One Blog Referral Deserves Another!

... And so on...

In a recent post entitled "More Publicity Deserves Reciprocation," I mentioned Debra Paynter's Promotional Strategies blog.

Today, while browsing the referrer logs, I saw that she had visited and read that post. She then put forth some interesting comments on her blog with a post entitled "Where Does The Traffic Come From and Can It Lead to a Job?" Note: the permalink doesn't appear to be working, so check out the 8-29-03 post.

Wings and Wireless: A Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event

The next Wings and Wireless event will be on Thursday, September 18, 2003 at the Buffalo Wild Wings, 6210 Wilmington Pike in Centerville, Ohio.

Be sure to check out the Greater Dayton IT Alliance web page for more information.

I went to one of these before and found it to be a great opportunity to network with other in the same field in a casual environment. It's also cool to see the wireless networking capability the restaurant has.

Men At Overwork

This Newsweek article discusses how today's soaring productivity has been holding back job growth in an economy that's finally recovering. I just saw the link, but I only gave it a quick scan, deciding it was worth linking to here.

Let me know what you think.

More Publicity Deserves Reciprocation

I'm at the library, checking email and going through the referral logs, all during my one-hour allotted timeframe. Our home PC is still being serviced, so I have to blog at the library in the meantime. I'm also working as a bartender, which you may be aware of from the archives. I bring this up so that you can understand why there may be a long lapse in blogging.

I've been checking the referrer log, and the statistics are higher than ever! :) I'd like to give a welcome to those of you visiting from Monster.com's Vent page.

I'd also like to say thanks to Scott over at JobSeekersAdvice.com, for his encouraging words. Specifically:

Anyone know of decent blogs out there?

Some can hold a wealth of information - the people behind them tend to be very dedicated to the subject area.

Others suck and are no more than uninformed rants!

Here are a couple I´d recommend:

Get that Job

Where I found this Wired article about fake job postings.

Another for the web designers out there is Debra Paynter's Promotional Strategy Blog - a frank look at web promotion strategies.

Anyone else got a few to add? (they dont have to be career related!

Thanks, Scott, and you've been added to the Blogroll!

Greater Dayton IT Alliance Job Postings

Worth a look.

Tech Thursday Networking Event

This Thursday, August 21, 2003, there will be another casual networking event at Buffalo Wild Wings in Sugarcreek, Ohio (greater Dayton area) to again highlight their new wireless capabilities, sponsored by Latitude Communications. Bring your laptops!

See the link above for more details and directions.

via email from the Greater Dayton IT Alliance (GDITA)

A Career in Forensics Might Interest You

The popularity of CBS's CSI has generated an increased interest of those looking at a career in Forensics, as this article from AP's Entertainment wire discusses:

Chemistry labs and criminal justice programs are what's cool on campus these days, as "CSI" — the nation's top-rated show last season — and its spinoff "CSI: Miami," which ranked 14th in the Nielsen ratings, have created a whirlwind of interest in forensic sciences.

Thanks for Visiting

I just saw the site statistics report for this past week. I'm blown away and encouraged to no end by all the visitors - over 300 this past week! Please contact me if there is something you'd like to see more of. I can be reached via the mail link on the Archive page. Or you can just email me at danimal0416 at yahoo dot com.

Career Planning, Step-by-Step

Maybe I need to check this article out, too.

RSSJobs Home

Searching for a job via the internet just became a little more efficient:

Are you looking for a new job? Are you using the internet? Do you have search agents saved on Monster, Dice, HotJobs, and countless others? Do you have the time and patience to weed through all the job listings on all the job boards you would like to check on a daily basis?

Imagine creating all of your search agents in one place, and viewing the results all at once. Imagine knowing at a glance which listings are new, and which you have already seen. Imagine spending less time checking more job boards than you do now. Imagine doing this throughout the day, when you want to, and on your schedule.

RSSJobs allows you to create and save searches for Monster, Dice, HotJobs,and more in one location, then delivers the results to your favorite RSS Reader.

Read more...

I Got That Job!

Now working: Dan Johnson, Jr.! Where, you ask? Here: Hope Hotel & Conference Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address for August 2, 2003

In President Bush's weekly radio address to the nation this past weekend, he spoke mainly of how the economy is behaving, and commented specifically about job-creation and unemployment, among other things. I've included some exerpts from his address below, but you may want to read the entire text yourself:

This week, we received some encouraging news on the economy. The nation's economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter.

...

Yet this week's employment report also shows that many Americans who want to work are still having trouble finding a job. My administration is acting to promote faster growth to encourage the creation of new jobs. The key to job growth is higher demand for goods and services. With higher demand, businesses are more likely to hire new employees.

The best way to promote growth and job creation is to leave more money in the pockets of households and small businesses, instead of taxing it away. So we lowered income tax rates, cut taxes on dividends and capital gains, reduced the marriage penalty and increased the child tax credit. This week, the checks for up to $400 per child started arriving in the mailboxes of American families. That money will help American families move the economy forward.

