Carrots, We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Carrots
I was venting to Miss KT yesterday about a carrot that is dangling in front of my face and is derailing me from my career related pursuits. She asked me “Did you blog about this?” Of course I didn’t! What? Have you looked at my blog? It looks more deserted than San Francisco after the Apocalypse! Note to self, you created this blog to be a sounding board for your experiences as an unemployed TwirtyGrrl so maybe, just maybe you should share those experiences? Just a thought.
Here’s the story about that carrot. Late November/early December I was referred to an open position and interviewed for what I discovered would be a great job, a job that I saw myself in, for a company I saw myself being a part of, a boss that I saw as a coach and team leader. This was the job that would be the polar opposite of my last job, a job that was so terrible at times that I am still having nightmares. Well, I didn’t get the job. It was tragic and I was perplexed. What I came to discover was that there actually wasn’t a position, that offers had already been extended for the position and it would appear that I was brought in as back-up in case those offers went through. I was the victim of bad timing. I had been referred to an “open” position by an employee of that company that wasn’t exactly open any longer since an offer had already been extended, but I was led to believe there was an open position. That information maybe kinda would have helped me handle my expectations, maybe.
So, I blew the interviewer out of the water and I have heard time and time again from both her and the person who referred me to the position “As soon as we can add a new addition to our team you are #1 on our list!” Awesome right? Makes me feel good! The problem with all of this….when exactly is that going to happen? Is it ever going to happen? Who freaking knows! So it’s like a carrot that dangles in front of my face that I just cannot have. Even worse, I run in to that employee at networking events and she tells me AND shares that same quote with other people that I know so I get the double fun of hearing it out of other people’s mouths when I see them too! I kinda want to scream.
Anyone else holding on to hope of something great that is driving you mad because you can see it but you just can’t quite grasp it?
Hello 2010! It’s Me, An Unemployed TwirtyGrrl!
Oh my quiet little blog has been haunting me for weeks! I haven’t written a single thing and I cannot even tell you how guilty I have felt over this. It is darn hard to blog people! It is even harder to blog when the blog’s author (me) is so focused on maximizing the holiday season to boost her job search for 2010 that she runs herself ragged with networking & meetings & interviews and all that goodness. My work paid off and I am feeling awesome about job search 2010!
I’ll admit, I was feeling more and more blue the closer the holidays got. As the days rolled on by I was being smacked in the face with the reality that I was going to wake up on Christmas morning unemployed and then have to face 2010 unemployed. Never in my worst nightmares did I think that it would take me *&$Q(&*# months to find a job. Never in my nightmare’s worst nightmares did I think that 2010 would arrive and I would still be a job seeker. What the heck?!?!?! This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be!
Well guess what? You won’t be shocked here, but that is exactly what happened. It’s 2010 and I’m still looking for a job…bleh! Double bleh!
Back to the part where I’m feeling awesome about my job search 2010…2009 was a tough year, we all know this. It was tough and also filled with so many successes! In an effort to keep my blues in check I wrote down a list of all the fun things I did in 2009. I also wrote down the positive impact I have made in the lives of others through my networking & volunteering efforts. Last but not least I noted all of my own personal successes as a job seeker. 2009 was an awesome year! My list showcased that the only thing missing really was the paycheck. Kinda important yes, but there isn’t a dollar amount large enough that I would trade for some of these great experiences & new friendships that have blossomed through the year.
I bid you adieu 2009, your impact will not be forgotten. 2010 I welcome your arrival and all of the great things you have in store for me!
December = My Networking Extravaganza
Today I am filled with nervous energy. The good kind of nervous energy. The kind that fuels fires and motivates. I wish I could bottle this energy and divvy it up for equal distribution every day. It’s officially December and while other job seekers are lying low and hiding out until the end of the holiday storm, I am riding the crest of the holiday wave. It kills me how many people have said to me “Oh the holidays aren’t a good time to be looking for a job.” OH YES THEY ARE!!! My Twitter feed is filled with career coaches and recruiters sharing articles stating how great this time of year is for the job seeker. I counted 7 networking events on my calendar for December. I am a living example of how a job seeker can utilize the holiday season. I had to toot my own horn for a minute, it is my blog after all 😉
December really isn’t any different to me as a job seeker. Like other months, I keep my calendar booked with a variety of networking activities, volunteering and social commitments. What I love about December? It’s so much easier to get people out of their offices for networking functions. I don’t know if it’s the lure of egg nog or if they are blinded by the sparkle of tinsel, but the level of social interaction for professionals definitely increases this time of year.
Shoot! Look at the time. I’ve got to go! Today’s networking opens tomorrow’s door!
There Is A Flip Side To Every Coin
Someone in my world recently made a statement about being so happy that they are one thing and not the other. It was a bold statement considering the audience the statement was made to is probably a mixed bag of both things. The first thought in my head was “there is a flip side to every coin” and today’s “heads” could really be tomorrow’s “tails.”
