GAH! I have applied to 13 jobs today. I have filled out more applications and written more cover letters, and let me tell you how this technology is screwing everything up.
Most jobs you apply directly on their website. You can upload your resume, but you still have to type everything in, so what is the point, exactly? So I've typed my resume no less than 13 times today, even though I have a perfect copy that I tried to upload (as an added bonus, on the websites where you can upload your resume, it won't accept the newest, Office 2007 version. UPDATE YOUR SITES, employers!). So I have revamped my resume once again, saved it in the OLD 1997-2003 version of Word, and still manually typed in my information (are you hearing this? I can do data entry!)!
The last website was the worst. It's a bank website, and I was applying as a teller. I filled out my entire resume yet again, retyped it all, hit submit, and got an error message that their site is not working. So after all that CRAP, I still haven't even applied. Do they have any idea how exhausting and ego-damaging it is to do this to every site? Every time I apply I have to think of something new to say, some way to make me sound better, I'm sick of trying to up-play myself. I am a good employee the way I am, with the experience I have. I keep trying to think of ways I can sound more desirable, more "good" at my life. Augh, just looking at that phrase is making me nauseated.
So today I have applied at:
-2 Separate jobs at Macy's
-A Book Store in the Airport
-3 other places in the Airport
-Culligan Water Receptionist/Clerk
-4 Medical offices for Records Clerk
-A Bank - Wait, scratch that, I did NOT apply to the bank after all
-A Grocery Store Inventory Specialist
-A Tour Guide at the Underground Aquarium
You've just got to be kidding. Out of all of these, I'll be lucky if I hear from one. This is just really unbelievable. How long will I have to do this? I spend 4 hours a day looking for work...that's a part time job with NO pay. I'm in an internship of my own life, but without the credit. Hopefully there is a paying position at the end of this internship.
I've been throwing around the idea of going back to school. I can't do that until next year, because last year I made too much money. Even if I go back to school, I still have bills, and I won't even make it to January if I don't work now. Lord help me.
I think maybe I should clarify what I'm doing here. This is a way for me to release my tension and fears about not working, while (hopefully) laughing at my mistakes. I hope someone learns from my mistakes. This is therapy for me. I have a lot of talents, and I work very hard. But there are days when I feel like I'm losing it, and right now this is one. Every time I put myself out there, I try to keep my emotions neutral, just hoping and praying to at least get an interview. I'm exhausted and bummed right now, but I look forward to reading your comments; I realize then I'm not alone! :)
I know it's only been an hour since I put in my last application, but why are they not calling? If I got my application, I'd be on the phone immediately. I think I just want a farm now; grow my own food, become the crotchety recluse that kids are afraid of, make jam. Yeah, right now Jam sounds like the way to go. If I won a small number in the lottery and could pay off all my debt, then I'd not have to worry nearly as much :).
I really should eat something; I tend to get over dramatic when I'm hungry. Ha ha ha, I'm like Tuve's mom on "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"..."Oh, Tuve, Eat Something!" Because she doesn't know what to say. I'm going to eat a healthy lunch and then get back to the grind!
This is just a little dip before the obligatory bucking up. I'll be fine. I'm just venting because I am trying to get a freaking job, and it shouldn't be this hard.
Today's Song of the Day is "Moonshadow" by Kate Rusby. She's awesome.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Moonshadow/5632483
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Today is a Good Day to Panic.
I've sent in more resumes, I've called more people in HR offices across Minnesota. Nothing. Wait, that's not true. The job I was most excited about emailed me back with an offer for furthering my education. Seriously, why do these schools think I will choose them when they don't even advertise as schools? I did get 4 calls, each from a different number, all belonging to the "CareerInstitute", who seem to have a monopoly on Jack-Holery. Every time I Google the incoming number, it's already been reported as a harassment number. Glad I'm on their list. At least it's my Google number, so they don't know my real number, and I can mark each call as SPAM, which I love (I feel bad for SPAM, it's not the worst product in the world, but here we've associated it with unwanted fakeness and fake meat. Sorry, SPAM. Sorry, Hawaii. I'll come to the museum to pay my respects :P...yes there is a SPAM museum, you didn't know that? I'm surprised).
It's the rain today; it's heightening my sense of doom. I notice more and more lately that doom never feels the impending me coming on. The rain is reminding me that if I want to curl up on the couch and fall into my PMS headfirst, I totally can. That's not good. How many re-runs of Charmed can I really watch? I will not make that batch of brownies, pulled out for such an occasion. No, I will go volunteer with my friend today, as planned. I like volunteering; gets me out of my head. Usually. There are some times when I meet a friend for a walk, or ride along while they shop or meet for lunch, that everywhere I go, I think, "Could I work here? I wonder if they're hiring. Can I see myself here? I wonder what they pay." This impending need to work is seeping into every part of my psyche. I wonder if it's my fault; if I just have a talent for finding the fake stuff, because the fake stuff looks like fun. That's got to be it. Jerks.
Yesterday I met with a dear dear friend in a wonderful part of St. Paul; the Crocus Hill/Grand Avenue area. We had a lovely fresh lunch at SHISH, a Middleastern/Greek place (highly recommended for their menu art alone, as well as the fantastic food), then walked around Grand Avenue for a while, as I am wont to do. I would love to work in one of the quirky little shops in that area, most disguised as houses. My friend and I talked about ourselves the right amount, laughed with each other at our mutual klutzery, and discussed a topic we often discuss: words and phrases. She is unwilling to use any phrase that she doesn't know the origin. She wouldn't use the phrase "white noise" until I looked it up for her. Also, there was a whole discussion about the phrase "picking your brain" that we had to work through. This is why we're such good friends; I love the nerdy research and trivia, and she loves the results. We started talking about words that don't belong in the English language. Ginormous. The embarrassing way Americans abbreviate everything, as if we're too lazy to say an entire word. As we talked, she commented that these words seem so childlike and young. As she said this, we saw a gummi worm on the pavement. We decided then and there, partly by accident that we would make a list of "Gummi Words" that irritate us and banish them from our vocabulary. I don't know where the list will be, but I like the idea.
