Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers. For those of you who celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I hope you are having a good one.
We have to talk about it; COVID-19 and how it affects literally all aspects of our lives now.
I'm not going to lie; I have been mostly a hermit and doing all of my job searching online, which keeps me inside all the time. I go out to get groceries once every two weeks or so, and the rare in-person interview, and other than that, I've been communicating with people via phone or email or chat. So now that COVID-19 has forced governments to tell people to not go out so much and to not congregate in large groups, I find my way of life largely unchanged, with the exception that the general atmosphere has changed when I go run errands.
I went to get groceries this weekend, and the atmosphere was tense; sections of shelves were completely bare (they were completely out of every size box of original Cheerios, which I had literally never seen happen before), and people spoke to each other in whispers. It was so quiet that it was almost surreal.
A week ago today, I went to a job interview via a staffing agency. It was a good interview, and I am waiting to hear back as there were several other candidates for the position and they needed time to interview others. The atmosphere was not tense, and everybody was carrying on with business as usual. I wonder, if I am sent to other in-person interviews by this staffing company, if that will remain true, or if it will go the way of the supermarkets. I wonder if I will be doing a lot more video interviews instead. I wonder if, in the case that I do get a job through this agency, will I be expected to just work from home and learn via online resources they send me on how to do the job.
However, dwelling on "what if" scenarios will absolutely run me spare, so I know the best thing to do is to wait and see what happens, one day at a time. Either the scenario shows up, or it doesn't, and I will do what I must to keep going. It is important to keep moving forward, and keep yourself busy.
I am still applying to jobs, I am still keeping my house tidy, I am still writing and reading and learning. Do not panic, and do not hoard. Be good to yourself, but be good to those around you too. We either get through this together, or not at all.
Stay safe, Dear Readers; I wish good health for all of you.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Using Humor As An Awkward Nerd
Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers.
When meeting new people, I can get social anxiety, which should surprise nobody considering that I am a massive nerd and growing up I had a significant stutter, so my positive social interactions were, to put it mildly, less than optimal. It is why I gravitated to written communications; with written words, I could get out what I wanted to say, without being an awkward, stuttering mess.
I was able, over a couple years, to stop stuttering (well, stop stuttering mostly; there are still times if I am extremely flustered that it will happen, and yes, it makes me want to cringe myself inside-out when it happens), but the awkwardness stuck around for quite a bit longer, which is when I learned a very valuable lesson which helped me out immensely: if you can get people to laugh first with you, they are less likely to laugh at you for being awkward or stuttering.
I love comedy, but I love comedic timing more; you can turn lots of stories you have from okay to engaging with a bit of timing, and with a turn of phrase and an expression as you pause, you can get people who were not expecting to laugh to do so. I like making people smile, and if I can use humor to leave a good impression, then it is a win-win for me. Laughing relieves tension, and it makes engaging and interacting with people to have a conversation easier.
I am by no means a stand-up comic of any sort, but I work with what I have, and what I have is an absurd lexicon, an ability to use timing in my stories to my advantage, and knowledge of how language and a little bit of hyperbole can go a long way. It works for me, as I can usually get my friends and family to laugh, and just today I was able to get two businesswomen to laugh during an interview I was having to work for their company. In the moments they laughed, I wasn't nervous during that interview and I didn't feel as awkward as I usually do; I was just one professional telling two other professionals a funny anecdote of my past that tied in to what I can help them with in the future.
I hope that you laugh today, Dear Readers. Really, I hope that you laugh every day, but in case laughs are few and far between for you, I hope today is the day.
-A.M.W.
When meeting new people, I can get social anxiety, which should surprise nobody considering that I am a massive nerd and growing up I had a significant stutter, so my positive social interactions were, to put it mildly, less than optimal. It is why I gravitated to written communications; with written words, I could get out what I wanted to say, without being an awkward, stuttering mess.
I was able, over a couple years, to stop stuttering (well, stop stuttering mostly; there are still times if I am extremely flustered that it will happen, and yes, it makes me want to cringe myself inside-out when it happens), but the awkwardness stuck around for quite a bit longer, which is when I learned a very valuable lesson which helped me out immensely: if you can get people to laugh first with you, they are less likely to laugh at you for being awkward or stuttering.
