Dear Friends,

Dear Friends,

I got a job.

I will post the specifics tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Me

Employer Idiots

Some people do not understand how to be employers.

Good employers give you plenty of time to be prepared. They do not call you and ask you to come in immediately. Especially employers that are looking for a freelancer like me.

I was asked if I could go to a fair in my area today. Uhhhh. Why didn't you ask me yesterday so that I could be prepared.

I was asked if I could go right away. Granted, this is for someone that hasn't given me a cent, nor offered me a cent. Which means I'm not all that inclined to drop everything and obey.
Now, I realize that sometimes you have to put in your due. But, it is never up to the employee to begin talks about money. It is always up to the employer to at least begin the conversation.

It can be simple, something like, "what are you expecting financially from this gig."

It can be something intense like "I'm giving you $50 for every story."

It should never be nothing. When you don't get paid, that's called volunteer work. That's great to put on a resume if you're I don't know, 16 years old.

People are not looking to volunteer if they are not over the age of 65. Baby boomers can be volunteers. New college graduates, well, not so much.

Honestly, I cannot wait to be on the other side of the hiring table. I'm going to make it a great experience for the candidate. I'm going to want them all to want to work for me. That way, I can actually hire someone who's excited.

Well, either that or I can send them to Central America to do some work at a church or dormitory.

At least then they can put it on their college application.

But people need money right now. Offering to not pay isn't going to give you a good employee. It'll give you one that resents you.

(How about that game! Thanks Google images!)

Don't Pay For A Job

Now you should never put all your eggs in one basket.

That's why even though I have a probable job on Wednesday, I have also applied to the IRS.
Yes, the IRS. Got a job? Just call the IRS. Got a job...

Love that commercial.

On Saturday afternoon I received a call from H&R Block. Here's how the conversation went. Also, I'd like to mention that they again called me on a Saturday. During lunchtime. Regardless...
Oh, and the lady had one of those "accents" where she was trying to be ghetto but still professional. But it comes off as ghetto.

Them: Hi, this is H&R Block and we received an application and were wondering if you were still interested.

Me: Yes, I think I still am interested.

Them: Do you have any tax-preparation experience?

Me: No, I do not. (When I was saying this, I was thinking, "I have experience paying taxes...")

Them: We have a class starting this Monday for tax-preparation specialists. Would you be interested in signing up for this three-day class for a one-time fee or $99?

Me: No, I don't think so.

Them: Well sir, you need the classes if you want a job.

Me: I don't think that I should have to pay to get a job.

Them: Ok, bye sir.

Me: Later sucka.

Ok, well maybe I didn't say "Later sucka," but I felt like it. So here's my advice for today. Never get convinced that you should ever have to pay for a job.

The whole idea behind a job is that they pay you.

Not the other way around.

The Gun In The Guitar Case

I think I have a job lead.

It all really comes from networking. I read somewhere yesterday in a forum or something that 90% of jobs are never posted. People network and hear about them and steal them. From me.

If an employer is posting a job, that means that:

-The employer is desperate (Desperado=desperation?)
-The employer is looking for someone with a specific set of skills
-The employer probably doesn't want to hire you

Now, while the last one is probably untrue, it does have some realism. I originally told myself that I did not want to go into journalism. I might go into it now. If I have an opportunity.

I realize that I'm probably not going to be making a huge salary. I realize that it will likely be a slightly temporary job. I don't want to be making such low money my whole life. But hey, at least I didn't hurt myself because of a raccoon.

I mean, hey my little money that I have in the stock market isn't going to help me out. It'll likely be toast tomorrow. Although that's an exaggeration. This image is from celent.com.
I don't need a lot of money. Just enough to live, still have a little fun and live. I am a fairly frugal person. I don't eat out hardly ever. There are things you can do to save money.

Of course, there are things that you can do to make money. Like get a job.

And I'm trying.

So go out and network. The more people that are in the know that you are searching for a job, the better your chances. Chances will happen. There's going to be a lot of baby boomers retiring in the next decade.

So go out and make some half-century-aged friends.

Yet No.

The nice, directed e-mail isn't working. Yet.

Well, it has been only about 15 minutes since I sent one out. But why haven't I heard back from anyone yet? I guess I need patience. You see, job searching takes time. Jobs take time. Time takes jobs. That makes no sense.

