Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers. I hope you are all doing well in this time of pandemic. General update about me: I have signed up for more online classes, and I will be diving into those as soon as I post this entry. I have hand-sewn a mask for myself along with headband, and then did a second one which I sent to my sister. I have made soup and applied for jobs and stayed home as much as possible. I'm still holding out hope that when the stay at home order is lifted, the office I interviewed with right before all this went down does want to employ me in some capacity, as I was up for two different positions in their office, and I was very impressed with the place.
Now that all the personal stuff is out of the way, here are your writing prompts for this week:
1. Great news! Your cousin invented a working hovercraft, about the size of a small sedan which floats, and they want you to be the pilot while they video proof that it works. They give you a how-to manual and a minimum instruction about the control panel, which is less them piloting while you observe and more of them making you sit in the pilot's seat while they point to different things and say "this one does x". Do you read through the how-to manual, or do you wing it? What shenanigans do you get up to while learning how to pilot this vehicle?
2. You've taken up a handicraft (e.g. knitting, crochet, embroidery, spinning, weaving, etc.), and you've gotten rather good. The next time you join a march/parade, you decide to use your craft to make a sign/banner. How fabulous is it, and what does it depict/say?
3. A bored billionaire wants you to be their player piece in a life-sized game of Monopoly, which goes strictly by the actual rule-book. You get to walk around a constructed city set up like a Monopoly board, with holograms to simulate houses/hotels, wearing a hat that looks like one of the Monopoly tokens and doubles as a headset so your billionaire can tell you how many places to move. Whenever the billionaire "buys" a property, you have to place a sign on the property saying your billionaire owns it, and when they "buy" houses/hotels, you have to activate the hologram to display the appropriate amount of buildings. The jail is a real building that you have to get locked into, with an on-duty warden. For this ridiculous job, which takes a full day to play, the billionaire will only refer to you as the Monopoly token on your head, but they promise to pay you $100 per hour, and double that if they win. Do you take the job?
4. You, as an archaeologist, are on a dig when one of your diggers uncovers a stone door, slanted down like a cellar door you might find behind a house. You read the inscription and it appears benign, so you document everything, and open it up. There is a set of stone stairs descending into the dark gloom of the earth, but as you contemplate who goes on the expedition down with you, a whistle-like screech emanates from somewhere deep within the opening. The sound gets stronger and stronger for 10 seconds and then abruptly cuts off, leaving your ears ringing. You look at your team and they look at you. Do you go down into the ancient underground, or do you look to see if maybe there are other ruins topside to look at first? No matter which you choose, what do you find?
5. For video game nerds: You get sucked into the last video game you last played, and you can choose to be a non-player character, or a new antagonist (think mid-level boss), or a new option for people to play as the protagonist. What game are you in? Which do you choose? If you choose to be a non-player character, what do you choose to do? If you choose to be a new antagonist, what is your aesthetic and attack type?
As always, enjoy these, have fun, and I hope you have a good week! Stay healthy, stay occupied, and wash your hands!
-A.M.W.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Stretching Imagination Muscles, Part Three
Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers. Colorado has extended the stay at home order until April 26th, so I find myself with even more time on my hands and more time to think up prompts for you. Wear your masks outside, remember to wash your hands, and stay safe! Below are five more writing prompts to give your brain a dose of fantastic what-ifs to contemplate.
1. Congratulations! All that hard work paid off and you are being recognized for your achievements. They're running a feature article about you in a magazine specific to your field of achievement. What did you do, what magazine are you in, what title would you really like the article to have, and for bonus points, are there any photographer shenanigans getting you to pose Just Right for the lighting, or suggestions for odd costuming?
2. Submarine technology has improved so you, as a marine biologist, get to explore some for the deepest places on Earth. You come across an odd expanse where the rock looks different, but not in a way you can readily explain, and it gives way to a cave definitely large enough for you to explore should you choose to go in. What are you the first human being to discover?
3. Getting to know the ghosts in your new house. They aren't scary, but they do have some house rules they left for you as their new roommate. What rules do they give you, are they reasonable, and how do they enforce them? Shenanigans encouraged.
