Yesterday’s job thread is still going, and there have been some good posts yesterday evening and overnight from people with job opportunities and suggestions and some more people who are looking for work.
I don’t know if it will do any good, but you never know. If you folk think it’s a good idea, I’m happy to make it a semi-regular thing.
In the mean time, this is yet another open thread.
ETA: I’m bringing over a few of the more interesting posts. If for some reason you don’t want your post on the front page let me know and I will take it out. Sorry if I didn’t pick yours – I’m just sticking in what caught my eye in a quick scan of the second half of the thread. There is lots more good stuff on the original thread or feel free to repost on this one. Squeaky wheel and all that…
PigInZen – August 10, 2011 | 9:10 pm · Link
I work for Wiley Publishing, publisher of For Dummies, Betty Crocker Cookbooks, Frommers Travel Guides and numerous other professional & trade and higher ed titles. We currently have numerous job openings in various locations around the US (and internally as well). Check here for starters.
Currently, by location:
SF, CA: 3 openings
Indianapolis, IN: 2 openings
Malden, MA: 4 openings
Hoboken, NJ: 36 openings (headquarters)
Somerset, NJ: 1 openingField operations: 5 in the following locations
Tallahassee, FL
Raleigh, NC
Milwaukee, WI
Atlanta, GA
Northeast USAJobs vary from editors, sales reps, marketing, IT functions and graphics/art direction. Great company to work for, been around over 200 years. Board of directors still has many Wiley family members and is run like a family business. Mostly Progressive/Liberal (at least here in Indy!) employees.
MazeDancer – August 10, 2011 | 6:59 pm · Link
… Idealist.org has jobs all over the world, and it’s free to look, so anyone looking – why not peruse?
Earl in CA – August 10, 2011 | 6:59 pm · Link
any balloon juicers looking for a gig in the san jose / monterey / salinas california areas in the field of autism support / behavioral health? our company is always looking for good candidates who want to work with children on the autism spectrum or those children with developmental disorders. reply to this thread and we can exchange information.
Robert Green – August 10, 2011 | 7:28 pm · Link
i do what you see at the link. i produce a ton of web and movie and TV content. i’m always open to people who are self-contained (have their own HD camera, including but not limited to the canon 5 or7 D, the ability to edit, and the ability to shoot non-narrative stuff).
i often need people who are “on the ground”. for instance, i’m looking right now for someone in the west virginia/tennessee area for a job. pay is usually shitty but not nothing. depends on the client.
i’m also always looking for work, so this one works both ways!
Evelyn – August 10, 2011 | 7:31 pm · Link
I’m a freelance graphic designer and illustrator in Chicago (you might recognize my stuff, since I drew all the stuff in the Balloon Juice store). Things are pretty tough right now, much tougher than they’ve been in years, and I’m not the only person I know in my field who is crying for more work. I’m at the point where I think I might have to find another part time job just to make my rent.
eric – August 10, 2011 | 7:44 pm · Link
@Evelyn: are you interested into working on some childrens books? is there a way to contact you?
Chris – August 10, 2011 | 8:17 pm · Link
Oh, yes –
@Cheryl from Maryland:I noticed some one mentioned foreign language skills. If you are fluent, check out registering at an interpreter with your local courts or even hospitals. It’s not a regular job, but some of my friends who do this say the money isn’t bad.
I’d never even heard/thought about this. Silly of me, but, fantastic tip, so thanks! I don’t imagine they get much demand for French, but it’s worth checking out and at least now I know a couple places they need interpreters that I’d never thought of before.
burnspbesq – August 10, 2011 | 11:59 pm · Link
@Nutella:
Hell No! Deadly serious! The one thing keeping the iPad from being a serious tool for professionals is crappy word processing capabilities. And for professionals who collaborate on documents, track changes is an absolute must.
The person who nails this will have more money than he or she can possibly spend.
