i know that some people on here poo-poo the idea of soliciting advice on personal situations from the "hive mind", but i actually find this place to be not only quite informative/entertaining, but it makes a great (anonymous) sounding board.

that being said, here's the dealio...

i can't find a job--anywhere.  God knows i've tried.  I have over 17 years experience as a marketing and business leader with an outstanding record of financial performance.  i've been promoted through a series of increasingly accountable management positions and have acquired broad experience in startegic marketing planning, crm/database management, brand management etc.  i have a formidable business acumen and expertise in both traditional and direct marketing.  in my previous position, i was responsible for taking 5 brands, across 3 companies to market--and i developed two of the brands myself!  not only that, but one of them was the highest ROI brand in the stable.

about 4 years ago, i was downsized in a hostile acquisition scenario.  within two months i had started my own company (specializing in high-end architectural coatings and concrete countertop manufacture) and within 7 months we were profitable.  

recently, i sold my stake to my brother because i want to get back into the corporate world---once the company was functional, my role became very boring and i never really intended to do this business long term anyway.  it was more of a stop-gap/marketing project for me.

so suffice it to say i am extremely capable, results-oriented, and articulate --moreover, i've got great analytical skills, communication skills and just plain street savvy.  so what gives?  i've gotten very little play out of about 400 resumes.  am i a leper, and nobody has bothered to tell me? this is enough to give a guy a complex.

what say you, hive?

IBTL--belongs in GD

cant say, good luck on your serch.....try out monster.com and see what happens

oh crap, this was supposed to be in general dicussion.  maybe i'm retarded?


yeah, i do monster, marketing ladders, DMA job bank et al.    i'm willing to move (almost) anywhere.

damn, it sucks to be me.

what would you prefer?  me gots good bizness smarts?

You're Obviously Overqualified.

Perhaps you should try a different field of Endeavor , Maybe Porn Star?

You could Bill yourself as "Mr. Formidable"...............

overqualified for what?  i'm looking at 6-figure gigs--at the top of mid management or the bottom of executive management. i don't get it...i hate to dumb down my communications  (BTW, i don't say "formidable business acumen" in my cover letter)


mr. formidable...i like the ring of that.  i'll stick with "buck naked" for now though.

i don't know where in wv you are but there are a lot more jobs in the wild suburbs of virginia.  if you are willing to make that commute i suggest you look at the big headhunter type companies--mantech, caci, logicon, etc.  

good luck.

You need to be a member of a minority group. I've been told many times that I'm qualified for a job but they can't hire me because they have to hire minorities. That's hard to believe here where Anglos only account for about 7% of the population but that's the line they use.

As a result, I have recently become Hispanic. I seem to remember that my great, great grandmother came from Spain. I'm hoping for better results now but only time will tell.

Having worked for the same company for 22yrs and having had only 2 jobs since high school I would not hire you because you are a job hopper who never stays with anything. That being said people like me do not run the world because management in my company rotates through like used laundry. 2-3 yrs on anyone in sale or management is pretty much industry std.______________________________________________________________________________


and i wouldn't hire you because you engage mouth (or in this case keyboard) before you know what you're talking about.  prior to starting my own company, i was in my last position for 8 years, 9 years before that.  had i not been downsized (as stated in the original post for those who can actually read) i would still be there.   also, moving out is sometimes the only way to move up--so evidently, your sheltered existence within only one or two companies hasn't allowed you to understand the ways of the world.


so many people out there in cyberspace want to judge and reach snap conclusions before they have any real idea about the facts.  my advice would be to be quiet while the adults are talking.

the reason you can't find a job is that there are lots guest workers here doing the work you won't do

Move to India.

Are you restricting your search to WV?  You might have to move.  Sucks, but sometimes necessary.

Have you thought of consulting?  Temp jobs?

Good Luck, Don't give up.  Patty

Ironic that you want to get back into the corporate world when so many want to be their own boss or flee the corporate BS.