We have also taken action to help small businesses, who are the job creators of America. We increased tax incentives for equipment purchases, giving small businesses an additional reason to invest. More orders for machinery and equipment means more jobs. And more business investment can lead to greater worker productivity, which helps raise worker wages.

We are starting to see results from our actions. My administration's economists believe that if we had not passed tax relief, our unemployment rate would have been nearly one percentage point higher, and as many as 1.5 million Americans would not have the jobs they have today.

...

America's economy has challenges, and I will not be satisfied until every American looking for work can find a job. By steady, persistent action, we are preparing the way for vigorous growth and more jobs. I have confidence in our economic future, because I have confidence in the people whose effort and creativity make this economy run -- the workers and the entrepreneurs of America.

Vent!

Monster.com offers you a place to vent your job search frustrations via their Vent site. This blog is listed on that page. I guess they consider it worthy. Feel free to vent here, too. I know I do.

Get That Job! - Record Number of Visits in July!

I just checked the referrer log. We had a record number of visits here in July! Too cool. Hopefully you're finding something helpful. Let me know what you think!

GE Jobline

A friend of mine works at a local General Electric outfit. She emailed me their jobline phone number: 1-800-634-5518

Ten Songs for Job Seekers

MSN Careers examines ten songs that apply to job seekers. Interesting. Which one describes you?

And Then There's This

"Today's drop in the unemployment rate is positive and surpasses market expectations. The drop in the labor force is due primarily to seasonal factors.

"We are encouraged by the steadily declining four-week moving average of new unemployment insurance claims, which also shows that job losses are slowing down significantly.

"We can also see where the new jobs are being created, such as temporary help services, which tends to be a leading indicator that signals stronger, more widespread job growth in the future. Other areas with job growth include leisure and hospitality, financial activities and, for the fifth straight month, construction."

-- Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on July unemployment numbers released today, August 1, 2003

via U.S. Newswire

jobforjohn.com

John, who was recently "downsized" from a software company, followed President Bush's economic team (Treasury Secretary John Snow and Commerce Secretary Don Evans) around this week and even was able to talk to Snow directly:

"What's your story?" Snow says.

I tell him I was laid off last week and saw that he was coming and I thought it was important to come here and let him see the reality of what's going on in today's economy.

"What industry were you in?"

"Most recently the software industry."

"That's a particularly vulnerable part of the economy."

"Yes, well, I need a new job and it doesn't look good."

"Just wait," he said. "The first tax cuts haven't really taken effect. So just wait... the second tax cut... well, it won't hit the economy for several months, but I'm sure you'll get a job."

"But, but... we've already lost over 900,000 jobs just since March first... a job at Wal-Mart just won't support my family."

"Just wait, I'm sure you'll find a job."

At that moment the car in front of me pulled ahead for their order and John stepped back from my window. The SS agents signalled for me to pull ahead.

"Just wait?!" I've got a $350 payment for this minivan, a morgage and two kids! Here's a guy who drives a few hundred miles to see you, four days after he's been laid off, and you tell him to "just wait?"

Boy I'd like to see those words on a PR banner behind Snow at the podium:
Jobs and Growth: Just Wait.

Secretary Snow later mentioned the conversation to reporters.

I found out about this story via Metapop.

U.S. Economy Getting Better, I Think

BBC News reports that

The US economy enjoyed unexpectedly strong growth in the second quarter of the year, according to latest figures, prompting suggestions it has finally turned the corner.

The Next 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in the US

Job Search Frustrations

Today, on the way from my therapist appointment, I saw that the Longhorn restaurant on Dorothy Lane had just opened. I went inside to get an application. One of the managers told me to come back at 2 PM this afternoon so that we could talk about a bartending position. I filled out the application, and got changed for the interview. When I arrived at the restaurant, the gentleman with whom I spoke earlier wasn't available. I talked with another manager/partner, who told me, "If you had only been here 3 weeks ago..." This was not what I needed to hear, but I finished the meeting gracefully.

Then I went to the bartending school just to check in. The manager there told me to call her back before 5 PM today.

I then went to "Restaurant Row" along Miller Lane to obtain and complete applications at restaurants I had not previously applied to earlier. It was a "learning experience." Many of these restaurants do not hire bartenders, but instead hire servers who later get "promoted" to bartenders. I told one proprietor of a certain "Austrailian-themed" restaurant that I was willing to be a server, but he basically said that, unless I had 2 to 3 years of experience serving I shouldn't even consider completing an application for his restaurant.

I asked him if he knew where I could go to get this experience he was looking for. He didn't have any idea. I was very upset and frustrated at what he said, and my whole saga of finding a job, by this time. He offered his hand for me to shake, and, at first, I didn't want to do it, but I resisted the urge to be rude and shook it anyway.

As I walked out, I thought about getting some rotten eggs and returning to the restaurants. I won't, though.

I came home and vented. You may be aware that I have a blog called "Letters to God." It is a great way for me to pray, and I feel better for having done it. Much better than I would have if I, say, found some rotten eggs, if you know what I mean.

