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I need some help please and also have a curiosity, from your experience what is the best way of getting a job on Oahu?
Some more details:
I moved 2 months ago from New York without having a job offer or rich parents haha. I applied with like 7 recruitment agencies that so far barely told me about 1-2 openings. I applied with most the online job search sites like CraigsList, Monster, Indeed, Glassdoor... but same barely anyone followed up and I also went in person to some big construction companies and left my resume. I was told it might take them even 2-4 weeks until they will get to it.
So now I am starting to get desperate cause my funds are getting low and I was sure the construction industry is strong here and I will find something.
In NYC I worked 5yrs with a construction company as an Administrator and also have experience as an Operations Manager and IT Specialist, so the qualifications are there and I have that NY attitude I want to work no bull****. I also have a recommendation letter and good references and they said no one contacted them so far. The few jobs that came were as an Admin Assistant paying like $12 and I cannot sustain myself.
So Ohana please give me a hand here and I would like to thank you in advance!
The best way? Already having decent employment to draw a steady income as you look. It can take 6 months or much longer to find a good job.
Networking within the industy. Like they say, it's who you know, not so much what you know. Hawaii is tiny compared to mainland markets, and it applies even moreso here.
construction industry is booming, yeah. but that doesn't necessarily mean they need backend help. They probably need more qualified construction workers, and if the job is union, there probably is stiff competition for the jobs. There's tons of jobs on oahu, our unemployment rate is very very low. But the vast majority of the jobs available are minimum wage or close to it. It's tough in hawaii due to the high cost of living.
Everyone wants the higher paying blue or white collar jobs.
people complain that my viewpoints is too negative, and that my recommended criteria for moving here too harsh. but there's good reason for it. Chances of moving here and succeeding is greatly improved by having a job already lined up, and the job being $60k+, assuming youre single.
OP - if you cannot find a living wage job within the next month or so, you should seriously consider cutting your losses and moving back home. Consider it a 3 month vacation.
Well, you're at least on Oahu, that's the first hurdle.
However, a lot of the construction industry folks aren't as online as you might expect so the online job search will be missing a large portion of them. Are there any listings in the newspapers? Have you checked at any job sites and met any of the folks working?
Going in person is good, however, going in with a New York attitude may not be helping. Frequently, the skill set that is looked for is the skill set for teamwork and getting along with others. Bragging is not really looked well upon which is tough when trying to sell yourself for a job. Also, many islanders have zero understanding of most sarcasm so a lot of NY humor won't be understood at all.
You're also hampered by the fact of being so new. Folks know that more than likely you're not going to last the year so they don't want to take the time to get involved. The vast majority of folks who move over here don't survive, so frequently employers will wait until the people have been here for a year or more before giving them any job other than an entry level sort of job. There's also all sorts of local folks who want the good jobs and there's a big bias towards keeping it local when ever possible. As you're finding out, no doubt.
Can you set yourself up to survive on the $12 job until something better comes along? Get a room in a house instead of renting an apartment or some such? Surviving in a high cost of living area on a low income is a skill set, too, I suppose.
Usually folks get the good jobs by who they know, not what they know. Also by who knows them or who they're related to or where they went to high school. The last time I had to put in a resume was in '81, I think it was. All other employment since then has been because either they knew me or I knew them or I was recommended by a friend. It's almost total networking.
Well, you're at least on Oahu, that's the first hurdle.
However, a lot of the construction industry folks aren't as online as you might expect so the online job search will be missing a large portion of them. Are there any listings in the newspapers? Have you checked at any job sites and met any of the folks working?
Going in person is good, however, going in with a New York attitude may not be helping. Frequently, the skill set that is looked for is the skill set for teamwork and getting along with others. Bragging is not really looked well upon which is tough when trying to sell yourself for a job. Also, many islanders have zero understanding of most sarcasm so a lot of NY humor won't be understood at all.
You're also hampered by the fact of being so new. Folks know that more than likely you're not going to last the year so they don't want to take the time to get involved. The vast majority of folks who move over here don't survive, so frequently employers will wait until the people have been here for a year or more before giving them any job other than an entry level sort of job. There's also all sorts of local folks who want the good jobs and there's a big bias towards keeping it local when ever possible. As you're finding out, no doubt.
Can you set yourself up to survive on the $12 job until something better comes along? Get a room in a house instead of renting an apartment or some such? Surviving in a high cost of living area on a low income is a skill set, too, I suppose.
