What should I do?

[waterinthefuel]

As some of you know, I lost my job back in Dec of 07. I used my savings to go back to school and obtain an A&P license (aircraft mechanic). I had to move back in with my parents in order to be able to afford to go back to school. Now that I'm done with school, I'm finding out that in a tight economy companies are only hiring mechanics with experience. Of course, I don't have any being fresh out of school.

Here is my situation. Do I find another job right now? If I do, it would make me less available to interview for a career job as a mechanic. I want to be available any time someone wants to interview me. I also have a time constraint on me, believe it or not. Now it's no big deal right now, but in time it would be. If I would not get a mechanic job in 18 months I would no longer meet the requirements to work as a mechanic and I'd have to go back for remedial something or something, not sure exactly. I couldn't work as a mechanic unless under someone's guidance or something. Not sure exactly what, but it would complicate things.

There is a huge company not too far away that I've been in constant contact with that says they will hire people with no experience, and the next "batch" of newbies they'll be hiring should be some time next month. I've been to two interviews with other companies and neither turned out well, I'm still unemployed. It wouldn't benefit me too much to get a job right now because if something does happen in September I would be royally screwing someone nice enough to give me a job in this day and age where jobs are tough to come by. It's like, I don't know what to do. Should I try and get a job anywhere right now while still looking around here? It would be more difficult if I worked all the time to research for jobs in this area, much less interview for them. If that company does hire me in September, then I'd be possibly 2 weeks from a job. I just don't know what to do.

Financially, I'm ok right now. I can wait it out for a little bit, but eventually I would need employment. I'd say by January, it would be getting to the point of where I'd be doing anything for income.

I feel that if I'm honest and tell a potential employer that I'm seeking employment somewhere else, they won't hire me, yet if I don't tell them, I'd be lying to them, or at the very least misleading them into thinking I'm staying when I'd be gone the first mechanic job offer I got.

I want and need any and all input I can get, especially any from anyone who works in human resources, or hires and fires, for their company. Thanks!

 

[rbh]

Re: What should I do?

I am not going to vote in your poll (It is your call)
but I will say that the decision you make today may just be to get a part time job if you need some work to keep your sanity or put some coin the wallet until your oppurtunity happens with the aero mechanical thing.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: What should I do?

Yea, that's what I was thinking too. Part time something just to stay sane.

 

[stic88]

Re: What should I do?

if your heart is set on being a mechanic, and you are finacially ok for a couple of months. then i would go for the mechanic. on the other hand you could get a job at the local convenience store or home depot working nights and keeping the days free for the interviews that will be coming your way. but what ever you do look inside and make sure that is the best for you

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What should I do?

Get something as a stop gap until the real thing arrives for you.
Best of luck with the new career.

 

[JBow]

Re: What should I do?

As some of you know, I lost my job back in Dec of 07. I used my savings to go back to school and obtain an A&P license (aircraft mechanic). I had to move back in with my parents in order to be able to afford to go back to school. Now that I'm done with school, I'm finding out that in a tight economy companies are only hiring mechanics with experience. Of course, I don't have any being fresh out of school.

Here is my situation. Do I find another job right now? If I do, it would make me less available to interview for a career job as a mechanic. I want to be available any time someone wants to interview me. I also have a time constraint on me, believe it or not. Now it's no big deal right now, but in time it would be. If I would not get a mechanic job in 18 months I would no longer meet the requirements to work as a mechanic and I'd have to go back for remedial something or something, not sure exactly. I couldn't work as a mechanic unless under someone's guidance or something. Not sure exactly what, but it would complicate things.

There is a huge company not too far away that I've been in constant contact with that says they will hire people with no experience, and the next "batch" of newbies they'll be hiring should be some time next month. I've been to two interviews with other companies and neither turned out well, I'm still unemployed. It wouldn't benefit me too much to get a job right now because if something does happen in September I would be royally screwing someone nice enough to give me a job in this day and age where jobs are tough to come by. It's like, I don't know what to do. Should I try and get a job anywhere right now while still looking around here? It would be more difficult if I worked all the time to research for jobs in this area, much less interview for them. If that company does hire me in September, then I'd be possibly 2 weeks from a job. I just don't know what to do.

Financially, I'm ok right now. I can wait it out for a little bit, but eventually I would need employment. I'd say by January, it would be getting to the point of where I'd be doing anything for income.

I feel that if I'm honest and tell a potential employer that I'm seeking employment somewhere else, they won't hire me, yet if I don't tell them, I'd be lying to them, or at the very least misleading them into thinking I'm staying when I'd be gone the first mechanic job offer I got.

I want and need any and all input I can get, especially any from anyone who works in human resources, or hires and fires, for their company. Thanks!

