Shameless self-promotion and networking request

[jeff0520]

Hello all,
Here's the deal, my wife, Laurie, graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2010 with a degree in biological sciences and a 3.54 cumulative GPA and great scores on the Alabama state field biology exam. In the past 3 years she has sent out literally thousands of resumes. From all that effort she has managed to score an exciting position in entry level big box retail.
Anybody need, or know of a need for a biologist? Maybe a general science position? Anything at all less humiliating than scanning boxes of depends.

[campmaster-k]

She could always teach until the right job come up.

[Phooey]

How big is the town / city where you live? Would she be interested in doing research? Maybe a small start-up company. It might not be great $$ to start with be could be a good stepping stone.

[GuitarPhotog]

There's a fair bit of bio and pharm going on out here in Silicon Valley . But there are a zillion people here too

I think you need to look to a tech center like Research Triangle or Silicon Valley or Austin Tx for that kind of job. Small towns seldom have industries with need for biologist/biochemists. Maybe your local water department? Mine hires a couple of microbiologists and a chemist or two.

Good luck

<Chas>

[Fenlason]

Despite what Slow keeps saying, things are not like that everywhere. Here in the State of Maine.. we have 4000 unfilled technical jobs. We currently don't have the people available with the skills to fill them. I know my friend at a local larger Machine shop, can't get enough people.

While I don't know specific available jobs. Jackson Labs in Bar Harbor would be a place I would look into. Lohmann Animal Health is another. Just to name a couple.

[Fenlason]

Jackson Labs currently has 62 job openings.. some are just custodial and grounds work.. but there are plenty of technical jobs listed also.

[Oreellyfool]

My advice is to network network network. Instead of just sending out resumes, have her go to in-person networking events (every major metropolitan area has them for ever industry and are usually fee or very cheap). Have her get on FB and linkedin and join groups for her areas of interest. Have her attend every career fair near by and bring her resume with her (Any college or community college campus is a good place to look for these).

Putting a face with her resume is a great way to get a position. My mom was a teacher. She taught at a local community college to help welfare people get jobs and write their resumes. At home she always pushed me to get out there and put my face next to my resume and I tell you, I am have not been unemployed once except by choice (to finish college).

Tell your wife i'm pulling for her!

[Oreellyfool]

things are not like that everywhere.

I agree with that 150%!!!

[eamarquardt]

hate to say it. this country is in a mess and this is just normal jeff for the times we are living in right now.

I won't get into the ecomey mess further. but really this is just what everyone else in this country is going though.

in plain english this country has a big problem and what your wife is going though is plain english.

sucks!

so is it sucks for everyone else too.

hang in there buddy. at least she is working on some type of a job.

I am truck driver stacking hay on the trucks some one elese ones becuase no one will let me behind the wheel of a truck to do what I was trained to do which is drive them.

we are all in the same boat.

in plain english its all sucks.

not going to start a ecomey fight on the forum.

so hang in there jeff this to will pass!

slow

"Don't hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning."

"Always with the negative waves Moriarty, always with the negative waves."

"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"

Remember you could always be using opiates several times a day to get by like some folks. Just a thought.

Cheers,

Gus

p.s. - I got my degree in Biology from CSUN. I thought I'd become a Marine Biologist and SCUBA dive to my heart's content. Halfway through college I questioned this outcome and asked my adviser what I could do with a degree in biology. He said I could teach or sell biology textbooks. Crap (just like Moriarty said)! So, I joined the USMC and became a "Marine Biologist". Then, when I was released from active duty, I talked my way into maintenance engineer and production supervisor positions. I didn't "blend" at that place so then I got a job as telephone systems engineer. The rest, they say is history. I encouraged my boys to study engineering. #1 was employed before he graduated and #2 will have no problems getting a job and will be paid as much or more than I ever made.

[lancew]

Monsanto is a good start.

[wagondude]

There are several Biotech/AG/Animal health labs scattered around the midwest. Fort Dodge up in Iowa Bayer Animal Health has a few facilities in Kansas. And they are in early stages of setting up an Agro defense facility in central Kansas.There are also labs in the area that do drug research as well as employment drug screening. Google just started building their Google Fiber high speed network in Kansas City. It is already starting to attract some of the science based industry to the area. She would do well to look at web site of major metropolitain news papers for early leads of what businesses are moving in the area. Then start looking for information in business publications (or web) to find out more about where they are headed growthwise. Checking those same papers may also alert her to any employment fairs in an area that you may be considering. Although traveling to gat an immediate face to face may be costly and difficult, it may also be what makes the difference. Good luck with the search.

[Oldragbaggers]

things are not like that everywhere.

I agree with that 150%!!!

Ditto. I work for a large school system and we have active job postings all the time. And I would second the suggestion to teach until she finds her dream job. And who knows, she just may love it. Most school systems are begging for math, science and special education teachers.

[alaska teardrop]

Hi Jeff,

Don't know much about biology, as the song goes, but it seems that I was surrounded by environmental biologists of all sorts for awhile. A couple of the most financially successful worked for companies that do environmental surveys, monitoring and compliance. State & federal government, oil, mining and other resource companies pay the bill.

And just have to say, consider Alaska. It's a part of this country that's doing well and has opportunity for those that strive. Good luck.

Fred

[pmowers]

Does she any interest in healthcare. There is a tremendous shortage of medical laboratory personnel and it is getting worse. If so, she should check out ascp.org for more information.

With the emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) many school systems are having a hard time finding qualified teachers. There are also grants available for additional training.

I wish her the best in what she decides to do.

Pat

[RioWilson]

hate to say it. this country is in a mess and this is just normal jeff for the times we are living in right now.

I won't get into the ecomey mess further. but really this is just what everyone else in this country is going though.

in plain english this country has a big problem and what your wife is going though is plain english.

sucks!

so is it sucks for everyone else too.

hang in there buddy. at least she is working on some type of a job.

I am truck driver stacking hay on the trucks some one elese ones becuase no one will let me behind the wheel of a truck to do what I was trained to do which is drive them.

we are all in the same boat.

in plain english its all sucks.

not going to start a ecomey fight on the forum.

so hang in there jeff this to will pass!

slow

Slow, do you ever give up on YOUR personal drama and opinion of how America is?
Just for your info your the guy that made me not want to visit the States with the way you run your own country down.

No he doesn't ever give up.... but please don't judge the entire country based on his posts. He strives to take threads off topic and promote his own personal drama.

Getting back on topic.... I am told that in this day in agewhere your best bet is to try to network and find someone who can get you in with a company. I think the days of blasting of hundreds of resumes are long gone. Good luck and stay positive something will turn out.