So today I meet another friend, and we go do volunteer work. I am pumped about that. It'll be fun. We're doing Hoops for Hunger, packing 300,000 meals for starving people everywhere. I was so concerned by the Hoops part, when it's packing food. I think b/c it's in a sports center? I don't know, we'll have to find out. It's sponsored by the Lynx, which are a women's basketball team. That might be it. We're having a discussion about where we'll meet and where it actually is. Darn the Twin Cities for having more than one stadium!
Well, it's all sorted, we're good to go. We'll be in Minneapolis today, rather than St. Paul. When I moved here, I told myself I would be one of those people who likes both cities, not one or the other. But alas, it's true, you gravitate toward one city, whether you choose to or not. They are so different; Minneapolis is trendy and pricey, and St Paul has the classic architecture, the free stuff, the family stuff. I am a St. Paulian. I go to Minneapolis, when I need to :) It's not that I don't like it, I just prefer the laid back outdoorsier St. Paul (no offense, Lake Calhoun, I know you're very popular). Today I drink my tea to the volunteers. Cheers!
Today's Song of the Day is "When I Go" by Slow Club. I don't know why, the cadence just fits today.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/When_I_Go/21337684
It's the rain today; it's heightening my sense of doom. I notice more and more lately that doom never feels the impending me coming on. The rain is reminding me that if I want to curl up on the couch and fall into my PMS headfirst, I totally can. That's not good. How many re-runs of Charmed can I really watch? I will not make that batch of brownies, pulled out for such an occasion. No, I will go volunteer with my friend today, as planned. I like volunteering; gets me out of my head. Usually. There are some times when I meet a friend for a walk, or ride along while they shop or meet for lunch, that everywhere I go, I think, "Could I work here? I wonder if they're hiring. Can I see myself here? I wonder what they pay." This impending need to work is seeping into every part of my psyche. I wonder if it's my fault; if I just have a talent for finding the fake stuff, because the fake stuff looks like fun. That's got to be it. Jerks.
Yesterday I met with a dear dear friend in a wonderful part of St. Paul; the Crocus Hill/Grand Avenue area. We had a lovely fresh lunch at SHISH, a Middleastern/Greek place (highly recommended for their menu art alone, as well as the fantastic food), then walked around Grand Avenue for a while, as I am wont to do. I would love to work in one of the quirky little shops in that area, most disguised as houses. My friend and I talked about ourselves the right amount, laughed with each other at our mutual klutzery, and discussed a topic we often discuss: words and phrases. She is unwilling to use any phrase that she doesn't know the origin. She wouldn't use the phrase "white noise" until I looked it up for her. Also, there was a whole discussion about the phrase "picking your brain" that we had to work through. This is why we're such good friends; I love the nerdy research and trivia, and she loves the results. We started talking about words that don't belong in the English language. Ginormous. The embarrassing way Americans abbreviate everything, as if we're too lazy to say an entire word. As we talked, she commented that these words seem so childlike and young. As she said this, we saw a gummi worm on the pavement. We decided then and there, partly by accident that we would make a list of "Gummi Words" that irritate us and banish them from our vocabulary. I don't know where the list will be, but I like the idea.
So today I meet another friend, and we go do volunteer work. I am pumped about that. It'll be fun. We're doing Hoops for Hunger, packing 300,000 meals for starving people everywhere. I was so concerned by the Hoops part, when it's packing food. I think b/c it's in a sports center? I don't know, we'll have to find out. It's sponsored by the Lynx, which are a women's basketball team. That might be it. We're having a discussion about where we'll meet and where it actually is. Darn the Twin Cities for having more than one stadium!
Well, it's all sorted, we're good to go. We'll be in Minneapolis today, rather than St. Paul. When I moved here, I told myself I would be one of those people who likes both cities, not one or the other. But alas, it's true, you gravitate toward one city, whether you choose to or not. They are so different; Minneapolis is trendy and pricey, and St Paul has the classic architecture, the free stuff, the family stuff. I am a St. Paulian. I go to Minneapolis, when I need to :) It's not that I don't like it, I just prefer the laid back outdoorsier St. Paul (no offense, Lake Calhoun, I know you're very popular). Today I drink my tea to the volunteers. Cheers!
Today's Song of the Day is "When I Go" by Slow Club. I don't know why, the cadence just fits today.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/When_I_Go/21337684
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Bright Side: A Lesson in Moving Furniture Whilst Wearing Rollerblades...Autobiographical
Yesterday after my dental appointment, I was in a lot of pain (not your fault, Dr. Younger-than-me-by-one-month...Augh!), and upon further reflection, opted out of the job fair. It was a sales job fair, and it was in a really inaccessible part of town at exactly 5:00; rush hour central. I decided that any contacts I made would only see me as frazzled and looking dopey because my mouth hurt. Plus I secretly doubt there were any jobs available; these were companies wanting to advertise. Maybe I should be a conspiracy theorist. That doesn't pay well, but maybe I'd end up with a little cottage in the middle of nowhere like the Unabomber.
I did make a few contacts of my own, and called a few people in HR departments where I wouldn't mind working. I read this great article (the link is below) about marketing yourself as part of Tim's homework assignment last week. My boyfriend is currently in school for business with a minor in finance, so I've been following his classes without any pressure; free education, Bright Side number 1. I have a great handle on accounting principles, managerial accounting, Office 2007, and Business Communication, from whence this website came.
Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with Rollerblades. I've had a Bridget Jones' moment. I refuse to sit on my cushioned back side and do nothing while I wait for the world to notice I'm not spinning with it. I typically go walking with a friend most mornings, but lately it's been hit-or-miss; she has a job. I have a hard time motivating myself to work out alone, but I love Yoga and Irish Dancing (I had one lesson in Dublin from a Riverdancer, now I'm an expert :P), and those are things I'd rather do alone, as I can only imagine what I look like to others....something akin to a sea cow, I imagine. In my quest to find a job, somehow I have removed myself from the world. It was not intentional; everything fun costs money, and when you don't have it you tend to stay home. I'm fine with staying home, but I refuse to become less of a human by hermiting myself and watching daytime TV.
