Headed back to the REC

Well another day is upon me and still no offers to even come in for an interview.  This is nuts!  I cannot believe that with my background and experience, I cannot find SOMETHING!  Have not heard from the recruiters and headhunters that hounded me for my resume last week; considering that they are mostly Indian and hucksters, I am not surprised.  But I was pretty sure I would have heard back from TekSystems at least!
Now that I am signed up for the classes through AAWDC, I know I can't get too upset, however it bothers me that I can't seem to even find a job paying in the range I am allowed under the guidelines of the program.  I don't think employers realize just how important it is to keep lines of communication open with potential employees that they reach out to.  It's like a lifeline, a ray of hope.
Hopefully today I can talk with a placement counselor who can get me in on SOMETHING, ANYTHING.  At this point I am feeling the weight.  I still have to hear back from the state about my unemployment money.  Even though I know they will rape me to give to child support, anything will be helpful at this point.
Stay tuned....,

Finally Registered

Well I finally was able to get almost all of the paperwork completed for the www.aawdc.org/cyber program. Looks pretty good other than I have to wait until 12-5-2011 to start classes. That's disappointing, however the course will be daytime twice a week and will be an accelerated track. I'll be driving my happy to be in the program behind up to Carroll Community College and give it my all so that I can get these certs. The courses are all credited courses so I can apply them towards my degree. I would encourage anyone who reads this blog to check out the program through the link. There are a very small amount of slots still available through the program so the faster you can check it out and apply, the better. Maryland is becoming the hotbed for all things cybersecurity related through not only the federal government, but also with private companies that contract with the government. I look at this as an excellent opportunity and am willing to take this small step backwards so I can move forward in my career. With the help of friends and more importantly, my family, I should be able to survive through this.
I was slightly disappointed to learn that there really isn't any placement assistance per say. However the program does offer networking and other support towards getting participants set up in the field.
When I get home today I'll submit the online documentation that was sent to me and start any pre studying I can do. 30 years ago I saw an ad on TV that said "a phone call can change your life". Well one did back then, hopefully this time, having lunch with my good friend Mike, will change it once again. Time will tell.

The ebb, after the flow

So yesterday's high, today has been a low.  No calls today, no emails.  Well, SOME emails but they are only from Indian recruiters.  What a bunch of hucksters.  I have never had anything ever come from a call from those people.  Not a single interview nor follow up.  I don't know what their deal is, but they really piss me off, calling with positions that are ALWAYS outside of what I have listed on any of the career sites.  They don't know what they are talking about nor do they have any idea what my background and experiences qualify me for.  Not to mention, after working for their lying deceitful behinds at Prism Microsystems, I just can't trust them.
About to head to the REC down at Mondawmin so I can deal with tomfoolery as far as my job search is concerned.  Stay tuned. 

Meeting went really well

Well I met with Jamie's guy this evening and he is gonna hook me up with a guy he knows tomorrow.  He seems highly confident that the man can find or give me a job.  Really excited.  It would be nice to have some income coming IN again for a change.

What a day!

So I attended the Sonicwall sales demo today and that was pretty informative and cool.  Got to spend some time talking with my old friend Jamie afterwards when I saw her in the Hyatt.  I was telling her of my current situation and she asked to help me out by touching base with some of her contacts.  I had no idea that meant immediately!!  She is just plain AWESOME.  When I got home she contacted me to let me know she had already talked to a few people including the head of Security for the Hyatt.  Nice guy.  He and I talked and I am headed back to the hotel later today to meet with him.  He says he has lots of contacts and he would be more than willing to put in a good word for me, as well as maybe being able to bring me on part time there at the Hyatt to do security work.  Now that is some exciting news!  Also I was able to reach this woman at TekSystems that I have been emailing with since Monday about a Project Management position back at SSA.  It would be good to go back as long as I am not back in the NCC and have to climb that darn hill every day!  The money would be right in range for what I am looking for too.
Also, I just finished filling out an online application with MICROS for an open position they have contacted me about.  Not too sure on the details, but it seems as though FINALLY things are moving.  Trying to maintain my perspective, I have been through these waves before where it seems like SOMETHING MIGHT break and then weeks go by without hearing anything.  But today I am pretty upbeat because yesterday was not a good day.  I emailed my mother this morning to let her know how discouraged I was becoming.  Why is it that it ALWAYS HAS to be darkest before the dawn????
Talked with a recruiter for KForce today as well about a PC position here in Baltimore, close to Woodlawn. He has promised to get back to me in a few days.  He called me last week when I wasn't home and I didn't check his message until Monday.  He seems very optimistic.  But again, not going to get too up until I get some interviews.  So here is the breakdown of the things going on today;

• KForce - PC job in the Baltimore/ Woodlawn area
• TekSystems - PM position back at SSA for Lockheed Martin
• Hyatt - PT Security job with the hotel or maybe even some recommendations/ referrals to other places
• MICROS - Position for PM here in Baltimore, filled out online application
• Sonicwall - Attended sales presentation for free lunch and demo

Well, we will just have to wait and see what pans out.  Somewhere in there I am sure some shenanigans will break out.  If not there, we will see what happens tomorrow when I go to Mondawmin and talk with the Child Support counselor about my case.  Hopefully something can be done to give me some relief on what I owe so my son's mother can relax.  She must not know that "I" know she is sweating ME because she is in hot water and her wages are being garnished. I am not the fool she tries to make me out to be.

Attending seminar for free lunch

One of the better things about being in this field is there are a lot of seminars and presentations given to decision makers. As long as you can plug into those, you get invited to these deals. Today I'm at Morton's Steakhouse downtown attending one for Sonicwall. Thanking my buddy Dell for telling me about this one. Parked at the Hyatt for $5.00 thanks to another connection. All of that PLUS learn new stuff that helps build my personal knowledge base.