Anyway I may have found a free-lancer job. It's with a website, but hey, that's fine with me. As long as I can pull in a little cash, I can be sane. Having no inflow is terribly depressing. Especially when the stock market just blew up with all my money. Ok, not all my money, just a little bit.

But it's not gone yet. I'm hoping that Warren Buffet can save me. Actually, I thought about something new. I might write a letter to my local congressman telling him/her that I'm angry that I can't find a job.

I'm going to hand write it and bitch at my congressman. Sometimes, they actually will do something when people get angry. Now, I don't want you to think that I blame the government that I can't find a job. Believe me, it's not that. The problem really lies more in the fact that there is no economy.

Because of the government. Well, ok, that's only partially true. Regardless, I have been reduced to attempting to find part-time and freelance and low-paying jobs. That's no good.

That shouldn't happen. Of course, I also realize that I didn't probably do the greatest job of networking when I was in college and I should have maybe taken an extra semester or year and done an internship with an actual company, not just my campus newspaper.

I have also realized that I should have tried for a minor. A minor in finance/accounting would have been boring, annoying and I'm sure hard as flip, but I would have had something to fall back on.

Everyone wants accountants right now. I wonder why. Maybe it's because businesses are trying to save as much money as possible.

By not hiring me.

Are You Annoying? (Employers)

There's a thin line between annoyance and persistence. For me, I don't know what to do when someone won't respond back to me.

Should I call them? Should I send them an e-mail? The real question is though, what do you do if they do not send you an e-mail back or if they do not phone home. Home=you.

It's seriously a bunch of Trix and Lucky Charms that will help. Maybe even some Honey Bunches of Oats.

I tried two techniques yesterday, trying to get a company to respond back to me. I responded to a post that they put on the Internet. It looked perfect for me. Well, perfect, in my mood is really just a job.

They did not respond back to my phone call. I left them a phone message because no one would answer. They had sent me an e-mail telling me that there would be a "hiring presentation" scheduled for today. I was kind of skeptical of the term "presentation," so I did not respond for a week, until yesterday. The e-mail instructed me to RSVP through a phone number. Then, when someone answered the phone, I would be notified of where this presentation was. Only nobody answered.

I called back. Still nothing. I looked up the company website on the Internet. I phoned them in a different way. In a different department. Still nothing. Finally, I sent an e-mail to the publisher/coordinator of the website/publication.

Today I received a phone call back. "We received your e-mail," they told me. Actually the person mentioned it twice. Then she said that they are rescheduling the presentation and that they would call me tomorrow or the next day. Score. They actually seemed excited to speak to me.

So that brings me to today's point. Phone calls can work. But so can e-mail.

E-mails asking/respectfully requesting a phone call can really work. If you word your e-mail right, results will happen.

People have responded much better to me when I send them an e-mail without the "To Whom It May Concern." People also respond better when your e-mail is obviously not generic. If you are copying and pasting, they probably can tell.

On a side note, one of my new favorite websites, consumerist.com can tell you about the US Post Office and their new "up-selling technique." Pretty much USPS will no longer offer the lowest rate to send a package unless you ask for it.

But back to a job. I'm going to dream a little.

Maybe someday, when I get a job and I'm trying to hire someone, I'll be able to explain why their copy and pasted e-mail didn't really strike me as sincere.

For cereal.

Deadline Spam I Am

Lately I've been focusing on specific jobs.

I see job posts and instead of applying to every one, I focus on a select few. However, the job interviews that I have received have been mostly from the "mass" sending that I've done.

I've got a couple jobs that I think that I'd be great for at my Alma mater. Unfortunately, they have late deadline dates, which is annoying. But I've already talked about that.

Sometimes, and I stress sometimes, deadlines are important to wait for. Federal, state and local government jobs have specific polices they must follow. That makes it more difficult to apply for those jobs right out of college.

I also discovered last week that a plead to the bending of the rules does not work--at least in government jobs. They will not bend. They will not break.

How flippin' annoying.

Sometimes the best jobs are the ones you see too late.

The other thing that I've realized is that other people are really quite lazy. While I might be a motivated person (depending on who you talk to of course) I will call people back. When I say things, I mean things.



Other people are not so succinct in their procedures and execution. Patience, attrition and deep breaths help. It's hard to find a job right now.

Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and realize that you have to keep making progress. Don't get down. Even with this financial crisis that has hit us in the United States.

You just have to understand that some people will not call you back. Sometimes you have to give up on people, even after you have a great interview. It's happened to me once. It might happen twice.

