"Thinking Outside The Box" In Job Hunting

[KingRazor]

So, I've been at my current job for almost 14 months now, and by the end of next month my department is going to be shut down.

I've applied to transfer into another department, but it's completely unrelated to mine and I might not qualify for it.

So I'm trying to find a job while I still have one to minimize the amount of time that I'd have to be on unemployment.

I've been told a few times, by a few different people, that I need to "think outside the box" more when it comes to job hunting.

I have a few skills that I think would be useful somewhere in the working world, but I can't really think of any jobs that I qualify for where I would use these skills.

I know how to take a computer apart and put it back together. I know how to install or re-install an operating system. I know how to troubleshoot hardware issues and other common problems on computers. I can usually figure out how to make a program do what I want it to do if given enough time (or access to google).

Other than computer stuff, I feel I'm pretty intuitive about finding out how things work in general.

I've ran sound at my church for nearly 3 years now. At one point we got a new digital sound board with a lot of different settings and controls that I was unfamiliar with. After about a year with this thing I basically know it inside and out.

I'm good at following instructions. I'm good at building things like model kits or IKEA furniture.

Lastly, I feel like I'm pretty good at teaching other people how to do things that I know how to do.

I'm stumped, though. I can't seem to find a job that I can do that isn't in sales, retail, or food service. The only real job experience I have is in customer service. I also don't really have any post-high school education. I've taken a few classes, but nothing to write home about.

Does anyone have any advice?

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I know how to take a computer apart and put it back together. I know how to install or re-install an operating system. I know how to troubleshoot hardware issues and other common problems on computers.

Dude... those are marketable skills. There are "computer repair" shops all over the place that basically do what you described all day. They may occaisionally be asked to do something more advanced, but I'll bet the vast majority of their work is simple stuff like upgrading hard drives and reinstalling operating systems. Walk into one of them and ask if you can work there, even part-time.

To me, "thinking outside the box" in a job search means looking beyong the traditional, 9-5, salaried full time job. Think about multiple part time jobs, working for yourself, etc. Put an ad on craigslist that says "I will reinstall Windows for $20", or something like that.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

To me, "thinking outside the box" in a job search means looking beyong the traditional, 9-5, salaried full time job. Think about multiple part time jobs, working for yourself, etc. Put an ad on craigslist that says "I will reinstall Windows for $20", or something like that.

That's something that I've been meaning to do on the side. So maybe having a part time job and doing that on the side will be enough to make up for the loss of full-time income.

[jmattbassplaya]

I got so tired of being turned down by part-time employers that I decided to give the 'band thing' another shot. So far this decision has been the right one, and I've been making some really nice money.

[MJ5150]

Are you in a position to start up your own business? I don't know about your area, but portable toilet rental for weddings and events like that is starting to take off around here. It won't require your computer skills, but you can put your customer service skills to work.

-Mike

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I got so tired of being turned down by part-time employers that I decided to give the 'band thing' another shot. So far this decision has been the right one, and I've been making some really nice money.

Cool. I think being part of a band would be fun, but I think it would be hard if that was my job, especially if it was my only source of income.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Cool. I think being part of a band would be fun, but I think it would be hard if that was my job, especially if it was my only source of income.

Oh definitely. I was just trying to make a point that if you have the means to it could become a small source of revenue for you.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Oh definitely. I was just trying to make a point that if you have the means to it could become a small source of revenue for you.

Yeah, I might consider it if I had a car (and a halfway decent rig)

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Are you in a position to start up your own business? I don't know about your area, but portable toilet rental for weddings and events like that is starting to take off around here. It won't require your computer skills, but you can put your customer service skills to work.

-Mike

I don't think starting my own business is something I could see myself doing anytime in the near future. I've worked for family owned businesses before and I don't think I could handle it.

Whatever I wind up doing, I want to try and make enough money to be able to go to school (even if I take out student loans, I still need to pay rent)

Not sure how much I could make on unemployment. If I make enough off of that, fixing computers on the side might bring in enough to not have to worry about finding full time employment for a while.

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

To me, "thinking outside the box" in a job search means looking beyong the traditional, 9-5, salaried full time job.

To me, "thinking outside the box" in a job search means looking beyond that list of qualifications the OP cited and instead of wondering what sort of position requires those specific skills, asking yourself what abstract qualities do all of those skills suggest I possess?

...and then you figure out how to pursue a position that requires those abstract qualities. OP may never put together a computer from scratch or reinstall an operating system again...but if he recognizes that those skills indicate a propensity for seeing a complex project to completion, he can pursue a position in, say, Project Management, that will potentially earn him an order of magnitude more than the poor schmuck who's putting together a computer from scratch or reinstalling an operating system.


Edit: in fairness, you'll also need to learn how to sell yourself on the basis of those abstract qualities (no easy task!) in order for this strategy to work.

