from a little girl. It's never too early to learn how blessed you are.
I like my internship!
I like my credit cards!
I like my college degree!
I like my family!
I like my hair!
I like EVERYTHING!
I CAN DO ANYTHING GOOD!!
BETTER THAN ANYONE!
I WILL FIND A JOB!
Thank you Jessica. My mirror and I are going to be having alot of face time together in the near future. On a serious note though, I've always learned that there is some value in daily affirmations like that--looking yourself in the mirror and asserting yourself!
Friday, May 28
Thursday, May 27
In a bit of a pickle..
I clearly have been watching way too much baseball lately with all the baseball lingo I have been throwing around lately. Go Phillies!
Anyways, I'm in a pickle because I just don't know what to do about this whole job search thing. I'm still doing my internship once a week. Except now I'm not technically the intern and I'm getting paid. I can't even tell you how much I love this job. I wish they were able to hire me full time. For once I feel so content with a job and feel so passionately about it. I feel as though I'm able to integrate what I love doing with what I'm good at and I'm learning so much about a field that I never knew much about before. I just love it! I'm trying to work hard and prove myself so that maybe they will see the value in hiring somebody on full time or even part time..just more than once a week!
The problem is the fact that I don't have a sugar daddy or rich parents to allow this lifestyle of only working one day a week. I do not want to leave this job to get a full time job that I probably won't love. I love this job too much. But I have plans of grad school, traveling, getting married in the near future (and not to mention I am notorious for blowing all my money on clothes and books) that just won't happen on the salary of someone working one day a week.
I sucked it up and got a babysitting job for a few months before I went to LA so I could just make some money. It bores me. I want to be doing what I went to school for. I babysat for all of middle school, high school, and college. I need a break from kids before I start popping them out myself.
So what to do, gentle reader? Do I suck it up and try to babysit until maybe they can hire me (even though there is no guarantee) or do I just move on and find a full time job? Ah..maybe I'll dust off the old Magic 8-ball and see if that has the answer..
On a brighter note..my trip to Los Angeles was AMAZING. So much fun and I'm not totally broke. I decided it might not be a good idea to spend all my money on Rodeo Drive and come home with credit card debt. Here's a little taste of LA from me to you..
Anyways, I'm in a pickle because I just don't know what to do about this whole job search thing. I'm still doing my internship once a week. Except now I'm not technically the intern and I'm getting paid. I can't even tell you how much I love this job. I wish they were able to hire me full time. For once I feel so content with a job and feel so passionately about it. I feel as though I'm able to integrate what I love doing with what I'm good at and I'm learning so much about a field that I never knew much about before. I just love it! I'm trying to work hard and prove myself so that maybe they will see the value in hiring somebody on full time or even part time..just more than once a week!
The problem is the fact that I don't have a sugar daddy or rich parents to allow this lifestyle of only working one day a week. I do not want to leave this job to get a full time job that I probably won't love. I love this job too much. But I have plans of grad school, traveling, getting married in the near future (and not to mention I am notorious for blowing all my money on clothes and books) that just won't happen on the salary of someone working one day a week.
I sucked it up and got a babysitting job for a few months before I went to LA so I could just make some money. It bores me. I want to be doing what I went to school for. I babysat for all of middle school, high school, and college. I need a break from kids before I start popping them out myself.
So what to do, gentle reader? Do I suck it up and try to babysit until maybe they can hire me (even though there is no guarantee) or do I just move on and find a full time job? Ah..maybe I'll dust off the old Magic 8-ball and see if that has the answer..
On a brighter note..my trip to Los Angeles was AMAZING. So much fun and I'm not totally broke. I decided it might not be a good idea to spend all my money on Rodeo Drive and come home with credit card debt. Here's a little taste of LA from me to you..
Tuesday, March 30
Extremely Antsy & Incredibly Broke
I am on a marathon job search for a part time job and I feel like I'm at the point where I'm losing momentum and hope of ever crossing that finish line.
I've been aggressively looking for a part time job these past few weeks because I'm broke and needing money to eat, and oh yeah, go to Los Angeles. I've given up looking for a full time job until May because I'm really loving my internship that I'm doing 1 day a week for 8 hours and I feel as though the experience is well worth it.
I haven't been paid for the past 2 months that I've been there but starting next week I'll be getting paid. It's not a lot of money, clearly, because I'm only working 8 hours but it's something. It does, however, prevent me from finding a job that won't make me work Tuesdays. I'm trying to stay away from retail and from dragging myself back to my previous place of employment to get my job back. I've been looking for anything--administrative assistant, babysitting, etc. but NO luck.
I'm giving myself until the end of this week and then I will submit to being a retail slave once again.
Dear employment gods, please oh please be nice to me this week!
I've been aggressively looking for a part time job these past few weeks because I'm broke and needing money to eat, and oh yeah, go to Los Angeles. I've given up looking for a full time job until May because I'm really loving my internship that I'm doing 1 day a week for 8 hours and I feel as though the experience is well worth it.
I haven't been paid for the past 2 months that I've been there but starting next week I'll be getting paid. It's not a lot of money, clearly, because I'm only working 8 hours but it's something. It does, however, prevent me from finding a job that won't make me work Tuesdays. I'm trying to stay away from retail and from dragging myself back to my previous place of employment to get my job back. I've been looking for anything--administrative assistant, babysitting, etc. but NO luck.
I'm giving myself until the end of this week and then I will submit to being a retail slave once again.
Dear employment gods, please oh please be nice to me this week!
Monday, March 29
Swagging my way through unemployment..
Even though I got a great internship, I'm still not making any money! I'm absolutely broke and it doesn't help that I've decided to go on vacation to LA in May! :)
I've been exploring different ways that I can make some money or get freebies during unemployment--both conventional and unconventional ways. I stumbled upon Swagbucks from a friend who was telling me how she has been winning all these Amazon gift cards through it and that piqued my curiosity. I like free things!
I'm still new to Swagbucks but I'm learning. You earn swagbucks by searching (like you would on Google or Yahoo) & buying things on certain sites. There are a ton of other ways that you can earn swagbucks but I'm still learning the ropes. I'm hoping that some of YOU can help me learn! Are any of you on there? Any tips? Is it worth it?
Anyways, I'll keep checking out Swagbucks and give you all the latest on whether it is worth doing to make some extra money/get free things!
Go here to sign up and get 30 free swagbucks: SWAGBUCKS!
I've been exploring different ways that I can make some money or get freebies during unemployment--both conventional and unconventional ways. I stumbled upon Swagbucks from a friend who was telling me how she has been winning all these Amazon gift cards through it and that piqued my curiosity. I like free things!
I'm still new to Swagbucks but I'm learning. You earn swagbucks by searching (like you would on Google or Yahoo) & buying things on certain sites. There are a ton of other ways that you can earn swagbucks but I'm still learning the ropes. I'm hoping that some of YOU can help me learn! Are any of you on there? Any tips? Is it worth it?
Anyways, I'll keep checking out Swagbucks and give you all the latest on whether it is worth doing to make some extra money/get free things!
Go here to sign up and get 30 free swagbucks: SWAGBUCKS!
Labels:
fun,
money,
unconventional,
ways to pass the unemployed days
Thursday, March 25
Hiatus
So, I've been on a little bit of a hiatus for personal reasons but I'm back now!
Since February I've been working for a magazine doing marketing/social networking. It's been great so far but it's unpaid so I'm really struggling moneywise. I'm trying to at least find a babysitting job to do on the other days of the week that I don't have the internship just to be bringing some money in but I'm striking out in that way as well.