Yutsano – August 11, 2011 | 2:35 am · Link
I just glanced at my old workplace job board and there’s a few things open around and about. Decent employer with great benefits and growth potential (when the economy sucks we did better) so I do recommend it for other people. I just got sucked into ebil gubmint work. :)
jwest – August 11, 2011 | 8:18 am · Link
TK-421,
I do business with Gazprom and Rostnef and I’m always looking for something new. Post a website let me know what your company does.
Linda Featheringill
It certainly wouldn’t hurt to have an ongoing jobs thread, and it might help.
I think you done a good thing, Sarah.
Raven (formerly stuckinred)
And god help you if you go OT.
Lawnguylander
I didn’t read any of those threads but good luck to all the job seekers. Did anyone suggest applying for work at an Apple store in any of those threads? A friend of mine who was out of work for over a year started working for them about 6 months ago and likes it a lot. He had to swallow his pride to take a retail job after having had jobs like a VP at Amex but he just went full time and now has pretty good benefits and is interviewing for a manager job tomorrow. And even if he doesn’t stay there for the rest of his career he’s picked up a lot of knowledge that he can take else where when the job market gets better. And he’s employed so he won’t face the anti-unemployed bias if and when he starts sending his resume around again. They’re opening 30 stores this quarter so there are plenty of positions available. If this sounds interesting to anyone I can get some details and advice for applicants and post it here or in a future thread.
Poopyman
@Lawnguylander: Hope you put that down in yesterday’s thread for folks who keep checking there.
birthmarker
I haven’t read all the comments but I know that the government has trouble getting people in the area of procurement. (I read this in the Huntsville (Alabama) Times.)
You use the usajobs.gov site for info.
Jager
My partner and I are opening a 21st century driving school. We are are combining on-line training, simulator training on three levels, a seminar series for students and parents and on the road training. We hired an educational consulting firm to plan the course of study. We have a variety of part and full time positions available. We offer free paid training. We believe we are on the ground floor of a revolution in drivers ed and training. Driving is the single most dangerous activity a teen can be involved in, the accident rate is 50% in the first 24 months after licensing and car crashes are the number one cause of death of teens in California and across the country.
DRIVE! is located in Thousand Oaks, California and serves an area from Sherman Oaks to Ventura and from Malibu to Santa Paula.
This is a perfect part time/full time job for teachers or anyone who likes working with teens from 15 to 18 and their families. e-mail me at [email protected]. We start staff training next week!
(DRIVE! will expand into remedial training for senior drivers, foreign national driver evaluation and eventually into pre-hire testing for commercial drivers.)
arguingwithsignposts
It would be nice if there were a way to make this into a spreadsheet or database or something and put it up as a link near the lexicon. I’m sure there’s an enterprising BJer somewhere who could pull that together. And I hope the effort (open jobs threads) continues.
Digital Amish
Well, rest in the knowledge that you’ve done more for job creation than the House Republicans have.
Skepticat
I think this is an excellent idea. I had considered posting on an open thread about my need for projects but was uncomfortable doing so. Please do continue.
Cat Lady
@Jager:
This is an amazing idea. I’ve always thought that driver’s ed really needed a kick in the ass, especially here in the northeast where kids drive in terrible weather and have very little experience with it and how a car behaves in snow and ice. They’ve all seen too many movies and think they’re bulletproof. One morning when one of my daughters was driving to school several years ago there had been an ice storm overnight, and there were 23 kids involved in accidents on their way to school. Not mine, though, thankfully. I live in an affluent area outside Boston, and your company would be very very welcome. Good luck!
Sarah Proud and Tall
Low bar. Low, low bar.
Jager
@Cat Lady: We lived in Boston for over 30 years and moved to SoCal 6 years ago, I know all about snow and slippery streets. I sent my oldest girl to Skip Barbers’s racing school at Lime Rock back in the 80’s. Skip had a program for newly licensed teens. They were in the car with racing instructors and learned to handle skids (they wet down the track’s corners) they slammed on the brakes at 80mph, etc. She came home a superb driver, that winter all her friends were getting into accidents left and right. Her younger sister, who never wanted to do anything her sister did, wouldn’t go and she is a lousy driver to this day. We can put kids in almost any situation in the simulators and do it safely. Strangely enough we are the only school in California using simulators and they are manufactured here! It has been fun setting it up, expensive but fun. Its a ‘retirement career” for me and we want to develop schools and turn them over to the staff to operate or sell them to good employees.
arguingwithsignposts
@Jager: But will you show “Highway of Death”-style gore films? What kind of Drivers School are you without them?