So Tim got me this great pair of Rollerblades last summer, which I tried to learn to do in the park out back, but then winter hit, so for Christmas he bought me ice skates (he's so sweet). I always used to watch ice skating on TV, and I'd turn the sound down and put my own music to the routines so that the beauty wouldn't be ruined by an announcer critiquing the performance. I always imagined it would be so exhilarating to be an ice skater, and the few times I did it, I'd gain some speed and feel invincible...I didn't fall much, and when I did it was because the dog was in the way. Seriously, one time I fell, and he grabbed the poofy on the top of my wool hat and ran off with it. Having said all that, I haven't Rollerbladed in about a year, and last summer equalled about 30 minutes in total. So today I decided to Rollerblade in the basement so no one would see me learning. I learned quickly that only the right Rollerblade has a break, and there are better ways to stop. I personally use appliances; washer, dryer, freezer, they work remarkably well, provided you don't get caught between them and the wall. So I was in oblivion, pretending to Rollerblade with my mp3 player blaring for about 45 minutes before I ran into a shelf and knocked all the stuff down. It was like a movie. Sleeping bags, air mattresses, inflatable kayaks all tumbled down on me. I couldn't' help but laugh as each object kept knocking the wind out of me, which just made it funnier. I put some of it back and began again and about 2 minutes later, realized that at some point Tim came downstairs (he was working next door) and saw me, sweating, red faced, still giggling, trying to do my cool figure skater arm movements (you know the ones). He started laughing and said, "Oh yeah, your life is so tough!" I realized he's right! I've spent so much time worrying about not working, I haven't been enjoying my life or the time I have to try and Rollerblade in the basement. Bright Side #2. Incidentally, I have GREAT music on my mp3 player, much of it fantastic for exercising alone. Bright Side #3. And I have a full basement in which I can Rollerblade, as well as appliances to use as brakes...Bright Side #4.
After being caught rollerblading, I decided to pack it up; it had been about an hour. I had put the coffee table on the love seat to give myself more room, but I realized that now I had nowhere to sit and take off my blades. I had fallen once on the floor (cement) and didn't want to fall again, but knew I couldn't sit without using gravity to an uncomfortable extent, so I decided to try and move the table. This is odd, because common sense is one of my personality traits. I saw it in my mind; I get the table just enough off the couch when I lose my footing and smash my nose into the coffee table as it lands back on the couch, then it bounces up to hit my face again. I resigned myself that this could happen and began. After some struggling, grunting and cynical laughter, the table landed on the floor with a crash. I sat on the couch and undid my Rollerblades. It's a good day.
This situation makes me realize that I often take the hard road to things. Straightforward things make me think there must be another way, a harder way. That's too easy. So I am taking this time to follow the advice of the website below, and reevaluating what I want out of a job, what I am qualified to do, and what I still want to learn. I know I want to work in an office. I could care less if I'm a temp, I just like the zen of office work. So relaxing, in a weird way (I always misspell weird...I don't like this word). So that's what I am doing, and I don't regret missing the job fair. There will be others, and I will be OK. Life is good when you can Rollerblade in the basement to great bands like Slow Club, English Beat, Jack Johnson and Solas. In honor of the fun, today the song of the day is "If Good Times Were Dollars" by Gaelic Storm.
Here's the link on marketing yourself:
http://www.hrstore.com/free/freeZ05.html
Here's the link to "If Good Times Were Dollars"
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/If_Good_Times_Were_Dollars/20790268
I did make a few contacts of my own, and called a few people in HR departments where I wouldn't mind working. I read this great article (the link is below) about marketing yourself as part of Tim's homework assignment last week. My boyfriend is currently in school for business with a minor in finance, so I've been following his classes without any pressure; free education, Bright Side number 1. I have a great handle on accounting principles, managerial accounting, Office 2007, and Business Communication, from whence this website came.
Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with Rollerblades. I've had a Bridget Jones' moment. I refuse to sit on my cushioned back side and do nothing while I wait for the world to notice I'm not spinning with it. I typically go walking with a friend most mornings, but lately it's been hit-or-miss; she has a job. I have a hard time motivating myself to work out alone, but I love Yoga and Irish Dancing (I had one lesson in Dublin from a Riverdancer, now I'm an expert :P), and those are things I'd rather do alone, as I can only imagine what I look like to others....something akin to a sea cow, I imagine. In my quest to find a job, somehow I have removed myself from the world. It was not intentional; everything fun costs money, and when you don't have it you tend to stay home. I'm fine with staying home, but I refuse to become less of a human by hermiting myself and watching daytime TV.
So Tim got me this great pair of Rollerblades last summer, which I tried to learn to do in the park out back, but then winter hit, so for Christmas he bought me ice skates (he's so sweet). I always used to watch ice skating on TV, and I'd turn the sound down and put my own music to the routines so that the beauty wouldn't be ruined by an announcer critiquing the performance. I always imagined it would be so exhilarating to be an ice skater, and the few times I did it, I'd gain some speed and feel invincible...I didn't fall much, and when I did it was because the dog was in the way. Seriously, one time I fell, and he grabbed the poofy on the top of my wool hat and ran off with it. Having said all that, I haven't Rollerbladed in about a year, and last summer equalled about 30 minutes in total. So today I decided to Rollerblade in the basement so no one would see me learning. I learned quickly that only the right Rollerblade has a break, and there are better ways to stop. I personally use appliances; washer, dryer, freezer, they work remarkably well, provided you don't get caught between them and the wall. So I was in oblivion, pretending to Rollerblade with my mp3 player blaring for about 45 minutes before I ran into a shelf and knocked all the stuff down. It was like a movie. Sleeping bags, air mattresses, inflatable kayaks all tumbled down on me. I couldn't' help but laugh as each object kept knocking the wind out of me, which just made it funnier. I put some of it back and began again and about 2 minutes later, realized that at some point Tim came downstairs (he was working next door) and saw me, sweating, red faced, still giggling, trying to do my cool figure skater arm movements (you know the ones). He started laughing and said, "Oh yeah, your life is so tough!" I realized he's right! I've spent so much time worrying about not working, I haven't been enjoying my life or the time I have to try and Rollerblade in the basement. Bright Side #2. Incidentally, I have GREAT music on my mp3 player, much of it fantastic for exercising alone. Bright Side #3. And I have a full basement in which I can Rollerblade, as well as appliances to use as brakes...Bright Side #4.
