11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
Researchers' Symosium December 3
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Sharon Jaskula, VALF Advisory Board member, is inviting you to the following free workshop.
The Florida Literacy Coalition, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Literacy Council of Jacksonville are proud to host a Researchers’ Symposium focusing on Workplace Education, Writing Strategies, Comprehension Skills, and Transitioning Learners to Post-Secondary Education. Researchers from universities across the country will be on hand to share best practices and new approaches.
Please join us on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00-5:00 for this free event at the Jacksonville Public Library (Conference Level Auditorium). Registration is required; the registration link to the pdf with a list of presenters and session descriptions below.
For more information, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition (800-237-5113) or visit www.floridaliteracy.org
For more information and to register...
The Florida Literacy Coalition, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Literacy Council of Jacksonville are proud to host a Researchers’ Symposium focusing on Workplace Education, Writing Strategies, Comprehension Skills, and Transitioning Learners to Post-Secondary Education. Researchers from universities across the country will be on hand to share best practices and new approaches.
Please join us on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00-5:00 for this free event at the Jacksonville Public Library (Conference Level Auditorium). Registration is required; the registration link to the pdf with a list of presenters and session descriptions below.
For more information, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition (800-237-5113) or visit www.floridaliteracy.org
For more information and to register...
Routines to Savor Time
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Both times I've been unemployed it took me three months to find a new job. Three months is both a short and long amount of time. Short enough to live low on unemployment, severance, and savings. Long enough to tackle a dream...that is, if you allow yourself to savor the time.
Savoring time may seem obvious if you've never been unemployed, but it can be a huge mental hurdle to jump. Thoughts run through your mind like a news ticker "Why aren't they calling...How long can I wait to make a payment...What am I doing with my life...Am I ever going to have a paycheck again...Need to write a cover letter...Why aren't they calling?!#$%"
That's why I'm an advocate for developing routines to savor time (RTST). First off, RTST are a much needed distraction from the voices in your head. Second, they introduce a sense of meaning and accomplishment back into your life. Third, they keep you in the present (away from the pain of the past and fear of the future).
When developing your RTST, consider what could improve your life overall. What have you dreamed about doing but always dismissed because you "don't have time"? That's no longer a valid excuse. You have TIME! And if you're going to be unemployed for 3+ months, what could you do with that time that would have a positive impact on your life...even when you start a new job?
My routines included: exercise 3x week; clean house 1x week; walk dog slowly w/ mug of coffee at 8:30am & watch everyone else cram into their cars to go to work 4x week; keep my daughter home from daycare 1x week and go to museums, parks, visit friends; write a poem everyday 7x week, for one month; see a matinee 1x week.
Here's your homework. Make a list of potential RTST. Don't censor yourself. Write the first things that come to mind. You can use the categories below to get started.
Write a Novel in One Month: The National Novel Writing Month website has tools & tips on how thousands of people have written a novel (50,000 words) in the space of one month.
Muscular Body in One Month: Read how Four Hour Work Week author Tim Ferriss went from skinny to muscular in four weeks (plus the pictures to prove it!)
Clean Your Entire Home in One Hour: Great article on Associated Content site with strategy for cleaning your entire house in one hour.
Savoring time may seem obvious if you've never been unemployed, but it can be a huge mental hurdle to jump. Thoughts run through your mind like a news ticker "Why aren't they calling...How long can I wait to make a payment...What am I doing with my life...Am I ever going to have a paycheck again...Need to write a cover letter...Why aren't they calling?!#$%"
That's why I'm an advocate for developing routines to savor time (RTST). First off, RTST are a much needed distraction from the voices in your head. Second, they introduce a sense of meaning and accomplishment back into your life. Third, they keep you in the present (away from the pain of the past and fear of the future).
When developing your RTST, consider what could improve your life overall. What have you dreamed about doing but always dismissed because you "don't have time"? That's no longer a valid excuse. You have TIME! And if you're going to be unemployed for 3+ months, what could you do with that time that would have a positive impact on your life...even when you start a new job?
My routines included: exercise 3x week; clean house 1x week; walk dog slowly w/ mug of coffee at 8:30am & watch everyone else cram into their cars to go to work 4x week; keep my daughter home from daycare 1x week and go to museums, parks, visit friends; write a poem everyday 7x week, for one month; see a matinee 1x week.
Here's your homework. Make a list of potential RTST. Don't censor yourself. Write the first things that come to mind. You can use the categories below to get started.
- Creative (life long goals & aspirations)
- Practical (cleaning, home repair...)
- Fun (exercise, playdates, day trips, matinees...)
Write a Novel in One Month: The National Novel Writing Month website has tools & tips on how thousands of people have written a novel (50,000 words) in the space of one month.
Muscular Body in One Month: Read how Four Hour Work Week author Tim Ferriss went from skinny to muscular in four weeks (plus the pictures to prove it!)
Clean Your Entire Home in One Hour: Great article on Associated Content site with strategy for cleaning your entire house in one hour.
The Expert: Rob Taub, RésuméPro Plus
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Well, here's a real treat. Rob Taub, veteran job search consultant and creator of RésuméPro Plus took some time out of his busy schedule for a Q&A on best practices. In addition to his impressive credentials, he's also my uncle and someone I've turned to for expert career advice since entering the work force. Believe me when I say: he's the real deal. Here's the skinny on resume writing, networking, layoffs and more, from a pro!
You started your career as a teacher. What was the catalyst for your transition to career consulting?
Oddly enough I answered an ad in the Boston Globe that read, “Sales Opportunity - “work in a beautiful office, talk with professionals all day, make good money and never make a cold-call”. That was 23 years ago.
What is the most common mistake you see people make on resumes?
(a) Leaving off an objective and (b) putting in a self-serving objective: Let me explain.
I liken the objective on a resume to the title on a book cover. If the title read “Indy 500” you would assume that it has something to do with racing; even if only the backdrop. You wouldn’t have to read through several pages to know. In fact, you may never have picked up that book in the first place; especially when there are so many other books on the shelf with titles, saving you time and guess work. With regard to “self-serving” objectives, such an objective might read like this: “Looking for a growth opportunity in a growth organization that will utilize my skills and experience and provide opportunity for advancement” Duh! … Who isn’t?
Now more than ever, companies need to make smart moves and hire good people. Companies need to see how you can help them advance their agendas not your own. Candidates need to target their assets to the employer’s needs. It begins with “Positioning” the product and that starts at the very top of your resume with the objective.
CV or Resume: what's the difference and does it matter?
CV is a history of where you’ve been and what you’ve done; the Resume is the potential you have for where you are going and what you will be doing. CV’s are mostly used for Federal, Institutional and Academic positions; and all too often mistakenly used for private openings when a Functional resume would be more effective. By the way, there are 10 different resume styles of which Functional is only one; Chronological is another.
When a company asks for applicants to include a salary range on their resume, what's your best move?
Include it. If you don’t you will be automatically disqualified. Most people try to get around because if they’re too low they’ll be disqualified or if too high, too, they’ll be disqualified; nonetheless you have some chance. Leave it out? “Auto-disqualifier” – no chance, nothing…nada…nil…nichts…neit…何
When writing a cover letter, should you go for the hard sell or stick to the facts?
I would have to settle somewhere in the middle. You do want to “sell”, but not “hard”; and you want to sell using facts – concrete info that positions you as a viable candidate, for example you may say in the middle of your cover letter, “Some of the skills I developed over the years that would be of benefit in a college teaching/administration capacity would include the following:
-
Solid professional presence and significant relationship development experience
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Administration, staff development and operations management
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Highly perceptive in ascertaining individual and group needs
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(Etc…)
Is it better to email or snail mail a "thank you" note?
It really depends on who it is that will be receiving it. Similar to resumes … what’s the best resume format to use? Depends on who will be reading it. Also remember that every contact including rejections should receive a “thank you”. You might want to consider as a rule of thumb, to send a hand-written “thank you” (regular mail) to those who reject you. All your other contacts are on going while these are ending. If you respond with something relevant, professional and memorable (which in this digital age may very well be a hand-written “thank you”), you may keep the door open for another day.
How have social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter changed the job hunt?
70% of your time in a job search should be spent networking. (Limit the time you spend applying online to 1 hour a day). Making and staying in touch with networking contacts is a must. Social networking like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc. are great portholes because you can network without drawing attention to the fact that you are looking for a job! To be most effective you must make sure your updates on these sites are full of valuable ideas and resources for the readers.
What's been your best moment as a career consultant?
Everyday is filled with some really great moments. Everyday you help someone; and when they know it, they let YOU know it.