Right now I am living the flip side of the “employed” coin. I give people a peek in to my world by tweeting, updating Facebook and writing this blog. That peek is usually pretty upbeat and fabulous because let’s be real, it’s always sunny on Facebook. I crack up at the number of times people have commented that I am “living the life.” In many ways I am. I get to do so many things that I would not be able to do while employed. But I do miss working, that rush of success when overcoming a challenge that recharges my passion and energy.  It is my drive to succeed that fulfills me!
Feeling inspired I created a list of the top 10 things I love about being unemployed/employed. You can choose which side you would prefer to be living. Being a Lady of Leisure has it’s perks but I think it’s obvious which side is for me!
10 Things I Love About Being In “Job Transition”:
- My day starts with a leisurely stroll to the coffee shop
- My dress code starts and ends with workout pants and a fleece zip-up
- Make-up is optional
- So is brushing my hair 😉
- My days are sprinkled with coffee & lunch dates
- My social life is booming with new friends (YAY Networking!)
- Mid-day grocery store trips
- Spontaneity is my norm
- Happy hour can begin at any time
- Every day is Saturday
10 Things I Love About Working:
- Success
- Team Work
- Camaraderie
- Opportunity
- Challenge
- Growth
- Experience
- Relationships
- The paycheck
- Did I mention the paycheck? 😉
Wine Me, Dine Me…Bring It On!
If I were still working with my former employer, last night I would have attended a fancy-schmancy white truffle dinner with some pretty amazing food and wine. Can we say yum? We are talking tubers here, not chocolates. Italian white truffles to be exact. They are highly esteemed and are quiet the treat for a foodie like me.
Working for a restaurant company I was well fed on a regular basis. My life revolved around our food and wine and I loved every second of it. One could say that I was in my element. There are definitely days that I miss it.
The seeds for this post started growing when a former co-worker sent me a text to tell me he was dining at the restaurant and spotted two of my friends and needed some help sparking the old memory bank on their names. The text was no big thing, I may have for a second been sad that I wasn’t at the restaurant but all was well with the world because the husband and I were on our way to grab some sushi.
Let’s side track for a moment….I love sushi. I love love love love sushi. It is my favorite food and I could eat it daily. I tease that one of my life goals is to be a sushi-tarian. That is how much I love it.
I “hmmm…mmm’d” my way through the entire meal. Every other bite was followed with “I love sushi, it is mmm good.” I was a happy clam.
And then I logged on to Facebook. I saw it. My girlfriend wrote one word in her Facebook status “Truffles” (remember, tubers, not chocolates). Oh no, it’s truffle season! How could I forget? Oh the memories flooded back! The food. The wine. Always amazing!!! And I spent a whole two minutes feeling sad and wishing I was at the dinner until I remembered my belly was full with sushi. There was no way I would have traded my casual sushi dinner with the husband in for that stuffy white truffle dinner. 🙂
What do you miss most from a former job?
Sit Back And Relax…Um, How Do You Do That?
Kitty V is one of my favorite Ladies of Leisure to spend time with, lucky for me we get to chat frequently. She always presents a different point of view that I often find myself pondering long after our lunch date ends. Yesterday she was bubbling over with excitement because she has two potential gigs in the pipeline. That is fantastic news and I’m even more excited because one gig is the result of a connection I helped her make! YAY networking, it does work! 😉
The beautiful thing about her gigs is that they came together organically. All of a sudden, two opportunities popped up and we both agree that in a perfect world that is the way it should be.
I am someone who is driven by my need to succeed. I always have my eye on the prize. Right now, it’s all about getting a job. This means I am constantly in a state of planning, scheduling, researching and networking. I joke that I have become so good at sniffing out leads, for myself and others, that I should get paid to do this (A-Ha moment? Maybe). Because I am so driven I hold myself to very high expectations and often forget to celebrate the cookie-crumb trail of mini-victories that sprinkle the path to success.
Kitty V suggested maybe I should take a breather from my work, work, work attitude towards finding a job. When she spoke those words I literally thought she was from a foreign planet. Me, just sit back and relax? Um. That sounds crazy! She recognizes that pounding the pavement is important and maybe I should let a few pieces fall in to place without throwing myself out there to catch them all the time? This is a foreign concept for me.
Wow! I wonder, can I do that?
Yes, but it’s going to take some serious effort on my part. It’s time for me to take a step back and re-evaluate my goals, create and delete a few and then tailor my action plan appropriately. I’ve already got one new goal in mind…recognize my hard work this week and take the weekend “off” to relax. I’ll let you know how it goes!
What are you doing to stay sane right now?
