Hope in the Job Market

by O'Farrell | Oct 3, 2012 | I Got a Job!

Tom Hardy

This week Tom Hardy says, “Spread the news; there is hope in the job market.” I’ve seen it too. In the past few days two people have reported that they found a very good job and ended a three-year job search, two clients have reported raises at their new job, and three clients have reported a short job search (less than 60 days). Congratulations to Melvin, Alfred, Scott, Tom, Matt, Marty and Stacy.

I had the pleasure of working with Tom Hardy as a client last year. He combined some fantastic training and a world-class résumé with a little curiosity to identify a target company. When I went to a party to celebrate his new job, he told me in detail about how he aced the interviews. He gave me a lot of credit, but I remember saying to him, “Tom, even if I had your skill set, I don’t think I could have navigated all those hurdles as well as you did.”

Someone on our board of directors asked me to publish a career management letter every now and then. This was is a text-book example. We’re not just trying to land a job, but to also manage our careers for years to come. Congratulations Tom!

There is hope in the market. Get on board the train.

– – – – –

Dave,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line. Yesterday I celebrated my one-year anniversary at RaceTrac Petroleum. I love this job!!! I love this career!!! I want you to know that RaceTrac is a great company with solid core values. I implement those values and most of the methods I learned from you to stay motivated and on task each and every day.

Tomorrow I will “turn over” my 12th and 13th store to our construction team. That is the most in the last 12 months of all the RaceTrac project managers. I am on pace to set records by the end of the year. I have come in and separated myself from my contemporaries because I leverage my experience and knowledge to better my position’s methodology.

My supervisors and bosses have been thoroughly impressed with my work ethic and commitment. They ask me why am I different. I told them I have been provided a second chance at an awesome career and I will not be “hungry” again; not going to be complacent. The future looks bright.

I want you to know that I could not have landed this job without your help. Thank you so much for the methods, means, and direction to help me land this “dream job!”

Spread the news and let everyone know that there is hope in the market. You just have to keep that HIPPO score up, work LinkedIn, and look for every opportunity. Remember, I found RaceTrac because they opened the store in Fayetteville in the summer of 2011. I said, “Hey there’s a company growing in this economy… I wonder what they do?”

The rest is my success story.

Thanks again!!!

Tom Hardy, RLA
Engineering Project Manager
RaceTrac Petroleum

37 Days to New Job

by O'Farrell | Sep 12, 2012 | I Got a Job!

Delighted to report this success story. I had the pleasure of working with Annette recently as a client. We completed the process on 31 July. Just 37 days later she had a new job. The job is a great fit.

Congratulations Annette, I am very proud of you!

– Dave O’Farrell

– – – – –

Hey Dave,

Hope you had a nice long holiday weekend. I had an emotional roller coaster of a weekend. I had an interview last Wednesday at Georgia Tech for a position as Travel and Expense Manager. Last Friday I received an email from the director that they wanted to offer me the job. I received an email from HR on Tuesday with a contingent offer; they submitted my paperwork for my credit and background check and I am waiting the final offer and start date.

Thanks to your workshop and advice, I can say, “Hey Dave, I got a job.” I am planning to come to JobSeekers tomorrow to say good-bye and thanks to all who helped me through this difficult journey.

See you tomorrow at the meeting.

Annette Ross

Interviewing Skills Aided by Five Factors

by O'Farrell | Aug 9, 2012 | I Got a Job!

Scott Christopher tells the audience how he built his confidence.

We posted a story recently of someone who’d looked for work for 111 weeks without success, got some professional help, and received two offers within seven weeks. This week we have another story of frustration that turns into hope that turns into a job.

Scott Christopher came to JobSeekers last week to say, “Farewell and good luck.” He was one of two people with such great news. Congrats to Gordon Miller as well. Another landed a part-time job – and she moved here only three weeks ago. Congrats to Marty. And I found out after the meeting that someone else is starting a three-month contract that may turn into a full-time job. Congrats to Bob.

I knew things were going well when I saw this post from Karen Kilgo on the OCM Facebook page back on June 6th: “Today, I received a résumé from an O’Farrell Career Management client. Wow, what a breath of fresh air! A highly qualified candidate for one of our open positions. A great résumé; easy to see what the person has done and what his or her accomplishments are. I love seeing O’Farrell-ized résumés! Thank you, Dave O’Farrell, for helping your clients accelerate their job searches. In 21 years in HR, I have to say your clients have the best résumés and presentation skills I have ever seen!”