What do you tell a potential employer when he asks what are you doing now? I say be productive and make some money while you are waiting on the mechanic job to come through.
Good Luck,
Jack< Mechanic 35 + years in the business

 

[eaglejim]

Re: What should I do?

I am going to go with part time also in this day and time it all about who you know or may run into,as a self employed person I am out everyday doing the meet and greet thing

 

[ajgraz]

Re: What should I do?

There is no such thing as loyalty between employee and employer in either direction anymore. Get the best job you can now, and when something better comes along, go do that--whether it's 10 years, 2 years or two weeks down the road--and don't look back or shed a tear.

And don't bother telling an employer that you'll be looking for a better job while working there. Everyone is doing that, including the person interviewing you and the person who will be your supervisor.

Also, don't forget that they are not being nice giving you the job, you are being nice in letting them hire you

 

[rbh]

Re: What should I do?

There is no such thing as loyalty between employee and employer in either direction anymore. Get the best job you can now, and when something better comes along, go do that--whether it's 10 years, 2 years or two weeks down the road--and don't look back or shed a tear.

And don't bother telling an employer that you'll be looking for a better job while working there. Everyone is doing that, including the person interviewing you and the person who will be your supervisor.

Also, don't forget that they are not being nice giving you the job, you are being nice in letting them hire you

That is total crap!!!
As an employer you sink time and effort as well as funding into your employee's to make sure they have the training into what is required and are HAPPY were they are.

The worst thing is to start a team and having to keep rebuilding it!!!!!

You may work by the hour, but the rest of us that have put our butts and cash on the line have to deal with the good and bad, and there is a good chance we could loose our company's because we have employees that followed your words of wisdom -NOT-.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: What should I do?

As an employer you sink time and effort as well as funding into your employee's to make sure they have the training into what is required and are HAPPY were they are.

If the employer is doing that successfully, then the employee won't find anything better, now will they? And by the way, is the employer doing that out of the goodness of his heart, or because it's an investment expecting a return? Exactly, it's business. Only executives and HR people think that workers fall for that "loyalty" and "looking out for the employees" garbage

Save your love and your loyalty for your wife and family. Your boss and your company deserve your professional best efforts, and nothing more.

And as for you "owing" it to your boss not to make him have to rebuild his team frequently; let me ask you, does any company have a firm policy--apart from perhaps union contractual obligations--that they absolutely won't fire anyone until they've been there at least "x" amount of time? Of course not.

Any employee owes it to himself and his career to constantly look at what's out there. And any employee would be a fool to believe that management wouldn't boot them out the door at the drop of a hat, no matter how valuable or irreplaceable they think they are or how long they've been there.

And for the record, I am not hourly, not a laborer, not in a union, nor am I some kind of agitator or disgruntled person; I am a professional white-collar biosciences researcher whose company has managed to keep me happy enough and advancing enough to stay on for 15 years now--and in large part that's because they know we'll leave if management starts to slip. Doesn't mean I haven't gone in every day since day one expecting to get a pink slip and spending at least part of almost each day looking at other jobs. That's just the cold, hard, impartial reality of things today.

Indeed, anyone who was not looking to better their career--including through looking for a better job while on the job--is not someone I would want to work for, work with, or hire.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: What should I do?

You didnt mention the hands on experience you have in the mechanical repair field. If you dont have some solid mechanical work experience few places will put you on right beside their old time pros, You will need to look for an apprenticeship . With that you will put your knowledge and natural skills together and SHOW THE COMPANY THAT INDEED YOU ARE worthy of such responsibility. Maybe not if you were wanting to work on lawn mowers but not airplanes.........or even school buses for that matter.

 

[rbh]

Re: What should I do?

Ajgraz,
you are everything that your country has expected out of a white collar worker.
enjoy the ride.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: What should I do?

There is no such thing as loyalty between employee and employer in either direction anymore. Get the best job you can now, and when something better comes along, go do that--whether it's 10 years, 2 years or two weeks down the road--and don't look back or shed a tear.

And don't bother telling an employer that you'll be looking for a better job while working there. Everyone is doing that, including the person interviewing you and the person who will be your supervisor.

Also, don't forget that they are not being nice giving you the job, you are being nice in letting them hire you

I employ people ajgraz, and please, I don't mean to upset you here, but when I am seeking an employee, you are the "exact person" I try to eliminate and NEVER employ.
Now I knock-around with other guys who employ people too, and it may surprise you, but I'm not alone.
I feel i should define myself as the person who pays employees wages out of MY pocket.

