Sunday, January 29, 2012

get a job update

I've done it!  I found a job posting, pimped out my resume & cover letter & sent it off.  It'll be on their desk bright & early Monday morning.

It's actually not a bad opportunity to be honest.  I could do it in my sleep.  Root for Athena as she goes on a quest to land a part-time job paying $200 a week!


get a job

My future mother-in-law is always on my arse to get a job.  She thinks I'm a total gold digger like the chicky in this song:



Well doesn't it just suck for her that I'm not a trifling gold digger.  "Get a job" she tells me through Ethan. 
"Why can't she just get a job?  I used to get jobs very easily"
"How hard is it to get a job?"
"She can get a job as a secretary no problem"
"There's so many jobs out there - she can't be choosy"

Rather than telling her where to go & how to get there, I want to tell you all just what it's like to go get a job.

First, let's look at my qualifications.  I have a bachelor's degree & a college certificate.  I have 10 years experience in people management.  I know Mac OS, Office, Adobe, HTML & a bunch of database systems.  I can type 60+ WPM.  I can read, write & breathe on my own.  

I see a job posting that I know I can do.  I adjust my CV to highlight my experiences to illustrate how I would be good for the job.  I fill out the long-ass online application. I draft a lovely cover letter & upload my CV to the employer's and/or recruiter's database.  I get an email saying thanks for your interest - don't call us we'll call you.  Then I wait.

Here's the thing.  There are thousands of jobs posted online.  There's the "hidden job market" that's clearly not available for you & me.  So why is it so damn difficult to get a job?  I'll tell you why.

Employers want people who will keep up the serfdom atmosphere of their establishment.  The ideal candidate is someone who's going to kiss their ring because they pay them every 2 weeks.   Someone who won't question their methods or business decisions.  Someone who'll eat lunch at the cool kids' table in the lunchroom & play with them after school.  Someone who'll be their confidante after 1 business day.  People, listen to me when I say employers will look at your qualifications to a limited degree.  If you aren't willing to do any of the things I listed above, they'll tell you that a) they have found someone who meets their requirements; b) we've found someone who's a better fit or best of all c) we think you're overqualified & you might leave for something better.

As you can see, my job searching experiences has left me with somewhat of a bitter taste in my mouth. Just to illustrate what I mean, I'm going to apply to a job.  I'm going to send my CV & do all the things I'm supposed to do.  Of course, I'll keep you all posted. 


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Year of the Dragon



The Year of the Water Dragon begins on January 23rd.  This year is shaping up to be one of momentous change for all of us.

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!

death of a salesman

Joe Paterno, football coach at Penn State University passed away today from complications of his lung cancer treatments.  He was 85 years old.

Not too long ago Joe Paterno was implicated in the Penn State sexual abuse nastiness scandal.  He found out about the nastiness, reported it to school officials then did nothing else.  I believe the nastiness wasn't reported to the local authorities because of the scandals that would surround the school.

Joe's death got me thinking. Was his passing a result of karma?  Did his actions come full circle?  What do you all think?


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

How to defeat worry by Robin Sharma

Folks, watch this video by Robin Sharma: http://www.robinsharma.com/how-to-defeat-worry/

If it doesn't make you go hmm, watch it over & over till it does.


dawn of a new Athena

As I've said previously, 2012 is a big year; not just for me but for every single person who walks this planet.  Life as we know it will never be the same again.

Having said that, each day I surround myself with positivity.  I've lived too long shrouded in negativity.  I've been surrounded by people (family included) who think life is just one big pile of shite.  Is it really?  No - simple as that.  Life is a gift.  Life is amazing.  Life continues to take my breath away.

I'm in the process of losing weight - really truly honest-to-God losing weight.  How wicked is that?  My Twitter feed is just full of affirmations that serve to remind me that life is indeed beautiful.  One look at the news'll tell you that there's a lot of shite happening in the world - uh-huh.  The economy is in the toilet.  Swordfights are happening between countries to see who's got the biggest rod nuclear arms cache.  Plus there's just way too many ignant-ass people on this planet.

To all of this shite I say count your blessings & not your pennies.  Your worth isn't determined by the size of your rod but what you do to help yourself & others.  Take off the blinders & look around.  Learn from someone who walks a different path than you.

Speaking of which, I keep seeing bits & pieces about the GOP race in the US.  I like to call it the "ignantest-ass contest".  I just can't believe some of the utter rubbish that's been coming out of these fools' mouths - education isn't a right? Scholarships for white males only?  Food stamps to fight obesity?

Never thought I'd say this but to all you GOPites out there: y'all need Jesus.