Well, I wasn't hired for the permanent position at the Library Foundation. But the woman they did hire is a love. I spent two days training her, then left without saying good-bye to anyone. Tears were too near the surface.
Had another interview yesterday. Everything went well. They are checking my references today. I think I'm beyond hoping at this point. Too many disappointments. Still, I will be near my phone, in case they call.
This past year has been one of reflection, self-examination, career questioning... the one bright spot has been school. Still carrying a 4.0 in all classes but Algebra II. That one kicked my butt. And of course, I'm very happy with Keith. I love the sailboat, the marina... when I think about it, apart from the job situation, I'm very blessed.
Somehow, being unemployed seems to take the shine off of everything else. It's such a personal thing. Makes you question your very foundation. I've been questioning mine for a year now. I know myself so much better. And I'm ready to move forward.
So... I wait... for the phoe call or email that tells me I'm ok. What's that about!!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Waiting for word...
Well, it's been 12 weeks since I started with the Library Foundation. I love the job, and both execs. Now the interview process for the permanent position is underway. Legalities, and making sure they hire the right person for the job. I am hopeful.
It's strange being in this position. Knowing the assignment, understanding the workings of the company, doing my best every day... but still waiting for the process to be complete.
It's good to be working with my mind everyday. Good to have a variety of tasks and to interact with a variety of people. I'm still holding my breath...
It's strange being in this position. Knowing the assignment, understanding the workings of the company, doing my best every day... but still waiting for the process to be complete.
It's good to be working with my mind everyday. Good to have a variety of tasks and to interact with a variety of people. I'm still holding my breath...
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Executive Assistant? You bet!
Well, I tried the bagging bit... not an easy job. Seems there's more to it than bagging - like sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, pushing carts (my top was six at a time) and all the time you're on your feet moving. I've lost about 15 pounds, strengthened my arms and legs, and changed my metabolism. But enough of that.
I landed an interview! A great job opp... and they hired me. Temp to Perm at a very nice and active Library Foundation. I'm supporting two execs... both wonderful women. And I must admit, it's nice to use my brain again. Planning, thinking, busy all day supporting a worthy cause. I love it! Hope they love me, too. I'm playing it cool though. Wearing a nice suit every day with a clean white blouse. Impeccable make-up. Not too much information about my private life, just enough to be real and interesting. Waiting quietly to see what happens next. Working hard and getting the job done, plus extra service wherever possible...
I landed an interview! A great job opp... and they hired me. Temp to Perm at a very nice and active Library Foundation. I'm supporting two execs... both wonderful women. And I must admit, it's nice to use my brain again. Planning, thinking, busy all day supporting a worthy cause. I love it! Hope they love me, too. I'm playing it cool though. Wearing a nice suit every day with a clean white blouse. Impeccable make-up. Not too much information about my private life, just enough to be real and interesting. Waiting quietly to see what happens next. Working hard and getting the job done, plus extra service wherever possible...
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Of resumes and cover letters...
So, you might ask, now that I've filled out at least 200 applications and submitted my resume and cover letter for as many positions, what have I learned? I'll be happy to share the wisdom of a top head-hunter in LA.
Resumes
1. Don't bother with everything the "professional" resume writers tell you to put in your resume. Employers don't have time or the inclination to read it anymore. Besides, everyone is a quick study and has oodles of skills. Those skills belong at the end of the page under Technical Programs and Professional Skills. Skip the Objectives and anything else that qualifies as a hard sell. Cut to the chase. Employers want to see what you've done. So list your experience, starting with the most recent job first.
2. Don't list any more experience than can fit on one page. If you've been working for 20-30 years, you'll never get the chance to show your terrific personality or explain your great qualifications in person if you list them all on your resume. It will be so long that it will just get tossed. Think sound bites. Five or six entries are enough. Hopefully you haven't job-hopped so much that this will only cover two or three years. Do be specific. If you converted the company to computerized systems, say so. If you increased sales by 50%, spell it out. Just keep it brief and to the point. Remember that everything we read today is about one paragraph long, 7 or 8 lines at most.