I could probably continue this post for a little while, but I guess I'll end it here. Let me encourage you to share your frustrations. Write them down, share with a friend or confidant, send an email - just be open with it so that you can feel better. Sometimes having a listening ear is the best therapy.

Bar's open! :)

Make the Most of Every Opportunity

My daughter started Kindergarten last week, and I met another family, whose daughter gets picked up at the same bus stop. I told the mom about my looking for a job, and a day or so later, she told me that she'd been looking at her company's job board for me. I didn't ask her to do it, but she did it anyway.

We're getting ready to head to the bus stop shortly, and I've created another few business cards to give her. That way she'll have my email address and other information so that she can forward me email, and she can also forward my card to other potential interested parties.

Never miss an opportunity to network!

Update: She wasn't there this morning. Perhaps her daughter was ill. Maybe tomorrow!

Avoiding Résumé Blunders

Sixteen simple résumé tips for job hunters, care of Steve Viscusi, host of the nationally syndicated radio show On the Job With Steve Viscusi and author of On the Job: How to Make It in the Real World of Work (Crown: Three Rivers Press). He recently appeared on ABC's Good Morning America and reviewed thousands of résumés.

Glance on Tax Credit Checks Schedule

You may be aware that the U.S. government is issuing tax credit checks to taxpayer households who have children. The linked page details the "schedule for mailing for government checks worth up to $400 per child to more than 25 million families over three weeks", beginning the week of July 25, 2003.

How Hiring Works

Wow! This is a good article about Interviewing Techniques, and it includes other links to pages that describe how the whole hiring process works. The entire set of articles appears to be written as though the audience is the hiring manager. Hence, I read it with a strange sense that I'm getting "behind the scenes" information.

Brought to you by the folks behind "HowStuffWorks.com."

More Job Seekers Are Trying To Hide Their Ages

According to a recent article in USA Today, a survey conducted by the online job board HotJobs reveals that many older job seekers are omitting dates or work experience from their resumes, while others are opting for hair coloration products, or, in some cases, cosmetic surgery, to make themselves appear younger to potential employers. Take resume fudging, for example:

Some career strategists push job applicants to omit dates from résumés. Career coach Kathy Sanborn routinely advises clients to omit graduation dates and list only the last 10 years of their work history.

Be careful, though, as such tactics can backfire. Some hiring managers may see omissions in work experience as another reason to remove the resume from their pile.

This begs an important question, which I offer to you, gentle readers and job seekers:

How do you go about placing enough work experience (if you have a lot of it) on your resume while keeping it to an appropriate length, usually a maximum of two pages?

Submit your comments here, or if commenting is unavailable, send me an email to danimal0416 at yahoo dot com.

Proof That Your Job May Not Be That Bad?

Yesterday, Karen posted from an email she recently received (check out the Thursday, July 24, 2003 post -- permalinks are not available). I recalled reading the story some time ago, and on a hunch I checked out Snopes.com to see if it was a true story.

They couldn't really determine whether it was or not, but claim that certain details of the story are suspect. At the same time they agree that there is no harm in enjoying the story. I prefer the version that Karen posted because it doesn't contain as much profanity as the one on the Snopes.com page does. So, without further ado, here it is:

This is even funnier when you realize it's real! Next time you have a bad day at work, think of this guy. Rob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana. He performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs. Below is an E-mail he sent to his sister. She then sent it to radio station 103.2 on FM dial in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who was sponsoring a worst job experience contest. Needless to say, she won.

Hi Sue,

Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother. Last week I had a bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad after all. Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job. As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wet suit. This time of year the water is quite cool. So what we do to keep warm is this:

We have a diesel powered industrial water heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea. It heats it to a delightful temperature. It then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose.

Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints. What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wet suit. This floods whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi. Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to itch. So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse. Within a few seconds my butt started to burn.

I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony I realized what had happened. The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit. Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it. However, the crack of my butt was not as fortunate.

When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into the crack of my butt. I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing hysterically.

Needless to say I aborted the dive. I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totaling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression. When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet. As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber. The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't poop for two days because my butt was swollen shut.

So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your butt.

Now repeat to yourself, "I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.”

The Key to a Successful Freelance Career: A Diary crossposted to Streams of Consciousness

A humorous account of a day in the life of a freelance writer.

Wired News: Making It Illegal To Hire Abroad

Some people are interested in making it illegal for companies to outsource work overseas. The Wired News article includes many links to the stakeholders.

Recession's Over!

"The federal government announced today that the recession ended back in November 2001. Be sure and pass this good news along to all the unemployed people you know." -- Jay Leno, July 18, 2003, via NewsMax.com's Late-Night Joke Archive

Networking for Introverts

So you're not blessed with the gift of gab. That doesn't mean you can't network effectively. A recent article in the WSJ College Journal offers some tips for introverts to use their disposition to their advantage to find that perfect job: "Networking When You're a Job-Seeking Introvert".

Thanks to the WetFeet.com Weblog, July 7, 2003 post.

Update: I was just browsing the article, and it looks like some good advice for anyone, not just introverts.