After being caught rollerblading, I decided to pack it up; it had been about an hour. I had put the coffee table on the love seat to give myself more room, but I realized that now I had nowhere to sit and take off my blades. I had fallen once on the floor (cement) and didn't want to fall again, but knew I couldn't sit without using gravity to an uncomfortable extent, so I decided to try and move the table. This is odd, because common sense is one of my personality traits. I saw it in my mind; I get the table just enough off the couch when I lose my footing and smash my nose into the coffee table as it lands back on the couch, then it bounces up to hit my face again. I resigned myself that this could happen and began. After some struggling, grunting and cynical laughter, the table landed on the floor with a crash. I sat on the couch and undid my Rollerblades. It's a good day.
This situation makes me realize that I often take the hard road to things. Straightforward things make me think there must be another way, a harder way. That's too easy. So I am taking this time to follow the advice of the website below, and reevaluating what I want out of a job, what I am qualified to do, and what I still want to learn. I know I want to work in an office. I could care less if I'm a temp, I just like the zen of office work. So relaxing, in a weird way (I always misspell weird...I don't like this word). So that's what I am doing, and I don't regret missing the job fair. There will be others, and I will be OK. Life is good when you can Rollerblade in the basement to great bands like Slow Club, English Beat, Jack Johnson and Solas. In honor of the fun, today the song of the day is "If Good Times Were Dollars" by Gaelic Storm.
Here's the link on marketing yourself:
http://www.hrstore.com/free/freeZ05.html
Here's the link to "If Good Times Were Dollars"
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/If_Good_Times_Were_Dollars/20790268
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
What Ads Will I come Across Today?
Good Morning. I realize it's early. Most people sleep like babies through thunderstorms; I wake up. For the last 45 minutes I've been trying to get a decent picture of lightning, but the dawn light and my lack of the right rhythm have annihilated that goal. Of course as soon as I walked away, lightning struck so close that all my silverware rattled in the drawer with the resounding thunder. Hrmmm, maybe it's better that I wasn't standing at the window. Oh well, moot point (annoying side note: moot point originates from Merry Old English, from the word for meeting, where lawyers would get together and debate hypothetical cases and topics, so the point, however debatable, is moot. I know, I don't get me either).
Speaking of moot points, I decided to take a look at Craigslist job ads (I'm KIDDING). I'm getting pretty good at spotting the scams. If it just says "Twin Cities" and doesn't list a name of a business, I'm out. If I can get paid 18 bucks an hour and training is provided, that's just a school website. Why would I go to your online school if you can't even advertise it as a school? Let me tell you what's out there this morning, that has just posted; hot off the presses...the...online...press, where there is no heat. But "Hot through the fibre-optic" just doesn't have that 20th century kick that I love so much.
There are ads for:
-A fantasy football company needs a PR person. That is an understatement. Seriously?
-I could make 1500 in 2 weeks, AND lose 15 pounds, if I commit my body to science. Maybe, if it was sponsored by the University of MN. Or sounded reasonable. (this is very therapeutic; when I write it out, it seems so ridiculous!) If they are serious, at 100 dollars a pound, what do I have to go through?
-Oromo Interpreter. Not in my arsenal of partial languages known. Habla Italiano?
-Sales - cold calling
-Sales - telemarketing
-Sales - inside sales...what is that? Cubicle to Cubicle?
-Storm Chaser...hmm, that could be fun. Oh, it's going to neighborhoods after storms and getting work to repair damages. Clever.
-Hm...That new pharmacy around the corner is about to open. We'll keep that on the back burner for now.
-Crowd Management for new University football stadium. Oooh, I hate crowds. It'd be like the crowd was one big panther, and I'd have to puff up as big as I could and look scary. Pass. I tend to hold my breath every time I puff up, and no one wants a repeat of what's been dubbed the Cirque du Soleil Incident of 2007.
-Deceased Debt Collector. Ummmm no. I don't want to shoot myself every time I come home. Sad!
This can't be easy for the employer either (although it's easier than usual because there are so many applicants out there). Poor store, trying to make the job sound so fun! Spend your nights and weekends at the Mall of America! Yay! C'mon gang, let's go! Actually, something down there might actually be doable. And I could go to Underwater Adventures with my membership pass. I could be the Stingray wrangler AT Underwater Adventures. That'd be fun.
Where is Mike Rowe when you need him? "You don't have to beg and steal and you don't have to rob; all you've got to do is get yourself a dirty job." Hm...dirty job around here: Lutefisk Factory. It's a thought, that's all I'm saying. I hear Minnesota makes more Lutefisk than Norway these days. In an odd business arrangement, Norway send us their cod. We Lutefisk it (sorry, I know that's not a verb, but the process is just so wrong) and stink up OUR fair city, and send it back. Correction. We send back about 15%. The rest we eat. True story, Minnesotans eat more Lutefisk than Norwegians. That's the taste of the Old Country that people hold on to; Lutefisk and Lefse. But I digress.
So this morning I will apply to at least two jobs (as I do every morning), I will go to my dental appointment and fix my cavity (it's best to do all this medical stuff when unemployed, keeps the costs above your head), and then I will go to a job fair. I actually am looking forward to the job fair. How funny would it be if there was a company there that was a social pariah, like on that episode of The Office? Classic.