It might happen 10 times.

Reel Chill

I don't like it when people tell me that something will happen and then doesn't.

It drives me crazy. I don't like to expect a phone call and then have it not come. That's rude. It's not cool. I understand if people are out of town, but don't tell me that I'll get a call. Then I don't get a call.

It would be much easier on both parties if someone just said, "look you'll hear from us for sure by next week." Instead of "hey, we'll call you tomorrow."

Earth to Matilda. Just lay it on me straight. I can handle the truth. I will not blog tomorrow for sure and probably not on Sunday. I'm going out of town. It'll be cool.

Keep searching for a job (and searching for a job for me) and I will respond to all your comments on Monday. Oh wait, you all do not leave comments.

I guess I'll just have to write a regular blog. Have a good one!

The List From The Job Expo

I went to a job expo today in the downtown convention center of the city where I reside.

It was quite an experience. To lay it straight on you, it was a terrible expo. It was clearly not directed at people of my education level, even though I only have a simplistic Bachelors of Arts.

I saw some things that were completely absurd. So, I will share with you what I saw. In a list. Believe me, you'll want to read this list. I guarantee that you will laugh (or snicker softly) at least once.

Now, before I get to the things I saw, I'd like to explain the flier for this job expo. It had a couple of key job-related info boxes. Key points said:
-Jobs ranging from entry-level to professional
-Dress professionally
-Bring copies of your resume

Now, a couple of the entry-level to professional businesses:
-Girl Scouts (Yes, those cookie people)
-Arby's (Yes the fast food "restaurant")
-Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino (Gambling, nice)
-U-Haul (I wonder what professional jobs they have...)
-JC Penny (Seasonal jobs, not management or salespeople)
-Holiday Inn (Housekeeper)
-Foot Locker (Take "steps" to build my professional career?)
-Vons, Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy, Anchor Blue and Party DJ Party (Whatever the heck that is)
-Finally, my personal favorite, AM PM (Yes, the convenience store)

All they had is minimum-wage jobs and sales positions. They really had no jobs for educated people. I don't mean to be mean. But come on. Are there really people out there looking for a minimum-wage job at AM PM?

Well, here you go. Here's a list of the wonderful things that I saw at the Expo. Remember the directions about dress and resumes.

-Mohawk
-Canadian suit (Yes, complete jeans covering every inch of the person)
-Camo pants (I saw multiple of these. No one wearing them were in the army.)
-T-Shirts
-Plaid Shirts
-Guy walking around playing music from his phone
-So many polo shirts without any buttons done
-Skater shoes
-Beanies
-Hella cool gangster gaits (the way they walk)
-People stealing candy from the displays
-People stealing keychains. From the Police display.
-Guys and girls trying to pull off the color purple
-People carrying nothing (no resumes, no pens, nothing)
-Black undershirts (with white collared shirt on top)
-Baggy pants. On suit pants. With a suit.
-Crowding around the Economic Development Department booth. Not only was it the first booth, people seemed to think that they would just give you a job if you stood there long enough.
-Sandals
-Sandals with socks
-Shirt, tie, pants, professional shoes and a backwards hat
-Oakland As' jersey
-San Diego Padres jersey
-No Raiders jerseys
-Raiders tattoos (on sleeveless shirts, notice anything about the spelling in that picture from the link?)
-Woman with mullet (in a wheelchair with a dog)
-Babies (like no more than 2 weeks)
-Children
-Gold chains on the outside of tie

And, my personal favorite:
-Middle-aged Asian man with a hat that said BLACK MEN SCORE

After walking around the booths a few times, checking out the "companies," I literally went and stood off on the side and documented what I witnessed for about eight minutes.

The Expo was a joke. I stayed for an hour and a half.

I shouldn't have wasted money on that. (For parking)
The lesson is this. If you are looking for a professional job, do so at job fairs on your college campus, not at ones put on by the cities. They are ridiculous.

But, you see a lot of interesting things, that's for sure.

I Call War

Tomorrow's a big day. Well, for me.

I'm expecting a call about a job and I have a job fair.
There are two schools of thought that I can think of.

First, you can make a little bit of progress every day. Attrition, so to speak. Finding a job is war. On a side note, I hate comparisons to anything having to do with war. Pro Athletes play games. Children's games. For money. Courage is for war. Not for athletes. Or job blogs, really.

