OT: Moving to Jackson revisited

[esplanade91]

It's been several months since we've discussed me moving to Jackson and I wanted to REVISIT that notion one more time before I commit. I've given New York the old college try but have yet to gain any ground for "lack of experience." HOW CAN I HAVE EXPERIENCE WHEN NO ONE WILL GIVE ME ANY!!!!!!!!!

I've actually given it a lot of thought, and I'm not giving up by wanting to move to Jackson... Jackson has a big MSU alumni base and my degree would actually hold some weight there versus here, and I feel good about convincing someone to hire me despite my lack of experience because they know my background. Above all I have friends in Jackson and thus won't suck for I will have people to hang out with, easily pushing it past my current situation.

So I come one more time to ask if anyone has suggestions of where a recent graduate (that's starting to wear off) may apply in or around downtown Jackson. Or Jackson area. If I can't find anything I'm going to unload my savings and rent a ******** in the Jackson area on September 1st (100% definite date).

Once I have experience I can head west (most frequent suggestion last time we had this discussion) to Denver or wherever when I'm like 25 and I'm not some greenhorn with no job skills.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Sorry for not remembering but tell us what you want to do and/or what your back round is. The local economy (TriCounty) is picking up. I`ll be glad to try to help as will others.

 

[esplanade91]

Got my degree in marketing and a minor in political science. During college I interned for the Harrison County Board of Supervisors and then I was the personal assistant for the COO of New York City Parks and Recreation. I've been working at The North Face's flagship store in New York since Septemberish and I've been getting interviews here and there but the job has gone to a person each time who's not looking for a first job (I follow up). I don't have a car note, I have no student loans, and I honestly don't care about the money, I just want some purpose. A real 9-5 type of job. At this point I'm in interested in anything.

I'm not interested in going to grad school at this point BECAUSE I have no job experience. I am indeed interested in getting an MBA but not yet. That was the 2nd most recommended thing I do last time.

 

[benatmsu]

Have you looked into some metro-area staffing agencies?

They often times have a ton of temp-to-perm positions, ideal for people such as yourself.
Also, my wife is an HR director here in town, if you want to inbox me your email address, I can get a copy of your resume to her and she'd probably be happy to shop it around...

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

sales is a decent start, you may start somewhere you don't love, but after a year or two, if you're good, you can move to a better company. After that you can make contacts through work and find other jobs that way. I heartily recommend my oath, which was a year of crap sales (I was a stock broker), then switched to hardware, did that for a while, then switched to IT. Once you're in IT sales, you can transition to about anything in IT assuming you can pick up the technology. I'm now in a specialized field with ten times as many good jobs as people who can fill them, and IT is not going away. I've been approached by 8 recruiters for IBM, Red Hat, Verizon, etc. The last two days at our summit. I don't want to work for any of them , but it's nice to know there are landing spots if needed. No idea about you, but I see a lot of recent graduates going for jobs they just won't get. Entry level, making about $30-$40k is what you should be able to find.

Again, IT is a great field right now, and your major doesn't really matter if you're smart.

 

[coach66]

OP, you seem like an EMC guy*

Highpressureku*

 

[KurtRambis4]

"No Experience"

usually means you'll have to take a ****** job that does not pay much, in order to gain experience. You gotta pay your dues.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

I work with them, but not for them

I'm at a company called Rackspace, my normal attire is shorts, flip flops and at tshirt. I really don't want to go to a big corporate company, I'd have to spend $10k just to have the right wardrobe. I'm specifically working with OpenStack, and there are over 4,000 people at the summit here in Atlanta. If you're a tech nerd, learn OpenStack, people are begging for engineers, and I think the average tech makes about $120k, and sales engineers are in even higher demand. Unfortunately I couldn't code python to save my life, so I'm a technical sales SME, which means I haven't had to cold call or do any outbound sales in 6 years, which is nice.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

Took me about ten years to build up a real solid background

Where you can actually have "disposable income".

