I am sorry I have missed so many meetings the past few weeks. I want to let you know that I was offered and I accepted a position with the State Accounting Office. My first day with them will be August 20. I want to thank you for all you do and how your meetings really encouraged me. I hope to get to one more meeting before I start my Monday through Friday job.
Take care and God bless,
Bobby Arrington
Another 60+ Seeker Lands Good Job Close to Home
In last week's testimonial, Jim Blackburn said, "While the process may take longer, there are companies out there that do appreciate what they get with older candidates." Yes, job search is tougher for the 55+ crowd. This week we have another testimonial -- this time from a 60+ job seeker in Anniston, Alabama. Don's gutsy determination, continuous networking and willingness to humble himself led to his new position.
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Dave,
Thought I would give you update on the last three or four months.
I had about three interviews in November and December in which I thought I had the job. But none came through. Out of desperation, I went to work at Dillard's the first week in January selling men's clothes. Before that I had signed up with TRI Staffing.
It turned out that I knew the director of the staffing company. He had been the director of the Boy Scout Council when I was on the board. The Monday after I went to work for Dillard's full time, he woke me up early, saying that the local YMCA need help desperately. They hired me immediately for $30,000 per year. That was more than the $10 per hour that Dillard's was paying me. I took the Y job with the understanding that I would be working part time at Dillard's and would only work 40 hours for the Y. I was working approximately 60 hours per week with both jobs.
Four weeks ago I got a call from a lady who had worked for me for many years asking how things were going. We talked for a while. The following week she called me at the Y and asked me how much I was making. She had reminded the company that she worked for that I applied for the controller's job last year. They decided to hire from inside. When that turned out to be a disaster, it created an opportunity for me. I started this week with AmPro Molding in Annistonat $76,000. It is a challenge but I now have a real job.
Thank you for all of your advice and encouragement.
Don Estok
Short Job Search for Motivated Seeker
Dave,
With God's help, and with the condensed approach of the two-day
workshop at your office, I was able to secure a full-time permanent position at
Worldspan in less than six weeks!
I wanted to come to JobSeekers to share my good news, but my mom came
to town (from Florida) to take care of my sister's kids while they take a cruise to
celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Please be sure to give a PRAISE REPORT on my behalf at the meeting!
In blessing others, you will be blessed.
With much gratitude,
Valjean LeCount
I Was About to Leave, But Changed My Mind
Don Plante didn't lose heart and he didn't lose hope. Notice that he did what he needed to do to land a job -- even though he didn't feel like it.
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Dave,
I recently accepted a position with Sears Holdings as Manager of Special Projects at their Newnan distribution center.
I found the job by attending the Newnan job fair last month, which I originally had mixed feelings about attending. I had been to a couple of job fairs before with no results. So, I wasn't expecting much from this one.
I arrived early dressed in what I thought was the appropriate attire; a business suit. I think I was one of only a handful dressed this way. The room where the job fair was held was very crowded and hot. It seemed most of the companies were only hiring hourly workers.
After a lot of pushing and shoving, I was about to leave, but I changed my mind at the last second and decided to stop at one last table before I left. Well, it paid off.
The HR manager for Sears Holdings happened to be at the fair. He liked what he saw in my "O'Farrell resume" and pulled me outside to discuss setting up an interview. Well, the rest was easy. I had attended your workshop back in February and felt fully prepared and at ease for all three interviews I eventually had.
Thanks again for all your help. I wish I could stop by Friday morning, but darn, I have a job now!
Don Plante
Don't Give Up, Trust God
Dear Dave,
Just wanted to let you and the others know that I was recently offered
a library position at CDC. I accepted it and begin soon. To all the other JobSeekers,
don't give up, and keep trusting in God that he will bring to you what you are
looking for.
I recommend a book called "Your Best Life Now," by Joel Osteen.
I would read just bits of it nearly every day when job leads panned out and I
felt like the most useless person on earth. That book and others from Norman
Vincent Peale were very helpful to learn how to keep on keeping on.
"Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own
understanding... Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not
stumble (Proverbs 3:5, 23)."
Success Stories