Early in my job search, I was advised to join LinkedIn. It is apparently the go-to site for connecting with former colleagues and acquaintances, like a Facebook for professionals. Once you sign on, you surf the site to see who you might know and ask them to join your network. It was a way for me to get the word out that I was back in the job market, and hope that someone would think of me if a relevant position popped up.
I was somewhat tentative to put my "professional self" out there. It was discouraging to fit my experience to the format - so many people had hefty resumes and I had a large gap during my years at home.
I took the plunge anyway and started searching out people who I worked with years ago. It was a pleasant surprise to hear back from many who remembered me. Frankly, it felt good after wearing my "mom hat" for so long.
One former co-worker, who has been very supportive, e-mailed me:
"You have a great brain and it didn't atrophy while child rearing. You get in front of enough people and they will see how remarkable you are." That kept me inspired for a quite a few days. (Now I just need a potential employer to feel the same way!)
I was encouraged by the fact that several offered advice and promised to keep me in mind if a job turned up. People I never would have expected were quick to step forward.
I feel that LinkedIn has given me some momentum. I have few lunch dates scheduled. There have been some introductions into a couple of key companies that might have potential. I got one lead so far that didn't pan out. Another that might be a real possibility.
Who knows if this is how I will land a job ... for me, it has been a starting point to the networking process.
I'm hearing again and again that in this tough job market, you have to know someone to get the inside track, more than ever before. I believe this is accurate from my experiences thus far. I've applied for at least a dozen jobs on the Internet. No interviews yet. In most cases, I never hear anything back and wonder if I pushed the correct button when I sent my information into cyberspace. I shudder at the thought of how many resumes join mine in the pile.
I've been told not to take things personally and that the job hunt will take time. It's difficult not to be impatient.
Looking at the bright side, as I must do to keep my spirits up, I already have a total of 29 LinkedIn connections and counting ... anyone interested in joining my network?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Bras And Thongs
Let's hope that I can find a position in my field of public relations/communications before long! My two attempts at working minimum- wage jobs did not go well. In fact, the sum total of my employment at both was about eight weeks.
The Donuts
I had decided to start slow and find something that I thought would be fun and relatively easy. I landed a job as an evening receptionist at a local banquet hall and was pleased that my new boss hired me on-the-spot. Wow! I really must have impressed her! Only later did I learn that she had decided to give "a mature woman" a try. Hmmm ... She was around my age, so I didn't feel flattered when I learned this tidbit.
I was intrigued by the idea of seeing happy brides and checking out the latest in evening attire. My responsibilities were simple: answer the phone and just be on hand in case anyone attending a wedding had questions.
What I didn't know: the phone rarely rang (this was the night shift, remember!) and very few people stopped by the desk. I did get to greet some brides, but once the reception was underway, I was left alone in the lobby listening to the echos of laughter and music.
I was bored beyond words, thinking of everything that I could be doing at home. I was encouraged to use the computer, but how many games of "How To Become A Millionaire" can one play in four-hour span? I bet you're thinking,"Why didn't she read a book?" Well, I tried, but the light was bad and it's not as much fun when you're sitting upright at a desk.
I found out that some of the younger receptionists loved having nothing to do, except there were issues with a few sneaking champagne and getting a little too friendly with the guests.
The highlight of my shift was when the food was ready. I'd sneak down to the kitchen and grab what I could. Then I'd sit and wait for something to happen, munching away. One night, a guest got sick all over the ladies' room door and that made things interesting, but I lost my appetite.
I knew I was in trouble when I arrived at work on a Friday night to find leftover donuts sitting at my desk. I tried to ignore them, I really did! But with nothing else to focus on, I found myself opening and closing the box. Before long, two of the chocolate donuts were gone. Yep! I ate them and they were stale. And then I started thinking about what was being prepared in the kitchen.
I had sunk to a new low and it wasn't pretty - it was actually quite fattening. I had to do something soon, or my clothes would not longer fit.
Bras And Thongs
Luckily, they were hiring at a well-known department store one town over. I filled out an application and again was hired on-the-spot. I left the banquet hall behind to try my hand at working a register. It couldn't be that hard to push a few buttons and, I thought, I'll get a great discount on clothes.
However, I learned something very quickly:
Retail work is not for the faint-hearted!