The other school of thought is to make flurries of progress in short amounts of time. That's what I do. Kind of. Mine is sort of a hybrid. Little productive battles win the war. That means I have minutes every day of extreme productivity. That's what I would do.

Prepare for these moments and then strike. Make phone calls, send e-mails and search with all the tools you know.

I have a system. I wake up, do a round of searching. Then I send out e-mails and make phone calls as needed. Then I spend some time thinking about what I'm going to have for lunch. After lunch-dreaming I focus some more. Many companies do not post jobs right in the morning.

Job posters are lazy too. They post them around 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Right before lunch. By this time I've been thinking about lunch way too much so I'm forced to eat. Then I focus a little more. Then I write this blog. Then this blog inspires me to search some more.

Rant: I really do not like state jobs. They take way too long to apply for and there are deadlines that are usually month(s) away. That's dumb. If a good candidate comes along (like me) then hire them.

Usually every day I try something new. Sometimes it works. Many times it doesn't. But hey, that's ok.

I've got time.

But it's running out. I've got a big day tomorrow.

Prod > Productivity

Some days are more productive than others.

Like today, when I almost made $2 in the stock market. Nice.

What do you do when you feel like you're just wasting the day away, not doing anything productive? I'll tell you what you do. You plan out other days. Like tomorrow. Right now, I have a lot going on for this Thursday. (Yes, I know tomorrow is Wednesday.)

I have a career expo and I'm expecting a phone call back from a civil engineering firm on the same day.
Yesterday I made a couple of phone calls, one to a local yellow pages publisher. They were not nice. I'm not really sure why people are such jerks for no apparent reason. I literally called this one place five times and was told that the person I was trying to reach was unavailable.

I finally got fed up with that and asked when she would be available. Then the receptionist blew up. Maybe because I said she specifically always said the person was busy every time I called. Eh, that's ok. Guess I won't be getting a job there.

Ideas for "wasted" days:
-Find businesses on manta.com
-Search for other career expos
-Print out resumes
-Take speed typing tests
-Clean your room
-Send out a couple e-mails
-Apply to a couple other jobs that you find
-Follow up on a job or two
-Set goals for employment on a calendar you can see from your computer

Some of those things I did. Some I need to do. Not only does this blog inform you about job help, it also helps to focus me.

It only takes one opportunity to get a job. But it takes a heck of a lot of attrition to really find a real opportunity.

Don't be afraid to say no. I did.

Carrer LB

Well, oil went down under $100 a barrel today.

Unfortunately, Wall Street decided to continue to screw me. But, if you're in with the stocks, you know that it is a slow process. It's not an instant moneymaker. It's a gamble. Also, if you're more of a real estate person, know that traditionally, the stock market and real estate have given the same returns for investments.

However, the job search is looking slightly up. With my Internet sleuthing, I have uncovered that there is to be a Career and Education Expo in my city this week. That's good. That is something you should search for.

When I first saw the Expo, it stated that it was for workers over 18 who have limited education. But, after some digging, I uncovered a flier/news release that said that it is actually a career expo for entry-level to professional.

Right up my alley.

Expos are another resource that every job-seeker should examine and participate in. I personally have never been to one. But, after this one, I hopefully won't have to attend another one.

I'm a bit reluctant to put all my eggs in the Expo basket. I get the feeling that some employers just go there to look good. We'll see though. I've never been.

Searching on a city website is a great place to find out about career expos. Also, college career services websites are great places to look. Many college grads, I would think, would only look at their university, not specifically the city they live in.

Opportunities are out there. Kind of.



The thing that you should never do is jump at the first opportunity that comes your way. I didn't. And look at me now. I'm happily unemployed. And I'm...wait. Uh, don't jump at every opportunity that comes your way, if you can afford it.

You don't want to miss out on a sweet job.

You don't want to be miserable. Having a job is good.

Having a job you don't hate is even better.

Call It What It Is

Administrative Assistant.
Executive Assistant.
Front-Office Assistant.
Clerical Office Assistant.

Why do job posters try to trick you. It's really ridiculous. Call it what it really is.

Secretary.

The problem is that people feel bad that they are secretaries. It's segregation, isn't it?
I always love how they have these posts and they list out the jobs of the administrative assistant. They try and trick you.

