Goal Update: Week 7

A little late, I apologize, but with seven weeks in the book that only leaves five left to accomplish my goal of landing a job within 12 weeks of graduation.  Please, don’t remind me that I’m actually almost done with Week 8 as I write this post!  So here’s for an update…

Week 7 saw some highs and lows.  I had another phone interview, this time with James River Cellars.  Unfortunately I found out yesterday via email that they filled the position I applied for (Retail Sales/Event Coordinator).  That’s okay though, I have to admit I wasn’t all that psyched about the hours required vs. the hourly pay rate.  Especially considering after my wonderful experience at Bon Vivant Market in Smithfield, VA the bar was set pretty high in terms of wine tastings and retail sales.  All in all though I have enjoyed my experience at the James River Cellars tasting I went to about a month ago and sampling their wines at the recent Zest Fest fundraiser (more to come on that later).

I also learned of my rejection from another application yesterday as well.  My application with Albemarle County Fire/Rescue was rejected… burn! (no pun intended)  Pretty lame when you can’t even make it past the initial application screening to the CPAT and written testing portion.  I think some of the contributing factor may be my lack of fire experience.  At least that’s the only thing I can think of because I certainly have quite a great deal of EMS experience for a candidate of my age, well at least in my opinion I do.  Strike 2.

So I was always a pretty good batter with 2 strikes on me back in the day (yeah I feel old) when I played baseball just about year round.  I also had a great eye for the strike zone and could work the count deep, even walk if necessary.  That being said I’m hoping that my luck will turn around this weekend as I head to our nation’s capital to conduct my in-person interview with Fund for the Public Interest.  Of course it would be nice to hit a home run, but as I always said when I played… you have to get on base first before you can score.  I’ll take a base hit on this one for sure.  No need to swing for the fences and risk popping up for an out, or even worse completely missing the ball.

Hope you enjoyed the baseball analogy folks, just a subtle reminder its Spring Training time of the year, which means I’m excited!!

Until next time, Cheers!

[Via http://coastalwind.wordpress.com]

Linking In

For the last couple of days I have been working on developing my LinkedIn Page. I had assumed that it was a social networking site for the business world… And I found out that’s what it is. However, I was unaware of all of the benefits of having a profile – with graduation quickly approaching, I’m supportive of any tools/methods that may help me connect with a future employer or vice versa. I found a great blog by Kaye Monty with helpful and practical information about LinkedIn

Below is an excerpt from her post titled “Using LinkedIn to Find a Job”

Check out LinkedIn Job for postings.  (Note that some recruiters can choose to only receive resume from candidates with a certain number of LinkedIn recommendations.)

Use LinkedIn Groups to tap into professionals outside of your immediate network.  You can join discussion groups and send messages to most of members of these groups. 

Connect with former alumni from your school through LinkedIn Groups.  

Look at “LinkedIn Event” listings to network with other professionals.  (Widget located on your home page.)

[Via http://danicalvert.wordpress.com]

Oh Job...

So January found me reading Job.  I have to say that Job is a difficult book for me to wade through.  For one, the idea that God points out someone who is serving Him to Satan and says have you considered Job.  Makes me cringe a little.  Ok, it also makes me a bit excited.  I mean the God of all creation and the universe knows our names.  Cares about us!  Pretty cool, but why if Job was such a shining star on God’s team, did God see fit to point out to Satan how well Job was doing?  I mean God has NO reason to do a “mine is better than yours” argument with one of His created beings.  Alright, here is what I know about God.  He is good, faithful, honest, upright, powerful, continually drawing all to Him so that none may perish, the list is endless…  So why would God point out someone who is doing well to Satan?  Maybe, remember this is not Biblical, but my own musing, maybe God wanted Satan to see that a person fully devoted to God would stay strong regardless of his or her circumstances.  In fact many people whose love of God is sincere draw even closer to God through illness, loss, hard economic times.  So maybe this is God’s way of showing Satan that His kids are tougher than they appear.  Maybe it is God’s way of showing Job the strength of his faith.  Untested faith is pretty easy to swallow, but tested faith takes an iron gut.

Secondly Job is difficult because not even Job is actually in the right.  God Himself gets onto Job about his planned response to God.  The arguments he is presenting to his friends about how God has misused Job.  However not all of Job’s musings are inaccurate.  He talks of knowing his Redeemer lives and in the end He (Job’s Redeemer) will stand on the earth.  He says “though He (God) slay me, yet I will hope in Him (God).”  So Job in the midst of losing all his children, losing all his wealth, and losing his health makes these awesome professions of faith.  However he also laments the day of his birth.  No, he never curses God, but Job does accuse God of injustice.  Job tells his wife essentially how can we accept good from God and not bad.  Then he promptly turns around and says I am innocent and essentially claims to be without sin.  This makes it difficult to see when Job is appropriately representing God and His dealings with man and when Job is not.  I most likely struggle with reading Job because I find myself much like Job.  I make huge professions of faith knowing that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Then two seconds later I am begging God for mercy and to spare me from the difficult parts of life.  That is part of my humanity with which I have never come to grips.

Thirdly, Job’s friends are the “I think I have God figured out” sort of people.  They speak half truths or truths that match their understanding of God.  It is like God fits in their perfect little box and when hard times come, it all  makes sense to them.  It has to be Job’s sin…Oh, that I may never presume to know God’s plan for hard times people are going through.  That I may remember that God isn’t a vending machine that you put in a “good” life and out pops prosperity, health, and smooth sailing for the rest of my life.  No, remember from my last post that it is God who makes me holy.  It is God who as Job says gives and takes away.  God knows those perfect plans to give us a future and a hope.  May I seek to honor Him in the good and the bad…May I seek to know Him more by reading even the difficult parts of scripture because God has something for me in those things as well as the easy things to swallow.

[Via http://rethinkingmythinking.wordpress.com]

Creating a Great Place to Work

Fabulous! We just won the German Great Place to Work Award 2010! We here is the company I work for, noventum consulting. After participating 4 years in the GPtW Benchmark we achieved first rank and can now call ourselves the best workplace in Germany.

How did we achieve this? Well to start with noventum always was a good place to work. We had a great culture of trust and cooperation. Then our CEO Uwe Rotermund decided to verify how good we were compared to others and try to make it great, not only good.

That gained us the 92nd place in Germany in 2006 and a huge list of recommendations and ideas for improvement. Which we took as input and started working on making noventum a better workplace. Just by focusing on improving our working environment and our working culture, by talking about it and by setting up workshops with employees from all ranks (from CEO to trainee), we created an awareness of making our place to work good for all of us.

2007 gave us a place in the top 50, 2008 we achieved rank 13 and last year we cam in 2nd in Germany. This did not leave much room for improvement some would say, but with our 2009 innovation and HR workshops we came up with more than 200 new things to do. Needless to say we did not implement all of them, but selected a few that were best to do. And again this selection was based upon feedback from the GPtW benchmark. The 2009 results showed areas where other companies were better than we are, so we focused our attention on these.

The lowest ranked category in 2009 had a result of 60% top answers (good & very good out of 5 possible answers). In 2010 we achieved 81% for this category (btw. a lot of the change was due to change in perception, we drastically improved our communication quality). But still this is our worst category, so there are some opportunities here.

Later I will blog a bit about a few measures we have taken, right now I will just be happy with the results!

By the way, have a look at our new webdesign, finalized for today.

[Via http://buzina.wordpress.com]

The Art of: Nailing the Job Interview

Jason Mollica has had the fortune of wearing many hats over his career. He has worked in television places like NBC10 and Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was nominated for an Emmy. In 2001, he joined Fox News Channel in New York and was part of the team that launched Fox News Radio in 2003. Seeking a new challenge, Jason entered the public relations and marketing profession. He currently works as the public relations manager at Carr Marketing Communications in Amherst, N.Y. In 2009, he launched One Guy’s Journey, his blog about life, career, and everything in between. You can also find him adding value to the online PR community on twitter @JasMollica.

So, you’ve been sending your resume and cover letter to various places in the hopes that it will be one of the few they pull out of the stack.  It’s enough to drive you crazy.  Will they call? Should I write/call to make sure they got my information? WHEN WILL THEY CALL?

What I want to talk to you about today is not if they’ll call or mail you, but WHEN they call or mail you for an interview.  It’s your chance to hit it out of the park and be the next public relations manager or account executive.  Your first step should be to think about what you will bring to the interview.  I recommend having two copies of your resume and references, two pens, and your portfolio.

You also need to consider a plan of attack prior to actually going on the interview.  You’ve probably done a little research on your (possible) future employer.  Make it your duty to know everything you possibly can about them.  Research their clients, their history, and who the bosses are within the company.

Do you get a little shaky before interviews? It’s fine. You are going to be nervous. A little case of the nerves shows just how much you want the job.  It also keeps you on your toes.  I was very nervous prior to my last job interview and, in the end, felt it was the best interview I had ever been on.

Are you proud of your skills? Good.  Show your potential boss what you’ve got. A piece of paper only goes so far.  You want to give the interviewer something to think about during and after the interview.  It was always my intention to get in that room and I knew I could sell them on me.  Find some common ground and break the ice; show that you can think on your feet.