4. Due to a genie who was incredibly salty that you didn't choose to use your last wish to free them, they decided to take your last wish and be incredibly petty in regards to your wording. As such, when you wished that all clothing and shoes you wear for the rest of your life, no matter what you put on or what material it is made of, turns into the most comfortable-feeling clothing you could ever wear. Instead of having comfortable clothing for the rest of your life no matter if you wear a starched shirt or towering heels, the genie has decided that, once your outfit is fully on, it will turn into the outfit you loved to wear the most because it made you feel the most comfortable in your own skin. The sizing changes to fit you as you are now, so the outfit can be from when you are an adult or teen, pre-teen or toddler. What are you wearing for the rest of your life?
5. You are an inventor, and just before the order came to hunker down, you placed a large order for various materials to help you tinker. It has finally arrived, and everything is here...plus some interesting extras that you thought were only science fiction, such as crystals for power conversion, a working power armor frame, tiny little stable fusion cores, and a dozen coronets with some sort of wifi programming tablet. The Inventor's Warehouse let you know that they are free to you for being a loyal customer. What do you invent? You can use as much or as little of your new hoard as you like, and as always, shenanigans are encouraged.
As always, have fun! I'm rooting for all of us to make it through this together.
-A.M.W.
1. Congratulations! All that hard work paid off and you are being recognized for your achievements. They're running a feature article about you in a magazine specific to your field of achievement. What did you do, what magazine are you in, what title would you really like the article to have, and for bonus points, are there any photographer shenanigans getting you to pose Just Right for the lighting, or suggestions for odd costuming?
2. Submarine technology has improved so you, as a marine biologist, get to explore some for the deepest places on Earth. You come across an odd expanse where the rock looks different, but not in a way you can readily explain, and it gives way to a cave definitely large enough for you to explore should you choose to go in. What are you the first human being to discover?
3. Getting to know the ghosts in your new house. They aren't scary, but they do have some house rules they left for you as their new roommate. What rules do they give you, are they reasonable, and how do they enforce them? Shenanigans encouraged.
4. Due to a genie who was incredibly salty that you didn't choose to use your last wish to free them, they decided to take your last wish and be incredibly petty in regards to your wording. As such, when you wished that all clothing and shoes you wear for the rest of your life, no matter what you put on or what material it is made of, turns into the most comfortable-feeling clothing you could ever wear. Instead of having comfortable clothing for the rest of your life no matter if you wear a starched shirt or towering heels, the genie has decided that, once your outfit is fully on, it will turn into the outfit you loved to wear the most because it made you feel the most comfortable in your own skin. The sizing changes to fit you as you are now, so the outfit can be from when you are an adult or teen, pre-teen or toddler. What are you wearing for the rest of your life?
5. You are an inventor, and just before the order came to hunker down, you placed a large order for various materials to help you tinker. It has finally arrived, and everything is here...plus some interesting extras that you thought were only science fiction, such as crystals for power conversion, a working power armor frame, tiny little stable fusion cores, and a dozen coronets with some sort of wifi programming tablet. The Inventor's Warehouse let you know that they are free to you for being a loyal customer. What do you invent? You can use as much or as little of your new hoard as you like, and as always, shenanigans are encouraged.
As always, have fun! I'm rooting for all of us to make it through this together.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Working on Self-Improvement
Well, it's New Year's Eve Day, so now is the most appropriate time to think about what has happened this year, as well as ways in which I want to change or improve myself.
This year was, overall, not a good one. Too much stress, not enough writing, and I'm still unemployed at the end of the year. So for 2020, I'm going to sign up for grant writing classes. This will help me add some extra credentials to my resume, and help me stretch out a bit as a writer. I want to put in the time to help myself become better as a writer overall, and acquire more tips and tricks to write more efficiently and succinctly for whichever business I am working for in the future.
I understand that I am very far from perfect, but I also understand that I can be better with some effort. Every year I try to make one positive change to my life; either improving something in my house that will improve my quality of life, or learning something that will help me be a better person overall. Hopefully these writing courses will help me in a positive direction, both as a writer and in acquiring a job.
Here's to the end of 2019, and the beginning of 2020. I wish everybody well, and that your fortune does nothing but improve.
-A.M.W.
This year was, overall, not a good one. Too much stress, not enough writing, and I'm still unemployed at the end of the year. So for 2020, I'm going to sign up for grant writing classes. This will help me add some extra credentials to my resume, and help me stretch out a bit as a writer. I want to put in the time to help myself become better as a writer overall, and acquire more tips and tricks to write more efficiently and succinctly for whichever business I am working for in the future.
