A NEW JOB IN THE FAMILY

I saw this map about six months or so ago.  This is an updated version.  Now that I have taken steps to become self-employed (although I have promised my husband not to give up on a job with benefits at some point) I can look at it without feeling such total personal despair. 



The great news for our family is that our recent college grad, Maggie, was offered a full time job with benefits - one that she is very excited about and wanted very much.  So Hurrah!

The economic news is telling us that it is going to be a long time, if ever, before the job market really rebounds.  So much industry has left the country or become mechanised.  Tax cuts have proven not to create jobs - at least not in the US.

In a way I feel really sorry for those people who are still employed and doing the work of  2 or more people with less to show for it.  Difficult times in and out of the work force.  I hope my sister and I can beat the odds of small businesses - survive and thrive!

I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN

My sister Polly and I have decided on a name for our new company.  I have registered our domain name, started designing our website and blog.  I signed up for an e-mail account.  We are deciding on fonts and colors and styles.  I am writing, writing, writing for brochures, website, price lists.  We are planning how to organize our inventory.  We have been interviewing people in the field to learn more for our marketing plan.  We are very excited and jazzed up about our new venture!

And what happened?  Out of the blue I got an e-mail from a company to come in for a job interview.  I had a great conversation with the HR woman a couple of months ago, but my test scores didn't qualify me for the position they were filling at that time and she kept my resume...

A job interview is not a job offer, as I well know.  Tom, however, is expecting me to go after this job opportunity because it comes with full benefits.  Considering that I just paid $365 for a filling for Ally (she needs another filling done and I have been putting it off because, well, no dental insurance for the past 7 years...)  I can't say as I blame him for his insistence.

So, I finally have something I am excited about doing  AND I must go into an interview tomorrow afternoon and be convincing that I want to become an Insurance Verification Specialist.  Friends out there in blogland, please send out your positive thoughts.

One way or the other would be fine.

FRIDAY FAST ONES

1.)  My son is an old hand at leading summer camps, but this year is different.  In the past he has worked with teens, now each week he has a different age group.  The week he had 4-6 year-olds he was really out of his element.  He commented on how fun they were, how open and excited they were about everything.  The only problem was that there was this one kid who cried when his mom left in the morning.  It was always a scene.

I told him that was pretty common for that age group.  He just grumbles about what a pain this kid is.  I said "Zac, just remember the next time you have one of those kids... YOU were that kid."

2.)  After all the worry and gathering of statements from neighbors and preparation for the hearing about Hilda's barking citation; the man who complained got up and said it was all much better now and please drop the fine.  I still had to get up and give my spiel, which I edited down considerably and it all ended with the Judge commending me for our efforts and the City Attorney recommending the fine be dropped and smiles all around.

3.)  I have been helping my youngest sister, Polly, with a couple of her recent home staging jobs.  She is an interior designer, but with the economic downturn, she has been getting calls for these jobs to prepare homes for sale, rather than for homeowners looking to spend a bunch of money decorating.  We have enjoyed working together and she has proposed our starting a business together.  I am researching the possibilities.  Tom wants me to get a job with benefits, though, so he is not happy with the idea.

So my dilemma is whether to pursue this idea without his "blessing" or just keep plugging away at the job market that doesn't seem to want me...

4.)  On the weight loss and fitness side.  I crossed my legs this morning.  Just like that.  Sat down with my cup of tea, put on the Today show and crossed my right leg over my left.  Please realize that I have not been able to do that in YEARS.  When you have big thighs and a big tummy, you cannot do that.  I didn't even realize I could do it, and I did it!

JOB SEARCH - WEEK 2

I have now been looking for a job for over a week. I am not sure if I can even count myself as one of the nearly 12% unemployed in California since I left my job more somewhat voluntarily and do not qualify for Unemployment Insurance. I am kind of like all those people who have used up their UI and are not really counted anymore.

This morning there were a couple of reports on the news about job hunting and the economy. One was about making your resume stand out by listing specific accomplishments, following up after sending resumes and making job hunting a full-time endeavor. The usual, generic tips which aren't even always relevant.

What was interesting was a spokesman from Yahoo saying there are jobs mostly in health care, engineering ad high tech - which we have all heard. Then he goes on to say that the positions offered are not all "professional." They need receptionists and janitors and warehouse workers. Which is true, too. But mostly, from what I have seen in a exhausting week spent looking at everything out there, there are very, very few positions for anyone but experienced engineers, technology professionals and nurses.

While I am not one to shy away from applying when I don't have absolutely all the experience listed - it is daunting that a "receptionist" is supposed to have experience with autoCAD and Dreamweaver in addition to writing sales orders and proposals, staff scheduling and conduction facility tours.

Most companies want you to have worked in their specific field and know their specific software, etc., and I suspect they will get that. And cheaper than the last person who had the job. I see lots of very long job descriptions with 35 hour weeks, no benefits. I applied today for one that is a 1099 position - what they like to call an independent contractor - so they don't have to pay payroll taxes.

Something new to me is the online tests some employers have you take. Timed tests for math, grammar, vocabulary and reasoning. Like a mini-SAT! As part of the initial application process. I have also had to agree to credit and background checks.

I will say that I have been approached by numerous companies interested in meeting me! They are all sales positions. Some telemarketing, a couple of insurance companies, a real estate investment company and something to do with identity theft. All promise great incomes! Make $2000.00 per week! The catch? Commission only.

WHAT IS YOUR FANTASY?

It was a bit slow at work today. It is worrisome, because we are a business which relies on the revenue from the holiday season to help pull us through the slower months.

Today we had time to chat. I have been discussing my daughter's struggles to finalize her major and minor status in school and make decisions about her future career possibilities. So that lead to a discussion of DREAM JOB. Qualifications, references, skills and resources are all set - what would you do?

Co-worker A said she wants Judge Judy's job. She thinks being a judge would mean everyone listens to you and you can ask all the questions you want. Co-worker T said she would be a nature and travel photographer. She would live in a tropical place, but travel the world. She would return home from her travels to write and produce her photos. She wants to meet people and learn about different cultures and traditions. The owner of the company Kyle would do just what she's doing. she has always loved designing and running her own company.

I realize I would want to be a writer - a columnist with unlimited topics so I could travel and write about food and politics and family and whatever strikes my fancy. The thing I learned I loved in law school was research. I would love to follow my interest in something and then write about it - then follow another whim or fancy, learn and write about that.

I love hearing about people's fantasies. One time I was talking to my sister about a fantasy of mine to have a place of my own to go to. Like that song in My Fair Lady - a room somewhere with one enormous chair. She said she has that same fantasy, except her room is all white. We had a laugh that it sounded like her fantasy was to land in an asylum!