 

[mstateglfr]

Logistics sales. Non-asset based 3rd party logistics sales specifically, if possible.
It will be cool for the first couple years because you are totally new to how transportation works and issues never end, so you will always have things to learn and problems to solve. 3PLs, reputable 3PLs, hire straight outta college and the culture of many larger ones is very appealing for young childless 20somethings.


Below is a list of larger trans companies and 3pls that I know are in the Jackson area. I don't live there though, so it is far from complete.

KLLM
Menlo
CH Robinson
Total Trans
FedEx Supply Chain
UPS
JB Hunt
Jacobson Companies(Trans)
Werner Enterprises


message me if you want- my company, listed above, has an office in a Jackson suburb(no idea which. either north or east for sure) and is hiring. It wont make you rich, but after some time it will turn you into a problem solver and set you up with diverse skills and experience to go after jobs you actually want.

 

[mstateglfr]

With 2 kids under 8 and wife's law school loans, I am still waiting to find out what this so called 'disposable income' is all about. I hear it is super neato.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

Its pretty nice

I'm only a few years in, but not having to make sure a check will clear is amazing. Having no wife or kids or student loans helps a good bit. It was pretty easy to get a full ride to OM as long as you had good grades and test scores, not sure if that's still the case or not.

 

[WrapItDog]

I posted up a non-****** entry level insurance adjusting job in the delta with paid training, decent salary, company car, expense account, work out your home, and he didn't follow up on the PM I sent.

http://forums.sixpackspeak.com/show...in-Jackson/page2&p=925835&highlight=wrapitdog

 

[jakldawg]

Just put in your work for a few years, build up that resume, and before you know it, you'll zip right into "overqualified" territory for every available job out there!

(ignore me, I'm bitter.)

 

[esplanade91]

Sorry WrapItUp, I meant to message back (honestly thought I did) but I'm not interested in moving to the delta. I don't know a soul there and I think I'd lose my mind.

Like I said, I'm not really worried about money, that's not a big concern of mine at this point in my life. I'm interested in a position that can get some job experience that would translate to bigger and better things that will eventually turn into money. After that I'll "head west."

 

[codeDawg]

I'm at a company called Rackspace, my normal attire is shorts, flip flops and at tshirt. I really don't want to go to a big corporate company, I'd have to spend $10k just to have the right wardrobe. I'm specifically working with OpenStack, and there are over 4,000 people at the summit here in Atlanta. If you're a tech nerd, learn OpenStack, people are begging for engineers, and I think the average tech makes about $120k, and sales engineers are in even higher demand. Unfortunately I couldn't code python to save my life, so I'm a technical sales SME, which means I haven't had to cold call or do any outbound sales in 6 years, which is nice.

I do something very similar to OP4, and I can tell you software sales is the life. Great money, flexibility, and opportunity.

With your combo of degrees, I'm going to tell you that sales is the place for you to be. It's also the only profession you will make any money in unless you want a soul crushing 9-5 corporate marketing gig where you will work until you are 50 to sniff $100K.

That being said, in my personal southern network there are basically 3 categories of sales that I see people being successful: 1. medical, 2. financial, and 3. software.

1 & 2 are know somebody gigs, and the 3rd is know something. My advice would be to target an industry you find interesting, find out what companies would allow you to work for them from where you are, and research like hell what the lowest level you can break into the field is. Then network, email, call, whatever you have to do to get that job. Also, try to get into larger companies. Bigger company names early in your career help you get that next job.

Like OP4 said, the first couple of years will likely be crap. You will cold call or do grunt leg work for peanuts for a while, but if you pay your dues it will pay off.

 

[esplanade91]

Just put in your work for a few years, build up that resume, and before you know it, you'll zip right into "overqualified" territory for every available job out there!

(ignore me, I'm bitter.)