Hear It Here First! The Amazing Race ‘Job Seekers’
Oh my gosh! What has happened to this world? Have you tried looking for a job these days? Maybe you are a job seeker like me? Or maybe you are just perusing my blog while trying to avoid the 2 o’clock coma in the office? Either way, Â I’m taking it upon myself to guide you through the job search experience in 2009 as I’m living it!
These days I am powering through what I like to call “The Job Search White Noise.” Back in the day, you know in 2007, the job search consisted of the tried and true process that we all understood and could get on board with. Why? Because we understood it. The rules of the game went something like this…write an engaging cover letter showcasing what you bring to the table for the potential employer. Submit with cover letter (a.k.a Masterpiece of Your Awesomeness) a resume highlighting all of your accomplishments which boosts you to super-stardom in the eyes of that hiring manager. And then hang out and wait for a bit. Book the interview. Go in and knock their socks off during two rounds of interviews and offer letter in hand by the end of the week. That was easy right!?!?!
Welcome to 2009! The rules of the game have changed and if you want to hitch a ride on the train heading straight to destination Employment Land, we as job seekers have to change too.
Currently my job is to look for a job and seriously I can (and do) spend hours and hours and hours doing just that. There are so many newfangled tools and resources that get lots of press and attention as THE way to find a job. Tweetin’ for  a job, networking on Facebook, connecting on LinkedIN, managing your personal brand…OH MY GOSH!!!! STOP THE INSANITY!!!
Clearly the white noise has driven me so nuts that I have subconsciously channeled Susan Powers! I am actively engaged in all the above mentioned resources while also networking face-to-face, checking the job boards, volunteering and blogging. I am the face of  Job Search 2009! I tweet, I Facebook, I blog, I volunteer, I connect, I network. Why is there not a reality TV show with me as the star? Who cares if you think you can dance! I want to know, when can we start filming the first season of The Amazing Race ‘Job Seekers???’
November Reality Check Is A Savvy Job Seekers Pot Of Gold!
A reality check from the universe just arrived addressed to me, Miss. TwirtyGrrl. I don’t even want to look at it. I don’t want to think about it. The check is clearly dated November 2, 2009. EEK! November is here! The horror! The horror!!!
Why am I finding November to be more scary than the ghouls on Halloween? Is it because November signals the “official’ start of the Holiday season? Hhhmm…no, not that. You won’t find a hint of “bah humbug” in me. If I could get a tree right now I totally would. I love the smell of pine and the twinkle of lights!
The arrival of November means that I, as a job seeker, am going to see a big drop in opportunities to land a job before 2010. *sigh*
So what am I going to do about this? Am I going to hide my head in the sand and wait it out? Um. NO! Not my style. Job seekers have a unique opportunity at their fingertips here. Two months of limited hiring opportunities open up a window for the job seeker to spend this time re-tooling the job search action plan and focus on the face-to-face networking that is such a crucial piece of job search puzzle. The holiday season brings invites by family and friends from far and wide. Booked calendars beyond normal capacity are, for the savvy networker, the opportunity to showcase who you are in an informal and friendly setting.
My advice to my fellow job seekers:
- Say “yes” to the invites that roll in from the friends and family, especially those you don’t connect with often.
- Re-engage with old friends and be sure to make new ones.
- Be open to sharing the fact that you are not currently working.
- But don’t dwell on it! Share the fact, share what type of work you are looking for and why you are awesome at it!
- Then move on, no dwelling, no complaining, just short and sweet and then back to friendly conversation.
The Goal: a positive impression that will result in top-of-mind awareness the next time that new friend hears about a job opportunity in your field. A personal referral goes a long way in the eyes of a hiring manager.
I can’t wait to hear about your holiday networking success stories!
Green, Not My Best Color!
“Miss Fabu-licious” just exited stage right and “Miss Green-With-Envy” has arrived! Green is not my best color, particularly when it happens to be representing the incredible level of envy I am feeling at the moment. Some days I think that my hyper-connectivity to social media causes me more pain than gain.
The source of my sudden resemblance to the Incredible Hulk? The Facebook status updates of a former co-worker who continues to successfully climb the corporate ladder and has landed in a cushy position that she loves. Facebook status updates take “keeping up with the Joneses” to a whole new level and my girlfriend’s life appears to be off the charts.
Yes, I chose to leave that company years ago in a search of greener pastures. No, I never regretted it…or so I thought. I rocked my new job and moved up within the company after a short period of time. All was good until a few months ago when my happy position was eliminated during a round of budget driven lay-offs.
Regrets aren’t really my thing, I’m not a fan of a “what if” way of life. I’d rather embrace what I’ve got going for me and run with it…but somedays I can’t help but wonder where I would be if I hadn’t left that job?
What about you? Have a job you regret leaving or a Facebook friend you’d be better off hiding?
TwirtyGrrl 