I have new respect for anyone cleaning up a dressing room or organizing a rack of clothes on the store floor. Being on your feet for hours can be quite draining. My back bothered me. My legs hurt. The bottom of my toes hurt. My neck hurt. My face hurt from smiling. I complained to one of my younger co-workers, and she told me, rather curtly, to "Suck it up!" Ouch!
The register was more complicated than I thought, but I did get the hang of it after a while. Let's just say there were a lot of sighs from customers when my line didn't move as quickly as those next to me.
A few times, I was assigned to "Intimates." I spent six hours putting away bras and undies. My eyes were blurry from trying to match up styles and colors. In a few cases, I just gave up and shoved them in the back, hoping not to get caught.
I also saw and heard way too much ... there was the guy from church, kneeling in front of the bras with his wife, helping her decide which one to pick. And the chunky couple discussing which color thongs she should buy. (She bought four.) I watched a 60ish woman, rather plain-looking, perusing some underwear with a bold, tiger design. She saw me observing her, and blurted out that she was going on a cruise. I smiled demurely.
I lasted just over a month and I'm not too proud to admit this - I got let go. I had called in sick too many times with back problems and was told things "just weren't working out." To be honest, although the extra cash helped, I was relieved.
My latest dilemma is deciding how long to wait before I can show my face in the store again. Although I no longer get the employee discount, I do like their clothes!
For the moment, I think I'll stick to the occasional freelance article for a local newspaper group and concentrate my efforts on getting a full-time position in my profession.
I consider myself blessed to have this option. Many people don't and face a lifetime struggle to make ends meet working at minimum-wage.
So when I'm feeling down because it's a slow day on the job-search front, I remind myself that I no longer have to care about Maidenform, Platex, Lily of France or even Inner Secrets. This thought gives me the incentive to make yet another call, or send yet another e-mail ...
The Donuts
I had decided to start slow and find something that I thought would be fun and relatively easy. I landed a job as an evening receptionist at a local banquet hall and was pleased that my new boss hired me on-the-spot. Wow! I really must have impressed her! Only later did I learn that she had decided to give "a mature woman" a try. Hmmm ... She was around my age, so I didn't feel flattered when I learned this tidbit.
I was intrigued by the idea of seeing happy brides and checking out the latest in evening attire. My responsibilities were simple: answer the phone and just be on hand in case anyone attending a wedding had questions.
What I didn't know: the phone rarely rang (this was the night shift, remember!) and very few people stopped by the desk. I did get to greet some brides, but once the reception was underway, I was left alone in the lobby listening to the echos of laughter and music.
I was bored beyond words, thinking of everything that I could be doing at home. I was encouraged to use the computer, but how many games of "How To Become A Millionaire" can one play in four-hour span? I bet you're thinking,"Why didn't she read a book?" Well, I tried, but the light was bad and it's not as much fun when you're sitting upright at a desk.
I found out that some of the younger receptionists loved having nothing to do, except there were issues with a few sneaking champagne and getting a little too friendly with the guests.
The highlight of my shift was when the food was ready. I'd sneak down to the kitchen and grab what I could. Then I'd sit and wait for something to happen, munching away. One night, a guest got sick all over the ladies' room door and that made things interesting, but I lost my appetite.
I knew I was in trouble when I arrived at work on a Friday night to find leftover donuts sitting at my desk. I tried to ignore them, I really did! But with nothing else to focus on, I found myself opening and closing the box. Before long, two of the chocolate donuts were gone. Yep! I ate them and they were stale. And then I started thinking about what was being prepared in the kitchen.
I had sunk to a new low and it wasn't pretty - it was actually quite fattening. I had to do something soon, or my clothes would not longer fit.
Bras And Thongs
Luckily, they were hiring at a well-known department store one town over. I filled out an application and again was hired on-the-spot. I left the banquet hall behind to try my hand at working a register. It couldn't be that hard to push a few buttons and, I thought, I'll get a great discount on clothes.
However, I learned something very quickly:
Retail work is not for the faint-hearted!
I have new respect for anyone cleaning up a dressing room or organizing a rack of clothes on the store floor. Being on your feet for hours can be quite draining. My back bothered me. My legs hurt. The bottom of my toes hurt. My neck hurt. My face hurt from smiling. I complained to one of my younger co-workers, and she told me, rather curtly, to "Suck it up!" Ouch!
The register was more complicated than I thought, but I did get the hang of it after a while. Let's just say there were a lot of sighs from customers when my line didn't move as quickly as those next to me.
