New Grad, 1st Job Search, Application Frenzy

Update!

I was having no luck, or so I thought with my quest for a local job.

As a result, I committed to a big OTR flatbed company’s orientation. I figured I’d get the experience in and then try once more. I truly admire and appreciate you OTR drivers, it just wouldn’t work for me long term, but I was/am willing to do it to get my local golden ticket.

A few days before departure I got semi decent semi local offers and was really kicking myself. But, I committed to at least going to this orientation and was going along with a CDL school classmate - so I asked them to keep me in mind for future opportunities.

When signing the papers for the rental car to get to orientation (my choice, the co offered bus tickets, I took the partial reimbursement for renting, just my preference) I recieved two more calls for decent local jobs. I forged ahead and went to orientation anyway, bc I am very interested in flatbed and my classmate was counting on me for transport.

My 3rd day into orientation I was called by a very local and small company (something on my wish list) offering me flatbed work w what sounds like great benefits. Good pay, the benefits I desire, nights and weekends off.

I called back on the lunch break, spoke with the owner and his secretary to give details for background checks - and was hired 40 minutes later to start on Monday.

I told the orientation’s instructor what I had decided and was sent home graciously, with well wishes and a Greyhound ticket (by this time I was through with spending saved money and figured ‘WTF I can handle a bus’). A great company, albeit large and OTR, they were first class about training, a dietary limitation, accommodations and getting me home despite quitting - feel free to PM me for the details.

Keep the faith, stay patient and it will happen!

I got another call for yet another local job today.

For those in my shoes - I discovered the smaller businesses seem to take longer than the big ones.

 

I applied to anything and everything I saw on Indeed, Craigslist, etc. Additionally I googled local companies and drove around industrial areas (wrote down company names and went to websites or found numbers to leave messages with).

The thing is, these smaller companies don’t employ recruiters while you’ve got bigger ones calling you back in literal minutes wooing you with pretty promises.

I was getting discouraged.

Without experience I really wasn’t thinking clearly about that and figured I didn’t stand a chance.

Plan about 3-4 weeks for the smaller ones to bite on your bait. A little patience as previous posters mentioned goes a looooooong way.

My rando local inquiries came from snake charming (why not, they do it to us!) a local bigger company’s recruiter who in turn gave my number to smaller companies whom he socializes with. What a small world!

The non random ones came from applications a few weeks ago. Smaller companies take longer.

The local job I am starting Monday was a connection from school - an office lady heard I was trying OTR, her husband works for this company, they had a safety meeting mentioning this position and she thought of me instantly bc I was very vocal about not wanting OTR and interested in flatbed.

Voice your needs to the school, hit the streets and be nice with everyone you speak with. I had many opportunities to go local this week and found the right first one at the last minute.

 

Thanks bunches @Vic Firth & best luck to you @Ian2175 - school is so much fun!