Dream Support

If I like what I’ve written, and I think someone I know can relate to it I get brave and post it on facebook. I don’t always know if anyone looks at my blog, and that’s okay. I’m writing it for me, to somehow inspire myself. But I should never underestimate my friends, they remind me I am one of the luckiest people I know.

My old college roommate has been acting as my unofficial editor. She never actually tells me if my subjects are interesting but she makes sure I keep up on my grammar lessons. Its little pieces of support like that, that makes writing a little easier, although I still haven’t managed writing a post every day.

My other college friend Pramey, just shared a little bit of what he’s been writing with me and it’s great to read. I’m even a little jealous, of how easy it is to read, but it is just what I needed to inspire me to keep writing. Pramey, if you read this, keep writing, you write too well to stop.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge all those that have liked my facebook posts, talked to me about something you read, or even just wished me good luck. Especially, to those that have wished me good luck, without reading, my rambling tales. All of you help me keep my head up, and focused on what I really want. It helps me keep my dreams alive. THANK YOU

Sometimes Read ≠ Read

Occasionally, I come across those misleading jobs, for example the other day I applied for a job out of state in the hopes of better results. The job that had a decent salary, potential to move up, in a decent city, full-time, and might lead to a career I want. Even the job description is something I wouldn’t mind learning to do while I work towards my goal career. However, in reality, their description of my ideal job, and my description of my ideal job did not line up, even though the jobs share the same title.

I know any experience is good, based on the fact it’s EXPERIENCE. (Totally checked the spelling twice.) However, I can get that kind of experience within city limits, without moving almost 2000 miles from home. Needless to say, if they don’t get back to me after our phone interview, I’m okay with that. Just getting in some more practice I guess.

Soapbox: SOPA

Everyone is standing on their soap box today, talking about the effects of SOPA once implemented. Even websites have censored themselves to create awareness throughout the nation of the impact. The authors of SOPA have worded it in such a fashion, that the majority of the reason I use the internet and interact with people I know will be shut down, blacked out or useless. The majority of social media will cease to exist, as the way we know it.

I suggest we do something about it. Either, contact your state representative or go to the following link and sign the petition, at the least.   Google: End Piracy not Liberty

For more information also check out Mashable

Job Applying = School

Homework:

Persuasive essays, Cover Letters and Resumes…The writing process:

Develop your topic (1)
If a topic is not assigned, identify a subject that interests you... Find Positions that interest me

Identify your audience (2)
Use this exercise to develop your audience and readership... Identify who will be reading my submission

Research (3)
Develop your time line: allow for editing, revision and unexpected developments…Research the companies I apply to and then edit or revise my submission as needed.

Prewrite (4)
Prewriting exercises provide key words, meaning, and structure to...Prewriting lets me get down what I want to say and organize my thoughts for a cover letter

Draft/write (5)
A rough draft is "a late stage in the writing process"...Never have one draft!!! I’ve learned that one.

Revise (6)
Before the revising/editing, take a break to gain a new perspective...Or in other words when I’m tired of looking at my resume, let someone else read it.

Proofread (7)
Intentionally separate "proofreading" from the "writing"...Self-explanatory

(Landsberger, 1996)

The above writing process was taken from a website call Study Guides and Strategies, the following italics are my own musings.

Tests and Quizzes:

Occasionally, there are even pop quizzes, in the form of questionnaire e-mails, and interviews are the most important of oral exams. Even after long hours of studying there always seems to be an unexpected question.

Grading Scale:

The greatest difference is the grading system, the educator’s feedback is often limited and I never know my class standing. In this case if I’m not an A+ student, I don’t get the job.

Side Challenges and Update

So after today’s spelling debacle I re-read and re-read my resume. And then promptly found more candidates I could send it out to. By a stroke of luck, one of the positions I applied for was posted by a head hunter. The head hunter responded to me via e-mail within the hour. Who know what the outcome will be?

On a side note to revisit the fore mentioned topic of fun, I did manage to watch Monkey Business, completely worth it. I also, got a gym membership today and I used it already. I’m going to make that a regular thing, I just feel better after I move. The only part of fun I have neglected is I did not practice guitar today, and I should have. Here is a major downside to living with my parents, they are great, don’t get me wrong, but within the next ten minutes they will be heading to bed. The walls in this house are like hallow doors, you can hear everything, and therefore I will get in practice today.

Phone Interviews: When Talking On The Phone Becomes a Struggle

In phone interviews I always end up with my foot in my mouth. I hate that I’m not actually talking to the person asking me questions, and that everything I’m saying is being recorded. I also, dislike talking on the phone for a half hour to someone I’ve never actually met. It is more difficult to talk to them in my opinion. Maybe, I’m too eager and too inexperienced… Regardless, I refuse to settle, for anything that either is not my dream job, or doesn’t lead to my dream job. If nothing else I know I won’t succeed if I don’t even try.

I am qualified for these positions I apply for, unfortunately I am also terrible at presenting myself strongly on the phone. If a phone conversation exceeds five minutes, I hope it’s because I’m talking to an old friend I haven’t seen in three months. Not because I’m talking to someone I’ve never met. I guess practice makes perfect.

One Problem, Doesn't Equal One Solution

Despite the possibility of ruling out about half the jobs I’ve already applied for and haven’t heard from. Due to A) They caught my miss-spellings and threw it out or B) they just found a more suited candidate. I feel…encouraged. Anyone going into the event industry knows that planning only is about a fourth of the work, and that more than likely things will never go as planned.

For example, if I were trying to climb a tall tree, and my running start left me on my rear on the ground, I have a couple of options. I can get up, dust myself off and try again. Or, I can approach the same situation from a different angle and go get a latter. At the end of the day adaptation and determination, are the keys to opening doors.

To make up for my mistakes I’ve been both reapplying to display my interest and broadening my search. Normally, when I apply to a place, I’m a little nervous, now I’m just excited to be finding positions I really want and know I can be great at.