The sun is coming up, the ground begins to soak up the torrent, and it's time for me to start the day. Today I drink my tea to the unemployed. Cheers!
Speaking of moot points, I decided to take a look at Craigslist job ads (I'm KIDDING). I'm getting pretty good at spotting the scams. If it just says "Twin Cities" and doesn't list a name of a business, I'm out. If I can get paid 18 bucks an hour and training is provided, that's just a school website. Why would I go to your online school if you can't even advertise it as a school? Let me tell you what's out there this morning, that has just posted; hot off the presses...the...online...press, where there is no heat. But "Hot through the fibre-optic" just doesn't have that 20th century kick that I love so much.
There are ads for:
-A fantasy football company needs a PR person. That is an understatement. Seriously?
-I could make 1500 in 2 weeks, AND lose 15 pounds, if I commit my body to science. Maybe, if it was sponsored by the University of MN. Or sounded reasonable. (this is very therapeutic; when I write it out, it seems so ridiculous!) If they are serious, at 100 dollars a pound, what do I have to go through?
-Oromo Interpreter. Not in my arsenal of partial languages known. Habla Italiano?
-Sales - cold calling
-Sales - telemarketing
-Sales - inside sales...what is that? Cubicle to Cubicle?
-Storm Chaser...hmm, that could be fun. Oh, it's going to neighborhoods after storms and getting work to repair damages. Clever.
-Hm...That new pharmacy around the corner is about to open. We'll keep that on the back burner for now.
-Crowd Management for new University football stadium. Oooh, I hate crowds. It'd be like the crowd was one big panther, and I'd have to puff up as big as I could and look scary. Pass. I tend to hold my breath every time I puff up, and no one wants a repeat of what's been dubbed the Cirque du Soleil Incident of 2007.
-Deceased Debt Collector. Ummmm no. I don't want to shoot myself every time I come home. Sad!
This can't be easy for the employer either (although it's easier than usual because there are so many applicants out there). Poor store, trying to make the job sound so fun! Spend your nights and weekends at the Mall of America! Yay! C'mon gang, let's go! Actually, something down there might actually be doable. And I could go to Underwater Adventures with my membership pass. I could be the Stingray wrangler AT Underwater Adventures. That'd be fun.
Where is Mike Rowe when you need him? "You don't have to beg and steal and you don't have to rob; all you've got to do is get yourself a dirty job." Hm...dirty job around here: Lutefisk Factory. It's a thought, that's all I'm saying. I hear Minnesota makes more Lutefisk than Norway these days. In an odd business arrangement, Norway send us their cod. We Lutefisk it (sorry, I know that's not a verb, but the process is just so wrong) and stink up OUR fair city, and send it back. Correction. We send back about 15%. The rest we eat. True story, Minnesotans eat more Lutefisk than Norwegians. That's the taste of the Old Country that people hold on to; Lutefisk and Lefse. But I digress.
So this morning I will apply to at least two jobs (as I do every morning), I will go to my dental appointment and fix my cavity (it's best to do all this medical stuff when unemployed, keeps the costs above your head), and then I will go to a job fair. I actually am looking forward to the job fair. How funny would it be if there was a company there that was a social pariah, like on that episode of The Office? Classic.
The sun is coming up, the ground begins to soak up the torrent, and it's time for me to start the day. Today I drink my tea to the unemployed. Cheers!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Fretting About Not Having a Job, I Ended up Talking to the FTC.
Do you wonder how all those scammers out there make their money? Do you think you're a savvy interneter, who will never fall for a scam...again? Let me tell you how stupid I was last week.
As you know, I've been applying to job after job after job. One day I sent out 9 applications/resumes, etc. So imagine my delight when I actually received an email from a real estate office (to which I had actually applied)! I got an email from Betty Young. Sweet Betty. She wanted to hire me to run errands and help in the office. I could even have a company credit card. She needed to know my credit score at this point in the process. Not any personal information at ALL, just a credit score number. She had a site for a free report that I could click on and everything...
I know my credit score. I am meticulous about my finances because I cant' afford to be defrauded. However, I hadn't gotten a report in 8 months, and figured this would be a decent time. I filled out the form, got my credit score (not bad at all!), and started to email her back. Suddenly, I thought, I wonder if this is for real. I googled Betty Young and her company, Logan Title, Inc. Yay! A real company, a real lady, picture and all! Wait. Why is she in Illinois? I thought this was a local job. So I call Betty. Poor Betty. She has already gotten 2 calls today, one from Florida, one from New York. Some scammer has used her name and title to get people to put in ALL their information and get a credit report from some dummy site. They even copied her email, off by one letter. I'm told to call the Federal Trade Commission and report it. So I call Eduardo at the FTC, who takes my statement and tells me to call the local police and call him back with a confirmation number.
I learned that my local police HATE this kind of call. There's nothing they can do about it, and they are exponentially irritated if the dispatcher doesn't tell them why they're coming out. So he shows up, ready to deal with a domestic dispute or who knows what (they really don't like that), and here I am, some dumb blonde who just gave out her social security number, though she's NEVER fallen for a scam before. So of course, he treats me like an idiot. "You applied for a job on Craigslist, what did you think was going to happen?" Somehow I was charming enough that after about 10 minutes he lost his attitude and, even though I had already typed everything up as an incident report, typed my whole story (no offense, officer, but I typed faster). He tells me since I'm so Internet savvy, I should start my own business (clearly I fell for this scam because I was so desperate for a job....which was true). Noting my own lack of self confidence, I asked him what I should do. He says I should type up documents for local businesses. I told him all those jobs were scams. :) He says to go get my own companies. I asked him if the local police were hiring. You with all your solutions! In the end, he was very nice, and empathy came out. It's tough out there...you want to jump on every opportunity to work, and scammers know that.