So, I'm starting again, full speed ahead, with the job search.
Since February I've been working for a magazine doing marketing/social networking. It's been great so far but it's unpaid so I'm really struggling moneywise. I'm trying to at least find a babysitting job to do on the other days of the week that I don't have the internship just to be bringing some money in but I'm striking out in that way as well.
So, I'm starting again, full speed ahead, with the job search.
Monday, February 8
10 Common Resume/Cover Letter Mistakes
Get your resume and cover letter out and check it against this list! I've compiled a list of mistakes from feedback on my own resume/cover letter, notes from various professors, and things I saw on the web!
Your resume and cover letter are the first impression. I know for a fact that mine is not strong experience wise so I need to make sure I compensate for that and avoid common mistakes that could land your resume straight to the "Absolutely Not" pile.
1. ME, ME, ME attitude: Avoid focus all about YOU and YOUR needs. The hiring manager isn't sitting around thinking about what they can do for YOU. They need someone to do a job and to add value to their company. You need to make them aware of what YOU can do for THEM. Avoid telling them how much this job would help your career and your skills but rather show them how your skills and career goals could help them to achieve their goals and objectives. Show how you would indeed be helping them out. It makes perfect sense and is completely logical but it seems like it is a big trap for those of us writing resumes. I fell into it until a kind mentor told me the mistake.
2. Spelling/Punctuation Errors: It's kind of like when I'm reading a review from an author about their own book and they have horrible grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I find myself passing on their book if they are writing at a second grade level. It's an eyesore to hiring managers when there are run on sentences, obvious spelling mistakes, and punctuation running amok. I've found when I'm rushing to get a resume out I make dumb little mistakes like missing a word in the middle of a sentence or using "hear" instead of "here" because my brain is faster than my typing. Just slow down and write it. Check it. Get someone else to read it through. Check it again before you send it off.
3. Responsibilities over results: I got this tip somewhere online and I wrote it down but can't remember where it came from! Avoid focusing entirely on your responsibilities from your previous jobs and not taking enough time to focus on the results. Telling your responsibilities is a good thing as it gives the hiring manager an idea of what you did at your previous jobs. However, don't let it overshadow the results & the things you accomplished. This shows how valuable you were to your previous employers. Tell them about how you increased profits in your region or how you won an award or increased your subscription base by %2. This one is hard for me because I don't have alot of accomplishments that can be tracked on my resume. Make sure you keep track of these things whenever you are employed.
4. No objective/summary on your resume: I never thought this was a big deal until I started looking at other resumes from my peers. Having a clear objective or summary can tell the hiring manager what you want to do and are suited for. This clearly requires some tailoring to your resume for each job you are looking for if they are different industries or are in different fields but it will be worth it to make the extra effort. It makes you looked focus even if you really are willing to accept any job.
5. Incorrect contact info: Seems silly and obvious but make sure your email address is current and spelled right. Make sure your current number is on there.
6. Going overboard on the format: Keep it simple and don't be more concerned with how it looks over what it says! Don't use tiny fonts or different colors or a few different fonts. Make it easy on the eyes. Don't include a picture of yourself unless it's for a modeling gig. Clearly there are some jobs in industries looking for some creativity so use your discretion. Make it crisp and concise. Utilize bullets. It needs to be easy to read.
7. Don't get too personal: Do not litter your cover letter with the sob story of your life or revealing too much about your personal life. Make sure any websites or blogs you give them do not have anything inappropriate on them.
8. Forgetting those keywords: All hiring managers are looking for certain key words based on the position and industry. They are easily able to scan your resume for keywords on the computer by using databases that are searchable by key words. Welcome to technology, kiddies. The internet has made it so that the number of resumes being sent for a particular job is astronomical. More resumes means more time to read through them all. Therefore, why not weed out the ones that don't have keywords they are looking for? So, use those keywords. Here is a good article to get you thinking about those keywords.
9. Improper format: Make sure you have it saved in the proper format so that it can be opened. It depends on what they ask for but make sure it can be opened. Recently I forgot to save it to an older version of Word and sent a resume off and it couldn't be opened with my newer version of Word. Luckily, she emailed me back and told me to send it again via email or another format but you won't always be that lucky.
10. LYING: I shouldn't even have to say this but I do. DON'T LIE on your resume or cover letter! Don't exaggerate too much. You will get caught. It might not be right away or even formally but it will end up biting you in the butt at some point. Don't do it. Just don't.
I've heard it said that most employers only look at each resume for about 30 seconds so make those 30 seconds count!
Any other feedback you have gotten about resume mistakes you've made? Did I forget any?
Your resume and cover letter are the first impression. I know for a fact that mine is not strong experience wise so I need to make sure I compensate for that and avoid common mistakes that could land your resume straight to the "Absolutely Not" pile.
1. ME, ME, ME attitude: Avoid focus all about YOU and YOUR needs. The hiring manager isn't sitting around thinking about what they can do for YOU. They need someone to do a job and to add value to their company. You need to make them aware of what YOU can do for THEM. Avoid telling them how much this job would help your career and your skills but rather show them how your skills and career goals could help them to achieve their goals and objectives. Show how you would indeed be helping them out. It makes perfect sense and is completely logical but it seems like it is a big trap for those of us writing resumes. I fell into it until a kind mentor told me the mistake.
2. Spelling/Punctuation Errors: It's kind of like when I'm reading a review from an author about their own book and they have horrible grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I find myself passing on their book if they are writing at a second grade level. It's an eyesore to hiring managers when there are run on sentences, obvious spelling mistakes, and punctuation running amok. I've found when I'm rushing to get a resume out I make dumb little mistakes like missing a word in the middle of a sentence or using "hear" instead of "here" because my brain is faster than my typing. Just slow down and write it. Check it. Get someone else to read it through. Check it again before you send it off.
3. Responsibilities over results: I got this tip somewhere online and I wrote it down but can't remember where it came from! Avoid focusing entirely on your responsibilities from your previous jobs and not taking enough time to focus on the results. Telling your responsibilities is a good thing as it gives the hiring manager an idea of what you did at your previous jobs. However, don't let it overshadow the results & the things you accomplished. This shows how valuable you were to your previous employers. Tell them about how you increased profits in your region or how you won an award or increased your subscription base by %2. This one is hard for me because I don't have alot of accomplishments that can be tracked on my resume. Make sure you keep track of these things whenever you are employed.
4. No objective/summary on your resume: I never thought this was a big deal until I started looking at other resumes from my peers. Having a clear objective or summary can tell the hiring manager what you want to do and are suited for. This clearly requires some tailoring to your resume for each job you are looking for if they are different industries or are in different fields but it will be worth it to make the extra effort. It makes you looked focus even if you really are willing to accept any job.
5. Incorrect contact info: Seems silly and obvious but make sure your email address is current and spelled right. Make sure your current number is on there.
6. Going overboard on the format: Keep it simple and don't be more concerned with how it looks over what it says! Don't use tiny fonts or different colors or a few different fonts. Make it easy on the eyes. Don't include a picture of yourself unless it's for a modeling gig. Clearly there are some jobs in industries looking for some creativity so use your discretion. Make it crisp and concise. Utilize bullets. It needs to be easy to read.
7. Don't get too personal: Do not litter your cover letter with the sob story of your life or revealing too much about your personal life. Make sure any websites or blogs you give them do not have anything inappropriate on them.