I understand that I am very far from perfect, but I also understand that I can be better with some effort. Every year I try to make one positive change to my life; either improving something in my house that will improve my quality of life, or learning something that will help me be a better person overall. Hopefully these writing courses will help me in a positive direction, both as a writer and in acquiring a job.
Here's to the end of 2019, and the beginning of 2020. I wish everybody well, and that your fortune does nothing but improve.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Learning As A Hobby
I enjoy having hobbies. I love reading fiction and crocheting, just as much as I love reading non-fiction, learning how to code, and speak German. But when it comes to learning and also trying to find full-time work, how can I know that what I'm studying on my own time is worth it?
The answer for me is surprisingly simple: Just as much as job searching and applying to jobs is stressful for me, learning things I'm interested in helps me unwind from all that stress. This is because I use the act of learning the same way I use the act of crocheting as a hobby. It is a calm time, a time where I can shut off the stressed side of my brain and dive head-first into things that interest me and I want to know more about for a couple hours.
I started learning German via Duolingo starting in January, as part of my resolution for growth. Progress has been nominal, and I am nowhere near close to start having conversations yet, but I'm having fun learning words and small phrases. I know that a large part of my family tree has roots in Germany, so I thought it would be an interesting language to learn, and I was right. Learning German has given me a greater appreciation for compound words, and it has also proven to me that English is just seven different languages stacked on top of each other and wrapped in a trench coat.
More recently, I started up basic coding lessons via Codecademy. I have always been a nerd, and taught myself a lot of HTML when the internet became available in my town when I was 12 years old. I've learned more over the years, to the point that I was using HTML every day at work, and I would like to delve deeper in coding. What I've learned so far about the basics has been interesting, and I look forward to learning more.
So what is next for what I want to learn? Nothing so long-term as languages, but there are some very nice, short, learn-at-your-own-pace classes I can take about grant writing. Taking a few of those would look good on a resume and my LinkedIn profile, as well as be a nice challenge for me to stretch my writing skills again.
I hope that whatever your hobby is, it's something that keeps you happy and helps you unwind.
-A.M.W.
So what is next for what I want to learn? Nothing so long-term as languages, but there are some very nice, short, learn-at-your-own-pace classes I can take about grant writing. Taking a few of those would look good on a resume and my LinkedIn profile, as well as be a nice challenge for me to stretch my writing skills again.
I hope that whatever your hobby is, it's something that keeps you happy and helps you unwind.
-A.M.W.
Monday, July 16, 2012
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
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
Monday, May 28, 2012
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
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
Saturday, May 5, 2012
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
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
Friday, September 9, 2011
Nice & Reliable Transportation
I have a car; her name is Stacy. She's a 1999 Chevy Malibu, and despite being well over a decade old, runs pretty well. In a world where one of the most important questions on a pre-interview application is "Do you have reliable transportation/your own car?", I have always been glad that my car runs well.
Sure, she has a rust spot, and the back seat windows won't roll down anymore, and because I have to park outside it seems like her natural taupe color is perpetually a little darker because of the dirt, but I try to keep her nice. For the majority of the time, she looks good, and that's pretty important if a potential employer sees your ride.
However, from the driver's side, Stacy doesn't look good today. I was running errands and had the front windows down because it was finally warm enough again to have them open. When I got back home, I rolled up the windows. The passenger side window went up just fine...the driver's side did until I heard a horrid *chunk-chunk*, which I think might have been the motor for the window giving up the ghost, because the window stopped moving...an inch to inch-and-a-half before it would have closed.
I just got back inside after cellophaning/taping the gap so bugs and rain (but mostly bugs) don't get into my car. Thankfully I had some heavy-duty clear packing tape (I refuse to duct-tape my car), so Stacy doesn't look too much like a reject. I probably shouldn't worry about it, because the gap is so small compared to what it could be, and from several angles looking at Stacy it doesn't even show, but I can't shake the feeling that if an employer sees Stacy as she looks now, I'm going to be judged negatively for it.
In brighter news, my writer's block is gone, I have complete outlines for both a children's book and a young-adult humor/parody book, I have conducted one more interview for my thesis, and I have a job interview this Monday with the city I live in! *crosses fingers* It's for an actual technical writing job, which makes me all sorts of happy; this could be my foot in the door to a great job for a great city.