Surviving and Thriving in a Tough Job Market

You don't have to tell me that we're in a rough job market right now. Sherrie Gong Taguchi of Stanford's Graduate School of Business offers some advice on how we can be our best as we enter the job market. Read more, and go get that job!

Going Beyond Salary in Evaluating Job Offers

This article from the folks at WetFeet discusses how to rate job offers based on your priorities.

Quotations

How about some quotes?

• "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." -- Anaïs Nin
• "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• "A great deal of talent is lost in this world for want of a little courage." -- Sydney Smith
• "You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance." -- Ray Bradbury
• "The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money." -- Anonymous

All quotations are found in QuotesBlog - growing wiser on the wisdom (or stupidity) of others

How to handle market-sizing case interviews

From the title alone, I honestly had no idea what market-sizing was. This article answers that question and offers some help in answering questions that may arise in this type of interview. Read more...

What to do when you get laid off

Uh oh! You've arrived at work, morning coffee in hand, ready to haul through another day's work, and there's a pink slip on your desk. What now? Do you call mom and dad hoping they haven't turned your old room into a den yet?

Read this article for step-by-step advice on how to get back to work as quickly as possible, and keep your chin up. Read more...

500,000 U.S. IT Jobs Projected to Move Overseas by Year-End '04; IEEE-USA Sees Continued Loss in U.S. Economic Competitiveness

From an IEEE release on the U.S. Newswire:

One-half million jobs, or 10 percent of the U.S. information technology (IT) professionals currently working in IT services firms, will be displaced in the next 18 months as their jobs move overseas, according to Gartner, Inc., the Stamford, Conn.-based research firm. The Gartner projection, in a 15 July research note by Diane Morello, would bring total IT job losses to one million, when added to the 500,000 IT professionals estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to have lost their jobs in the United States since 2001. read more...

The Balancing Act

Compared to 25 years ago, the typical family puts in 1,000 more hours a year at work and more than 8 million of us work two or more jobs. So it's no wonder that finding a balance between work and life is difficult.

But balance is essential to our well-being and our ability to perform well at home and at work. Here are five ways to get a better footing:

• Simplify. Need help with housecleaning? Consider hiring a cleaning person once a week. Feel like you don't have time? Say "no" to things you don't want to do or don't have time to do.
• Be grateful.Even in the midst of the most hectic and stressful times of life, there are things for which we can be thankful. Reflecting on the good things in our lives helps keep an all-important balance in our outlook.
• Be a kid and play. Get down in the dirt and help the kids make mud pies, watch a movie with them, or have a long chat over coffee with your teen. Give your family one-on-one time.
• Pay attention to yourself. If you don't stay healthy, you'll be less able to handle the stress of work and home.
• Stop procrastinating. It takes more energy fretting over not doing a project than actually doing it. So save your energy for better things and just get started.

Source: Ragan Communications

President Bush's Radio Address: July 19, 2003

I just read via the U.S. Newswire, the text of the President's weekly radio address. He talks a lot about the Jobs and Growth Act of 2003, which he recently signed into law:

... Next week, the United States Treasury will begin printing and mailing more than 25 million child tax credit checks, putting over $12 billion back into the hands of American families. These rebates are the result of the Jobs and Growth Act I recently signed into law, which increases the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000 per child. And because this new law reduced income tax rates, businesses earlier this month lowered tax withholding for worker paychecks. Now, those workers and their families have a lighter tax bill and more take-home pay...

... My administration remains focused on faster economic growth that will translate into more jobs. Now that Americans can keep more of what they earn, we can expect to see rising demand for goods and services. And as demand increases, companies will need more workers to meet it...

... Government does not create prosperity. Government can, however, create the conditions that make prosperity possible. The Jobs and Growth Act of 2003 was based on the fundamental faith in the energy and creativity of the American people. With hard work and daily determination, entrepreneurs and workers are moving this economy forward. The American economy is headed in the right direction, and we can be confident of better days ahead.

Down-and-Outplaced?

ABCNews wants to hear from you. Seriously!

ABCNEWS is looking for unemployed people with a story to tell. If you are interested in speaking with an ABCNEWS producer, please contact us and include phone number(s) where you can be reached. We may also use your comments in our coverage on ABCNEWS.com.

They have set up a form for you to email them about your situation.

Feel free to share them here as well!

Help support the unemployed: with your friendship

In today's Dear Abby, someone writes with some advice others can do for those who are unemployed. Thanks to Mom for the Houston Chronicle link!

The Power of a Simple Thank-You Note

"So few job applicants send thank you notes that you automatically stand out if you do."

That's just one of five reasons Peter Vogt mentions why thank you notes are powerful and effective tools to use during the interviewing process. Read more...

Crucial small-business hiring looks up

The USA Today reports:

Ten percent of small companies plan to add workers in the next three months, a June survey out today shows. That's up from 1% in March, says the National Federation of Independent Business trade group. read more...

