Update from Austin..
Flew out to Austin, TX for a hiring conference with one of the big headhunting firms. Was supposed to be engineering heavy. More on that later.
Got the "end of year, companies are hiring, lots of oil/gas companies, and other engineering/aerospace firms" had interviews scheduled with two companies I wanted to possibly go with. Buy plane tickets to San Antonio, rent car, drive to Austin, three days in hotel. Damn near a grand spent, before food/other shit.
Get to the conference. Overall impression, well run machine.
Opening meeting with the huntees (those of us looking for jobs) felt like I was at a bad motivational speaker for the first 20 minutes, but got better. Then as people started introducing themselves, I got the feeling it was heavy on the E side of the house. (it was).
About a 5 hour day, most of the info practical. Basically, it was the high points from TAP, plus some interview prep.
Then company briefs. This is where the WTF started for me. We got our "Assignments" and then 15 minute briefs on the companies.
Done for day, after some admin stuff.
Next day (today). Have five interviews.
Three 30 minute interviews back-to-back-to-back, break, then an interview and an hour brake, and then another.
In the "training" day, they told us to WIN each interview.. And then decide if you want the job later. I did just that, I can honestly say I wowed 4 of 5 from my impression, we'll see if headhunters feedback matches tomorrow.
Here is where I am a bit put off..
I was told I had 2 lined up interviews locked in with two companies I want to work for. Others would be "targets of opportunity" and at least 5 total. They did hit the numeric target.
In the week leading up to the conference, AFTER I bought tickets, paid for hotel, etc.. One job filled internally and the other "backed out" of the conference.
I get here. Not told who I would be interviewing with until after the training day. The companies here, are MUCH less than the list I was given.
Interviews ended up being:
1- Construction Company. For a Site Superintendent. Manager listed, but "not open now". They are interviewing E-5s for the same job for a reference point.
2- Food Products Company. Process "Engineer".. Title. By job, they really want a technician. Again.. Competing with E-5s.
3- Oilfield Services/Engineering Company. Went well. Need an actual engineer to be a project manager. Seemed to go well. Location is meh. We'll see here.
4- Alcoholic Beverage Company. Went well. Can see self working there, but they kept on trying to sell "Cheap by CA Standards Cost of Living"
5- Building Materials Company. Went well. Nice guys.. No interest in the actual job.. Guys ahead and behind me were E-6/7s.
Final impression: Really not sure it was worth my time to come here. Sure as hell not worth the money. The "Speed Dating" interviews might as well have been done on the phone. Actually, that would have been better. Does not speed up hiring process at all, just took place of phone interview.
As for the jobs.. I want to know where all the "Engineering" jobs are here. I think if the job title was "Sanitation Engineer" (garbageman) I would be put in for it, because it says Engineer. I don't think I'm really being put up for jobs at my level, if I am going up against a 25 year old E-5 with no degree, and not a real tech background for the same job (USAF AG equivalent in the 25 year olds case).
I'm honestly confused at this point.. They have had much better jobs on the phone interviews. I'm not sure why the hell they insisted I come to Austin.
As it stands right now.. I'll go to another conference if it's local or maybe DC.. Other than that, money better saved to live off of when I am unemployed in a couple weeks.
