Seeking employment? Stop here for tips.

Don't despair ladies, since I am probably older than you, have been there, done that, and have the t-shirt. It is hard to sit back and see someone who is less qualified than you get the raises, promotions, etc, but I am so glad that never in 32 years of employment, that I compromised my values to recieve anything. All I accomplished, I did with the help of God, and he got all the glory.

I know it must be harder in this day and time, ( I have been retired since 2000), and I am so thankful that I have managed well over the years, have a good retirement, and am out of that rat race. I have the liberty now to do what I want, took care of my DM for 3 years after I retired, and now doing the same for DMIL. I feel that I am giving back something to society, that I had the priviledge of being on the receiving end many years ago.

Looking for work is hard work. Then as mentioned above you see or hear about bad employees and you think....why do they have a job and I don't.

Jobs are too hard to get right now to be taken for granted.

Indeed, Def, always keep the self respect in place and the
rest falls in behind. I've always been of the position that a job
isn't worth surrendering who I've always been.

If I don't get the job, I'll just fall back into my normal routine,
though with fall approaching, I wish they would let me know
pretty soon, or I'll lose the urge. Winter fires, staying in your
pajamas until ten o'clock in the morning, long warm showers.

As colder temperatures approach, I'm of the mindset of
either finding a job before it gets too cold, or settling in for
a long winter. LOL.

Call me now or call me in spring, ha ha!
Just kidding for the most part. :-)

"Call me now or call in spring" I LOVE it!!! LOL, that is great. I'm wishing you good things and the "perfect job". If that is NOT this one, then SOON so you are NOT in agony.
Pat

Thanks Defo for your words of encouragement & of your wisdom. In the end, everything always seems to work out for the best. I've had jobs before that I thought at the time I really wanted only to find out that I hated it.

Wuvie, I think you should stay home and clean out that daylily bed. (lol)

LOL, Bloom. I wish! My string trimmer died and ever since, even
the neighbors have been making comments about how things have
changed. In other words, what the heck happened to that place? It
looks like the weeds have taken over.

Indeed they have. Record rainfall this year made it quite green, but
in all the wrong places. Our daylilies are literally buried in weeds. All
that work, all that time I spent. Sigh.

KM

If 'calm' were canned, I'd need a six pack right now.

The call I've been waiting for came in, sort of. The agency
thinks I'm the best fit, the interviewer (whom I presume would
be / will be my supervisor) thinks I'm the best fit. Of course,
she must pass this over the desk of her supervisor as well,
so in brief...we're just waiting on the head cheese.

Suddenly I will be unable to visit Dave's as often. Suddenly my
life has changed from sunup to sundown to a few hours each
evening during the week. While I can't help but to be excited about
the job; which I'm pretty confident the head cheese will approve, it
made me realize that because I have to leave for work so early each
day, that by the time I get home, I will have just a few hours to live my
life before bed.

Yes, I thought about all this before applying, I'm just trying to get
it out of my head so I can be more mentally prepared. :-)

Other than valium or rum and coke, LOL, does anyone have any
'calm down, it will be alright' methods of assurance?

I'm terribly excited, but am trying to quell a bit of it to keep my heart
from pounding out of my chest. Okay, maybe just one?

Whooo hoooooooooooooooooooo!

Karen Marie

Wuvie, look at the bright side... with working again you could afford to hire some of the less pleasant tasks and ONLY do only the chores you really ENJOY!!!

There was a time when I had someone mow and trim, I only did the flower care. Now, years later, a divorce, move, school, remarriage & move later, I do the mowing and the flower care. I wouldn't mind giving up the mowing but I can't justify the expense of hiring someone when I DO have the time and health.

I'm sending good vibes your way, hoping you will get the good news shortly!
Pat

Aw, many thanks, Pat!

YAYAYAYAYA congrats congrats wuvie...what are we going to do with out you:)!!!!

i wish i could say the same for myself...in fact it was kinda depressing today...went to the employment agency....(each week, i am going to a MAJOR player to try to locate a job) i had used this employment agency b4 10 yrs ago...they always had the right 'fit'...the first day....
my expectations were WAY too high today cause not only did they have 'it' but they really acted very bored and ho hum....

NEXT, where is the next target?? i just keep thinking i need to knock on doors...knock knock knock knock and that the correct door will open....in the mean time ....i lost my house, my cars, my family and i am now a street person..(all in my brain of course)...but it certainly sucked very much not to have that red carpet rolled out for me....

so i congratulate you wuvie...you have been doing this longer than myself ....hopefully i will be saying the same thing in the next couple of months....it does take the mental to get ready for this....especially if you are not destitue and that you have enjoyed your home for a time....it takes sacrificing a fab home for a 'career' and/or job...i so would love
my current schedule...but i know i cant....i haven't been brought this way to drop me flat on my behind....but i sure DON"T like it...

on the gardening side.....i went to kmart....OMG they had pots marked down to a buck, they had planter wire hangers that you hang on fences for 2 bucks...needless to say i bought a bunch....now i will need to go pawn something to pay for the stuff i bought:)

Hi Sticks,

Okay, young lady, it's time we prop that chin back up!