Wings & Wireless - Casual Networking Event via email from the Greater Dayton IT Alliance

After the great turnout to last month's Tech Thursday at Buffalo Wild Wings, we're going back. This month's casual networking event will once again be held at Buffalo Wild Wings in Sugarcreek. So come out for great networking opportunities and to connect the wireless network available at no charge, so bring your laptops!

Don't have a Wireless Card or a Laptop? Both 802.11a and 802.11b cards and Laptops will be available for use.

More Details:
When: Thursday, July 17, 2003 from 5PM to 7PM
Where:
Buffalo Wild Wings
6210 Wilmington Pike
Centerville, Ohio 45459-7019
map

For more information, contact

Bob Brogan
BBrogan@daytonitalliance.org
(937) 229-0054

Check out the Event Photos page of last month's event, which I enjoyed attending.

My New Sig Line

Jenny, the Creative Tech Writer, has added this quote from Bertrand Russell to her signature line. She shares from her experience of being unemployed for a year and her journey to get a better perspective. I'm glad to link back to it here.

A Nightmare on the Job

"When is a company responsible for a shooting?"

The July 21st issue of Newsweek describes the recent tragedy at the Lockheed Martin plant in Meridian, Mississippi and ventures an attempt to answer that question.

What's Your Sign?

As a bartender, I have to "card" individuals to verify that they are within the legal drinking age. I have to be wary of those with fake ID's.

I was taught while at bartending school was to ask the individual their "sign"; i.e. what his or her Zodiac sign is. Then I could verify that against the birthdate on the ID to see if it is real or not.

I don't believe in what these horoscopes say, but I've included this link to Webshots Daily Horoscopes for my own reference. I don't have them all memorized, you see.

Duck, duck, goose.

The game of chasing each other, fighting for a spot in the circle. And this, my fowl-loving friend, may not be a game you left behind in kindergarten. Think about the people in your life who might be fighting for a spot in your circle - your circle of recognition. If you adopt a pattern of life that focuses on golden eggs and neglects the goose, you will soon be without the asset that produces golden eggs. On the other hand, if you only take care of the goose with no aim toward the golden eggs, you soon won't have the wherewithal to feed yourself or the goose. Now, before you ruffle your feathers, here are a few tips:

1. Be timely. Don't wait. Praise should be given as soon as possible after the action or achievement occurs.
2. Think individual-individual. Recognize the individuals who took the positive action. If it was a group effort, first recognize the individuals and then the group as a whole.
3. Be sincere. Be sincere and show that you care; otherwise the recognition does more harm than good.

Sincere recognition—an eggcellent approach!

This Effectiveness Tip of the Week comes once again via email from the good folks at FranklinCovey.com

Business Wire: The Global Leader in News Distribution

Got Interview?

Don't make any of these Ten Fashion Blunders as you dress for it. Rule of thumb: "Dress on the conservative side."

Teen Summer Jobs Market is Worst Since World War II

U.S. Newswire reports:

New data on employment rates show the proportion of teenagers who have summer jobs has fallen so dramatically it is now lower than any year since the end of World War II, making the summer of 2003 the worst in nearly 60 years, according to Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies and the National League of Cities.

Why The Check Was Not In The Mail

Well, I finally spoke with someone today from the ODJFS. It turns out that I'm waiting for a determination to be made to see whether my application for the extended benefits will go through. I should receive a determination letter within the next week or so. Only if the application is approved, will I then be able to receive benefits.

I'm getting tired of having to deal with the government for all this stuff. I miss having a regular paycheck. I realize that I shouldn't have made a postdated car payment last week.

Sorry for this post to be such a downer. It's just how I'm feeling right now.

Silicon Valley's Salvation?

Fred Sampson offers an interesting post about the government's mandate to improve homeland security. While it may not provide a solution for hi-tech in the long run, in the short run, it could provide some employment and help pay off some past due bills, etc.

The Check Was Not In The Mail

The unemployment check didn't come in from last week. The ODJFS sent me a new claim card, which usually contains the check. I waited until the mail came today to see if it would come. It still hasn't.

I've tried to call the local and toll-free numbers to talk to a human (as opposed to the automated phone system) about this, but I haven't been able to get through.

Jobless Rate Jumps to 6.4 Percent

"The nation’s unemployment rate shot up to 6.4 percent in June, the highest level in more than nine years, in an economic slump that has added nearly a million people to jobless rolls in the past three months."

Hi there. I'm one of them. I'm looking for a job as a bartender, but I'm willing to let this blog serve as a sounding board. So, bar's open? What'll you have? And, how are things going with you?

Job Update on a Friend

I mentioned earlier that one of my friends is changing his job. He just sent me an update:

Hi there!

I talked with my boss, and his boss, and many of my concerns will be taken care of. Have you ever had bosses who will do ANYTHING to keep you? And yes, in the changes... CANADA! And a new truck. So, I will be home from this afternoon (7/3/03) until Monday morning.

Question to think about... if you wanted to leave your employer, would they do anything to keep you based on your performance, or would they think you're replaceable? Answer: star employees are the last to go!

Have a safe holiday!