-Able to lift 25 pounds.
(Ream of paper or the boss' briefcase)

-Sit and operate equipment
(Answer phones)

-Multitask with ease
(Answer phones and e-mail)

-Verbal and communication skills
(Answer phones and e-mail)

-Communicate with a wide variety of employees
(Transfer phone calls and forward e-mail)

-Drive a corporate vehicle
(Be a chauffeur)

-Participate in marketing
(Forward calls)

Here's a hint. If you see any "Assistant" at the end of a title, avoid at all costs. (with the exception of a select few)

There's nothing against secretaries. It's against the posters who try to trick overqualified people.

I actually have a sweet prospect that has Assistant at the end. But I did good research on what it was before I made the send. Watch out for the "ASSistant." And hot cement.

SNL That Biz

I had an interview today.

I have another one in an hour. Don't worry though, it's a phone interview.

I'll tell you this. Some interviewers are good and some are bad. Some just sit there. The most awkward thing is when you have finished answering a question and there are like 3-5 seconds of silence.

That happened to me today. About 10 times. I would finish answering a question and the interviewers (there were two) would just sit there staring at me. I almost wanted to look behind me and check if there was someone over my shoulder.

Did they expect me to talk for ten minutes for each question? I would give my answer, or my little anecdote and they would just sit there. Part of the problem might have been that one of the interviewers was friendly and one was a robot.

They had a sheet of paper where they asked predetermined questions. They read them straight. It was awkward. Some of the questions it seemed like they didn't even know the answer. I think that one of the reasons that it was so awkward was because the friendly lady kept waiting for the robot lady to speak. I'm guessing that the robot is a bit more talkative when she gets to know someone.

Granted, it wasn't a bad interview. They asked me a question or two that they probably thought I couldn't answer. Stuff like: What is a grant. I nailed it. Go me.

Here's the thing though. The best interviewers are the ones who talk to you and ask you questions in a normal voice, in a normal tone and in a normal manner. It's perfectly fine to have a guide as an interviewer. But use that sheet of paper as a guide, not as a script. Improvise a little bit.

Plus, it looked like they had never read the questions before, so they didn't quite flow.

I'm just saying this stuff for the potential interviewers out there. Now I know what I don't want to do.

The best interviews that I've had were the ones where the interviewer had a conversation with me. So, that's what you should try to do.

That's what I tried to do today. I tried to steer them away from their script. It worked in a few instances. I tried to look them in their eyes and tried to get them to respond back to me in a conversation. I used a conversational tone.

A conversational tone is what you will use in most all settings. Conversations tell you so much more than a formal interrogation ever will. Also, instead of predetermined answers to questions, as an interviewer you can actually focus on what the interviewee is saying.

Also, many of those pamphlets and books lie to you in regards to what the interviewers will ask. Many of them will ask maybe two or three of the questions that you are prepared for.

I'm waiting for someone to ask me about my strengths/weaknesses. In the four interviews I've had so far, nobody has asked me those.

If I'm ever an interviewer, and I'm sure I will be someday, I'm totally not going to ask the questions that they tell you the interviewers will ask. Why?

Because then I can see how someone will:

-perform under pressure <-Great YouTube Video
-adapt
-use body language

And hey, aren't those more important than figuring out someone's practiced answer about their weaknesses (that are probably actually strengths) or strengths (that are just the opposite side of their "weaknesses")?

Go job!

Breaking the Job

I could have a job if I wanted to.

At the interview I went to yesterday, the guy pretty much told me to go think about it, and if I wanted to he would give me a job. I would come in to solidify some things up and then I'd start my training. The only problem is that it's sales. I'd be miserable. I'd rather have a part-time job than a sales job. Plus, I'm a writer, not a salesman. Excuse me, salesperson.

And I've already explained that I'm not a salesman.
I'm somebody who wants to buy, not someone who wants to sell. But, I have realized that I might have to take a part-time or a lower-income job just to get in with someone.

Since I did not have an internship that led (or had even the opportunity to lead into) into a full-time job, I'm a bit SOL.

But that's ok, because I have two interviews tomorrow.
Seriously, this new technique of directly contacting people is working. The trick is this.

If you see a job on craigslist, careerbuilder, monster or yahoo that you like, look for the job posting on that company's website. I know I keep pressing this issue, but it's absolutely true. Unless you have a website that is focused on your profession, it's too tough a market. I saw a statistic somewhere where it listed the amounts of applications that are sent into craigslist for a post.

It was something like around 40. And it was for a specific graphic designing job, not even a "general" job. Now, think about what a regular job poster gets.