If you could give job seekers one piece of advice, what would it be?Something I read just this morning! “By believing passionately in something that (still) does not exist, we create it. The non-existent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired” –Nikos Kazantzakis
Ok - ok … something less esoteric then: I said it on my blog the other day – When communicating with others, don’t make them plow through jargon. If they understand it they’re unimpressed; if they don’t, they’ll take out a book and read.
Any other advice?
I guess I’d go with the Four P’s I invented back in the day: “Prepare to Practice Patience or P_ _ _off”. The impatient person (a) speaks without thinking and (b) is less likely to listen and consequently will miss all the signals.
And, finally, since this is a blog about layoffs, have you ever been laid off? If so, what were your "lessons learned" from the experience?
Yes, 3 times in 4 years; and the biggest lesson learned, years later, is that you shouldn’t take it personally EVEN IF resultant of personal differences or personality conflict.
Other lessons learned? Unemployment can leave plenty of space on your calendar. I learned that unless you’re careful, free time can be squandered easily, and important momentum will be lost.
A layoff is also the perfect time to assess where you belong (specific industry, job function, company culture); most people never do. Many employed professionals are misaligned in their careers but lack the time or energy to do something about it. Unemployment frees you up to give full attention to defining what it is, clearly, that you CAN and WANT to do, WITH WHOM, for HOW MUCH and to WHAT END.
Finally, there’s a temptation after you’ve been laid-off to take a time off to spend with family or to take on projects or go on vacation. DON’T DO IT! DON’T DO IT! The longer it takes for you to return to the marketplace, the harder it’ll be.
***
For expert advice on resumes, interviewing and more visit Rob Taub online at RésuméPro Plus and the blog Job Searching With Rob.
Talking With Strangers
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Networking is a euphemism for talking with strangers. Even if you work in a field where cold calls are the norm, like I do, it's still hard. But like most tasks that are uncomfortable, this one yields high rewards. Your best opportunity to talk with strangers (TWS) during a job search is the informational interview. Of these, you should be prepared to take advantage of passive leads (friend: "I know someone you should meet...") and proactive leads (you research and "make" connections.)
TWS Passive Leads
The easiest way to start TWS is offers from friends, family, and former colleagues. The strangers they'll introduce you to are more akin to distant relatives than strangers. First things first, research makes TWS much easier.
Think of this stranger as a gatekeeper to an unknown world. Your assignment during the interview is to find out what your stranger's world looks like (who lives there, what's the work like, how's the pay scale, what are the local customs?) Does this world excite you? Do you want to live in it? If the answer is "yes" then your next assignment is to convert stranger to friend.
Use clues garnered from the first part of your interview to translate your skills & experience into your stranger's world. Discuss how you could fit the picture. Ideally, this will lead to the words "We need someone like you to... " or, "I know someone who..."
TWS Proactive Lead
Once you've mastered passive leads, try a cold call or two. This involves some soul searching though, so start by making these lists (see my posting Informational Interviews & Dream Jobs for additional background):
1) What are your dream jobs?
2) What issues do you care about?
3) What organizations and/or people have the dream jobs you described in question 1 and/or work with the issues you described in question 2?
4) What is your dream salary?
Next, go online and research contact information for the people who have your dream jobs (ask friends & relatives if they have contacts in this line of work). The final step: pick up the phone and call!
You'll have to be persistent. You may have to call multiple times. But it will be worth it if you get some time on the phone, or even better, face time (always ask for face time!).
When my husband was in college he wrote a book for his senior thesis. The #1 person he wanted to interview for the book was Alan Ball (writer/producer of American Beauty and, later, Six Feet Under). My husband called Ball's assistant diligently for months before he finally landed the interview. Was it worth it? Hell yeah.
Put simply, you have absolutely nothing to loose and everything to gain. When you set your goals high, you might just achieve more than you ever thought imaginable.
TWS Passive Leads
The easiest way to start TWS is offers from friends, family, and former colleagues. The strangers they'll introduce you to are more akin to distant relatives than strangers. First things first, research makes TWS much easier.
- Play 20 questions w/ your friend (know how they know each other)
- Read the company website (bare minimum: "About" page and "Careers" page)
- Google/news search the company the morning of the interview (in case of major news)
- Google search name of contact for context only (don't ever reveal to a contact that you've done this or mention personal information you might have found online)
Think of this stranger as a gatekeeper to an unknown world. Your assignment during the interview is to find out what your stranger's world looks like (who lives there, what's the work like, how's the pay scale, what are the local customs?) Does this world excite you? Do you want to live in it? If the answer is "yes" then your next assignment is to convert stranger to friend.
Use clues garnered from the first part of your interview to translate your skills & experience into your stranger's world. Discuss how you could fit the picture. Ideally, this will lead to the words "We need someone like you to... " or, "I know someone who..."
TWS Proactive Lead
Once you've mastered passive leads, try a cold call or two. This involves some soul searching though, so start by making these lists (see my posting Informational Interviews & Dream Jobs for additional background):
1) What are your dream jobs?
2) What issues do you care about?
3) What organizations and/or people have the dream jobs you described in question 1 and/or work with the issues you described in question 2?
4) What is your dream salary?
Next, go online and research contact information for the people who have your dream jobs (ask friends & relatives if they have contacts in this line of work). The final step: pick up the phone and call!
You'll have to be persistent. You may have to call multiple times. But it will be worth it if you get some time on the phone, or even better, face time (always ask for face time!).
When my husband was in college he wrote a book for his senior thesis. The #1 person he wanted to interview for the book was Alan Ball (writer/producer of American Beauty and, later, Six Feet Under). My husband called Ball's assistant diligently for months before he finally landed the interview. Was it worth it? Hell yeah.
Put simply, you have absolutely nothing to loose and everything to gain. When you set your goals high, you might just achieve more than you ever thought imaginable.
The jobs I didn't get
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My husband often makes fun of me because I'm constantly cataloging events of the past and infusing them with meaning. Case in point: jobs I didn't get. There are several jobs in my career history that I applied for and really felt I should have gotten, but did not. In each case "not getting the job" paved the way for a bigger, better, or more interesting opportunities. Coincidence? You decide...
The first time around, I was a 22 year old promotion assistant at a TV station in Boston. After about a year on the job, I saw a listing for a position in the station's LA branch writing descriptions of TV for the blind. As a creative writing major and TV lover, I instantly thought it was the perfect job for me. Plus, I was dying to leave Boston. I interofficed my resume to HR and gave my boss a heads-up that I might be leaving soon (cocky, right?). A few weeks passed and nothing. Then, the job's no longer posted. Then, I found out someone else in my department got the job. So, I stayed in Boston and a mere two months later met my future husband at a birthday party (hey, it would have been impossible to attend if I was living in LA).
Next time around, I was a 25 year old cultural arts publicist looking for a new job (preferably one that did not mandate grueling weekend & night performance duty in addition to 9-5 office hours). I applied for a PR position at a local hospital. Made it past two rounds of interviews and felt primed to go all the way. Sent endearing, perfect thank-you cards to all involved. Two weeks later I found out they picked the other finalist. Darn. But then four weeks later, I was offered a PR job at another TV station. where I really wanted to be.
And finally there was last year, I was a 29 year old laid off mom pining over a position at a national broadcast agency. The job description felt like I had written it myself, that's how closely aligned it was with my goals and experience, but what I didn't realize (what I couldn't have known) was that the job was specific for a reason: they had an internal candidate. I didn't even make it past the first interview. The afternoon I got the email was one of my lowest in the job hunt. But (as mentioned in a previous post) a mere five hours later I was offered an invitation to apply for a position as COO of a multimedia non-profit. And you know where that got me...
In short, the universe acts in mysterious ways. Sometimes you just have to accept that what seems like the right fit, is not. There's something else in store for you.
The first time around, I was a 22 year old promotion assistant at a TV station in Boston. After about a year on the job, I saw a listing for a position in the station's LA branch writing descriptions of TV for the blind. As a creative writing major and TV lover, I instantly thought it was the perfect job for me. Plus, I was dying to leave Boston. I interofficed my resume to HR and gave my boss a heads-up that I might be leaving soon (cocky, right?). A few weeks passed and nothing. Then, the job's no longer posted. Then, I found out someone else in my department got the job. So, I stayed in Boston and a mere two months later met my future husband at a birthday party (hey, it would have been impossible to attend if I was living in LA).
Next time around, I was a 25 year old cultural arts publicist looking for a new job (preferably one that did not mandate grueling weekend & night performance duty in addition to 9-5 office hours). I applied for a PR position at a local hospital. Made it past two rounds of interviews and felt primed to go all the way. Sent endearing, perfect thank-you cards to all involved. Two weeks later I found out they picked the other finalist. Darn. But then four weeks later, I was offered a PR job at another TV station. where I really wanted to be.
