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A Cry for Help

Started by June 29, 2009 12:08 PM
27 comments, last by bzroom 15 years, 4 months ago
Quote: Original post by CodaKiller
Also I may know how you can at least make some money, are any of these addresses close enough for you to walk to?

14415 Owen Tech Blvd.
Austin, TX 78728

909C Avenue C
Denton, TX 76201

350 S Adams
Eagle Pass, TX 78852

815 Grant St
Laredo, TX 78040

1827 W. Gentry Pkwy
Tyler, TX 75702



*gasp*
I don't think I could even DRIVE to those locations for a job if I had a car.

And yeah, I know that there are others that have had and still have it worse than I do.
And I do have the right attitude about it all. I know things will eventually get better.

Texas laws are really stupid.
I cannot put out any flyers to advertise that I do computer work or anything unless I go through a ton of paperwork and get licenses and stuff.
I know that I could easily make the money that I need if it weren't for the retarded way that things must be done to run a business in Texas.
I cannot move back to Louisiana though, as I just signed a 6mo lease yesterday.
And breaking the lease is REALLY expensive..so I am stuck here for six months...now I just gotta figure out how in the hell to make this all work. :
And now looking at the weather..its supposed to storm every day this week.
Thats a week blown to hell. I cannot walk anywhere in a storm..there isn't anyplace to walk..except directly on the highway (side ditches flood) and that is pretty much a suicide attempt.


I've tried to find freelance work on sites like elance.com and rentacoder.com with no luck there either. This is just getting ridiculous!

[size=2]Bang Bang Attack Studios
Senior Technical Director
Professional Typographer / Letterer Comic Art Commissions Profile
First, why did you just sign a 6 month lease yesterday? You started this thread before that correct? As zedz said, a tent is like $100, how much was your application fee?

20 years of programming and can't find a job is kind of hard to believe. It must not be that great of experience or you're lieing. I'm pretty sure you can find an internship at some programming firm for $10 an hour if you tell them your sad story and dress nicely.

Maybe not where you live though. If you live in the boondocks then not having a car is not an excuse for not finding work in other places. Look far and wide, you may need to stay in hotels while you get started, or your tent. You have to be prepared to go anywhere if it means getting work. Searching in a 10 mile radius is a laughable attempt.

Can you get any credit cards? Just rack up your 2k in debt..

I was jobless for 4 months and it was pretty scary. I got a job right at the last minute, i didnt have enough money for gas to get to work so i asked for my paycheck in advance and i felt low doing that.. So i know how you feel, but i dont have 20 years of experience, i've got to just think you're not trying correctly/hard enough.
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I've been wondering about his experience as well. From the sound of your past jobs I'm guessing your programming experience is self-taught hobby programming. Nothing wrong with that, but if you don't have a proper IT education, finding a programming job in this economy is going to be tough.

My first recommendation is to move somewhere where there is work. I know you signed a lease, but at the rate you are going you can't pay anyways so it's going to end badly for you.

To me, moving sounds like the best solution for you. You sound like you have had a number of bad times. So pack up and start fresh somewhere. Find somewhere remote where nobody wants to go that needs people. The pay will be good and you will be able to pull yourself back together.

If you can't do all this on your own, you could always join the army. I know the military isn't for everyone, but it might be something worth looking into.

John
Maybe instead of focusing on quantity of job applications, how about quality? Care to post your resume?
10 miles is a long way to walk to work for a minimum wage job, but tons of people do it (you'd get used to it though it sucks) - however, you can get a push-bike and then 10 miles is not much.

How about going door-to-door offering to cut grass or wash cars?
Someone said post my resume.
This is the only resume that I have at the moment.
I know it needs work, but I'm not very good with that sort of thing.
Any pointers?

I haven't got any grand portfolio either, though I have been trying to put one together for quite some time now.

If anyone wants to see my work, I can refer you to some of the projects I've got online.


washing cars not going to happen. People around here would rather go to the drive thru car wash.

cutting grass...don't own a lawnmower, and there are already tons of mexicans driving around with full equipment doing those jobs around here.

If it wasn't illegal, I would simply go to every apartment in this complex and pitch a $20 computer cleanup/speedup to them..but alas it would likely get me jail time instead of rent. *sigh*


Its nearly 100 degrees outside, and walking ten miles in the burning sun turns me into what looks like someone being tossed overboard by the time I get anywhere.
It doesn't make a great first impression and really makes it tough to even get an interview.
I usually walk to the mall, and cool down inside for about an hour, then go try to find work from there..it still doesn't help in that I sweat a lot, and I am allergic to chemicals they put in antiperspirants and stuff! :

I'm still searching online. And I have tried to help out some people here on the forums today. :)






[size=2]Bang Bang Attack Studios
Senior Technical Director
Professional Typographer / Letterer Comic Art Commissions Profile
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I just read over your resume and as much as I hate to say this (I don't like telling people bad news), you don't have any credentials that would get you a decent IT job.

You appear to have no real formal education which is critical based on the experience you have listed.

By no means am I saying you don't have any programming skills, it's just on paper there is no way an employer would consider your resume for an interview. In this current economy (and even in a strong economy), competition is tough as there are thousands of qualified people looking for work.

My advice to you is to get a job (any job) to pay your bills and try to work at getting an education if you want a career in programming. You may still want to think about moving to a less populated, less depressed area of the country to improve your chances at finding work.

John
Quote: Original post by borngamer
I just read over your resume and as much as I hate to say this (I don't like telling people bad news), you don't have any credentials that would get you a decent IT job.

You appear to have no real formal education which is critical based on the experience you have listed.

By no means am I saying you don't have any programming skills, it's just on paper there is no way an employer would consider your resume for an interview. In this current economy (and even in a strong economy), competition is tough as there are thousands of qualified people looking for work.

My advice to you is to get a job (any job) to pay your bills and try to work at getting an education if you want a career in programming. You may still want to think about moving to a less populated, less depressed area of the country to improve your chances at finding work.

John


Exactly, I'm in the same situation as he is but I've given up on programing for money as without an education your skills are useless. Just find a job that pays $10/ hour that is the best you can hope for.
Remember Codeka is my alternate account, just remember that!
I'll make some suggestions to you, free advice i got from my job search.

Drop the objective. It's way too long anyways.

Each skill, application, platform, or library you mention in the technical section must be directly accountable for in your experience. If you say c++, what have you done with c++? Did you take a coure? Hold a job with it? How long have you used it. When you say 3ds max, where are examples of your work?

It all sounds like a lot of hot air unless you can back it up.

Your proffesional affiliations, describe how you're affiliated rather than just listing them. People should be able to contact those people and have them know who you are. Just putting their name in a list is not going to get you anywhere. Did you write articles for them, do work for them?

Your resume needs to look sharper, have a lot less words, and be a lot more descriptive.

I'm reluctant to post this but I feel it's necessary after doing that much preaching: Mine

Edit:

Also, you should work with a recruiter. They have lots of jobs just waiting for employees. They will also help you get your resume up to par, they may even provide you with examples from candidates they've placed or who have been turned down. If you get one from someone who got turned down, and yours is lower quality, what's going to happen to you? It's an invaluable resource.

www.kellyit.com should be able to help you out. Call someone there and chat with them.

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