Job Search: Networking Contacts - Looking for an Introduction

Here I am over a year later since I was laid off, I am still in search of a full time job. 


I have had some interviews in recent months and thankful to the people who introduced me to the hiring manager but nothing full time obviously has come from them, although I did land a consulting gig from a networking contact. 


Because, I did receive some networking contacts and job interviews from my last post, I thought I would try it again because hey there are more readers of my blog and hopefully, you may know someone at the companies I have listed below.

So if know you have  a contact, friend, or relative at the following companies whereby you can facilate an introduction, I would be most appreciative.  


My background is in loyalty/retention marketing and if you want, feel free to forward my linked in profile to provide them with details on my experience.  


I have expanded my list from the last post. 


Nick Jr (Viacom)
Lifetime.com (Viacom)
Time Warner 
HBO.com
Jet Blue
Cafemom.com (I love this site and have posted for several positions that fit my background but alas not even an email response has come my way)
Scholastic.com
Met Life 
Bank of America (this is a long shot since the marketing team is in North Carolina) 
iVillage.com
Babble.com 
Giltgroupe.com (I really hung up on this company as well since I like the business model and concept and its been getting good press in recent months. But again, applied online for positions that fit my background to a tee and not a peep) 
Morgan Stanley
Dow Jones
Dun and Bradstreet
AIU (formerly AIG)
New York Life
Chubb
JP Morgan Chase (New York office not Delaware)
Apple Bank 

American Express Alumni Mixer

This week, I headed out to an American Express Alumni cocktail party. What's that you say, a room full of ex colleagues getting together for cocktails, you aren't obligated to go and it's not company sponsored so you have to pay for drinks yourself. Who does that?

I must admit that it is a testament to the culture of the company and it's hiring practices that a former Amexer took upon herself to arrange this cocktail party 2x a year. Of course, in the last year, there are a lot more familiar faces because of the massive number of layoffs in the last year. But again, why would people come out in droves? Because for the most part, Amexers are smart, personable and likeable people. Like I said, most. I will not sugarcoat the fact that at the end of the day, it is a Fortune 50 with tons of warts and plenty of a**holes and plenty of people who rise to the top and you spend your time wondering why. But of all the companies I have worked for, I have kept in contact with tons of current and former Amex employees and while I have been unemployed, so many people who have long left the company have been more than happy to network with me and have recommended for open positions.

Glad I went because it was nice to run into so many people I spent many an evening working late with.

Job Search Inertia - Would Love Your Feedback and Advice

So many of you readers know that I was laid off in the Spring from a TARP bank (which one I will never say.) Yes, feel bad for me but at the same time don't. It was a very unpleasant fourteen months in a very dysfunctional company and frankly, who wants to read bad news about the place you work every day and get up every day worrying if this is the day. That in itself was nerve racking Even today, there is never any good news.

That said it's hard to say if the market is improving or not, I have been networking like mad and let's face it, applying to online job sites is like dropping a coin in the ocean, never to be seen again.

So as a way to get at least feel like I am being productive, I have decided to take a series of classes with a personal coach. Don't worry the cost isn't a lot although I am sure there will be a pitch for more one-on-one sessions. I figure I need to at the least networking more.

So to those readers if you have any advice on jump starting my job search or have any contacts at the following companies whereby you can facilate an introduction, I would be most appreciated. My background is in loyalty/retention marketing.

Nickelodeon – Nick Jr. (Viacom)
ParentsConnect/GoCity Kids (Viacom)
Lifetime.com (Viacom)
Time-Warner
Jet Blue
Expedia.com
Avon
L'Oreal
 ATT
Kaplan
CafeMom.com
WebMd.com
Scholastic.com
Met Life
ivillage.com
parents.com
Citymommy.com
Gilt Groupe.com

Census 2010 is looking for individuals with management experience

I just checked out the  website for Census 2010 as I thought that it might be an interesting short term gig, given I do have management experience. 

Lo and behold , I don't meet any of the qualifications for any of the positions.  First, you need to manage at the minimum 20 more people for the lower positions and over 100 for the Census office manager. 

The amazing thing is that if you are  indeed qualified and will end up managing over 100 people, you will only be paid p $30/hour. That seems ludicrous to be managing that many people and make so little, even call center manager make more than that. 

Outplacement Office - Envy and Jealousy are not good things to be

I have been going to the outplacement office off and on for the last 5-6 weeks to take classes that I think will be helpful in my job search.

As part of the intro of every class, we all have to introduce our selves. I would say that the vast majority of people are older workers and what I mean by older if 50+. There are few Generation X'ers but not many. No surprise that most of the people fall into financial services industry and from every bank in New York City.

I know I shouldn't be jealous or envious because I know that for long stretches of my life that I wasn't working I was happy. I don't regret living and studying in Italy or teaching English in Japan or spending time with my mother's family or going to grad school.

But when you hear about some guy from Credit Suisse who has worked there for 29 years and is going to wait out the market for a year, it's hard not to be jealous.

First Interview since being laid off

Since I was laid off in December, I know that I need to broaden my industry horizon and look past financial services companies. The biggest reason is that there are less of them and I need to get out NOW. 

Today, I went on an exploratory interview today at one of the entertainment companies. I had seen a position on their website and submitted my resume. Of course, I knew this was a black hole and reached out to the mom of my daughter's classmate who works at the company. 

She graciously went down to HR and asked her to give me a call to at the least set up a meeting.

I basically reviewed my background and salary history. 

The job that I actually posted for was being not only downgraded (less money) and filled internally. 

At the end we did discuss the possibility of freelance work of which I am open if only to learn about the business. 

The reality is that the decision to change industries means  I am going to have to take a paycut. This is the downside to being a single mom, being the breadwinner. 

Freelancers Networking Event

My friend Carmel invited me to a Freelancers Union Networking Event @ Le Poisson Rouge Gallery Bar (formerly the Village Gate) at 158 Bleeker Street (my old neighborhood) to support the repeal of the Unincorporated Business tax (UBT). Basically, people who freelance get taxed twice (federal tax + tax for being unincorporated.) Who knew? Regardless of whether you freelance or not, that's crap especially since this group has no clout and is not entitled to unemployment $$.   

I just joined Freelancers Union last month as I am pretty sure finding full time job is going to take a long time and short term project/temp work is in my future. 

I went to event because I need to start getting out more and networking. All I can say, I need to breakout of my shell if I am going to get a job as most people get their jobs from people they know. 

I am truly socially selective. I kept thinking I should be mingling but I talked to Carmel the entire evening yet when someone from Freelancers Union came over to chat about how you qualify for insurance I was pretty chatty.  

The crowd from the looks ranged from your basic hipsters to men/women in business attire so I didn't feel too out of my element. I did notice a couple of journalist tags but was curious as to what types of jobs these people have. 

Better luck next time.