. If not, then I may have hurt myself by entering my resume on the site because of the erroneous jobs that it is linking me up to.
Over the last week or so the amount of exercise that I have been getting has been dwindling, so I have recommitted to keeping this up. Today, I got up early and went to the “Y” before work. :) I hope to continue this—which means I have to get myself to bed at a decent hour.
No change in the job numbers though the inSite group went up by one. Tomorrow, having a virtual meeting with others that have received their warn notices. About 10 people have indicated they want to attend. The whole inSite group is invited. It will be interesting to see how many people call in.
Tomorrow: Prep for meeting, check out the positions I have waiting in job queues.
inSite Group 53
Jobs applied for: 27
Rejections: 7
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Group went up by one.
One of the problems with my searches is getting so many job possibilities that there is no way to get through them all. I have been limited searches as much as I can, like using only jobs that have been posted in the last 24 hours. Searching on terms like change management creates a problem in that it brings up every management position as well as any job with the word change in it and this creates a list of positions that is impossible to get through. Yesterday I learned that if I put this in quotes as “Change Management” then it brings up only those jobs with the whole phrase. This has helped quite a bit, I have several of these phrases—one having the word development in it that brings up hoards of software development jobs. Learning to use quotes to limit the searches further was a big learning yesterday. In the process, I found one job that I’m interested in applying for, though I haven’t gotten to it yet.
Also yesterday, I started thinking about what all I need to do to be prepared for life after Boeing. Thinking about what type of computing equipment and software I will need. What other things like cleaning out my desk and get my personal affects brought home. I also have personal information on my work computer that I would like to save. I will need to get a new mobile phone (need to do this before losing the Boeing discounts).
I have been exclusively using a gmail account for job searching related activities. This is account is listed on my resume. I also have a Google Voice account, this allows me a private phone number supplied by Google that I can use for free calling across the US and can forward to any physical phone I want. When someone calls my number it rings on all my phones not just one. So I can have it forward to my home phone and my mobile. When I leave Boeing, I will need to change mobile phones, but the number on my resume will stay current. I have also been getting my Google calendar ready to be used more. I guess it is ready, I just getting my head around what this means and what I need to do to make it ready.
I have some other smaller things that I have listed that need to be completed. I also have to sign up for cobra about two weeks before my layoff date—I think this is the Friday after next.
Today, I was using what I learned yesterday in my searching. I now have 11 companies that I search directly on their job sites. Today I found 4 or 5 jobs that I want to take another look at and possibly apply for. I have 8 aggregators that I use that I have not gotten through yet, but I pick one and see how far I get. Like today I used Simply Hired (which is my favorite) I got 82 jobs listed I the last 24 hours to sift through. This is great it has been like 5 to 8 hundred. I was able to go through the 80 job quickly and I think I picked 4 that I wanted to read through and get more information. In this process, I decided to add AT&T to my search list and found 3 positions to look more closely at. And then I notice that several of the job where coming from a place call JobFox. So I added my resume to this place.
It turns out that JobFox has a free service and then they have a pay for service area. After I entered my resume it asked a lot of questions to determine more information. I’m not sure of the service, after answering the questions they provide a list of jobs. Some of these were way off, and based on a job history of 15 years ago. So my feelings of this site are mixed right now. If I can adjust the information that they have and make it more relevant to my job history then I think it will be good. If not, then I may have hurt myself by entering my resume on the site because of the erroneous jobs that it is linking me up to.
Over the last week or so the amount of exercise that I have been getting has been dwindling, so I have recommitted to keeping this up. Today, I got up early and went to the “Y” before work. :) I hope to continue this—which means I have to get myself to bed at a decent hour.
No change in the job numbers though the inSite group went up by one. Tomorrow, having a virtual meeting with others that have received their warn notices. About 10 people have indicated they want to attend. The whole inSite group is invited. It will be interesting to see how many people call in.
Tomorrow: Prep for meeting, check out the positions I have waiting in job queues.
inSite Group 53
Jobs applied for: 27
Rejections: 7
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Group went up by one.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Day 36 -Warn Notice- another day down
Good day searching, found two jobs to apply for. One at Google and one at F5. Didn’t spend much time on searching, I was outside mowing my lawn by 11:30. I did bit more searching later as I watched the Basket ball games; though I was only half heartedly looking and didn’t find anything worthwhile.
Early on I took a trip to the library and picked up a huge stack of books. I decided to send them back today and thought I would share a little on the that I thought were the best:
The number one guide for updating my resume was from the seminar help in Boeing. After the seminar this book is what I used the most to get my resume into shape. High Impact Resumes and Letters: How to Communicate ...
I used this next book as a general reference while working on my resume, information in interviews and searching. Knock 'em Dead 2009: The Ultimate Job Search Guide ...
Great reference as I started moving into the internet job searching. Good reference. The Ultimate Job Search: Intelligent Strategies to Get ...
One of the standards, this book has a lot of information. In addition to the section call finding a job that covers what most of the other books also cover, it has a large section on finding a life dealing with issues of getting really clear about what you want in life, not just a job. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual ...
Tomorrow: Search some more in the morning
inSite Group 52
Jobs applied for: 27
Rejections: 7
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Job Applied for continues to grow nicely. Hopefully the interview field will start to increase.
Early on I took a trip to the library and picked up a huge stack of books. I decided to send them back today and thought I would share a little on the that I thought were the best:
The number one guide for updating my resume was from the seminar help in Boeing. After the seminar this book is what I used the most to get my resume into shape. High Impact Resumes and Letters: How to Communicate ...
I used this next book as a general reference while working on my resume, information in interviews and searching. Knock 'em Dead 2009: The Ultimate Job Search Guide ...
Great reference as I started moving into the internet job searching. Good reference. The Ultimate Job Search: Intelligent Strategies to Get ...
One of the standards, this book has a lot of information. In addition to the section call finding a job that covers what most of the other books also cover, it has a large section on finding a life dealing with issues of getting really clear about what you want in life, not just a job. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual ...
Tomorrow: Search some more in the morning
inSite Group 52
Jobs applied for: 27
Rejections: 7
Job Posting withdrawn: 1
Interviews: 1
Job Applied for continues to grow nicely. Hopefully the interview field will start to increase.
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