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 Post subject: Work
PostPosted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:21 pm 
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Twisted thoughts...

I'll never get a job. No one wants to hire me because I'm no good.

Overgeneralization and personalization. Sigh... And I just feel so trapped in these thoughts and feelings. I know how I should "fix" things, but I'm too busy feeling sorry for myself. I'm just so scared of what's going to happen once my temp job ends on Friday. I've sent out countless resumes. Been specifically rejected twice. I'm scared of being rejected again.

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:54 pm 
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(Trin, insert the appropriate soothing, empathetic words here. I feel like you won't object if I go straight to the problem-solving part. If, however, you're in the mood for the soothing & empathy, skip my post til you're ready for All That Is Ash! LOL)
:licky

Shift your perspective.

Sure, you're not getting the red carpet rolled out for the job of your dreams but if you shift your perspective into a place where you're preparping to create memories that you'll reflect back upon in forty years and describe this time as "one in which you are victorious over difficult circumstances and really roll up your sleeves and do whatever's necessary to get through 'the dark times'" I think you'll be in a better head-space.

In my darkest times, I have:

- worked the midnight shift at an airport at the cargo desk (shipping dead people & such)
- worked at a Dairy Queen
- worked the midnight shift at a convenience store (midnight shift jobs are easy to get cuz no one wants them)
- scrubbed toilets for teenage boys in a house of three small un-house-trained dogs
- did data entry at an insurance company (can you say ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ?!)
- sold cheap knock-off fake perfume door-to-door
- did HTML tagging and desktop publishing (which was mind-numbingly boring)

At some places, I was only getting $6 an hour - or if I was lucky & it was a midnight shift, $8/hr.

Did I think scrubbing toilets was beneath my intelligence and what I had to offer the world? You bet your ass, I did! But I did it all anyway - just to keep money coming in and now, looking back, I'm proud of myself for not ending up living in a cardboard box. Ya know?

It might not be glamorous but there are ways to make money and if you can shift your perspective a little bit, it's not all that bad. (When I scrubbed toilets for five hours a day, I also worked out two hours a day and I was in the absolute best shape of my life!)

Not all sickness means death.

Shoot - I recently read something that was wonderful and inspirational but now I can't find it. I think it was at Peanut but now I can't find it anywhere. Something about how "if it feels like the end, it can't be the end."

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:03 am 
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I'm spoiled, Ash. It's going to take some time to shift that perspective. I'm used to "getting the job" no matter what the job is. Now I am truly applying for ANYTHING and I can't get a call back. I've even knocked some of my education off my resume because of the dreaded, "You're over-qualified." And I'm sure the fact that I haven't been able to stay at a job for longer than two years isn't helping matters. B. reminds me that our county has the highest jobless rate in the state, so the competition out there, even for the toilet scrubbing job, is fierce.

I have no doubt we'll get through this. My true fear is about all that we might lose... meaning our home and our vehicles. Plus, the whole no health benefits thing is sucking, especially now that my brain took a vacation for a bit. They want me to see neurologists, urologists, heart specialist... and pay it all up front. I've tried to negotiate a payment plan with at least the neuro, but they don't seem to want to play ball. I guess I just want to be back at my old job where I can bitch about how bored I am, but at least I'm bringing in enough to pay the bills.

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:19 am 
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Trinity, this may sound silly, but are you just sending in resumes to the people that are advertising jobs...or are you physically handing them in, sometimes even to jobs that are not advertised?

When I was out of work, the best way I found a job was not by looking at the ads...it was figuring out what job I wanted (I'm spoiled too!) and going to the person in charge and requesting it.

When I wanted to work in cancer research, I went to the head of the department early on Monday. I did not have an appointment. I was well-dressed and knew I could ace an interview if only I was allowed to make my case. I had to wait two hours, but I got in to see the dept head. After an hour-long conversation, he made up a whole new postition just for me--they were not 'hiring', so a job had to be created.

My point is that sometimes you have to go out there and take what you want. Not forcefully, but confidently. Make them believe that the company would truly not be better off NOT hiring you--that they actually NEED you.

Those were different economic times, but I do think that especially in these times, the tried-and-true approach is one all are using. Try to think outside the box and make your resume stand out on it's own.

Best wishes!!! :)

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:15 am 
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Good idea, Harmonium. I was already kicking that thought around in my head.

I am now trying to look at the positive. I had two interviews yesterday. I have one today, and another on Monday. And I have another interview I know is coming, but just not when. So overall, I seem to finally be getting my foot in the door. Now it's about convincing them I'm right for the job.

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:41 am 
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Trinity, what kind of network do you have? Are you working it? jim

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:11 pm 
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My network is all radio and records, and I'm trying to get out of that industry. I'm having a hard time networking. What do you suggest I can do to help? Any ideas?

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:22 pm 
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Target some industries you'd like to be in, and see if any of your radio/records network knows people in any of those industries and can arrange introductions. These introductions won't be job interviews; just ways for you to expand your network. The people you meet might know of something that has your name written all over it. jim

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:57 am 
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Good idea!

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:41 pm 
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Join LinkedIn.com to see what you can shake loose.

See about the local Rotary Club meetings. See if you can attend as an observer or find a sponsor. My dad used to get a bunch of business out of that group.

If not Rotary, there's Lion's Club or some other group I think.

Have your "Brag Bag" in order and have a few anecdotes or stories about how you got interested in this new industry you're pursuing, why you're excited about it, etc.

Don't go in with "I'm looking to get out of radio" -- instead go in with "I'm looking to get into marketing" or whatever.

:2cents

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:25 pm 
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Ex-radio people I know of have gotten into PR and marketing/promotions in general.

One PD I used to work for is now some sort of muckety-muck with Clear Channel's online properties in the Dayton area. He did a stint with RCS, too, starting out doing Selector tech support and eventually being like a product manager going out places talking with talk stations about installing some product they have to manage callers etc. ... Master Control? Anyway, maybe there are some ways to leverage the radio experience.

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 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:59 am 
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Ash, I'd forgotten about LinkedIn. I'm already on there. I just need to spend a little time to grow my network.

Jim, wow, your friend sounds as though he had quite the career! And you're right, there is a bunch of stuff I can leverage into a new career.

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