I love comedy, but I love comedic timing more; you can turn lots of stories you have from okay to engaging with a bit of timing, and with a turn of phrase and an expression as you pause, you can get people who were not expecting to laugh to do so. I like making people smile, and if I can use humor to leave a good impression, then it is a win-win for me. Laughing relieves tension, and it makes engaging and interacting with people to have a conversation easier.
I am by no means a stand-up comic of any sort, but I work with what I have, and what I have is an absurd lexicon, an ability to use timing in my stories to my advantage, and knowledge of how language and a little bit of hyperbole can go a long way. It works for me, as I can usually get my friends and family to laugh, and just today I was able to get two businesswomen to laugh during an interview I was having to work for their company. In the moments they laughed, I wasn't nervous during that interview and I didn't feel as awkward as I usually do; I was just one professional telling two other professionals a funny anecdote of my past that tied in to what I can help them with in the future.
I hope that you laugh today, Dear Readers. Really, I hope that you laugh every day, but in case laughs are few and far between for you, I hope today is the day.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Drive to Succeed
Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers.
I took my second course's final exam and passed, so that is one more thing off my plate, and a lovely new certificate to add to my resume. I am figuring out which courses to take next, so I am by no means done. I spent a large part of last week going through the research needed to figure out which staffing service I wanted to sign up with, along with applying to jobs on my own. I was able to narrow it down, and I signed up today. I was contacted by the staffing service and I have an appointment for an interview with them tomorrow morning.
I like jobs which are laid out logically, but have an element of unpredictability to them. The core of the job does not change, but the circumstances around the job can change depending on whom I interact with in order to do said job. To an extent, temporary assignments do this in spades, and depending on the type of temporary job you get, could be a stepping stone to a full-time, permanent position in which you fit.
This is how I found the last permanent job I had; I was a temp for the customer support department, and then the business was bought out by a different company, and at the end of my temp contract they hired me permanently, and after a couple years I was able to earn a promotion into a different department, where I stayed until I was laid off as the company went bankrupt.
I want to succeed and do a good job at whatever job I am handed. I want to be seen as somebody who, after almost 20 years in the workforce, is somebody people can depend upon both as a team player and an individual.
I hope that, whatever it is that drives you, Dear Readers, you are acknowledged for it. Now if you will excuse me, I have an interview to prepare for and clothes to pick out.
-A.M.W.
I took my second course's final exam and passed, so that is one more thing off my plate, and a lovely new certificate to add to my resume. I am figuring out which courses to take next, so I am by no means done. I spent a large part of last week going through the research needed to figure out which staffing service I wanted to sign up with, along with applying to jobs on my own. I was able to narrow it down, and I signed up today. I was contacted by the staffing service and I have an appointment for an interview with them tomorrow morning.
I like jobs which are laid out logically, but have an element of unpredictability to them. The core of the job does not change, but the circumstances around the job can change depending on whom I interact with in order to do said job. To an extent, temporary assignments do this in spades, and depending on the type of temporary job you get, could be a stepping stone to a full-time, permanent position in which you fit.
This is how I found the last permanent job I had; I was a temp for the customer support department, and then the business was bought out by a different company, and at the end of my temp contract they hired me permanently, and after a couple years I was able to earn a promotion into a different department, where I stayed until I was laid off as the company went bankrupt.
I want to succeed and do a good job at whatever job I am handed. I want to be seen as somebody who, after almost 20 years in the workforce, is somebody people can depend upon both as a team player and an individual.
I hope that, whatever it is that drives you, Dear Readers, you are acknowledged for it. Now if you will excuse me, I have an interview to prepare for and clothes to pick out.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Being A Responsible Job Seeker
Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers.
As we near the end of February, I have to take a look back on this journey of the past six months. I wasn't entirely unemployed during that time, having picked up a part-time work contract that lasted about two-and-a-half months during the autumnal season, but full-time work has proven more elusive than I thought it would be at this point in my life.
I have had an amazing support network, which I am thankful for down to my marrow. For every resume and cover letter that has been proofed at the workforce center, for all the calls from friends and family that let me vent, for all the emails and messages sent to cheer me up, for the outings to take a break and regroup with friends, I appreciate every moment of that time.
