Okay...generally I am told I am an excellent writer. It seems to be a gift for some. I used to write ad copy for realtors at our agencies and write ads for things that need selling (Craigslist Queen am I), and write letters, emails, blah, blah, blah, but somehow my resumes get either very little response or they get responses from potential employees that seem to be not really reading our resume at all.
When one mentions that they are a couple looking for work and someone writes that they are looking for a single only, or you write that one of you needs to work for pay and the other can work for FHU, and then you get an offer for a volunteer position, it makes one wonder.
We both have great skills (carpentry, handyman, former YMCA Camp Facilities Director for Rick and for me, years of office experience and related skills, computer experience and skills, including reservation software, albeit at a quaint inn, and both of are great with people, love rving and camping and enjoy rvers and campers. I have tons of customer/client experience, retail sales at Yellowstone, etc.) but no good offers.
We have a decent travel trailer (a photo is posted on Workamper.com) and neither of us is ugly or unkept (also have posted photos of us) and we're beginning to wonder what might be wrong. I recently rewrote my ad on Workamper for the zillionth time and make certain spefications (OR or CA for winter and mentioned the places we'd be interested in for spring/summer too) but until now, I've left that pretty open. We kind of decided since we are free agents, just traveling around for now, we can afford to see if we can get hired where we want to go.
Do others write places in areas theywant to work and ask about workamping? We also use KOA and initially got tons off offers, but had to put things off for a few months and I haven't received offers from ANY KOA for a long while now. Do they have a code they put out when you reject too many offers (tongue in cheek here, folks). Just curious about what could be the issue.
Perhaps there are just so many out there wanting to workamp now, with the bad economy, that there are too many people to choose from? I simply cannot figure it out.
Any pointers would be appreciated. I don't want to have to resort to the webinars on workamper to learn how to SELL our skills to employers. That is getting TOO corporate to me.
Thanks for anticipated responses and glad to be here. Excuse typos tonight...too tired to recheck. And that is not my usual MO. I am generally meticulate about spelling and typos.
Jeanne
NorCal Dan said
05:50 AM Sep 26, 2010
I don't know how many employers use the search function on workamper.com to find workers, but I have been contacted by parks that I didn't send my resume. You don't know what search criteria they might use when querying the database. I suspect if the query they run gives them a high percentage hit, meaning their query matched a number of items in your resume package, they may call or email you to see if you are interested in working for them.
I now believe that all employers post job ads on workamper.com. I have never been contacted by any employer that I didn't remember seeing an ad posted for the same job. I wondered if there were "silent" employers who didn't post ads and just used the database search to find employees.
We don't rely on employers finding us through database hits on our resume. We read the hotline and send our resume and cover letter, then follow up with a phone call.
Howard said
05:59 PM Sep 26, 2010
I tend to agree that resumes on Workamper.com mean very little.
I also agree with Dan that employers tend to query based on the little boxes you check like 1) area of the country you want to work, 2) type of employer you want to work for, 3) dates available, etc. Now, with that said, I also believe that the vast majority of employers aren't aggressively contacting applicants, but rather waiting for applicants to contact them.
In our experience, we've had the best luck by making the first contact, either by phone or email. We tailor our emails to the position and supply the relevant experience. Often we get no response to the emails, so we usually follow up with a phone call (if we didn't call first).
Rarely have we sent a resume or even been asked for one. So, I wouldn't fret about the content of the resume, but rather I would suggest a more proactive approach.
I'm a big advocate of making a phone call to the potential employer. And we don't call only the employers that post ads in the Workamper magazine or on the daily email updates. We call potential employers in the areas we want to work and inquire about possible positions. There are lots of places that don't advertise, or who suddenly lose a workamper, or have a need we wouldn't otherwise know about.
The big reasons for the phone call are 1) many employers are hiring on personality more than anything and it gives us a chance to better display our personality and communication skills, 2) it gives us a chance to "hear" the "personality" of the employer environment, 3) we might just get a workamper on the phone and get to pick their brain a bit. Like you, we think we have a very good resume, but we get very few phone calls. However, with our approach, we usually end up with plenty of opportunities to choose from. There are lots of jobs out there, but we're a bit picky and we turn down quite a few after we "interview" them.