[MEKer]

you check out banks?

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

To me, "thinking outside the box" in a job search means looking beyond that list of qualifications the OP cited and instead of wondering what sort of position requires those specific skills, asking yourself what abstract qualities do all of those skills suggest I possess?

...and then you figure out how to pursue a position that requires those abstract qualities. OP may never put together a computer from scratch or reinstall an operating system again...but if he recognizes that those skills indicate a propensity for seeing a complex project to completion, he can pursue a position in, say, Project Management, that will potentially earn him an order of magnitude more than the poor schmuck who's putting together a computer from scratch or reinstalling an operating system.


Edit: in fairness, you'll also need to learn how to sell yourself on the basis of those abstract qualities (no easy task!) in order for this strategy to work.

I hadn't thought of that before. Makes sense.

Selling myself, never been my strong point, but I know that if I want to get anywhere, I'll have to get good at eventually.

@MEKer: I've applied at a couple of banks before, I suppose I could try that again.

[The Owl]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I have a few skills that I think would be useful somewhere in the working world, but I can't really think of any jobs that I qualify for where I would use these skills.

I know how to take a computer apart and put it back together. I know how to install or re-install an operating system. I know how to troubleshoot hardware issues and other common problems on computers. I can usually figure out how to make a program do what I want it to do if given enough time (or access to google).

Does anyone have any advice?

There's a good chunk of your answer right there, go into business for yourself! That set of skills alone is what you need to get going. The trick is getting the word out about yourself and networking like a fiend. Break out of the system before it breaks you.

I found myself in a similar situation, my job was actually eliminated altogether (I did admin support @ a medical staffing firm). After months of soul-searching and applying for job after job and getting absolutely NOWHERE, I finally had to pause and take stock of what I really loved and what I could do.

Turns out, I found I had some substantial media production and conversion skills (and gear). The thing that lit a fire under me was an email from a friend that needed a CD package designed and printed, he chose me because of some stuff I did with my own CD projects. Well, one thing led to another, I started going out and filming bands and other things, designing print material, even did the editing and musical scoring for a historical DVD. Later got some gear to convert VHS tapes, 35mm slides and negatives (had a scanner already for other stuff), starting picking up clients as far flung as real estate auctioneers, startup businesses, ballroom dancers, bands, historians and others. This was the end result: http://4theboids.wordpress.com

FWIW, that would be my advice to truly get out of the box. Do it for yourself.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by The Owl

There's a good chunk of your answer right there, go into business for yourself! That set of skills alone is what you need to get going. The trick is getting the word out about yourself and networking like a fiend. Break out of the system before it breaks you.

I found myself in a similar situation, my job was actually eliminated altogether (I did admin support @ a medical staffing firm). After months of soul-searching and applying for job after job and getting absolutely NOWHERE, I finally had to pause and take stock of what I really loved and what I could do.

Turns out, I found I had some substantial media production and conversion skills (and gear). The thing that lit a fire under me was an email from a friend that needed a CD package designed and printed, he chose me because of some stuff I did with my own CD projects. Well, one thing led to another, I started going out and filming bands and other things, designing print material, even did the editing and musical scoring for a historical DVD. Later got some gear to convert VHS tapes, 35mm slides and negatives (had a scanner already for other stuff), starting picking up clients as far flung as real estate auctioneers, startup businesses, ballroom dancers, bands, historians and others. This was the end result: 4 The Boids Blog

FWIW, that would be my advice to truly get out of the box. Do it for yourself.

Alright, so I'm curious. Did you get a business license and everything? How long was it before you did that? How do taxes and everything work into that?

[The Owl]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Alright, so I'm curious. Did you get a business license and everything? How long was it before you did that? How do taxes and everything work into that?

Tax wise the IRS does have the options of Self-Employment tax and quarterly tax payments, just make sure you set aside 1/3 of what you make every week to cover that.

Still haven't officially incorporated but will very soon. I've been doing it almost a year now and once this network solidifies, I may go the LLC route, TBD.

[MJ5150]

If you go for self employment and are not familiar with tax laws in your state, you may benefit from hiring an accountant to work with you during the first year to ensure all your books are in order and you accurately pay all taxes and so forth. It may be on the spendy side, but you don't want the IRS chasing you down with a levy or lien to get their money.

-Mike

[KingRazor]

Does anyone here know of any job that doesn't involve food service, retail, or any other customer service position that doesn't require a degree or more than a few months of relevant experience?

I'm not opposed to customer service jobs, every job I've had has been food/customer service. It's just that it seems like those are the only jobs I can find that don't require either a degree or special skills (e.g. C++ programming).

I kind of find it odd that the positions where you're representing a company, or positions where you're preparing food that people will consume (which could technically kill them if the proper precautions aren't taken) require the least amount of experience and/or education.