8. Forgetting those keywords: All hiring managers are looking for certain key words based on the position and industry. They are easily able to scan your resume for keywords on the computer by using databases that are searchable by key words. Welcome to technology, kiddies. The internet has made it so that the number of resumes being sent for a particular job is astronomical. More resumes means more time to read through them all. Therefore, why not weed out the ones that don't have keywords they are looking for? So, use those keywords. Here is a good article to get you thinking about those keywords.
9. Improper format: Make sure you have it saved in the proper format so that it can be opened. It depends on what they ask for but make sure it can be opened. Recently I forgot to save it to an older version of Word and sent a resume off and it couldn't be opened with my newer version of Word. Luckily, she emailed me back and told me to send it again via email or another format but you won't always be that lucky.
10. LYING: I shouldn't even have to say this but I do. DON'T LIE on your resume or cover letter! Don't exaggerate too much. You will get caught. It might not be right away or even formally but it will end up biting you in the butt at some point. Don't do it. Just don't.
I've heard it said that most employers only look at each resume for about 30 seconds so make those 30 seconds count!
Any other feedback you have gotten about resume mistakes you've made? Did I forget any?
Labels:
advice,
cover letter,
job search,
mistakes,
practical,
professional,
resumes,
tips
Friday, February 5
Hire My Friend!
Some more exciting news: I got the internship!! YAY! So I guess I'm sort of part of the working world again. It's only 8 hours a week and unpaid but it is going to be a great learning experience in the marketing world!
Anyways, I don't know about you all but alot of my unemployed days consist of Facebooking. True story. I'm on Facebook like it's my job. I realized that I could use Facebook productively in my job search. So, take some time from stalking that ex-best friend/boyfriend or refreshing your news feed, and use Facebook to enhance your job search!
1. Status Updates: Update your status and tell people you are out of work! I know firsthand how effective this is. I had quite a few status updates about how much I loathed unemployment and what not and quite a few people messaged me with job leads or asking what I wanted to do. I had a really AWESOME friend who contacted everybody on her email contacts and got me so many leads! It's up to you whether or not you are indirect or direct about it but let people know you are unemployed! Ask for leads! You never know who your friends might know and, to be honest, some people really do want to help you.
2. Hire My Friend: I can't say I tried this but I stumbled upon this application while looking on Facebook. It's called Hire My Friend. I cannot vouch for this leading to success in the job search but I thought it was pretty darn creative and slightly humorous! I like the concept behind it--getting your friends to use their network to help find leads. So, grab a few of your closest friends (and ones with really good contacts) and ask them to fill it out for you!
3. Facebook Marketplace: I used to look on the Facebook Marketplace for textbooks and what not but haven't been on there in a long time. I decided to check it out again and saw how much it has expanded. There is now even a place for jobs! You just type in your zip code and distance you'd like the listings to be within. I found a few decent listings. You just have to search through some of the spammy ones.
Anybody use Facebook to get themselves a job?
Anyways, I don't know about you all but alot of my unemployed days consist of Facebooking. True story. I'm on Facebook like it's my job. I realized that I could use Facebook productively in my job search. So, take some time from stalking that ex-best friend/boyfriend or refreshing your news feed, and use Facebook to enhance your job search!
1. Status Updates: Update your status and tell people you are out of work! I know firsthand how effective this is. I had quite a few status updates about how much I loathed unemployment and what not and quite a few people messaged me with job leads or asking what I wanted to do. I had a really AWESOME friend who contacted everybody on her email contacts and got me so many leads! It's up to you whether or not you are indirect or direct about it but let people know you are unemployed! Ask for leads! You never know who your friends might know and, to be honest, some people really do want to help you.
2. Hire My Friend: I can't say I tried this but I stumbled upon this application while looking on Facebook. It's called Hire My Friend. I cannot vouch for this leading to success in the job search but I thought it was pretty darn creative and slightly humorous! I like the concept behind it--getting your friends to use their network to help find leads. So, grab a few of your closest friends (and ones with really good contacts) and ask them to fill it out for you!
3. Facebook Marketplace: I used to look on the Facebook Marketplace for textbooks and what not but haven't been on there in a long time. I decided to check it out again and saw how much it has expanded. There is now even a place for jobs! You just type in your zip code and distance you'd like the listings to be within. I found a few decent listings. You just have to search through some of the spammy ones.
Anybody use Facebook to get themselves a job?
Wednesday, February 3
Interview: Put Your Best Face Forward
In light of some exciting news from your favorite unemployed chick, I have decided to talk about interviews. The exciting news first: I got an interview for tomorrow for an internship! After a long time of not hearing back from anywhere that I sent my resume, (and yes I tried to get in contact with HR but some of these bigger corporations won't let you call in) it is really nice to get an interview! Wish me luck!!
Anyways, here are some helpful tips that I've learned through the years or picked up in my research.
Some things you should be doing before the interview:
1. Researching the company & the position as well as making yourself familiar with the industry if you are not already: Do not go in unprepared. Show that you have taken the time to learn about the company. Know their mission and vision, their target market, newsworthy items, CEO names, etc. See if anybody you know has any contacts with the company or organization.
2. Iron that outfit. Polish those shoes. Be neat and pressed. Have everything picked out beforehand so you aren't rushing around. Make sure you have a notebook & pen ready as well as a briefcase depending on the position. Also, print out a copy of your resume and a list of references just in case. Make sure you are showered and well groomed. Don't just look like you rolled out of bed.
3. Prep with some mock interview questions. You can search the internet for popular interview questions. Be prepared. Get your mind ready! Practice with friend or family member.
4. Prepare some intelligent & relevant questions. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, pick 1 or 2 good ones that haven't been covered. Interviewers like when you ask questions because it shows interest. Avoid being to eager about pay, vacation, benefits, etc. Here are some good questions to get you thinking.
Things to be doing during the interview:
1. Be positive and self assured! Fake it even if you are nervous.
2. Be early! Don't be on time and don't be late! Be early.
3. Be polite to everyone in the office before your interview starts. Smile and make a good impression to all the people you might encounter before you meet with the interviewer. People talk after you leave. Trust me.
4. Have good manners. Sit up straight. Say "Thank You"(especially when you leave) and "Please". Do everything your momma taught you that you found irritating to be corrected on. No gum chewing! Use proper English!
5. Focus on the company and what you can do for them in the position. Yes, they do want to learn about you. However, it needs to be relevant to the position and what you can do for them with your skills, experience, education, etc.
After the Interview:
1. Send a thank you note or email. Again focus on the company and what you learned and not all about you.
2. Follow up. Follow up quickly if you think they are making the decision soon. Feel it out for when you should follow up. Don't call 5x a day to find out.
Anyways, here are some helpful tips that I've learned through the years or picked up in my research.
Some things you should be doing before the interview:
1. Researching the company & the position as well as making yourself familiar with the industry if you are not already: Do not go in unprepared. Show that you have taken the time to learn about the company. Know their mission and vision, their target market, newsworthy items, CEO names, etc. See if anybody you know has any contacts with the company or organization.
2. Iron that outfit. Polish those shoes. Be neat and pressed. Have everything picked out beforehand so you aren't rushing around. Make sure you have a notebook & pen ready as well as a briefcase depending on the position. Also, print out a copy of your resume and a list of references just in case. Make sure you are showered and well groomed. Don't just look like you rolled out of bed.
3. Prep with some mock interview questions. You can search the internet for popular interview questions. Be prepared. Get your mind ready! Practice with friend or family member.
