jerichoholicninja

Not really an investment question but a "money" question. I've some paper and coin currency that my step brother gave me years ago from his travels in the Navy in the 90's from various countries like the Philippines, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. I just want to get rid of it. I would guess some of it isn't even the current currency of some of these countries. Does anyone know where I could even find out if it's worth anything?

My investments are in gold, buried in various places around town. Or is it?

My degree is in Graphic Design but most "Design" positions require more than design and are more marketing and web design orientated. Which I actually have a fair bit of marketing and sales experience, especially compared to other designers. However, I have very little web design experience and a lot of employers want that but I have no interest in learning it. I've tried, it's frustrating, and I hate it. Overall though, I really don't know what I'm looking for. I've liked what I've done so far but I haven't loved it. There are a couple different fields I think I would enjoy but they would require a move which would make no sense for us right now. Asking my wife to leave her job would not make any financial sense and she actually loves her job. I've got some freelance clients that were bringing in decent money for a little while. But my biggest one decided they would rather hire an expensive marketing firm which I can't believe is saving them any money. I also have a somewhat successful online business. My wife and I are expecting in Spring and I think ultimately I'll just end up staying at home with the baby since it will cost less than paying for child care.

Not sure what difference having 2 months of a job that I was still being trained for at the end on my resume will make. Also not looking forward to having to explain in interviews that with the only two "real" jobs I've ever had, the business closed a few months after I was hired.

So the epilogue to my previously posted about job situation. I actually got it and started there about 2 months ago. I was so excited to get out of somewhere I did not want to be anymore and work somewhere where I got to do things I liked and work with awesome people. Today they told us they are closing at the end of the month. My never ending job search continues.

That's good news...hope it works out for you. And yes, the things some companies now make prospective job applicants go through are pretty ridiculous. I think the era of online applications has made things worse, especially for the unemployed. Oh gosh, don't even get me started on that crap.

What industry or type of career are you pursuing? Maybe someone here can help. Not all employers are like that, jerking prospective applicants around needlessly...it sounds like maybe you just need to broaden your search outside of a narrow niche, maybe? No, believe me I've covered every type of industry. For profit, not for profit, schools, government, large businesses, small businesses, it's pretty much all been the same result. My uncle went through the same thing a couple years ago after he was laid off with his job search for a totally different type of work. I remember my immediate family (none of whom have had to look for a job in 15+ years) being shocked and appalled that my uncle who had almost 20 years of experience was going through the same things I was. And to be honest, I don't think most of them believed me before. As for the job at hand, they actually got a hold of me yesterday and want me to come in next week to discuss salary and compensation so maybe this is actually going to happen.

Has it always been this damn hard to get a job? Literally every place I've dealt with has been this same crap. I'm sick of getting lied to, ignored, jerked around.

Tuesday has passed and no call. Can't say I'm surprised.

Called this afternoon and got the so and so just stepped out they'll call back in a few minutes. Never happened. Called again before they closed and was told they are still trying to figure out the pay rate "so that it is fair for everyone" and they will talked with so and so on Tuesday when they are back in. When I called this afternoon I spoke with that person. You couldn't have talked about it after that? I really wish I didn't have the combination of hating my current job so much and loving so many things about this potential job so I can tell them to just forget it. They also said they would call me back on Tuesday. So far their track record for calling me back AT ALL when they say they will is 0 for every time.

So a month and a half after posting this, here is where things stand: I went in dressed business casual, believe anything more would have been overdressed as I was the only person in that office wearing pants and sleeves, and asked about the job. They gave me an application and filled out my contact info and such and got to the back of the sheet where they asked for my work history. I asked if they wanted me to fill it out because I had my resume with me. They said I needed to fill it out so I copied all the information that I had just spent the whole morning typing up into the tiny spaces on the sheet. When I finished, they looked it over and asked me a few questions and told me some things about the job. They seemed genuinely interested and while talking said "We will probably start you out at..." and then proceeded to look at my salary history and gave me a number that was higher than the starting salary in the job posting which seemed like a good sign to me. They said they would call me later in the week to set something up. I went in on Monday and didn't hear from them the rest of the week. I called the following Monday and they seemed upset that I called but asked if I could come in on Friday. My interview went great. They showed me around the place. It seemed like we did more chatting than actual "interviewing" and I asked lots of questions about the job and the company. They said they would call me next week and I felt good about it, but I feel good about every interview. A week goes by and I don't hear from them. I finally call them Wednesday the week after they said they would call me. They tell me they've been very busy and haven't had any time to think about it. Also, one of the people who is involved in the hiring process is on vacation on this week and next so they will call me on Monday (1 and a half weeks from now) when she gets back and included the word promise. Well that Monday comes around and guess what? No call. I figured it's a Monday, things got busy, I'll call on Tuesday. I call on Tuesday and they tell me they are very interested in me, they want to bring me on board, they're very busy and need the help. Great. But they also say they need to speak with their accountant (who is very busy) because they need to "get some things in order" before they bring someone else on. Give us a few days they say and we'll get back to you. The last time I spoke with them was August 17. They are a very successful business, been in business for over 30 years. My aunt does a lot of business with them and has said they are usually very slow with things because they have so much work. They have a two person office staff. I can somewhat understand what is taking so long but it also sort of feels like I am getting the run around. If you don't want me, just tell me. I'll be upset but I can move on then. I'm sure some of you might be wondering why I would want to work at a place like this but I hate my current job, I can pretty much make my own work schedule, and I would actually being doing something I enjoy for a change. I was thinking about this a few weeks ago but I have basically been in a continuous 7 year job hunt since I finished college. My only real big boy, grown up job I had lasted all of 4.5 months before I was laid off. So I wish I could say that I'm used to dealing with this type of crap but I'm not. And it doesn't get any less frustrating.