Todd

Monthly Focus: Abundance

In my Franklin Planner there is a montly focus that changes each month. This month the focus is on having an "abundance-mentality." It states:

Live with the attitude that there is an abundance of resources and opportunities.

I think that this is especially important to have with respect to the job search. I find myself thinking that I have so much competition for a particular job. If I win, then someone else loses. This monthly focus is a challenge to see things differently.

Sure, the competition for jobs is heavy right now. But why not think as though your job is out there, waiting for you to find it. I've posted a number of great quotations about Abundance over at QuotesBlog for today, 2 July 2003. I cannot link to all of them here, because they are all worthy of reading. You will be encouraged as you think about what they mean.

I do feel compelled, however, to leave you with a small bite of what you'll find:

• "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." -- Carl Sagan
• "Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." -- Napoleon Hill
• "Life is constantly providing us with new funds, new resources, even when we are reduced to immobility. In life's ledger there is no such thing as frozen assets." -- Henry Miller
• "There are no ordinary moments." -- Dan Millman
• "Let your hook always be cast. In the stream where you least expect it, there will be a fish." -- Ovid

Now, go get that job!

Interview Cheat Sheet

Help! I've got an interview tomorrow, and I don't know how to prepare for it. Relax a bit and check out this article.

Summer Jobs 2003

Some guidance from MSN Careers about looking for that summer job this year.

Effectiveness Tip of the Week via email from the folks at FranklinCovey

Push Pause

You’ve put in 8+ hours at the office; attended a PTA meeting, soccer practice, and/or a doctor’s appointment; and now you’re in the midst of helping with homework, feeding the dog, and clearing out the answering machine. It’s high time for a time-out. A walk? A movie?

Now—before you scoff at the notion and claim it would take a sheer miracle to find extra time for that time-out, realize that it is well worth it. Taking a moment to yourself reduces stress and leaves you refreshed and focused, not irritable and distracted. You’ll feel better and have a fresh outlook to tackle all the tasks that are waiting for you. A few tips:

• Your time-out doesn’t have to be something big. Sit on the porch and enjoy a lemonade, take a small hike, or lounge on the couch with a magazine.
• If evenings are hectic, try waking up 30 minutes earlier to soak in the tub, walk the dog, or savor a warm drink.
• Do not get distracted. If your family is around, tell them they’re in charge of answering the door, the phone, and that, unless it’s an emergency, you’re off duty for a few minutes.

Pushing pause for a personal time-out—rewind and try it again!

Make Looking for a Job Your Full-Time Job: Set Goals

I need to do this. Sometimes I just need a simple goal, especially if I'm feeling down, to shower and get dressed for the day.

Employers cracking down on Net abusers

LONDON -- Sending inappropriate e-mails and using the Internet during working hours is likely to result in dismissal or suspension of offending staff in almost of half the cases, according to a survey carried out on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), a professional body for the Human Resources industry.

Be careful out there, people.

Downtowning

Greetings from the Dayton Metro Library! I'm going to head over to ActiveDayton.com to look for bars in the Dayton area, and then narrow it down to those here in downtown.

The Plan

I'm going to spend some time walking the streets of downtown Dayton this afternoon, applying for bartending jobs. I'll provide an update later.

Another job search blog

Welcome to the blogosphere... the blog simply titled "job search." The opening post states:

Hmmm, thought I'd take this opportunity to try public blogging. Who knows, someone could find this and decided to hire me!

You're in good company, my friend!

Found on Blogger's list of most recently updated blogs.

How to tap retirement money early -- and minimize penalties

So, say you've been out of work for a long time, and you find that you have more month left over at the end of the money.

Well, I was just browsing around Laid Off Central and found the link to this article from MoneyCentral. I've included it here because our family may be looking at something like this ourselves.

Laid Off Central

From the front page:

When you get laid off, it's often abrupt and sudden. Maybe you'd like to see who else got laid off. Or see if any ex-employees have job leads for you. Or keep in touch by finding lost ex-coworkers names, numbers, and emails who you might not have swapped information with before your CEO gave you the extended vacation.

Registration is free.

What Do Recruiting Professionals Read?

Well, this blog, among other things, apparently. I just noticed it among a list of blogs mentioned in one of two recent articles about blogging:

• Blogs I
• Blogs II

You could also go to the main page.

Among the list of blogs are some familiar ones to me, along with some other ones that are not so familiar.

8 million workers may lose OT pay under new rules

I just read the article, and I am trying to figure out how this would be good for the economy. I can't seem to see it.

Online Forms Call for Strategy on Salary Question

I've experienced it. If you've filled out an online application to a company, you've probably experienced it, too. The application will not budge unless you specify your salary requirements and/or history. Nearly all job hunters have been advised to leave this question as one of the last ones to be answered; i.e., to talk about it once you've been offered the job.

This article, again from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, offers some strategic help.

O Captain, My Captain!

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently carried an article entitled "How to Hunt for a New Job in An Uncertain World." When I began reading it, I felt a little dismayed. I'm glad I continued reading, however. The opening negative sentiments were just to get our attention.

