Well, guys and gals I need some help. I got laid off today, and my employer can't tell me if it's going to be a short term or long term. So I need to start putting together a resume. Do you people have a good idea where to go online for a good resume outline? I figured it's going to have to be more skilled trades/technical oriented. My background is CNC Machining in the Tool and Die trade with over 10 years experience. I also need to know what your thoughts are on changing trades and getting into the structural steel and/or fabrication trades. If you have a possible line or suggestion on a job opportunity, I would appreciate a PM. Thank you guys/gals for all your help in a very stressful time. I have a wife with a kid on the way, so I need to find something reasonably quick in the Greater Grand Rapids, MI area. Trout
Is there one that's better than the others? I just wandered up from the barn and in the middle of researching this after having a couple of beers and venting my frustrations, and convincing my wife to type this for me. So I need all the help I can get. Trout
I don't know the answer to your question, but if you're willing to relocate, I think you'll land on your feet and do just fine. Good luck to you, brother!
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ and when you get done looking at the jobs you can look for cars, parts and tools, good luck.
One thing Ive done in the past is, insted of making one resume for everything you apply for, make a few different ones highlighting what you want to do based on the job they are hiring for, obviously you gotta be honest but think if you multi tasked different areas at your last job then show them that a part of your previous job is relavent to the job your looking for. just a thought. good luck.
Go to your local library and ask the people there for the resume section. Should be some good books there. Also check out a book store, they carry books on resumes. Is there a state employment office around? they may have people to help you with a resume. If you belong to any professional organizations contact them to see if they can help.
In Michigan you can just take the one on the top of the pile, cross of their name and write in yours. Ain't no one hiring anyway. Hope you land and land quick. Its a bitch to be without a job. My buddy and his wife both got the double sided ax over at Pfizer in AA this year. You'd think an engineer with a Masters Degree and a research pharmacist would do OK around here. Unfortunately, the jobs went bye bye. You've got a skill that can go anywhere. Pick a nice place on the map that you're willing to move to and find one there if nothing pans out here soon enough for you.
I bought a Resume software disk called "Resume Workshop" at Staples for less than $10.00. It was fairly easy to use and helps you choose a style and choose focus for the resume depending on your skill and experience level for the job you are applying for. It also will give you help making cover letters. I thought it was well worth the money. GOOD LUCK!
You've got CNC experience - how about conventional skills & abilities? Can you write G-code and program in some of the conversational modes? Got your own precision tools?
www.monster.com Try this website, You are at a "cross road" in your life. If you think you need to expand your skills, then now is the time. Maybe do something that is "below" what you would normally want to do. This might respark some old interest, and give you a new motivation to try something new. I really wish you and your family the best. I'll see you at the top.
Really sorry to hear about your loss, man. Thoughts: 1) DO NOT pin your hopes of getting a job on a good resume'; with the boatload of rez's circulating in MI these days, all a good resume does is prevent you from being crossed off the list early. 2) Grand Rapids isn't as bad off as the Eastern part of the state; there are jobs there. Structural steel is indeed cyclical - but it puts food on the table in the meantime. There's a fair amount of construction downtown; nose about and see if there are openings. 3) IMPORTANT POINT: Take a job. Any job. When I look at a rez, I look for a guy who's willing to work, and discount the guys with 'gaps' in their resume's - what didja do for two years? Folks humble enough to take a job for less in a down market keep working - and are often promoted faster than others. It's pretty tough out there, man. Hell, the receptionist at our company has an MBA; this was the only open job that paid more than $8.00 an hour! Finally - tool and die making is pretty much dead here in the Midwest. Pop was a tool and die man, and he sez the shops are all but gone. If you want to stay in the biz, you'll have to go elsewhere...if you want to stay, look for another line of work. sorry, man.
