[Balog]

Note to mods: yes, this is firearms related. It just takes a little while to get there.


I'd been working as an accounting clerk for a few months. Kinda boring work, but I had fun co-workers and I get a lot of satisfaction from doing a job well even if I dislike the work. There had been times when my job was in question. The first was when the president of the company brought his son-in-law in to do a four month internship. The second time was when el presidente's wife decided I wasn't "effervescent" enough when I answered the phone. I thought this was funny since that was maybe %5 percent of my job. What she really meant was that I didn't brown-nose enough. The people who I actually work with quickly talked the emperator out of it, and he put his dog on a leash (Maybe I'm just a little bitter). Then the bossman went to Saudi Arabia on business and the "little woman" decided to throw her weight around over my lack of perky-ness. I realize all this explanation is a little irrelevant, but I've never been fired before and I'll be darned if I'll give anyone a reason to think I deserved it this time. That whole "pride in my work" thing.

So I found myself looking for a job for the 2-3 months before I ship off to boot camp. And I thought maybe I could fulfill my favorite job-related fantasy "with a little help from my friends."
I want to get a job in the firearms industry. The best would be with a manufacturer or gunsmith, but anything gun related would be great. So what say you 'zonie THR'ers? Any places I can send my resume? Any advice at all? Thanks

[Orthonym]

Get a piecework job casting lead bullets over a coal fire in a windowless room for a gun show bandit?

No, belay that: What I meant, or, should have meant, was that I think it's pretty hard for anyone to get any kind of decent job these days, especially if he insists on doing something he likes doing and is good at. If he wants the job right now, well, gee, that's another (much smaller than unity) factor by which he needs to multiply his prospects.

I do wish you luck, sir, but realistically, I hope you have enough beans and rice, and the fuel to cook them, to last you through the awkward period. A jar of multivitamin tablets wouldn't hurt, either.

[Hal]

My son got canned ~ a month ago for "being a white boy".

(no I'm not kidding - his supervisor (minority) told him to his face that a small part of the reason he was being fired was because he was "a white boy")
*sigh* - long story - and very OT.

[TallPine]

Before this thread gets closed as OT ...

Balog, if there are any "Temp" agencies in your area, you might try signing up with one or more of them for short term work.

Not necessarily what you want to do, but it's not all manual labor. I have got some temporary accounting positions with them before.

Another thing ... there are some things that they don't teach you in college - like the accounting profession has a special term for an honest accountant: "unemployed". At least that's what I learned after I got out of school. Good thing I studied computer science as well:)

[ScottsGT]

FN Mfg. in Columbia SC places ads in the paper ocassionally. They're usually looking for ex-military with firearms experience since Ft. Jackson is just a mile away. And H & K is building a new plant in Alabama?
Are you looking for a job for the two or three months now, or for later down the road? I doubt seriously anyone is going to try and fill a mfg. position with someone that is only going to be there for a few months. Maybe you could be a gun shop commando recommending Kimbers to all the Colt buyers? :D

[Balog]

I realize it would be difficult to find a position in the firearms industry (especially for a couple months only) but it can't hurt to ask. We have an inordinate amount of gun related industry here in Arizona, I thought someone might know of a position available. I figured it would be as either a clerk working a counter or as an office peon. I'll be signing up w/ a temp place or two (my former boss knows of a couple that specialize in better paying accounting jobs.) Not a huge loss if I get into a non-gun field, just thought I'd give it a try. Thanks for the help.

[Kharn]

Why not see if any local gunshops need a sales person?
If the employer finds out you only want to work 2-3 months you wont get far in "industry", maybe floor-sweeper.

Kharn

[Big_R]

How about you work at the firearms counter in a Wal-Mart? It seems some of them could use the help of someone with some knowledge.

Ryan

[Archer]

For what its worth...

I have what a lot of people would think of as a dream job working in my sport (bet you can figure out what that sport is).

I, like you, found myself wanting to make my sport my work, so I left a (successful) broadcast career to become a product designer (already had an engineering degree gathering dust) for the leading firm in my area of interest. I was actually recruited for the job, I was fortunate enough not to have to seek out a position.

When I was in the decision-making period, I got a bit of advice from a fellow competitor who had done a similar thing years before. The advice was a bit of a warning- if you want to play and ALWAYS HAVE FUN playing, you better not make your play your work.

In other words, sooner or later, it will be a JOB, and the reasons you decided to get into it in the first place- the FUN aspects- take a back seat to the realities of a JOB.

I have had many extraordinary opportunities that I would not have had if I had not chosen to take the job in my sport, and personally would not change my decision if I knew then, all I know now.

I have developed products that have been used to win Olympic Games and World Championships, and accomplished a good deal of what I set out to do when I embarked upon my present career.

However, I think it is fair to warn you that the realities of working in your hobby might not be as pleasant as you might think.

Best of luck in your job search.

[Preacherman]

Balog, why not call Gunsite and see if they need any extra hands for a few months? You're going into the Marines, and the boss there (and Col. Cooper, of course) are former Marines too. Might be a useful connection, that... :D

[Balog]

Preacherman: that's a great idea! I'll have to do that. Now let's see, where are they at again... [/looks up address and figures out transportation]

[DigitalWarrior]

If things go poorly the recruiter will have no problem putting you in earlier. I am fairly certain of it.

I have to say, do not believe that you can be bitter about some lousy namecalling and do OK in the military. Remember this phrase "It's not personal."

Learn to swallow your pride. You will have E-7s giving you stupid orders with no discernable purpose. Read "Charge of the Light Brigade".