4. Prepare some intelligent & relevant questions. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, pick 1 or 2 good ones that haven't been covered. Interviewers like when you ask questions because it shows interest. Avoid being to eager about pay, vacation, benefits, etc. Here are some good questions to get you thinking.
Things to be doing during the interview:
1. Be positive and self assured! Fake it even if you are nervous.
2. Be early! Don't be on time and don't be late! Be early.
3. Be polite to everyone in the office before your interview starts. Smile and make a good impression to all the people you might encounter before you meet with the interviewer. People talk after you leave. Trust me.
4. Have good manners. Sit up straight. Say "Thank You"(especially when you leave) and "Please". Do everything your momma taught you that you found irritating to be corrected on. No gum chewing! Use proper English!
5. Focus on the company and what you can do for them in the position. Yes, they do want to learn about you. However, it needs to be relevant to the position and what you can do for them with your skills, experience, education, etc.
After the Interview:
1. Send a thank you note or email. Again focus on the company and what you learned and not all about you.
2. Follow up. Follow up quickly if you think they are making the decision soon. Feel it out for when you should follow up. Don't call 5x a day to find out.
Labels:
advice,
good news,
internships,
interview,
job search,
tips
Tuesday, February 2
Tweeting Your Way to Be Among the Gainfully Employed?
I'm a tweeter. I tweet about my day, my frustrations, things that I'm excited about (as in, the LOST season premiere), my disappointments, articles I find interesting, funny things that happened, and sometimes I even tweet about my job search. But using Twitter as a way to GET a job? Wait..what?
The more I've been perusing the web for tips to strengthen my job search and how to be more efficient in it, I've come across quite a few people claiming that Twitter is a revolutionary way to enhance your job search in 2010.
What is that you say? I could tweet my way to a job? Well, being the curious little creature that I am, decided that I must research this further and have my hand at using Twitter as a part of my new aggressive approach to making my way into the world of the employed again.
Instantly I found this website: TwitJobSearch. Essentially it is search engine for jobs, similar to indeed.com, except that it targets job postings on Twitter. I typed in a few key words "marketing, entry level, Philadelphia" and a decent amount of jobs popped up. Some I had seen on other job boards and some were brand new. I decided to add this to my extensive list of job search boards to scour every day.
But how else could Twitter be used?
Lists: I love making lists in general. Lists on Twitter are fabulous because you can have complete organization. For example, I'm adding lists on my Twitter for networking, companies I'd want to work for, and industry experts. It will save you time instead of sifting through all your tweets to see tweets relevant to your job search.
Networking: After you have become an organized Twitter genius, reach out to some of these people you have listed. Ask for advice from those industry professionals or friends in your field. Make meaningful comments on their tweets. Interact with them! Show them you are serious. I had a good experience with this. I followed InternQueen and asked her for some advice for college grads and internships. She tweeted me back pretty promptly and gave me advice. Some of them are going to ignore you but some of them might respond back to someone who shows genuine interest and shares their career aspirations.
Hash Tags: I remember this summer seeing these strange hash tag symbols on Twitter. Once I learned how they were used I immediately saw their effectiveness. You can use them in the job search too. Make your you are tagging your posts with relevant key words. You can also search hash tags to see tweet subjects that interest you.
I'm still new to using Twitter as an addition to my job search so I will be giving you the dirt once I learn more ways to use it for this purpose!
What are your thoughts? Do you tweet? Would you ever consider it a good way to enhance your job search? Have you used it for this purpose before or know anyone that has?
The more I've been perusing the web for tips to strengthen my job search and how to be more efficient in it, I've come across quite a few people claiming that Twitter is a revolutionary way to enhance your job search in 2010.
What is that you say? I could tweet my way to a job? Well, being the curious little creature that I am, decided that I must research this further and have my hand at using Twitter as a part of my new aggressive approach to making my way into the world of the employed again.
Instantly I found this website: TwitJobSearch. Essentially it is search engine for jobs, similar to indeed.com, except that it targets job postings on Twitter. I typed in a few key words "marketing, entry level, Philadelphia" and a decent amount of jobs popped up. Some I had seen on other job boards and some were brand new. I decided to add this to my extensive list of job search boards to scour every day.
But how else could Twitter be used?
Lists: I love making lists in general. Lists on Twitter are fabulous because you can have complete organization. For example, I'm adding lists on my Twitter for networking, companies I'd want to work for, and industry experts. It will save you time instead of sifting through all your tweets to see tweets relevant to your job search.
Networking: After you have become an organized Twitter genius, reach out to some of these people you have listed. Ask for advice from those industry professionals or friends in your field. Make meaningful comments on their tweets. Interact with them! Show them you are serious. I had a good experience with this. I followed InternQueen and asked her for some advice for college grads and internships. She tweeted me back pretty promptly and gave me advice. Some of them are going to ignore you but some of them might respond back to someone who shows genuine interest and shares their career aspirations.
Hash Tags: I remember this summer seeing these strange hash tag symbols on Twitter. Once I learned how they were used I immediately saw their effectiveness. You can use them in the job search too. Make your you are tagging your posts with relevant key words. You can also search hash tags to see tweet subjects that interest you.
I'm still new to using Twitter as an addition to my job search so I will be giving you the dirt once I learn more ways to use it for this purpose!
What are your thoughts? Do you tweet? Would you ever consider it a good way to enhance your job search? Have you used it for this purpose before or know anyone that has?
Labels:
aggressive approach,
job search,
networking,
practical,
professional,
Twitter
Monday, February 1
Be AGGRESSIVE! B-E AGGRESSIVE! B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E!
I feel like I have to be my own personal cheerleader these days! This unemployment/job searching ordeal is draining.
I've decided that I need to become more aggressive with my job searching tactics. I need to be bold and relentless. I don't mean aggressive as in getting in hiring manager's faces or stalking CEO's of companies. I mean just stepping it up and not being as passive. (Side note: It makes me think of the too light too heavy commercials)
Job seekers could take a lesson from the "not too light, not too heavy" concept.
Anyways, some ways I'm stepping it up in 2010 regarding the job search:
1) Remember that the job search is my job right now. I need to take it that seriously. I am waking up early, eating a good breakfast, and getting ready before I proceed with the job search. Sitting around feeling like a bum in my sweatpants does nothing for the morale. I need to make my desk Job Searching central and be organized!
2) Have a schedule. This one is really important. Unemployed days consist of a lot of free time which generally ends up being wasted on who knows what! Not anymore! I am scheduling my days so to have more structure and making to do lists that will be completed. Structure is pretty important and will help you to approach the job search as a job.
3) Network like crazy! I normally feel silly and/or ashamed at promoting myself and trying to network. Not anymore. It's about who you know and how well you know them. I'm making a master list of contacts and what they do. That sounds really creepy but it's not. I need to know who might be of help to either ask for advice in the field or a possible job lead.
4) Offer my services. I'm actually really skilled at marketing despite what my resume says about me. I've always loved to do it and I've always had good feedback on what I've done. I'm am offering myself up to those who need some marketing/advertising. I'm contacting my church, my stepdad's American Legion, local businesses and organizations, etc. Who wouldn't want a free pair of hands and a brain?
5) Look outside the box for possible job opportunities. Be willing to look for jobs in places other than job boards.
6) Send out 3x the amount of resumes per week than I have been. I'm not just going to be sending them out to just anyone for any job. However, I think in the past I have been so discouraged that I haven't even applied for some jobs.