Raven (formerly stuckinred)
@Jager: Hmm, my brother is in Sherman Oaks, have to let him know about this for his daughter in about 4 years!
Cat Lady
@Jager:
I lived in CA briefly in the 80’s, and it was such a hoot to see how people drove in the rain there. Seriously people? 40 on the highway? I remember that Skip Barber school – I wonder if anyone else does anything like that. It’s a real opportunity for someone to do it – kids around here drive nice cars that daddys buy for them, and daddy wouldn’t think twice about paying for training.
Omnes Omnibus
@arguingwithsignposts: He said it is a driving school, right? Ergo, the films will be shown. Elementary logic.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
I’ve hired an editor from that thread.
Jager
@arguingwithsignposts: The Aussies have produced really, really good new ones…like music videos, I’ve shown them to some of my “test dummies” and the boys gulp and fidget, the girls cry. They have also cut the accident rates by half since the 80’s. The Australian government makes the TV stations run them, they are seriously good and very effective.
Maude
@arguingwithsignposts:
This is needed. A lot of people could use it. Good idea.
We might lose the reply button again if this goes through.
Paul in KY
@arguingwithsignposts: Signal 13. The goreist! Watched it in HS driver’s ed.
Lawnguylander
Also, a piece of advice for job seekers, you need to have as positive a a frame of mind as you can possibly manage right now. Stay away from stories and comments about how crappy everything is especially as related to the job market. Jobs never coming back, USA turning into a third world country, etc,. You don’t need that kind of poison invading your thoughts. Pie or otherwise ignore those kinds of people.
Paul in KY
@Lawnguylander: I’m guessing they need to stay away from Balloon Juice then ;-)
Hillary Rettig
I’ll repeat what I mentioned at the end of yesterday’s thread that the Federal fiscal year begins 10/1 and many nonprofits and schools that receive federal funding will get new funding and have to make new hires after that date. It is not too early to investigate programs that you would like to work for that receive federal funding and are in line for grants. You could do an informational interview or, better yet, volunteer to put yourself in line for any new jobs.
This is a near-zero risk strategy because even if you volunteer and the organization doesn’t get their funding, you still have a quality volunteer gig in a hot nonprofit field on your resume.
wmd
My employer is finding it difficult to find software engineers. The group I work for also needs a manager – we do multi-media developer relations engineering, basically getting software libraries used properly by independent software vendors for their video, etc applications.
I’m hesitant to post my email address for obvious reasons concerning canned meat products. I’m not posting my employer’s name because I can earn a referral bonus if someone I refer gets hired and the money would help pay for hip resurfacing I’ll be getting in December.
Amanda in the South Bay
@Lawnguylander:
As someone who is already prone to lots of anxiety and depression, I second your advice. I’ll be honest, most of the time I think I’ll never rise above being a grocery store cashier (and how I fucking hate myself for it), and that it’s just not worth it to try and move forward.
Amy
I’m reposting this here from the previous thread. I lurk here but never post. I work as a staffing consultant in Boston. If you live in the area and have experience in HR, finance, legal support, marketing or administration, I will do what I can to help.
Amy
I’m reposting this here from the previous thread. I lurk here but never post. I work as a staffing consultant in Boston. If you live in the area and have experience in HR, finance, legal support, marketing or administration, I will do what I can to help.
greenergood
I think this thread is a great idea (and I’m not even in the US). But maybe not open all the time, but once a month or so. Otherwise, it might get tired, invaded by assholes, etc. But it makes a great change from reading about how horrible the job market is, and injects some hopefulness into the atmosphere.