And finally there was last year, I was a 29 year old laid off mom pining over a position at a national broadcast agency. The job description felt like I had written it myself, that's how closely aligned it was with my goals and experience, but what I didn't realize (what I couldn't have known) was that the job was specific for a reason: they had an internal candidate. I didn't even make it past the first interview. The afternoon I got the email was one of my lowest in the job hunt. But (as mentioned in a previous post) a mere five hours later I was offered an invitation to apply for a position as COO of a multimedia non-profit. And you know where that got me...
In short, the universe acts in mysterious ways. Sometimes you just have to accept that what seems like the right fit, is not. There's something else in store for you.
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
Transition = Creativity
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Today I was feeling absolutely giddy. The spring weather teamed with daylight savings meant one thing: change. And it made me realize something, it's not just spring that I feel this about. I also love the transition from spring to summer, summer to fall and fall to winter. I love the change from day to night and night to day. The transition from high school to college, college to work, from one city to another, and from job to job.
Some transitions last only a few minutes (bye-bye sun), others take a month or so (hello spring!), and still others take a few months (where's my new office?) Transition, in my experience, has been a huge opportunity for creativity. Take for instance, my pregnancy -- sort of the ultimate 9+ month transition -- during which I got a masters degree, worked full time, and wrote a collection of poetry. There's just something about the uncertainly that makes me more alive. When I'm outside, I hear the birds, I notice the miniature purple flowers in the grass, I smell the thawing earth. The old routines are gone and so I am forced to step outside of my experience.
That's part of the reason why I find unemployment so interesting. As Rob Taub pointed out in our Q&A last week, "A layoff is the perfect time to assess where you belong... most people never do. Many employed professionals are misaligned in their careers but lack the time or energy to do something about it. Unemployment frees you up to give full attention to defining what it is, clearly, that you CAN and WANT to do, WITH WHOM, for HOW MUCH and to WHAT END."
Unemployment (especially in the form of a layoff) is a gift that some people will never experience. When I look back at the past year and how much I've learned as a result of having to find a new job -- and then transition into a new job -- it's overwhelming. Had I stayed in the same place, my experiences would be no where near as diverse.
So, if you're unemployed right now, free yourself to fully embrace the uncertainty. Take advantage of it. Use it. Sit in it. Let it thrill you a little. Let it scare you even. Let it do what it will to get you to the next place.
And in the meantime, pick up a novel or memoir for motivation. Travel literature, for instance, is all about transition, living on the edge of uncertainly, excitement and creativity...
Some transitions last only a few minutes (bye-bye sun), others take a month or so (hello spring!), and still others take a few months (where's my new office?) Transition, in my experience, has been a huge opportunity for creativity. Take for instance, my pregnancy -- sort of the ultimate 9+ month transition -- during which I got a masters degree, worked full time, and wrote a collection of poetry. There's just something about the uncertainly that makes me more alive. When I'm outside, I hear the birds, I notice the miniature purple flowers in the grass, I smell the thawing earth. The old routines are gone and so I am forced to step outside of my experience.
That's part of the reason why I find unemployment so interesting. As Rob Taub pointed out in our Q&A last week, "A layoff is the perfect time to assess where you belong... most people never do. Many employed professionals are misaligned in their careers but lack the time or energy to do something about it. Unemployment frees you up to give full attention to defining what it is, clearly, that you CAN and WANT to do, WITH WHOM, for HOW MUCH and to WHAT END."
Unemployment (especially in the form of a layoff) is a gift that some people will never experience. When I look back at the past year and how much I've learned as a result of having to find a new job -- and then transition into a new job -- it's overwhelming. Had I stayed in the same place, my experiences would be no where near as diverse.
So, if you're unemployed right now, free yourself to fully embrace the uncertainty. Take advantage of it. Use it. Sit in it. Let it thrill you a little. Let it scare you even. Let it do what it will to get you to the next place.
And in the meantime, pick up a novel or memoir for motivation. Travel literature, for instance, is all about transition, living on the edge of uncertainly, excitement and creativity...
- Don Quijote : The first novel, ever. A coincidence that it's also one of the all time best books about transition & travel? I think not.
- On The Road: Makes travel seem very affordable: loaf of bread + salami = enough food to cross America. Well, maybe only if you're Jack Kerouac.
- Candy Freak: Travel + vintage candy = Steve Almond classic. Any book w/ jacket copy like this is worth a read, "...explores the role candy plays in our lives as both source of pleasure and escape from pain."
- Eat, Pray, Love: Elizabeth Gilbert makes transition look devilishly fun without loosing its sense of uncertainty. She keeps it real.
Online Brand: Own Your Experiences
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There are quite a few articles and posts out there about protecting your online brand. Between social networking sites, blogs, and personal websites potential employers have more power than ever to investigate your personal life & habits. There's also a lot of fear surrounding this fact. People have become hyper paranoid about being tagged with an inappropriate photo or viewed enjoying an esoteric hobby. Well, I have some atypical advice: accept it, own it, move on. How did I come to this realization?
About five minutes into a second interview at a PR firm, I was introduced to the CEO as Katie the "bellydancer." This was not information I had shared, nor would I have cared to share it. I had actually Googled my name before the interview. What I didn't realize is that, because I was logged into Gmail, Google showed me different results than my interviewer. Logged out of Gmail, the first result of the search was my former bellydancing website cached, with photos. (At the time of the interview I hadn't danced in a year, and had no plans of returning to it).
What to do when your alter ego shows up at an interview? Invite her in from the cold. Once the cat's out of the bag, there's no denying the fact: you are a human being with a life outside of work. Is that such a bad thing? While it may depend on the job...and the alter ego...I tend to think these instances can make you more memorable as a candidate.
That said, don't let an alter ego catch you off guard. Blushing, nervousness, or any behavior that hints at embarrassment will make you look bad. One thing I had in my pocket? I'd written a business school application essay on lessons learned as a dancer. So, when it's come up (and yes, it has reared its head several times) I can speak with confidence about how bellydancing made me a stronger negotiator, public speaker and manager.
There's always the chance that your alter ego will prevent you from getting the job. But, you might ask yourself in that case, was the job really "you"? If you can't be your most genuine self at a company, it probably isn't worth working there. As a side, note, I did get offered the job at the PR agency, but I didn't take it. It just didn't seem like a place where I would feel comfortable being myself.
Okay. Homework. If you have a hobby, alter ego, or any other potentially embarrassing information about yourself online -- brainstorm possible questions from an employer. Then write a list of how your online persona has helped you develop as a professional. What about that experience will make you a stronger candidate for a position? Next, practice saying it out loud (I *love* the car for these conversations). Get to the point where you can speak with confidence and ease.
And if you're still paranoid? Read Network World's "13 Ways to Boost Your Online Reputation" . Actually, this is a great article to read, even if you're not paranoid!
About five minutes into a second interview at a PR firm, I was introduced to the CEO as Katie the "bellydancer." This was not information I had shared, nor would I have cared to share it. I had actually Googled my name before the interview. What I didn't realize is that, because I was logged into Gmail, Google showed me different results than my interviewer. Logged out of Gmail, the first result of the search was my former bellydancing website cached, with photos. (At the time of the interview I hadn't danced in a year, and had no plans of returning to it).
What to do when your alter ego shows up at an interview? Invite her in from the cold. Once the cat's out of the bag, there's no denying the fact: you are a human being with a life outside of work. Is that such a bad thing? While it may depend on the job...and the alter ego...I tend to think these instances can make you more memorable as a candidate.
That said, don't let an alter ego catch you off guard. Blushing, nervousness, or any behavior that hints at embarrassment will make you look bad. One thing I had in my pocket? I'd written a business school application essay on lessons learned as a dancer. So, when it's come up (and yes, it has reared its head several times) I can speak with confidence about how bellydancing made me a stronger negotiator, public speaker and manager.
There's always the chance that your alter ego will prevent you from getting the job. But, you might ask yourself in that case, was the job really "you"? If you can't be your most genuine self at a company, it probably isn't worth working there. As a side, note, I did get offered the job at the PR agency, but I didn't take it. It just didn't seem like a place where I would feel comfortable being myself.
Okay. Homework. If you have a hobby, alter ego, or any other potentially embarrassing information about yourself online -- brainstorm possible questions from an employer. Then write a list of how your online persona has helped you develop as a professional. What about that experience will make you a stronger candidate for a position? Next, practice saying it out loud (I *love* the car for these conversations). Get to the point where you can speak with confidence and ease.
And if you're still paranoid? Read Network World's "13 Ways to Boost Your Online Reputation" . Actually, this is a great article to read, even if you're not paranoid!