A few times, I was assigned to "Intimates." I spent six hours putting away bras and undies. My eyes were blurry from trying to match up styles and colors. In a few cases, I just gave up and shoved them in the back, hoping not to get caught.
I also saw and heard way too much ... there was the guy from church, kneeling in front of the bras with his wife, helping her decide which one to pick. And the chunky couple discussing which color thongs she should buy. (She bought four.) I watched a 60ish woman, rather plain-looking, perusing some underwear with a bold, tiger design. She saw me observing her, and blurted out that she was going on a cruise. I smiled demurely.
I lasted just over a month and I'm not too proud to admit this - I got let go. I had called in sick too many times with back problems and was told things "just weren't working out." To be honest, although the extra cash helped, I was relieved.
My latest dilemma is deciding how long to wait before I can show my face in the store again. Although I no longer get the employee discount, I do like their clothes!
For the moment, I think I'll stick to the occasional freelance article for a local newspaper group and concentrate my efforts on getting a full-time position in my profession.
I consider myself blessed to have this option. Many people don't and face a lifetime struggle to make ends meet working at minimum-wage.
So when I'm feeling down because it's a slow day on the job-search front, I remind myself that I no longer have to care about Maidenform, Platex, Lily of France or even Inner Secrets. This thought gives me the incentive to make yet another call, or send yet another e-mail ...
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Student For A Day
Breaking back into the work force has meant some self-examination about what I actually want to do in the future. Do I want to return to my roots and go back to writing and public relations/communications? Or is this my chance to remake myself and start another career? They say anything is possible, right?
I have always been interested in medicine, although I kept far away from science and math courses in college. During my time at home, I decided to volunteer at CT Children's Medical Center and found that I felt very comfortable in the hospital environment. For five years and 600 volunteer hours, I was a cashier in the gift shop and I cuddled premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
I enjoyed both experiences for different reasons. I met a wide variety of people in the gift shop and learned how to be discreet (not something that came easily to me!) and kind, since many customers had sick children. I also had a lot of laughs. One man came into the shop looking for the richest chocolate candy that we sold, to give to his wife who was breastfeeding. Apparently, she was having trouble until he gave her chocolate milk. He explained with animated arms how the chocolate "made her flow" and he needed to keep it going. TMI!
Cuddling babies was very special. I felt like I was doing something important every time I stepped onto the dimly lit unit and found a crying baby to hold. Usually the infants were not more than three or four pounds and so fragile, hooked up to all kinds of tubes and equipment. They reminded me of hummingbirds. Early on, I had the honor of holding a dying baby with no family. Thank goodness, she didn't die in my arms, but I was a little freaked out wondering if she would.
What I learned about myself was that I have a high threshold for handling medical situations, which got me thinking about possible medical careers. After a bit of research, I decided I was going to get an associate's degree in respiratory therapy. The salary was respectible and it appeared to be a growing field. I actually shadowed two therapists on duty to find out exactly what the job involved and found it fascinating. (I also got to wear a white lab coat for the first time in my life and it felt great!)
The two-year program had algebra pre-requisites, so I enrolled in Tunxis Community College this past June to get a head start. Math was not something that came easily to me, so I was a little concerned. But I was more than delighted to have a plan. I did all the appropriate paperwork and took a placement test. Then my bubble started to burst. I scored extremely low (hey, could you do algebra after all these years?) and was placed in a pre-algebra level class.
I spent $145 on a text book, sharpened my pencils and went to the first class after being out of college for more than three decades. Within ten minutes, I realized that I had made a critical mistake. There was a reason I had gravitated to the humanities when I was younger. Even the basic math concepts were over my head. Sadly, I approached the instructor and he directed me to a pre-pre algebra class down the hall. Sitting in there also made my head spin. My gut told me this was not the direction to go in.
So my dreams of becoming a respiratory therapist went up in smoke. So did $600 - they wouldn't reimburse me for tuition and I got a measley $45 when I returned the text book.
At least I learned early on that this was not the correct path. It actually made me realize that I am a writer/pr person deep down inside and those are the skills I should be cultivating. Perhaps an ideal job for me would be communications in a medical environment. Time will tell ...
I tracked down my former editor and got some freelance work at a weekly newspaper group. I also began to focus more on what skills need polishing in order for me to snag a public relations/communications job. And I've dipped my toe into networking - tracking down some co-workers from my past and basically getting the word out that I'm back in the job market.
I'm happy to have a plan again. This time, it feels right.
