Job search thoughts

JimS · Dec 16, 2016

I am posting this to ask for suggestions on how to structure my job search and for improving my search terms. I know moderators don't like people asking for work on this site but that is not what I am doing, I am asking, "How would you structure your search?"

I have been fired a week before Christmas. I feel like I am in a Dickens novel. I want to stay in the area as I have a grandchild I home school. I am north of the SF Bay. I have 2 masters degrees, managed a vineyard, and have managed varied ag/rural properties over the past 18 years largely caring for varied livestock. I like Bud Williams, Wholistic Management, Allan Nation, rotational grazing, so ideally, I would like to find someone of similar mind set.

With that in mind, I am trying to locate every grass fed producer, those who run multi species, maybe some farming, vineyards, haying, etc. I am contacting realtors for absentee owners who need caretakers or have vacation places. I am contacting school ag programs trying to locate those who are innovators or like minded. I have contacted supply places, both livestock and vineyard that I deal with and the farm bureau. I search on line for "grass fed," "vineyard livestock," "vineyard grazing". I search past the 30th page looking for those that others might miss. I have a wide range of experience, so I am billing myself as a sort of utility player who can fit in where needed. With my education I can run education programs or tours for ranches.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Janicholson · Dec 16, 2016

Vineyards are certainly in that area. Clear lake, Geyserville, and NAPA Valley. With a tailored resume emphasizing your capacities and not using the description of a manager/guru the potential employer might not agree with or have heard of, would be my suggestion. Jim

Russ from MN · Dec 16, 2016

How can you get a job and home school a child? Teaching is a full time job!

gab · Dec 16, 2016

Sounds like your over qualified.

JF in MI · Dec 16, 2016

That's what I was thinking

JD Seller · Dec 16, 2016

I would think most would think your over educated for the average farm/vineyard management with two degrees. Also I do not see how you could work full time and home school a child. Right now the entire agriculture sector is in a down cycle. Those doing the fringe types of farming usually can not make enough profit in down times to hire highly educated worked/managers.

I think you may find a career change is in your future.

oldtanker · Dec 16, 2016

Gotta agree with the others. Plus you seem to be into the grass fed thing too. So you might pass up a job at a feed lot operation? Might have to take what you can get.

Rick

Tom OConnor · Dec 16, 2016

Jim.

I am not a good one to ask advise on a job search as I have never asked for a job in my life but I do have a couple of suggestions. If you do come across a job that you are interested in and you think you can handle it and the employer says no, respond with a statement like "I know that you said no but when can I start." Explain that you would be willing to work for a certain amount of time to prove yourself for free and if it didn't work out you would just go down the road. I have known many that with this kind of an attitude you will be a winner. Secondly, my wife and I just spent a month in Europe and I would like to know why anyone would want grass fed beef. I don't think that anywhere we were in six different countries a person can buy a good corn fed steak. You can get wonderful chocolates, baked goods, salads, dairy products and a host of other things but their beef was hard to choke down. Looked all over and never saw a Ruth's Cris or Mortons.

farmerwithmutt · Dec 16, 2016

To bad your not in Wisconsin . Small vineyards and grass fed are really taking off. A friend is getting 40 bucks a hundred for grass only organic milk. Grass fed done right is really hot now they are actually importing beef from Ireland and I think new Zealand because we don't have enough here. Look up stockman grass farmer magazine.

Greg1959 · Dec 16, 2016

Tom OConnor- "If you do come across a job that you are interested in and you think you can handle it and the employer says no, respond with a statement like "I know that you said no but when can I start." Explain that you would be willing to work for a certain amount of time to prove yourself for free and if it didn't work out you would just go down the road."

Work for free? You are joking, right? How many prospective employers do you think that would turn down that proposal? NONE, they would just say, when your 'free work' was done, "We aren't looking to hire right now".

So, you just ended up wasting your time, effort and money on a no-end hob prospect.

Greg1959 · Dec 16, 2016

Tom OConnor- I understand you are trying to help him. I think working for free is a bad choice.

LeonardWD45 · Dec 16, 2016

Jim, pick up a copy of Capital Ag Press. It is a ag newspaper mainly for the west coast. They have a good selection in their employment section. I have been getting the paper for about 4 years and check out the classified section weekly.

Leonard

Tom OConnor · Dec 16, 2016

Greg,

The man said he was unemployed. What does he have to lose????? I have seen it happen. Not always but it shows that you are willing to prove yourself and your ability. Besides I have been a farmer all my life and they were times that I worked all year for nothing. I sure would give it a try before I would go on welfare.

Greg1959 · Dec 16, 2016

Tom OConnor- So, the OP is now unemployed and you are advocating for him to spend what money he has to pay expenses driving to and from a job that will pay him nothing for his labor? Did I get this right?

JimS · Dec 17, 2016

No. I would ride a feed lot.

Cattlemen here are largely out of touch. You can go to Kansas and find people with small holdings doing things waaay better than
your average producer in this are. The grass fed folks are filling a niche and are thinking outside the box a little. There is
also a big push for the carbon credit/offset thing here. That is easier to do with a multi species grass fed endeavor than
something more conventional.

JimS · Dec 17, 2016

That is a yes and no. 2-3 hours a day of instruction everyday followed by some practice and she is doing fine. She started algebra at 8 and is doing the intermediate algebra book from the JC at 12. In fact, it has crossed my mind to try to find a ranching family who would like to homeschool and do that and then help out where ever else they need me.

She is getting old enough that she needs to transition into being more self educating. That is, where I set up assignments and check her progress and help her when she is stuck. It isn't merely a matter of stuffing information into them.