-AMW
Sure, she has a rust spot, and the back seat windows won't roll down anymore, and because I have to park outside it seems like her natural taupe color is perpetually a little darker because of the dirt, but I try to keep her nice. For the majority of the time, she looks good, and that's pretty important if a potential employer sees your ride.
However, from the driver's side, Stacy doesn't look good today. I was running errands and had the front windows down because it was finally warm enough again to have them open. When I got back home, I rolled up the windows. The passenger side window went up just fine...the driver's side did until I heard a horrid *chunk-chunk*, which I think might have been the motor for the window giving up the ghost, because the window stopped moving...an inch to inch-and-a-half before it would have closed.
I just got back inside after cellophaning/taping the gap so bugs and rain (but mostly bugs) don't get into my car. Thankfully I had some heavy-duty clear packing tape (I refuse to duct-tape my car), so Stacy doesn't look too much like a reject. I probably shouldn't worry about it, because the gap is so small compared to what it could be, and from several angles looking at Stacy it doesn't even show, but I can't shake the feeling that if an employer sees Stacy as she looks now, I'm going to be judged negatively for it.
In brighter news, my writer's block is gone, I have complete outlines for both a children's book and a young-adult humor/parody book, I have conducted one more interview for my thesis, and I have a job interview this Monday with the city I live in! *crosses fingers* It's for an actual technical writing job, which makes me all sorts of happy; this could be my foot in the door to a great job for a great city.
-AMW
Monday, September 5, 2011
Obligatory Ironic Labor Day Post
Well, it's time to celebrate having a job by taking the day off again here in America, so with that in mind, I skipped my Friday post in order to post today.
What will I be doing this Labor Day? Well, since I am still unemployed, I will be filling out applications and sending in my resume for a good chunk of the day. Then I will be working on my thesis and getting it ready to go through the IRB again, since I am taking out a portion of the methods section that deals with a data collection technique that has ultimately failed to come through. The good news is that by refocusing my thesis, I should be able to look at the data I do get more closely, which will help me overall when it comes time to defend my work.
So really, I'm going to be doing more work than most people (except for those who have to go to their jobs today, of course). To the people who do actually have to go in to work today: I salute you.
-AMW
What will I be doing this Labor Day? Well, since I am still unemployed, I will be filling out applications and sending in my resume for a good chunk of the day. Then I will be working on my thesis and getting it ready to go through the IRB again, since I am taking out a portion of the methods section that deals with a data collection technique that has ultimately failed to come through. The good news is that by refocusing my thesis, I should be able to look at the data I do get more closely, which will help me overall when it comes time to defend my work.
So really, I'm going to be doing more work than most people (except for those who have to go to their jobs today, of course). To the people who do actually have to go in to work today: I salute you.
-AMW
Friday, August 26, 2011
When Prospects Don't Pan Out
Update on the multiple prospects I had last week. The receptionist job at the medical center: I have heard nothing after my initial interview from them. The editor position for the student centered paper turns out to be a super-part-time job, instead of the full-time position that I was led to believe it was when I applied. The fiction writing I was doing? Massive writer's block.
This has also been the first week of classes for the fall semester, so I have been staying busy meeting with professors and fellow grad students. It was good to be on campus again, though I'm going to miss teaching.
Of course I'm still applying to jobs; I want to work and earn my keep. Trying to stay positive is difficult when the vast majority of the answers (if they're not a silent dismissal) is "no", but it's important to keep my head up and my eyes out for an opportunity.
-AMW
This has also been the first week of classes for the fall semester, so I have been staying busy meeting with professors and fellow grad students. It was good to be on campus again, though I'm going to miss teaching.
Of course I'm still applying to jobs; I want to work and earn my keep. Trying to stay positive is difficult when the vast majority of the answers (if they're not a silent dismissal) is "no", but it's important to keep my head up and my eyes out for an opportunity.
-AMW
Friday, August 19, 2011
Delay Due to Multiple Prospects
So after months and months of hearing "no", or hearing nothing at all, I am suddenly faced with having people calling me for interviews or writing samples. This is why I neglected my weekly update last week (sorry to those of you who were looking forward to it).