Cheers
Phillip

Now to waterinthefuel.
If being a mechanic is what you want, then go for it, but in the mean time, why not take a casual job as suggested, or maybe a labouring job in a seasonal industry.
There are good employers out there.
I would take you on for 3 days, and send you around to my mates for the other 4.
Good luck.
Phillip

 

[Thad]

Re: What should I do?

Water,

I am going the other way with this one. Look for the mechanics job. But look now. Everywhere you can think of and more. Ask around, look around, don't give up. You went to school, on your own dime, to learn about something for a reason. There are a lot of career choices out there and you chose this one. Why? I can only imagine there is something in it that "peaked" your interest. Do not hold out for that one company that might hire next month. You could be passing up the very job that you would spend the rest of your working days at. You never know.

As for leaving a company "nice enough" to hire you, well, you would already know within a couple of weeks if you see yourself staying there for any length of time. So it really is not an issue. You owe it to yourself to be able to get up every morning, put a smile on your face and gladly go to work. If you cannot do that, then you are not going to last long there anyway.

My dad was laid off after 32 years with his company. He held out for this one job that he thought he wanted. Passing up on several other jobs along the way. He finaly got his job with this "great" company. Two months later he was ready to quit. But, dad being dad, didn't. A couple of years later, one of the companies he had passed on called him and asked him if he was happy at his job and if he would reconsider the offer they had made him, plus they sweetend the offer. He had the same feelings, well, "they hired me and gave me the chance, I owe it to them...." Fast forward four years. He is at the company he passed up, loving his job and making better money and benefits and I don't think I've ever seen him happier.

But, as with anything else, these are only opinions. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

Thad

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: What should I do?

There is no such thing as loyalty between employee and employer in either direction anymore.

That's as pathetic as it is inaccurate....

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: What should I do?

That's as pathetic as it is inaccurate....

Agree with you Tim. Most people, thank goodness, have never been in the position of having to make the choice of laying off ("making redundant") their friends and co-workers in order to keep the whole business afloat. I've been in that position, depressingly, a few times in the past few years....and if somebody thinks it is easy they haven't done it. You know when you're making the decision to let somebody go that you're temporarily or permanently ruining somebody's life. The main issue is that this is not the "good old days" with large companies, flat economies, little competition, complacent consumers and decades long business cycles. Issues spring up very quickly now, both positive and negative, and that is reflected in the employment cycle.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: What should I do?

you have given me a restless night ajgraz, and i wonder if i handled your comment as well as I could have.
So if you are still following this thread, may I suggest you re-think your opinion, as you may be isolating yourself, and you may not be quite so insulated if the boss moves on you first.

In the past 18months I have had 2 people working here (casuals) who come from worlds similar to yours, and both were somewhat depressed, thankful for the work, and after a long period managed to find 'appropriate employment'; one on 50% of his previous salary, the other $55k, but listen to this.....he replaced an individual on $150k per year, been with the Company (US) for 18 yrs, who sought an increase in line with his importance....and now can't find a job.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: What should I do?

If that company does hire me in September, then I'd be possibly 2 weeks from a job. I just don't know what to do.
Financially, I'm ok right now. I can wait it out for a little bit, but eventually I would need employment. I'd say by January, it would be getting to the point of where I'd be doing anything for income.

Wait two weeks and see what happens. Then.....

I employ people ajgraz, and please, I don't mean to upset you here, but when I am seeking an employee, you are the "exact person" I try to eliminate and NEVER employ.
Now I knock-around with other guys who employ people too, and it may surprise you, but I'm not alone.
I feel i should define myself as the person who pays employees wages out of MY pocket.
Cheers
Phillip

Right on!

If it weren't for the "good" employee the employer would not be in business.
If you work for someone who doesn't consider you an asset then you are working in the wrong place. I always thought of my employee's as co-workers. Yes, technically I'm "the boss", but I always try to foster a different atmosphere. We are all equals working toward a common goal. Yes, eventually
I'm going to make more $$$$ but I had to put my a** on the line to get there. We are still equals because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have "gotten there"! And then they will be rewarded right along with me.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: What should I do?

Take a temporary job and keep looking for the job you went to school for. A temp service may actually be helpful. They fill alot of positions for "temp" work. If you do find THE job while you are working through them, and leave, well it was a "temp" job to begin with, right?

And chances are there will be a new temp in your spot within a day and the the employer understands the labor turnover. If he doesn't then he shouldn't be using a temp service to begin with.

 

[stevenw00]

Re: What should I do?

While you're looking for the right mechanic job, go talk to your unemployment office and anyone else they can direct you to. It is a fairly common practice now that gov't offices will help pay for education if you have to change careers due to being laid off. It can't hurt to look into, and in the meantime you might get a good lead on another job.