Think of this as time to get things in order. As you mentioned,
it is a case of getting mentally prepared. Each day, try to
add another task, or switch one to adjust as though you were
truly working. We all know how much different life is when you
only have from supper to bedtime to take care of things through the
week.

Each day, think about things you can do to make the transition
easier. Maybe buy a laundry basket, a few organizers, stock
up on pantry basics, etc. Fill the car with gas, have oil changed,
balance the checkbook, all those things we tend to put off when
working.

Keep up the good work, and don't let it get you down, lady.
There is a job out there for you, it just might not be there until tomorrow.

You know how I got this job? Honestly? A go-getter of a staffing agency
guy found me on CareerBuilder.com and called me in for an interview.
He found my resume online. All this time I've complained about key words, and yet
those little words were what caught his attention. Employers seeking
particular skills often search the resumes looking for specific words.
Are you responsible? Industrious? Etc.

Another thing that matters to many is an objective. Some say to state
what you want combined with what you have to offer, while other companies
only want to know what you can offer them. I give them both so they know
up front what they will get, and what I expect. If they can't offer a decent,
respectable position of ethics, I don't want the job.

My objective pretty much lays it on the line. I'm not lazy, I don't show up drunk,
I do my job well and expect to be treated with the same respect I give you.
Well, not in so many words, but the employer gets the picture.

At first I wasn't so sure what my initial interview was about, as I did not
remember applying to the company. I thought it was odd having to fill
out so much paperwork when I'd already done that online. Though my
offer ended up a valid one with great results, many head hunters surf
such sites, so you have to be careful. Make certain the business is valid
before you even go to the interview.

Know that I'm thinking of you!

KM

what kind of plant is that...

Hi Sticks,

That is a long row of Castor Beans.

:-) KM

oh, that is what i thought...i will be growing those this next year ...those and the purple ones...

career builder .com? did you register with them? how far away was the headhunter and how far away is the job from you? i am thinking i started looking into career builder but got so much spam that i unsubscribed....; did you put your resume there...or why were you on careerbuilder?

on a positive note, one of my references got a letter from the school district where i applied...so at least i am making some something

Hi Sticks,

While I do get a lot of spam and "Oh, I found your resume online, you would
be perfect for the position" nonsense, I guess I've been online long enough to
weed out the gar-bahge. Never one to click a link in an email, my route is
usually to alt tab to a new window and Google the company. Nine times out of
ten it's gar-bahge.

I did register, but do not and would not pay anything. Although the site is,
in my opinion, designed to collect information, it did tip me off to numerous
job leads. When signed up to receive job alerts, I found that I was receiving
notifications of positions which showed up in the local newspaper.

Basically, someone fishes this information and posts it. I use it to my
advantage, then do a little detective work, find out the contact information
for the company and fax my resume. I've had a few interviewers ask where
I got the information and they were surprised when I mentioned the site.

It can be advantageous if you use it wisely. The job I expect to start by
Monday would not have happened if I were not on CareerBuilder. Sure, I
may have another job found elsewhere, but I'm glad the guy fished my
resume. Anything to get in the door.

Best of luck to you, whooo hooo, good news on the letter from school?

KM

well i may have to go back and peruse career builider....

Congrats on the job. (hard to type when green with envy) lol
Just goes to show that a mature woman is a good thing!
Clap, Clap, Wooo hoo!
Can we celebrate your new job?

wuvie...i thought that i had been on career builder and got all the spam...but it was jobs.com...; i have looked at career builder and will put my resume on that....who knows...?? i could get a job?...(grin)

Monster and career builder are too big city for this area. Michigan does have a talent bank that is a great website. I have had some calls, but they did not pan out for one reason or another. But the listings everyday give me hope, and jobs to apply for.
The paper has one or two jobs...a week. So I grab the papers on line, hit the Michigan Talent Bank and hope.

Congrats WUVIE, hope all goes well with the job.

I have been without internet service since last Tuesday morning. So got far behind on all my "watched" thread" and spending the day getting caught up.

That's good to know defoecat, several people were asking about you on other threads. We were concerned when no one had heard from you.

I am trying to get caught up on all that I have missed. Thanks for wondering about me.

Defoe, oh my gosh, you must have tons of threads waiting
for replies! I'm so sorry, was wondering where you were!

Hope you get caught up and all is well.

KM :-)

Alright, an update.

I did not get the job. As of right now, no one did.

And while I'm trying my best to remain positive, I can't
help but to counter their reasons for not hiring me. They
were concerned with the commute. The manager has the same
commute I do. She stated that even a four hour
delay in work due to weather would cost them precious
time.

My thought is that if an employee is good at what they do
and get not only the work done, but in advance, an absence
should not be that hard to overcome. Besides, it sounded like
the girls gabbed a lot instead of working, so I guess I should
be happy not to have to carry the catch-up.