I thought I had a good chance of working in a software company/IT firm as their office assistant, but even after the obligatory call to show interest a week after the initial interview, I have heard nothing. I still may have a shot as a receptionist at a medical center, or at a publication aimed at college students. I would love to work at either place, honestly.
As always, I am still sending out my resume with industry appropriate cover letters. I always have to remind myself that even though it may feel like I'm close to getting a job, I shouldn't count my money before I earn it. This thought keeps me humble and grounded, and motivated to find the right job for me.
In addition to all of this job hunting, I have hit a snag with my thesis, and so I have to do a major revision. I'll have less work to do in the long run when it comes to data gathering, but having to do a revision that takes out a component of the thesis is just as time consuming as adding a component.
Finally, I've been doing a bit of fiction writing. At first it was just to relieve stress from the Rambler Debacle, as I've been referring to it, but then it started to take on a life of its own. I have almost an entire book mapped out, which is good, and a few short stories as well.
That's it for the update; I will resume my once-a-week blog from here on out.
-AMW
I thought I had a good chance of working in a software company/IT firm as their office assistant, but even after the obligatory call to show interest a week after the initial interview, I have heard nothing. I still may have a shot as a receptionist at a medical center, or at a publication aimed at college students. I would love to work at either place, honestly.
As always, I am still sending out my resume with industry appropriate cover letters. I always have to remind myself that even though it may feel like I'm close to getting a job, I shouldn't count my money before I earn it. This thought keeps me humble and grounded, and motivated to find the right job for me.
In addition to all of this job hunting, I have hit a snag with my thesis, and so I have to do a major revision. I'll have less work to do in the long run when it comes to data gathering, but having to do a revision that takes out a component of the thesis is just as time consuming as adding a component.
Finally, I've been doing a bit of fiction writing. At first it was just to relieve stress from the Rambler Debacle, as I've been referring to it, but then it started to take on a life of its own. I have almost an entire book mapped out, which is good, and a few short stories as well.
That's it for the update; I will resume my once-a-week blog from here on out.
-AMW
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Career Advising
I went to the Career Center at my university today. I had already had a Liberal Arts Career Counselor look over my resume, but I wanted to get a second opinion from a Business Career Counselor. The counselor was very nice and looked over my resume, noting where I could improve my resume and giving me a lot of helpful hints and advise. He even got me to laugh a couple times, which was great and improved the overall experience. He also liked my business card and said it was a good tactic to use to help my employment chances.
I had been doubting my resume's ability to grab attention because I had been getting so few calls about my applications to work in different fields, and I was right to worry. My professional profile at the top is lacking in several aspects, so I will be rewriting it, as well as replacing my "Relevant Coursework" section with something else.
I also cleaned out my box at the Graduate Teaching Assistant Office today, since I was on campus. That was a little sad, but I am looking to the future, where I will finish my thesis and finally acquire my MS in Public Communications and Technology.
I guess today has been all about looking over what I have done in order to look towards what I can accomplish, and that always puts a smile on my face.
-AMW
I had been doubting my resume's ability to grab attention because I had been getting so few calls about my applications to work in different fields, and I was right to worry. My professional profile at the top is lacking in several aspects, so I will be rewriting it, as well as replacing my "Relevant Coursework" section with something else.
I also cleaned out my box at the Graduate Teaching Assistant Office today, since I was on campus. That was a little sad, but I am looking to the future, where I will finish my thesis and finally acquire my MS in Public Communications and Technology.
I guess today has been all about looking over what I have done in order to look towards what I can accomplish, and that always puts a smile on my face.
-AMW
Monday, June 13, 2011
Application Forms and the Joys of Being Labeled as Over-Qualified & Under-Experienced
I understand the need to get as much pertinent information as needed from an applicant. I do, really. However, the excessive amount of forms that everybody wants me to fill out for something as simple as a cash register position is ludicrous. Yes, I know that part of the whole application process is for legal purposes so everybody is on a level playing field. Yes, I also know that one's ability to fill out the application is also an indicator of how well an applicant can follow direction. My question against all the extraneous paperwork is this: how is it any easier on the Hiring Manager to look through a hand written application when the same information is right on my nicely typed and well formatted resume? I am annoyed by this particular set of hoops and red tape, it is true.
I have also been told by several people that I am in the interesting position of being over-qualified and under-experienced for pretty much everything I apply for, due to the fact that I am currently in the process of attaining my Master of Science degree, but my writing portfolio is not as large as it ought to be.