If you want the job as an account manager, then you should start thinking like the job. Know the job you are going for and what it entails.  Use your contacts or call another PR/marketing firm and ask what this type of job entails. Then, put yourself in a position of strength.  A question will come up if you know anything about the posted job.  I can’t stress how important this is for you and your interview.

Finally, here’s something I learned from a trusted colleague.  When the interview is wrapping up, ask your interviewer/future boss if they have any concerns about your resume.  This shows you have nothing to hide and are willing to discuss a job that may have not ended well.  Honesty is always the best policy. Doing this will show that you are trustworthy and can handle criticism.

This is an exciting time, whether you are a soon-to-graduate student or a seasoned pro looking for that next challenge.  Step up to the plate and nail it!

Jason has had the fortune of wearing many hats over his career.  He has worked in television at places like NBC10 and Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was nominated for an Emmy.  In 2001, he joined Fox News Channel in New York and was part of the team that launched Fox News Radio in 2003.  Seeking a new challenge, Jason entered the public relations and marketing profession.  He currently works as the public relations manager at Carr Marketing Communications in Amherst, N.Y. In 2009, he launched One Guy’s Journey, his blog about life, career, and everything in between. You can also find him adding value to the online PR community on twitter @JasMollica.

[Via http://laurennovo.wordpress.com]

Behind Closed Doors

Psst! Psst! Come closer. I have a secret to share with you.

I need your help. I am a victim of abuse. I work three jobs just to pay the bills and I am failing out of school. I was raped by my boyfriend and had to have an abortion. I am $10,000 in debt with no degree to show for it. My family is starving and living in an apartment with no heat or hot water. I didn’t pay the gas or light bill so we have no food. The doctors say I need surgery to remove it. My dad is having an affair. I lost my job two weeks ago and facing eviction. My sister is struggling with her sexuality. We’re getting a divorce. I hate my job. I hate my life. I’ve thought about taking my own life.

These are just some of the many UNSPOKEN issues faced by our relatives, colleagues, and church members. Most of the time, we live our lives unaware that those closest to us are battling demons.

Many times we live our lives not realizing that Patty, the next-door neighbor, has a drinking problem, because she’s lonely and depressed. Sister Jennings’ son is in the military and she worries night and day about his safety.

Many times, we past judgement on the things and people we just don’t understand. It’s easier to classify then to listen. It’s easier to judge and ignore then to offer some help.

Genesis 4 depicts the story of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. Now Cain and Abel were offering sacrifices to God. God respected Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain. Jealousy began to brew, leading to the first murder in Earth’s history.

Verse 9 says, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”

We as Christians must look after one another. We must keep our brothers and sisters in prayer. We must encourage each other through our trials and tribulations. If you haven’t seen someone in a while, take the time to call. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Your call could have just saved their life. Sometimes we wonder why we feel compelled to do something, trust yourself. It just may be the Holy Spirit moving around you, using you to save another.

There is no such thing as a coincidence. Nothing occurs by chance. God is in COMPLETE CONTROL. We choose to be blind to that fact. God, the Creator of the heavens and the earths, knows all. He is the beginning and ending. He was there when there was nothing and He will remain when this earth must come to an end and begin anew.

Like Christ, we must be accountable for our brothers and sisters in Him. We were not created to be selfish. We are here to represent Christ on Earth. He cares for every last one of us, good or bad. We’re all equal in His eyes.

[Via http://kristiabeaubrun.wordpress.com]

Animators!

Job Requirements:

• At least 2 years experience in character animation for games. 
• A strong understanding of the fundamentals of traditional animation.
•  Has mastered using Maya for animating.
• Knowledge of the rest of MAX is a plus. 
• Can work in a range of styles, from humorous/cartoony to hyper-realistic, and can maintain the appropriate style over the course of a project. 
• An understanding of character creation (mesh creation, texturing, skinning, IK) is a major plus. 
• Is capable of doing genius-level work while maintaining a production schedule.

 

Job Preferences:

Though this is an animation position, this team values well-rounded artists. A portfolio that shows strong character drawing, meshing and texturing skills, along with knock-out animation will be fully appreciated.

Position location: Redwood City, Ca

Pay Range-$25-30/hr

3-6 months in duration

[Via http://mskaycjay.wordpress.com]

Fashionable Online Career Portals ­ The One-Stop Look

In the not-thus-recent-past, job seekers had to spend hours upon hours walking around visiting corporations and career consultants hoping to get a good job. They’d to pour over newspapers and job listings
for hours and then decision up each prospective employer to ask for an appointment. But the advent of the Web has modified all that. Now one in every of the foremost effective and efficient ways to seem for employment
is by using online career services. Unlike days past, the new online job services supply comprehensive advice concerning interviews, resume writing, and even career coaching ­ all at cheap costs, and a few services are freed from charge.

Online Career Sites – Job Looking
Made Simple

On-line career sites started out tiny ­ however with time they have become larger and better, and provide more value-added services. With online career services, you have got a made repository of career-connected info at your fingertips twenty four/7. Using an on-line job service is very efficient. Instead of getting to go to several totally different sources for career-connected data and help, you’ll be able to find everything you need in one place.

Is The On-line Job Search Site Reputable?

We’ve all heard of job-connected scams, thus it pays to be careful. Scammers produce false vacancies and post them with the intention of obtaining personal data about candidates and later misusing it. If you follow certain practices while using an on-line career service, you’ll be secure. To verify that an online career service can do what they say they can, ask yourself the subsequent questions:

# Is there a ‘help’ function ­ contact email or otherwise?
# Does the service provide career coaching (it’s arduous to faux this)?
# Is there sufficient information on the site (a scarcity of info suggests a scam)?

You’ll additionally verify the reliability of an online career service from sources like the online job search at www.jobvirtue.com.

A reputable on-line career service offers heaps of features and info upfront. A good web site can embrace tons of free articles, resume writing help and career coaching available. In addition, they can provide free tools and assessments for job seekers to use on their own before seeking live help.

Gone are the days when a career web site only allowed job seekers to post their resumes and search available vacancies. Today’s career sites are comprehensive tools, giving complete career management, planning and consulting.

[Via http://mvolkov700.wordpress.com]

New Leaders ...from mytop100sites

Thanks to all those who enrolled recently through
traffictornado and mytrafficoasis – dont forget to
join the attraction marketing system myleadsystempro
else at least get the training from 2ndimg -
it helps just to pay your dollar – you get a far
better view of everything your going to be using.
This should be tied up with mygetresponse or
greatautoresponder.

Nettrainer
mytop100sites

[Via http://nettraineruk.wordpress.com]

Leave me, go where you belong.

Righto, I’m sorry for not blogging in the past few days but i’ve been rather busy with some problems that i’d rather not get into.

Well, I can’t really complain much this week. Was meant to be going out with Amy when she went for her tattoo, but with things that went on with Rubie last night… just didn’t feel like doing anything special today. Sigh…

College was fairly good, had a word with one of the tutors about a job placement, which i’ve been looking at. And even better, a part time job at a new toy shop. I hope it’s for little kiddie toys, I can’t resist playing with them…

Once again, really sorry for not blogging much today, just not in the mood.

[Via http://iwaveatbuses.wordpress.com]

Internships available at Shine

Calling all aspiring PR people: I received an email the other day from an industry colleague at Shine Communications regarding their 2010 internship scheme.

Shine have recently announced they have four, 12 week, paid internships available over the coming months in their London based office. I’ve had a quick look at the advert and I must say it sounds like a great opportunity for someone looking to cut their teeth in the industry and they will be working with some experienced people across a variety of accounts.

For information on how to apply please click here.

The closing date is 12 March 2010.

If you or your agency would like to promote PR graduate opportunities on SWT please get in touch.

[Via http://socialwebthing.com]

Confessions of a Retail Salesperson

I have pro’s and con’s for the retail business and I’d like to share them with you. What I’d like to call “Tracy’s list of Super! and Sucks!”

First of all, let me say that I really like my job. I’m not banking and I barely get any hours, but I’m happy where I’m at. It is, however, just a job and not a career. I haven’t been able to find an actual career position, so I’m basically stuck working retail until something else comes along. But like I said before, I’m happy there. I work with some great people.

The customers that we get are usually “old-money” people who are looking for a great bargain (which we have tons of). I work in a discount store where you can buy 1,000 thread-count sheets for $40, Nine West clothing for $30, and beautiful Waterford crystal for around $60. We have great prices.

Super! Example: A few weeks before Christmas, I was working the cash register when an old-money customer came in. She’s a regular and likes to find good bargains while shopping. She has two adorable kids. When she brought her items to the cash register, I noticed she had a Vera Bradley purse that I used to own. I looooved this purse, but I literally wore it out. The purse was made of silk and the bottom and sides came unraveled, the straps broke, and the purse just kind of deflated as though in a cartoon. I kept the purse for a few years because it was so pretty I couldn’t bare to throw it away. But as I was cleaning out my closet one day, I decided it was finally time to bid the purse farewell.

Anyways, the woman put her items on the counter and listened as I told her how I used to have that same purse and how I wore it out from excessive use. She smiled politely as I longed for her bag (in my head) and she and her two children were off.