I've decided that I need to become more aggressive with my job searching tactics. I need to be bold and relentless. I don't mean aggressive as in getting in hiring manager's faces or stalking CEO's of companies. I mean just stepping it up and not being as passive. (Side note: It makes me think of the too light too heavy commercials)
Job seekers could take a lesson from the "not too light, not too heavy" concept.
Anyways, some ways I'm stepping it up in 2010 regarding the job search:
1) Remember that the job search is my job right now. I need to take it that seriously. I am waking up early, eating a good breakfast, and getting ready before I proceed with the job search. Sitting around feeling like a bum in my sweatpants does nothing for the morale. I need to make my desk Job Searching central and be organized!
2) Have a schedule. This one is really important. Unemployed days consist of a lot of free time which generally ends up being wasted on who knows what! Not anymore! I am scheduling my days so to have more structure and making to do lists that will be completed. Structure is pretty important and will help you to approach the job search as a job.
3) Network like crazy! I normally feel silly and/or ashamed at promoting myself and trying to network. Not anymore. It's about who you know and how well you know them. I'm making a master list of contacts and what they do. That sounds really creepy but it's not. I need to know who might be of help to either ask for advice in the field or a possible job lead.
4) Offer my services. I'm actually really skilled at marketing despite what my resume says about me. I've always loved to do it and I've always had good feedback on what I've done. I'm am offering myself up to those who need some marketing/advertising. I'm contacting my church, my stepdad's American Legion, local businesses and organizations, etc. Who wouldn't want a free pair of hands and a brain?
5) Look outside the box for possible job opportunities. Be willing to look for jobs in places other than job boards.
6) Send out 3x the amount of resumes per week than I have been. I'm not just going to be sending them out to just anyone for any job. However, I think in the past I have been so discouraged that I haven't even applied for some jobs.
Sunday, January 31
Internships?
(me at my internship for a customer service photo shoot..and guess what..I ended up in an advertisement in photography magazines!)
Internships might just not be for college students anymore. It seems as though every article related to unemployment or job searching tips that I find myself pouring over are saying that internships are the new jobs (particularly for college grads!)
I remember watching The Pursuit of Happiness in college and thinking how horrible it must be as an adult to take an unpaid internship. But alas, here I find myself seriously considering taking part in an internship program. I think alot of people are finding themselves considering the option. I mean, there is nothing wrong with an internship! I had a wonderful, paid internship and learned alot from it. However, the thought of taking possibly an UNPAID internship scares the dickens out of me! That could have been a possibility whilst in school but it would be a tough option to not get paid. It scares me to think that money will be coming out of my bank account and not going in; no matter how well I save.
Let's just highlight some of the positives of an internships (which far outweigh the negatives):
-They are the middle ground for someone like me between having zero experience to having 5 pages worth of experience. Internships don't require you to have extensive experience. They create experience.
- Many internships lead to actual positions and if they don't they sure are a good resume booster and a good reference. That's why it is important to take your internship seriously and do your best work; even if you aren't getting paid.
- You can get a feel for what you want to do (or don't want to do). I've been looking at internships as a way to see what possible careers there are for me out there and how well I fit into those fields.
- They are generally part time. This is important for those of us who are absolutely broke. You could always pick up a few shifts waiting tables or working retail. It will be hard work to juggle an internship, a job, and a LIFE but it will pay off in the end.
- There are some amazing, crazy internships out there! I'm actually in the midst of applying for an internship with a travel company to travel for 3 months and document it. I'm also looking at Cross Cultural Solutions for internship opportunities in India and China (they have many other countries available.) You just have to seek these internships out. Thinking outside of the box is always beneficial.
Those are just a few of the benefits that came to my mind while I was weighing my options.
So, my dear unemployed (and employed) friends, what do you think about internships?
You can find internships all over the web. Remember to look on websites for industry associations. I know that the American Marketing Association has marketing specific job boards with internships.
And check out my FAVORITE resource for awesome internships and intern advice:
Intern Queen!!
Internships might just not be for college students anymore. It seems as though every article related to unemployment or job searching tips that I find myself pouring over are saying that internships are the new jobs (particularly for college grads!)
I remember watching The Pursuit of Happiness in college and thinking how horrible it must be as an adult to take an unpaid internship. But alas, here I find myself seriously considering taking part in an internship program. I think alot of people are finding themselves considering the option. I mean, there is nothing wrong with an internship! I had a wonderful, paid internship and learned alot from it. However, the thought of taking possibly an UNPAID internship scares the dickens out of me! That could have been a possibility whilst in school but it would be a tough option to not get paid. It scares me to think that money will be coming out of my bank account and not going in; no matter how well I save.
Let's just highlight some of the positives of an internships (which far outweigh the negatives):
-They are the middle ground for someone like me between having zero experience to having 5 pages worth of experience. Internships don't require you to have extensive experience. They create experience.
- Many internships lead to actual positions and if they don't they sure are a good resume booster and a good reference. That's why it is important to take your internship seriously and do your best work; even if you aren't getting paid.
- You can get a feel for what you want to do (or don't want to do). I've been looking at internships as a way to see what possible careers there are for me out there and how well I fit into those fields.
- They are generally part time. This is important for those of us who are absolutely broke. You could always pick up a few shifts waiting tables or working retail. It will be hard work to juggle an internship, a job, and a LIFE but it will pay off in the end.
- There are some amazing, crazy internships out there! I'm actually in the midst of applying for an internship with a travel company to travel for 3 months and document it. I'm also looking at Cross Cultural Solutions for internship opportunities in India and China (they have many other countries available.) You just have to seek these internships out. Thinking outside of the box is always beneficial.
Those are just a few of the benefits that came to my mind while I was weighing my options.
So, my dear unemployed (and employed) friends, what do you think about internships?
You can find internships all over the web. Remember to look on websites for industry associations. I know that the American Marketing Association has marketing specific job boards with internships.
And check out my FAVORITE resource for awesome internships and intern advice:
Intern Queen!!
Labels:
career,
internships,
professional,
resume boosting,
training
Saturday, January 30
Give back.
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
Mahatma Gandhi
All you have to give is your time. And, as we unemployed folks know, we have plenty of that to spare. As I was selfishly moping and sulking about being jobless, I realized that there was a solution to the issue of feeling as though my days were wasted. I realized there was a way I could get out of the confines of my house AND make connections with others that want to make a positive impact on society. I could volunteer! It's not a novel idea or rocket science. However, when you are consumed with moping and sulking, helping people may not be on the forefront of your mind. I began my arduous task of picking just one volunteer opportunity that matched my skills and passions. I happened to find an organization in my area that needed some help with administrative duties and event planning. I can do that for sure! I filled out the application today and am excited to see what kind of experience it will be.
I just think that volunteering would be a really great way to pass those unemployed days. Here's why:
1. You are getting out of your house! For me, it doesn't help to be sitting at home just feeling all the more miserable about my jobless status. Get out of the house!!
2. You are doing good for people. I firmly believing in giving back to your community and to the world. I just think about all the times I've been helped in my life and what a difference that has made. Depending on what you are volunteering for, you are going to be helping people directly or indirectly (what I'll be doing) but either way you will be creating change and serving society in a better way.
3. Helping=Happiness: I've always noticed that every time I've volunteered for something or did something for another human being, it has always boosted my mood--even if I was never recognized for it or it was an anonymous type of thing. Doing something useful with your time can help fight those unemployment blues and help your community at the same time!