I have 0 experience but I have a college degree and several jobs have told me I'm overqualified. It's a can't-win situation. Granted they were ****** office ***** jobs, but at this point I'd gladly take them vs what I'm currently doing. It seems like if a company feels like you won't stay after a year they just won't bother.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Just stay cool. We all went through the same crap at one time or another. You`ll be fine.

 

[The Peeper]

With Harrison County Board of Supervisor experience, you should try the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, great bunch of honest, straight forward people**.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

Xerox is an awesome starting point for sales. And never go pharm sales if you later want to move into equipment, but companies actively target Xeroids, as they have great sales training mostly, but medical equipment jobs usually state "no pharm reps". And medical pays great, I know guys making 3-400k. IT is great because I can wear jeans to almost any customer visit, and I travel to fun places. And as technology advances, you can make yourself a wanted commodity, there just aren't that many people who can talk tech and also hang with a group of c-levels.

 

[WrapItDog]

I didn't say anything in the first thread and let it go. But when you start another thread saying your desperate and still looking it kinda rubbed me wrong way. A simple thanks I'm not interested was all that was necessary. You missed out on a good opportunity. Spend 12-18 months working in the delta and then transfer to any opening in the country or home office in large city with NFL and MLB.

For those reading this thread the job was filled however he probably won't last long.

 

[Shamoan]

jackson has advantages over small ms towns, but as a jackson native of 30+ years, its a mistake to voluntarily live here. just my 2 cents. dont rely on your msu background either...nobody cares here. the job market is atrocious and the good ole boy system is thriving like never before. essentially, if you dont know somebody or have an in already, its nearly impossible to get a job. i made great grades out of state but had an iffy business degree. take if from a '05 state grad, if you are moving here for opportunity, you are in for a bit of a reality check. sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is my reality. it was so bad, it forced me to go back to school for a second 4 year degree or the opportunity at a highly advanced degree. if you are moving from bum-17 mississippi, by all means, move to jackson, but outside of that, you will be disappointed mightily.

 

[J-Dawg]

Sorry WrapItUp, I meant to message back (honestly thought I did) but I'm not interested in moving to the delta. I don't know a soul there and I think I'd lose my mind.

Like I said, I'm not really worried about money, that's not a big concern of mine at this point in my life. I'm interested in a position that can get some job experience that would translate to bigger and better things that will eventually turn into money. After that I'll "head west."

Well.... lose your mind by having a job in an area you don't want to be in, or lose your mind being in the "hip" places without a job of any worth... your choice. You are complaining about not having experience and you are having a potential job offer waved in your face.

Like multiple others have stated, if you want to be successful, you have to put in your dues. I'm only 26, so I'm still technically putting mine in, but I'm on my 3rd "real world" gig and each change has been for the better. Things are looking much better now.... mainly because I've stuck it out. Still doesn't mean it isn't stressful at times.

 

[Shamoan]

also, take this from experience, DONT work for blue cross. they are the devil incarnate. i worked there with a few state grads and it absolutely sucked the life force out of me during the year i worked there. one of the states largest employers, but they are truly evil people.

 

[KurtRambis4]

See that's what I'm talking about.

Sorry WrapItUp, I meant to message back (honestly thought I did) but I'm not interested in moving to the delta. I don't know a soul there and I think I'd lose my mind."

You may have to take something like this, to get where you want to be. Obviously this situation sucks for you (being in the Delta where you don't know anyone), but sometimes you have to do **** that sucks.

I'm not suggesting you will have to live in the Delta for the next 50 years, but this seems like it was a good opportunity to do something for 12-18 months, and then move on. If you busted your *** and did really well you would 1) have that coveted "experience" and 2) had a solid reference from this employer.

When people find themselves in desperate situations, sometimes they have to do things (short term) that they do not want to do. It's how things are.

Hell, you may have even seen something open up 6 months later that offered more and was a better job.

It really boils down to priorities. If you want a job that will be a stepping stone to better things, then you will be willing to relocate to a **** place (temporarily). My first job out of college sucked.

However, it seems as if socializing is more important as this point for you.

