My friend Thu (hi Thu!!) recently sent me some kind words over email: "I think you definitely need to rest a bit and enjoy your freedom. don't stress too much over job searching. I am sure you'll find something."
So that is what I'm going to do! I've gone to school roughly 19 out of my 25 years and I've worked almost everyday since college began, even breaks. Maybe it's time I take a real break haha. I definitely have a problem with stress and I put so much pressure on myself to find a job that I don't really take the time to enjoy the fact that for the first time in years, I can slow down for a while and take things a bit easy w/o work or school looming over my head like a dark cloud. (I used to get that feeling a lot- anyone with me?) My overly ambitious and freak-out-b/c-I'm-unemployed-self is okay with this for the time being b/c I'm currently holding a part time job which pays some of the bills while I'm still on the job hunt. So I think I can play a little during this transition period. And take a chill pill or two. I wouldn't say that I'm burnt out, but maybe having this uninhibited free time will leave me refreshed for the next stage of my career.
In the meantime, I have a lot of things to do that I put off when I was working/in school. I'm actually looking forward to doing some of these things too, even though they may seem like "work" and not remotely related to "lying on the beach with a book". Not to be cheesy and such, but with the start of spring arrving this past weekend, I really feel like a fresh beginning is what I deserve!
I recently summoned up the courage to tell my mom that I was officially shacking up with Jer. She surprisingly was okay with it. For those of you who know my mom, this was quite a change for her. I'm really glad I could be honest with her about such a major decision in my life. I've lied enough in the past, and at 25, I feel like I shouldn't revert to my old ways to get what I want- plus I always feel awful from the guilt that's incurred when I do lie. His parents know as well, so it definitely feels good to start off on the right foot together with the support from both sets of parents. I also finally finished moving out the rest of my stuff from the apt. Let me just say somewhat nicely about not having to rent anymore: no more dealing with crappy street parking and having to ask to park in my own spot and no more coming home to find random cardboard boxes or cups with 1 cm of weird liquid and mold in my fridge (I could go on, but really I need to let it go). Now I'm actually looking forward to going through my stuff and doing some major weeding. I've already set aside piles of: clothes for goodwill, paper/mags to recycle, school stuff for Cheryl (who will be going to Cal, congrats!), kitchen stuff for my cousin who will be apartmenting for the first time this summer, trash etc. It definitely feels good to donate/recycle/repurpose/trash.
I also want to catch up on blogs and update my own, I've actually done some of the stuff on my list! And maybe I'll even set aside some time to do new stuff on my list, which was what this blog was originally about. I also want to send pics to costco to print, frame said pics, organize all the living spaces, hang said frames in said living spaces etc, etc. I am also hanging out with Hawaii folks this wk and going up north this weekend, so by keeping busy I'll have less time to feel negative. Once I organize my craft space, I can't wait to get started on some potential projects, including a garter and a ring bearer pillow for a wonderful friend who's getting hitched in t-minus 3 months or so! (hi n!) So lots of positive things ahead. I'm going to take advantage, starting already! :)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Job Search
Though not entirely similar, the job search (at least for me) somewhat resembles those awkward stages of matchmaking. I haven't done eharmony.com, match.com, or been set up by friends but based on what I've heard and read, it could go something like this...
1. I've set up my profile- am I what they are looking for? With Jer's help (who knew an engineer would be so good at writing?! :P ) I've be able to translate my experiences and education very efficiently on my resume and cover letter. I look pretty damn good on paper if I say so myself!
2. I'm browsing through hundreds of descriptions and I need create a list of potential matches- SAF looking for SAM, 35 years looking for 24-34 years- am I qualified to fit their descriptions and them mine? I have a running list of websites such as careerbuilder.com and monster.com, and I have been periodically revisiting websites of various LA orgs, hospitals, and cities in search of anything that's open. So far I've found 8 potentials- most of the other openings require me to be a police officer, RN, or Latina. (No kidding- the only ACS opening in California for a patient navigator requires the applicant to be not only bilingual, but also bicultural.) One position I applied for is in a different county! Yes, I'm willing to do long distance. But it's rare that long distance relationships ever work out, yes?
3. So I've submitted my goods- equivalent to a friend trying to set up another friend by saying: "Oh, she's a really cool girl, fun and pretty! She likes to try different things blah blah blah."- and I've presented myself as a potential for a date. I'm hopeful that they will look at my resume and cover letter and peg me as a potential candidate for the position.