Bad Day
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Well, it's pretty rare, but even I have bad days. Today was one of them. Nothing seemed quite "right" today. And I'm not going to blame situations. It was me. By about noon, I was feeling contracted, defeated, and depressed. So, I went across the street for a cup of tea. Then, with tea in hand, I started to journal through my frustration. Writing always makes me feel better. Whatever situation is troubling me starts to loose its power as it enters the page.
And it got me thinking, what exactly is a "bad day"? How could a "day" be "bad"? Shouldn't every day be appreciated? Shouldn't every day be loved and tended to as something precious? Something rare even? Now I'm going to get a little esoteric and say that I feel all the elements that make me "me" have waited billions and billions of years to live this very day. It will never return again. And here I am wasting it! Calling it "bad" when I should be honoring it.
And as I was pondering this, I started to feel myself expand. Leaving the coffee shop, I looked at the people I passed and smiled -- my lungs filled with air and released their worry out into the wind -- the day was light and the world brimming with possibility again, opportunity ripe for the taking. This was not a "bad day" it was a "day" and there were still many things I could do to make it a wonderful day, and exciting day, an outstanding day -- to do justice to the opportunity to live a day such as this -- to walk out any number of doors -- not into war or rain or famine -- but into serene white clouds, people respectful of each other, soft cool breezes tickling my hair.
This blog is about embracing a layoff, but it's also about embracing the unknown, living in the moment, and engineering more opportunity via optimism. This does not mean, however, that it's always the easy choice. It would have been easier to blame people or situations. It would have been easier to throw a fit. It would have been easier to eat a box of donuts or drink a double espresso. The hard work is realizing and appreciating what is and loving the small moments of the day when truth reveals itself to you. Often it is the "bad" days that give us the most opportunity to seize the moment and learn from our frustration.
So, in honor of "bad days" and Friday the 13th, I challenge you to convert a "bad day" back into a "day" where anything and everything is possible (as it is).
And it got me thinking, what exactly is a "bad day"? How could a "day" be "bad"? Shouldn't every day be appreciated? Shouldn't every day be loved and tended to as something precious? Something rare even? Now I'm going to get a little esoteric and say that I feel all the elements that make me "me" have waited billions and billions of years to live this very day. It will never return again. And here I am wasting it! Calling it "bad" when I should be honoring it.
And as I was pondering this, I started to feel myself expand. Leaving the coffee shop, I looked at the people I passed and smiled -- my lungs filled with air and released their worry out into the wind -- the day was light and the world brimming with possibility again, opportunity ripe for the taking. This was not a "bad day" it was a "day" and there were still many things I could do to make it a wonderful day, and exciting day, an outstanding day -- to do justice to the opportunity to live a day such as this -- to walk out any number of doors -- not into war or rain or famine -- but into serene white clouds, people respectful of each other, soft cool breezes tickling my hair.
This blog is about embracing a layoff, but it's also about embracing the unknown, living in the moment, and engineering more opportunity via optimism. This does not mean, however, that it's always the easy choice. It would have been easier to blame people or situations. It would have been easier to throw a fit. It would have been easier to eat a box of donuts or drink a double espresso. The hard work is realizing and appreciating what is and loving the small moments of the day when truth reveals itself to you. Often it is the "bad" days that give us the most opportunity to seize the moment and learn from our frustration.
So, in honor of "bad days" and Friday the 13th, I challenge you to convert a "bad day" back into a "day" where anything and everything is possible (as it is).
- Change scenes -- get up from where you're sitting and find a peaceful spot...whether that's your bath tub, a walk around the block, a library, a convenient store, a park...wherever you feel you can release yourself from your worries and fear for a moment. Write, drink a cup of tea, read something inspirational, stare at the rows of soda bottles or books or gum. Or simply close your eyes, sit, and be in the moment.
- Take a deep breath and say to yourself, "I'm having a hard time, but I know that this is temporary and that I will feel better eventually. There must be something of value today."
- Think about the opportunity surrounding you. What would make this a "good day"? Is there something exciting you could do? Is there something nice you could do for yourself or someone else? Would a change in environment help? Would a change in projects or focus help? Would seeing or talking to someone you love help?
- Acknowledge the world around you. Hear something. Smell something. See something. Taste something. Ask yourself if you are in pain right now. If you're not in pain, are you in joy? Is there something you could find joy in right now? Something small? Something huge? Could you see one thing today and appreciate it?
The jobs I didn't get
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My husband often makes fun of me because I'm constantly cataloging events of the past and infusing them with meaning. Case in point: jobs I didn't get. There are several jobs in my career history that I applied for and really felt I should have gotten, but did not. In each case "not getting the job" paved the way for a bigger, better, or more interesting opportunities. Coincidence? You decide...
The first time around, I was a 22 year old promotion assistant at a TV station in Boston. After about a year on the job, I saw a listing for a position in the station's LA branch writing descriptions of TV for the blind. As a creative writing major and TV lover, I instantly thought it was the perfect job for me. Plus, I was dying to leave Boston. I interofficed my resume to HR and gave my boss a heads-up that I might be leaving soon (cocky, right?). A few weeks passed and nothing. Then, the job's no longer posted. Then, I found out someone else in my department got the job. So, I stayed in Boston and a mere two months later met my future husband at a birthday party (hey, it would have been impossible to attend if I was living in LA).
Next time around, I was a 25 year old cultural arts publicist looking for a new job (preferably one that did not mandate grueling weekend & night performance duty in addition to 9-5 office hours). I applied for a PR position at a local hospital. Made it past two rounds of interviews and felt primed to go all the way. Sent endearing, perfect thank-you cards to all involved. Two weeks later I found out they picked the other finalist. Darn. But then four weeks later, I was offered a PR job at another TV station. where I really wanted to be.
And finally there was last year, I was a 29 year old laid off mom pining over a position at a national broadcast agency. The job description felt like I had written it myself, that's how closely aligned it was with my goals and experience, but what I didn't realize (what I couldn't have known) was that the job was specific for a reason: they had an internal candidate. I didn't even make it past the first interview. The afternoon I got the email was one of my lowest in the job hunt. But (as mentioned in a previous post) a mere five hours later I was offered an invitation to apply for a position as COO of a multimedia non-profit. And you know where that got me...
In short, the universe acts in mysterious ways. Sometimes you just have to accept that what seems like the right fit, is not. There's something else in store for you.
The first time around, I was a 22 year old promotion assistant at a TV station in Boston. After about a year on the job, I saw a listing for a position in the station's LA branch writing descriptions of TV for the blind. As a creative writing major and TV lover, I instantly thought it was the perfect job for me. Plus, I was dying to leave Boston. I interofficed my resume to HR and gave my boss a heads-up that I might be leaving soon (cocky, right?). A few weeks passed and nothing. Then, the job's no longer posted. Then, I found out someone else in my department got the job. So, I stayed in Boston and a mere two months later met my future husband at a birthday party (hey, it would have been impossible to attend if I was living in LA).
Next time around, I was a 25 year old cultural arts publicist looking for a new job (preferably one that did not mandate grueling weekend & night performance duty in addition to 9-5 office hours). I applied for a PR position at a local hospital. Made it past two rounds of interviews and felt primed to go all the way. Sent endearing, perfect thank-you cards to all involved. Two weeks later I found out they picked the other finalist. Darn. But then four weeks later, I was offered a PR job at another TV station. where I really wanted to be.
And finally there was last year, I was a 29 year old laid off mom pining over a position at a national broadcast agency. The job description felt like I had written it myself, that's how closely aligned it was with my goals and experience, but what I didn't realize (what I couldn't have known) was that the job was specific for a reason: they had an internal candidate. I didn't even make it past the first interview. The afternoon I got the email was one of my lowest in the job hunt. But (as mentioned in a previous post) a mere five hours later I was offered an invitation to apply for a position as COO of a multimedia non-profit. And you know where that got me...
In short, the universe acts in mysterious ways. Sometimes you just have to accept that what seems like the right fit, is not. There's something else in store for you.
What I'm Giving Up
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Unemployment is a time to consider what's essential. Last year when I was laid off, I had a really generous severance package and with lots of job prospects, I felt pretty secure with moderate adjustments. I reduced my gym membership to a restricted hours plan. I cut my allowance in half. We ate out less.
This time around, I'm not quite as confident. For starters, it's possible I'll be out of work longer than the 3 months it took me last time. And without severance, things get real pretty fast. I'm erring on the side of caution and giving up as many non-essentials as I can stomach. In particular, my entire allowance and entire gym membership. If you read my entry about working out for less then you know giving up the gym is not a big deal. I'll run and lift weights at my house for free.
Allowance is the real sacrifice. When my husband and I first got married, we opened a joint checking & savings account, but also opted to each keep a private checking account. All individual purchases come out of this account: clothes, shoes, haircuts, makeup, dining out, classes, entertainment, gum, magazines, books, music, etc.