The overall theme of this article can be summed up in this quote from William Ernest Henley:

"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.", via QuotesBlog

I also provided some comments about this in a post from 9 September 2002, entitled "Be Proactive."

Another Addition to the Blogroll: NurseTown.com

NurseTown.com purports to be "the best place to find nursing jobs. You will find not only hospital jobs but nursing employment opportunities of all kinds." This portal is available for job seekers and employers.

Thanks to Conrad for the link.

New to the Blogroll: SeniorSuccess.net

Senior Success is a non-profit organization with a focus on helping those over 50 re-career or find a job. Give them a look-see!

Thanks to Bill for the link.

Have the right perspective

"Anyone who sees in his own occupation merely a means of earning money degrades it; but he that sees in it a service to mankind ennobles both his labor and himself." -- A. Lawrence Lowell, also posted at QuotesBlog

More Job Changes I received this email from a friend and brother in Christ who drives a truck for a living. He periodically sends out broadcast updates. The latest is below:

Hi there, brothers/sisters!

I have some changes going on. After some advice from brothers online, I decided to change to another company. The reasons:

• Opportunity. This company will allow me to deliver refridgerated items (can't with Werner). Plus, I will be able to deliver to Canada!
• Income. By doing so, I will make more per mile than now.
• New business. After 30 days with this company, I can lease my own truck, and make far more, as an Independent Contractor (aka Small-Business Owner).
• Downside. Yes, there is one. Because of the expenses while running my own business, I will be driving 48-state for at least a couple years.

So, I will be home for several days starting around the 4th, switching from one job to another. I pray God gives you more job opportunities also!

Todd

Welcome to Dano!

This is the first post of Get That Job! in the new Blogger. Anything look different from the published side?

Learning by drinking

Rasmus gives us a little more insight on what the welfare system in Denmark is like. It's true: alcohol is a truth serum.

New to the blogroll: emblog

I found this fellow in my referrer logs, so I had to check him out. We job hunting information junkies need to stick together. Let me see whether an RSS feed is availiable (hold on a sec). Yes, the URL is http://dijest.com/emblog/rss.xml, so update your news aggregators! (I'm waiting for Amphetadesk to load as we type this.).

Seeking to relocate? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania may be the place. Phil reports that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is experiencing a labor shortage and are needing to rely on immigrants. A specific quote: "Americans who complain about immigration do not know what Pittsburgh knows: We still need immigrants. Always will."

5 Ways the Tax Code Can Help You in a Layoff

From MSN Money, this looks like a good article. Haven't read it. Yet.

Tech Thursday Wrap Up

I went to Buffalo Wild Wings this evening (Thursday - haven't gone to bed yet) for the Tech Thursday event put on by the Greater Dayton IT Alliance. The restaurant had recently installed a wireless networking system (I don't know the tech term for it.), and we all wanted to see what it was like.

I was impressed. There were approximately 20 laptops connected, and the speed was 1 MB per second! I showed one of the guys my fotolog as a test of a page with some pictures. It downloaded in a fraction of a second. Pretty cool stuff.

I also met some other folks who are looking for work. One guy pointed me to LinksToJobs.com: the single job posting source for Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio! I've added it to the link roll, where it should be aptly put.

Actually, I headed over to the bar and picked up an NTN game player. The guy who sat down next to me was an unemployed CFO - Chief Financial Officer. I suppose there's not a big demand for folks fitting that job description in the Dayton area, huh?

Enjoy What You Do

I received this email from a friend, who drives a truck across the country for a living.

Another week down, and I hope all dads had a wonderful day Sunday. I am in Las Vegas for a few days of rest & relaxation with my brother, sister-in-law, and friends from church! For instance, I saw The Strip, Hoover Dam, and with some singles here, ate sushi! Gamble? Nope. I may make good money, but gambling will lose it.

My trips for the week... Roanoke VA to Des Moines IA and Roseville MN (mail), Roseville MN to Denver CO (plastic drop covers), Fort Collins CO to Las Vegas NV (Budweiser beer).

Anyway, I pray you all find joy in something you do. Why do something just for money, when you can find a job that both pays AND makes you happy? I understand some may have a job simply to make money, and if so, enjoy it!

Wit, Charm and Talent Can Make You Money

So says this article. It appears that some companies are conducting "spirit training" among their employees. For example, Song, the new low-cost startup from Delta Air Lines, hired one aspiring flight attendant only after he "belted out a 15-minute rendition of 'Mustang Sally'."

I can see where this is a pretty good idea for some companies, but I wouldn't expect anything like this to be the case for a bank. Read more of the article to see what Bank of America is doing.

Wings & Wireless - Casual Networking Event via email from the Greater Dayton IT Alliance

This month's Tech Thursday casual networking event will be held at a special location, Buffalo Wild Wings in Sugarcreek, to highlight the new wireless capabilities, so bring your laptops!

Don't have a Wireless Card or a Laptop? Both 802.11a and 802.11b cards and Laptops will be available for use.

