Job Search

[USUC]

I'm not sure how many people here are currently actively looking for work. As a recent graduate in the field of social science, this economy is a bummer. I don't think I could tell you how many resumes I've sent out, how many jobs I've applied for, or how many information interviews I have gone through. I know I'm not alone in this as countless others are in the same predicament and probably applying for the same jobs.

A little background on my situation. Over the summer I graduated with my master's degree (Mass Media Research), got married, and moved to Las Vegas where my wife had been working. The plan was to continue searching for work from Vegas and, if necessary, relocate when I found a job. When I began working on my degree there were a fair amount of opportunities in media research and social science research available. But, by the time this summer rolled around, the job market had dried up and it hasn't improved much. I was able to pick up a part time job working in a psychiatric hospital to cover my bills. However, two months ago my wife was laid off of her job. The Las Vegas economy is piss poor right now and she's had as much luck as me with the job search. So we decided to move to the SLC area.

I was applying for jobs in Utah (and all over the country) while I was in Vegas so the move probably doesn't change my situation much, but it should hers. I'm not quite ready to give up the search for a job that utilizes my degree, but the point is quickly approaching where I need to find a job that gives me a career, any career. I'll keep doing what I'm doing (networking, informational interviews, etc.) but I wonder if finding a headhunter or an employment agency to help is worth the money. Has anyone here had experience with any of these? I get the impression that "head hunters" are used for experienced professionals. And there are so many websites out there that offer their services for a fee that promise they are the gateway to great jobs. They might be but I'm just not sold on it and I don't have the funds to be frivolous to find out which ones are legit. For any of you that are on the prowl for work, or a better job, have you considered something like this?

[Surfah]

Sorry to hear that man. I am about to celebrate a year anniversary on my job after a 6 month layoff myself. And that time was miserable and very difficult for me and my family so I can definitely commiserate.

I abandoned my field of study about 6 months after I graduated. Though to be fair, I never anticipated doing anything with my degree.

At this point, based on what you have said, I think it's time to expand your horizons a bit and maybe look outside of your field of study.

Most headhunters want someone they can place. Entry level positions for people with little to no work history aren't usually what they cater to in my experience.

If you could tell us a bit more about your degrees and any work history I am sure there are some that may be able to help you. This place was a great resource for me when I was out of work. And there were a couple of us.

Have you considered an analyst position with the government? Your background in research may be attractive and there are several of these positions, even entry level when I scour USAJobs and such.

[TripletDaddy]

Best of luck, USU Coug. Hang in there, both you and your wife. Good things will eventually come your way. Be supportive of one another and when things get frustrating, remember that your spouse is in your corner.

[il Padrino Ute]

It may not be something you want, but there is always a need for teachers, especially in Utah and if you're willing to relocate to a rural district, they tend to pay more. You'd need to get a teaching certificate and there's always administration which pays much better than teaching.

Whatever you decide, all the best to you.

[Moliere]

I'll keep doing what I'm doing (networking, informational interviews, etc.) but I wonder if finding a headhunter or an employment agency to help is worth the money. Has anyone here had experience with any of these? I get the impression that "head hunters" are used for experienced professionals. And there are so many websites out there that offer their services for a fee that promise they are the gateway to great jobs. They might be but I'm just not sold on it and I don't have the funds to be frivolous to find out which ones are legit. For any of you that are on the prowl for work, or a better job, have you considered something like this?

In my experience, recruiters and headhunters don't charge the placee for placement services. Instead, they collect from the company when you get placed (and they typically get like 30% of your base salary as payment). Of course you need to be placeable for them to take you and sans work history that might be tough.

My advice would be to expand your horizons a bit outside of your field of study. Either that or go to law school.

[Pheidippides]

Either that or go to law school.

With friends like you, who needs enemies? I thought we were trying to help a guy!

[Moliere]

With friends like you, who needs enemies? I thought we were trying to help a guy!

I'd tell him to become a CPA, but that isn't funny.

[USUC]

Thanks for the support and words of encouragement. We are fortunate in that we don’t have children to support.

I have applied for a few analyst positions with the government, but have heard nothing of them since applying. But the government isn’t known for being quick with anything. I’ll look at USAJobs again to see if something new has popped up.Much of my work experience revolves around some form of social science research.

My MS is in Journalism and Communications. I did a content analysis of election coverage in the editorial pages of three metropolitan newspapers. This basically entailed analyzing thousands of articles and coding them for content (subject, author, tone, etc) and running the numbers through SPSS.
I got a BA in History. I worked in the school’s Special Collections and Archives as an archival assistant while getting my degree. Afterward I did a fellowship at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center doing collection processing and research and then as an assistant to Senator Hatch’s personal archivist in his D.C. office. After this I was looking for a change of pace so I started working for a psychiatric hospital at the U of U and had them pay for a second degree in Psychology. Afterward I worked as a research assistant for a study on teen pregnancy. I did interviewing and data collection.

I have worked as a psychiatric technician in some capacity for the last 5 years. I am pretty comfortable in a hospital setting and have applied for a number of research assistant positions in a hospital setting. But I have been told most of those jobs are going to MS in Public Health.

[clackamascoug]

Big Shortage of CPA's.

[USUC]

Have you considered an analyst position with the government? Your background in research may be attractive and there are several of these positions, even entry level when I scour USAJobs and such.

What denotes an entry level position with the US Government? Is there a GS level specific to them?

[NorthwestUteFan]

What denotes an entry level position with the US Government? Is there a GS level specific to them?

Typically GS-5, GS-7, or GS-9 will be the highest level one would expect to be hired. To be hired at a -7 or -9 with zero relative experience would require a graduate degree with good grades, for example. Usually one year of experience at the preceeding level is required to move up to the next level.

Also each GS level has 10 steps. The higher steps in GS-7, for example, pay better than the lower steps in GS-9. If you end up getting a job for the Gubment, you would actually be wise to start with a LOWER grade level and at a HIGHER step (eg GS-5 Step 10 instead of GS-7 Step 4). You make roughly the same amount of money at first, but in the coming years you would be ahead when you earn Level increases...

I remember working at the U hospital (I was up there before UNI or WIN, whatever it is called now, was built in Research Park). The Psych Techs were a good group of people, overworked and highly underappreciated. They would go from wrestling and effectively hog tying a belligerent patient, to removing bowel impactions from elderly patients. Quite a wide swath of duties which definitely are character builders.

[USUC]

Typically GS-5, GS-7, or GS-9 will be the highest level one would expect to be hired. To be hired at a -7 or -9 with zero relative experience would require a graduate degree with good grades, for example. Usually one year of experience at the preceeding level is required to move up to the next level.

Also each GS level has 10 steps. The higher steps in GS-7, for example, pay better than the lower steps in GS-9. If you end up getting a job for the Gubment, you would actually be wise to start with a LOWER grade level and at a HIGHER step (eg GS-5 Step 10 instead of GS-7 Step 4). You make roughly the same amount of money at first, but in the coming years you would be ahead when you earn Level increases...

I remember working at the U hospital (I was up there before UNI or WIN, whatever it is called now, was built in Research Park). The Psych Techs were a good group of people, overworked and highly underappreciated. They would go from wrestling and effectively hog tying a belligerent patient, to removing bowel impactions from elderly patients. Quite a wide swath of duties which definitely are character builders.

Thanks for the input. I wonder how many applicants these entry level federal jobs have per opening. The hoops you have to through on some of these applications. I hope that alone weeds out some of the competition.

A psych tech's day is rarely dull. When I first started I would come home and tell my roommates the crazy stuff I witnessed. But after a while you forget just how bizarre some of the stuff you see is.