I have always been interested in medicine, although I kept far away from science and math courses in college. During my time at home, I decided to volunteer at CT Children's Medical Center and found that I felt very comfortable in the hospital environment. For five years and 600 volunteer hours, I was a cashier in the gift shop and I cuddled premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
I enjoyed both experiences for different reasons. I met a wide variety of people in the gift shop and learned how to be discreet (not something that came easily to me!) and kind, since many customers had sick children. I also had a lot of laughs. One man came into the shop looking for the richest chocolate candy that we sold, to give to his wife who was breastfeeding. Apparently, she was having trouble until he gave her chocolate milk. He explained with animated arms how the chocolate "made her flow" and he needed to keep it going. TMI!
Cuddling babies was very special. I felt like I was doing something important every time I stepped onto the dimly lit unit and found a crying baby to hold. Usually the infants were not more than three or four pounds and so fragile, hooked up to all kinds of tubes and equipment. They reminded me of hummingbirds. Early on, I had the honor of holding a dying baby with no family. Thank goodness, she didn't die in my arms, but I was a little freaked out wondering if she would.
What I learned about myself was that I have a high threshold for handling medical situations, which got me thinking about possible medical careers. After a bit of research, I decided I was going to get an associate's degree in respiratory therapy. The salary was respectible and it appeared to be a growing field. I actually shadowed two therapists on duty to find out exactly what the job involved and found it fascinating. (I also got to wear a white lab coat for the first time in my life and it felt great!)
The two-year program had algebra pre-requisites, so I enrolled in Tunxis Community College this past June to get a head start. Math was not something that came easily to me, so I was a little concerned. But I was more than delighted to have a plan. I did all the appropriate paperwork and took a placement test. Then my bubble started to burst. I scored extremely low (hey, could you do algebra after all these years?) and was placed in a pre-algebra level class.
I spent $145 on a text book, sharpened my pencils and went to the first class after being out of college for more than three decades. Within ten minutes, I realized that I had made a critical mistake. There was a reason I had gravitated to the humanities when I was younger. Even the basic math concepts were over my head. Sadly, I approached the instructor and he directed me to a pre-pre algebra class down the hall. Sitting in there also made my head spin. My gut told me this was not the direction to go in.
So my dreams of becoming a respiratory therapist went up in smoke. So did $600 - they wouldn't reimburse me for tuition and I got a measley $45 when I returned the text book.
At least I learned early on that this was not the correct path. It actually made me realize that I am a writer/pr person deep down inside and those are the skills I should be cultivating. Perhaps an ideal job for me would be communications in a medical environment. Time will tell ...
I tracked down my former editor and got some freelance work at a weekly newspaper group. I also began to focus more on what skills need polishing in order for me to snag a public relations/communications job. And I've dipped my toe into networking - tracking down some co-workers from my past and basically getting the word out that I'm back in the job market.
I'm happy to have a plan again. This time, it feels right.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Verbal Handslap
It's very difficult to handle job interviews well, especially when you've been out of the workforce for a while and are rusty. I definitely made a few mistakes the first couple of times out of the chute, as I learned from this informative article on the web:
"10 things you should NEVER say during a job interview"
http://hubpages.com/hub/5_things_you_should_NEVER_say
Faux pas #1 - I shared way too much personal information.
After deciding to try for a part-time, minimum-wage job - just to get started, I heard that a local gym needed a receptionist on weekends. When they agreed to an interview, I was stoked. Why wouldn't they want me? After all, I worked out regularly at a gym. That should make me more than qualified. This will be a piece of cake, I thought.
Things went smoothly during the interview until I was asked a basic question: Why do you want this job? I felt an immediate change in my demeanor as I began describing how I was getting divorced and needed a little extra cash, the kids were growing up, etc. She sympathized and began telling me about her own divorce. We were like two girlfriends chatting over coffee. As we said goodbye, she wished me luck and gave me a little pep talk. I realized we had spent most of the interview talking about my personal life, rather than the potential job. Not good.
A week or so later, I got a friendly letter in the mail stating that they went with someone "whose background more closely matched the position." Although disappointed, I wasn't suprised.
A friend recently gave me some sage advice on this topic. She suggested that I just say I've had a change in my circumstances. Period. Then move the conversation back to why I'm the best person for the position. I will definitely give this new approach a try.
Faux pas #2 - I asked about salary during the initial interview.
