Any pics of Maryville? (Knoxville, Pigeon Forge: transplants, live, moving)

[TedTAce]

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I really does make me feel good about gasping for breath towards the end of my little walk around town that day.

The job hunt per say SUCKS.

Please take this as a joke (in the tone of 'curse you aqua scum' (from "Finding Nemo") Curse you Hiknapster!!!.

I have given up (for now) on finding a job in my career field, and have settled on a CSR position, and a part time weekend job at 'a major video retailer'. it's not enough to keep the wife from working while she is going to school, which in part was a point of moving up here.

In a few weeks, I'll get back to trying to find a 'real' tech job, but I'm very dis-heartened as I'm used to doing an interview and getting a job. I have done 4 tech interviews and gotten bupkis. Considering that the two jobs I have now require background checks with through reference checks (one required fingerprinting) I know it's not my suitability as a candidate.

[Beretta]

Ted, I have sent you a PM. Let me know if you didn't get it.

[hiknapster]

Well, Ted, now you know what I was talking about.

It was incredibly rude to say I didn't have a "real" job, but we've discussed that. As I've said before, it is not easy finding a good-paying job in Knoxville. Not for most, anyway.

As you know, I love my job and I am grateful to have it. The benefits are great. What you didn't know is that I worked there for three months and then had to have surgery. My job paid me while I was out and my $15,000 hospital bill was paid. You can't beat it.

I also work with some of the nicest people in the area. It's a great place.

I certainly didn't curse you, and yes I know you are joking! Ted, I find you to at least be incredibly honest. You could come on here and say, "Hiknapster is a big liar. I found a great paying job in one day!"

Thanks for letting everyone know it is not that easy.

How do you like where you are living? I heard it isn't that nice?

[Beretta]

hik - I hope you're feeling better! You do work at a wonderful place if they will do that for you. What workforce sector are you in? You should be the ambassador for reality info on moving here. Have fun at the Secret City Festival. We wanted to go to either that or the Lavender festival but I am making four big dishes for our family reunion tomorrow in Kingsport.

[hiknapster]

I am feeling much better! Thank you! Apparently, I still have fibromyalgia issues, though.

I do customer service technical support for high-speed internet.

I just hate to see people move here without getting a job. It was much easier to get a job in Florida. Believe me, at one point we were in a complete state of panic. Fortunately, we had a safety net called "Mom." Otherwise, I don't know what we would have done.

We live on a street where people move in and out all the time. Some of them have a tough time.

We are doing very well, though. I think once you are here awhile, people tend to trust you more.

[TedTAce]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

hik - I hope you're feeling better! You do work at a wonderful place if they will do that for you. What workforce sector are you in? You should be the ambassador for reality info on moving here. Have fun at the Secret City Festival. We wanted to go to either that or the Lavender festival but I am making four big dishes for our family reunion tomorrow in Kingsport.

I got one from you and from BarbG, between the two of you I am very happy about what you both brought to my attention, and will be replying personally soon.

Hik, to further emblish on the honesty thing... I am very serious when I say that I usually interview once and get a job. I think my search before this one did see two interviews; unusual; and that was it I was done on the 2nd interview. I'm used to sending out a few dozen resumes, getting very few responses, but once they get me in their office, it's usually been game over. I was slackjawed when I had a 'slam dunk' interview with a major corporation, and was never so much as contacted o be rejected formally afterwards. That was MAJOR culture shock and a slap in the face of my way over sized job hunting ego. I was even walking out of that interview even thinking of what I was going to post triumphantly here (sike). I hate to say it but before I came here I could casually and easily look anyone in the eye and say I was GREAT at finding work. Now I'm not so sure, but we shall see. I hope the fact I will have local ref's will help going forward.

[TedTAce]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I think once you are here awhile, people tend to trust you more.

BTW I'm glad you are doing better too!!!


You just reminded me of one of the last interviews I did. They asked me "What question shouldn't we ask you" and I had to reply "How long have you been here/why did you come here?" As I knew that was asked in every interview I knew I had failed.

[hiknapster]

The local references will help. Where did you end up, Ted?

I am good at job interviews, too. My big problem was getting the interview. No one would call me, since they could clearly see that I was from Mass. and Florida. Once I got an interview, I got a job.

I know you will take this the "right" way, so I will "say" it. Be careful about that cocky attitude. It will get you nowhere in Tennessee.

Be polite. Be humble. Be grateful.

It is a fine art to portraying yourself as the best thing since sliced bread, but not coming off as pompous.

You know I will tell it like it is, and you know I mean well.

[JMT]

This business of expecting to be hired on the spot is not being very realistic, and I'm sorry that I can't feel more sympathy for you, Ted. It just doesn't work like that for the vast majority of people. And that is certainly not unique to Knoxville.

My brother interviewed with Boeing in Seattle in JANUARY, and they just 3 weeks ago made him an offer (which he turned down). Another friend of mine interviewed for a high-tech job in Wichita for another aircraft manufacturer, and it took them 4 months to get around to offering him a job.

The only times I have ever been hired on the spot were for minimum-wage jobs at convenience stores. Otherwise, I have always had to endure multiple interviews for every job I've ever had. That's just how it is.

Anyone who has tried getting jobs anywhere in the corporate world will tell you that it is RARELY done quickly.

Welcome to the real world, Ted! (And welcome to Knoxville, too!)

[jimj]

Ted, I am new to this board and was reading this particular thread and I just had to write in. A little story that may/may not help but is ancedotal at least. It sounds like you are in the tech field, as I used to be. I am/was a network engineer which during the tech boom was a real good thing to be (so I was told) and figured I would be snapped up real quick. Well, found out that was not the case (for various reasons) so I contracted for 2 years with various companies. Now I've got to tell you that is an interesting way to make a living with a family to support but it did one thing that there was no other way to get done, it got me in front of the people that make the decisions and let me show them what I could do. I interview well (so I've been told) and in fact lost a job because during the interview the boss got nervous I would take his job (as I found out from my head hunter). I then was able to contract with a company that I had sent many resumes and called about working for them only to be denied. I ended up being hired full time and started out at the bottom only to end up in a year running the network. The point is don't get down, look for new ways to force your way in. Don't depend on convincing them in one interview put yourself in the position to show them. As part of the team that interviewed people I can tell you I would spot someone who was too sure of himself and that would be it.

The best suggestion I could give is find a head hunter,employment agency,contract agency or something that will put you in the job you need until you hit the company that needs your talent, and trust me, it will happen!
Good luck!