I found a job that says I need to "apply in person" for. This is for a position and company that should at least provide an email for you to send a resume. But I digress. I've never done this before. Should I dress up like I'm going to an interview?

Is it an acceptable practice for an interviewee to bring notes to a job interview?

I wasn't asked about it during my phone interview today but I have an in-person interview on Monday. We'll see if it comes up then.

In every interview since I've worked there I was asked why I left that place. I'm assuming they will ask me as well, and I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but are you saying I should lie instead of tell the truth that I was let go (because the CEO was using shady accounting practices to make the company look successful to investors until he ran out of money and was eventually sued by multiple people)?

I have a phone interview with our Chamber of Commerce for a job tomorrow. I'm a little but nervous about them asking me about working for the place that refused to pay me - one of the many illegal/unethical things they did. I really have nothing good to say about my time there and especially about the owner himself but he's a Chamber member and has been promoting his new "business" through the Chamber lately and I don't want to speak ill of one of their members. I know it will come up because a lot of the things I would be doing for the Chamber I did at that job.

I'm looking to update my resume and apply for some jobs. My problem now is that in between "real" jobs I've worked some part-time jobs that have little to do with anything I'll be applying for. Should I just leave those off my resume so I have room for relevant work or will the gaps make me look like a bad candidate?

I'm pretty sure that's how Lyle got his Spring Training invite.

Unless you are able to stay on your parent's insurance AmeriCorps is not a good idea. I was actually offered an AmeriCorps position last summer and had to decline it because I was actually going to lose money working for them. They also flat out told me to apply for food stamps because I wouldn't be making enough money to feed myself. When factoring insurance and travel (which they won't reimburse you for even though you may very well do a lot of it) you are probably going to lose money. And most AmeriCorps positions do not allow you to have another job because you are a "24/7" employee.

Here's the thing about doing "free work" for a company: if you're doing it for free, unless you're doing one hell of a job, why are they going to start paying you for it? It sounds all well and good and it was something I did right out of college but it never got anywhere because as soon as I was done with something I would never hear from them again until they wanted more free work. When it comes to graphic design, there really isn't such a thing anymore. That's what I went to school for and tried to get into until I just gave up. Aside from big time ad agencies, companies aren't looking for designers anymore, they're looking for web developers or marketing people who can also make pretty pictures (or in most cases all three).

Welcome to the "real world." The way you get a job these days is to have 5-10 years experience and not be over the ago of 50 or be buddy-buddy with someone who makes those decisions.

Agree with all of this except the no single, young person staying in small town Wisconsin part. People doing hiring have no clue what it's like in the job market.

It seems the way to get part time minimum wage jobs these days is to personally know someone who owns a business or does the hiring. I applied for lots of those jobs and never even got an interview until I asked some people I know that own a store if I could have a job and they gave me one. And that's basically how all hiring was done there.

Is it just me or are staffing agencies just a huge con? I've been registered with basically every one in northeast Wisconsin for 3 years and never here from them even when I see they jobs that I am quite qualified for. I've gotten two interviews through them and neither job was anywhere close to what they described to me.

So my wonderful former employer has yet to pay me for my last two weeks of work. My last day was July 20. I've contacted them twice about this. The first time I was told they would send the check out next week. After a week had passed from the time I was supposed to receive the check I contact them again and was told the payroll person was sick all last week and they would mail it Friday (as in this past Friday). No check in the mail again today. If I don't get it tomorrow what are my options? I feel like writing them a scathing, sarcastic email making light of their financial troubles but there must be better options.