Luckily, I had a bit of reserve saved up before becoming unemployed, which should get me through the next couple of months if I'm frugal. In the meantime, it's a fascinating study in what is and isn't essential to spend money on in the short run.
This time around, I'm not quite as confident. For starters, it's possible I'll be out of work longer than the 3 months it took me last time. And without severance, things get real pretty fast. I'm erring on the side of caution and giving up as many non-essentials as I can stomach. In particular, my entire allowance and entire gym membership. If you read my entry about working out for less then you know giving up the gym is not a big deal. I'll run and lift weights at my house for free.
Allowance is the real sacrifice. When my husband and I first got married, we opened a joint checking & savings account, but also opted to each keep a private checking account. All individual purchases come out of this account: clothes, shoes, haircuts, makeup, dining out, classes, entertainment, gum, magazines, books, music, etc.
Luckily, I had a bit of reserve saved up before becoming unemployed, which should get me through the next couple of months if I'm frugal. In the meantime, it's a fascinating study in what is and isn't essential to spend money on in the short run.
- Clothes: I shouldn't need to buy new clothes. I have enough suits for interviews and jeans and t-shirts to wear around the house. Nonessential
- Hair: My hair is really short right now, but no job = no bob. I'll need one last trip to the salon to get things evened out and ready to grow. Semi-essential
- Makeup: I don't wear very much, but I stockpiled the expensive stuff at a Christmas sale. All the rest, I buy at the beauty bodega down the street for less than $6 a piece. Semi-essential
- Entertainment: First, DC's full of free museums and many lovely parks. Second, my bedside drawer is stacked with books I haven't read. Third, we've got NetFlix, TiVo and various online viewing options. Nonessential
- Eating out: This is both an easy & hard one. It's extremely easy for me to eat what's in the house. On the other hand, one expense that's always worth it (especially in unemployment) is connecting with people over lunch and drinks. Essential
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Researchers' Symosium December 3
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Sharon Jaskula, VALF Advisory Board member, is inviting you to the following free workshop.
The Florida Literacy Coalition, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Literacy Council of Jacksonville are proud to host a Researchers’ Symposium focusing on Workplace Education, Writing Strategies, Comprehension Skills, and Transitioning Learners to Post-Secondary Education. Researchers from universities across the country will be on hand to share best practices and new approaches.
Please join us on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00-5:00 for this free event at the Jacksonville Public Library (Conference Level Auditorium). Registration is required; the registration link to the pdf with a list of presenters and session descriptions below.
For more information, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition (800-237-5113) or visit www.floridaliteracy.org
For more information and to register...
The Florida Literacy Coalition, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Literacy Council of Jacksonville are proud to host a Researchers’ Symposium focusing on Workplace Education, Writing Strategies, Comprehension Skills, and Transitioning Learners to Post-Secondary Education. Researchers from universities across the country will be on hand to share best practices and new approaches.
Please join us on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00-5:00 for this free event at the Jacksonville Public Library (Conference Level Auditorium). Registration is required; the registration link to the pdf with a list of presenters and session descriptions below.
For more information, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition (800-237-5113) or visit www.floridaliteracy.org
For more information and to register...
My friend walked through our slider door... part 1
To contact us Click HERE
My best friend came over to my house on Thursday for dinner last week... and while she's my best friend, i'm lucky if we cross paths every other month or so since we seem to live very crazy lives at the moment... and not to mention a pretty decent distance apart as well.
Well, after bonding over homemade spaghetti and garlic bread, we were hanging out on my patio, enjoying the summer breeze when it happened.
It was like sitting in slow motion, trying to prevent the action from happening, but to, no avail...
My friend walked through our patio screen door and fell into the house, onto my husband.
Thankfully my husband only got a scratch on his arm because he was able to slide away a bit since he was sitting in his computer chair, and my friend was fine, just shaken up and incredibly sorry...
The frame was contorted into a nightmare, but the screen itself was still connected (Thanks to my ex-boyfriends father who helped repair them 3 years ago when I bought this place and his amazing talent.)
After about 30 minutes of bending the door back into place, my husband was able to jam it back into the track and duck tape the door in place since we couldn't fix the frame entirely. Right now the door doesn't open or close, but at least with the duct tape on it we can keep the slider door open and get a nice cross breeze still.
****
We Google'd our hearts out and measured the frame because its truly shot and will need to be replaced. It looked like it would be $60 to custom order something from Home Depot so SCB went into the store the next day since he couldn't order the part online.
and that's where the story gets worse.
Apparently our patio slider door is so abnormally sized that Home Depot will no longer order the custom size screen door to fix it...
What's the point of paying for a custom size if they won't make it????
Why advertise on your website that you sell said screen door if you really don't??
So, we now have to contact specialty companies... and that means the price tag is going up up up.
SCB called a few places and the cheapest we can get is $160.00 for a very basic screen door for our patio... It's about $40 more dollars to put in a pet screen (something more durable), but that means its also more visible so we are thinking about going with the sturdier screen so people will see the door and not walk through it so we don't have this problem again... but if we do that, we might have an issue with our screen doors not matching (one darker, one lighter).... and both screen doors are right next to each other, on the same side of the condo so it might look funny.
Thankfully the company also re-screens existing doors as well, so we might just have our second screen re-done so the colors match... but depending on the frame they bring for the new one, we might just replace both at the same time so they are identical and we won't have the HOA to deal with.
But for now we won't know because they can't come out until the 17th of July... :(
 |
| After the duct tape fix... I didn't think to take a picture at the time of the bent frame... well maybe I did but I didn't think SCB would appreciate it at the time so I decided not to take the photo and anger him.... |
Well, after bonding over homemade spaghetti and garlic bread, we were hanging out on my patio, enjoying the summer breeze when it happened.
It was like sitting in slow motion, trying to prevent the action from happening, but to, no avail...
My friend walked through our patio screen door and fell into the house, onto my husband.
Thankfully my husband only got a scratch on his arm because he was able to slide away a bit since he was sitting in his computer chair, and my friend was fine, just shaken up and incredibly sorry...
The frame was contorted into a nightmare, but the screen itself was still connected (Thanks to my ex-boyfriends father who helped repair them 3 years ago when I bought this place and his amazing talent.)
After about 30 minutes of bending the door back into place, my husband was able to jam it back into the track and duck tape the door in place since we couldn't fix the frame entirely. Right now the door doesn't open or close, but at least with the duct tape on it we can keep the slider door open and get a nice cross breeze still.
****
We Google'd our hearts out and measured the frame because its truly shot and will need to be replaced. It looked like it would be $60 to custom order something from Home Depot so SCB went into the store the next day since he couldn't order the part online.
and that's where the story gets worse.
Apparently our patio slider door is so abnormally sized that Home Depot will no longer order the custom size screen door to fix it...
What's the point of paying for a custom size if they won't make it????
Why advertise on your website that you sell said screen door if you really don't??
So, we now have to contact specialty companies... and that means the price tag is going up up up.
SCB called a few places and the cheapest we can get is $160.00 for a very basic screen door for our patio... It's about $40 more dollars to put in a pet screen (something more durable), but that means its also more visible so we are thinking about going with the sturdier screen so people will see the door and not walk through it so we don't have this problem again... but if we do that, we might have an issue with our screen doors not matching (one darker, one lighter).... and both screen doors are right next to each other, on the same side of the condo so it might look funny.
Thankfully the company also re-screens existing doors as well, so we might just have our second screen re-done so the colors match... but depending on the frame they bring for the new one, we might just replace both at the same time so they are identical and we won't have the HOA to deal with.
But for now we won't know because they can't come out until the 17th of July... :(
This can't happen soon enough
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According to this site: "Merck is due to lose its patent protection on Singulair in August of 2012, which is the earliest that a generic version of Singulair will be available. Brand-name Singulair generally retails for almost $150 for a 30 day supply, so it looks like Singulair is going to be a big drain on the budget of many American asthma and allergy patients for a while longer, unfortunately."
Why do I bring this up? ... Because we had to renew SCB's Singulair prescription...
Without insurance it would be $557.92 for a 90 day supply because there isn't a generic version out there...
Thankfully we have health insurance and prescription coverage. Instead we have to pay $20 for a 30 days supply and we think $60 for a 90 day supply (we have to wait until they charge our card to see the price because the paperwork is confusing) ...
but boy I can't wait for generics for this drug...
at $20 a month, it costs us $240.00 a year just so my hubby can breathe...
According to this site: "Merck is due to lose its patent protection on Singulair in August of 2012, which is the earliest that a generic version of Singulair will be available. Brand-name Singulair generally retails for almost $150 for a 30 day supply, so it looks like Singulair is going to be a big drain on the budget of many American asthma and allergy patients for a while longer, unfortunately."Why do I bring this up? ... Because we had to renew SCB's Singulair prescription...
