Advice for Job Search

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by feanix

I wonder if the IT market there is now flooded.

In many areas of IT it's very flooded but not necessarily from years of IT graduates. H1-B visas, outsourcing, and the domination of "contracting" companies is the norm. Even developers (who still are listed to this day as being a hot career by many sources) are being outsourced to India for a fraction of the price of an American worker.

If you're not a long-timer or you don't know someone in a company, getting a steady and well paying job in IT in the Pittsburgh area is very difficult. Thankfully these last few years I've focused on positions that can't be outsourced (quality assurance, documentation) because they simply cannot be done if you have English as a second language. Can you imagine if the help document in the browser you're using right now was written by someone who could barely speak English?

[XRiteMA98]

There are projects that simply can't be outsourced to India.

Not to mention how many times we got back projects from India and after testing I had to step in to fix it/maintain it/enahance it/bring it up to our standard, you name it.

I've seen their coding: it's mixed bags. Sometimes they don't have qualified people, sometimes the good ones are taken...

There are companies out there that outsource QA to India. Documentation? I agree that has to be done by a native english speaker.

The IT jobs that can't be aoutsourced are the most technical ones: in engineering, physics, simulation etc. Commerical applications, web apps, e-commerce, easy stuff, with no complexity whatsoever, can be outsourced with relatively high degree of succes.

Well as our head of department joked, the hottest job in Pgh seem to be as a Cobol contractor. Apparently there's a ton of old apps written in this and there's no people to maintain/translate them. Well, since I have about 3 years of Cobol experience, I might do that before I retire

Therefore I maintain my position: if one is good and gives back 150% to the company during the trial period he/she will be hired. Another criteria is for one to expand his horizon, to keep up with the everchanging technology.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by XRiteMA98

Therefore I maintain my position: if one is good and gives back 150% to the company during the trial period he/she will be hired.

Wish this was true for myself and my buddies. But alas, greed came before plain old common sense. FedEx was a prime example of us contractors giving it 150% while the full timers gave it about 15%. They still work there.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by XRiteMA98

I
As far as arts scene goes; you say you are a producer? I assume it's theatre, right? There's plenty of little theatres where you can volunteer to get to know people and the rest will work itself out.

Good luck to you.

No, not theater. I produce art shows. Currently, I'm producing a series of five juried outdoor art shows for the redevelopment agency and dept of parks where I live. In my day job I'm a marketing & communications specialist for a home remodeling company.

[XRiteMA98]

Ah, Fedex? They always post these contractor position jobs, I know...

I guess it pays for one to have buddies in the community to collect info about a company before applying . I sort of know many serious companies in PGh area that won't do that. I know a few that would.

My advice: there are tech groups in the Pgh area where one can collect info about compnaies and such. I can give details if you want. Networking is everything.

[Goodjules]

Any more info on job search for Marketing & Communications for the construction (esp home remodeling), banking, and/or arts fields?

[XRiteMA98]

Use a headhunter but also use your common sense. Headhunters want you to get whatever position they have to offer, like the afore mentioned fedex ones we've been talking about, in order for them to collect the commission.

Do your homework too for the positions you find on-line or the headhunter sends you.

As for art shows... I don't know. I guess you can contact the park dept. here and offer your services? Have no idea. Sorry.

[Hopes]

Is your experience professional or administrative? Do you have a degree?

You should definite find yourself some headhunters. They can hook you up with jobs that aren't even posted.

The good news is that people who are new to a town are often snatched up because they're viewed as "new talent." If you come from a large metro area, like NYC, or have experience with a powerhouse, that will be an advantage.

Finding a position in marketing for the construction industry will be tough during the recession. You'll find something. I'm just saying it won't be the best position or the best pay.

Others have already told you about banking. Pittsburgh has many financial institutions. Don't just look at PNC and Mellon. Check out Federated Investors too. Oh, and don't forget the accounting firms, like PricewaterhouseCoopers. KPMG has sweet benefits. You should also look into smaller investment companies---sometimes you can negotiate a sweet deal depending on your talents. I could go on and on. However, you haven't specified your banking experience. I'd need to know more to offer any more advice.

I recommend not limiting yourself to construction and banking. Employers in the area will hire people who have experience in different industries. Definitely check out the career websites of the area's major employers regularly.

Check to see if any of your former employers have offices/branches/divisions in Pittsburgh. That could be an 'in' for you if you still maintain contact with your past coworkers.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Is your experience professional or administrative? Do you have a degree?

You should definite find yourself some headhunters. They can hook you up with jobs that aren't even posted.

The good news is that people who are new to a town are often snatched up because they're viewed as "new talent." If you come from a large metro area, like NYC, or have experience with a powerhouse, that will be an advantage.

Finding a position in marketing for the construction industry will be tough during the recession. You'll find something. I'm just saying it won't be the best position or the best pay.

Others have already told you about banking. Pittsburgh has many financial institutions. Don't just look at PNC and Mellon. Check out Federated Investors too. Oh, and don't forget the accounting firms, like PricewaterhouseCoopers. KPMG has sweet benefits. You should also look into smaller investment companies---sometimes you can negotiate a sweet deal depending on your talents. I could go on and on. However, you haven't specified your banking experience. I'd need to know more to offer any more advice.

I recommend not limiting yourself to construction and banking. Employers in the area will hire people who have experience in different industries. Definitely check out the career websites of the area's major employers regularly.

Check to see if any of your former employers have offices/branches/divisions in Pittsburgh. That could be an 'in' for you if you still maintain contact with your past coworkers.

Hopes: Thanks for the excellent advice. Ironically, just after I posted my question I got a call to interview for what seems like my dream job here in CA. It's a marketing job at a commercial construction firm that's on Forbes list of best companies to work for. And, it's a five minute drive from my home. My interview's next Thursday. Wish me luck!!!

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by juliegt

Hopes: Thanks for the excellent advice. Ironically, just after I posted my question I got a call to interview for what seems like my dream job here in CA. It's a marketing job at a commercial construction firm that's on Forbes list of best companies to work for. And, it's a five minute drive from my home. My interview's next Thursday. Wish me luck!!!

Sounds fantastic for you! Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!