Scott tells us he was a free agent for over a year. I had the pleasure of working with him as a client beginning on 22 March 2012. The Fb post mentioned above came in 10 weeks after Scott completed his training here at OCM.

In the past several weeks, Scott interviewed with cities and municipalities around the state, so we are pleased he’s found a good job close to home. It’s at the Atlanta Mission as their Facilities Manager.

BTW, while working on this post, Scott called to say that he has an open position on his team and wondered if a certain person who was at JobSeekers last week would be interested. (Good luck Tim!) That’s paying it forward!

Come to JobSeekers this Friday, the place where we beat the odds every week.

Scott, I am very proud of you; congratulations!

– Dave O’Farrell

– – – – –

Scott Christopher

Dave,

I am so excited to report that I got a job. I start Monday, July 16th. That will be one year and 15 days since my last day worked. I have been reminded of a verse in Daniel chapter 10 that talks about God answering Daniel’s prayer but the answer was delayed because the angel bringing the answer was busy fighting with “the enemy.” It took 21 days. The passage states that his prayer was heard in Heaven on the first day.

I believe God heard my prayer for a new job a little over a year ago but my delay was to be longer. God has indeed answered my prayer; He has also taught me so many things during this transition time. I think there were some things that I needed to learn and maybe some things that I needed to unlearn (old work habits, etc.).

Things I learned include: First of all, I learned that obviously my timing is not His timing. Next, He strengthened my faith (and tested it for sure). And He has shown me the value of humility, how to exercise patience, and finally, how to exercise courage.

Wow, what a roller coaster ride it has been.

So, THANK YOU and everyone at JobSeekers for your help, patience, encouragement, and nudging when needed.

Dave, I can’t emphasize enough how appreciative I am for your help in the workshop with the interviewing skills and all that you do that goes with that. The confidence that I gained is refreshing. I think it has been there, it just needed coaxing out and you guys did it.

Sincerely,

Scott Christopher

Lessons Learned on Two-Year Journey

by O'Farrell | Jul 12, 2012 | I Got a Job!

Marcia Gibson

Several weeks ago Marcia Gibson told us her accomplishment for the week was getting turned down twice. The way she phrased it was something like, “I was blessed this week when two companies told me I could keep searching for a new position. God got them out of my way so I could move more freely toward the job He has in store for me.”

We all fell out laughing, but I think everyone could hear the certainty in her voice and see the conviction in her heart that she actually believed what she was saying!

I had the pleasure of working with Marcia as a client beginning on 23 May 2012. I am delighted to share her letter with you today. Her message ties in nicely with this week’s inspirational message.

Congratulations Marcia!

– Dave

– – – – –

Hello everyone,

After submitting numerous applications, having multiple interviews and several rejections after several interviews, God blessed me with not one, but two job offers. He provided me with a choice. I have accepted the position of Campaign Manager with Hughes Telematics with a start date of July 9th.

These last two years of unemployment have been a journey – one that I will call a journey of self-discovery. Thank you all for the encouragement and your listening ears, the referrals, the job leads, the lunches, the dinners, the laughs and most certainly – your prayers – as God taught me to:

“Be still and wait on the Lord,” because when I “trust in HIM with all my heart, not relying on my own understanding, he shall direct my path” as only he would since “he knows the plans he has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future”

– Psalm 46:10 / Isaiah 40:31 / Proverbs 3:5-6 / Jeremiah 29:11

If I may be of assistance to any of you, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Be blessed, and again, thank you!

– Marcia Gibson

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
– Ecclesiastes 3:1

Two-Month Job Search for Proactive Seeker

by O'Farrell | Jun 1, 2012 | I Got a Job!

Bill Gray was liberated on 28 March. He’s already on his new job. He had a two-month job search. A short search is possible if you don’t listen to all the naysayers in the media and if you do the hard work necessary. Congratulations Bill; I’m very proud of you!

– Dave

– – – – –

Dave,

I am sorry that I will not be able to make it this Friday as I will be working! I did get the job at Delta and was able to negotiate a higher salary than what was listed. I received a call the same day as my interview, but chose to keep the news to less than five people for a little while. It is still not what I was making, but it does pay better than the DOL.

I would like to thank you for the help and inspiration you not only provide to me; but all those who seek and need the help. I will continue to advocate JobSeekers to all those who still need it.

My name is Bill Gray – and I am employed!

Best regards,

– Bill