It is true that I have had some very good phone interviews as of late, but the rub is that it is this late in the game. Money makes the world go 'round, and while I am okay with money right now, I cannot wait forever. It is time to ask for more professional help, in the form of signing up for a staffing service and taking temp jobs. It is not the ideal solution, as I would have loved to get a job in my preferred field, but for now there are future bills to consider, because there are always future bills.
I am still going to look for a job in my preferred field. I am still going to take more classes on grant writing (I need to take the final exam on the instructor-led course I am taking now, and then I will be done with that one and ready to sign up for more). I am still going to interview to the best of my ability, and I will find the job that is right for me.
I am not giving up, but I need to mitigate what I want with what I need, because what I need is to be a responsible job seeker and take care of myself so that I may be successful in the future. Part of being a responsible job seeker, and in fact a responsible adult, is knowing when to ask for help in accomplishing a goal. It took me a long time to learn that lesson.
I picked up a list of staffing agencies in my town last week when I was at the workforce center. Each one has a list of what type of employment they provide and what job tracks they cover. I have already highlighted a handful to research, as they seem more in keeping with the type of jobs I want and will help pad my resume.
I hope, Dear Readers, that your week ahead is a good one; but I also hope that if it is not, you have people you can lean on and ask for help.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Using Writer's Block As A Creative Exercise
Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers!
I wanted to talk about writer's block today. It happens to all of us from time to time, to varying degrees, and is frustrating no matter the degree. The thing to focus on is to not give up, but to redirect your writing to something else. Write a different scene, write some dialogue that you were thinking about, and give yourself some time to rearrange the scene you were stuck on. You'll get it right; maybe not in an hour or a day, but you will get it.
I also like to change the music I'm listening to if I get stuck; depending on how your brain works, sometimes listening to music that has a different rhythm can help. Instrumental jazz always helps me the most, but listening to a wide variety of music can help me when I'm trying to find the right groove to write a scene.
If a change in music or writing something different doesn't help, change locations. If you usually write in front of a home PC, go outside or to a library. Change your place, change your perspective, and let that somewhere new inspire you.
I especially recommend the library; if you need it, all that research material is there for you! Also, there is something so intrinsically calming about sitting in a library and existing there in the moment as you listen to everybody around you.
Whatever you do to keep moving forward with your writing, the most important thing is that you keep writing. Don't let the writer's block wear you down, because you can write your way around it.
-A.M.W.
I wanted to talk about writer's block today. It happens to all of us from time to time, to varying degrees, and is frustrating no matter the degree. The thing to focus on is to not give up, but to redirect your writing to something else. Write a different scene, write some dialogue that you were thinking about, and give yourself some time to rearrange the scene you were stuck on. You'll get it right; maybe not in an hour or a day, but you will get it.
I also like to change the music I'm listening to if I get stuck; depending on how your brain works, sometimes listening to music that has a different rhythm can help. Instrumental jazz always helps me the most, but listening to a wide variety of music can help me when I'm trying to find the right groove to write a scene.
If a change in music or writing something different doesn't help, change locations. If you usually write in front of a home PC, go outside or to a library. Change your place, change your perspective, and let that somewhere new inspire you.
I especially recommend the library; if you need it, all that research material is there for you! Also, there is something so intrinsically calming about sitting in a library and existing there in the moment as you listen to everybody around you.
Whatever you do to keep moving forward with your writing, the most important thing is that you keep writing. Don't let the writer's block wear you down, because you can write your way around it.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Keeping Your Groove
Happy Tuesday, Readers. I hope your weekend was lovely.
Since we are back in The Roaring Twenties, I have found myself listening to both jazz music and electro swing more often than not when I want to listen to something that isn't a podcast, or just want to have background music. I am one of those people who is willing to listen to any type of music for at least a while, and my taste can sometimes be considered "eclectic" at best.
Music is wonderful; it can be a source of quiet solace, loud jubilation, or inspiration. I usually have instrumental music on when I'm writing, because it helps when there isn't oppressive silence, but I find it harder to write when I'm also half-listening to lyrics, so instrumental is the best option as it helps me keep my groove.
When it comes to being motivated, music helps there too; the right song can get you going on your path forward. Think about this: when you need to motivate yourself, is there a certain song or album you listen to in order to help you get into the right mindset?
Whether you listen to pop, rock, country, jazz, electro swing, classical, or punk, I hope your groove is a good one this week.
