Dress for Success

‘Dress for the job you want’ is a motto that, via fashion and business changes throughout the years, has become significantly more fraught than the last time I was looking for work. There are plenty of places that still do full professional dress as their standard for everyday wear. There are also a significant amount of places that fully lean into business casual for everyday wear, so nice slacks or dark jeans with a polo shirt or blouse is acceptable.

Of course, interview outfits have rarely changed, even if the in-fashion style changes from year to year. I made an effort to acquire up-to-fashion-date interview clothes recently. I found a retailer, Torrid, that carries the most comfortable business slacks I have ever worn. As a bonus, they have varying leg-length sizes so I could get the short inseam version and finally stop having to worry about scuffing my leg cuffs if I don’t wear heels to an interview or meeting. It helps that Torrid has multiple colors too, so depending on how dedicated one is to color coordination between items, there is plenty to choose from both in-store and online. 

At this point I feel I need to say that this blog is not sponsored by Torrid. I named them because I appreciate the fact that they finally created a suit pant that I don’t mind wearing all day because they stay comfortable. In addition, their selection for plus-sized women really is amazing, and keeps up with current fashion trends, which I also deeply appreciate.

In a perfect world, I wouldn't have to worry this much about fashion in order to be perceived as a good candidate for a job when I'm at an interview. Unfortunately, the world we live in is far from perfect, and to that end I have had to critically assess my clothing choices, both past and present, for the past several months. I feel decidedly more confident in my clothing choices as they are now, and my closet is more organized than it has been in years.

So, here is to the New Year, to new job interviews, and to new jobs. I hope that everybody has exactly what they need to get what they want accomplished in 2020!

-A.M.W.

Time Well Spent?

I've been a flurry of activity in the past several weeks. In an effort not to be bogged down with a lot of nonsense in my house, I've gone through and sorted out clothes and linens, trinkets and tools. I've decided what to keep, what to donate, and what is beyond saving and really ought to go into the trash, and acted accordingly. My house is as decluttered as I've had it in a long, long time. It feels good.

It also coincides with my parents visiting me; they will be here in a couple days, to help me celebrate my birthday. I am turning 37, and while it doesn't feel any different, I have to pause and take stock of what I've done so far and wonder: was it time well spent?

I could argue either way about it, honestly. Did I need to play all those video games when I could have been learning to code? Certainly not. Did I need to play all those video games to help me unwind from whatever stress was knotting my shoulders and keeping me from sleep? Absolutely yes.

This could go on, back and forth on so many other topics throughout my life, until my head is dizzy with it. How do we measure if our time was well spent? Is it the accomplishments, accolades, and achievements peppered throughout our lives? Is it how many people like us at any given moment? I'm not sure there is any sort of metric we could all agree on, which really might be for the best.

I'm going to step away from my computer after I finish posting this, and do the last bit of cleaning that needs doing before my parents get here. Then, after dinner, I'm going to keep crocheting the blanket I'm close to finishing for my niece for Christmas. Time well spent, indeed.

A.M.W.

Rediscovery and Going Back to An Old Title

Confession: I had forgotten about this blog, which I had the last time I was unemployed. The only reason I found it was because I was updating the sections of my LinkedIn and didn't know what the "Blog" link was referring to, so I clicked on it.

It has been more than seven years since I updated this space, and it is like digging up a piece of my past that I once loved. I stopped updating this space for the very simple reason that I had found full-time employment. I had a wonderful time working for a mid-sized, enthusiast-centered publication company in my town. At first I was in their Customer Support department, and then I earned a promotion-transfer into their eCommerce Operations department. It was both stability and a growing experience, which I needed during that time in my life, and I am thankful to have had it.

Unfortunately, the company went the way of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and while several companies bought up brands held under the parent umbrella, and a couple small companies rose from the ashes, I was laid off at the end of July 2019. Many of the smaller companies either weren't going to have an online store, or they already had somebody to run it, so I as an eCommerce Operations Coordinator was deemed redundant. I received a truly lovely and thoughtful gift basket from my supervisor on the last day, as well as lunch from my favorite deli in town on her dime, which she didn't need to do but I really appreciated. Business is business, and I walked out with no hard feelings, and a smile on my face as I took my last box of cubicle decor out to my car.

After about a month of searching, I was able to acquire a part-time job doing magazine subscription management with one of the small companies created from smaller parts of the old company. It is nice to be part of an office for about 20 hours a week, but it isn't full-time work, so I am looking for the next way to exercise my knowledge and widen my skillset.

I have my eyes set on what I want to do next: Technical Writing and/or Technical Editing, with an interest in Proposal Writing and/or Grant Writing.

I am, once again, a Wordsmith for Hire.

Where Did Summer Go?!

True fact: If you had asked me earlier today when was the last time I'd updated this blog, I would have sworn to you that it was only two weeks ago. Instead it's been over 5 weeks, and I have no idea how the time went by without my notice. It is true that I've been busy; between trying to find a job and working my internship, plus trying to have something that resembles a personal life, I seem to use up all my time every day doing something.

I realized today that Labor Day is just around the corner, and since that is the day I always equate with Summer being officially over (mainly due to the fact that I've lived so much of my life in academia), I feel like I've lost a lot of time somewhere between July and now.

