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Post by baza on Mar 27, 2019 21:05:48 GMT -5
Anecdote.
I was doing some consultancy work for a Waste Disposal Company at one time.
It was after office hours and I was there by myself.
Some bloke knocked on the door.
I went out and asked him what he wanted.
"I'm looking for a job" he says.
"Doing what ?" I asked.
"I can drive a truck" he says.
"I don't work here" I said "and I don't know if they are hiring. But would you let me photocopy your licence and get your contact details"
"Sure" he says and gave me his licence which I noted was for heavy articulated vehicles.
I wrote a brief note and put it and the licence copy on the bosses desk.
Two days later, I saw the guy at work again.
"The boss rang me and I start today" he says.
Point of anecdote.
Sometimes you just get lucky.
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Post by greatcoastal on Mar 28, 2019 8:07:58 GMT -5
He’s too busy driving to hire drivers... I’d say keep being persistent. The need is clearly there if you can make it through the red tape. It’s not uncommon for the online software to have failed them and they don’t even know you’re re-attempting. Like trying to get past the automated menu to speak with a human at some places! It's reached a point where ,me being persistent, could end up being annoying, or trespassing. Sadly the right doesn't know what the left is doing, and they blame each other. I still feel that I was THAT CLOSE!! After my backing tests ,the man who helped interview me said, " here's what you did wrong, you really need to jacknife that thing!" I felt very uncomfortable almost jackknifing someone else's very expensive piece of equipment! It also shows how their backing test is 20 ft to short, and 99% of the time in the real world i approached any dock or parking spot to back into at a 90 degree angle, not paralleL. I can then position my trailer to more of a 45% and follow the curve." All of this I can handle and do differently, if given a second opportunity. |
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Post by northstarmom on Mar 28, 2019 10:56:47 GMT -5
View applying for jobs as a job in itself. The more jobs you apply for and the more carefully you individualize your applications the greater the likelihood you will get a job. Do not put all of your hopes in any particular job. Even if you get interviewed and the interview goes well keep applying elsewhere.
It took me 10 months to find a job. This includes some major disappointments such as a job that was cancelled just as I was being hired. It ended up that I got s better job than I would have if the other jobs had come through. The job that I got I was such a good match for that the organization was so eager to hire me that they invited me for an interview before I’d finished my application.
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Post by greatcoastal on Apr 18, 2019 10:19:10 GMT -5
I've continued to apply for more jobs. I had a short but hopeful interview with a local oil company. It would be a sweet run from our local port "cape Canaveral" inland to "Orlando" and back daily. I told them " I would need some training" they said " that's what we do".
The only negative is I live about 40 minutes from the port. I will gladly take it ! Hauling oil ( tanker hazmat) pays the most in the trucking industry!
I have an interview tomorrow with a private firm that hauls the U.S. mail, with 18 wheelers. They too want my tanker and hazmat endorsements. It is 40 minutes from the house in the opposite direction and I would be doing a daily run to Orlando.
I never heard back from the county, however after I work for any of these other companies I can always re-apply. Hopefully I will be quiet happy with these other opportunities.
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Post by northstarmom on Apr 18, 2019 12:56:38 GMT -5
Congrats on the interview and promising prospects! A 40-minute commute is a pain but in many parts of the country - including areas in snow country— it would be considered a short commute. BTDT including in snow country and having to pick up and get kids from daycare.
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Post by tamara68 on Apr 20, 2019 1:47:47 GMT -5
When you apply to a vacancy, always use important words in your letter that were in the advertisement. Adjust your cv to every application, not use one for all.
Always call to ask some further questions, so that they can recognise your name when they receive your application.
Also send letters to companies you'd like to work for, even if they don't have a vacancy now. They could keep your letter until they do have a vacancy.
I got my current job that way. I sent a letter and coincidentally they were just about to make an advertisement. Two weeks later I had the job.
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Post by greatcoastal on May 6, 2019 5:11:49 GMT -5
I received a return call after an interview! ( sadly that has not been happening, even with follow ups) I've been hired!
I sent a thank you card/letter ( I have a box of blank cards made from many of my paintings)asking a few more follow up questions as well.
I get the impression that the letter is greatly appreciated , and that 0% of the people applying for this line of work even bother to send a thank you letter.
It all started with an online application. Then came a 5 week wait to hear back. It seems the manager had a sick leave. Okay.
They would like me to start today, we are forced to wait for the corporation ( Penske) to finish my background check ( I have nothing to worry about) lord knows how many times I have been fingerprinted for ( a false accusation), adoptions, and my recent Hazmat endorsement!
My divorce left me with some debt. One year of employment will cover that!