Without insurance it would be $557.92 for a 90 day supply because there isn't a generic version out there...
Thankfully we have health insurance and prescription coverage. Instead we have to pay $20 for a 30 days supply and we think $60 for a 90 day supply (we have to wait until they charge our card to see the price because the paperwork is confusing) ...
but boy I can't wait for generics for this drug...
at $20 a month, it costs us $240.00 a year just so my hubby can breathe...
My friend walked through our slider door... part 2
To contact us Click HERE
I'm not sure what compelled me with this, but I just didn't feel right about home depot advertising for something and not carrying it in their store or on their website.
I got up early on Saturday since I was supposed to be walking with my friend for a few miles (and I honestly can't sleep past 6:30am on any given day because I get up at 4am for work normally) and started looking through Home Depots website. I found the two doors my husband saw online, one $52 the other $60. I put in our zip code since the item was an "in store pick up only" and hit pick up at store on both items.
I started with the nicer door. The first 6 closed locations showed "out of stock/Not available at this location."
The next 6 stores were out of stock as well, and so were the next 24 stores across a 30 mile radius.We liked the more expensive door because it had a metal brace that ran across the middle so you could see the door... but no dice.
I then clicked on the cheaper door which looked almost like the one my friend plowed through. 13 stores later and this one location had 6 in stock!!!! It was about 20 miles away over three freeways but the gas we would pay would be cheaper then getting a custom made door.
I tossed the credit card down and ordered one for $56.03
My friend didn't show up for our walk (she slept through her alarm, my text, and a phone call) so we decided today was going to be home improvement day and made plans to borrow my mom's truck and drive the distance to get the new screen door.
then my phone rang...
It was Home Depot telling me they didn't stock the door I bought online...
But thankfully, they did have one that would fit for a few dollars more so I told him we'd take it and they promised to put it aside for us.
Excited, we picked up my mom's car and drove out there. Apparently our destination was a SUPER home depot and SCB drooled in delight.
While pursuing the store I decided it was finally time to actually finish my kitchen door as well. I'm not sure if you remember, but as a nice present to me and in honor of owning my home for 2 years, I finally bought a door for my kitchen to hide the washer/dryer and to help muffle the noise of the loud machine. While I love my door still to this day, I never bothered to paint it or put up the matching trim on the door frames.
So, we picked up painters tape, nails, door trim, a can of paint, a few brushes, that thing you use to hit the nails all the way into the board, and some of that white goop you use to cover the nail heads and patch stuff.... and some caulk to seal it all up.... and one of the boxes with the saws that lets you cut the proper angles..... oh ya, and our slider patio door, all for $120.00.
I spent the afternoon helping SCB put in our new door... and then painting my heart out in the kitchen. I'm proud to say I put down a tarp, taped everything up correctly, and did a really nice job. I still haven't put on the caulking yet, but while I was doing the project I realized I had already purchased paint so we got to return the new stuff and a brush we didn't use, so our real home improvement weekend only cost
$103.24!
So now I have a new screen door and my kitchen is finally done! SCB got 2 half ways of work and got paid $74 for them so only about $30 will be coming out of our slush fund since we ended up spending the rest of that $80 we had left over on other stuff that just happened.
 |
| New door going in! |
I got up early on Saturday since I was supposed to be walking with my friend for a few miles (and I honestly can't sleep past 6:30am on any given day because I get up at 4am for work normally) and started looking through Home Depots website. I found the two doors my husband saw online, one $52 the other $60. I put in our zip code since the item was an "in store pick up only" and hit pick up at store on both items.
I started with the nicer door. The first 6 closed locations showed "out of stock/Not available at this location."
The next 6 stores were out of stock as well, and so were the next 24 stores across a 30 mile radius.We liked the more expensive door because it had a metal brace that ran across the middle so you could see the door... but no dice.
I then clicked on the cheaper door which looked almost like the one my friend plowed through. 13 stores later and this one location had 6 in stock!!!! It was about 20 miles away over three freeways but the gas we would pay would be cheaper then getting a custom made door.
I tossed the credit card down and ordered one for $56.03
My friend didn't show up for our walk (she slept through her alarm, my text, and a phone call) so we decided today was going to be home improvement day and made plans to borrow my mom's truck and drive the distance to get the new screen door.
then my phone rang...
It was Home Depot telling me they didn't stock the door I bought online...
But thankfully, they did have one that would fit for a few dollars more so I told him we'd take it and they promised to put it aside for us.
Excited, we picked up my mom's car and drove out there. Apparently our destination was a SUPER home depot and SCB drooled in delight.
While pursuing the store I decided it was finally time to actually finish my kitchen door as well. I'm not sure if you remember, but as a nice present to me and in honor of owning my home for 2 years, I finally bought a door for my kitchen to hide the washer/dryer and to help muffle the noise of the loud machine. While I love my door still to this day, I never bothered to paint it or put up the matching trim on the door frames.
 |
| Trim and base boards secured! |
So, we picked up painters tape, nails, door trim, a can of paint, a few brushes, that thing you use to hit the nails all the way into the board, and some of that white goop you use to cover the nail heads and patch stuff.... and some caulk to seal it all up.... and one of the boxes with the saws that lets you cut the proper angles..... oh ya, and our slider patio door, all for $120.00.
 |
| Prepping for Paint! |
$103.24!
So now I have a new screen door and my kitchen is finally done! SCB got 2 half ways of work and got paid $74 for them so only about $30 will be coming out of our slush fund since we ended up spending the rest of that $80 we had left over on other stuff that just happened.
Weekly Updates (Belated Style)
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I'm just now finally finishing out our end of month spending for July, but after today at 5pm we will be driving up to Utah for a few days to visit with friends and family before hitting the Great Basin National Park for a family camping trip! A beautiful week of vacation, and paid for in nice pretty cash thanks to my extra paycheck this month :)
We've been cleaning out cars, gathering belongings, and just trying to make it to the end of the week so we can go. It's been like SCB has been on sugar 24-7 jumping like a little kid anytime the trip actually comes up or is mentioned.... That's how he is about our trip, and why I decided we should change a few things up and make it longer. We were going to leave on Tuesday and just go camping till Friday in Nevada... but since Utah isn't very far from where we were going to go camping, we figured we'd extend our trip a few days and really make our gas money worth it in the long run and swing into Utah as well. I will finally get to meet baby Alice too!
I feel really accomplished with everything I was able to do this week. My car is actually clean. Vacuumed and empty for a change... I've seen my mom twice (once to borrow her truck for the home remodel weekend... another to borrow an electrical outlet so we could actually vacuum my car clean). I actually finished my kitchen project --- that was 9 months in the making! and I even mailed off a form to finally get one of my retirement accounts liquidated and transferred to another place (I've mailed soooo many forms that I pray that was the last one they needed).
Heck, I even cleaned out my kitchen and SCB and I tossed out some stuff that we haven't touched really at all since we were married/I moved into my place. (So much more counter space now!)
While I like to think we kept our spending pretty well inclined, we did end up having to pull $118.87 out of the slush fund to cover our home improvement weekend (and a meal or two that day during painting since cooking was not an option).
But in good news, we should get a few extra dollars from SCB getting two half days of work through Apple One the other week or so helping assemble some shelves in a warehouse.
Hopefully next month less things will go wrong and we will stay in our vacation budget and our monthly budget
***Crosses Fingers***
Weekly Spending:
June 23:
June 29:
I'm just now finally finishing out our end of month spending for July, but after today at 5pm we will be driving up to Utah for a few days to visit with friends and family before hitting the Great Basin National Park for a family camping trip! A beautiful week of vacation, and paid for in nice pretty cash thanks to my extra paycheck this month :)We've been cleaning out cars, gathering belongings, and just trying to make it to the end of the week so we can go. It's been like SCB has been on sugar 24-7 jumping like a little kid anytime the trip actually comes up or is mentioned.... That's how he is about our trip, and why I decided we should change a few things up and make it longer. We were going to leave on Tuesday and just go camping till Friday in Nevada... but since Utah isn't very far from where we were going to go camping, we figured we'd extend our trip a few days and really make our gas money worth it in the long run and swing into Utah as well. I will finally get to meet baby Alice too!
I feel really accomplished with everything I was able to do this week. My car is actually clean. Vacuumed and empty for a change... I've seen my mom twice (once to borrow her truck for the home remodel weekend... another to borrow an electrical outlet so we could actually vacuum my car clean). I actually finished my kitchen project --- that was 9 months in the making! and I even mailed off a form to finally get one of my retirement accounts liquidated and transferred to another place (I've mailed soooo many forms that I pray that was the last one they needed).