Things of note since my last post: I received my degree in the mail, so I am now officially Alice M. Weaver, M.S., and an alumni of Colorado State University's Graduate School. I have tweaked my resume several times, for all of its incarnations (Administrative Personnel, Communications Specialist and Technical Communications), and I'm still working on the resume that I use to apply for government positions.

I've finally found some good jobs on the website of the temp agency to which I am a member, so I'm hoping that one of those that I've applied for will bear fruit. I'm also still in the running for a position within the nearest hospital in town; my fingers are fervently crossed that I get an in-person interview!

Work at my internship has changed a bit, and I still enjoy working there. It's nice to have a little shake-up of responsibilities, as it keeps the job fresh and entertaining.

I will keep my head up and my thoughts positive and hopeful as I continue to search for work.

Cheers,
AMW

Mid-Summer Rundown

I have confirmed that I will be earning my Master of Science in Public Communications & Technology from Colorado State University at the end of this semester. So now I just have the task ahead of me of getting a job.

I am still working as an unpaid intern at Beet Street, and my writing portfolio has expanded considerably. I even had a small series of articles printed in the local newspaper (though Beet Street was credited with the writing). So things are looking far better as I look toward the end of the year compared to last year.

I am going to start taking online tutorials in CSS and Javascript, as I have come to the conclusion that my knowledge of HTML isn't enough for companies to pay attention to my resume. I may also take a few tutorials in C++ and maybe Linux or Unix, depending on how well I adapt to the language. I remember learning HTML was super-easy, and while that was almost eight years ago, I still know enough to make a webpage without having to cheat and look up codes. I will see how it goes, and if I really like it, I'll try to check out some advanced courses.

If you'd like to see what kind of writing I'm doing for Beet Street's Arts Incubtor of the Rockies (AIR) initiative now, you can go to: http://airartsincubator.org/blog.

If you'd like to read the articles that were printed in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, here are the links to the last two articles (all the others went to the archives):

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120621/ENTERTAINMENT/306210001/Streetmosphere-showcases-work-HalfMoon-Arts-youth

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120628/ENTERTAINMENT/306280003/Avery-House-hosts-Streetmosphere-Fourth-July

As this is Monday, I will wish you all a good week!
-AMW

Writing Means Researching

It is Memorial Day, and I would like to thank all the people in our armed forces for their service, past and present. I have several men who have served in the armed forces in my family, including my dad, and so I deeply respect those who are willing and able to join the fight to keep our country safe and free.

Now, since I have a free day, I decided to take some time and update the blog. First of all, I have successfully defended my thesis, which means I am going to get my Master of Science in Public Communications and Technology, and I'm officially done Summer Semester 2012!!! Huzzah!

Secondly, I have been super busy with Beet Street, writing for them and researching in order to do more articles. I've also had my responsibilities augmented so that I'm writing for Beet Street's AIR and their Streetmosphere programs. So far, I have done two blog posts for AIR, and as of this blog, one article for Streetmosphere, which is in the Coloradoan, though more will be published over the course of the coming month. I have a lot of things to look into prior to making blog posts, which is fun, and I'm discovering a lot about Colorado and the art scene here that I didn't know beforehand.

If you want to read the two blog posts I've done for Beet Street's AIR, you can go here:
http://airartsincubator.org/blog/p?=432
http://airartsincubator.org/blog/p?=438

If you want to read the article I've done for Beet Street's Streetmosphere, you can go here:
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120524/ENTERTAINMENT/305240002/Expect-experimentation-from-Matt-Smiley-Streetmosphere?nclick_check=1

I do have to say it's rather neat to have a published bit of work in a newspaper; I don't get writer's credit because I am but a lowly unpaid intern, but I do get to add it to my portfolio of writing samples. I am hoping that all of this writing will help get me a really good job by the end of the summer, if not earlier.

Cheers,
AMW

Internship Acquired & Countdown to Degree

I am now an intern at Beet Street in Fort Collins, Colorado. I am primarily writing articles for newsletters and blogs for the Arts Incubator of the Rockies (AIR) initiative, but I get to help with other things in the office as well. I finished my first "week" on the job (I have a 10-15 hour work week) yesterday, and it feels fantastic to be useful again.

http://www.beetstreet.org
http://www.airartsincubator.org

In other news, this coming Thursday I am defending my thesis. I have a Prezi just about finished and I have plans to make cookies as refreshments are generally served with the presentation. So hopefully this time next week I will have attained my Master of Science in Public Communications & Technology.

Things are definitely looking up!

Cheers,
-AMW

Job Fairs

Today I'm getting ready to go to a job fair. I have my resume all up to date, I have business cards, I am dressed and groomed. I figured I should update the blog today, not only because it is overdue, but because the web address for the blog is on my business cards.

To the employers, consider this a very short writing sample or cover letter:

Hello again! I'm sure that if I gave you my business card and resume, then it was a pleasure to meet you, and I am interested in working for your company. My luck finding a job on my own has been less than stellar, despite the fact that I've been working on finding a job whenever I'm not working on my thesis. My work ethic is solid and I like working to earn my keep, I just need a foot in the door. I am willing to shadow a person on the job to learn the ropes for your particular office/workspace, and I learn quickly.

Please use the contact information on my business card and/or resume if you would like to interview me for a job. I can do marketing, some PR or journalism, or general office duties. I work well solo as well as with a group, and I have leadership experience.

Sincerely,

Alice M. Weaver

P.S.: If you would like to check out my profile on LinkedIn, here is the link:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alice-weaver/37/63b/498
-AMW