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Message: <blockquote data-quote="StreamOfTheSky" data-source="post: 4588613" data-attributes="member: 35909">A) I mainly would like to go into optics or signal processing as my field, and I have looked mostly at Dept. of Defense (pretty much U.S. Navy for my region), defense contractors (BAE Systems, Raytheon, etc...), Biomedical suppliers (Philips, Astro-Med, etc...), and assorted others.  I also look for project manager positions, but I'm not particularly interested in management.B) A lot on the web, job fairs, newspaper ads (very rarely helpful), leads from one of my old professors, and a few I knew of nearby I just called on the phone.  I've mostly applied for jobs in the New England area, though a few were nationwide.  Farthest I've traveled for interviews so far has been Kittery, Maine (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard) and Pittsburgh, PA (U.S. Steel).  Some group called Abeeva wanted me on a plane to California for an interview the next week, but it seemed fishy to me (such as the initial training program costing money, to be refunded upon completion) so I declined.C) Mainly the fact that only about 25% of my phone interviews have lead to full interviews and that I have not been hired from an interview...ever.  Like...I've only had two jobs my whole life.  The first was at college during a busy period when they were desperate for temporary help, and I did so well they kept me full time.  The other was a summer job I got on a friend's recommendation.  I have poor communication skills, trouble speaking up, awkward body language, and don't feel at all comfortable "selling myself."  I also get severe headaches when under stress, and I doubt the involuntary clutching of my head goes over well.I'll keep putting in resumes and taking interviews, but I realy don't think it will help.  I'd rather just work unpaid and earn a job that way than try to fix my interview skills, which would require way too much altering of habit and natural inclination.  The lack of work experience seems to hang like an ever-growing anchor around my neck with each passing week, with literally EVERY interviewer in the last 6 months asking why I have none, making it seem all the more imperative for me to put getting a job above all else.  And I really do need to find a way to make contacts.  I'm in the IEEE, but haven't gone to any of the local events because I'm afraid I won't understand any of the specifics of the topic and just come off looking foolish, but I guess I should try at least.</blockquote>

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