 

[bad beat]

PM sent

 

[futaba.79]

you're right about the one year thing.........

I absolutely hate the hiring process. It's such a hassle. So if I like somebody but if they give me some clues that they're just passing through it's over for them. I expect young employees to want to move up and on but I've got to have a two year guarantee. I'd rather have my second or third choice over somebody using me for experience. And, if I see a resume full of one year stints, I always pass.

 

[GTAdawg]

SAP experience

If I have one more company ask me "do you have any SAP experience?", I may flip my $#!*. I work in the manufacturing sector, specifically in procurement and supply chain. I've put my name in the hat for a few different opportunities recently, and every company wants someone with SAP experience(I use a different data warehouse software where I currently work). It seems so ridiculous for that to be a deciding factor, or even a factor at all for that matter. It took me less than a month to get this software we use now down pat, and I know it wouldn't be hard to learn any other system. Maybe these companies don't want to take the time to teach someone?

Experience...such a frustrating word. Sometimes I think the interviewer/employer doesn't even know what they want.

 

[SignalToNoise]

if you are moving from bum-17 mississippi, by all means, move to jackson, but outside of that, you will be disappointed mightily.

Agree 100%

 

[drt7891]

Absolute truth right here. You are gonna have to do "****" and "*****" jobs, as you put them, but it won't be forever. You gotta get experience, an you may even find out you like being somewhere you never thought you would. Being 3 years into the workforce, it did not take long for me to learn that you have to earn every bit of respect and pay you get, no matter how "qualified" you are or how many degrees you have. Hell, I have a masters degree and started off making peanuts and working in a warehouse doing grunt work. 2 years later, I'm making a good bit more now and I manage about 80% of the supply chain into our facility and gaining killer experience.

You gotta pay your dues, esplande... Simple as that.

 

[esplanade91]

jackson has advantages over small ms towns, but as a jackson native of 30+ years, its a mistake to voluntarily live here. just my 2 cents. dont rely on your msu background either...nobody cares here. the job market is atrocious and the good ole boy system is thriving like never before. essentially, if you dont know somebody or have an in already, its nearly impossible to get a job. i made great grades out of state but had an iffy business degree. take if from a '05 state grad, if you are moving here for opportunity, you are in for a bit of a reality check. sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is my reality. it was so bad, it forced me to go back to school for a second 4 year degree or the opportunity at a highly advanced degree. if you are moving from bum-17 mississippi, by all means, move to jackson, but outside of that, you will be disappointed mightily.

To be honest I'm not really wanting to move to Mississippi at all, I just want a professional job. The only reason I'm interested in Jackson is I have a place to live there (reason I'm up here... This at the time was the only place I had to live) along with the stuff I said in the original post.

I had a job offer from the Yankees but once offered they completely changed around what my duties were, my hours, and the duration. They told me when I interviewed that is was 5 days a week from hours A to B and it paid X, but it turned into a one day a week type of deal that would have required me to quit my job that actually does want to pay me (17 the Yankees). It just sucks. I'm not up here because I'm a hipster and wanted to live in a big city, I'm here because my sister's basement is the only place there was for me to go upon graduation. Now I have a New York address and it's extremely hard to convince a company in Birmingham, Nashville, or wherever to hire a guy with an address 1000 miles away when I don't even have experience.

It's frustrating.

 

[aspendawg]

Move out West. Network with every single person you meet and stay in touch. That will get you further faster than if you take some crappy job and "pay your dues". It's all a means to an end anyways. If you move to Jackson (and there's nothing wrong with Jackson) more than likely you're never going to leave and you'll be older one day regretting the fact that you didn't do something like that. You're young.. Go on an adventure. Chances are most of the people around your age won't be able to retire anyways. Plus you're not getting any younger..

Take it or leave it..