Wily Jalapeño
[email protected]:
Perhaps opening up a new pseudonymous gmail account at which BJ readers can connect with you will allow for anonymity as well as filtering out spam. There appears to be no dearth of people here looking for any possibilities, and if you’ve got them…
Sarah P & T: – beautiful idea with these posts. It looks like JMN & jacy have already connected, and a potential collaboration between duck-billed placelot & UlyssesUnbound. That right there is the FSM’s work. You really do have a heart of gold despite (because of?) 93-years of slatternly living.
One suggestion: if you’re going to post these regularly (weekly, monthly, whatev), it might be helpful to have a job-seeking specific tag (“seeking BJ jobs” or some such nonsense). This, of course, has the added benefit of pissing off Cole with yet another new tag! :-)
Best of luck to all of you.
TK-421
This is at the old thread, so I’m just reposting:
Before I ask this at the Slacktivist link (Balloon Juicers get first dibs, IMO): is anyone here a whiz at Python programming?
I realize that probably makes me look stupid, but I don’t care. I may have need for a person who knows how to do some mathematical scripting in Python (i.e. NOT ME). Specifically, I’d want that done at this place called SensorCloud. Unfortunately it would be independent contracting, not a permanent job, because what we’re trying to do is extremely low budget. No, I really don’t know if it could turn into a permanent job. Sorry.
I can explain in more detail if anyone is interested and qualified, just email me at [email protected].
Skepticat
I’m a proofreader, copy editor, and copywriter. I’m proficient in Photoshop as well. I create and produce newsletters and handbooks for several groups to which I belong, and I’d love to find opportunities to be paid to do that.
My life situation allows me to work only online, but that also offers clients an extremely flexible resource who can be available almost 24/7.
After owning an advertising agency for more than two decades, in semi-retirement I invested in another business–a debacle that cost me almost everything and left me in a terrifyingly deep financial hole. Shall we say simply that the threat of Medicare and Social Security being cut back hovers over my bed at night.
I’m hesitant to include my e-mail address too openly, but I believe our charming and generous hosts can provide that information.
In an attempt to squeak as recommended by Sarah P&T, I shall post in both threads.
harlana
Sarah, thank you for reposting, yet again. You’re the best!!
harlana pepper
Yutsano
@TK-421:
Can I just make a note of caution about independent contractors here? This is coming from my own work experience. When you are an independent contractor, you are responsible for not only reporting that income but also your own taxes. Which means you have to calculate your own withholding, SS, and Medicare taxes, and you are responsible for paying them to the government. Fortunately the Feds make it pretty easy. You can always order a Publication 505 from 1-800-829-3676, which explains how all that works. You can also make the payments electronically at EFTPS. One more thing: any contracting work above $400 requires you to file a tax return even if your total income is below normal filing requirement. Having said that, a lot of folks successfully independently contract. So if you like the freedom it offers, go for it!
MazeDancer
@Jager:
Big idea. And if I might add a niche: Big City Adults getting their first license. Maybe start them online. Charge big bucks for intense, discrete, fast guaranteed-to-learn experience.
I’ve known more than one New Yorker who’d never driven have to go to CA for work. Some managed to learn to drive. Some couldn’t and had to come back East.
Elie
@Linda Featheringill:
I totally agree and appreciate your (Sarah’s) and BJ doing this for us. Its helps psychologically just to have a community to talk to and many have been extremely helpful
My personal thanks…
Amanda in the South Bay
At this point I just want a non customer service job that pays above the poverty line, doesn’t involve me being treated like shit, and hopefully at least tangentially uses my soon to be acquired CS degree.
Ruckus
@arguingwithsignposts:
I have just created a blog for job posting.
It should work pretty well but lets give it a try.
It’s only for jobs/positions wanted posting, any other types of comments I will most likely delete. I will try to put these in links by locations, LA, NYC, Atlanta, etc.
The blog is Jobs,Jobs,Jobs
It’s free for you, it’s free to me, no ads, I get nothing (except maybe a job if I need one in the near future)
TK-421
@Wily Jalapeño:
Something to piss off Cole, a tag that says “seeking BJ jobs”…what could possibly go wrong?