Usually folks get the good jobs by who they know, not what they know. Also by who knows them or who they're related to or where they went to high school. The last time I had to put in a resume was in '81, I think it was. All other employment since then has been because either they knew me or I knew them or I was recommended by a friend. It's almost total networking.
Yeah, depending on who youre interviewing with, a New York "go-getter" attitude will not fly. Since Hawaii is more of a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, you really need to feel out the interviewer. if it's a fellow new Yorker, fine dazzle them with your go getter attitude and show off all your credentials. But if they're Asian, you'll come across as extremely arrogant and likely not to fit well within the organization. If they're local in general, you'll come across as "hi maka maka" pidgin for self important and stuck up. If your credentials and experience is excessive, they may consider it threatening instead of an asset to the company.
A job is not guaranteed - hopefully you got a round trip ticket.
With all do respect when I start something I finish it so there is no ticket nowhere because this is my home now. Before I left from NY I just receive a promotion and a raise I was doing over $70k/yr (it's not like oh I suck here so let me try somewhere else) but what's the point if it doesn't feel like home!
So that is me and if everything goes bad I am another homeless in Hawaii wondering around your Safeway in Kailua where the rick people live, haha
The best way? Already having decent employment to draw a steady income as you look. It can take 6 months or much longer to find a good job.
Networking within the industy. Like they say, it's who you know, not so much what you know. Hawaii is tiny compared to mainland markets, and it applies even moreso here.
construction industry is booming, yeah. but that doesn't necessarily mean they need backend help. They probably need more qualified construction workers, and if the job is union, there probably is stiff competition for the jobs. There's tons of jobs on oahu, our unemployment rate is very very low. But the vast majority of the jobs available are minimum wage or close to it. It's tough in hawaii due to the high cost of living.
Everyone wants the higher paying blue or white collar jobs.
people complain that my viewpoints is too negative, and that my recommended criteria for moving here too harsh. but there's good reason for it. Chances of moving here and succeeding is greatly improved by having a job already lined up, and the job being $60k+, assuming youre single.
OP - if you cannot find a living wage job within the next month or so, you should seriously consider cutting your losses and moving back home. Consider it a 3 month vacation.
Thank you, I see what you're saying. I was born and raised in Europe than moved to NY so there is no place to go back. This is my new home and I have to make it here, it just depends how hard the journey will be
Thank you, I see what you're saying. I was born and raised in Europe than moved to NY so there is no place to go back. This is my new home and I have to make it here, it just depends how hard the journey will be
Ok, for now, look at taking any kine ****ty menial jobs, work 40-60 hours a week, and keep looking for better. It's going to be rough though since you probably won't have paid vacation to take off time to look for better. The most important thing is to stop bleeding savings and at least break even while you're looking for better jobs. While you're working a new job, you may want to drastically slow your job search for 6 months to a year since your bosses aren't going to like you constantly distracted and taking time off instead of working.
Well, you're at least on Oahu, that's the first hurdle.
However, a lot of the construction industry folks aren't as online as you might expect so the online job search will be missing a large portion of them. Are there any listings in the newspapers? Have you checked at any job sites and met any of the folks working?
Going in person is good, however, going in with a New York attitude may not be helping. Frequently, the skill set that is looked for is the skill set for teamwork and getting along with others. Bragging is not really looked well upon which is tough when trying to sell yourself for a job. Also, many islanders have zero understanding of most sarcasm so a lot of NY humor won't be understood at all.
You're also hampered by the fact of being so new. Folks know that more than likely you're not going to last the year so they don't want to take the time to get involved. The vast majority of folks who move over here don't survive, so frequently employers will wait until the people have been here for a year or more before giving them any job other than an entry level sort of job. There's also all sorts of local folks who want the good jobs and there's a big bias towards keeping it local when ever possible. As you're finding out, no doubt.
Can you set yourself up to survive on the $12 job until something better comes along? Get a room in a house instead of renting an apartment or some such? Surviving in a high cost of living area on a low income is a skill set, too, I suppose.
Usually folks get the good jobs by who they know, not what they know. Also by who knows them or who they're related to or where they went to high school. The last time I had to put in a resume was in '81, I think it was. All other employment since then has been because either they knew me or I knew them or I was recommended by a friend. It's almost total networking.
Hey thank you for not putting me to the wall. I am here, so at least I should have a point over someone from the mainland that is inquiring for a job. I am at your door!v
MODS- Can we start a collection of posts from folks who move to HI with no jobs? Might be instructive.
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Well that's no help