In the end, Officer Empath and I did a bit more research on the site. I never mailed my credit score to the fake email, so likely the scam was not completed. The credit report web site appeared to be actually real, so likely my information is safe. I still have my doubts, though...what kind of real business website ends in .net? The officer thinks, more likely there is a company that gets paid for referring people to the credit site (there was a 3rd site that flashed real quick before the site loaded). I followed the FTC's suggestions, though. I called Experian and put an alert on my social, I put a hold on my cards for 30 days, and spent 3 hours on the phone, trying to cover my mistake. If only I had called Betty FIRST, that would have saved me so much time and strife!
Learn from me, people. By Law, companies cannot ask to run a credit check unless they have actually offered you the position, and you have to sign a waiver. Any sort of credit check or credit application should be done in PERSON, or done through a secure website owned by the company to which you are applying.
Here's the email; it looked so real.
Thanks for your interest in our office position. Just to restate the job duties for clarity, you will be answering the phone, scheduling meetings, and running company errands in a company car. When running errands you will be provided with a company credit card to make supply purchases, etc.
We have had some bad experiences with prior employees taking advantage of having access to a company credit card in the past, so before we can schedule an interview, we need you to get a credit check. We prefer you use http://www.freecreditscore360.net to obtain this information. When you submit your information they will send you your credit score. When you email me your credit score, we can schedule an interview. Please do not email me your credit report, as this may have private information in it. Just send me your credit score. If you have a low credit score, that will not prevent you from having an interview with us, as we just need to make sure you are an honest individual.
Please send me your schedule with availability. I am looking forward to your response, thanks.
Bonnie YoungOperations ManagerLogan County Title CompanyBonnie@logancountytitleinc.com
www.logancountytitleinc.com
So I chalk this up to experience, but I learn more and more everyday that experience does not put food on the table (not that I am low on food...I am very blessed with food....I repeat: Do not send food).
As you know, I've been applying to job after job after job. One day I sent out 9 applications/resumes, etc. So imagine my delight when I actually received an email from a real estate office (to which I had actually applied)! I got an email from Betty Young. Sweet Betty. She wanted to hire me to run errands and help in the office. I could even have a company credit card. She needed to know my credit score at this point in the process. Not any personal information at ALL, just a credit score number. She had a site for a free report that I could click on and everything...
I know my credit score. I am meticulous about my finances because I cant' afford to be defrauded. However, I hadn't gotten a report in 8 months, and figured this would be a decent time. I filled out the form, got my credit score (not bad at all!), and started to email her back. Suddenly, I thought, I wonder if this is for real. I googled Betty Young and her company, Logan Title, Inc. Yay! A real company, a real lady, picture and all! Wait. Why is she in Illinois? I thought this was a local job. So I call Betty. Poor Betty. She has already gotten 2 calls today, one from Florida, one from New York. Some scammer has used her name and title to get people to put in ALL their information and get a credit report from some dummy site. They even copied her email, off by one letter. I'm told to call the Federal Trade Commission and report it. So I call Eduardo at the FTC, who takes my statement and tells me to call the local police and call him back with a confirmation number.
I learned that my local police HATE this kind of call. There's nothing they can do about it, and they are exponentially irritated if the dispatcher doesn't tell them why they're coming out. So he shows up, ready to deal with a domestic dispute or who knows what (they really don't like that), and here I am, some dumb blonde who just gave out her social security number, though she's NEVER fallen for a scam before. So of course, he treats me like an idiot. "You applied for a job on Craigslist, what did you think was going to happen?" Somehow I was charming enough that after about 10 minutes he lost his attitude and, even though I had already typed everything up as an incident report, typed my whole story (no offense, officer, but I typed faster). He tells me since I'm so Internet savvy, I should start my own business (clearly I fell for this scam because I was so desperate for a job....which was true). Noting my own lack of self confidence, I asked him what I should do. He says I should type up documents for local businesses. I told him all those jobs were scams. :) He says to go get my own companies. I asked him if the local police were hiring. You with all your solutions! In the end, he was very nice, and empathy came out. It's tough out there...you want to jump on every opportunity to work, and scammers know that.
In the end, Officer Empath and I did a bit more research on the site. I never mailed my credit score to the fake email, so likely the scam was not completed. The credit report web site appeared to be actually real, so likely my information is safe. I still have my doubts, though...what kind of real business website ends in .net? The officer thinks, more likely there is a company that gets paid for referring people to the credit site (there was a 3rd site that flashed real quick before the site loaded). I followed the FTC's suggestions, though. I called Experian and put an alert on my social, I put a hold on my cards for 30 days, and spent 3 hours on the phone, trying to cover my mistake. If only I had called Betty FIRST, that would have saved me so much time and strife!
Learn from me, people. By Law, companies cannot ask to run a credit check unless they have actually offered you the position, and you have to sign a waiver. Any sort of credit check or credit application should be done in PERSON, or done through a secure website owned by the company to which you are applying.
Here's the email; it looked so real.
Thanks for your interest in our office position. Just to restate the job duties for clarity, you will be answering the phone, scheduling meetings, and running company errands in a company car. When running errands you will be provided with a company credit card to make supply purchases, etc.
We have had some bad experiences with prior employees taking advantage of having access to a company credit card in the past, so before we can schedule an interview, we need you to get a credit check. We prefer you use http://www.freecreditscore360.net to obtain this information. When you submit your information they will send you your credit score. When you email me your credit score, we can schedule an interview. Please do not email me your credit report, as this may have private information in it. Just send me your credit score. If you have a low credit score, that will not prevent you from having an interview with us, as we just need to make sure you are an honest individual.
Please send me your schedule with availability. I am looking forward to your response, thanks.
Bonnie YoungOperations ManagerLogan County Title CompanyBonnie@logancountytitleinc.com
www.logancountytitleinc.com
So I chalk this up to experience, but I learn more and more everyday that experience does not put food on the table (not that I am low on food...I am very blessed with food....I repeat: Do not send food).