-A.M.W.
Since we are back in The Roaring Twenties, I have found myself listening to both jazz music and electro swing more often than not when I want to listen to something that isn't a podcast, or just want to have background music. I am one of those people who is willing to listen to any type of music for at least a while, and my taste can sometimes be considered "eclectic" at best.
Music is wonderful; it can be a source of quiet solace, loud jubilation, or inspiration. I usually have instrumental music on when I'm writing, because it helps when there isn't oppressive silence, but I find it harder to write when I'm also half-listening to lyrics, so instrumental is the best option as it helps me keep my groove.
When it comes to being motivated, music helps there too; the right song can get you going on your path forward. Think about this: when you need to motivate yourself, is there a certain song or album you listen to in order to help you get into the right mindset?
Whether you listen to pop, rock, country, jazz, electro swing, classical, or punk, I hope your groove is a good one this week.
-A.M.W.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Achieving Goals Outside of Job Searching
Happy Tuesday, Readers! Hopefully everybody had a good weekend, and enjoyed watching some sportsball (or, in the event you didn't particularly care for the sportsball, you were entertained by the commercials and the half-time show).
I spent most of my weekend studying. Several blog posts ago, I said I was signing up for a couple grant writing courses online. One of them is instructor-led, and she releases two lessons every week, leaving time for people to do quizzes, assignments, and engage in the discussion board. The other is self-paced, and students can go as fast or slow as they need within reason. On Sunday, I took the final exam for the self-paced course, and I passed with a 97.2%. That course is now finished and I have a certificate of completion.
Acquiring a sense of accomplishment over something you have done, separate from your job search, can be very invigorating. I know I woke up yesterday looking forward to the research required to perform a good job search and creation of job application materials. I didn't even get downtrodden with the all-day snow that was happening outside my window, though it made checking the mail later a bit more exciting, especially with the sheet of ice that was under the snow.
Accomplishments can keep you going, and can help you keep a cheery disposition, even in the face of something most people do not like doing, like jury duty...which is something I may have to partake in this week. I find out on Thursday if I have to report for jury pool on Friday morning to the municipal court here in town, but I don't mind the thought of it as much as I did prior to my final exam. If it happens, it happens, and I go do my civic duty as part of the justice system.
I touched a bit in an earlier post about keywords that the end goal is acquiring a full-time job, and likened it to a game. The end goal, or win-state, of the game is always the most important part of the game, but when playing video games, sometimes it is the side quests that give you the bonuses you need in order to get to the end of the game and acquire the win-state. I view both the weekly posts of this blog, and the online courses, to be side quests that will help me acquire my win-state.
The game continues, and I'm unlocking achievements on the way.
-A.M.W.
I spent most of my weekend studying. Several blog posts ago, I said I was signing up for a couple grant writing courses online. One of them is instructor-led, and she releases two lessons every week, leaving time for people to do quizzes, assignments, and engage in the discussion board. The other is self-paced, and students can go as fast or slow as they need within reason. On Sunday, I took the final exam for the self-paced course, and I passed with a 97.2%. That course is now finished and I have a certificate of completion.
Acquiring a sense of accomplishment over something you have done, separate from your job search, can be very invigorating. I know I woke up yesterday looking forward to the research required to perform a good job search and creation of job application materials. I didn't even get downtrodden with the all-day snow that was happening outside my window, though it made checking the mail later a bit more exciting, especially with the sheet of ice that was under the snow.
Accomplishments can keep you going, and can help you keep a cheery disposition, even in the face of something most people do not like doing, like jury duty...which is something I may have to partake in this week. I find out on Thursday if I have to report for jury pool on Friday morning to the municipal court here in town, but I don't mind the thought of it as much as I did prior to my final exam. If it happens, it happens, and I go do my civic duty as part of the justice system.
I touched a bit in an earlier post about keywords that the end goal is acquiring a full-time job, and likened it to a game. The end goal, or win-state, of the game is always the most important part of the game, but when playing video games, sometimes it is the side quests that give you the bonuses you need in order to get to the end of the game and acquire the win-state. I view both the weekly posts of this blog, and the online courses, to be side quests that will help me acquire my win-state.
The game continues, and I'm unlocking achievements on the way.
-A.M.W.
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