More Details:
When: Thursday, June 19, 2003 from 5PM to 7PM
Where:

Buffalo Wild Wings
6210 Wilmington Pike
Centerville, Ohio 45459-7019
map

Job Hunting Success!

Congrats to Victor Lams on his new job!

Bush Vows 'Better Days' for Job-Hunters

From the White House AP wire:

President Bush promised "better days ahead" for young job-hunters on Tuesday and promoted his administration's efforts to train workers for industries that are expanding. read more...

Dan Johnson, Certified Mixologist posted at Journey Inside My Mind

I did it!

Effectiveness Tip of the Week via email from FranklinCovey.com

Me, Inc. A wise investment.

Up and down, up and down. Does your life seem like a volatile stock market these days? Some weeks you are on an upward climb, full of energy and ambition, while other weeks you spiral into a dive waiting for that inevitable crash. Pssst...Want some "insider" advice? Invest in yourself! Consider this analysis:

• Personal Portoflio: Your personal investments are divided into four areas: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.
• Weekly Investing: Choose a weekly goal for each area and record them in your planning system. Examples: Exercise three times a week (physical). Call a long-lost friend (social/emotional). Write in a journal (mental). Meditate or pray (spiritual). Be sure to schedule an appointment with yourself for each goal.
  Return on Investment: You'll be an IPO (Incredible Personal Offering!) at home, work, or in other relationships. It's a trade you'll be glad you made!

So, Wait -- I Didn't Get the Job?

Reuters reports: "A note to all job seekers: you know that your employment interview did not go well when your prospective boss calls the police in to arrest you." read more...

Something similar happened to a neighbor of mine when I was growing up. This young man and his crew went to a convenience store to case the place, and they filled out employment applications. Some time later they returned to rob it.

The manager simply had to pull their applications in order to supply the police with the information they needed to track down the suspects.

So, let's be smart out there, as we apply for jobs, okay? :D

Get Ready for... Speed Networking!

Learn how to network with 25 people in four minutes. Well, something like that. read more...

Testing: 1, 2, 3, etc.

As more job seekers apply for fewer job openings, recruiters are asking tougher (and trickier) interview questions to find top talent. I've actually seen this practice in blue collar-type jobs for which a lot of competition exists. In one company I did some contracting work for, if you failed the screening process at any point, you were not allowed to come back at a later time to reapply. read more...

The hunt for 'Plan B' careers

Who said work can't be fun? In a tight job market, many job seekers are taking the plunge and trying to cash in on their pastime passions? The Christian Science Monitor reports that many people are turning their hobbies into full-time work. read more...

How would you describe your personality?

This article from MSN Careers explains why interviewers ask this question and how you can prepare to answer it effectively:

Interviewers ask this question for a couple of reasons: to hear where you place the emphasis in your description and to see how quickly and creatively you can think on the spot. Don't give the interviewer the same old answers everybody else gives. Think about new ways to get your message across and sell yourself. read more...

Emode.com: Career Tests

The Second Interview: Correct Past Mistakes

"When you are invited to a second interview, it's a golden chance to correct any mistakes you may have made during your first interview." read more...

Jobs Squeeze for Indian Workers

"U.S. companies such as IBM, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle and PeopleSoft are already exploring countries with even cheaper sources of technical labor, says a report from research firm IDC. The new destinations include Romania, Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

"As a result, India, which some have blamed for the loss of American jobs, may soon lose jobs itself." read more...

Tech Thursday Once More

Didn't I just say that?

Okay, folks, I got an email from the Greater Dayton IT Alliance (GDITA) announcing their Tech Thursday event for June:

Tech Thursday - Special Location

Wings & Wireless

This Month Tech Thursday will be held at Buffalo Wild Wings in Sugarcreek to highlight the new wireless capabilities, so bring your laptops!

Thursday June 19, 2003

Buffalo Wild Wings

6210 Wilmington Pike

5:00-7:00PM

There you have it. Also, you may want to check out their Job Postings Site.

Tech Thursday - Casual Networking Event

The Greater Dayton IT Alliance announced last month that they were having this event at a local bar. Unfortunately, I haven't been keeping up with these announcements. But, I'll be looking for a future email to see if a similar event is planned for this month.

Answers to Technical Interview Questions

"William Poundstone recently published a book on techinical interview questions. It covers everything from the specific puzzles and how to answer them to whether or not these questions are any good in the first place."

This link comes via Joel Spolsky, one of the people interviewed for the book.

A New Remedy for the Economic Blues - Hugging

"A middle-aged holy woman from India has come up with a remedy for Japan's economic blues that has escaped even the most astute politician -- give everyone a hug." read more...

"I will not play tug-o-war
I'd rather play hug-o-war."
-- Shel Silverstein

WHIO News Special Report

This week on Miami Valley's Morning News... Finding a job might be tougher than you think. The Dayton Job Market: Is There Help Wanted?
Listen from 5am-9am Eastern Time on 1290 AM WHIO in Dayton, Ohio. You can also listen live from around the world.