A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

job search

The light starts to trickle through the tunnel

One month down.

This post comes on the final day of the first month of 2012. An odd month to be sure, in regard to weather. It’s snowed. It’s been near 50. It’s rained. It’s stormed.

Very crazy.

This month is almost parallel to the last year of my life. Ups and downs. Good days and bad. I’ve become more focused this month. More ready for that next step.

The reality is December was tough. I applied for the jobs I could find. But it seems in my field, and I’ve seen this before, December is a tough month. I dragged. I was having a hard time. But I persevered.

Still, it doesn’t help that I’m coming upon the one-year mark of being on the unemployment line. On Monday, I attended a workshop for the unemployment scene. I learned a few new things.

This month has been strong in the job search. I’ve applied to some things I really feel good about.

I re-worked my resume. I took a new approach with cover letters. My confidence is coming back. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know where that light is coming from yet, but I see the light. I just have to take the right turn.

It’s there.

I do this post mainly because I have a bunch of friends and family who have asked me how things are going. How my mental aspect is. They wonder about leads, how I’m doing and all that. I appreciate it. I really do. But I can also see how uncomfortable it is for people to ask. It’s not the normal water cooler talk, ya know?

I’ve noticed the questions, texts and such are coming a little more often now. Maybe people realize I am coming upon the one-year mark and are checking in on me. And it’s tough saying the same thing over and over.

So, I’m fine.

I appreciate all the thoughts and comments. And know that having friends and family who care makes this a fight I know I’ll win. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I have that will. I’m not failing in this aspect. I have education and experience and eventually, the perfect match will come along. An employer will see what I can do for them and I’ll find that employer that cares about the person they are hiring.

I have other friends and colleagues in the same boat. I feel strongly that they’ll come out of this better people, too. Stronger. Happier.

I’m staying focused, especially on that small bit of light shining.

I’ve been hearing this song a little lately and looking at the lyrics really hit with me. I’m not a huge rap fan, but I really like this song and beat.

(Quick note: there’s one F-bomb in the song, so it might not be safe to play in certain spots. I couldn’t find the edited version of the song. This also shows the lyrics, so you’ll also be able to see said “F-bomb.” I wanted to warn everyone ahead of time).

I’m ready for the rest of 2012.

Bring it on.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!

Reaching out with social networks

I was working on a cover letter and reference list today for a job locally. It’s one I wouldn’t mind getting as it’s the direction I’d like to take my career. While I was figuring the people I’d want to use as references, I got looking at my Linkedin profile.

Then I got wondering a bit more (this happens often).

How far can one go with social networking when looking for jobs?

I know people who utilize each social network for possible employment opportunities — Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc. It seems to me, however, that by putting yourself out there in each spot, you are putting a lot of your information out there.

For me, Facebook is a friend/family thing. Basically, if I don’t know you in real life (with a few exceptions), I don’t add you on Facebook. I have a few photos up there and a few other things, but it’s not really something that can get me in trouble with anything. I have nothing incriminating, but I find it easier to maintain a “friend list” of 200 or fewer, rather than adding everyone and hoping for some networking.

Twitter, is a slice of my life. I don’t have it blocked (though I have in the past) as there’s nothing major on there. I post links, I update life’s little things and all that. I know how to use twitter, which can be beneficial in some jobs I’ve applied for, but my personal one is used for fun.

I’m still learning Linkedin.

It seems like a really strong tool for a job search. I’m trying to grasp and understand how it works and what I can do with it. I’ve added many people to my “network,” but as with other social mediums, how far is too far? I did a search with my e-mail address and noticed many, many people who I’ve had contact with at one point or another who are on Linkedin.

Do you add them all?

Or, do you stay selective?

While I understand that the more people who see your resume/credentials is a good thing, is is wise to just add people, just to add people? I can’t answer that. For now, I’ve been selective. I have to know who I am adding. I don’t have to know them all personally, but I have to know that the people I am adding are ones who I’ve interacted with — whether through online items, stories I was working on, or other social mediums, such as Twitter or blogging.

I’ve learned something since having my position cut in February — in a job market like it currently is, who you know can go a long way. I refuse to believe that my resume has been passed over so many times because I’m lacking in credentials. I’ve done a lot in my career — a lot I am very proud of. The jobs I’ve applied for are ones I know I’m highly qualified for, yet I constantly get overlooked for whatever reason.

An unfortunate part of the job market as it is, too, is the lack of ability to follow up and find out why you were overlooked. With upwards of 100 or more applications for many of these jobs, calling the hiring people wouldn’t always go well. If they are looking at so many applications, it could be anything that got you sent to the “no thanks” pile and the likelihood of someone remembering why you were put there is slim.

For a couple of the jobs I’ve recently applied to, I’ve had people in my corner. In at least one of those, a phone call has been made on my behalf. I hope that it helps as it would be a really sweet gig. There’s a few others I’ve applied for that I am really crossing my fingers about as well.

But where does the social networking come into play?

Do you add all these people on something like Linkedin and put it on your resume? Or one of the other social places? Do you have your own professional website?

Post a comment below and let me know how you do things or how you would do things. And if you are a reader and have Linkedin and want to join my network, let me know.

Finally, I am slowly working on my professional website. But I want to make it quite nice. I’m a little weak with web design, so does anyone have any ideas? Should I do it with a WordPress setup? Should I find someone to design me something? Advice?

Again, drop a comment or e-mail me!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com.