I got my hands verbally slapped when, during an interview at an arts organization, I boldly asked about the hourly wage. What can I say? I had met with my lawyer the day before and my financial situation was foremost on my mind. I was crisply told that money would be discussed only if I made it to the next round. Which never happened.
I now know that any salary discussion (minimum wage as well as professional) should be initiated by the interviewer and that I should, at least initially, be very general when talking about my requirements. I also don't want to knock myself out of the game by setting unrealistic financial expectations.
Faux pas #3 - I stated which hours and days I was willing to work for a part-time position, rather than finding out what the organization needed.
This was during the same interview for a 20-hour/week job. I think I came off as mildly inflexible when I said that I wanted Fridays free and would prefer to be home each day when my daughter got out of school. I didn't give the interviewer a chance to tell me what hours or days the job required. Using a stern voice for the second time that morning, she explained that she probably couldn't accommodate my schedule. I knew right then and there that things didn't look promising.
I've learned from this mistake as well. I need to listen more, demand less and remember this tidbit from the article noted above: "The first interview you have with a company is all about what you can do for THEM."
There is some good news for me, according to "10 things you should NEVER say ..." I have only seven more mistakes to make before experiencing what may be the perfect interview. I can hardly wait!
"10 things you should NEVER say during a job interview"
http://hubpages.com/hub/5_things_you_should_NEVER_say
Faux pas #1 - I shared way too much personal information.
After deciding to try for a part-time, minimum-wage job - just to get started, I heard that a local gym needed a receptionist on weekends. When they agreed to an interview, I was stoked. Why wouldn't they want me? After all, I worked out regularly at a gym. That should make me more than qualified. This will be a piece of cake, I thought.
Things went smoothly during the interview until I was asked a basic question: Why do you want this job? I felt an immediate change in my demeanor as I began describing how I was getting divorced and needed a little extra cash, the kids were growing up, etc. She sympathized and began telling me about her own divorce. We were like two girlfriends chatting over coffee. As we said goodbye, she wished me luck and gave me a little pep talk. I realized we had spent most of the interview talking about my personal life, rather than the potential job. Not good.
A week or so later, I got a friendly letter in the mail stating that they went with someone "whose background more closely matched the position." Although disappointed, I wasn't suprised.
A friend recently gave me some sage advice on this topic. She suggested that I just say I've had a change in my circumstances. Period. Then move the conversation back to why I'm the best person for the position. I will definitely give this new approach a try.
Faux pas #2 - I asked about salary during the initial interview.
I got my hands verbally slapped when, during an interview at an arts organization, I boldly asked about the hourly wage. What can I say? I had met with my lawyer the day before and my financial situation was foremost on my mind. I was crisply told that money would be discussed only if I made it to the next round. Which never happened.
I now know that any salary discussion (minimum wage as well as professional) should be initiated by the interviewer and that I should, at least initially, be very general when talking about my requirements. I also don't want to knock myself out of the game by setting unrealistic financial expectations.
Faux pas #3 - I stated which hours and days I was willing to work for a part-time position, rather than finding out what the organization needed.
This was during the same interview for a 20-hour/week job. I think I came off as mildly inflexible when I said that I wanted Fridays free and would prefer to be home each day when my daughter got out of school. I didn't give the interviewer a chance to tell me what hours or days the job required. Using a stern voice for the second time that morning, she explained that she probably couldn't accommodate my schedule. I knew right then and there that things didn't look promising.
I've learned from this mistake as well. I need to listen more, demand less and remember this tidbit from the article noted above: "The first interview you have with a company is all about what you can do for THEM."
There is some good news for me, according to "10 things you should NEVER say ..." I have only seven more mistakes to make before experiencing what may be the perfect interview. I can hardly wait!
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Peephole
I've gone on a handful of job interviews during the last few months. Three were for minimum wage jobs and one was a little closer to my pr profession. Not only were they good practice for me, two actually resulted in positions: at a wedding banquet facility and a local department store. I'll get into more detail on these in later posts.
Today, I want to reminisce about a few job interviews that I've had in the past:
The Creepiest - When I was in high school, I desperately wanted to work at Friendly's. I had heard some disparaging remarks about the manager - that he asked candidates to change into a uniform and peeked at them - but I chose to ignore these comments. Guess what? They were right on target! I remember that my interview with the manager went quite quickly and it wasn't long before he asked me to try on a grey-and-white uniform. He left the room. As I changed, I could actually hear him climb what seemed like a ladder outside the room and create some rustling noises in the far corner. I was so afraid to look up because I feared that I might actually see him watching me and lose the job (hey, I was young then ...) I put on the uniform and - I swear this is true - I heard him climb back down the ladder.