4. Resume Booster: Obviously this isn't the only reason you will be volunteering but the reality is that it is something to put on your resume and can be a possible reference. Work as hard as you would if it was a paid job. In a time when you can't find someone to pay you for your skills, volunteering is a great way to get experience to put on the resume. And if you are like me, you need all the resume boosting you can get! So find an organization to volunteer at that is a good fit and work hard!
5. You never know who you will meet: By volunteering, you are expanding your social circle. This is some of the best type of networking you can do. Make sure you maintain relationships with these people and remain professional while volunteering. Work hard and refrain from complaining! You never know who these people might know!
Have any of you had some great experiences volunteering? Do share!
A few great resources:
Volunteer Match
ServeNet
Idealist
Mahatma Gandhi
All you have to give is your time. And, as we unemployed folks know, we have plenty of that to spare. As I was selfishly moping and sulking about being jobless, I realized that there was a solution to the issue of feeling as though my days were wasted. I realized there was a way I could get out of the confines of my house AND make connections with others that want to make a positive impact on society. I could volunteer! It's not a novel idea or rocket science. However, when you are consumed with moping and sulking, helping people may not be on the forefront of your mind. I began my arduous task of picking just one volunteer opportunity that matched my skills and passions. I happened to find an organization in my area that needed some help with administrative duties and event planning. I can do that for sure! I filled out the application today and am excited to see what kind of experience it will be.
I just think that volunteering would be a really great way to pass those unemployed days. Here's why:
1. You are getting out of your house! For me, it doesn't help to be sitting at home just feeling all the more miserable about my jobless status. Get out of the house!!
2. You are doing good for people. I firmly believing in giving back to your community and to the world. I just think about all the times I've been helped in my life and what a difference that has made. Depending on what you are volunteering for, you are going to be helping people directly or indirectly (what I'll be doing) but either way you will be creating change and serving society in a better way.
3. Helping=Happiness: I've always noticed that every time I've volunteered for something or did something for another human being, it has always boosted my mood--even if I was never recognized for it or it was an anonymous type of thing. Doing something useful with your time can help fight those unemployment blues and help your community at the same time!
4. Resume Booster: Obviously this isn't the only reason you will be volunteering but the reality is that it is something to put on your resume and can be a possible reference. Work as hard as you would if it was a paid job. In a time when you can't find someone to pay you for your skills, volunteering is a great way to get experience to put on the resume. And if you are like me, you need all the resume boosting you can get! So find an organization to volunteer at that is a good fit and work hard!
5. You never know who you will meet: By volunteering, you are expanding your social circle. This is some of the best type of networking you can do. Make sure you maintain relationships with these people and remain professional while volunteering. Work hard and refrain from complaining! You never know who these people might know!
Have any of you had some great experiences volunteering? Do share!
A few great resources:
Volunteer Match
ServeNet
Idealist
Friday, January 29
LinkedIn!
I was urged to join LinkedIn by a few friends. They said it's the place for serious job seekers and networkers to be. Well, I thought to myself, I had better head over there because that is what I am!
Basically LinkedIn is the professional world's version of Facebook. It's pretty fabulous. You aren't being bombarded by dumb quizzes about which Twilight character you are like and Farmville applications (no offense to anyone..I know how addicting these things can be) nor do you have to see pictures of little hoe cookies half naked and drunk on your news feed. You know, those girls you were never friends with in high school and still have NO idea why they have added you as a Facebook friends. I have to admit it doesn't quite have the fun factor like Facebook has but it's a really good place for people serious about networking. You can link up with your old professors, friends, family and then you can see who they know. It's quite a shame that, so far, none of my contacts know people high up in places I want to work! Jeez, I mean, why can't somebody I know be the sister of the higher ups in Vogue or at Michael Kors! :)
Anyways, I can't boast of some huge success story with LinkedIn quite yet as I'm still new. However, get on over there and create a profile and add everybody you know! You never know the connections you might come across.
Basically LinkedIn is the professional world's version of Facebook. It's pretty fabulous. You aren't being bombarded by dumb quizzes about which Twilight character you are like and Farmville applications (no offense to anyone..I know how addicting these things can be) nor do you have to see pictures of little hoe cookies half naked and drunk on your news feed. You know, those girls you were never friends with in high school and still have NO idea why they have added you as a Facebook friends. I have to admit it doesn't quite have the fun factor like Facebook has but it's a really good place for people serious about networking. You can link up with your old professors, friends, family and then you can see who they know. It's quite a shame that, so far, none of my contacts know people high up in places I want to work! Jeez, I mean, why can't somebody I know be the sister of the higher ups in Vogue or at Michael Kors! :)
Anyways, I can't boast of some huge success story with LinkedIn quite yet as I'm still new. However, get on over there and create a profile and add everybody you know! You never know the connections you might come across.
Thursday, January 28
Non-Job Searching Ways to Pass the Unemployed Days!
It's easy to get the unemployment blues. Trust me. I've been there. It's easy to throw yourself a perpetual pity party that nobody (and I mean nobody) except yourself wants to attend. It doesn't even matter if there is a pinata. Nobody wants to come. I had to start finding ways to keep myself occupied and ward off those feelings of failure, self loathing, discontentment, & boredom. I wanted to use this time I had productively.
What are your favorite things to do to pass your unemployed days? (Past or present)
1. Read! I've always been a reader but I've been spending alot of my days reading. I read pretty much read anything. I've been knocking out some classics, some "fluffy" light reading, memoirs, self help, and of course reading related to the field I want to get in. I like to read outside when it is nice, in a cafe, a bookstore, a park, etc. I'm pretty addicted to Goodreads . I even started an online book group for College Students that is extremely active and has almost 800 members! It's a fun group. It's been fun to use all the things I know how to do for something I love (organizing, starting discussions, marketing the group in different ways, planning events and book giveaways, etc.). I'm all about stimulating my mind while I'm unemployed.
2. Vocab Sushi: I promise you I'm not a nerd. Ok, well, I can't promise you that. Anyways, has become my latest obsession. You take a little test and then it figures out where you stand vocab wise and then gives you an appropriate list of words to learn. You can see the words used in articles and sentences and do little word games. It's a really great way to keep your brain stimulated, build for yourself an extensive vocabulary, and, hey, you might even be able to through in a $3 word in an interview and sound extremely smart! Just make sure you are using it properly! :)
3. Learn How To Cook: I have considered myself one of those people who can cook or bake. I had never really done it before. Unless you count my little stint with my Easy Bake Oven as a child. However, through my own attempts out of unemployment boredom (and a little lesson from the movie Ratatouille) I soon learned that "anybody can cook!" Cooking can be expensive but luckily for me I still live at home with my stepdad and sister, neither of them who like to cook, so I'm given the money to buy groceries and they get a home cooked meal! You can find recipes that aren't too costly when you go to the grocery store. Always be on the lookout for specials going on and cut those coupons! Anyways, I just started picking things from allrecipes.com that sounded good and after my first experiment in cooking was a success I decided to keep trying. It's been fun and it feels really nice to cook something good for other people. It's also a nice skill to have for when the boyfriend and I get married! :)
4. Blog: I like to write so blogging is pretty fun for me! I have a few blogs that I write on and I've been enjoying the process. If you are passionate about something that relates to your particular career, blog about it! If you are into fashion, create a fashion blog. If you are a photographer, blog about the photography world and share your own shots! You never know who is going to stumble upon your blog. And at the end of the day, it's really nice to have documented your life.
