I'm a spineless, unsocialized creature. I'm at a job fair at the moment (in California), and I can't bring myself to go talk to anyone because the idea of begging for a job seems so repulsive to me. The very notion of "networking" with the goal of developing meaningless relationships that would be used solely for the purpose of personal (monetary) gain is so empty and depressing that I not only am avoiding doing it myself, but I can't help but dislike the people doing it. Perhaps it's because I'm a Canadian in America (you Americans can really be rude and dull!), or perhaps it's because I have romantic notions of being an artist in a profession (software) dominated by competitive assholes. Or perhaps I'm a spineless, unsocialized creature. *sigh*
Just be yourself, I think you'll find that you'll find you niche, just reading your posts does kind of tint towards your artistic aspiration. At the end of the day the world is swarmed with materialists, and they just don't understand people like yourself who mess with things that aren't material (like programming). If you've ever seen Anti-trust, I can just imagine you in a garage somewhere, not trying to amount millions but obtaining that through some other goal. Keep it up.
I know what you're going through, man. Just relax. Pretend everyones in their underwear..... well you dont have to get pornagraphic Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! but you get my point. You're not beggin for a job. People are there because they're looking for YOU. You got great programming skill. Look where you've took sciforums. Its a high quality board. And think of it this way. Nobody knows you. Like that quote in the other thread, " It's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt." Twain. It's you're choice. Think of it as informal. Introduce yourself, or something. Could probably talk about interests eventually and then get into the nity grity. Tell em about sciforums or what not. Dont get too self indulgent, though. I'm confident that after one or two attempts, you'll meet a few people who will send you to a 'friend of their's' and success will be on the way. Nobody there knows you now, and if you dont talk to anybody, then nobody will know you. So go out there and dont be afraid to introduce yourself. Those type of people respect confidence and assertiveness. GRab life by the ass and pull it up close!!! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! (no I'm not highPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image! )
People sucking up to possible employers and saying crap they don't even slightly mean annoys me too. Last time I went for a job, I sat and watched all these dweebs saying how much they really wanted to get into this particular line of work, always have, blah blah blah. All I could say when it was my turn was "Nobody dreams of doing this stuff when they're a kid. I'm good at the work, I'm willing to do the work for money, please hire me." I didn't get the job. Now I have to hope my connections and the degree I'm working on will do the talking for me, because I really am no good at all when it comes to sucking up to employers.
Besides being Canadian, spineless and unsocialized, you forget to mention whiny. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! You had me sympathizing with you until you over-generalized.
Re: Adam No, I got that job. This was for some stupid job involving dealing with people. I would have been bad at it. I hate people.
Wow. That's a typical American response. You folks respond to any criticism by arching your back and getting all huffy. If all else fails, you call the critic a whiner. You also fail to recognize implicit meaning in what other people are saying. Everything has to be direct with you people. Yes, I was (and am) overgeneralizing, but I thought that was obvious and didn't need to point it out.
Hey, porfiry, you have to remember that all americans aren't assholes, just like all canadians don't spend their lives wishing that they were american. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! But is the job fair over? How'd it go?
Well maybe travelling away from your cabin in the backwater woods of Canada would help your quest. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Whatever, Pollux. Vancouver @ 2 million people rivals any American offering. The homeless in Vancouver are actually more more pleasant to be around than the standard Northern Californian.
I wouldn't know about northern californians but my philosophy is that: "Assholes are everywhere." And Tyler (as a stupid joke): Burn down our white house with what, the mounties??
Believe me Pollux, Canadians are a different people than Americans. And take this as an insult if you will, but in general Canadians are far more attentative to manners than Americans. Canadians, in general, are nicer and more welcoming. This I've learned through experience. And yes, I'm generalizing. Obviously, there are very rude Canadians and extremely polite and nice Americans.
And yes, assholes are everywhere. But certain cultures differ in their attitudes. American culture does not pay as much attention to manners as a lot of other cultures (Canadian won't eventually either, we're becoming Americanized slowly). For instance; in the south of France (a place I will rave about forever) people were very loose about things and open. In Austria I found mainly very jolly people. In Switzerland I found mainly very polite but often snooty people. Then again, I wouldn't claim my Swiss and Austrian experiences as extensive.
Porfiry, Um, what parts of " Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! " and " Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! " did you not understand??? And here I was thinking that the creativity and inspiration behind Sciforums was up to some friendly ribbing. All my other Canadian friends have left me with the impression that poking fun at one another is acceptable, entertaining sport. Man, have you got some issues. Sheesh. Maybe you won't fit in the American workplace. Lots of other people, from all over the world, do so quite nicely. Your loss.
"Um, what parts of " " and " " did you not understand??? " Probably the bottom part, which was lacking in those symbols. Just a guess!
Oh, boy. This is gonna go over REAL well. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Porfiry, a little food for thought... Evolution favors the critters who can tolerate the "group" experience over those that can't. I think it's all in how you perceive your own position. Are you actually begging? Or are you selling your talents? (There is a difference.) Think of yourself as having gone into a big market place. You had something to offer that (some) others wanted. The right "others" will deal with you in a manner that doesn't rub your principles in the wrong way. OR, not rub them too hard. They know why they're there, and why you're there. A mistake, I think, to go into the situation thinking you are begging--unless you've actually gone a'begging. People are people. The Canadians dance a bit differently than the Americans. Better or worse? It's a matter of perspective. But dance, we all do. We're all dealing with the same basic predicaments of survival in these times. Our 'cultures' teach us different versions of the 'fandango,' and some of us learn to adapt or moderate, while some don't. Plus, as long as you continue to hold people, in general, as unworthy of your respect, they'll remain that way in your eyes. Wonder how it would be if you turned that around and entered every kind of "meeting" with an "innocent until proven guilty" attitude instead? ( 'Course, ya don't hafta. And there's no need to go overboard with it. Just thought it worth mentioning. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ) You're also young, and it's not a bad idea to make some good business connections when and where you can. You don't have to sell your soul for them. You just have to be "available" (mentally and physically) to meet up with the sorts you could work with the best. But if you go into any situation as "defeated" or "degraded," you're likely to come out of it the same way. And really, if you don't like doing job fairs--as in, really don't like them... then don't ever do it again--hear? (advice free of charge Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ) ~~~ Counterbalance