You must remember, the majority of time in public school is a waste. Walking to and from class, listening to lectures, teachers trying to deal with the idiots, etc. If a child goes 6 hours a day 9 months a year (roughly 180 days) K-12 that's over 13000 hours and many hogh schoolers are not as far as my 12 year old. It is doable if you think and plan.

Her grandmother will do more with her at my direction if I have to do something where she can't be around.

Greg1959 · Dec 17, 2016

JimS- BTW, who said 'home schooling' had to be from 8 am to 3 pm? It can be throughout the day and even into the evening or later.

FBH44 · Dec 17, 2016

Been there exactly. Got fired, and never can forget it was between Thanksgiving and Christmas, boss told me to come by his house for last check, and as I walked out, into the cold and dark, I looked back one last look at all his brilliant white Christmas tree lights and family presents. Never forget it.
Anyway, been there. Advice? YES!!! I envy you. ATTACK this, go non-stop with a resume, go everywhere, see everyone, look for contacts everywhere. Leave resumes, get the word out, DO NOT stop. ASK everywhere for advice, not necessarily for employment, but for contacts. And I mean everywhere! ATTACK this.

Pair-a-dice farm · Dec 17, 2016

(quoted from post at 23:35:07 12/16/16) Tom OConnor- "If you do come across a job that you are interested in and you think you can handle it and the employer says no, respond with a statement like "I know that you said no but when can I start." Explain that you would be willing to work for a certain amount of time to prove yourself for free and if it didn't work out you would just go down the road."

Work for free? You are joking, right? How many prospective employers do you think that would turn down that proposal? NONE, they would just say, when your 'free work' was done, "We aren't looking to hire right now".

So, you just ended up wasting your time, effort and money on a no-end hob prospect.

Greg, Tom's suggestion is a valid one. It's thinking outside the box. I's much better than waiting around for a high paying job that probably won't come along in this farm economy. Now days there are so many that are waiting around for a hand out and Tom's idea shows a prospective employer that he is willing to work. Even it that particular employer doesn't need the help he may know someone who does. Both should know if it's going to work out within a couple of days or less. In my area good farm workers are in demand and word gets around about good help. A college degree doesn't mean much but willingness to work does. It may be wasted time and my not work but on the other hand, I've personally seen people end up with paying employment with this approach. If you have a better idea let's hear it.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 17, 2016

Jim,
If I knew than what I know now, I would have gone straight into retirement the day after I graduated college.

I would have also had grandkids and skipped having kids.

I never got layed off. Instead, I left one job and went to another because the last job taught me what I really didn't want to do with the rest of my life.

My two kids knew when they were in grade school they would have only one choice when they graduated high school. The choice was what college they wanted to go to. Both graduated college. Both have jobs because they went to college. Both work in fields that have nothing to do with what they went to college for.

So my advice is look into job training classes. I'm sure their is money available for things like that. Pursue you passion. My boys passion was computers. Today he makes way more money than I ever did as head of IT security for hospitals and university. His job is keeping hackers out of the computers. Persue your passion in a field that has a shortage of workers.

Computer tech is a growing field, thanks to hackers. SIL is a computer administrator. He's busy, in demand and can easily find a better job. People in computer tech are changing jobs frequently, more money and pads their experience.

I've been happly retired for 13 years and work for food.

geo.

JOCCO · Dec 17, 2016

Can't help too much but many jobs are now online vrs newspaper or sign on the door etc. Start talking to people as many outfits say "can't find help" Might get leads that way.

showcrop · Dec 17, 2016

(quoted from post at 20:43:55 12/16/16) Tom OConnor- I understand you are trying to help him. I think working for free is a bad choice.

Working for free to get a job is very big now. It is called internship, and when unemployment was high a very high percentage of college grads were taking them in order to get their foot in the door and gain some experience. They often put themselves ahead of other applicants with no experience. I heard recently on the radio that many jobs are being filled from on line applicants with only a final interview.

Traditional Farmer · Dec 17, 2016

Back in the 70's when the job market was tight I applied at a concrete and block company doing mechanical work and driving a truck,I could see the fellow was on the fence about hiring me so I told him.How about I work here next week if you like like me and my work then I get paid and if not no big deal I gained a week's experience,he says OK ended up working for the company at 2 different locations for 25 years doing about every job there at some time or the other. So you never know.

Larry EC-OH · Dec 17, 2016

I wish you best of luck during your search.

I'll just throw this out there.... Have you considered teaching?
There is a severe shortage of Agriculture teachers in all 50 states. Most states will grant a temporary teaching license to get you a teaching position, with a few years to allow you to become fully credentialed.

Just an idea.

If you are close to a community college, check out there jobs boards for outside employment. Here in Ohio we have about 200 ag jobs unfilled because we do not have enough graduates in the agriculture field.

Tom OConnor · Dec 17, 2016

Greg,

You only got part of it right. The part of it that you missed is "Attitude." My brother and I both have hired a lot of people in our lifetime and I can tell by just your questions that you would be one of the first one's to be passed up when it comes to employment. When some of the better jobs are posted there can be two hundred applicants apply. It doesn't take long to sort through the first eighty five percent. Attitude is a big influence on who gets hired. Appearance is another. If you want to be successful then it is a great help to look successful. I could write a book on the subject.

CenTex Farmall · Dec 17, 2016

Right on!

It does not take 8 hours a day to teach the kids.
Homeschooling is fantastically more time efficient. Once you cover basics, you have extra time to teach things and do field trips that public school will *never* be able to do.

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