4. Will he call? When? Should I call? WHEN? Ahh, the waiting game- Don't you all love this part? You're like pins and needles, waiting for them to call, but since you haven't heard from them in a week, you wonder if you should call, but if you'll sound needy or not! I'm actually in this process right now- applied for a job back in Jan, didn't hear from them in a long while, so after much deliberation (friends who chatted with me on gmail that day, you remember?!) decided to call. Left my name and # with HR, who promised they would call me back. They didn't call, so I called again and did the same thing, and still haven't heard from them. FRUSTRATING.
5. I'm still hoping for the next stage- will you go on a date with me? Sigh, I would do anything to get an interview right now! At least give me a chance to prove, in person, that I'm worthy of the position! And I'll say yes right away b/c I want to start dating again! Dating brings benefits, ahem, such as health insurance and 401k.
All kidding set aside, I really am trying to be positive about the search. It's hard not to get discouraged and impatient though- but I understand with the high unemployment rates, the applicant pool is more saturated than ever. In fact, this janitorial job at an Ohio middle school has over 700 applicants!
Another thing that I have been thinking about is whether I should branch out and apply for jobs that aren't in my field- such as admin or HR. But I didn't go back to get my masters just so I could answer phones, file, and get someone's coffee! But at what point do I sacrifice my pride in exchange for steady income, health insurance, and 401k? Jerry told me that his dad said that back in the day, when the ecomony was bad, engineers were out pumping gas b/c there were no jobs. Am I selfish to want to hold out for something better? Ugh I don't know. Maybe I should be more patient. After all, I still have finals to go, an apt to to move out of, and lots of unpacking to do. I could really use a break, but I would love to have peace of mind that there's a job waiting for me on the other side. :)
Any suggestions/comments for this worrywart?
1. I've set up my profile- am I what they are looking for? With Jer's help (who knew an engineer would be so good at writing?! :P ) I've be able to translate my experiences and education very efficiently on my resume and cover letter. I look pretty damn good on paper if I say so myself!
2. I'm browsing through hundreds of descriptions and I need create a list of potential matches- SAF looking for SAM, 35 years looking for 24-34 years- am I qualified to fit their descriptions and them mine? I have a running list of websites such as careerbuilder.com and monster.com, and I have been periodically revisiting websites of various LA orgs, hospitals, and cities in search of anything that's open. So far I've found 8 potentials- most of the other openings require me to be a police officer, RN, or Latina. (No kidding- the only ACS opening in California for a patient navigator requires the applicant to be not only bilingual, but also bicultural.) One position I applied for is in a different county! Yes, I'm willing to do long distance. But it's rare that long distance relationships ever work out, yes?
3. So I've submitted my goods- equivalent to a friend trying to set up another friend by saying: "Oh, she's a really cool girl, fun and pretty! She likes to try different things blah blah blah."- and I've presented myself as a potential for a date. I'm hopeful that they will look at my resume and cover letter and peg me as a potential candidate for the position.
4. Will he call? When? Should I call? WHEN? Ahh, the waiting game- Don't you all love this part? You're like pins and needles, waiting for them to call, but since you haven't heard from them in a week, you wonder if you should call, but if you'll sound needy or not! I'm actually in this process right now- applied for a job back in Jan, didn't hear from them in a long while, so after much deliberation (friends who chatted with me on gmail that day, you remember?!) decided to call. Left my name and # with HR, who promised they would call me back. They didn't call, so I called again and did the same thing, and still haven't heard from them. FRUSTRATING.
5. I'm still hoping for the next stage- will you go on a date with me? Sigh, I would do anything to get an interview right now! At least give me a chance to prove, in person, that I'm worthy of the position! And I'll say yes right away b/c I want to start dating again! Dating brings benefits, ahem, such as health insurance and 401k.
All kidding set aside, I really am trying to be positive about the search. It's hard not to get discouraged and impatient though- but I understand with the high unemployment rates, the applicant pool is more saturated than ever. In fact, this janitorial job at an Ohio middle school has over 700 applicants!
Another thing that I have been thinking about is whether I should branch out and apply for jobs that aren't in my field- such as admin or HR. But I didn't go back to get my masters just so I could answer phones, file, and get someone's coffee! But at what point do I sacrifice my pride in exchange for steady income, health insurance, and 401k? Jerry told me that his dad said that back in the day, when the ecomony was bad, engineers were out pumping gas b/c there were no jobs. Am I selfish to want to hold out for something better? Ugh I don't know. Maybe I should be more patient. After all, I still have finals to go, an apt to to move out of, and lots of unpacking to do. I could really use a break, but I would love to have peace of mind that there's a job waiting for me on the other side. :)
Any suggestions/comments for this worrywart?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)