Finally, as you travel more and take on jobs, you will find more and more opportunities through people you work with and places you stay. Several places we have stayed have had openings or would have hired us for the next season if we had been interested. It's just a natural networking process that expands as you keep your eyes and ears open and take the initiative to just ask.
Hope that helps a little.
TxYellowRose said
05:51 PM Sep 27, 2010
Like others who have responded, I have often made the initial contact, whether it be via email or phone. We have also been contacted by potential employers who have seen our resume on WKN or our posting on other sites.
I haven't seen your resume, so I'm just speaking from our experience. I guess I approached it like I would a resume for any other professional position, highlighting our collective and individual experiences, skills and attributes pertinent to workamping jobs in general.
Perhaps are you limiting yourselves by indicating one person will work for pay and one for the FHU? Are you strictly limited to the geographic area you are willing to work? Are you open to discussion of all opportunities? Perhaps I misunderstood your post and, again, I haven't seen your resume on WKN. Sometimes putting too much info can cause you to be passed over; on the other hand, an employer may be willing to work with you so that everyone's needs can be met.
Even if my conversation with a potential employer does not end up being for something in the near future, I have always told them I appreciated their time and left it so we would mutually contact each other should something change/arise in the future. That's how we ended up with our current assignment.
Do you receive the WKN jobs and hotline via email? If not, I encourage you to do so. This gives you the opportunity to be proactive and make the first contact.
Our 1st workamping job fell through when we were halfway across the country towards it. Figuring we would just sit tight at the RV park where we "landed," we ended up helping out the elderly owner in return for our site.
There are other places besides WKN to search for workamping-type jobs. You can do a simply Web search like "RV jobs," "workamping jobs," "park host jobs," you get the drift.
Don't be discouraged. There are jobs and very cool experiences out there!
Cheers! Betty
GiniaJ said
08:14 PM Sep 27, 2010
I want to thank all of you for your replys. Although our very first offer was from someone that read our ad on Workamper (and laughed because we asked that no grouchy bosses contact us as we were too old to deal with that), but we had to give up that job just after we began it due to an unexpected illness.
We put things off for several years, until we were sure my health was good again, then had to back out of another job when a delay came up that prevented us from being out there in time. This was with the original employer that had hired us the first time. Don't think (grin) that they will give us a third chance.
Now we are seriously thinking that we will answer ads from Workamper and do as y'all suggested by following up, and also we are going to throw our chances to the wind, head out to where we truly want to be (out west) and see what happens. As mentioned, offers can come from actually being at a park that needs help.
Betty, I have indeed been on WK for a long while now, do have a resume there and also check other sites and post there. I seem to get responses from the FREE sites from potential jobs, but they are almost always asking for volunteers.
We need to limit ourselves and cannot accept volunteer positions so putting that one of us is willing to work for money and one for FHU seemed to be the honest approach. Also, due to an underlying health issue (Lupus) I HAVE to limit areas that we are willing to work. Yes, this may be limiting our jobs, but I want to stay healthy and out of intense heat and other climate hazards. This may be limiting us for sure.
We will keep trying. In the meantime, I seriously do appreciate your responses. Sounds like you are all a great bunch of people and looking forward to getting to "know" you.
TXRVr said
09:06 PM Sep 27, 2010
Excellent advise Howard.
GiniaJ> Check your PM
travelinmama said
07:53 AM Dec 9, 2010
I guess for us, I don't have our resume posted on Workcampers, we work with KOA, mostly.
The way I see it, we work for them to increase their business and to be a beacon of light for those coming off the road. We have learned a great deal in just two seasons and our hope is to learn more so we can be whatever the need is.
For us, we are willing to travel to most places, after all, we want to see the country.
We read through their ads and usually email them besides sending our resumes and then hope for the best. Sometimes we call, but not usually.
We did call on a job one time, the ad posted 25 hours a week each for site. For the winter, we thought, no problem. Until we started talking with the owner and manager where we were working, they both said "NO WAY!"
The more we thought about it and then called again, they wanted us to work 50 hours each a week and no pay. Bank those hours and take them off when the Snowbirds came. Well, my position wouldn't have allowed for that. So, after a lot of thought, we emailed and passed on the position.
Lesson learned, read the fine print and don't accept right away if you have doubts.