3. Format your resume to make it easy to read. Center your name, address, phone number and email at the top of the page in bold print. Left align everything else on the page except the dates; align all dates with the right margin. Bold face the heading Experience. Use normal print for everything but headings. Next, start listing your experience. Put the company name, the city, and the dates you worked for them on the first line. On the next line, put your title or job description. On the third line, list your responsibilities and accomplishments while at the firm.
4. Education: If you have some college under your belt, say so. Employers like to know that you have the tenacity to stick with a program of study. If you have a degree, of course you'll want them to know. And if your GPA was respectable , list that too. List the name of the school, the program of study, your degree, and the date you graduated (or will graduate).
5. Technical Programs and Skills: Employers will look at these with a critical eye. They already know what the job entails and are looking to see if you're qualified. Be sure to list every real skill you possess that pertains to your career. Don't lie or embelish. No sense getting the job just to get fired. But don't overlook the important small skills that make you valuable. If you work with computers, list the software at which you are proficient.
6. MOST IMPORTANT: Keep it to one page in length! Format with narrow margins if you have to, but don't go to that second page.
Cover letters.
Don't bother unless the ad specifies that one is required. They usually end up in the round file, unread. Instead, write an email that states the position you're applying for, any recent experience that particularly qualifies you for the job, and be sure to include all of your contact information, i.e. phone number, email address. Again, keep it short and sweet. Remember that most people receive dozens of emails every day. If yours is long and drawn out, it won't get read. The delete button is oh so close. And don't forget to attach your resume. If you're using Microsoft 2007, be sure to save the file as a '97-2003 compatible document or most people won't be able to open it.
Now that you know what I've learned in the past seven months, you should have a lot less trouble getting your resume read than I've had... at least mine is finally getting some attention.
Resumes
1. Don't bother with everything the "professional" resume writers tell you to put in your resume. Employers don't have time or the inclination to read it anymore. Besides, everyone is a quick study and has oodles of skills. Those skills belong at the end of the page under Technical Programs and Professional Skills. Skip the Objectives and anything else that qualifies as a hard sell. Cut to the chase. Employers want to see what you've done. So list your experience, starting with the most recent job first.
2. Don't list any more experience than can fit on one page. If you've been working for 20-30 years, you'll never get the chance to show your terrific personality or explain your great qualifications in person if you list them all on your resume. It will be so long that it will just get tossed. Think sound bites. Five or six entries are enough. Hopefully you haven't job-hopped so much that this will only cover two or three years. Do be specific. If you converted the company to computerized systems, say so. If you increased sales by 50%, spell it out. Just keep it brief and to the point. Remember that everything we read today is about one paragraph long, 7 or 8 lines at most.
3. Format your resume to make it easy to read. Center your name, address, phone number and email at the top of the page in bold print. Left align everything else on the page except the dates; align all dates with the right margin. Bold face the heading Experience. Use normal print for everything but headings. Next, start listing your experience. Put the company name, the city, and the dates you worked for them on the first line. On the next line, put your title or job description. On the third line, list your responsibilities and accomplishments while at the firm.
4. Education: If you have some college under your belt, say so. Employers like to know that you have the tenacity to stick with a program of study. If you have a degree, of course you'll want them to know. And if your GPA was respectable , list that too. List the name of the school, the program of study, your degree, and the date you graduated (or will graduate).
5. Technical Programs and Skills: Employers will look at these with a critical eye. They already know what the job entails and are looking to see if you're qualified. Be sure to list every real skill you possess that pertains to your career. Don't lie or embelish. No sense getting the job just to get fired. But don't overlook the important small skills that make you valuable. If you work with computers, list the software at which you are proficient.
6. MOST IMPORTANT: Keep it to one page in length! Format with narrow margins if you have to, but don't go to that second page.
Cover letters.
Don't bother unless the ad specifies that one is required. They usually end up in the round file, unread. Instead, write an email that states the position you're applying for, any recent experience that particularly qualifies you for the job, and be sure to include all of your contact information, i.e. phone number, email address. Again, keep it short and sweet. Remember that most people receive dozens of emails every day. If yours is long and drawn out, it won't get read. The delete button is oh so close. And don't forget to attach your resume. If you're using Microsoft 2007, be sure to save the file as a '97-2003 compatible document or most people won't be able to open it.