Heck, I even cleaned out my kitchen and SCB and I tossed out some stuff that we haven't touched really at all since we were married/I moved into my place. (So much more counter space now!)While I like to think we kept our spending pretty well inclined, we did end up having to pull $118.87 out of the slush fund to cover our home improvement weekend (and a meal or two that day during painting since cooking was not an option).
But in good news, we should get a few extra dollars from SCB getting two half days of work through Apple One the other week or so helping assemble some shelves in a warehouse.
Hopefully next month less things will go wrong and we will stay in our vacation budget and our monthly budget
***Crosses Fingers***
Weekly Spending:
June 23:
- $137.73 Cell Phones
- $25.91 Fresh & Easy (Groceries)
- $32.66 Walmart (Groceries + House Supplies)
- $262.50 HOA Fee
- $15.00 Doctor's Visit to renew prescription (which we still haven't been billed for?)
- $3.49 Ralphs (Groceries)
- $35.14 Internet
- 6.73 Chipotle (Date Night)
June 29:
- 33.18 Mary Kay
- $14.70 Chick-fil-a
- $47.93 Walmart (Camping stuff)
- $103.24 Home Depot (Home Improvement stuff)
- $145.51 Giving
- $13.41 Jack In the Box
- $11.06 Home Depot (new desk fan)
- Vacation Fund: $500/$500 (100%)
- 2012 Roth IRA SCG $2,401.79 / $5,000.00 (48.03%)
- Car Fund: $269.58 / $1,000.00 (26.96%)
- Paying Extra on the house: $45.77 $1,301.28 (2 additional Mortgage Payments) (3.51%)
- 2mnd Roth IRA: $0.00 We will just add up all of SCB's earned income for the year and at the end of the year just put at least 15% into a Retirement account for him. We should be getting a decent savers credit this year so anything we can dump in here will be amazing! We might not be able to open an account for him at Vanguard (might not have $1k) so we may need to open one at ING and then transfer it over there eventually.
5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe
Fail Faster to Succeed Sooner
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This weekend I stumbled across one of those rare gems in the blogosphere: intersected and its creator Jamie Varon. Ms. Varon is a woman with her priorities in order. She started a job, spent two weeks there, realized it wasn't worth it and quit (w/o another job lined up). What has she done since then... hmmm, started an awesome blog, become a guest contributor to Brazen Careerist , and created a campaign to get hired by Twitter. My opinion? This lady doesn't need Twitter to hire her. She's found her calling. Check out her site for some no-nonsense, follow your passion, get the job of your dream advice.
In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to examine my job search under Varon's "6 Ways to Not Play it Safe " framework. Last year, I actually got a little high minded and set a motto for 2008: fail faster to succeed sooner. Of course, I didn't realize just how soon the universe would help me achieve the first part of my motto by unexpectedly laying me off...three weeks after returning to work from maternity leave.
So, anyway, I pretty much dedicated my year & job search to not playing it safe. But did that philosophy work in my favor? Here's how I measure up against Varon's 6 rules...
1. Go against what everyone tells you to do
Example: Turned down job offers while still unemployed, holding out for a "dream job" and "dream salary."
Result: Got offered a "dream job" and "dream salary" two months later.
2. Listen to your heart and not your logic
Example: My logic told me, "You are under qualified to take this position!" My heart said, "Who cares? You'll learn! Take the position!"
Result: Took the job. It wasn't all pretty, but I learned a hell of a lot more than I would have had I taken a "safer" position at a more established company.
3. Put yourself out there
Example: Arranged informational interviews with anyone who would take my call; put myself in uncomfortable situations; and pitched my skills to strangers.
Result: Awkward? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. I met people who became mentors; received useful advice; and ultimately scored a job.
4. Dance on stage, sing karaoke, be a volunteer at a magic show
Example: Became a regular at a weekly poetry open mic. Read my work to a crowd of strangers.
Result: One of my poems was published on a bus. Met some cool people. Wrote a poem everyday for a month. Allowed myself to feel okay with reading stuff that wasn't perfect.
5. Be clear on your dream(s)
Example: Wrote down my dreams at the start of my search. Then proceeded to have an actual dream (like at night) that not only predicted my exact salary (okay, w/in $500), but also the location (two blocks south of the building I would work in, and the only landmark in the area I would have recognized in a dream).
Result: Offered a job in alignment with the dream description and the "dream" salary & location.
6. Fail
Example: Despite doing everything humanly possible to get a job at one of my favorite organizations (a job I was out of my mind convinced I'd get), I failed to even make it past the first interview (that really hurt). I bawled my eyes out.
Result: A mere five hours after getting my heart crushed, I got a job offer to be the COO at an innovative start-up.
The long & short of it?
Not playing it safe will get you places. Varon's list is a useful frame work for job searching & life. The challenge is to keep up the momentum. To continue to push yourself to the limit. To never stop dreaming. To be uncomfortable. To take risks. To fail faster to succeed sooner.
In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to examine my job search under Varon's "6 Ways to Not Play it Safe " framework. Last year, I actually got a little high minded and set a motto for 2008: fail faster to succeed sooner. Of course, I didn't realize just how soon the universe would help me achieve the first part of my motto by unexpectedly laying me off...three weeks after returning to work from maternity leave.
So, anyway, I pretty much dedicated my year & job search to not playing it safe. But did that philosophy work in my favor? Here's how I measure up against Varon's 6 rules...
1. Go against what everyone tells you to do
Example: Turned down job offers while still unemployed, holding out for a "dream job" and "dream salary."
Result: Got offered a "dream job" and "dream salary" two months later.
2. Listen to your heart and not your logic
Example: My logic told me, "You are under qualified to take this position!" My heart said, "Who cares? You'll learn! Take the position!"
Result: Took the job. It wasn't all pretty, but I learned a hell of a lot more than I would have had I taken a "safer" position at a more established company.
3. Put yourself out there
Example: Arranged informational interviews with anyone who would take my call; put myself in uncomfortable situations; and pitched my skills to strangers.
Result: Awkward? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. I met people who became mentors; received useful advice; and ultimately scored a job.
4. Dance on stage, sing karaoke, be a volunteer at a magic show
Example: Became a regular at a weekly poetry open mic. Read my work to a crowd of strangers.
Result: One of my poems was published on a bus. Met some cool people. Wrote a poem everyday for a month. Allowed myself to feel okay with reading stuff that wasn't perfect.
5. Be clear on your dream(s)
Example: Wrote down my dreams at the start of my search. Then proceeded to have an actual dream (like at night) that not only predicted my exact salary (okay, w/in $500), but also the location (two blocks south of the building I would work in, and the only landmark in the area I would have recognized in a dream).
Result: Offered a job in alignment with the dream description and the "dream" salary & location.
6. Fail
Example: Despite doing everything humanly possible to get a job at one of my favorite organizations (a job I was out of my mind convinced I'd get), I failed to even make it past the first interview (that really hurt). I bawled my eyes out.
Result: A mere five hours after getting my heart crushed, I got a job offer to be the COO at an innovative start-up.
The long & short of it?
Not playing it safe will get you places. Varon's list is a useful frame work for job searching & life. The challenge is to keep up the momentum. To continue to push yourself to the limit. To never stop dreaming. To be uncomfortable. To take risks. To fail faster to succeed sooner.
Big house, little house
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Last month I went to a party at a mansion: high ceilings, full bar, personal gym, screening room, pool, you name it. One of my friends (not the owner) was showing me around and at the end of the tour, turned to me and said, "Is it wrong that I want this?" That question really struck me. It lingered for days in fact, perhaps because of my childhood.
When I was a kid, I wanted one of two things, to either live in one of the tiniest places possible (I had fantasies about living in this vacant Fotomat booth in our grocery store parking lot) or live in a mansion. There was no in-between. Coming from a regular (albeit, charming) middle class, two story home, I wanted to experience something different.
As it turned out, wish #1 came true. I live in a place slightly larger than a Fotomat booth, smaller than my childhood home, but no where near mansion size. And you know what? I love it.
And so, when my friend posed this question, "Is it wrong that I want this?" it made me wonder, what if things had turned out differently, what if I'd gotten the mansion instead of the townhouse? To my surprise, the mansion suddenly felt like the lesser of the two options. And believe me, it had nothing to do with the house where the party was hosted, which was hands-down gorgeous, but when picturing myself as the owner, here's what came to mind...
When I was a kid, I wanted one of two things, to either live in one of the tiniest places possible (I had fantasies about living in this vacant Fotomat booth in our grocery store parking lot) or live in a mansion. There was no in-between. Coming from a regular (albeit, charming) middle class, two story home, I wanted to experience something different.
As it turned out, wish #1 came true. I live in a place slightly larger than a Fotomat booth, smaller than my childhood home, but no where near mansion size. And you know what? I love it.
