A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

jobs

The path that life takes you

It’s funny how life is when you look back on your working life.

A few days ago, I received some updates about people via LinkedIn. I don’t always go check things out there, but sometimes I do. After looking at the news, I often look at my own profile, trying to figure what I can do to spruce it up some.

But when I was looking the other day, it made me really think about the life of working and the paths you take.

Being a “grown up” doesn’t always mean you are on a path that you will do forever. People change jobs. People change careers. People have life events happen that alter everything you may dream about or want to do.

People just change.

So I got thinking back about myself and my path. I’ve always seemed to have something to do with either sports or media. I delivered the paper (albeit a pennysaver) as a kid. I umpired little league. My first newspaper photo and article was published when I was in seventh grade.

After high school, I worked at a weekly paper for several years before going back to college. I freelanced in newspapers and interned doing PR things.

In grad school, I freelanced for more newspapers, which allowed me to actually learn a lot more than I did in the classrooms. Then it was a daily paper before my position as cut. And now, I’m in public relations in an educational setting.

The last part is rather humorous because my own high school memories aren’t really that good. Times have changed between then and now, though. Kids (for the most part) are more tolerant and accepting than back when I walked the halls as a student.

It’s also fun to look at other people’s paths and see if they stayed in the same sort of field, or if they branched off. Or to see when people go different places – and get different views.

Life is a crazy and interesting place, that’s for sure. Our paths can change quickly, as I know very well. People in interviews will often ask where you see yourself in 5-10 years. I honestly never know how to answer that question because life can throw you curve balls quickly and everything can be altered in a moment.

For now, though, I just smile at seeing updates and seeing how people’s paths go. I know how my path has gone and I honestly have no idea how it will go in the future. Even the best plans get all screwed up at some point or another, so you never can tell what will happen in life. Some paths stay the same and some change. It’s how you react to all of it that will make it a positive path no matter the direction you go.

 

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Common courtesy seems to be going away these days

(Note: This is the first of likely several posts over the next month or so that were written a while back and saved in drafts (this might be the only one — I haven’t gone through them all yet!) I’m attempting to clean out the folder, so if they seem worthy of publishing, I will do so. If not, they get deleted!)

What is going on in the world of employment?

Realize that employment rates seem to be going up, but it’s not easy to track people who are without work and can no longer collect unemployment benefits. I personally know people who have been out of work for a while and who can’t seem to find a way to get back into the employed world.

Part of the problem, no doubt, is credentials. Another part is outsourcing. Another part is flat-out downsizing.

I truly feel bad for future generations. With computers and cheap labor overseas, there are going to be people without work.

But this post isn’t just about that, rather how things have changed as things are more and more competitive. When a job attracts some 200 applications, things get lost it seems. And what happened to the personal touch? People spend hours on cover letters and getting things right. They at least deserve a form letter, don’t they?

After spending so much times on resumes and/or cover letters, shouldn't people get some sort of a response -- even if it's a form letter?

After spending so much times on resumes and/or cover letters, shouldn’t people get some sort of a response — even if it’s a form letter?

During my 2.5 years of unemployment, I didn’t always get notification that my application was received – even with some electronic ones, which can be set up to automatically give notice. And it was highly rare to hear back from places, even after an interview.

Sometimes, too, you just have to wonder about the whole situation.

When I got out of college – with my master’s degree – I had a lot of experience. Not all that experience was what a daily newspaper would want, and I got that. But it’s not like I had never worked under a daily deadline before.

Anyway, out of college I started to freelance at my local daily. It had always been my goal to not work there, because I wanted to go beyond local. But interviews at other papers didn’t work out. So I started freelancing there. From there, it became part-time. They opened a search for a spot that opened. It was split between two of us who were working … then the other went to another full-time spot at the paper. I had basically been told that one of us would get it… so it seemed like it would be mine, right?

Nope.

A search happened. I interviewed – again. It was offered to somebody else who ended up not taking it. They advertised for it … again. Seriously, a second time. Another offer to somebody else.

I have to be honest – if I had any other viable options, I likely would have taken them.

They waited nearly two weeks for this person – TWO WEEKS! – to give an answer. They never got it. It was offered to me, and I basically had to say yes what they were offering (though, honestly, I should have tried to get more – nobody else was accepting the position at this point. Live and learn).

That gave me the start of the next seven years. I always remembered that, though. And I always pushed myself to get pretty better, in spite of everything. I did things wrong, sure. But I did way more right. And I won some awards and was a pretty model employee.

Until they decided my position was no longer needed, which then started me to eventually land on my feet much better than before.

It also made me remember a few other times I was brought in for interviews and how bizarre things could be, though none are more bizarre than asking about my feelings about dogs. Many of the places I applied to barely acknowledged they received my resume, let alone once they made a decision. That even happened at a few places where I actually had an interview!