The above statement annoys me greatly, because I do have a great amount of experience. I have about five years worth of retail experience, over two of which I was also in a management position that handled the schedules of other people and oversaw inventory (including working with vendors and ordering supplies). Also during those two-plus years I was in charge of creating pamphlets and other advertising-type things, including a website (it was these PR type things that got me into graduate school in the first place). I also have a year-and-a-half of teaching and grading experience, which means I am willing and able to be friendly with lots of people and share information in an easy-to-understand manner, as well as being able to proofread/edit lots of paperwork (which any teaching assistant can tell you, because nobody can have 50 to 100 students per semester and then tell you s/he isn't a great editor/proofreader). So technically, I do in fact have the experience, but a lot of people do not view it as valid experience for the jobs to which I'm applying.
I have applied thus far to be everything from a manager of an EZ Loan office to a cashier at Barnes & Noble and have received no word back from any hiring entity. I have also attempted to get contract work for technical writing, but getting my foot in the door has proven to be a bit tougher than anticipated.
A foot in the door is all I need, but apparently all I have to show for trying at this point are stubbed toes. I guess now I need to invest in some (metaphorical) steel-toed boots.
-AMW
I have also been told by several people that I am in the interesting position of being over-qualified and under-experienced for pretty much everything I apply for, due to the fact that I am currently in the process of attaining my Master of Science degree, but my writing portfolio is not as large as it ought to be.
The above statement annoys me greatly, because I do have a great amount of experience. I have about five years worth of retail experience, over two of which I was also in a management position that handled the schedules of other people and oversaw inventory (including working with vendors and ordering supplies). Also during those two-plus years I was in charge of creating pamphlets and other advertising-type things, including a website (it was these PR type things that got me into graduate school in the first place). I also have a year-and-a-half of teaching and grading experience, which means I am willing and able to be friendly with lots of people and share information in an easy-to-understand manner, as well as being able to proofread/edit lots of paperwork (which any teaching assistant can tell you, because nobody can have 50 to 100 students per semester and then tell you s/he isn't a great editor/proofreader). So technically, I do in fact have the experience, but a lot of people do not view it as valid experience for the jobs to which I'm applying.
I have applied thus far to be everything from a manager of an EZ Loan office to a cashier at Barnes & Noble and have received no word back from any hiring entity. I have also attempted to get contract work for technical writing, but getting my foot in the door has proven to be a bit tougher than anticipated.
A foot in the door is all I need, but apparently all I have to show for trying at this point are stubbed toes. I guess now I need to invest in some (metaphorical) steel-toed boots.
-AMW
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The First Post
Well here I am, creating another blog...only this time, it's to help myself gain employment.
My name is Alice Malia Weaver, and I am currently in my last steps to acquiring my Master of Science in Public Communications & Technology. The last steps include finishing my thesis, as I have already finished all my coursework. However, as my attempts to get outside input that I need for my thesis have garnered little in the way of participation, I find myself looking for a job to help me pay my bills.
I am on CareerBuilder.com, as well as a few other sites. The reason I am making this blog is because of the following:
1) It is free and I need the exposure
2) I have been given 250 free business cards, and whilst designing them, I wanted to put a website on the cards
3) A blog chronicling my adventures in job searching will help me keep my spirits up as well as keep me organized
Hopefully I will gain employment sooner rather than later, but I have found that my well of patience is deep and abiding in all things, so if I have to wait to find a good job, I will wait.
So ends the first post.
-AMW
My name is Alice Malia Weaver, and I am currently in my last steps to acquiring my Master of Science in Public Communications & Technology. The last steps include finishing my thesis, as I have already finished all my coursework. However, as my attempts to get outside input that I need for my thesis have garnered little in the way of participation, I find myself looking for a job to help me pay my bills.
I am on CareerBuilder.com, as well as a few other sites. The reason I am making this blog is because of the following:
1) It is free and I need the exposure
2) I have been given 250 free business cards, and whilst designing them, I wanted to put a website on the cards
3) A blog chronicling my adventures in job searching will help me keep my spirits up as well as keep me organized
Hopefully I will gain employment sooner rather than later, but I have found that my well of patience is deep and abiding in all things, so if I have to wait to find a good job, I will wait.
So ends the first post.
-AMW
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