Not five minutes later, her children came running back in the store carrying the purse. “Merry Christmas!” they said to me and I was stunned. “What? I can’t accept that!” I told them. But the children said that I had to- they’re mother was excited to give me the bag and the children were just as happy. I told them several more times that I couldn’t accept i (it was an eighty dollar bag), but they finally made me take it and ran out. I looked out the window and the mother was waving at me. I waved back kindly with tears in my eyes. I promised myself I would take care of this bag.

This gives me hope that they’re are still people who are nice in the world (a kind of thought that isn’t quite so prevalent in the retail world), and I thank that woman so much for the purse.

Sucks! Example: People, people, people… the check writing has GOT to stop! I know, I know… we accept them so it’s all our fault, but OH.MY.GOD. Check writing is the worst thing to do to a cashier! Not only do we have to wait on you to write the check out (can you really not remember what store you’re shopping in, by the way?), then we have to check your license, enter in ALLLLLLLLL the information on your check (again, not technically your fault), then wait for our ancient computers to authorize it and stamp it. However, do you know how easy it is to swipe a card or pay with cash? So much easier. For real.

Sucks! Example: When you come into my line with a buggy full of items, please refrain from taking out each item and asking me the price on it. There is a reason there is a BIG price tag on every single item- it’s for YOU, ok? Also please refrain from standing there with a buggy full of items and decided what you do and do not want to keep/buy. This is infuriating to a) me, b) the people behind you in line, c) the manager who wants my line to disappear faster. Why do you even put items in your buggy and decide whether or not to buy it when you’re checking out? It’s an inconvinience for me (the cashier) because not only do I have to put everything back up, but the people behind you get infuriated with ME about this (for some unknown reason, as if I can help it).

Super! Example: Shipment. Opening all the boxes to see what merchandise we get in is like Christmas all over again!

Sucks! Example: Shipment. Unloading an 18-wheeler with only females (no guys work at the store anymore) is a pain in the ass. At least I’m not the only one who complains that day- ALL of us do. It’s quite a site to see 4 women unloading 500+ boxes (some weighing up to 50 pounds).

Super! Example: I work extremely hard to check you out with a smile on my face. I engage in small talk with you and make sure you found everything ok. I want to be the friendliest employee I can be and I appreciate it when you pay me attention and talk along with me. Even saying that my service was great is awesome and I (and my manager, pluse the company) appreciate it. Customers have no problem letting managers know when a clerk is rude, so why not brighten someone’s day and give a compliment as well? It makes everyone feel better.

Sucks! Example: I am required to get a certain amount of names into our system to send out e-mails and flyers for sales. These sales papers are awesome because they show you what’s going to be in store in about a month, but having me beg people to fill out the paperwork to get the fliers is exhausting. People don’t want to be badgered by me. And they’re certainly weird about giving out their address. It’s not like it’s your social security number or anything, but seriously? Give me a break and fill it out. I’ve got corporate down my ass because I can’t get any names and it makes me look incompetant.

Super! Example:Seeing what rich people buy. It’s fun to take a peek into someone’s life (to me). I get the nosey gene from my Mama.

Sucks! Example: When you walk through the door and I say “Hi! Welcome to so-and-so” or “Hello, how are you?” don’t look me in the face and ignore me. It pisses me off. You are no better than me so don’t act like it.

That’s about all FOR NOW, but believe me, I’ll be back with Part II of Confessions as soon as I gget pissed about something else. Just remember a couple of things:

1. At least I have a job. I am not a bottom dweller, I am actually working. I pay taxes just like you so please stop looking at me like you pity me for having to work in a discount store. I actually enjoy it on most days.

2. Engage in conversation when the employee offers it. You might be in a hurry, but we’re stuck at work at a little human interaction builds out morales. Please keep this in mind.

Thanks!

[Via http://tracy310.wordpress.com]

telephone interviews? anybody? can you hear me?

Just had a pleasure of talking to Mandy on the phone, concerning an IT (1st line) job. She really caught me out with this interview, as I was half-way through my mid-afternoon dream. When I spoke into the phone, she could not understand me. No wonder, I was not speaking English. I mumbled for a little while and then the end came as unexpectedly as pleasure of sexual intercourse – it was over in less then 2 minutes.

I am still out of the job and it’s been nine months… and counting

mmx0

[Via http://mmx0.wordpress.com]

HAPPO Interview (3/5): Meet Matt Hannaford

The following interview is part of my five day blogging effort to contribute to the “Help a PR Pro Out” (HAPPO) online initiative, which was started to help PR job seekers connect with employers. For more information on HAPPO: follow @helpaprproout and the hashtag conversation #HAPPO on Twitter; check out the blog; become a fan on Facebook; or connect with @ValerieSimon and @arikhanson, the two masterminds behind the campaign.

Meet Matt Hannaford, a sports information director in Washington, D.C., looking to break into the PR industry.

What sort of PR background do you have? Feel free to include any education, jobs, internships or freelancing experience.

I earned my B.S. in Business Administration in the fall of 2006 and immediately completed my masters degree, both from California University of Pennsylvania. I earned my M.S. in Sport Management Studies in the spring of 2008. During my time as an undergraduate and graduate student I was able to gain varying degrees of experience in the PR field. As an undergraduate I was the director of marketing and promotions for two under-21 night clubs in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area. With these positions it was my responsibility to communicate with a radio station representative about upcoming events. I was also the key contact person during events.  After completing my undergraduate degree I became involved in the sports information department at California University of Pa., as a graduate assistant. I was responsible for taking care of media packs that included game notes and other pre-game information as well as updating media throughout contests to any changes in those notes or if an achievement / milestone was reached.

I’m currently working as a sports information director at The Catholic University of America in NE Washington, D.C., and it is my responsibility to act as the PR department, marketing department, statistician, publications department, and various other duties as they arise. My position is responsible for all press releases from the athletic department. This includes post-game stories, player of the week, all-american, and various other feature stories as well as being the contact person for all media. I am also responsible for marketing efforts, including halftime contests and pre-game giveaways. I also use Twitter and various other “traditional” marketing tools to encourage students to attend games. Additionally, I record all stats during games as the official record. In my office we also produce game programs, media guides, recruiting brochures, as well as various other marketing publications.

What are your PR passions and strengths? What drives you to pursue this career?

I have a passion for finding the positive. In any event there is some positive, sometimes you just have to adjust your focus. Even after the current disaster in Haiti, there are many positives. Consider the amount of help that was sent toward the island; or, if you want to take a completely different point of view, you could note that Twitter and other social media outlets broke the news of the disaster prior to the major TV networks. I recently read an article noting that a sports information director broke the news of Notre Dame’s former coach being fired a full ten minutes prior to ESPN breaking the news. That sports information director was not a member of the Fighting Irish staff, but overheard a conversation while awaiting a contest at Notre Dame.

I am driven to pursue a career in public relations because I enjoy the variety of work. While there are likely many times that things just remain status quo it is those “crisis” moments that I enjoy the most. When under pressure to perform I feel that I shine. As the interim sports information director at California University of Pennsylvania I was charged with running all media relations duties as well as statistics from the NCAA Div. II East Regional Men’s Basketball Tournament while also maintaining my media responsibilities for our women’s basketball team competing about an hour away. After that tournament concluded, both of the Vulcans teams earned a bid to the Elite Eight. With the women’s team traveling to Kearney, Neb., while the men’s team traveled to Springfield, Mass., I was put to the test, not only in my organizational skills, but also my ability to work under intense pressure. In the week leading up to the Elite Eight tournaments there were conference calls as well as other responsibilities to maintain. This was also the week leading into spring break, when all of the spring sports teams travel south to take on opponents in warmer climates.

In what sort of environment are you hoping to work? This can include everything from city/state location to corporate/non-profit/agency preferences.

I am not really specific about the environment but would like to stay either in the Washington, D.C. metro area or within two to three hours of Harrisburg, Pa.  However, with that said my fiancee and I are willing to look at other locations depending on the opportunity.

Why should you be hired into a PR position? What makes you special?

I should be hired into a PR position because of my ability to find the positive and minimize the negative. My public speaking skills are solid and my ability to maintain professional relationships is exceptional. I am dedicated to my position and have no problem with taking work home with me. If something needs to be finished, I will see it through to the end no matter the circumstances.

What is the best way for employers to get a copy of your resume?

My resume is posted on Monster.com as well as on LinkedIn but the easiest way to get a copy of my resume is by email. If someone is interested they can DM me on Twitter (@AXP112) or at mhannaford@comcast.net.

Is there anything else you’d like the PR community to know about you?

While my experience may look odd, working as a sports information director has prepared me for whatever I do. I have experience in many facets of the business world and I am ready to take the PR world by storm. I will bring new and innovative ideas not only as a PR pro, but also with a marketing mind. A successful PR campaign will integrate marketing, publications, and press releases. With my experience in all three I can be a strong asset with any company.

Here is a link to my blog if anyone’s interested. My latest post is about #HAPPO: http://axp112.blogspot.com/2010/02/happoan-inspiration.html

[Via http://laurennovo.wordpress.com]

Feeling Content :)

Woke up this morning to some wonderful news about a job!  But of course, nothing to me is 100% until I am working everyday and so therefore I won’t be naming the name of the company until I am 150% positive.  But regardless, I did find out via email that they are interested in me just as much as I am interested in them!  Yay…  I know this is verrrry vague, but since this blog is public and all I am being cautious until I can yell it from the rooftops!