Now that you know what I've learned in the past seven months, you should have a lot less trouble getting your resume read than I've had... at least mine is finally getting some attention.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A job at last!
Well I'm no longer unemployed! Landed a job on Saturday... bagging groceries at the local supermarket. $8 an hour. A far cry from what I'm used to... but then, lately I'm used to begging for money from my significant other. And this will be a refreshing change. No typing, no phones, no complex projects. Just open the bag, make a wall with the flat items, add one more item before placing the bag in the cart, and shlep the customer's order out to the car. Oh, and one more thing... don't forget that the customer is the whole reason you're getting that $8/hour.
What happened to Mary the Administrative Assistant? At this point I'd have to say the economy. Companies are downsizing. And the ones that are growing are looking for entry-level staff. Lower pay and less experience. I'm overqualified. Too many years under my belt. Too many titles on my resume. Too much of... everything.
I remember when I was 27. I tried to join the Air Force. They turned me down. It wasn't that I didn't pass the tests... aced them all. It wasn't the physical... I was in the best shape of my life. It wasn't the lack of a degree... I was going for a non-com slot. No... it was the fact that I was too old. Too old! They felt that I was too set in my ways to be a successful candidate. Told me they were looking for kids who would be easily molded to the lifestyle. Imagine 27 being too old.
Now I'm 50-something and facing a too-old of another kind. I've run an office, managed a school, owned a business, supported multiple execs, directed six choirs, administered a Liturgy Department... and I scare the spit out of the Human Resources department of any company I might want to go to work for. They're looking for kids fresh out of school... still wet behind the ears... moldable, able to conform to the company culture without any effort. I'm considered a risk. Besides, I'll be eligible to retire in a few short years. Better to hire someone who can give 30 years to the firm.
Whatever happened to the mantra that experience is valuable? Not in today's market. Education is all. Each company wants to shape the candidate to fit their own system. So I'm starting over again... at the bottom. Work my way up. Show due diligence. Arrive on time. Do the job well. Serve the customer with a smile. Please the boss. Get the promotion. Who knows... I might really like bagging groceries!
What happened to Mary the Administrative Assistant? At this point I'd have to say the economy. Companies are downsizing. And the ones that are growing are looking for entry-level staff. Lower pay and less experience. I'm overqualified. Too many years under my belt. Too many titles on my resume. Too much of... everything.
I remember when I was 27. I tried to join the Air Force. They turned me down. It wasn't that I didn't pass the tests... aced them all. It wasn't the physical... I was in the best shape of my life. It wasn't the lack of a degree... I was going for a non-com slot. No... it was the fact that I was too old. Too old! They felt that I was too set in my ways to be a successful candidate. Told me they were looking for kids who would be easily molded to the lifestyle. Imagine 27 being too old.
Now I'm 50-something and facing a too-old of another kind. I've run an office, managed a school, owned a business, supported multiple execs, directed six choirs, administered a Liturgy Department... and I scare the spit out of the Human Resources department of any company I might want to go to work for. They're looking for kids fresh out of school... still wet behind the ears... moldable, able to conform to the company culture without any effort. I'm considered a risk. Besides, I'll be eligible to retire in a few short years. Better to hire someone who can give 30 years to the firm.
Whatever happened to the mantra that experience is valuable? Not in today's market. Education is all. Each company wants to shape the candidate to fit their own system. So I'm starting over again... at the bottom. Work my way up. Show due diligence. Arrive on time. Do the job well. Serve the customer with a smile. Please the boss. Get the promotion. Who knows... I might really like bagging groceries!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Well here it is almost Christmas... and I'm still among the unemployed. Well, almost. I've been working at said company since August as a temporary Administrative Assistant (that's the new buzzword for Secretary these days.) It's not bad. I've moved five times in four months and learned five new desks. That translates to twelve different managers - whew! I've learned four new software applications and two new phone systems. Not bad for a fifty-something without a recent office job. Still, I'd sure like that permanent position. Corporate practice now is to "try you on for size" before hiring. Makes sense. What if you don't match the personality of the manager you'll be supporting? What if?