 

[Shamoan]

maybe adidas is hiring**

sorry, couldnt resist. i feel your pain. its a tough job market out there and i do feel like the msu family needs to do a better job taking care of our own, but im not a very connected person, so that is probably mostly my fault. i know a former msu student body president that moved back to jackson and couldnt find any work. i thought surely some state grad would help him out with a position, but to no avail. its a damn shame we dont take better care of our own. if he couldnt get a leg up, how in the hell could i expect to get one, as he was a good a bulldog as any. i know exactly what you are going through and went through the same thing roughly 5-6 years ago. as stated, my end game was going back to school....i probably went on 40+ interviews, 2 or 3 offered jobs, but they werent the kind of jobs i would really consider and certainly not something one would want to build a career out of. maybe im picky, maybe im snoody, but the bottom line is the job market sucks *** and i felt like i was dead in the water without any solid connections. good luck. maybe someone here can help you out. we certainly need more of that kind of "in the family" vibe going on. that is something where we let a lot of our grads down, at least imo. good luck to ya.

 

[Palos verdes]

There's a lot of truth to what aspendawg is saying. Since you have a place in Jackson, you could come check it out and look around. But since you want to be out west, why bother? You have a better chance of landing a job you want elsewhere. Good opportunities and jobs are very scarce in Jackson.

 

[KurtRambis4]

^Don't listen to this hippy**

*

 

[treeddeep]

Graduated in May of last year. Looked for jobs in Jackson for about 9 months. Had a cpl of interviews (st Dom (17 them)), some trucking company and a couple recruiting gigs. I'm finally starting a sales job in a small town in north ms. Don't know anyone in the area and never thought I'd live in north ms. At this point I'm thankful for the opportunity and ready to bust my ***.

My two closest friends both took off after graduation. One is in Portland and one in Brooklyn. They both worked hip retail jobs and pay 1k to rent a **** hole and they love it. It's all about perspective I guess. Only advice I can give is to just keep your head down and keep moving forward. Things always work out.

 

[EAVdog]

Move to Atlanta

To be honest I'm not really wanting to move to Mississippi at all, I just want a professional job. The only reason I'm interested in Jackson is I have a place to live there (reason I'm up here... This at the time was the only place I had to live) along with the stuff I said in the original post.

I had a job offer from the Yankees but once offered they completely changed around what my duties were, my hours, and the duration. They told me when I interviewed that is was 5 days a week from hours A to B and it paid X, but it turned into a one day a week type of deal that would have required me to quit my job that actually does want to pay me (17 the Yankees). It just sucks. I'm not up here because I'm a hipster and wanted to live in a big city, I'm here because my sister's basement is the only place there was for me to go upon graduation. Now I have a New York address and it's extremely hard to convince a company in Birmingham, Nashville, or wherever to hire a guy with an address 1000 miles away when I don't even have experience.

It's frustrating.

Yes the traffic sucks. But everything else is pretty Awesome. Lot's of job opportunities. I recently moved back to MS from Atlanta. I'm so glad I started out my career there (12 yrs in). I have so much more experience than my colleagues who stayed here. Plus there are more women than you can shake a stick at, the food is great, and it's not a bad drive back to Starkville for gamedays. Plus Athens, Auburn, and Gainesville aren't far. Really can't stress enough just how many young ladies there are in Atlanta. Not so much in Jackson.

My biggest complaint about Jackson is that unless you have experience or very strong personal connections you will not get a great job. And if you lose your job for any reason there aren't a lot of other jobs out there. You may even have to change your profession to find work. I know a ton of folks that were laid off in Atlanta in 08 and ended up with way better jobs than they had. Folks in my profession here went to work at the coffee shop.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[FormerlyHighLifeRebel]

Preach.

 

[RocketDawg]

A childhood friend of my son got a marketing degree from Ole Miss, and he works for Striker selling medical equipment, and apparently is doing quite well in the profession. He's been there over ten years. He's in Birmingham. Oh ... he wasn't that great a student either. Took him something like 6 years to get his degree -- he was majoring in fraternity parties more than marketing.

Have you thought about that company?