I knew job hunting was going to be hard…  Everyday I see countless of my peers vent their frustrations on the topic via Facebook status updates, so it’s definitely known that job-hunting right now is a pain in the ass.  And of course if I read it on Facebook it must be true!  And so I was planning on being frustrated and shot down from the start.  But truthfully, nothing really prepares you for searching for a job.  As much as you hear people vent about how frustrating it is you really never know until you do it yourself.

I feel like so much of our culture is based around having a good job.  I know this may sound like a “duh” statement…  But our culture puts such a social emphasis on having a full-time job, that sometimes it seems to outweigh the economical need for one.  I’m not saying that jobs are not economically based, because of course we depend on a money source for survival… But that possessing a job amongst our peers also seems to give ourselves a type of social status and thus gratification based souly on the fact that we’ve fit into the mold our culture set before us.  Yea, I’m rambling and probably making no sense…  But in my case I was honestly starting to crave a job because I felt out of place socially.  Here I was, new in a big city and all around me people were working.  There were plenty of days that passed that I could have explored a museum or gone on a leisurely walk, but instead I madly stalked the job sites even though most of the posts were repeats of ones I had seen before.  Financially I am fine, and so therefore it wasn’t completely urgent that I got a job immediately.  Also, after working so much in the Bay Area I was venting about the need for a good long vacation.  But I was literally here for a week before I started stressing for a job…

Maybe I’ll never pin point why we (or maybe just I) have this urge to constantly hold a good stable job…  But part of me is starting to believe that we do it for social acceptance – A way to meet people/interact and a standard ingredient to be considered socially acceptable.

Anyways, I am happy that things are looking good on the job front and grateful that I am getting the chance to work in an area I love.

So yes, the day started well… Good news with the job, worked on chores and household things, went on a enjoyable run in Central Park, and then made plans to meet the roommates for pancakes at IHOP.  Today is national pancake day in the UK, so of course we had to celebrate!

As I was getting ready to meet up with my roommates I got a wonderful call from one of my good friends  She had some wonderful news that I am sooooo happy about!  But, I’m not sure if I can post it just yet so I’m going to be a big tease and wait to make sure it’s okay for me to post… Hehe.

Anyway, back to the pancakes!  Excitement turned to utter disappointment when the service and food at IHOP was horrible.  :(  I know this is somewhat pointless for me to rant about this on this blog, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so unhappy with a restaurants performance then I was tonight.  Not only did the waitress mistake my order (Which would not have been done if she had repeated it back to me to clarify… Thanks TGI Fridays! Haha) but when I pointed out that it was pancakes that I wanted instead of potatoes she just stood there.  No literally, there wasn’t a sound…  You could hear crickets chirping in the background… Haha. Not a word.  So I chimed in and asked her to bring me a couple of pancakes instead of potatoes, which were not even out yet!  To this she replied with “Ummmmm Mmmmm I don’t know if I can do that.”  After some more deep contemplation on her part she said she would see what she could do.  She returned an eternity later with a smile and told me that she got me a tall stack to make up for the mistake.  So this is where I’m thinking that everything was going to be okay and that she might earn her tip afterall.  Nope.  When I got the check I was charge $7 extra dollars for the pancakes!  Oh god I thought I was going to loose it.  When I walked up to speak to the manager about taking it off she told me she couldn’t!  What ever happened to the customer always being right!?  After awhile she agreed to discount the pancakes but that she wouldn’t take them off.  I was so sick of fighting it that I paid. Needless to say that I won’t be dining there again… and I hate to say it but my overall dining experiences in a area that starts with Har and ends with an lem have been horrible.  And it sucks because I live here!

Speaking of the job market and the neighborhood, I think the Taxi Cab driver that we had tonight pretty much summed it up for me.

We got in a cab after the dinner fiasco and my roommates immediately start making jokes that related to their IT jobs.  (Ex: “There are 01 types of people.  Those that understand binary and those that don’t.”  Haha.  I love it!) Anyways after a couple of jokes the driver jumps in and tells us that he was a Java Developer.  If you know NY Taxi Cab drivers then you know that you always take anything one says with a little skepticism.  For example, a couple weeks ago I had a cab driver that read a book while she drove like a maniac and then told me that she was worth millions but did this because she liked the scenery.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry profusely.  Anyways, back to tonights driver…  So of course I immediately thought he was full of it.  But after he started talking with him longer I realized he knew his shit as he went through all of the types of code he was used to working with and carried on a conversation about Java Developing with my roommates.  He was really articulate and told me about the MBA program he was in and how he was planning on moving back to Nigeria for work.  Great glimpse of the dreadful job market when your cab driver has an MBA and a background in IT.

As we neared our apartment he said “Wait a minute, you guys don’t really live here do you?”

“Yea, we do.  Why?” I said as I got out of the cab.

“Well, you guys don’t look crazy!”

And with that he zoomed away into the night, leaving me contemplating the horrible dinner I had just had in the neighborhood I live in.

And you know what’s nuts?  Instances like this is why I love New York!

Soooo random subject change…  Just got done with a long chat on skype with Lauren Tickel!  She’s coming to New York to visit at the end of March!  And I’m soooooo excited!

Also, I got a package full of goodies today from Olivia!  Sooooo amazing!

You know what!?  I have wonderful friends!  I am feeling so cheery right now it’s sickening

Okay, before I go to bed… Pics of my room so my fam doesn’t kill me and a video I forgot to post of one of my first subway rides in NYC!

[Via http://simplyjulia.wordpress.com]

The INTERNeX Invasion

Good afternoon! So i have some great news to share with you all…INTERNeX was recently featured in the “The Baristar” monthly company newsletter. Blenz has been the recipient of many of our wonderful candidates so it is great to hear that our positive experience is not going unnoticed.    

Have you noticed many European accents at Blenz lately? In preparation for the Olympics and to be able to serve all the extra people in Vancouver efficiently, almost all businesses in the city have been hiring and training personnel for the past couple of months. At Blenz Coffee we have been working with INTERNeX International Exchange, a work experience placement organization that works closely with Northern Europe to find job placements for young people. These exchange workers come from countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Czech Republic. It was the perfect time for Blenz to work with INTERNeX to find excellent new staff. When you go to Blenz Coffee location you may be served by the smiling face of an employee hired through INTERNeX.

Be sure to strike up conversation with an INTERNeX staff member and hear their impressions of Vancouver. Simone from Holland, working at Blenz Fairview, says she loves Vancouver coffee culture and finds it funny to hear locals call a cafe “coffee shop” because in Holland that is a place that has nothing to do with coffee (hint: Amsterdam). Emil from Denmark, working at Blenz West Hastings, says his experience as a barista at Blenz has changed him and would like to pursue being a barista when he goes back home. Moshdeh, also from Holland and working at Blenz Robson, lives in one of the INTERNeX staff houses and shared a funny story. She came walking down the stairs of her house one day to find six people (all Blenz employees) sitting around totally absorbed and entertained by the Blenz Recipe Guide Training.

I hear they throw good parties at the INTERNeX staff houses-maybe you can find a way to get invited DVD.

By Layla Osberg

[Via http://internexcanada.wordpress.com]

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day!

Nick’s big secret was revealed yesterday, but not before we travelled into town & hopped onto a train (destination still unknown). We got off the train at Oakham & that means nothing at all unless you’re from around here. Just outside of Oakham is Rutland Water. That was Nick’s great surprise!

It didn’t go 100% according to plan, it was a rainy day & I’d dressed up, not knowing what to expect. & then we ended up at the wrong end of the park so 2 taxi journeys later & we were finally at our actual destination.

Nick prepared a lovely meal for us both when we got in, he made the cutest little menu & was playing ‘waiter’ when I came down to eat. It was all so wonderful.

The photo above is from yesterday, I took it with my crappy digital camera (Not my Canon 450D, I didn’t even take that one). I think considering the camera & it’s usual quality, that’s not a bad photo. I actually kinda like it Of course, this is post-photoshop. That thing is awesome. All other photos from yesterday can be seen here. I edited them all differently because that’s how I roll!

Today I have cleaned the house, while excitedly looking at new cameras. I have made the big decision to sell my Canon 450D & accessories to buy an Olympus PEN – I want the white one. It’s not an SLR but it has the capabilities of one. I decided this after much thought, to be honest, I’ve been considering this for quite a while now. Whenever we go out, I have to choose between the ‘good camera’ & the ‘bad camera’ & more often than not, I choose the ‘bad camera’ because it’s lighter. I don’t think I’ve ever taken my Canon on holiday with us or even on trips out. So I figure I’d stand to gain more if I sold that one & bought a camera that was small enough to be my ‘go-to camera’ & good enough quality that I wouldn’t regret my choice. Nick doesn’t want me to sell the Canon, he thinks I’ll regret it later. I think I already have enough regret from not taking it out (& when I do, not being able to get the shots I really want for one reason or another).

