Do employers find that weird? Or hard to believe that someone would do that?
Let me explain the situation. I've been working as an apprentice AME out of an AMO in Montreal which I wont name. Basically, I got tired of the bull that went on there, and the power trip that the supervisors seem to have there.
I saw an add for a job in an area where I grew up, which is around 8 hours drive away from where I live now. Seizing the opportunity, and not seeing how I could miss out work to drive out there and meet the person hiring, I decided to quit my job and just go for it. I quit because I could. I'm not in any financial trouble, and could afford to take 12 months off if I had to.
During the interview, my leaving my current employer had not been made clear. I guess its the 7-8 hour drive that got to me. On my way home, I was going over the things that had been said during the interview, and as soon as I got home I messaged the person I had met to tell them that I was no longer working, and that I had quit in order to go meet them. I had left him with some references, and I didnt want him to learn that I had quit through them.
So today I call back, and after talking to this person, I had a really bad feeling that I would pass second in line to whomever had sent their resume to him.
If you were (or are) an employer, and given the above situation, what would be your reaction? Would you consider that the guy drove 7-8 hours to come and meet you in person and let it pass by? Or would you think that someone who would do what I did is a complete doink?
I guess I just want to know if you guys think I messed up big time.
Leaving your current job to hop to an interview...
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tellyourkidstogetarealjob
- Rank 5
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- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:11 am
- Location: Cascadia
Employers are strange. They prefer to hire someone who is working and then bug them to quit ASAP rather than hire an unemployed person.
It's the same mentality a lot of women have. Take someone else's rather than go for a single guy.
It's as if by being employed you are proving you are employable. Even if your current employer and you hate each other.
You may have come across as desperate or given to rash decisions when you probably would've made the decision within a paycheque or two, anyway.
Don't worry about it. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go hunt for another opportunity.
It's the same mentality a lot of women have. Take someone else's rather than go for a single guy.
It's as if by being employed you are proving you are employable. Even if your current employer and you hate each other.
You may have come across as desperate or given to rash decisions when you probably would've made the decision within a paycheque or two, anyway.
Don't worry about it. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go hunt for another opportunity.
Who knows, Seems like you refer to yourself as a local boy to the area, that may be points in your favour. So companies prefer all local folk to outsiders.
Some times there's just no telling what goes through managemnets minds.
Maybe they just us the old shack the eight ball on the desk to decide!
Like tellyourkids says, Don't worry about, just send out a ton of resumes and knock on a few more doors.... I'm sure you'll find another job in short order. (If your willing to move.)
Good luck in your search.
mcrs
Some times there's just no telling what goes through managemnets minds.
Maybe they just us the old shack the eight ball on the desk to decide!
Like tellyourkids says, Don't worry about, just send out a ton of resumes and knock on a few more doors.... I'm sure you'll find another job in short order. (If your willing to move.)
Good luck in your search.
mcrs
.... Maintenance is a science since it's execution relies, sooner or later, on most or all of the sciences. Lindley R. Higgins Maintenance Engineering Handbook; Mcgraw-Hill, NY, 1990.. Look ma, I'm a Scientist!
While I can pick myself up from this, AME jobs in that area are really hard to come by. This is in the maritimes BTW. The airports there are pretty small and there arent that many places where I could go. My wife is already looking and has found a few interesting job offers in her sector, and I'd be a fool to tell her to call off interviews just because I cant find a job as a mech. I guess I would always wrench as an air force reservist. Or paint houses. 
What's the Old saying? "sqweaky wheel gets the grease." Why not drop by and just chum chat with some of the guys at the shop. Sometimes that helps. Bring the DOM a doughnut. (Or fruit if He's on a diet! 
)
Maybe that will bring him around if he did turf the resume. Which I find unlikely if they are hurting for guys as bad as everyone else is. Have to do something to make you stand out above everyone elses Resume.
Don't give up keep trying just try not to look desparate while doing it!
Good luck!
mcrs
)Maybe that will bring him around if he did turf the resume. Which I find unlikely if they are hurting for guys as bad as everyone else is. Have to do something to make you stand out above everyone elses Resume.
Don't give up keep trying just try not to look desparate while doing it!
Good luck!
mcrs
.... Maintenance is a science since it's execution relies, sooner or later, on most or all of the sciences. Lindley R. Higgins Maintenance Engineering Handbook; Mcgraw-Hill, NY, 1990.. Look ma, I'm a Scientist!
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200hr Wonder
- Rank 10
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- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:52 pm
- Location: CYVR
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Having done some hiring, I work on the following: Previous action tends to dictate future action. So you where not happy with your current job rather than attempt to fix the issues you quit to go for an interview (not even a an offer) at the drop of a hat.
Did you give your 2 weeks? Did you attempt to rectify any issues prior to quiting? These are things that I see as possibly happening again. Not knowing the entire back story of your previous job, I would more than likely pass. Then again I would also likely pass on anyone making a lateral move without good reason. You always risk losing that person to another lateral move. For positions like AME, you all have the paper so it is assumed you are all qualified for the job what I look for as a hiring manager is the following:
Company fit: Does this person fit our company culture? This is often subjective but is really important. If the company is conservative and you present your self in a manner that is not, I would have to consider that to be a bad sign. Now visa versa can be just as bad. How to over come this? Prior to the interview drop off a resume in person, around lunch is great, maybe ask to see the shop and chat with a supervisor to get an idea of a company.
Work Ethic: Will this person work up to the required standard? If I am running a conically shot handed shop and need guys to put in serious OT I want to make sure the people I am hiring are willing to do it. Nothing worse than having to get jobs out the door and they get screwed up because of bad work ethic. This is not the best situation for everyone, lots of people have kids, families, hobbies, or just want to work Monday to Friday. This also falls into showing up on time, accuracy rate for your work, accountability.