I finally felt comfortable enough to look in the direction of the sounds and dread overtook me. I saw a peephole in the wall about three-inches in diameter. He opened the door, told me that I had the job and left. I was speechless. Once he was gone, I caught my breath and - I'm not proud to admit this - I was a tiny bit pleased that I had passed muster. Remember, I was a kid who needed a job. I ended up working there for two years and enjoyed it, for the most part. There were the occasional odd incidents that gave me pause: a fellow employee sneezing into a giant tub of vanilla ice cream which he continued to use, and another who had no problem scooping when his arm was covered in poison ivy. Ewwww!!!
Months after our encounter, the manager was arrested for loitering outside a dressing room in a nearby clothing store and was fired from Friendly's. I didn't reveal to my family and friends what happened to me for quite a while because I was embarassed by the whole incident.
The Most Productive - I met my soon-to-be ex on a job interview. Yes, I married my boss. I don't actually remember much about the interview itself, except that I got the job, thought my future boss was cute and ended up marrying him.
Much of what went on between us in the months that followed wouldn't fly today because of the sensitivity to issues surrounding sexual harassment. But we're talking about the eighties here, long before Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas.
I was editor/writer for publications that were mailed to serious coin collectors. It was a fun job in downtown Boston made even more interesting by the dynamics between us ... except for the time when I wasn't pleased with my raise! Let's just say my then-boyfriend didn't have a great weekend.
We got engaged while I worked there. It was a small company and everyone was thrilled for us. I think things would be very different today if we met on the job.
The Easiest - I just had to show up for this one. During college, I traveled by bus to Washington, D.C., to interview for an internship as a reporter on Capitol Hill. It was a fabulous opportunity and I wanted it to be mine. I look back now and think that I was mildly insane. I stayed overnight with a fellow UMass student and his roommate. I had never met them and they put me up in their living room. Nothing happened, but, boy, did I put myself in a vulnerable position! The owner of the news service was so impressed I came down alone that he gave me the internship on the spot.
I spent four months covering Congress for newspapers in Maine, Alaska and Massachusetts - an experience I'll never forget. For me, one of the most exciting moments was attending a press conference at The White House with Jody Powell, who was press secretary for President Jimmy Carter. (During my stay, I also dated a 40+ reporter from Maine when I was a mere 20 years old. I'll say no more on that topic.)
As I think about sharpening my skills for the interviews that I hope will come my way, I look back at some of my successes and failures over the years. A job interview can be nervewracking and unpredictable. Those with the best outcome have been when I exhibited confidence and was actually a good fit for the job. This time around, I'll also need someone to give me a break, since I've been out of the work force for so long. I'm optimistic, even in this economy, that the right job is out there waiting for me. I just need patience and persistence.
I know one thing for sure: I'll have to walk away if someone asks me to try on a uniform.
Today, I want to reminisce about a few job interviews that I've had in the past:
The Creepiest - When I was in high school, I desperately wanted to work at Friendly's. I had heard some disparaging remarks about the manager - that he asked candidates to change into a uniform and peeked at them - but I chose to ignore these comments. Guess what? They were right on target! I remember that my interview with the manager went quite quickly and it wasn't long before he asked me to try on a grey-and-white uniform. He left the room. As I changed, I could actually hear him climb what seemed like a ladder outside the room and create some rustling noises in the far corner. I was so afraid to look up because I feared that I might actually see him watching me and lose the job (hey, I was young then ...) I put on the uniform and - I swear this is true - I heard him climb back down the ladder.
I finally felt comfortable enough to look in the direction of the sounds and dread overtook me. I saw a peephole in the wall about three-inches in diameter. He opened the door, told me that I had the job and left. I was speechless. Once he was gone, I caught my breath and - I'm not proud to admit this - I was a tiny bit pleased that I had passed muster. Remember, I was a kid who needed a job. I ended up working there for two years and enjoyed it, for the most part. There were the occasional odd incidents that gave me pause: a fellow employee sneezing into a giant tub of vanilla ice cream which he continued to use, and another who had no problem scooping when his arm was covered in poison ivy. Ewwww!!!
Months after our encounter, the manager was arrested for loitering outside a dressing room in a nearby clothing store and was fired from Friendly's. I didn't reveal to my family and friends what happened to me for quite a while because I was embarassed by the whole incident.
