Over The Hill Gang , Old Farts with Young Cars

[With envy]

Wow; I'm overwhelmed by the responses! I just want to say thanks everybody for the tips, advice, and well wishes! And I want to let you know that I am in good spirits and at peace with the whole thing. Mags income from building airplanes is decent enough that we will be fine. We've been through far worse in the past and come out okay.

Originally Posted by GnyaTek

Unfortunately, now it seems, that degrees and certifications are the "weedout" method used by screeners of resumes. It is very unfortunate, because there are a lot of great folks out there that could do a better job that don't have those degrees or certs but have a lot of experience (and in some cases, may come with a cheaper salary) but never get a chance at some of the jobs.

It may help to use a non-traditional resume (one that focuses on skills) for the interim while you go back to school. Some companies are doing keyword searches on electronic resumes that may pull your resume based on specific systems/processes.

I am currently in the same boat. I was laid off as of Dec 31. And while I have a 4 year degree, I don't have the "necessary" MBA, Masters, or certification initials after my name. 16+ years of experience is good, but I miss out on many of the initial cuts and folks don't even look at what I will bring with me in experience. It isn't necessarily fair, and it probably isn't even the company's best interest to filter that way, but it unfortunately is the current reality. I wish ya the best of luck in getting both the degree ya want as well as the career ya want.

I wish you all the best. Education and employment are a tricky thing these days. My best friend since Jr. High went to college on the GI bill. He got a 4 year from Michigan State, and from there it was a rollercoaster of jobs for several years. He made real good money for awhile, but he was sitting on the telecom bubble when it burst back in the 90's. Compounding his problem was that he was (and still is) living in Michigan. Unable to get a decent job, he went back for his Masters degree. It didn't help. In fact it may have actually hindered him in some cases. At the time there were so few jobs available, most of a lower pay scale, and such a large pool of the unemployed, that employers passed him over because he was "overqualified" and would probably expect more salary that they wanted to pay.
In reference to your resume advice, you are spot on. In fact, that very practice is what prompted me to consider returning to school. Years ago (pre-internet) I submitted a resume to Boeing. In those days they would pass the applications to the heads of the departments with openings, and let them choose their own people. I actually got a call from a supervisor, who was very impressed with my qualifications, and wanted to hire me as a manufacturing engineer. I found out that even though the job title had "engineer" in it, it didn't require any actual engineering degree. I was thrilled, but getting hired at Boeing can be a long process, and it came unraveled at a later step in the chain unrelated to my education or experience.
Recently I have applied to them again online. And I received a lot of advice and tips on how to write a resume so a computer can read it. Unfortunately, when you remove the human quality of discretion, you are left with the digital process of 1 or 0. And if you have a 0 where there should be a 1, no human will ever see your application. In my case, the experience tumblers all click into place, but the educational requirements are my 0. So I plan to fix that.

Originally Posted by monicatomokc

If you don't mind me asking, what profession are you in?? We've discussed a bit of aviation in this forum and I'm wondering if that is the field you work in? I do not have a degree but the USAF trained me well and I was able to take that training and experience to the FAA. Fed jobs in the FAA are very hard to come by and there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about how fortunate I am to have this one. Anyway, if you are in an aviation related field or not, there are many contractor jobs that come available in the FAA that might fit your experience and located in the Washington State area. The FAA's Northwest Mountain Region there in Seattle just might have something of your interest and/or skill-set. If you have a unique specialty, I can track down an office to put you in touch with and see if they have contract-support help.

Just throwing that out there if you might be interested.