Stability: Can this person be counted on? See my comments above about making lateral moves. The last thing I want is a guy jumping ship for an extra two bucks an hour or some supposedly better job with out giving his current company a chance to retain him. People want to advance there career, move back home all sorts of things as a manager I want to help people do that, but just up and quiting is not going to do that. I would rather work with an employee to get a solid exit strategy that is good for everyone involved.
So really for an apprentice position the last thing I care about is experience, you have none but that can be fixed what I would care about is your ability to contribute positively to the company. And by just up and quiting to go for just an interview is setting a very very poor example. Would you do it to my company in six months? When you are looking for a job the hiring person has very little to go on, you may be the best employee in the world, but they have a resume, a couple of references and a one maybe two interviews. Unfortunately one little thing can sink your ship. If I where the hiring director the fact that you quit to come to the interview would put you way down the list of my preferred candidates.
Did you give your 2 weeks? Did you attempt to rectify any issues prior to quiting? These are things that I see as possibly happening again. Not knowing the entire back story of your previous job, I would more than likely pass. Then again I would also likely pass on anyone making a lateral move without good reason. You always risk losing that person to another lateral move. For positions like AME, you all have the paper so it is assumed you are all qualified for the job what I look for as a hiring manager is the following:
Company fit: Does this person fit our company culture? This is often subjective but is really important. If the company is conservative and you present your self in a manner that is not, I would have to consider that to be a bad sign. Now visa versa can be just as bad. How to over come this? Prior to the interview drop off a resume in person, around lunch is great, maybe ask to see the shop and chat with a supervisor to get an idea of a company.
Work Ethic: Will this person work up to the required standard? If I am running a conically shot handed shop and need guys to put in serious OT I want to make sure the people I am hiring are willing to do it. Nothing worse than having to get jobs out the door and they get screwed up because of bad work ethic. This is not the best situation for everyone, lots of people have kids, families, hobbies, or just want to work Monday to Friday. This also falls into showing up on time, accuracy rate for your work, accountability.
Stability: Can this person be counted on? See my comments above about making lateral moves. The last thing I want is a guy jumping ship for an extra two bucks an hour or some supposedly better job with out giving his current company a chance to retain him. People want to advance there career, move back home all sorts of things as a manager I want to help people do that, but just up and quiting is not going to do that. I would rather work with an employee to get a solid exit strategy that is good for everyone involved.
So really for an apprentice position the last thing I care about is experience, you have none but that can be fixed what I would care about is your ability to contribute positively to the company. And by just up and quiting to go for just an interview is setting a very very poor example. Would you do it to my company in six months? When you are looking for a job the hiring person has very little to go on, you may be the best employee in the world, but they have a resume, a couple of references and a one maybe two interviews. Unfortunately one little thing can sink your ship. If I where the hiring director the fact that you quit to come to the interview would put you way down the list of my preferred candidates.
Thanks for the insight, Wonder.
To answer the questions you ask, 1)no I didnt give a 2 weeks notice. I simply showed up to the Directors office, told him I wanted to leave and that was that. 2) Issues before quitting: Yes, issues had been dealt with.
I'm not jumping ship for money either. What I wil be getting is around 15-20% less than what I was earning in YUL. I want this job because its a) where I grew up, b) I dont like the big city life, and c) the aircraft to be worked on are more interesting to me.
With regards to work ethic, stability and company fit, for this job I'm willing to do whatever it takes to stay there til I cant wrench anymore. I want the whole package, the environment, the people, the life, everything. If I have to put in 60 hours of OT a week, I will do it. But I'm not really gaining anything here trying to impress other employers, I just wanted to impress this one. I guess I blew it, but I'm still hoping he's willing to give me a chance.
To answer the questions you ask, 1)no I didnt give a 2 weeks notice. I simply showed up to the Directors office, told him I wanted to leave and that was that. 2) Issues before quitting: Yes, issues had been dealt with.
I'm not jumping ship for money either. What I wil be getting is around 15-20% less than what I was earning in YUL. I want this job because its a) where I grew up, b) I dont like the big city life, and c) the aircraft to be worked on are more interesting to me.
With regards to work ethic, stability and company fit, for this job I'm willing to do whatever it takes to stay there til I cant wrench anymore. I want the whole package, the environment, the people, the life, everything. If I have to put in 60 hours of OT a week, I will do it. But I'm not really gaining anything here trying to impress other employers, I just wanted to impress this one. I guess I blew it, but I'm still hoping he's willing to give me a chance.
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tellyourkidstogetarealjob
- Rank 5
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:11 am
- Location: Cascadia
Brice,
200 hour has some good insights. I don't agree with his logic, but I do understand where he's coming from.
If you think you've already blown it why don't print off this thread and send it to him and tell him, "I'm Brice."
What you just wrote was well worded enough. What the heck, if you've blown it already you can't blow it worse.
200 hour has some good insights. I don't agree with his logic, but I do understand where he's coming from.
If you think you've already blown it why don't print off this thread and send it to him and tell him, "I'm Brice."
What you just wrote was well worded enough. What the heck, if you've blown it already you can't blow it worse.
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200hr Wonder
- Rank 10
- Posts: 2212
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:52 pm
- Location: CYVR
- Contact:
tellyourkidstogetarealjob you are right about the slightly flawed logic, however don't forget that most hiring managers are really short on information. And I agree with you, Brice do something to say hey I really want to be here. Print off the thread, I know one guy sent a single shoe fedex to a a hiring manager with his resume and a note attached that read "Hi I am So-and-So and just wanted to get a shoe in the door." Guess what he at least got an interview!