Well, at least I have a nice wardrobe ready if I ever do find a job.

Back to the drawing board. Keeping my chin up knowing they passed
over a very good employee based on "What if?"

KM

Karen Marie, I'm sorry, I know how disappointed you must be. Keep your chin up, their LOSS. Something even better, and maybe closer, will appear for you.

You know, at first I thought I would hang up the phone and cry, but I
know that I'm a very good employee, and if I really want a job, one will
come. The tears didn't come and I simply called hubby, gave him the
news, and then hit the phone book.

Tossing around the idea of heading for a few staffing agencies today.

Many thanks, Psy. :-)

Oh my! I am sorry that it didn't work out.
I have lost 2 jobs due to driving distance also. They hire people who live closer, even though I tell them that I have a four wheel drive truck and always get to work. UGH. It is unfair.

Another I lost because they decided to combine the postition with an existing, instead of a new hire. So why did they bother to advertise and interview? Frustrating for sure.

Anyway, I know how you feel. Something alot better is just around the corner. For all of us!

Parts, isn't that a bummer?

It ought to tell them how much I want the job if I'm willing to travel
54 miles. Besides, most of the jobs around here are 36 miles from
our home; which is 15 minutes from the next town. I have to travel
15 of those miles just to get to civilization. ;-)

Having to 'settle' for closer job means up to a four dollar per hour cut.
Good grief, I'd rather stay home and clip coupons than take such a cut.
Working for pocket change, jeez, I'll just stay home and do that.

(grumble grumble)

That 4 dollars is about what you would spend in gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. Because gas is being taken out of take home pay, not gross pay.
That is what I told the last interview when they said I could probably make 4 bucks more out of our local town. I even broke it down for them, and they were surprized and nodded and said, "you are right!" Thought that would land me the job, but they still were afraid that I was "over qualified and would leave soon after being hired" UGH

Hi Parts,

I pounded the calculator for days and came up
with a very satisfactory arrangement. In fact, the
five hours of overtime required each week, and
sometimes on the weekend, more than paid for
the gas it would take driving the Civic.

The guy even asked me if I would move to Tulsa.
Um. I think not. LOL.

That is good. Gotta take all that stuff into consideration. I always had a company vehicle in the past, never needed a car, so I am stuck with the big truck, our extra vehicle, which gets uses more gas than desired, but....a car payment? If I get a job I like that I have to commute, then I will look, but that payment will still pay for alot of gas.

Oh, so sorry Wuvie that the job didn't come to you. I don't think they are being realistic, my DH drove farther than that for 32 years, and didn't have many days that the weather kept him from getting there. Do you think that is gender bias working, woman out on the roads in winter, all by herself, etc, etc,

Cparts, hope that you are successful in landing a job also. '

Both of you just hitch your britches up, and keep looking, somebody is gonna get a good employee eventually, hey if they don't find you sooner, it is their loss.

Thanks.

My favorite answer to what is your biggest fault is - I'm a perfectionist!

Oooooh that is good, too bad it is not true for me!

Can I add another job hunting frustration?
(didn't hear a roar of no, so here goes)

When you apply for a job on a website, sometimes you do not get to send the information you want. There is no room for an explaination.

For example.
website asks...last job how much were you paid per hour? and then a blank. I got paid salary per week plus commision and a car. Now how do you put that in a blank that only allows numbers?

Then, like today, I applied for a job that the min requirements were a BA in the field or 5 years experience in the field.
So when applying, they ask, do you have a BA in this field, yes or no. That is all.
I had 6 years experience, no place to put that, only just sending in the resume.
So I say no, and the application gets kicked out. saying I am not qualified. UGH!

sometimes they will list a place on the website to contact them. Some of them are so well hidden that you have to search, I would send an e-mail with additional information, and explain that there was no place to list it, and say "I am sure that you would be interested int the additional information".

Another one that gets me is "Reason for leaving".

How does one abbreviate "Inept H/R director mad at
me for exposing what a bad employee she is" Without
wearing the nametag "Whistleblower"; which I was not.

;-)

Or how does one say "Case of the little guy doing her
job, being honest, reports wrongdoings in accounting,
then suddenly dismissed when the guilty person is
made one of the head honchos."

Cough. Cough. Can a girl get a job with an honest company?

Wuvie, sure you can. In answer to those questions, just reply, that I outgrew the position, and wanted to move on, and nothing was available at that company which I felt would challenge me sufficiently.

No untruths told, no perception of being a whistleblower. You have to understand that I have had many courses in "creative writing" which in essence teaches you to "couch" the truth with enough grandiose language that your reader will be wowed, and not question that the actual statement held no shred of an answer, but still be pleased and they think they got one!

Remember I am a retired HR person, and it was part of my job to actually write job descriptions. They were written in a way that you could make a file clerk sound. like an accountant. It's all in the language!!

If you need any tips for "Creative Writing 101" let me know!!

wuv..i am so sorry...; there is some reason why you didn't get it...; maybe a blessing...hang in there...:)