I heard back from the South Leicestershire College apprenticeship people today, she told me that because I am 23 most companies will be reluctant to take me on as an apprentice because they have to pay half of my college fee – whereas it’s free for them to take a 19 year old. I don’t think that’s fair at all. I don’t deserve the same opportunities as a 19 year old? How irritating. Applied for more jobs after hearing this (She’s going to keep my name & CV, & will ring me if anything comes up) & I phoned the agency. Nothing. Nada. Squat. Having no job really sucks. I am tired of having no money. Still, got to stay positive. Something will happen. Something has to!

[Via http://econdsey.wordpress.com]

Goose Eggs and Getting Old

At first I thought I’d broken it…  I heard a distinct snap as I came down and, though it might have been the sound of the chair that I fell onto, or the door it slid into, or the stair-gate that took part of my fall, it might also  have been my ankle.  And the pain was so intense that I just couldn’t tell, and sat there on the floor instead, unable to speak and taking in great gulps of air and letting them out in silent, open-mouthed, chest-wracking sobs until M finally realised that I’d really, really hurt myself and came rushing over.

He thought it was only a sprain, but he wasn’t sure either.  He pressed gently there… and thent here… and I squealed, squirmed.  Eventually, I worked up the courage to try to move my toes: pain shot fresh up the leg, but the toes moved.

“It’s probably a sprain,” he announced, and then paused… and wavered.  “But perhaps we ought to go have it scanned, just in case…”

We’ve not really used our health insurance much, he and I.  We’ve used the girls’ insurance plenty of times in the past two years so I know how it works, but we’ve hardly touched ours and I’m not totally confident about what’s covered or how.  “I… don’t know what our copay would be for a hospital visit,” I said.  I looked at my ankle, considered wiggling the toes again…  “Grab your insurance card, would you?”   It listed the copay amounts for a doctor’s or specialist’s visit but, maddeningly, not for a trip to ER.  What it did point out, right at the top of the card, that we were covered for ER trips for “life-threatening and emergency” situations but would have to pay extra costs for anything else.  And I wondered, did a broken ankle count?  If it turned out to be a sprain, would the insurance company accept that there was a chance it might not have been?   Simply put, would they pay?  I wasn’t sure.

I handed the card back to him.  “Let’s wait awhile and… well, let’s just  see how it goes.”

Time seemed to confirm our decision.  A massive goose egg appeared and, eventually, I could put a bit of weight on it…  gingerly… gingerly… and make it as far as the loo — a good sign, though it left me exhausted and shaking.    We agreed that couldn’t have been done on a break or a fracture, and both felt a bit better about the decision to stay home.

M rang my mum and arranged for her to come round tomorrow and take care of the girls.  9am?  No, 8am, please — the girls sleep late, but one or the other  always wakes early and asks for the loo.  How about 8.30?  No, 8… please.

When he got off the phone, he came and sat next to me, took my hands in his, looked a bit sheepish.  “I’m sorry I can’t take the day off tomorrow.  You know I would…”  I know, I told him.  But we can’t afford a day without pay.  Between the economy, all this bad weather, and his operation, we are on our ninth week of below-subsistence pay — we most definitely cannot afford a day without pay, and we both know it.

“If we were in Britain, I’d take the day off.  You know that, right?  I’d take a couple of days off!”   He felt really bad about this, I could see.

“I know.”  My injury, his injury, pain, illness, family emergency…  there is no room for error — no matter what, the job must go on.

He pulled a tight smile, rueful, and looked over my shoulder, to the middle distance.  “If we were home, we’d have gone to hospital, had you checked out…”

“I know.”   A medical decision based on cost, a chance for early treatment lost to financial constraint — it’s how the system works.

And the moral of the story?  The lesson to take away?  It could be about the system, but that’s all been said before.  The real lesson is a personal one: do not climb up on your daughter’s rocking-balance toy to demonstrate how she can pretend to snowboard along with the Olympians on the telly.  Because you’re staring down the barrel of 40, my dear, and when you take a mis-step getting back down… well, your body just don’t bounce back the way it used to!

[Via http://potentialandexpectations.wordpress.com]

Probable interview questions on Interpersonal Skills

Describe how you developed relationships with others when you were new on your current/ most recent job?

Have you ever worked for an extremely talkative manager?

How did you ensure you were communicating effectively?

If you don’t understand your work how did you communicate the same? How did you get help?

If in a conference there is a conflicts or difference of opinion and you are the boss and needs to take a decision how did you convinced others.

Have you ever worked for a very negative manager? How did you ensure you were communicating effectively?

Describe a time when you had problems with a supervisor and had to communicate your unhappy feelings or difficult disagreements. Tell me what you did and what happened?

What words do your current co-workers use to describe you and how accurate do you think these are? If they are not accurate, what do you think caused the person to choose that word? Did you clarify your point of view?

Tell me about a time when you became involved in a problem faced by a co-worker -how did it happen, what did you do and what happened?

When you are dealing with co-workers or customers, what really tries your patience and how do you deal with that?

Describe a situation when one of your decisions was challenged by higher management; what did you do and how did you react?

Describe how you changed the opinion of someone who seemed to have a very negative opinion of you?

Describe some of the most unusual people you have known – what was different about them and how did you work with them?

Give me an example of how you handled a very tense situation at work? How skillful do you think you are at “sizing up” others? Give me an example.

There are no standard answers for these questions.  The answers depends on many factors such as the job you went for, your personality, your clarity of thoughts, communication skills and the way you will articulate your opinions. Please don’t mug up or Rehearse  answers.

[Via http://skillsnest.wordpress.com]

What they didn't teach you in business school - How to manage deadlines.

Back when you were a student, you’re perception of “getting things done” was probably something like the following:

Scenario 1:

You wait until mere hours before the deadline to start, research, write, edit and complete the project just in time for the deadline. In fact, you probably had to run across campus, leaping over bike racks and pushing students aside to get the paper in the box at exactly 3:59:59 PM. Although this always seems like poor planning after the fact, you will indeed repeat this behaviour with the next report/paper/project you are assigned.

Scenario 2:

You wait until approximately 2-3 days before the deadline arrives and then scramble, similarly to scenario 1, to get the work done. (Mildly better than scenario 1 because you didn’t lose your breath whilst dropping off the paper).

Scenario 3:

You begin the assignment immediately after receiving the instructions and will create a project plan with progress goals. You do this so that you can measure your progress and if any red flags pop up along the way, you’ll have plenty of time to deal with them.

Now, be honest. Which scenario were you?

(Oh, and don’t even bother picking scenario 3, because we all know this is what we weren’t doing, but should have learned been doing.)

Once you’re out there working for the real dollars, you’ll realize that no one ever taught you how to properly manage deadlines. This is a bit like learning how to track your time, but the crucial difference is that you have to remember all the layers involved.

A few quick suggestions for getting the deadline without recreating Scenario 1:

1. Learn to track your time so you can evaluate how long things like research, writing, editing, etc, take.

2. Make a schedule,. a Gantt chart; anything that will show you visually what needs to get done, by who, and in what timeframe.

3. Figure out the buffers. Like, who needs to approve each step of the process? How long will it take? If you don’t account for this, you won’t meet the deadline.

4. Stick to the plan.

And, for bonus points (because I like bonus points, even when I am the only one keeping score), see how many days you can complete the work prior to the deadline! N.B. Guaranteed not to happen as often as you would like.

[Via http://kimberleymosher.wordpress.com]

Networking & Conversation Skills: Get Yourself Talking

I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the art of talking – I practice it every day! When I was little, my parents couldn’t get me to stop. Now I answer questions in class, order take-out on the phone, Skype my friends, and engage in discussions at meetings. By these standards, everyone should be good at talking. But when we put a name on it like “networking”, talking seems a lot harder all of a sudden.

Assess Your Skills

Before you know what to work on, you have to know where you are starting. Here are some questions I took borrowed from the Test Your Networking Skills quiz at The Ladders. See how many you get right – be careful, they are tricky!

1. When meeting someone at a networking function, you should begin the conversation with:

A. casual conversation about the weather, sports, movies, pets or common interests.
B. a brief background on your career and the type of new position you are seeking.
C. questions about his/her career or why he/she is attending the function.

2. If you are having a difficult time getting a conversation started or if you are uncomfortable with networking, you should:

A. wait for someone to approach you to begin a conversation.
B. admit that sometimes these functions are awkward for you and ask the person for tips on how he/she goes about getting to know someone.
C. try meeting people around the food table and talk about how great the caviar tastes.

3. The best conversationalists are people who can:

A. ask other people interesting questions.
B. talk comfortably on a wide range of topics.
C. always pick up the conversation when others run out of things to say.

This photo is a "plug" to prevent your eyes from wondering down to the answers. Taken by Matt Caplin: twitter.com/mattcaplin

Answers
1. A. While C is very appropriate after you have started a good conversation; it is considered rude immediately to ask about a person’s career. Begin your conversation with casual talk.

2. B. If you are uncomfortable with networking, admitting that to the person you are talking to is almost always a great icebreaker. People will go out of their way to help to you. They will carry the conversation and frequently introduce you to others to make you feel welcome.

3. A. Surprisingly, some of the best conversationalists do the least amount of talking. While B and C are also characteristics of good conversationalists, being able to draw others into the conversation is an extraordinary skill.