And so, when my friend posed this question, "Is it wrong that I want this?" it made me wonder, what if things had turned out differently, what if I'd gotten the mansion instead of the townhouse? To my surprise, the mansion suddenly felt like the lesser of the two options. And believe me, it had nothing to do with the house where the party was hosted, which was hands-down gorgeous, but when picturing myself as the owner, here's what came to mind...
- Containment: With a gym, pool, bar and cinema, I would never have a reason to leave the house. And one of my great joys in life is leaving the house. I love chance encounters, sharing spaces, and allowing little diversions to add adventure to my plans.
- Cleaning: Big houses take longer to clean. I guess if you own a mansion, you hire someone. For me, cleaning is meditative. A weekly rite that takes exactly one blissful, soul searching, hour.
- Things: Lots of space means lots of things, and I only like to own a few things. In fact, I'm constantly plotting ways to get rid of things.
- Empty rooms: Mansions have more rooms than people. Even in my parents' house, having more rooms than people kind of freaked me out. I can't sleep thinking about all those vacant spaces.
The jobs I didn't get
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My husband often makes fun of me because I'm constantly cataloging events of the past and infusing them with meaning. Case in point: jobs I didn't get. There are several jobs in my career history that I applied for and really felt I should have gotten, but did not. In each case "not getting the job" paved the way for a bigger, better, or more interesting opportunities. Coincidence? You decide...
The first time around, I was a 22 year old promotion assistant at a TV station in Boston. After about a year on the job, I saw a listing for a position in the station's LA branch writing descriptions of TV for the blind. As a creative writing major and TV lover, I instantly thought it was the perfect job for me. Plus, I was dying to leave Boston. I interofficed my resume to HR and gave my boss a heads-up that I might be leaving soon (cocky, right?). A few weeks passed and nothing. Then, the job's no longer posted. Then, I found out someone else in my department got the job. So, I stayed in Boston and a mere two months later met my future husband at a birthday party (hey, it would have been impossible to attend if I was living in LA).
Next time around, I was a 25 year old cultural arts publicist looking for a new job (preferably one that did not mandate grueling weekend & night performance duty in addition to 9-5 office hours). I applied for a PR position at a local hospital. Made it past two rounds of interviews and felt primed to go all the way. Sent endearing, perfect thank-you cards to all involved. Two weeks later I found out they picked the other finalist. Darn. But then four weeks later, I was offered a PR job at another TV station. where I really wanted to be.
And finally there was last year, I was a 29 year old laid off mom pining over a position at a national broadcast agency. The job description felt like I had written it myself, that's how closely aligned it was with my goals and experience, but what I didn't realize (what I couldn't have known) was that the job was specific for a reason: they had an internal candidate. I didn't even make it past the first interview. The afternoon I got the email was one of my lowest in the job hunt. But (as mentioned in a previous post) a mere five hours later I was offered an invitation to apply for a position as COO of a multimedia non-profit. And you know where that got me...
In short, the universe acts in mysterious ways. Sometimes you just have to accept that what seems like the right fit, is not. There's something else in store for you.
The first time around, I was a 22 year old promotion assistant at a TV station in Boston. After about a year on the job, I saw a listing for a position in the station's LA branch writing descriptions of TV for the blind. As a creative writing major and TV lover, I instantly thought it was the perfect job for me. Plus, I was dying to leave Boston. I interofficed my resume to HR and gave my boss a heads-up that I might be leaving soon (cocky, right?). A few weeks passed and nothing. Then, the job's no longer posted. Then, I found out someone else in my department got the job. So, I stayed in Boston and a mere two months later met my future husband at a birthday party (hey, it would have been impossible to attend if I was living in LA).
Next time around, I was a 25 year old cultural arts publicist looking for a new job (preferably one that did not mandate grueling weekend & night performance duty in addition to 9-5 office hours). I applied for a PR position at a local hospital. Made it past two rounds of interviews and felt primed to go all the way. Sent endearing, perfect thank-you cards to all involved. Two weeks later I found out they picked the other finalist. Darn. But then four weeks later, I was offered a PR job at another TV station. where I really wanted to be.
And finally there was last year, I was a 29 year old laid off mom pining over a position at a national broadcast agency. The job description felt like I had written it myself, that's how closely aligned it was with my goals and experience, but what I didn't realize (what I couldn't have known) was that the job was specific for a reason: they had an internal candidate. I didn't even make it past the first interview. The afternoon I got the email was one of my lowest in the job hunt. But (as mentioned in a previous post) a mere five hours later I was offered an invitation to apply for a position as COO of a multimedia non-profit. And you know where that got me...
In short, the universe acts in mysterious ways. Sometimes you just have to accept that what seems like the right fit, is not. There's something else in store for you.
What I'm Giving Up
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Unemployment is a time to consider what's essential. Last year when I was laid off, I had a really generous severance package and with lots of job prospects, I felt pretty secure with moderate adjustments. I reduced my gym membership to a restricted hours plan. I cut my allowance in half. We ate out less.
This time around, I'm not quite as confident. For starters, it's possible I'll be out of work longer than the 3 months it took me last time. And without severance, things get real pretty fast. I'm erring on the side of caution and giving up as many non-essentials as I can stomach. In particular, my entire allowance and entire gym membership. If you read my entry about working out for less then you know giving up the gym is not a big deal. I'll run and lift weights at my house for free.
Allowance is the real sacrifice. When my husband and I first got married, we opened a joint checking & savings account, but also opted to each keep a private checking account. All individual purchases come out of this account: clothes, shoes, haircuts, makeup, dining out, classes, entertainment, gum, magazines, books, music, etc.
Luckily, I had a bit of reserve saved up before becoming unemployed, which should get me through the next couple of months if I'm frugal. In the meantime, it's a fascinating study in what is and isn't essential to spend money on in the short run.
This time around, I'm not quite as confident. For starters, it's possible I'll be out of work longer than the 3 months it took me last time. And without severance, things get real pretty fast. I'm erring on the side of caution and giving up as many non-essentials as I can stomach. In particular, my entire allowance and entire gym membership. If you read my entry about working out for less then you know giving up the gym is not a big deal. I'll run and lift weights at my house for free.
Allowance is the real sacrifice. When my husband and I first got married, we opened a joint checking & savings account, but also opted to each keep a private checking account. All individual purchases come out of this account: clothes, shoes, haircuts, makeup, dining out, classes, entertainment, gum, magazines, books, music, etc.
Luckily, I had a bit of reserve saved up before becoming unemployed, which should get me through the next couple of months if I'm frugal. In the meantime, it's a fascinating study in what is and isn't essential to spend money on in the short run.
- Clothes: I shouldn't need to buy new clothes. I have enough suits for interviews and jeans and t-shirts to wear around the house. Nonessential
- Hair: My hair is really short right now, but no job = no bob. I'll need one last trip to the salon to get things evened out and ready to grow. Semi-essential
- Makeup: I don't wear very much, but I stockpiled the expensive stuff at a Christmas sale. All the rest, I buy at the beauty bodega down the street for less than $6 a piece. Semi-essential
- Entertainment: First, DC's full of free museums and many lovely parks. Second, my bedside drawer is stacked with books I haven't read. Third, we've got NetFlix, TiVo and various online viewing options. Nonessential
- Eating out: This is both an easy & hard one. It's extremely easy for me to eat what's in the house. On the other hand, one expense that's always worth it (especially in unemployment) is connecting with people over lunch and drinks. Essential
Researchers' Symosium December 3
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Sharon Jaskula, VALF Advisory Board member, is inviting you to the following free workshop.
The Florida Literacy Coalition, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Literacy Council of Jacksonville are proud to host a Researchers’ Symposium focusing on Workplace Education, Writing Strategies, Comprehension Skills, and Transitioning Learners to Post-Secondary Education. Researchers from universities across the country will be on hand to share best practices and new approaches.
Please join us on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00-5:00 for this free event at the Jacksonville Public Library (Conference Level Auditorium). Registration is required; the registration link to the pdf with a list of presenters and session descriptions below.
For more information, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition (800-237-5113) or visit www.floridaliteracy.org
For more information and to register...
The Florida Literacy Coalition, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Literacy Council of Jacksonville are proud to host a Researchers’ Symposium focusing on Workplace Education, Writing Strategies, Comprehension Skills, and Transitioning Learners to Post-Secondary Education. Researchers from universities across the country will be on hand to share best practices and new approaches.
Please join us on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00-5:00 for this free event at the Jacksonville Public Library (Conference Level Auditorium). Registration is required; the registration link to the pdf with a list of presenters and session descriptions below.
For more information, please contact the Florida Literacy Coalition (800-237-5113) or visit www.floridaliteracy.org
For more information and to register...
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