That means a couple things. You either have to have a killer resume or a good cover letter. I'm all about the cover letter. I think people/employers can see tons of resumes that are alike.



If you send a cover letter that is direct and focused for the job you are applying for, you can get much better results. When people send resumes saying that they are looking for a job in "business," that doesn't do a whole lot.

Here's three tips:
-Focus the cover letter to EVERY job
-Give a little bit of personality
-Try to add a title recipient

About the personality. You want to give a little bit. Seriously. Just a little sentence here or there that shows that you are a person, not a generic machine that's pumping out letters like these by the tens and tens.
If you add a title recipient, that's even better. Even if you get the gender wrong, it's better than putting "To Whom It May Concern."

People like their names. On the subject of names, check out this website. It'll show you who/where has your last name in the world. It's kinda cool.

One more thing.

Rock Band 2 comes out on Sunday. That said, I might not post on Sunday. Because even in my unemployment, I think that I'm going to find a way to afford it.

It's too much fun.

Work in The Office

I've realized that I might need to do sales.
That sucks, because I'm not a sales-gifted/oriented guy.

I'm no Dwight Schrute, the greatest paper salesman ever at Dunder Mifflin. The Office returns on September 25, just to get you in the know.

When I'm selling people on things that I know I wouldn't want if I were them, I take "no" as an answer very easily.

I'm sure there are great techniques that people have that they could teach me. The problem is, I think that I'd feel like crap if I tricked someone into buying something they really didn't need.

Well, maybe until I got a paycheck. Which is really the only reason that I think that I might have to do sales. You see, sales and health care are about the only opportunities out there.

Which is how I have an interview today. It'll be my second "professional" interview. Here's how I got it.


Since I've been running out of companies, I've taken to finding small companies. The odd thing is, I followed none of my techniques. I sent an e-mail. Where I titled the receiver "Mr." It was not a dude.

Randomly, the owner of the company called me. He acted a little bit angry with me. He was wondering how I'd heard of his company. I could tell he was a bit peeved. However, I was also confused. Why did he call me? He could have ignored me.

I told him about my background and how sometimes advertising and printing companies need proofreaders. He told me that I was confused about what his company does. I was like, "ok, sorry to bother you then, sir." Then I decided to take a chance.

I told him that if there was another opportunity that he was looking for, I'd love to be considered for it. He told me ok. And that he'd like me to come in for an interview. So weird. The owner was almost attacking. I did not get defensive, because hey, he called me.

If anything, it'll give me some interview experience, which will be invaluable in my job search. My last job interview at a website-development company was not the traditional interview that career services advisers try to prepare you for.

But, I will tell you something. Replying and sending resumes to the craigslist-supplied e-mail or the careerbuilder apply functions do not work as well as sending something directly to a company.

I think that many times, companies post on those sites because they are required to by company policies or because HR peeps are lazy.

Slowly, each day I gain just a little bit more knowledge in what to do while searching for a job.

Well, we'll see if it pays off. Literally and figuratively.


UPDATE: I just got an interview at a public television studio in my town for Friday. I sent the e-mail directly to the source...surprise, surprise.

No Animals Today

It turns out, the phone might be the wave of the future.

Since I've been on a binge to use this manta.com service and actually call the companies themselves, I've found out a couple of things.

First, calling can actually save me time from having to send an e-mail. Now, granted, most of the companies that I call just tell me the same thing. They are not hiring. Well that's fine, but at least I know not to send them my valuable resume.
However, get this. Some of the e-mail that I have been sending are not actually getting to their correct recipients. Nobody wants that. Or this.

I called a company today where the HR person said she didn't get my e-mail. That's odd, because she told me the exact right e-mail that I sent it to. But, she told me to call her later this week.

Call, not e-mail. I think that while I've realized that e-mail is really easy and it can get results, person to person can do much more than an e-mail can. Calling somebody, who then asks for you to send your resume does much more than just sending a resume.

Unfortunately, I've realized also that I don't really like calling people. It can be awkward and make me feel self-conscious. I also am not always sure what to say. Regardless, it is a valuable technique.

A gentleman just yesterday said that it was good that I called because no one ever calls to check up. That inspired me. Sort of.

Calling may be tedious and strange and awkward, but hey, at least you can get practice speaking to people on a professional level.

That's what it takes.

Too bad that I'm sort of running out of companies.