Did you ace the quiz? If you didn’t get them all, here are a few tips to help you hone your networking & conversation skills. If you did get them all, well, there are only three questions on here, so try the entire quiz and I hope you will read the tips anyways.

Warm-Up Practice

#1. Walk the dog – take your dog out on a walk, perhaps to a dog park, and practice making small talk with other dog owners. This way you already have something in common and you can mingle while your dogs do. Insert tagline: canines – man’s loyal wingman.

#2. Take the kids to play – so you don’t have a dog, assuming you have children who are still young enough to enjoy going to the playground (FYI they are never too old to enjoy going to the playground), you can make conversation with the other parents while your kids play.

It never hurt to be well read.

#3. Read lots – Being well read is an asset in life, especially if you want to carry on a good conversation. It helps to be knowledgeable on a variety of topics like business trends, social issues, sports, entertainment, and the arts. You don’t have to be an expert on all these topics so I recommend starting with reading the newspaper on a regular basis.

Conversation Starters

#1. The accidental brush – likely the oldest and easiest trick in the book, this practice involves brushing shoulders with someone by “accident”, apologizing, and introducing yourself.

#2. Bring a wing(wo)man – we all have friends who are simply great at making friends. Bring them along and ask them to introduce you into the conversation.

#3. Go for the food –Although the response to question 2 in the quiz above suggested another alternative, there is nothing like free food that brings people together.

Conversation Developers & Exit

#1. Listen actively – what else can I say?

#2. Ask interesting questions – good conversationalists let the other person talk most of the time. Build on the conversation by asking thoughtful follow-up questions.

#3. Leave politely – the best conversationalists know when a conversation is coming to an end and exit courteously by expressing interest in getting in touch in the future with them and asking for a business card.

There is plenty here to get you started so try some of them out. Which practices work best for you?

Until the next post, stay classy.

[Via http://tracyzhangphoto.wordpress.com]

"Just" a Student Assistant

I don’t think people always realize the importance of their job.

Ms.Encounter & I have 8 Student Assistants that work for us.  Essentially, our student assistants help us keep the library open.  At times they have to open or close the library by themselves.  Other times, they’re covering the desk so that Ms.Encounter or I can take breaks.  Honestly, there are also times when we’re all just sitting around with little or nothing to do.  But their jobs are important–essential, even–to this library.

Most of our students are here just because they need something easy to get them through college.  That’s fine.  I definitely understand that this job is not important to them.  It’s just a job.  I totally get that–I’m right there with ‘em.  But the thing is, it is a job.  And they should respect that.  They should respect their superiors as well as their peers.

• Repeatedly calling off, less than an hour before a shift is supposed to start?–Not respectful.
• Talking to me like I’m one of your kids?–Not respectful. (I may not be older than you, but I’m still your boss.)
• Sitting at the circulation desk, talking on your cell phone?–Not respectful.
• Telling the law students to wait, while you finish printing out your homework?–Not respectful.

There is one student in particular who is really pushing the limits.  I swear if she calls off again today, I’m gonna tell her that she doesn’t need to come back at all.

[Via http://quasiblawg.wordpress.com]

Ways to Get Your CV noted (Part I)

They are suppliers and they are selling their services for ages. They are also a party in the business. Even though there is a slight miss match in the demand and supply still job hoppers are sellers. Times are tough and there are more such people in the market so to be successful, you need to stand out of the crowd. You need to create a strong brand for yourself. Here are some easy ways to do so-

Change your resume into an attractive flyer and distribute it along with the newspapers in the office areas (In case you choose to put your photograph on it, do not use a soft paper, some executives have the habit of taking the newspaper in the toilet and god knows when it would go out of toilet paper and I am sure you would not like your face to be rubbed against…. umm…you know).

Stick your resume flyer on the prominent locations in the restrooms of conference halls, auditoriums, expensive lounges and restaurants. Concentration of people is more in that area and they can actually go through your full flyer (resume) during that nature’s call without any rush.

Linked in is a great tool to enhance your brand value. Try to get endorsed. If won’t succeed, create some fake IDs and use them to praise you. Start a discussion about your work efficiency and problem solving ability using these fake IDs but don’t forget to invite real people into that discussion.

Collaborate to compete. Convince some people and collaborate with them. Praise them and ask them to praise you in return. A good word from someone else is far more credible than praise from one’s own mouth. Cook up some stories about them and make sure they are returning the favor.

Porn sites, Yeh that’s right. Most of the HR executives and managers kill their afternoon time there. You will get a superb exposure. Utilize these sites, place an ad there. Imagine the shock value and the retention when they will see your picture with key words like MBA (Marketing), just beneath a naked lady.

Twitter, last but not the least, use twitter. I don’t know how, somehow. Everyone is using it now days; you should also, even if it’s just for the sake of using.

So these were just some of the very effective ideas to create or enhance your brand. Use them and see the difference. There will be more of such ideas coming, just keep looking.

[Via http://totalbakwaas.wordpress.com]

Hello, my name is Dim....

I was trying to remember earlier today if I’ve ever been called for a second interview for anything. I don’t think I have. My first few jobs were pretty much cut and dried in the first interview. One job I got seems a tremendous fluke now – the interviewer asked me where I saw myself in five years time. I said I wanted to be a novelist. Probably not the answer they were hoping for from someone interviewing for a post in their photocopy and archives room. Still, I held the job for nearly two years. The trouble is, you’ll have to take my word for that, since I don’t actually have a very good work record.

My first job was at the TVS (Television South) studios in Southampton. I worked there as Receptionist for the Programmes Department, and also delivered mail to and from the Programmes Dept. and the studios. Just as my year’s contract came to an end (and I was hoping to transfer to become assistant to the Assistant Floor Manager in the Studio) TVS lost their ITV franchise. The company split up and I was looking for work again. I spent time working in an off-licence (liquor store for you North Americans) but that was seasonal work. I found a job in a Solicitor’s office (the above-mentioned photocopy and archive clerk job). I stayed there for two years before going back to college for a year. Sadly, the office went on to electronic staff records in the late ’90s and my record was not one of those transferred. So, no reference from TVS, no reference from the solicitors. I spent a happy year at Portsmouth College of Art and Design, came out with a useless bit of paper and had to get another job. I took a temporary position as bar manager/receptionist at The Bell Hotel in Alresford. It lasted for two more years, during which time I got married. When I found myself a “proper” job with the Civil Service, I resigned from The Bell. I went away for the weekend, with a week’s time still to work, and when I came home I found the place had burned down. No reference from The Bell, then. Working for the Civil Service (joke: How many people work in the Civil Service? About half of them!) was great, since it meant I could be close to Mrs Dim as she guarded the peace-loving nations of the world from aggressive types, but Civil Servants work with the military, who are posted in and out of jobs, and by the time I gave up work to look after Eldest Weasel (then just a tiny weasel herself) I had already lost track of my first couple of bosses. Within a year, there was no hope of a personal reference from the Civil Service.

But please don’t think I stopped working just because I was now a full-time Weasel Wrangler. Oh no, I became a writer, and then an Editor. I edited the magazine of the RAF Families organisation, Airwaves. At first the magazine was called Corridors, but we changed the name when everyone finally agreed it was stupid. We changed it to “Airwaves”. Inspired or what? I took on more on behalf of the organisation, becoming an Airwaves Representative and Regional Manager. I went to meetings and wrote reports. Once I even went to the House of Lords and interviewed a Baroness. Oh yes. Can you guess what happens next? Well, there was a thing. All of a sudden all Airwaves Reps were told to stop doing anything. STOP! Someone hadn’t done something, or had done something they shouldn’t, and now there were legal ramifications of some awful extent, and the upshot was that Airwaves – the whole organisation – ceased to be. Shazam! Just like that. There is now the RAF Families Federation, but it’s run by a whole new group of people, none of whom know me. No reference from Airwaves.

Which pretty much brings me up to date. I joined the marvellous TLC Creative, working with Steve and David to Write the wrongs of society…heh heh heh! And I began doing some work for Lazy Bee Scripts, reading and reporting on script submissions. Both those businesses, I’m happy to say, are still around. Two references for me at least, and they must carry some weight because this Friday I shall be returning to the World’s Largest Home Improvement Retailer for a record THIRD interview, this time (I am assured) merely a formality, meeting the Store Manager. I’m sure you’re agog now. What position have I applied for that needs such a rigorous screening, so many searching interviews? Well, I’m going to be a Greeter. I will be standing by the door as you gracious folks enter the hallowed halls, and I’ll be happy to direct you to the aisle of your choice. Or choose one for you, if you’re up for a magical mystery tour of home hardware.

Hope to see you there.

