Following the John Coxey
pattern for the job hunt, September 1, as became unemployed, I began spending close to 40 hours per week job-hunting. Seeking specifically
Java Developer positions, I first rounded up as many Web-sites listing programming jobs as possible. Finding that the first dozen consumed my first 40 hour week, I modified my resume then pumped it out to almost 500 openings (across the nation --- ie, all-states, I had the luxury of relocating anywhere) within the first week.
Monday, a disappointment of sorts, I only received one phone call, but quite a few emails, which I immediately began responding to. I added a few more Web-sites each week, and kept responding to all new openings daily. With a dismal response, seemingly, during week two, I decided to spend a few hundred to pay for a resume revamp. I really do not recommend this in retrospect. Just look around at other resumes and place every skill you ever even heard about on a project, in a tidy little list.
By third week, I was beginning to get more phone calls, and feeling a bit more positive. The recruiters do not know technology and tend to be very conservative (at least lately). So I had to keep reminding myself (in the John Coxey pattern) that this is a "game of large numbers" and that in due time, it would work. I had performed several phone "technical" interviews only --- seemed too little for 120 hours-plus effort.
Week four slowed down almost to a stop. Of course, the WTC disaster, and the start of war was not helping, here. Then, at end of week four, late Friday, I conducted a very positive hour long phone interview. The following Monday, I conducted an additional interview with same Fortune 500 firm, and scheduled an interview for the following Monday (which ended up getting postponed - and they still want to do it, almost 3 weeks later). Continually, I responded to all new Java openings, even if I did not have the full skill-set requested.
Late Thursday of Week5, I scheduled a phone interview with the hiring manager of yet another Fortune 500 firm for the following day. After that interview, he requested my references, and the following Monday, his HR called to schedule an in-person interview for that Friday. The next day I received FedEx with complete travel/lodging arrangements.
Two nights before I flew to that interview, a local firm called me. When I told them of my planned interview, but my preference to stay local, an interview was arranged with his client for the following evening (the night before flying to my first interview). And, yet another Fortune 500 firm called and arranged for me to conduct a telephone interview from-the-airport (this was not a good idea).
In short, I when I returned from the out-of-town interview, the local firm called me wanting to know if I still would accept the local position. Now, at end of seventh week, I just completed my second day on project at the local firm. I must turn down offers from two other interviews.
Throughout all this, I reviewed Java, read JavaRanch, ServerSide, and Java.Sun, and tried not to fret too much. I do have a Bachelor of Science in Finance with lots of Computer Science classes, I am a Sun Certified Java 2 Programmer (long, hard effort, three tries over a year, but success last spring), and I have approximately 4 years experience overall.
That's my job-hunt story over a period of a national crises plus start of a war plus downturn in economy.
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Tom Hennigan
Sun Certified Java 2 Platform Programmer