5. "Spring Clean" Your Room/House: : I loathe cleaning. However, I have found that really tackling my room has been a productive and useful way to spend my day. I have been purging my room of clutter and trash and things that are no longer used or useful. Then I start organizing like a mad woman. It's just really nice to have an uncluttered headquarters here at camp unemployed. I've found some great tips and methods on a few blogs and websites. Let me know if any of you are interested in the links!
Anyways..those are just a few of the ways I've been spending my unemployed days. More to come!
XH5WMYEDYSMR
What are your favorite things to do to pass your unemployed days? (Past or present)
1. Read! I've always been a reader but I've been spending alot of my days reading. I read pretty much read anything. I've been knocking out some classics, some "fluffy" light reading, memoirs, self help, and of course reading related to the field I want to get in. I like to read outside when it is nice, in a cafe, a bookstore, a park, etc. I'm pretty addicted to Goodreads . I even started an online book group for College Students that is extremely active and has almost 800 members! It's a fun group. It's been fun to use all the things I know how to do for something I love (organizing, starting discussions, marketing the group in different ways, planning events and book giveaways, etc.). I'm all about stimulating my mind while I'm unemployed.
2. Vocab Sushi: I promise you I'm not a nerd. Ok, well, I can't promise you that. Anyways, has become my latest obsession. You take a little test and then it figures out where you stand vocab wise and then gives you an appropriate list of words to learn. You can see the words used in articles and sentences and do little word games. It's a really great way to keep your brain stimulated, build for yourself an extensive vocabulary, and, hey, you might even be able to through in a $3 word in an interview and sound extremely smart! Just make sure you are using it properly! :)
3. Learn How To Cook: I have considered myself one of those people who can cook or bake. I had never really done it before. Unless you count my little stint with my Easy Bake Oven as a child. However, through my own attempts out of unemployment boredom (and a little lesson from the movie Ratatouille) I soon learned that "anybody can cook!" Cooking can be expensive but luckily for me I still live at home with my stepdad and sister, neither of them who like to cook, so I'm given the money to buy groceries and they get a home cooked meal! You can find recipes that aren't too costly when you go to the grocery store. Always be on the lookout for specials going on and cut those coupons! Anyways, I just started picking things from allrecipes.com that sounded good and after my first experiment in cooking was a success I decided to keep trying. It's been fun and it feels really nice to cook something good for other people. It's also a nice skill to have for when the boyfriend and I get married! :)
4. Blog: I like to write so blogging is pretty fun for me! I have a few blogs that I write on and I've been enjoying the process. If you are passionate about something that relates to your particular career, blog about it! If you are into fashion, create a fashion blog. If you are a photographer, blog about the photography world and share your own shots! You never know who is going to stumble upon your blog. And at the end of the day, it's really nice to have documented your life.
5. "Spring Clean" Your Room/House: : I loathe cleaning. However, I have found that really tackling my room has been a productive and useful way to spend my day. I have been purging my room of clutter and trash and things that are no longer used or useful. Then I start organizing like a mad woman. It's just really nice to have an uncluttered headquarters here at camp unemployed. I've found some great tips and methods on a few blogs and websites. Let me know if any of you are interested in the links!
Anyways..those are just a few of the ways I've been spending my unemployed days. More to come!
XH5WMYEDYSMR
Wednesday, January 27
A little more about my past and my future goals..
So what is it that I actually want to do?
I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I went to college, like most people I'm sure. I picked Business because it seemed that you could do anything with it. I became bored with Business and didn't see myself in that environment UNTIL I took my first marketing class. I fell in love with marketing, advertising, promotion, and event planning. I thrived on writing marketing plans and business plans for classes. I was so excited with a side of business that could let me be creative and use the skills that I'm naturally good at! I didn't know what "area" I really wanted to do with marketing/advertising but I've always known that it was what I wanted to do. Too bad that everybody wants to do marketing. haha. Then I started thinking that I love fashion and I love books so I wouldn't mind being in either one of those industries. I'm passionate and knowledgeable about them. I've come to realize though that, for now, I'm really fine with doing any sort of marketing/advertising. I just want to learn and I just want to be happy doing what I'm doing in a setting where my skills are important to the business. That being said, I can't really say as of yet, what I'd like to see myself doing in 10 years or what my ultimate career goals are. I haven't even started a career. I just want to get hands on experience in any setting doing marketing or advertising!
The problem with getting a job, for me, has been my resume. It's not the actual format of the resume or anything. It's that it really does not have much on it that shows a company my experience and what I can do and nobody seems to care that I graduated college with a high GPA! Here's my annotated version of my resume (you know..all the things I can't say in an actual resume but want to brag about).
From 2003 and then all throughout college, I was a nanny for an autistic boy and then his younger brother was born with Aspberger's and I was his nanny too. It was a high school nannying job and it was great. I learned so much and during the summers in college I would work for the family 40 hours a week. I've remained close with them and help out whenever I can. This has been a downfall in my career because nobody cares that I was a nanny (although if you worked there you would see it was more than that) for all those years. Yes, I probably should have done something more relevant but I LOVED what I did and I've always been the type to do what I'm passionate about. (TRANSLATION: I'm EXTREMELY loyal, able to multi task like you wouldn't believe, have the utmost patience, and I like a challenge!)
Then I had to do an internship for school in order to graduate. I ended up at a professional photography company and it was wonderful! I was a customer service intern but because it was such a small company I was able to get to learn alot about the marketing and the sales. I did your typical customer service type thing and really excelled. I loved the competitions for signing people up for our yearly service. I just loved learning everything! I would have loved to stay on and move over to marketing (Things I wish I could say on my resume: I was so fabulous that the hired me on full time but due to having a semester left in school I wasn't able to do the 40 hrs/week that they needed me. Then when I graduated they didn't have any positions left..they were actually laying people off!)
Then, upon graduation, out of desperation, I took a job in retail hell. I won't say the name but it is a trendy teen-20's store that is CRAZY busy all the time. It was my first job in retail. The 3rd job I ever held. This job should have been a job I had in high school. It might have been fun then. It was horrible! I went in there to do a job with a very high work ethic and a mentality to do my best! I realized that hard work wasn't really rewarded. Girls who had worked there for YEARS were never promoted because they were "too young" even though a manager that is there was just the same age. Sometimes the girls were promised a position in the future and then they go and hire from OUTSIDE. It was crazy. The hours were crappy along with the pay but worse than that it was a job where you felt like you weren't taken serious and people just liked to make you miserable. The store manager was a JOKE. (My interactions with the other managers and the District Manager were really great though!) She didn't really care about much and was way too lax and didn't hold the standards that needed to be met. She had a horrible leadership style that wasn't effective. I couldn't stand being in an environment where people didn't value hard work and that girls were telling their managers off if they were asked to do something and somehow nobody EVER got fired?! It was insanity! I quit after 8 months..so it is by my own doing that I am not employed essentially. However, sometimes you just have to do what is best for you and I didn't want to be there any longer. It was hard because I'm not a quitter in normal circumstances but I wasn't growing or learning there anymore. There was no value in being there to me. (Things I wish I could point out on my resume: I was offered the manager position there after 6 months but I turned it down due to the fact I really could not handle working with that particular store manager anymore. I couldn't work somewhere that did not value hard work and a place where everything was just a joke. It's unfortunate because I really could have seen myself doing well in that company at the corporate level or even doing visual merchandising since I was always doing things for the visuals anyways..)