I have friends still searching. They are qualified for many of the jobs out there. But they don’t ever know where they stand. The lack of communication is crazy. All they want to know is where they stand in the big scheme of things.

So where did things go so wrong? Why are there no more personal responses? Or even a form letter? Why are people kept in the dark, yet told not to call to follow up? It seems rude to me. And I also understand that with so many applications, it might not be feasible to answer everybody. But a form letter? A form e-mail?

Anything?

Where are we going in the future? Is it going to get worse? Will it get better? Only time will tell. But it can be very scary to think about when looking at the big picture. For those of you — me included — who are employed, be thankful for what you have as it’s a crazy world out there. 

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

It’s time to flip the calendar

My calendar still shows March.

Despite it now being April (it doesn’t feel like it, for the record), I haven’t switched my calendar.

I know that doesn’t seem like anything major. People do it all the time, right? My issue is it’s another month without a job. Recently, I’ve been sending more and more applications out to part-time jobs. Anything. I just don’t want to have to keep yanking money from a retirement account to live. But, I do what I have to do.

The reality is my skill set fits a certain thing. Though I can learn fast, I wonder if, sometimes, my applications show up on a desk and they don’t feel I can match up. Or if I have too many experiences or education.

Yeah — you know — the whole “overqualified.”

As I keep trying to stay positive, the reality of this continues to set in. For the first bulk of this, I had unemployment. Now, I don’t. So it’s a little more stressful.

I find myself, at times, tapping away at a cover letter or application and just stop. I’ll stare for a while and walk away. It’s not that I can’t finish it’s that my mind wanders. I wonder what I did to end up in this spot. I wonder what I have to do to get out of it. I’d love to go back to college, but is it worth getting deeper into student debt?

For what?

To start this search all over and go through the same thing?

People have looked at my resume and cover letters and tell me they are fine. Apparently not so much. If they were, how am I still out of work?

I don’t know anymore. I really don’t. Some days are better than others. But this is getting old. And as the spring slowly comes, with better weather and the ability to do more things, it’s going to get harder?

Why?

Because it does still cost money to do things, even if it’s just gas. Or grabbing a sandwich when out for a day.

I know this post may seem like it’s out of left field or blabbing, but more than anything, it was just a way for me to throw some thoughts down on the screen. Maybe this will help me as I continue to push forward and attempt to stay positive. At this moment, it’s all I can do.

Well, and change the calendar.

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — a minimum of $5– you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted lap quilt or pillow. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Plugging away and waiting to see some light

Isn’t a blog supposed to be a place where one can share his or her thoughts and get things out in the open?

I sometimes find that hard.

In the “drafts” file of the blog, I have several posts about real-world stuff. I don’t know why, but I’ve never been able to hit the “publish” button. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to put everything out there or let down any guards. I’m not sure. Because, truthfully, I’m usually someone who isn’t afraid to let things known.

But with December quickly coming upon us, reality is setting in even more than it has been. At some point during the month, my unemployment insurance will come to an end.

That means no income.

Great month for that to happen, eh?

I’m searching for jobs outside my field and seeing if I can find anything to make ends meet. I keep trying to find some freelance writing jobs, but nothing seems to be coming to fruition there. I keep sending out resumes and letters in hopes of finding something, but I’m not getting lucky.

It’s quite frustrating.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. I’ve actually never been so worried in my life.

For those who have never been in this situation of long-term unemployment, it’s tough. Even some who have dealt with it but have a spouse with a second income might not realize the full depth of this. Yes, that’s tough. But at least there’s that income.

During this long-term part of my life, I’ve still been vigilant about paying bills. I’m not sure what happens there if the income totally ceases.

Now, to be fair, I have a roof over my head and that shouldn’t change. I have access to a phone, computer and things like that. So, thankfully, I won’t be looking for large cardboard boxes to live in or a spot under a bridge somewhere. But it still doesn’t take away from a lot of other things.

I have looked into changing professions and going back to school. Several people closer to me know about one thing I have been looking into. The issue there? It’s an eight-month program and I still need to figure a way to have some income coming in. I can’t make that money appear. I can’t go without any sort of income and do that program for the next eight months. Many of the jobs I’ve applied for are outside my field.

So how to go about this?

I keep tapping away at the keyboard, writing cover letters, tweaking resumes and sending them out. When I need a break from staring at these jobs (and hoping I’m not applying for one I did last week or the week before), I turn to the blog and write a little about life — in hopes of at least getting my mind free.

I do tend to try and look at the positive side of things. I have friends and family who care. I know when this whole situation ends, I’ll be better off — in regard to life experience and knowing what it’s like to go through this situation.

Remaining hopeful is about the only thing I can do anymore.

This post is more about me trying to get a few things off my chest. OK, rant over. Blog will get back to normal tomorrow. Now back to some job apps. Maybe somebody will hire me, finally!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

 

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!