Quoted: Having worked for the same company for 22yrs and having had only 2 jobs since high school I would not hire you because you are a job hopper who never stays with anything. That being said people like me do not run the world because management in my company rotates through like used laundry. 2-3 yrs on anyone in sale or management is pretty much industry std.______________________________________________________________________________ and i wouldn't hire you because you engage mouth (or in this case keyboard) before you know what you're talking about.  prior to starting my own company, i was in my last position for 8 years, 9 years before that.  had i not been downsized (as stated in the original post for those who can actually read) i would still be there.   also, moving out is sometimes the only way to move up--so evidently, your sheltered existence within only one or two companies hasn't allowed you to understand the ways of the world. so many people out there in cyberspace want to judge and reach snap conclusions before they have any real idea about the facts.  my advice would be to be quiet while the adults are talking.

Ooooh boy... ::grabs popcorn:: Quoted to preserve original post

Try being a manwhore.

Good hours , lots of pie etc etc.

Only kidding, good luck.

thanks to those people who have had something constructive to say!

to answer somebody's question...i'm open to moving (almost) anywhere.  west virginia is a cultural and economic wasteland and if i were to find the kind of job i'm looking for here, i would most likely drop over dead from shock.

i've considered manwhore

i've been a novice gyno for years...i could consider going pro

maybe i could become a professional postwhore?  oh wait, that job is already filled.

Quoted: snip maybe i could become a professional postwhore?  oh wait, that job is already filled.

Filled, with great competence, by Napolean Tannerite, I am afraid.

Nevertheless, you should consider a move to Atlanta, Tampa-St. Pete, Denver, Portland, or Seattle. These are cities that are looking for people who have your skill sets.

Another word of advice: at your skill level, you're a pretty big fish. There aren't too many of those around. Expect no less than a 12-month search, with it taking from 0900-1700 every day.

I didn't say that it would be pretty.

You will probably never feel comfortable going to work for anyone else, now that you have run the show yourself. Most employers know that - they don't want an uppity, opinionated, correct person on their team; it's too much of a challenge to their own piss-weak authority.

Look for another company you can buy, doing something you LOVE.

Gay Porn.

Years of experience in a field and the initiative to start your own business says "I'll take your job" to prospective interviewers.
I'd try consulting,and use successful consulting jobs to move into a fulltime corporate job.
Consultants aren't as threatening to managers as "new hires" are,and you get to network into your customers employee base,positioning yourself for being hired. It's also easier to slip into someone's budget with a "part time" approach.

NotoriousSEG,

There are a lot of people out there that would kill for a good marketing
guy to help them move ahead on inventions and products, but they just
don't know it.

I know several people that developed good products and fell on their
faces because they totally neglected the marketing aspect.

Many times an inventor and money guy get together and fail because
they didn't include a guy like you, shame really.

My only suggestion to you would be, find these two lost souls
and make a successful partnership with them providing they have
a product you see as marketable with great potential.

Good luck to you.

GM

Start learning how to make shoes, coffins, dig wells, things like that, that everyone can use, and be happy with a dry hut and a nearly full belly, because that's where the economy is headed.  Raising and garden, riding a horse and harnessing a team, and butchering a calf will also be useful skills, soon enough.

Might want to stock up on .22 RF ammo, too - that will be the coin of the realm for the things that you can't get through barter or theft.

Hey, when you find this position let me know and I'll come be your market research analyst.  

ETA I'm in the same boat except for the experience.  I am a recent MBA graduate, went straight through, and I can't find shit even in DFW.

some good thoughts out there.  

i'm afraid aero e's scenario might be truer than we'd like to believe.  a point that was driven home (no pun) quite well at the gas pumps this evening.  now if i could only figure out how to refine crude oil for fun and profit...



T-Ray, i feel your pain, brother.   employers are getting VERY picky.  you can have an MBA with little to no experience and you are SOL.  you can have tons of experience with no MBA and you are SOL.  its pretty disheartening.


p.s. i'd move to atlanta in a heartbeat.

Hey NotoriousSEG:

Chrck out this link. It lists current proffessional job openings for Shell Royal Dutch.

Shell Jobs

I work for a company owned by Shell (Motiva). Shell has been great to my familt and I. During Hurricane Rita, Shell made sure we had a place to stay food and water, they kept my pay going (hourly worker), and made sure I was able to make ends meet.

Hope the link is fruitful for you.

cajunboy2k