I don't post pics of myself, dh or rig unless asked. We do state that we have 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Dreamers said
11:23 AM Dec 9, 2010
Well, we too, have some of the same questions. Our WKN resume is getting a lot of hits by employers but no one has called. We did get one call and have accepted a job with them for the summer 2011. However, need some hints for the future as workcamping will be a way of life for us.
Thanks, Judy (and Bob)
NorCal Dan said
04:42 PM Dec 9, 2010
While not up-to-date, if you look at my profile (click my username) you can read our resume in the bio area. I try to update it every few months since WKN dates the resume after you edit it so employers know how current the info.
cooksgone said
07:29 AM Feb 27, 2011
My husband and I have also put our resumes on Koa and Workamper, we want winter positions because we plan to become snowbunnies, are willing to work from Oct. to April if needed. My husband is limited on what he can do because of several knee replacement surgeries, he cannot walk distance or be on his feet for long periods of time. I on the other hand am very healthy and am retiring the end of June, I work up to 60 hrs. a week driving bus for public transportation and hold a CDL with passenger endorcement. I like the idea of my husband working as a campground host for FHU and me working for a small wage. Our motorhome is paid for but we still have a small house payment and my income will be cut in half after retirement, I will have a small pension and SSI while my husband is on SSID, so we do need to work or volunteer, but it is our dream and are willing to do what we can to live it. We did get one offer from an employer for summer work, responded to a couple of ads and got response back saying they are hiring for spring and summer, and as mentioned, they must not read our resumes because they would see that we are looking for winter positions only and that I won't be available until fall. I will take the advice and call where there is a phone number available, if not e-mail them. I also was told to wait until the end of summer to find any winter positions. Hoping our limitations won't keep us from living our dreams! Viola
When one mentions that they are a couple looking for work and someone writes that they are looking for a single only, or you write that one of you needs to work for pay and the other can work for FHU, and then you get an offer for a volunteer position, it makes one wonder.
We both have great skills (carpentry, handyman, former YMCA Camp Facilities Director for Rick and for me, years of office experience and related skills, computer experience and skills, including reservation software, albeit at a quaint inn, and both of are great with people, love rving and camping and enjoy rvers and campers. I have tons of customer/client experience, retail sales at Yellowstone, etc.) but no good offers.
We have a decent travel trailer (a photo is posted on Workamper.com) and neither of us is ugly or unkept (also have posted photos of us) and we're beginning to wonder what might be wrong. I recently rewrote my ad on Workamper for the zillionth time and make certain spefications (OR or CA for winter and mentioned the places we'd be interested in for spring/summer too) but until now, I've left that pretty open. We kind of decided since we are free agents, just traveling around for now, we can afford to see if we can get hired where we want to go.
Do others write places in areas theywant to work and ask about workamping? We also use KOA and initially got tons off offers, but had to put things off for a few months and I haven't received offers from ANY KOA for a long while now. Do they have a code they put out when you reject too many offers (tongue in cheek here, folks). Just curious about what could be the issue.
Perhaps there are just so many out there wanting to workamp now, with the bad economy, that there are too many people to choose from? I simply cannot figure it out.
Any pointers would be appreciated. I don't want to have to resort to the webinars on workamper to learn how to SELL our skills to employers. That is getting TOO corporate to me.
Thanks for anticipated responses and glad to be here. Excuse typos tonight...too tired to recheck. And that is not my usual MO. I am generally meticulate about spelling and typos.
Jeanne
I tend to agree that resumes on Workamper.com mean very little.
I also agree with Dan that employers tend to query based on the little boxes you check like 1) area of the country you want to work, 2) type of employer you want to work for, 3) dates available, etc. Now, with that said, I also believe that the vast majority of employers aren't aggressively contacting applicants, but rather waiting for applicants to contact them.
In our experience, we've had the best luck by making the first contact, either by phone or email. We tailor our emails to the position and supply the relevant experience. Often we get no response to the emails, so we usually follow up with a phone call (if we didn't call first).
Rarely have we sent a resume or even been asked for one. So, I wouldn't fret about the content of the resume, but rather I would suggest a more proactive approach.
I'm a big advocate of making a phone call to the potential employer. And we don't call only the employers that post ads in the Workamper magazine or on the daily email updates. We call potential employers in the areas we want to work and inquire about possible positions. There are lots of places that don't advertise, or who suddenly lose a workamper, or have a need we wouldn't otherwise know about.