Anyways, that's where I'm coming from. I'm not some person that had a good job and got laid off. I know I have to start from the bottom but I want to start from the right place on the bottom. Working jobs that aren't going to get me on the path to my career goals are just not something I'm looking for right now. Everyone has their own standards but those are mine! :)
I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I went to college, like most people I'm sure. I picked Business because it seemed that you could do anything with it. I became bored with Business and didn't see myself in that environment UNTIL I took my first marketing class. I fell in love with marketing, advertising, promotion, and event planning. I thrived on writing marketing plans and business plans for classes. I was so excited with a side of business that could let me be creative and use the skills that I'm naturally good at! I didn't know what "area" I really wanted to do with marketing/advertising but I've always known that it was what I wanted to do. Too bad that everybody wants to do marketing. haha. Then I started thinking that I love fashion and I love books so I wouldn't mind being in either one of those industries. I'm passionate and knowledgeable about them. I've come to realize though that, for now, I'm really fine with doing any sort of marketing/advertising. I just want to learn and I just want to be happy doing what I'm doing in a setting where my skills are important to the business. That being said, I can't really say as of yet, what I'd like to see myself doing in 10 years or what my ultimate career goals are. I haven't even started a career. I just want to get hands on experience in any setting doing marketing or advertising!
The problem with getting a job, for me, has been my resume. It's not the actual format of the resume or anything. It's that it really does not have much on it that shows a company my experience and what I can do and nobody seems to care that I graduated college with a high GPA! Here's my annotated version of my resume (you know..all the things I can't say in an actual resume but want to brag about).
From 2003 and then all throughout college, I was a nanny for an autistic boy and then his younger brother was born with Aspberger's and I was his nanny too. It was a high school nannying job and it was great. I learned so much and during the summers in college I would work for the family 40 hours a week. I've remained close with them and help out whenever I can. This has been a downfall in my career because nobody cares that I was a nanny (although if you worked there you would see it was more than that) for all those years. Yes, I probably should have done something more relevant but I LOVED what I did and I've always been the type to do what I'm passionate about. (TRANSLATION: I'm EXTREMELY loyal, able to multi task like you wouldn't believe, have the utmost patience, and I like a challenge!)
Then I had to do an internship for school in order to graduate. I ended up at a professional photography company and it was wonderful! I was a customer service intern but because it was such a small company I was able to get to learn alot about the marketing and the sales. I did your typical customer service type thing and really excelled. I loved the competitions for signing people up for our yearly service. I just loved learning everything! I would have loved to stay on and move over to marketing (Things I wish I could say on my resume: I was so fabulous that the hired me on full time but due to having a semester left in school I wasn't able to do the 40 hrs/week that they needed me. Then when I graduated they didn't have any positions left..they were actually laying people off!)
Then, upon graduation, out of desperation, I took a job in retail hell. I won't say the name but it is a trendy teen-20's store that is CRAZY busy all the time. It was my first job in retail. The 3rd job I ever held. This job should have been a job I had in high school. It might have been fun then. It was horrible! I went in there to do a job with a very high work ethic and a mentality to do my best! I realized that hard work wasn't really rewarded. Girls who had worked there for YEARS were never promoted because they were "too young" even though a manager that is there was just the same age. Sometimes the girls were promised a position in the future and then they go and hire from OUTSIDE. It was crazy. The hours were crappy along with the pay but worse than that it was a job where you felt like you weren't taken serious and people just liked to make you miserable. The store manager was a JOKE. (My interactions with the other managers and the District Manager were really great though!) She didn't really care about much and was way too lax and didn't hold the standards that needed to be met. She had a horrible leadership style that wasn't effective. I couldn't stand being in an environment where people didn't value hard work and that girls were telling their managers off if they were asked to do something and somehow nobody EVER got fired?! It was insanity! I quit after 8 months..so it is by my own doing that I am not employed essentially. However, sometimes you just have to do what is best for you and I didn't want to be there any longer. It was hard because I'm not a quitter in normal circumstances but I wasn't growing or learning there anymore. There was no value in being there to me. (Things I wish I could point out on my resume: I was offered the manager position there after 6 months but I turned it down due to the fact I really could not handle working with that particular store manager anymore. I couldn't work somewhere that did not value hard work and a place where everything was just a joke. It's unfortunate because I really could have seen myself doing well in that company at the corporate level or even doing visual merchandising since I was always doing things for the visuals anyways..)
Anyways, that's where I'm coming from. I'm not some person that had a good job and got laid off. I know I have to start from the bottom but I want to start from the right place on the bottom. Working jobs that aren't going to get me on the path to my career goals are just not something I'm looking for right now. Everyone has their own standards but those are mine! :)
Tuesday, January 26
Just another fish in the unemployed sea..
except that I am pretty fabulous..and these potential employers are going to find that out! :)
I would have never in my life imagined that after graduating from college I would have been where I am now-unemployed and being rejected day after day for jobs I know that I could do very well. No call backs, no interviews, not even a chance. I also never imagined that I would graduate smack dab in the middle of a really bad recession where the job market is the worst it has been in a long while. I guess I didn't sense the impending doom in the voice of our graduation speaker that day. I remember he talked about hard times in the job market but I didn't think that I applied to me.
I thought it would pretty much go down like this- I graduate from college. I take a little time off to travel. This would entail "finding myself", becoming more of a cultured individual, become free from the shackles of conventional university learning, and just altogether enjoy the merriment of frolicking around Europe as a young, ambitious 23 year old.
I would return from my great adventure relaxed and ready to have some structure again and perhaps a lot more broke than I was before I left. I would start sending my resume out and then the phone calls would come. They would call and request an interview with me and be very excited about what I could bring to the table. I would be overwhelmed at the job offers I received and I would go back and forth on who I would choose. I would eventually choose the one that suited me the most and could become the start to a successful career. It was a wonderful daydream.
But here I am. A year later--unemployed, jaded, feeling like a failure, ready to give up, and deflated to umpteenth power. I was ready to concede. I was. But I realized I have a lot more fight left in me. Thus sparked my mission to land myself a great job in 2010 and to record it as a way to keep myself accountable and to possibly give encouragement to others in the same situation.
What is your story?
I would have never in my life imagined that after graduating from college I would have been where I am now-unemployed and being rejected day after day for jobs I know that I could do very well. No call backs, no interviews, not even a chance. I also never imagined that I would graduate smack dab in the middle of a really bad recession where the job market is the worst it has been in a long while. I guess I didn't sense the impending doom in the voice of our graduation speaker that day. I remember he talked about hard times in the job market but I didn't think that I applied to me.
I thought it would pretty much go down like this- I graduate from college. I take a little time off to travel. This would entail "finding myself", becoming more of a cultured individual, become free from the shackles of conventional university learning, and just altogether enjoy the merriment of frolicking around Europe as a young, ambitious 23 year old.
I would return from my great adventure relaxed and ready to have some structure again and perhaps a lot more broke than I was before I left. I would start sending my resume out and then the phone calls would come. They would call and request an interview with me and be very excited about what I could bring to the table. I would be overwhelmed at the job offers I received and I would go back and forth on who I would choose. I would eventually choose the one that suited me the most and could become the start to a successful career. It was a wonderful daydream.
But here I am. A year later--unemployed, jaded, feeling like a failure, ready to give up, and deflated to umpteenth power. I was ready to concede. I was. But I realized I have a lot more fight left in me. Thus sparked my mission to land myself a great job in 2010 and to record it as a way to keep myself accountable and to possibly give encouragement to others in the same situation.
What is your story?
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