As a manager and the person who does the hiring, there are only a couple of good formats. Pick a simple format. Use white paper only with black ink, printed from a computer. Go in reverse chronological order. (last job to first job). Make sure the grammar and spelling is correct. Most importantly, tailor the resume for the job you are applying for. There is no "one size fits all" resume. By this, I mean you highlight qualities from all of your jobs that would help in the one you're applying for. (and by highlight, I don't mean with yellow highlighter). Finally, if you get an interview, dress accordingly and act like you want the job. Sell yourself and how you can help the new company with your skills. And as others have said, take any job while you're looking. Home Depot and Lowe's are good choices. While between "jobs" I did HD for about $14 an hour. Crappy hours but the pay was ok for fill in work.
Ain't that the truth...the die shop i work at has gone from 75 to 28 employees, and the county i live in has lost over 1,000 jobs.....this month!
As far as getting into structural steel, if you are willing to move, ethanol is the future for awhile as far as jobs go. Ethanol plants are going up all over the midwest. There will be plenty of jobs for dealing with the construction, and if you learn how to tig stainless pipe there will be plenty of jobs for that as well.
i have the ability to do both types plus make a tool path and edit on work nc.i can do floor work and run the edm's and grinders. i am also certified as a machinist. i also own my own tools(a shit load), my roller is going to suck to move-the last time i moved benches it took 2 of us to move it.i can also mig and stick weld and i am currently working on inproving my tig skills. as one guy told me "it sounds like you are trainable and can do just about anything you set your mind to". i originly went to school for engineering/drafting, but i wanted to kill most of the fellow kid's in the classes who did not any machanical abillite. so i got into tool and die.
i second that. we have gone from about a 100 to 40.in the last 2 years my income has dropped about 20grand. if it keeps going the way it is, the last one to leave dont forget to flip the govenor the bird on the way out.
thanks for all the help guys.if i was single i would have all ready loaded the hauler and left for texas or oklahoma, but the wife doesent want to leave yet. just taking a break from doing the resume and thought i would check in. i did get a couple of good leads from friends, so i can only hope for the best. Trout
I'm in the same boat. I got laid off permanately at the end of Febuary. All the jobs are getting shipped over to china, it really sucks out there no matter if you have a high education or a shmuck like me. later shawn
Sucks, bro. Hang in there Things to remember while looking for a job: 1. Don't take rejection personal - maybe they are going thru the motions because they know they have to hire the bosses' cousin. Figure on 10 interviews to get a job, and 20+ resumes per interview. (This was hard for me. Easy to get depressed, the 'no one wants me' feeling. Gotta remember it's business.) 2. Don't confine yourself to what you have done in the past. With your skills you could work for a large building, school system or any sort of plant in maintenance, so don't confine yourself. 3. Work up several different resumes for different general areas and mail them out to the world - stamps are cheap - and customize the resumes when applying for specific jobs. I once got a job by mailing 500 resumes out; #359 got me the job. 4. "Everyone hires for the same job" - meaning that they want to hire someone easy to manage, not necessairly the best person for the job. It's up to you to convince them you are (a) smart (b) get things done (c) don't make waves. You get along with everyone, you like to talk to customers, help out your fellow workers, etc. Make yourself the safe choice (not the hot-shot) and you'll do better. 5. Unless you are addicted to winter weather or can't move for some other reason look further south for jobs. Nashville is booming. Austin is doing fairly well. 6. What are you likely to be best at? What would be your dream job? Look around the country for that job and you might be happier.
I thoroughly agree, especially regarding grammatical errors and spelling. I have written many professional resumes for myself and others, I would point out that using a slightly thicker stock paper in an off-white has been proven to make you stand out just a bit more, especially in a thick stack of resumes. If you'd like, PM me a copy of your resume draft, I'll be more than happy to help you out in the right direction. Best of luck, John
Definitelly post your resume on monster.com. Employers search for you. You can search by trade also. Good luck. I work in petroleum construction and am subject to layoff all the time. I know it sucks, but have a cold one and take a moment to regroup. Then hit the bricks and godspeed!
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