"Getting out of the business" resource thread

Look at your local, county and state civil service for tests and jobs. Some of them may require just an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree to qualify.


Look also at your local Department of Labor office to see if they have resume assistance and writing and interview assistance classes. They may also have a list of jobs.

 

Is the technical writing certificate course worth a shot?

 

Certification of a skill is always worth it. Oftentimes, if you apply for something that requires that skill, certification is required, and not having it, even if you do actually know how to do that skill proficiently, will be a non-starter. Employers with such needs want ready proof of a skill. That's what certification is.

I have a nephew who is fluent in American Sign Language. He is not deaf, but has been engaged in ASL regularly since he was 5 years old and started learning it from a cousin, and he took interest and took it from there as he grew up, often using it among friends, in group gatherings, and at events. He could easily fill a job requiring proficiency in that skill, but he is not certified to do it professionally.

Although he's not blind, he has vision problems and consequent transportation issues, and so, has been struggling with job-hunting recently. He is one of the brightest young men I know, and an interesting, articulate person, who, like us, writes well, too, so it breaks my heart to see him struggling so, even though we in the family anticipated that this might happen after his graduation from college (with honors/near-perfect grades). He has some limitations but also, obviously, some abilities, and I'm confident he can do the right job if employers will give him a chance. But he's flailing a little right now. So, I've tried to encourage him to lean on skills and interests that he already has, and I have told him to get certified in ASL interpreting, because there are many jobs in the field, and it is a skill that, truly, not just anyone can do well enough to get hired for it. But, in attempts to help him, I've looked, and almost all of the jobs require official certification. I can only hope he will take my advice, find out how to make the certification happen, and do it. (Most such skills -- typing speed, clerical, computer-programs, some language tests -- can be measured and documented at job centers; others require the completion of specific courses).

If you have an opportunity to do it for technical writing, I would think you should do so.

 

It’s pending a drug screen and a background check, but today I was offered a social media specialist position with a commuter rail company.

 

Yeah, or maybe ... you're ... setting us up for another tragically mind-numbing tale of bewildered misfortune?

Good luck with the background check. I'll bet that's where the bastards get ya this time!

 

We’ll see

 

But enough about how my life's been going lately ...

 

Just stay away from the snack bar at halftime, and you should be OK.

 

I got three unsolicited LinkedIn messages yesterday from recruiters.

Three.

I also got a couple earlier this week.

I have no special skills. If you looked at my LinkedIn page, you’d be wondering why they were showing interest. I sure was.

I say this not to humble brag (ok, a little) but because people are hiring. Now. For skills we have.

I’ve had a poster or two here look over my LI over the years and one look over my resume. That’s it.

A little tweak here or there could make the difference. That’s challenging to think about when you feel like you’re at a dead end and have no hope, but still, do it.

 

Apparently everything was ok with those things. I just received my email for onboarding. I start July 18.

 

Good for you, and best of luck. Our long national nightmare is over.