Searching for Jobs and Chutzpah
So I am in week three of hitting the job application market hard core. I applied to over 20 posts last week alone; of these over 20, I received one actual response, 2 scam attempts (boy those guys at the FTC are actually really nice) and a sea of nothingness.
Last week I talked myself into retail and built up enough convincing chutzpah and excitement to go in to a popular bookstore and apply. Please don't think that I am above retail. I am not above retail. I am just so overqualified for a part time position at the bottom rung of a business at my age (don't say the 3-0 word until I hit it in 2 weeks, deal?) that it was, let's say a big step for me to actually convince myself I could do it again. I walked in to the store, handed my application over to the manager who was shorter than or equal to my 5'1" with a handshake like a rotten fish....at least it would have been if he would have shook my hand, I'm sure of it. He stood there, not looking at it, not looking at me and not saying anything, so I awkwardly told him I had a gift card to spend and would be lingering in the store. He replied that I would get a call that week if they decided to hire me. Apparently my appearance alone is enough to garner a job. Or not. No interview was mentioned. I meandered to the table of "buy 2 get one free" and actually started to put my worry aside as I read the back of books I thought were funny and interesting for my palette. Life is going to be fine. Sure, I can do this job. No problem (this is an inner pep talk for my benefit, because the excitement and chutzpah wear off after 30 minutes, and have to be conjured again). I am reading the back of a novel based on Southern women, knowing this would be fun, and also imagining the pile of books I have at home; the pile from my brother over the years that I JUST told him I was getting through, when (let's call him) Bob walks up to me and starts up a conversation. Bob is pushing his mid sixties, wearing a navy blue suit that doesn't fit well, and sweat is escaping from his receding hair line. Bob used to work here. Bob was a safety officer. Bob comes by and visits the people at this store all the time, because that's the nice thing to do. Bob is a deacon at his church, pentecostal; do I go to church? Bob can't see I'm trying to find 3 good books so I can get a deal. Bob doesn't notice that I. Am. Reading. I start to think; maybe the manager sent Bob to me to test my people skills. I politely listen and fill in just enough of my side of the conversation while trying to ignore him, to which he is oblivious. "I was raised in a Baptist Church." "Actually, Baptists DO believe in the Holy Ghost, Bob." "Yes, a Boyfriend." "No, not JUST a boyfriend." As he continues talking, I find myself thinking 2 things simultaneously.
1.) Oh gosh, I really really really hope this is a ghost, and only I can see him. That would be so much better for my ego right now; why do the crazies always find me?
2.) Oh man. Every time I worked in retail there was that guy who came in, who was just a little off and unemployed (they know they are the PERFECT catch), and he always came in because he knew I would be there at least 20 hours a week and he could follow me around and creep me out. I forgot about that. Sad; this is SO not what I want. And my chutzpah left me.
I decided to go next door to Macy's. It could be fun to be a beauty counter girl. As luck would have it, wandering through the kitchen department, I saw a sign for a human resources department. I took this as a sign that it was meant to be. I walked in confidently, and less repulsed than at the previous location, walked right up to the counter and said (mellifluously, if I do say so myself), "Is Macy's hiring at the moment?" Smile, check. Shoulders back, check. A lovely looking woman walked past and smiled at me. Oh yeah, I could do Macy's. The septuagenarian behind the counter put her hand to her ear and said, "eh?" "Is Macy's hiring right now?" Again, she says, "What?" Chutzpah, don't fail me now! "I'D LIKE TO WORK AT MACY'S, HOW MAY I APPLY?" She smiled, as if that would be the most wonderful thing in the world, me at Macy's. She directed me to a hiring kiosk "down by the elevator," that sadly, didn't exist. Maybe it did in 1967. Don't get the wrong idea. I ADORE the elderly, and have no issue with them working, I have great respect for them. These thoughts come from a frustrated place because I just want a freaking job, ok? And if I'm willing to (in my mind) settle for retail, throw me a bone, ok? This is why people eat whole cartons of ice cream (which I did NOT, by the way....I drank my calories with a Grape Crush over lots of ice).
I wandered back into the bookstore, thinking I would get some beautiful stationery for my friend and I, who, in our dreams of old fashioned lovely things have decided to become pen pals. With paper and stamps and everything. So I thought I would use my gift card to buy us some fun stationery for getting started. I was downstairs when who found me? That's right; Bob the sohisticatedly lacking, socially handicapped, "oh a boyfriend, nothing too serious then," lawsuit-waiting-to-happen Bob. Crap. I immediately went for the escalator, and began walking up the stairs as he called out after me that there was free water upstairs. Oh, wonderful. Let's sit and get to know each other over a free glass of water. I'm still so sure he meant the drinking fountain. Anyway, I walked up the stairs until I subconsciously came into the personal space of Lovely-pink-sweater-lady, who was, in turn, creeped out by me as I tried to make an escape. I left the store, praying he wasn't following me to the parking lot, when I noticed Lovely-pink-sweater-lady thought I was following her, making me...Bob.
So clearly this is all about perspective. I'm a great catch for an employer. I'm never late, I'm uber organized, I love getting stuff done. I've managed people...not just people, college students...I've put college students together on a schedule, while letting them keep their crazy ones. That is not easy, my friend. I can budget. I know all my computer programs. This is nothing that my potential employees can see, at least not in a way that's making perfect strangers want to hire me. I'm Bob to the places to which I've applied. UGH! My perspective (since I choose to refuse the idea that I'm a LOSER) is that it's tough for everyone right now, and like it or not, many companies hire based on referrals from the inside. All my referrals are still at my last job, and I will not be going back there.
The search continues. I'll let you know how it goes. I may end up with Bob after all. But wouldn't it be nice to do something I like? Or at least get full time hours so I can pay the bills? Please don't hate me if I turn down this position (if they even offer it to me). I am a proud person, and even in my destitution, I don't want to settle for a job I don't love. I want to be challenged, I want to be a vital part of a greater team. I want to succeed emotionally, and keep my brain from being able to go on autopilot all the time. I love my brain; I'd like to keep it.
