Posts Tagged ‘job search’

Resume Writing and Business Metaphysical

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Trying to rewrite my resume again, this time to send to employers in the Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland areas. The fact is, an entry level resume isn’t that exciting.

It’s not so much an issue of confidence. I have complete faith I could do the jobs I’m applying for; but, it’s convincing a total stranger of that. Yes, they might have to train me… but I’ve had the honor of pleasantly surprising every employer I’ve worked for at the speed I can learn and apply the skills they give me. It’s also convincing them that while I’m not local yet, I want to move to their area.

So, off to the internet I go. Some of the stuff regarding job searching is amazingly… metaphysical sounding. Almost like religious writings. If they were using other language, they might sound exactly like some of the new age metaphysical stuff. Or maybe crazy cult writing. Just without the heavy incense. And suits instead of strange robes. Some of this stuff you probably need a degree program just to learn how to translate and apply it.

I’m kind of jealous of anyone who went to a college and got realistic resume and job search help. After my classes with Baker, I’m still stumped on how to write effective resumes and cover letters. Not understanding how to write an objective / summary, I completely omitted one. Nothing I write is considered “strong” despite straight A’s in my traditional writing classes. It’s obviously a different language, totally different syntax… despite looking like English.

Posted to as many career and lifestyle forums as I could, asking for advice on how to sell myself to out-of-state employers. I’m trying things first with just my e-mail and portfolio address. If that doesn’t work, I’ll see about a virtual PO box and a virtual phone number from Vonage.

And if all else fails: screw it. I’ll just take the leap of faith and hope I land on something soft.

Computer Parts & Job Fairs

Friday, October 10th, 2008

The bulk of the parts for my new computer came in today. *dances*

So far, I’m reading through the assorted manuals to make sure I have everything in order. You couldn’t get much more OEM the way the hard drive and optical drive came wrapped together in anti-static baggies and bubble wrap. Kind of wishing I’d gone retail for the hard drive so I had the manual and disks, but it’s a little late for that.

The video card… eh, the manual leaves a little to be desired. :-P The instructions are basically: “Remove your old card, put in new card. Restart system, let Windows recognize it, then install the included driver disk.”

Kind of thinking of skipping the job fair. :-/ According to the newspaper section dedicated to the job fair, there’s not much in the way of potential employers that are going to be there that I’ll be interested in. There’s assorted military recruiters, construction, manufacturing, health care, and then several staffing places. There’s only a few employers that I might be interested in and it almost doesn’t make sense to go for three or four specific places. (And I don’t even see them on the web site for the job fair now.)

Right now, mom’s talking really highly about going out and getting the new monitor and then going clothes shopping. I might do that and just go hit the staffing places either online or on my own.

Mild frustrations

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

What is it with me and fandoms? First RW terminally pisses me off, now Naruto is edging that way for me.

There’s a few guys on the Official Naruto thread on Gaia Online who are so damned dogmatic it’s impossible to have a conversation or a debate about something or a character they don’t like. It’s the whole homogeneous opinion bullshit all over again. Wasting energy despising a fictional character too. If you disagree, it’s cause for personal insults and mocking in chat speak.

I really hate to pull back because it’s one of the only Gaia Online threads I’ve actually enjoyed for the most part. I know everywhere is going to have trolls, but it doesn’t mean I have to put up with it.

Anyway, no news on the job I applied for yet. That’s either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on my mood. The listing is still up, so it’s probably going to be a while. In other news, I got a whopping $600 of student refund money, so I think I’m going to buy Adobe Photoshop and maybe Illustrator. (Depends on if I can buy the student versions.) It might help me if I get to interview and say, “In anticipation for this position and to provide the best services possible, I began training in Photoshop and Illustrator.”

Something Stupid

Tuesday, January 24th, 2006

There’s nothing that quite sums up a mistake with diabetes management than:

“Umm… Hi Nancy, I just did something very stupid.”

Somehow “stupid” seems like a tremendous understatement. I’m okay, this happened back in December, but I had to send my logs over to my care team today and my note just cracked me up. XD

Basically, I had been extremely tired when I woke up that morning and accidently mistook my Humalog insulin with my Lantus. I only take 3 units of Humalog at maximum, and 16 units of Lantus in the morning only. So I gave myself 16 units of Humalog that morning. I realized what I had done as soon as the plunger reached the bottom of my syringe. So I immediately bolted down a full glass of orange juice and ran to call the Diabetes Center for a game plan. And of everything I could have said, I choose to say “I just did something stupid.”

LOL! At least I’ve only done that only twice in the years I’ve had diabetes, they assured me that they have other patients do it all the time. (Ouch.)

In other news, today I had to take my resume in to one of the local staffing agencies so I could see if I could get a job. To disclose my diabetes, or not to disclose my diabetes. I’m perfectly healthy, no neuropathy or other complications . . . other than my blood glucose drops like a stone if I do anything too strenuous. I ended up disclosing it against my better judgement, just so they wouldn’t try pushing me into a strenuous job.

Instead, I walked out with contact information on becoming a Database Specialist. Starting wages of $12/hr but I don’t know that I know enough yet to be able to do the job. They’re asking for a BS in Computer Science, and all I’ll have this Fall is an Associates. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be able to do many of the requirements when I leave school, but I can’t do them all quite yet. The bullet about “Windows programming” is the point that worries me the most. Yes, I do have to take Visual Basic, but I still have more prerequisites to do before I can attempt it. I called anyway, made myself sound like an idiot on the Human Relations voicemail, and have spent the rest of the evening worrying about it.

I know it’s pointless to worry, but I can’t help it.

Much love to everyone, I’ll try to reply to everyone tomorrow morning.