I don't mind at all, and I appreciate any advice! I've been working at the US division headquarters of a publishing house for the last five years. It's a Canadian owned firm. I was the in-house vendor in charge of retail accounts for the Eastern half of the US, and at times, up to 45 states. I won't go into details as to why the company is circling the drain, but bottom line, nobody is buying books anymore. Prior to that is a long string of industrial/factory jobs.
My aviation bent goes back to when I was a kid. (How many of us can say that!) I joined the Civil Air Patrol when I was 13, with dreams of growing up and joining the Air Force as a fighter pilot, like all my heros. The CAP was great for a kid like me, and gave me access to so many aspects of the USAF and other branches, that most civilans would never get to see. How many kids get to sit in the ****pit of a B-52 and play Slim Pickens from Dr. Strangelove? I figured I was on a good track, and then the reality of my less than perfect eyesight set in. Not wanting to be anything but the driver, I put the Air Force on the back burner and decided to get my wings civilian side.
I went into an aviation flight technology program at a local community colllege, and did well until economic hardships brought my education to a screeching halt. Years later I picked up where I left off at a college out here, and at least managed to get my Private cert before life intervened again.
As you may have noticed above, I'm aiming for Boeing, because they have been very good for my family, and hey, it's BOEING! But I try to never limit my options, and your suggestions have me very interested. In fact, some of the positions I have looked at are liaison with the FAA! Thanks!

And thanks to everybody else for your advice and well wishes!




Oh, and Twisty, does your son by any chance suffer from antideaphobia?

I think we might have found the root cause, if he does!

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by With envy

Oh, and Twisty, does your son by any chance suffer from antideaphobia?

I think we might have found the root cause, if he does!

I had to look it up... next time I see him I'll QUACK real loud, see what happens

Anatidaephobia - The Fear That You are Being Watched by a Duck ...

[lightning]

Originally Posted by dianeokie

Oh yeah, forgot to tell you jay, but Oklahoma does get snow

Originally Posted by monicatomokc

Diane is correct. Here's proof... Christmas day 2009

I was just teasing on ol' Mr. Twisty you guys. I know it snows in Oklahoma from time to time. I actually lived in OKC off and on till the 5th grade.

[SSBUSDRVR]

Good morning to you all.

Hi mike, we're just 4 months away from f-body. Woo hoo

Yeah will be here before you know it Diane
Thanks Linda.
Hope you end up at Boeing Gary.
Everyone have a good weekend.

[RubyCamaro]

[ATTACH][/ATTACH]Good morning from the Great Smokey Mountains. When we arrived yesterday the mountains were sitting in the clouds. Now it is bright and sunny. Neither condition is great for pics. I'll post a couple anyway if I can. I am on my IPhone now but will try from Mike's mini laptop later. I have never posted pics with either before. Okay on laptop now. Let's see if this thing will upload a couple of Mt pics taken from our balcony. Okay it looks like it will only do one pic at a time. This first one is when we arrived & were in a cloud.

[monicatomokc]

Originally Posted by With envy

As you may have noticed above, I'm aiming for Boeing, because they have been very good for my family, and hey, it's BOEING! But I try to never limit my options, and your suggestions have me very interested. In fact, some of the positions I have looked at are liaison with the FAA! Thanks!

Sounds like you've got a good plan. Best of luck in making it all happen!!

[RubyCamaro]

Let me try again. Mt LeConte from our balcony.

[Mr Twisty]

Looks like a nice day in east Tn.

[Ladybugsmom]

I was unable to view that video from my phone, so I just had a chance to watch it now.... made me cry....
But that's a good thing because I've been bottling stuff up, and tears are a good outlet right now.

I have a 3 day weekend and have no plans... what to do??

[lightning]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsmom

I was unable to view that video from my phone, so I just had a chance to watch it now.... made me cry....
But that's a good thing because I've been bottling stuff up, and tears are a good outlet right now.

I have a 3 day weekend and have no plans... what to do??

Which video LBM? The one with the Downs syndrome child and the labrador? That one makes me cry too.

You could watch the football games tomorrow.

[Ladybugsmom]

Originally Posted by lightning

Which video LBM? The one with the Downs syndrome child and the labrador? That one makes me cry too.

You could watch the football games tomorrow.

Yup, that one....

[dianeokie]

Getting ready to head up pikes peak on the cog railroad.

[lightning]

Originally Posted by dianeokie

Getting ready to head up pikes peak on the cog railroad.

Hey Diane, say hi to my parents while you're in Colo. Springs!

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by dianeokie

Getting ready to head up pikes peak on the cog railroad.

I'd like to do that one day..... and the steam train from Durango to Silverton. One of these days