The Most Productive - I met my soon-to-be ex on a job interview. Yes, I married my boss. I don't actually remember much about the interview itself, except that I got the job, thought my future boss was cute and ended up marrying him.
Much of what went on between us in the months that followed wouldn't fly today because of the sensitivity to issues surrounding sexual harassment. But we're talking about the eighties here, long before Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas.
I was editor/writer for publications that were mailed to serious coin collectors. It was a fun job in downtown Boston made even more interesting by the dynamics between us ... except for the time when I wasn't pleased with my raise! Let's just say my then-boyfriend didn't have a great weekend.
We got engaged while I worked there. It was a small company and everyone was thrilled for us. I think things would be very different today if we met on the job.
The Easiest - I just had to show up for this one. During college, I traveled by bus to Washington, D.C., to interview for an internship as a reporter on Capitol Hill. It was a fabulous opportunity and I wanted it to be mine. I look back now and think that I was mildly insane. I stayed overnight with a fellow UMass student and his roommate. I had never met them and they put me up in their living room. Nothing happened, but, boy, did I put myself in a vulnerable position! The owner of the news service was so impressed I came down alone that he gave me the internship on the spot.
I spent four months covering Congress for newspapers in Maine, Alaska and Massachusetts - an experience I'll never forget. For me, one of the most exciting moments was attending a press conference at The White House with Jody Powell, who was press secretary for President Jimmy Carter. (During my stay, I also dated a 40+ reporter from Maine when I was a mere 20 years old. I'll say no more on that topic.)
As I think about sharpening my skills for the interviews that I hope will come my way, I look back at some of my successes and failures over the years. A job interview can be nervewracking and unpredictable. Those with the best outcome have been when I exhibited confidence and was actually a good fit for the job. This time around, I'll also need someone to give me a break, since I've been out of the work force for so long. I'm optimistic, even in this economy, that the right job is out there waiting for me. I just need patience and persistence.
I know one thing for sure: I'll have to walk away if someone asks me to try on a uniform.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Recipe For Disaster
A few months ago, I applied for a job on-line ... a new experience for me.
It was in communications and sounded like my background was a pretty good match. I began the tedious task of filling in the boxes, getting frustrated multiple times when the screen froze or wouldn’t allow me to proceed. The job history section was a challenge, since the format doesn’t allow for someone who hasn’t been working for a while.
I was mildly annoyed at the fact that the computer plays such a critical role in my job search. I liked the old process of mailing a resume and cover letter to a potential employer, then following up with a phone call. I had control over how my work experience was presented, rather than being shoehorned into a specific format. Applying on-line means we send our information off to oblivion. In most cases, we never hear a word back in response and don't quite know where we stand.
I decided to write what I thought was an excellent cover letter to compensate for any gaps. However, in my impatience that day, I pushed the wrong key a little too quickly. Oops! I dropped in a recipe instead of the cover letter. I didn’t realize this until after I hit “submit.” Needless to say, I got absolute silence on the other end. I’m thinking that I didn’t impress them with my computer savvy. But I have to say, it was a pretty good recipe. Maybe someone in cyberspace enjoyed it.
I am much more adept at applying on-line now – I take my time and print out everything before it is sent. One tip: I have the cover letter in the same file as my resume, so they always go together. I learned the hard way on that one!
It was in communications and sounded like my background was a pretty good match. I began the tedious task of filling in the boxes, getting frustrated multiple times when the screen froze or wouldn’t allow me to proceed. The job history section was a challenge, since the format doesn’t allow for someone who hasn’t been working for a while.
I was mildly annoyed at the fact that the computer plays such a critical role in my job search. I liked the old process of mailing a resume and cover letter to a potential employer, then following up with a phone call. I had control over how my work experience was presented, rather than being shoehorned into a specific format. Applying on-line means we send our information off to oblivion. In most cases, we never hear a word back in response and don't quite know where we stand.
I decided to write what I thought was an excellent cover letter to compensate for any gaps. However, in my impatience that day, I pushed the wrong key a little too quickly. Oops! I dropped in a recipe instead of the cover letter. I didn’t realize this until after I hit “submit.” Needless to say, I got absolute silence on the other end. I’m thinking that I didn’t impress them with my computer savvy. But I have to say, it was a pretty good recipe. Maybe someone in cyberspace enjoyed it.