The big reasons for the phone call are 1) many employers are hiring on personality more than anything and it gives us a chance to better display our personality and communication skills, 2) it gives us a chance to "hear" the "personality" of the employer environment, 3) we might just get a workamper on the phone and get to pick their brain a bit.
Like you, we think we have a very good resume, but we get very few phone calls. However, with our approach, we usually end up with plenty of opportunities to choose from. There are lots of jobs out there, but we're a bit picky and we turn down quite a few after we "interview" them.
Finally, as you travel more and take on jobs, you will find more and more opportunities through people you work with and places you stay. Several places we have stayed have had openings or would have hired us for the next season if we had been interested. It's just a natural networking process that expands as you keep your eyes and ears open and take the initiative to just ask.
Hope that helps a little.
Like others who have responded, I have often made the initial contact, whether it be via email or phone. We have also been contacted by potential employers who have seen our resume on WKN or our posting on other sites.
I haven't seen your resume, so I'm just speaking from our experience. I guess I approached it like I would a resume for any other professional position, highlighting our collective and individual experiences, skills and attributes pertinent to workamping jobs in general.
Perhaps are you limiting yourselves by indicating one person will work for pay and one for the FHU? Are you strictly limited to the geographic area you are willing to work? Are you open to discussion of all opportunities? Perhaps I misunderstood your post and, again, I haven't seen your resume on WKN. Sometimes putting too much info can cause you to be passed over; on the other hand, an employer may be willing to work with you so that everyone's needs can be met.
Even if my conversation with a potential employer does not end up being for something in the near future, I have always told them I appreciated their time and left it so we would mutually contact each other should something change/arise in the future. That's how we ended up with our current assignment.
Do you receive the WKN jobs and hotline via email? If not, I encourage you to do so. This gives you the opportunity to be proactive and make the first contact.
Our 1st workamping job fell through when we were halfway across the country towards it. Figuring we would just sit tight at the RV park where we "landed," we ended up helping out the elderly owner in return for our site.
There are other places besides WKN to search for workamping-type jobs. You can do a simply Web search like "RV jobs," "workamping jobs," "park host jobs," you get the drift.
Don't be discouraged. There are jobs and very cool experiences out there!
Cheers!
Betty
GiniaJ> Check your PM
The way I see it, we work for them to increase their business and to be a beacon of light for those coming off the road. We have learned a great deal in just two seasons and our hope is to learn more so we can be whatever the need is.
For us, we are willing to travel to most places, after all, we want to see the country.
We read through their ads and usually email them besides sending our resumes and then hope for the best. Sometimes we call, but not usually.
We did call on a job one time, the ad posted 25 hours a week each for site. For the winter, we thought, no problem. Until we started talking with the owner and manager where we were working, they both said "NO WAY!"
The more we thought about it and then called again, they wanted us to work 50 hours each a week and no pay. Bank those hours and take them off when the Snowbirds came. Well, my position wouldn't have allowed for that. So, after a lot of thought, we emailed and passed on the position.
Lesson learned, read the fine print and don't accept right away if you have doubts.
I don't post pics of myself, dh or rig unless asked. We do state that we have 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
My husband and I have also put our resumes on Koa and Workamper, we want winter positions because we plan to become snowbunnies, are willing to work from Oct. to April if needed. My husband is limited on what he can do because of several knee replacement surgeries, he cannot walk distance or be on his feet for long periods of time. I on the other hand am very healthy and am retiring the end of June, I work up to 60 hrs. a week driving bus for public transportation and hold a CDL with passenger endorcement. I like the idea of my husband working as a campground host for FHU and me working for a small wage. Our motorhome is paid for but we still have a small house payment and my income will be cut in half after retirement, I will have a small pension and SSI while my husband is on SSID, so we do need to work or volunteer, but it is our dream and are willing to do what we can to live it. We did get one offer from an employer for summer work, responded to a couple of ads and got response back saying they are hiring for spring and summer, and as mentioned, they must not read our resumes because they would see that we are looking for winter positions only and that I won't be available until fall. I will take the advice and call where there is a phone number available, if not e-mail them. I also was told to wait until the end of summer to find any winter positions. Hoping our limitations won't keep us from living our dreams! Viola