[Via http://dtrasler.wordpress.com]

Day 6 - Work and My House

Handwritten 2/6/10 transposed to the web 2/8/10

1 Cor. 2:14 “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”

I heard that I needed to read this verse today as I prayed this weekend.  People who can discern God’s voice and message are those who believed in God and have faith, thus Spiritual ‘intuition’ and understanding.  For the last 2 years I’ve been asking God what to do in regarding if I should keep or leave my house.  9 months ago I was asked to make either 1 or another decision for the company, either leave or stay with a mandatory 1/3rd pay cut.  I, Like everyone else faced with this decision, said I guess that I’ll stay (but began putting feelers out).  Now the company, who promised that this pay cut wouldn’t last long has drawn it out 9 full months with no end in sight.  My mortgage company hasn’t received full payments since.  I’ve begged God for help on this, requesting His wisdom, discernment and yet I feel I’m still in the dark as much as I was 9 months ago.  I feel I’m in the dark, especially since each time I dust off the ol resume, new prospects of work show up and I get busy again, all with out an increase of pay.   In meetings we get the “hang in there” speech a we still labor hard and long hours.  Lord, help me with Your discernment when it comes to these issues.  Please Lord let me hear you.

[Via http://mtnblzr.wordpress.com]

The Start Of A New Age

Well I decided to start a blog on word press finally so I can learn word press features and gain the ability to use word press on a more of a development aspect and possibly be able to develop widgets and themes.

The aims of this blog are for me to utilise the features and to learn the advantages of using wordpress over joomla and drupal. Onto a more personal side of things now

I’m currently unemployed but I’m looking for a job in any field at the minute, I am also working on attending college later this year and hope to start a degree involving either IT and business or something architectural because lately iv been noticing alot of structural beauties and understanding how certain structures are built and maintained along with decorated with art work that will be remembered and admired for many decades to come

I do also develop websites for clients with needs ranging from simple rotating banners to complex on-line chat systems using PHP I am able to create these if you would like a quote or the ability to talk to me about the needs for your website or if you would like to have a website created I can help you plan and assist you during this to the point of publishing it.

[Via http://selfabsorbingcell.wordpress.com]

Steady as she goes

Raj started blogging again. I’m so glad he did so way after I left the picture. I’m not sure I’d want to know what he would say about me. I would have wanted to know until recently, but I’m sure I no longer do.

Unless it were, “fuck, I screwed that up!” But I somehow doubt it would be.

I got the job with Cherry’s company. It pays well, and I learn fast so they like me. I have to get up at 4:30 or 5 to catch a ride in with my step dad, who works 4 blocks away from the location I’m at. It’ll be nice once I’m in town and can sleep in til 6:30 >.>

And of course, I spent all weekend messing up my scedule visiting Nick, and then I stayed up til 2 with Nathen hitting level 50 on our Druid and Pally combo. So now he can turn into a tree!

Nathen and I made ourselves a convenience guild called , which has awesome hillarity due to the fact that, a) it’s a firefly quote, b) we’re both playing female characters, and c) we die so rarely that it’s appropriate

Nick and I watched a bunch of movies this weekend. So many that I can’t really remember all of them, haha. He tends to have a lot of movies I’ve always wanted to see but didn’t get around to, like Idiocracy and Harold and Kumar (the latter of which I had no intention of seeing for a long time, but then I heard it was actually good). I often find I appreciate boring, lazy weekends the most

You know, it’s hillarious how I’m doing three things I thought I wouldn’t do again. I’m dating a boy, moving back to Calgary, and working in an office…ah life, full of surprises as always.

[Via http://sadpanda.wordpress.com]

Networking: The New Wave to Earn Money

Networking: The New Wave to Earn Money

 

            Do you already shop online?  Then I invite you to Blast Off your shopping experience!  Join me at {my (dot) blastoffnetwork (dot) com (back slash) robertcarroll} and start helping yourself by get paid while shopping online!  The service is totally free and if you are already an online shopper, I am only asking you to shop through Blastoff and get money back from your expenses.  Please forgive the lack of a direct link, as a direct link can violate some advertising rules to some web blog host.

            Hope that little bit of front advertising works for you people.  Now onward to the article section of my post here!  From my learned experience with my current life journey, I get to realizing how valuable it is to be able to network with other people and what that networking can mean to everyone. 

            We are living in a turning point era with this economy where it becomes almost too important to be your own boss and run and host your own business.  The idea does has is up’s and down’s.  What is sad with this modern economy is the typical work week where the job you did helps to take care of you is dying, if not already dead with some job functions.  If we are not a new society with 10 different ways to earn money, where if one way fails we still got 9 income sources, we are only a screwed over society where one main income source no longer flies with anyone.  One income source lost to equal no income source becomes fatal in this day and age.

            Because of this new wave of having to earn money, here is where the importance and value of networking comes into play.  Your friends and family end up being the first main wave of people who you will connect with best to help you keep your head above water in these troubling times.  There is too much under employment and unemployed out there suffering just because we can not answer a question that at one point and time was simple to answer.  Who can work me full time?

            The real problem is greed has almost killed off even the most fundamental values of life that we all share.  Making life almost impossible to be dealing with.  However, if we took a united stand against these forces in round a bout ways that such greedy and law breaking freaks out there would not see or consider, then we can prove that hosting a positive conscious is stronger and better than forcing or demanding people to live with a negative conscious.

            Here is where something like the Blastoff Network excels the best.  I know people cannot spend money they are not earning.  You may have notice banks out there being supportive in ways by giving you money back with your credit/debit card purchases.  Let’s help add these things up.  The Blastoff Network is completely FREE to join.  You don’t need to invest anything to be apart of this network.  I’ve seen somewhere options where you can, if you wanted to and you got the resources, then go for it!  Please get back to me on what that is like.  I would love to hear. 

            With the Blastoff Network, you got nothing to lost and everything to gain by going through Blastoff for your online shopping needs, wants, or wish list of items to have.  This is the business types and plans that people will need the most.

            No cost to belong to.  A method of being paid.  Any initial investment made is minimal (In my own case with the Blastoff network, I bought something for $15 dollars or so, which is so much better than those business’s out there that want some $250 dollars of some standard investment for you to belong to their organization and host no guarantee any money will be earned.)  My game plan to making this online business grow for me is what I am doing now.  I write my opinion article base on my experience in life to help provide a service and justice to my readers on why something like The Blastoff Network can be a right option for you. 

            Nothing is guarantee anymore in the world of money.  This is where we all must come in and create our networks in life so the world of money does not turn us all into victims.  From friends and family then stem outward to working allies and acquaintances.  Even random unknown people who we might never know about if the miracles of the internet hasn’t come about.

            Sure there is plenty of negativity out there to battle through.  Focus on the positives in life instead.  Create your world and not allow others to create your world for you.  By doing this, you create solutions to problems you have and then become a positive and productive member of the very society you live in. 

            I consider my invite to you to join the Blastoff Network as free hiring.  It can’t get much easier than this.  It only takes a networking plan to make the beauty of something like this work.  My next article is a goal setting I will share with you all article to see how I hope to make this business plan grow.  So here is to better money levels to all and a brighter future.

            Be good, be strong and be safe now!  Peace!

[Via http://viodragon.wordpress.com]

Big Life Changes

Ahhh!!!  Big life changes!!

I now (well, pending paperwork I’m turning in tomorrow) have a job, working….you guessed it: in the costume shop!! That’s only been my dream job since I came here!  I won’t make a lot of money, but at least I’ll be combating the increasingly negative trend of my bank account, which will be super fantastically awesome.

I also have a house!  Ok, not really my own house, but I’m renting a house next year with KT and Lace.  It’s a cute little green, two-story house.  I’m renting my own house!  It’s so……so…..grown-up; it’s weird.

I’m going to London in May!  I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this in previous posts, but I’m going to London for two weeks with the theatre and art department.  A couple of my theatre buddies are going……and 1.

May I just point out that my New Years resolutions are becoming increasingly more difficult to keep and have been almost down-right broken [let's just say that 1 and I have had some interesting (and awkward) facebook conversations].  But it’s not my fault!  I can think in my head that I’m going to focus on making friends instead of finding potential dates, but my body does not seem to have gotten the memo.  It’s not my fault that every time I run into him, my heart jumps into my throat and starts beating in triple time.  Or that butterflies explode into my stomach.  Or that my mind goes completely and absolutely blank.  I forgot the word “hoopskirt” today.  I am a costume design major, I just took a class in costume history, but when he asked me what I was making, my mind jumped clear off it’s tracks and scattered about trying to find proper terminology.  And all I could do was point at the pattern across the table and stutter “uhhh…that”.  And 1 and my old scene partner (the one I was hopelessly smitten with) are both in the spring play……and so is a third guy that I may or may not think is cute.

In other news, classes are going well.  I have used almost every saw in the scene shop without cutting off any limbs.  And I’ve taken to speaking in my Italian class.  All in all not a bad semester; let us see what the future brings.

[Via http://knittingfiend06.wordpress.com]

Run It Out

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

So I haven’t gotten up to a whole lot over the past day or so. Yesterday’s meals were pretty unexciting. I had the same thing for lunch and dinner – how LAME! I made another quick and easy fav… Tortellini Soup. My old roommate is Italian, and got me hooked on this (among many other fabulously delicious meals) when I lived with her. Really simple, just chicken broth + tortellini pasta + S&P + parmesan cheese. Its pretty darn good.

Yesterday afternoon I spent some time on job stuff and relaxed a bit by catching up on my Google Reader. Ryan came home from work and we both had quick dinner because he still wasn’t feeling very well, and I was just being lazy. Aren’t leftovers great for that?

Anyways, after watching The Biggest Loser, I sat down and had a chat with Ryan.