This position will be a great restart for me. After being out of the workforce ( a full time job) for the last 16 yrs. it's part time, ( 25-30 hrs.) local, designated locations,, an orientation, some training, all new equipment, a monthly schedule, Sat. work, no handling of any freight, and occasionally riding with others.
I look forward to being a light in a dark place, when needed!
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Post by greatcoastal on May 6, 2019 7:13:58 GMT -5
I was also able to reapply for that full time county job that I wanted. I can now wait and see if I get a second opportunity.
I have mixed feelings about taking that county job " if" I get a second opportunity.
Starting with one company and then leaving for another in such a short period doesn't seem to look good.
Others advice me " that's part of doing business. You have every right to leave a part time for a full time with benefits. Just explain and ask if they can offer you more."
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Post by hopingforachange on May 6, 2019 10:35:03 GMT -5
No one look down on you for jumping from a part time to a full time with benefits job. Employers know part time positions have a high turn over rate. The trucking industry even for full time positions has a much higher turnover rate then when you left 16 years ago. For some reason companies are refusing to give raises, so the only way to improve your pay is to keep moving around.
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Post by sadkat on May 6, 2019 10:54:10 GMT -5
Congratulations greatcoastal! Don’t worry about jumping into a better job- especially from part time to full time. Gaining the experience is the most important thing right now. Besides, if your county is anything like mine, it will take a long time to go through the hiring process. Good Luck! |
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Post by northstarmom on May 7, 2019 3:58:00 GMT -5
Congratulations, GC! Leaving a part-time job for a fulltime job is understandable. Also, people move faster now from job to job because companies aren't loyal to their employees any more so there's no reason for employees to be loyal to them.
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Post by greatcoastal on May 7, 2019 7:29:13 GMT -5
Interviews now are standardized with each applicant’s being asked the same questions. Ironically, I was just hired for a job and the interviewer knew less about interviewing than I did! I picked up on this from the first phone call I received for my interview. The lady asked me to "please bring in your resume for your interview". She should have asked me to, " bring your resume, your class A CDL, and your physical card". I've learned to "be prepared" by just carrying a book bag full of everything. The lady asked to see my resume. (It's 3 pages long- they want to know my driving experience, that goes all the way back to H.S.. And it can't show any gaps) I put my resume, drivers license and medical card, all on the table. She said, " My...You're prepared!" Instead of asking me questions, she said " so, tell me all about yourself". Apparently I was able to answer her 'standard questions' and also give a decent explanation to each answer. She did not appear to know quite what to ask, so I did that for her. ( like so many jobs, she is doing the work of three people) I was telling the interviewer about my experience of not being able to hook up my tractor to a trailer because other trailers had been parked in front of it. She then said" that leads to a great follow up question". ( I knew what she was going to ask) She asked " what did you do in that situation?" I told her, " I called my dispatcher". That answer pleased her. I knew it would, their is a litany of questions like these when you are testing for hauling hazardous material. At the end of our interview, my interviewer told me " I've never even driven or been inside an 18 wheeler". I just smiled and did what I needed to do to pass an interview and hopefully get hired. |
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Post by greatcoastal on Jun 2, 2019 10:15:47 GMT -5
I am enjoying the new job! This is my 2nd week back in the work world. The job itself is good, the type of work, the equipment, the hours, etc...
The people I am working with? That is a different story! Too many chiefs and not enough indians! ( I am an Indian)
Similar to a SM. Yeah it's normally good to lay low and do your job. Then there comes times when you need to reinforce boundaries. level the playing field, by letting people know the facts, they are wrong, and I will not be disrespected and spoken down too.
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Post by worksforme2 on Jun 2, 2019 13:50:01 GMT -5
Congratulations GC. It's funny that everyday I hear about how there are so many unfilled jobs in the US. I see lots of job adds for truckers. But watching you go through all this mishmash has me wondering if the current management at these companies have a clue as to what it takes to hire and utilize people in the most productive manor.
And don't feel bad ab out leaving a part time job for one that is full time. If the company lost the contract work that you are doing don't think for a minute that they would hesitate to terminate you with no warning.
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Post by hopingforachange on Jun 2, 2019 16:05:13 GMT -5
Congratulations GC. It's funny that everyday I hear about how there are so many unfilled jobs in the US. I see lots of job adds for truckers. But watching you go through all this mishmash has me wondering if the current management at these companies have a clue as to what it takes to hire and utilize people in the most productive manor. And don't feel bad ab out leaving a part time job for one that is full time. If the company lost the contract work that you are doing don't think for a minute that they would hesitate to terminate you with no warning. There's a labor shortage for truckers that are willing to work for peanuts, just like all of the other jobs in the USA. |
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