So the economy sucks right now around the nation…ya, we all know it. At my home in Seattle, I’d been scouring the net for Austin Texas jobs relentlessly. Why you might ask? Well, like many others around the nation, I got laid off in a city where the economy is so bad Bill Gates had to switch back to dial up.
The Washington State economy is so horrible that they are making drastic cuts in every area imaginable. I competed against several thousand people to get my job as a 911 call receiver…and I was really excited when they told me I was #1 on the list and they were hiring three of us.
That didn’t last long.
It took me 9 months to go through the process of going through all the background checks and finally landing the job. I was hired in April of 2011 and informed just 5 months later that they were laying all three of us new hires off due to budget cuts.
I talked it over with my wife and we decided to try for some jobs in Austin, TX and see what shook out. During that process I learned quite a bit…and I’m going to share with you what I learned….
The economy in Texas is among the best in the nation. According to the US Census Bureau, the Texas unemployment rate has been at or below the national average for 57 consecutive months. If that weren’t enough to convince you to consider Austin Texas Jobs, consider that according to the same study, more than 90% of the jobs lost in Texas during our short recession have been recovered already while the national average of jobs recovered during the same time span was only 26%!!
So considering the numbers, seeking Austin Texas jobs didn’t seem like a bad idea at all. Plus my wife wants to go back to UT, and well the weather is a little warmer.
Needless to say I was hired for one of those Austin Texas jobs… and you could be too… here are some ideas that helped me….
- Check out the internet! Sites like: indeed.com governmentjobs.com and if you are a veteran, usajobs.gov. These sites have great filtering capabilities where you can really narrow down your search for what you are looking for.
- Create an individual resume for each job! Don’t mass produce it!
- Study before your interview. Get to know the core values of the business. Use the internet to learn everything you can about the company before you step into the interview.
- Also, find out who the decision makers are at the company and do your homework. Find out what drives them personally. Social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have tons of useful information on both companies and individuals.
- Obtain genuine letters of reference from your previous employers or teachers. These letters can often separate one candidate from another and it shows that you went the extra mile.
- Dress as well as you can when you go to the interview, don’t overdress, but never dress down. You get one shot at a first impression.
- Lastly find something you are passionate about and pursue it with all that you are. Your passion will come through in the interview.
My very best to you out there…it is a tough time for our country. Put your best foot forward.
– the Austinot
the Austinot asks:
What do you think is more important when considering someone for hire…experience or a degree?
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I will be looking to see if the hospitals are hiring new grad nurses when I graduate. I’ve heard though that the market is saturated. :-/
I’m hoping the best for you. Like I said in my post. Much of it is how you interview and prep for that interview. Do your homework diligently before your interview and get some great letters of rec. That little bit extra can separate you from the masses. – E