It sort of turned into an emotional ‘meltdown’ over how I thought things would be easier out here once I moved – I thought I would get a job sooner, I thought meeting people would be easier – and I feel really guilty for the position that I’ve put us in. Ryan has reassured me countless times not to stress over money – but I just feel a need to contribute. Anyways, I guess I should give myself some credit for moving across the country to a province where we knew virtually no one. It was a big risk, and I don’t regret moving, but I guess it will take some more time to get settled than I thought. :S

Oh well – such is life, and honestly – I could have it a lot worse.

This morning, I woke up eager to get my mind off of last nights conversation, so I ate a quick breakfast of greek yogurt + museli, with toast +PB and then headed out to the gym.

I did a easy paced run, pounding out 3.5 miles in 35 minutes and it was actually pretty relaxing.

Honestly, I feel like the gym (& running in particular) is the ONE thing in my life that I can do to take my mind off stress and anxiety. Somehow, I end up focusing on the pain of running and how much that hurts and it outweighs any other ‘STUFF’.

Anyways, I think we’re gonna make some salmon and green beans for dinner tonight – and I might even try out those pumpkin pie cupcakes later. I’ll let you know how it goes.

What areas of your  life cause you the most stress? What to you do to feel more at ease?

[Via http://learningtolivelean.wordpress.com]

Folk Arts Society - Position - Office Manager

The Folk Arts Society, located on 155 Water Street in St. John’s is seeking an Office manager on a permanent basis.

Responsible for: the year-round administration of the Folk Arts Society. This individual organizes and maintains the office; maintains FAS records; conducts day-to-day banking and financial administration; monitors and reports to the Board on administrative matters; and, supervises junior office staff.

Requirements: in-depth knowledge of and experience with office management; professional interpersonal, writing/speaking, and organizational skills; team player, minimum 3 years experience in a similar capacity; experience working with minimal supervision is essential and experience in volunteer or arts organizations is an asset.

For additional information, click here.

Please submit your application with references to:

The Hiring Committee
Folk Arts Society
P.O. Box 6283
St. John’s, NL, A1C 6J9

or electronically to moss104@gmail.com with the subject clearly marked “Office Manager”.

DEADLINE: February 12, 2010

[Via http://wreckhouse.wordpress.com]

They Cum And Go

I hosted my first solo greedy-girl gang-bang this Monday afternoon. We had  6 men come in, which is about an average for a Monday lunchtime at the moment. They were all very laid back and just wanted to lie there stroking me and chatting with me until, one by one, they would fuck me, cum, and then go.

The last man to leave got me on my own for the entirity of my last shift on the bed! He was a lawyer and asked question after question about my job, my life and my views. I started to feel a bit uncomfortable as he wasn’t really getting to know Nina at all. He was getting to know me, the real me.

Not that Nina is that different a person to me. In fact, she is more me than the me that most people know. Those who know that I am in the industry know me as me, not Nina, but see that Nina is just the fuller side of my personality, not a small off-shoot.

It interested me to catch Secret Diary of a Call Girl on TV for the first time this week. After it was an interview by Billie Piper of Brooke Magnanti. Brooke explained how she had two separate wardrobes when she was escorting. Different clothes, different underwear, different name, different person. For me, that isn’t true. I often wear clothes and lingerie that Nina would wear when I’m out as myself. I often act in the same way; flirt outrageously, talk filthily and wear my sexuality openly. I and Nina are one.

With this in mind, you can see how I have trouble keeping Nina’s life from those who cannot know what I really do. Because she is me, not a totally separate girl who I get out the cupboard when I need her and put away when I’m done, I often find that she creeps into my day-to-day life a little too much.

It’s not that I mind people knowing about my job whatsoever. It’s just keeping it from my parents until I’m not living with them. This is why, when 99% of my time I’m not having to watch myself, if I am around them it is hard to suddenly shut Nina up!

[Via http://teencourtesan.wordpress.com]

Things you should know about budget

NEWS
Things you should know about budget
CNN
February 1, 2010

Washington (CNN) — President Obama on Monday unveiled a $3.8 trillion budget for next year. Here are some key points. Remember, these are Obama’s suggestions. Congress controls the purse strings.

Still a little extra in your paycheck

The Making Work Pay tax breaks would be extended for a year. These were part of last year’s stimulus and resulted in slightly higher paychecks for 110 million families, the White House said.

More money for education

Obama wants $3 billion more for elementary and secondary education programs and $1.35 billion for his Race to the Top program. Pell grants, which help students pay for college, would increase by $17 billion.

Big-shovel items

The president is seeking more than $100 billion for state and local infrastructure projects and $4 billion for national and regional infrastructure work.

Debt reduction

The president’s budget would reduce the nation’s debt by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. Obama would let the Bush tax cuts expire for high-income families, impose a “financial crisis responsibility fee” on large banks and end fossil-fuel tax subsidies for oil, gas and coal companies. Discretionary spending that is not defense-related would get a three-year cap, saving $250 billion over the next 10 years. Read more

Big incentives for small business

Small businesses would get a $5,000 tax credit for every net new employee hired this year. Startups launched this year would be eligible to halve the tax credit. Businesses also would be reimbursed for Social Security taxes they pay on increased payrolls this year. Companies could earn the credit by raising pay or increasing hours worked. Read more

Defense

To pay for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Obama is seeking $33 billion in supplemental funds for this budget year and $159.3 billion for next year’s. Funding for military families would increase 3 percent to $8.8 billion. The president would appropriate in advance $50.6 billion for veterans’ medical care.

Research and development

Clean energy research and development would get $6 billion and civilian research and development would get an extra $3.7 billion.

Security at home

The administration seeks $734 million to install 1,000 new full body scanners at airports. Overall Department of Homeland Security funding would increase 2 percent to $43.6 billion.

What do you think about the budget?

Proposed budget savings

• Discontinue the program to build a repository for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Savings in 2011: $197 million

• End oil and gas company tax preferences. Savings in 2011: $2.6 billion. Over 10 years: $36.5 billion

• End coal subsidies. Savings over 10 years: $2.3 billion

• Terminate program to develop an alternative engine program for the Joint Strike Fighter. Savings in 2011: $465 million

• Terminate production of C-17 transport. Savings in 2010: $2.5 billion

• Cancel the Constellation Systems program intended to return astronauts to the moon by 2020. Savings per year: $2.5 billion to $5 billion Read more

• Eliminate subsidies to student loan providers and increase the Department of Education’s capacity to make loans directly to students. Savings over 10 years: $43 billion

• Terminate program to build EP-X manned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. Savings in 2011: $10 million

• End grants to manufacturers of worsted wool. Annual savings: $5 million

• Eliminate grant program for inter-city bus security. Annual savings: $12 million

• End competitive grant program for local communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Savings in 2011: $10 million

• Terminate the Navy’s Next Generation Cruiser. Savings in 2011: $46 million

• End Corps of Engineers low-priority construction projects. Savings in 2011: $214 million

• Terminate Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, aimed at fostering “new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind.” Savings in 2010: $1 million

© 2010 Cable News Network Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

[Via http://dominicstoughton.wordpress.com]

Fourth.

I figured this was probably due an update. This weekend just gone was probably the drunkest I’ve been so far this year. Friends from home, old uni friends and my brother all came to Portsmouth on the Saturday and Friday night I went out for drinks with work people.

Friday night was fun. I don’t think I made too much of an embarrassment of myself. I got bought pints of wine which was a recipe for disaster. Luckily Jabo was around to help fill in the gaps on Saturday morning. Saturday I managed to get even drunker than Friday, so much so, that I was refused entry to Chaos. Twat.

Apart from that it was great, haven’t had a proper laugh like this weekend with the LADS in ages. I’ve inherited loads of alcohol too which is awesome.

The weekend before this one, I ended up going to see the girl from London again (I have no idea why I haven’t named her yet, I might just give her comedy pseudonyms or something). I was only meant to go for the Sunday but ended up staying at hers. We had Nando’s and drank lots of wine. It was amazing.

This weekend I am going to London, again, to see her (well, from Friday to Monday) and am ridiculously excited. Things are going really well between us (despite be being a massive berk and ringing her at 5am Saturday night) and I’m happy. It’s the first time since Lydia that I’ve properly liked someone which is great.

Work has been okay. I sometimes think I can’t be the only one who gets incredibly bored working in an office. I don’t mind it so much but sometimes the days drag really badly. I had the worst nights sleep last night and woke up feeling terrible, my head was full on pounding so I am still in bed and didn’t go to work. On the plus side, I only have to work 3 days this week now.

Roll on this weekend. If things go well, which inevitably they will, I am planning what could be the gayest gesture ever or make me seem like a total hero. We’ll see.

[Via http://hedges98.wordpress.com]

Sunshine Today - The Snow Is Melting...

…and I have a big day ahead. This might limit my blogging today, but I’ll try to get in the stuff that comes up related to our current political scene.

I have a job interview today in Frederick, MD, and a rehearsal tonite of Hunting Of The Snark without my Music Director who is away for a couple of days. That means I have to get a background music recording ready, which also takes up some time.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good Monday… check in later for my updated comments and other things.

- Bill T.

[Via http://underthelobsterscope.wordpress.com]