Was it wrong that I totally did a Beavis & Butthead giggle when I saw “seeking BJ jobs”?
duck-billed placelot
Hey all, reposting here – Sarah, thanks so much for this!
As a freelancer, times are tough. I can work remotely in a variety of fields, so I’m going bullet style:
WRITING AND EDITING SERVICES: grantwriting, copy, editing (background in academic and business editing), French translation, family holiday letters
DESIGN & MEDIA: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, video and audio editing, animation, illustration
RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP: web design – I’m trying to build a web design portfolio, so if you want a gift-card-cheap personal site based on someone else’s programming (WordPress or weebly or some such), now is the time!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]
Evelyn
Hey Sarah, this is a really great idea. Thanks!
ArchTeryx
Rather late to the party (and probably to be reposted) but I’m a 40-year old molecular virology PhD that just had his last postdoc cut two years short at the National Cancer Institute in DC. Moving in with my mother in a Dow company town in Michigan (talk about a jobs desert!) to keep a roof over my head.
One of the things I’m trying, since I have graphic art, layout, and other assorted creative skills, is make a switch from bench science to museum work (exhibit development and the like). To that end, I’ve been volunteering at the Koshland Science Museum in downtown DC, and developing a new educational card game (with the help of a pair of professional game designers) teaching basic microbial evolution.
The odds are long, maybe impossible, that I’ll be anything but starving out in a year or so (after unemployment and savings run out). But I’m determined to go down fighting.
Mike Sax
Doing this are a regular thing is a good idea I think Sarah. I can speak for myself and tell you I am currently unemployed and have struggled with being un and underemployed since 2008.
Even before then I often had to work at jobs less than my degree. See this is what’s wrong with people like Alan Greenspan who tell us that the answer is simply lack of education and lack of requisite job skills.
Many of us unemployed have lots of education and skills. That’s really what changed in 2001: for the first time even the educated and skilled were not guaranteed good jobs and now it’s any job.
I recently wrote a post about that at my blog. diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-nys-unemployment-office-is-lowest.html
One thing that gets me about dealing with the unemployment office is that they are supposed to work with you to help you enforce your rights-that’s how FDR intended Social Security and Unemployment is technically part of SS or what was then called Social Insurance and not put obstacles in your way.
In dealing with NYS Unemployment that’s all they do!
Mike Sax
Doing this are a regular thing is a good idea I think Sarah. I can speak for myself and tell you I am currently unemployed and have struggled with being un and underemployed since 2008.
Even before then I often had to work at jobs less than my degree. See this is what’s wrong with people like Alan Greenspan who tell us that the answer is simply lack of education and lack of requisite job skills.
Many of us unemployed have lots of education and skills. That’s really what changed in 2001: for the first time even the educated and skilled were not guaranteed good jobs and now it’s any job.
I recently wrote a post about that at my blog. diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-nys-unemployment-office-is-lowest.html
One thing that gets me about dealing with the unemployment office is that they are supposed to work with you to help you enforce your rights-that’s how FDR intended Social Security and Unemployment is technically part of SS or what was then called Social Insurance and not put obstacles in your way.
In dealing with NYS Unemployment that’s all they do!
Debbie
@Eric in Monterey/Salinas area:
love kids, learning about autism, credentialed teacher, writier.
Love to talk.
Debbie
Cheryl from Maryland
@ArchTeryx: Has anyone at the Koshland suggested you apply to work at any of the DC area exhibition design and production firms? I have a museum job in the DC area and know the field well. The ability to do content development and translate science speak into general visitor speak is highly desirable. If you want a list of local firms, e-mail me at [email protected]
Dr. Psycho
I am licensed as a massage therapist and as a caregiver. There have been hard times when I got few calls for massage, but it bothers me a lot that this time around, people seem to be “economizing” on in-home care for the frail and elderly. That’s scary.
Anyway, I’m here in the mid-Willamette Valley, open to suggestions, including a whole new field.