Last week I talked myself into retail and built up enough convincing chutzpah and excitement to go in to a popular bookstore and apply. Please don't think that I am above retail. I am not above retail. I am just so overqualified for a part time position at the bottom rung of a business at my age (don't say the 3-0 word until I hit it in 2 weeks, deal?) that it was, let's say a big step for me to actually convince myself I could do it again. I walked in to the store, handed my application over to the manager who was shorter than or equal to my 5'1" with a handshake like a rotten fish....at least it would have been if he would have shook my hand, I'm sure of it. He stood there, not looking at it, not looking at me and not saying anything, so I awkwardly told him I had a gift card to spend and would be lingering in the store. He replied that I would get a call that week if they decided to hire me. Apparently my appearance alone is enough to garner a job. Or not. No interview was mentioned. I meandered to the table of "buy 2 get one free" and actually started to put my worry aside as I read the back of books I thought were funny and interesting for my palette. Life is going to be fine. Sure, I can do this job. No problem (this is an inner pep talk for my benefit, because the excitement and chutzpah wear off after 30 minutes, and have to be conjured again). I am reading the back of a novel based on Southern women, knowing this would be fun, and also imagining the pile of books I have at home; the pile from my brother over the years that I JUST told him I was getting through, when (let's call him) Bob walks up to me and starts up a conversation. Bob is pushing his mid sixties, wearing a navy blue suit that doesn't fit well, and sweat is escaping from his receding hair line. Bob used to work here. Bob was a safety officer. Bob comes by and visits the people at this store all the time, because that's the nice thing to do. Bob is a deacon at his church, pentecostal; do I go to church? Bob can't see I'm trying to find 3 good books so I can get a deal. Bob doesn't notice that I. Am. Reading. I start to think; maybe the manager sent Bob to me to test my people skills. I politely listen and fill in just enough of my side of the conversation while trying to ignore him, to which he is oblivious. "I was raised in a Baptist Church." "Actually, Baptists DO believe in the Holy Ghost, Bob." "Yes, a Boyfriend." "No, not JUST a boyfriend." As he continues talking, I find myself thinking 2 things simultaneously.
1.) Oh gosh, I really really really hope this is a ghost, and only I can see him. That would be so much better for my ego right now; why do the crazies always find me?
2.) Oh man. Every time I worked in retail there was that guy who came in, who was just a little off and unemployed (they know they are the PERFECT catch), and he always came in because he knew I would be there at least 20 hours a week and he could follow me around and creep me out. I forgot about that. Sad; this is SO not what I want. And my chutzpah left me.
I decided to go next door to Macy's. It could be fun to be a beauty counter girl. As luck would have it, wandering through the kitchen department, I saw a sign for a human resources department. I took this as a sign that it was meant to be. I walked in confidently, and less repulsed than at the previous location, walked right up to the counter and said (mellifluously, if I do say so myself), "Is Macy's hiring at the moment?" Smile, check. Shoulders back, check. A lovely looking woman walked past and smiled at me. Oh yeah, I could do Macy's. The septuagenarian behind the counter put her hand to her ear and said, "eh?" "Is Macy's hiring right now?" Again, she says, "What?" Chutzpah, don't fail me now! "I'D LIKE TO WORK AT MACY'S, HOW MAY I APPLY?" She smiled, as if that would be the most wonderful thing in the world, me at Macy's. She directed me to a hiring kiosk "down by the elevator," that sadly, didn't exist. Maybe it did in 1967. Don't get the wrong idea. I ADORE the elderly, and have no issue with them working, I have great respect for them. These thoughts come from a frustrated place because I just want a freaking job, ok? And if I'm willing to (in my mind) settle for retail, throw me a bone, ok? This is why people eat whole cartons of ice cream (which I did NOT, by the way....I drank my calories with a Grape Crush over lots of ice).
I wandered back into the bookstore, thinking I would get some beautiful stationery for my friend and I, who, in our dreams of old fashioned lovely things have decided to become pen pals. With paper and stamps and everything. So I thought I would use my gift card to buy us some fun stationery for getting started. I was downstairs when who found me? That's right; Bob the sohisticatedly lacking, socially handicapped, "oh a boyfriend, nothing too serious then," lawsuit-waiting-to-happen Bob. Crap. I immediately went for the escalator, and began walking up the stairs as he called out after me that there was free water upstairs. Oh, wonderful. Let's sit and get to know each other over a free glass of water. I'm still so sure he meant the drinking fountain. Anyway, I walked up the stairs until I subconsciously came into the personal space of Lovely-pink-sweater-lady, who was, in turn, creeped out by me as I tried to make an escape. I left the store, praying he wasn't following me to the parking lot, when I noticed Lovely-pink-sweater-lady thought I was following her, making me...Bob.
So clearly this is all about perspective. I'm a great catch for an employer. I'm never late, I'm uber organized, I love getting stuff done. I've managed people...not just people, college students...I've put college students together on a schedule, while letting them keep their crazy ones. That is not easy, my friend. I can budget. I know all my computer programs. This is nothing that my potential employees can see, at least not in a way that's making perfect strangers want to hire me. I'm Bob to the places to which I've applied. UGH! My perspective (since I choose to refuse the idea that I'm a LOSER) is that it's tough for everyone right now, and like it or not, many companies hire based on referrals from the inside. All my referrals are still at my last job, and I will not be going back there.
The search continues. I'll let you know how it goes. I may end up with Bob after all. But wouldn't it be nice to do something I like? Or at least get full time hours so I can pay the bills? Please don't hate me if I turn down this position (if they even offer it to me). I am a proud person, and even in my destitution, I don't want to settle for a job I don't love. I want to be challenged, I want to be a vital part of a greater team. I want to succeed emotionally, and keep my brain from being able to go on autopilot all the time. I love my brain; I'd like to keep it.
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