According to my new career counseller, Jerry, it does anway.
On Friday I met with Jerry for the first time. (Little known fact...the NY Library offers career services for free. All you have to do is make an appointment and get a library card). He went over everything about my resume to how I can "sell: myslef in 2 minutes. Apparently mumbling and looking around fiddling with my hair, which is what I normally do when talking about my self is not going to land me a job.
Jerry was surprising helpful. He actually to the time to read my resume, and go over it with me...leaving a lot of the figuring out to do myself, he at least put me on the proper path. I say surprisingly, because I've tried using city resources before in my job search and all it turned out to be was a long bus ride, a super crowded office and just all around cluster fuck. Friday's experience was much more beneficial then I had originally thought.
Jerry gave me some exercises to try before rewriting my resume. Seven Stories was the first. I need to some up with 25 things I have done in my life that I was good at, successful at or enjoyed. It was harder then I thought. I made it to 23 things this monring and my answers included "Listening." I'm going to give it another go before I attempte resume number 3,458.
If it's not too embarrassing, I'll post it.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
I've been thinking...
I love to write. I've kept a journal since I was 8 years old. I majored in Journalism in college. If desperation is the mother of invention, then I should be on par with whoever came up with the helmet with beer can holders and Velcro sneakers.
I've decided to use this blog to start documenting my job search. From what I have heard from other disgruntled unemployed is that all the positive energy in the world won't always help and what people really want is a place to vent their frustration and anger.
While crying my eyes yesterday I had an idea. But I'll get to that.
Since being laid of, my finances have not been anywhere close to what they were. Once I pay my rent and bills, I'm pretty damn broke. Most of my time is spent job hunting, walking my dogs, more job hunting, and the occasional on line date. Pretty exciting. Now I'm going to try something new.
Since Craig's List isn't exactly the best place to find and actual job, I'm going to use it as a meeting ground for other UNemployees like myself.
My idea is to try and create a once a month meeting, and by meeting I mean drinking event. I'm going to post an ad suggesting an event where anyone who replies can meet at a designated location for drinks and camaraderie. We can get together and bitch, meet some new people, network and just get out of our apartments.
I have no idea if this is going to work. I have no idea if my post will have any kind of response at all, but I don't really have anything to lose. The worst that could possibly happen is I wind up drinking with a few friends on the suggested evening and go home. Either way, I still get to go out.
That's my big plan. Maybe this is supposed to be my path, maybe I could turn this random idea into a job, or at least, something that could help me find a job or help someone else find a job.
I've decided to use this blog to start documenting my job search. From what I have heard from other disgruntled unemployed is that all the positive energy in the world won't always help and what people really want is a place to vent their frustration and anger.
While crying my eyes yesterday I had an idea. But I'll get to that.
Since being laid of, my finances have not been anywhere close to what they were. Once I pay my rent and bills, I'm pretty damn broke. Most of my time is spent job hunting, walking my dogs, more job hunting, and the occasional on line date. Pretty exciting. Now I'm going to try something new.
Since Craig's List isn't exactly the best place to find and actual job, I'm going to use it as a meeting ground for other UNemployees like myself.
My idea is to try and create a once a month meeting, and by meeting I mean drinking event. I'm going to post an ad suggesting an event where anyone who replies can meet at a designated location for drinks and camaraderie. We can get together and bitch, meet some new people, network and just get out of our apartments.
I have no idea if this is going to work. I have no idea if my post will have any kind of response at all, but I don't really have anything to lose. The worst that could possibly happen is I wind up drinking with a few friends on the suggested evening and go home. Either way, I still get to go out.
That's my big plan. Maybe this is supposed to be my path, maybe I could turn this random idea into a job, or at least, something that could help me find a job or help someone else find a job.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Job Hunting
Post number 1 was a complete fantasy. Losing my job, has this far, been one of the suckier things that has happened to me. Things could be worse, I realize, but they could be better too.
I thought about removing my first blog. I've decided to let it remain as a grim reminder of what getting what you wish for actually means. I've been unemployed for 6 months. I have exhausted all of my unemployment benefits. I'm broke. I'm broke and living in New York City.
And there isn't much I can do about it.
That's what kills me. I feel like I have done everything that I am supposed to do. I have at least 4 different resumes, 3 cover letters, my resume is posted on 2 job boards and I'm pretty sure I'm developing a back problem sitting at my computer all day in a shitty kitchen chair because I can't afford to buy something decent.
"Stay positive." "Send out good energy to the universe." "Just keeping moving forward." I am really trying to do all of these things, but eventually reality has to set in. I send out at least 4 to 8 resumes per day. I have Google stalked former bosses and co-workers for networking purposes. I have done an internship. Nothing seems to be working in my favor.
I even took a rather humiliating bus ride into downtown Brooklyn to a career office and the best jobs that had were retail associates at Victoria's Secret.
The idea of discount bras is appealing, the 2 day bra fitting class is not.
It's almost become funny. I'm not alone in my frustrations or panic. I have about 10% of the US population on my side (depending on which unemployment statistics you read/ believe).
My sister informed me that her office is looking for a receptionist. For 27K a year, her company received 800 resumes.
8-fucking-hundred! How in the hell does on compete with that? Craig's List is a joke. How in the hell am I supposed to follow up with xzy25870966yo@craigslist.com ? Who is that person? Did I just send my resume to some prostitute in Albania who is now using my information to land a Customer Service job at the Gap, who in order to cut costs outsourced a million jobs overeseas?!?!?!
I just keep trying.
I thought about removing my first blog. I've decided to let it remain as a grim reminder of what getting what you wish for actually means. I've been unemployed for 6 months. I have exhausted all of my unemployment benefits. I'm broke. I'm broke and living in New York City.
And there isn't much I can do about it.
That's what kills me. I feel like I have done everything that I am supposed to do. I have at least 4 different resumes, 3 cover letters, my resume is posted on 2 job boards and I'm pretty sure I'm developing a back problem sitting at my computer all day in a shitty kitchen chair because I can't afford to buy something decent.
"Stay positive." "Send out good energy to the universe." "Just keeping moving forward." I am really trying to do all of these things, but eventually reality has to set in. I send out at least 4 to 8 resumes per day. I have Google stalked former bosses and co-workers for networking purposes. I have done an internship. Nothing seems to be working in my favor.
I even took a rather humiliating bus ride into downtown Brooklyn to a career office and the best jobs that had were retail associates at Victoria's Secret.
The idea of discount bras is appealing, the 2 day bra fitting class is not.
It's almost become funny. I'm not alone in my frustrations or panic. I have about 10% of the US population on my side (depending on which unemployment statistics you read/ believe).
My sister informed me that her office is looking for a receptionist. For 27K a year, her company received 800 resumes.
8-fucking-hundred! How in the hell does on compete with that? Craig's List is a joke. How in the hell am I supposed to follow up with xzy25870966yo@craigslist.com ? Who is that person? Did I just send my resume to some prostitute in Albania who is now using my information to land a Customer Service job at the Gap, who in order to cut costs outsourced a million jobs overeseas?!?!?!
I just keep trying.
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