In the old days, you learned to mesh. Sometimes it was a challenge, but you learned to put your own things aside to do the job. Maybe the way they do it now is better, I don't know. I haven't had a much of a chance to find out. One position was a temp-to-perm slot, but the female manager didn't think too much of my work ethic. It seems I was always looking for something more to do. Go figure!
On the other hand, working as a temp has its advantages. I have plenty of time to do my homework. The owner of the desk usually leaves very little to do other than answer phones. That means I sit still a lot of the time. So I read, and do my Algebra, and now I have time to write. Guess you'll be seeing a lot more of me for awhile!
In the old days, you learned to mesh. Sometimes it was a challenge, but you learned to put your own things aside to do the job. Maybe the way they do it now is better, I don't know. I haven't had a much of a chance to find out. One position was a temp-to-perm slot, but the female manager didn't think too much of my work ethic. It seems I was always looking for something more to do. Go figure!
On the other hand, working as a temp has its advantages. I have plenty of time to do my homework. The owner of the desk usually leaves very little to do other than answer phones. That means I sit still a lot of the time. So I read, and do my Algebra, and now I have time to write. Guess you'll be seeing a lot more of me for awhile!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Out of a job and what's my worth?
Looking for work never seemed so hard when I wasn't really looking. Funny how that works. Jobs fell in my lap. I'd just be chatting someone up and they'd say something like, "Oh, you know how to do books?" or "Oh, you're a writer?" and then they'd make some reference to needing some work done and the next thing I knew, I'd be working. Now that I'm unemployed, it's a whole different scene.
I'll bet I've filled out 50-75 job applications, submitted as many resumes, and gone on half a dozen interviews. Still out of a job. How do I feel? Well, I'm wondering what my worth is. I mean, I know my guy loves me. I know my kids love me. And my Mom. I feel great here on the docks. But in the marketplace? I'm not so sure all of a sudden. Feeling a little unsure of myself. A little wobbly on my feet. My qualifications look great on paper. But do they translate into marketable skills? Evidently not marketable enough. I'm finding out that corporate wheels move verrrry slowly.
I've interviewed three times with one large company. Great place... terrific benefits... lovely offices... happy employees... I'd love to work there. Trouble is, I've freelanced for the past twenty years. It's felt great, but it doesn't translate well on my resume. Looks like I've been sitting on my generous laurels for a long time. And it's not like I can show a portfolio to my prospective employer. They want something concrete... like references from an employer with a brick and mortar. It sure has given me a new appreciation for 50-somethings who've been laid-off and have to look for a new job. And kids fresh out of school looking for a first gig.
Job hunting is HARD work! Not to worry though. I'm going on another interview with said company today. The Human Resources Manager is a love. She has gone out of her way to hook me up with a temp-to-permanent slot possibility. Now I just have to wow the prospective managers with my skills, my moxy, and my smile. Wish me luck!
I'll bet I've filled out 50-75 job applications, submitted as many resumes, and gone on half a dozen interviews. Still out of a job. How do I feel? Well, I'm wondering what my worth is. I mean, I know my guy loves me. I know my kids love me. And my Mom. I feel great here on the docks. But in the marketplace? I'm not so sure all of a sudden. Feeling a little unsure of myself. A little wobbly on my feet. My qualifications look great on paper. But do they translate into marketable skills? Evidently not marketable enough. I'm finding out that corporate wheels move verrrry slowly.
I've interviewed three times with one large company. Great place... terrific benefits... lovely offices... happy employees... I'd love to work there. Trouble is, I've freelanced for the past twenty years. It's felt great, but it doesn't translate well on my resume. Looks like I've been sitting on my generous laurels for a long time. And it's not like I can show a portfolio to my prospective employer. They want something concrete... like references from an employer with a brick and mortar. It sure has given me a new appreciation for 50-somethings who've been laid-off and have to look for a new job. And kids fresh out of school looking for a first gig.
Job hunting is HARD work! Not to worry though. I'm going on another interview with said company today. The Human Resources Manager is a love. She has gone out of her way to hook me up with a temp-to-permanent slot possibility. Now I just have to wow the prospective managers with my skills, my moxy, and my smile. Wish me luck!
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