Pooper Scooper

Orangutan.

They sit in zoos where they get to eat and climb onto fake trees and then get to throw poop at unwanted visitors who show their teeth.

That's kind of what I do all day, except for the part where I climb on fake trees and throw gross stuff. But if I could have thrown something at this person who I spoke to on the phone, I would have.

So I called this company, which I heard has hired people in my unemployed position before. Now, I did not reach the right person because the person who usually answers calls was out. The guy was very nice and did some good work searching for my resume. It was nice of the dude, who obviously heard the phone ringing and was courteous enough to answer while the doorknob secretary was out.

He told me to call back and ask for this one woman in a half hour. So I did. The receptionist was not nice. Now, believe me, I can be very nice on the phone. I'd be willing to use the word "charming" but I think that would be a little self-centered, even if it is fake nice charming. Plus, the lady did not let me speak to the person who I was trying to reach. Not cool.

So I'll call back tomorrow. Jerk faces.

On a positive note, I did make $40 in the stock market today. That's cool. Oh, and when I said I invested in a company that makes fake blood, I did not mean a special effects company. The fake blood is a chemical compound that is able to be substituted as a synthetic oxygen-cell carrier in an emergency, such as a car crash. Or a (dog vs.) shark attack. Or war. Anyway it's not CSI ketchup. Seriously, watch that last link, it is priceless David Caruso.

On another positive note, I also have a phone interview scheduled for today. I have come to the realization that I might need to take a part-time job to gain some:
-Money
-Experience
-Something to do instead of coming up with dumb comparisons to apes.

So I may need to do that. And, I may just have to put in some time as a lowly person in a company. It's not so bad. If I have a chance to gain more responsibility, most employers have jumped at the opportunity with me.

People can see that I may be a good employee, but they cannot read (on a resume) that I say I am. All they see is limited experience.

Hopefully, my experience will be growing slightly, even if I do have to pay some dues.

Before I go ape-crazy.

Look Out For Manta

The weekend does not mean that the job search stops for me.

It just means I have an excuse to be lazy. It's going to be tough to search for jobs on weekends when I have fantasy football. I mean, how am I supposed to search for jobs when I have useless NFL games to watch.

Regardless, even though I may be slightly lazier on the weekends searching for jobs, it is only because people (that I would want to work for) do not post jobs on the weekends. Unless, of course I want to take up that nursing job that I'm oh so qualified for.

However, I did discover a wonderful new way to search for jobs that I can almost guarantee you do not know about. Here's the trick:

-Go to manta.com

Manta is this website that is all about business. It has some cool features that you can use as resources. But that's not what is cool. It has business profiles. Like tons of them.

What you do is define a country, then a state, then a city. From that you can define an industry. Now, the next step takes some thought. And a whole lot of patience and attrition (yep, attrition) and probably the Internet.

Now, you can also define the searches to give the highest revenue for some of the companies and also other qualities (is that the right word?) such as highest number of employees and so forth. Then, you can find companies in your city.

Companies that do not post on dumb engines like monster, yahoo, indeed, simply hired and yes even that wonderful craigslist.

From there, all you can really gain is the name of the businesses, which you then have to search for on the Internet. But, at least it is a tool that is not traditional and is more focused.

Many of the businesses have their own job section that lists jobs that are not on the feeds. Also, it is then possible to get e-mails directly to people. Like not HR. What a wonderful technique.

At least I think so.

Short Post (Bus?)

E-mail is the wave of the future.

I used to be a big proponent of the instant message, specifically AIM. As I became older, I didn't use it as much. Now, with Facebook's new instant message feature, I use it a bit more, because people don't have retarded screen names that I would have to remember.

Now, I'm all into e-mail. I actually have people to e-mail. You know, like random craigslist posts and stuff.

As a short post today, I thought I'd just share with you what monster.com sent me today as potential job matches for my qualifications.

-Project Manager of Retail Construction in Roseville, CA.
Score! I always wanted to build Walmarts, JCrews and ROSS Dress For Less. (You can.)

-Customer Service Representative in Stockton, CA
What the flip does that really mean anyway? Glorified telemarketer?

-Nursing Instructor in Fresno, CA
Yeah, with all those nursing qualifications I have. Anyway, wouldn't you think if I had those qualifications that I would have a job. I mean, nobody's looking for nurses right now.


Thanks Monster!
I think I'll apply to each one!