I am much more adept at applying on-line now – I take my time and print out everything before it is sent. One tip: I have the cover letter in the same file as my resume, so they always go together. I learned the hard way on that one!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Face Up To Facebook
Social media isn't going away. But the rules of what to post, how much to reveal and who should be held accountable are ever-changing. Public vs. private on Facebook, blogs, etc., is a hot issue and there are no clear answers. Especially in the workplace.
An interesting article in the Hartford Courant by William Wier explores this topic:
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-facebook-workplace-policies-20100817,0,1908742.story
Should a superintendent lose his job because he wrote on Facebook about advising an administrator to retire or get fired, then ended the entry with a smiley face icon? He's been placed on leave, with the possibility of getting fired. At minimum, his action was tasteless and inconsiderate. I think he needs his hands (or should I say fingers) slapped, since he is a position of authority and showed poor judgement. Especially on his first day! What was the guy thinking? But I'm not sure it's a deal breaker in terms of losing a job. I'd love to see your comments ...
Some companies, the article noted, are trying to establish "policies" about what employees can and can't
post on-line. Pretty impossible to enforce and maybe an infringement of first amendment rights??? There's a lot to think about. The lines will continue to be blurry on what's appropriate for some time. It makes me wonder if discretion is a thing of the past.
This reminds me of a personal aside regarding the younger generation: They don't mind revealing all. Their rules are different than someone of my, shall we say, life experience. Last summer, when we told our children we were getting a divorce, my 15-year-old son posted that info on his Facebook page and I was mortified. We hadn't even told everyone in our extended families. Yet his network of 400+ "friends" already knew. He didn't give this a second thought. It was important to him at that moment, and he posted it. That's what they do.
What was interesting was how quickly we became old news. He got a few comments of sympathy and then the stream moved on to other topics. I was actually a bit insulted! A life-changing event displaced by an update of a teen's mundane afternoon activities. It didn't seem right. I expected the news to create more than a ripple.
Which brings me back to the superintendent. We just can't predict what kind of impact a post/blog/tweet, etc., will have. Once you push the button, it's out there. I think that we have to rely on our own moral compass to determine what's right and always remember the following before sending our words into cyberspace, which I'll quote from Wier's article describing Facebook: "It's not your family or six guys around a table. People mistake it for an intimate forum ... a variety of people are consuming this, and they're not all your drinking buddies."
I'll conclude with some advice I recently saw on a website for a weekly newspaper: "Please post responsibly."
An interesting article in the Hartford Courant by William Wier explores this topic:
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-facebook-workplace-policies-20100817,0,1908742.story
Should a superintendent lose his job because he wrote on Facebook about advising an administrator to retire or get fired, then ended the entry with a smiley face icon? He's been placed on leave, with the possibility of getting fired. At minimum, his action was tasteless and inconsiderate. I think he needs his hands (or should I say fingers) slapped, since he is a position of authority and showed poor judgement. Especially on his first day! What was the guy thinking? But I'm not sure it's a deal breaker in terms of losing a job. I'd love to see your comments ...
Some companies, the article noted, are trying to establish "policies" about what employees can and can't
post on-line. Pretty impossible to enforce and maybe an infringement of first amendment rights??? There's a lot to think about. The lines will continue to be blurry on what's appropriate for some time. It makes me wonder if discretion is a thing of the past.
This reminds me of a personal aside regarding the younger generation: They don't mind revealing all. Their rules are different than someone of my, shall we say, life experience. Last summer, when we told our children we were getting a divorce, my 15-year-old son posted that info on his Facebook page and I was mortified. We hadn't even told everyone in our extended families. Yet his network of 400+ "friends" already knew. He didn't give this a second thought. It was important to him at that moment, and he posted it. That's what they do.
What was interesting was how quickly we became old news. He got a few comments of sympathy and then the stream moved on to other topics. I was actually a bit insulted! A life-changing event displaced by an update of a teen's mundane afternoon activities. It didn't seem right. I expected the news to create more than a ripple.
Which brings me back to the superintendent. We just can't predict what kind of impact a post/blog/tweet, etc., will have. Once you push the button, it's out there. I think that we have to rely on our own moral compass to determine what's right and always remember the following before sending our words into cyberspace, which I'll quote from Wier's article describing Facebook: "It's not your family or six guys around a table. People mistake it for an intimate forum ... a variety of people are consuming this, and they're not all your drinking buddies."
I'll conclude with some advice I recently saw on a website for a weekly newspaper: "Please post responsibly."
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