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
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
UPDATE: The Musical!
The thesis is written and turned into one of my professors for the first round of edits!
In other news, I'm still trying to acquire a job by sending out a healthy amount of resumes and cover letters, as well as going through application forms online.
As for the title of today's entry, I find that listening to music is a good way to keep myself motivated when I'm getting the silent treatment from possible employers. I'm not going to give up or despair just because I don't hear back from a business I applied to for work. There are too many people out there who are much worse off than I am at the moment, so I'm going to keep my head up and my eyes locked on my goals: to get my Master of Science and to get a job.
I applied to 10 different places yesterday, all "entry level" positions save for one that would have me flexing my managerial skills more than my writing abilities, but it's technically in the veterinary industry, so I'm rather partial to it. All the other places would have me in the medical industry (for humans, not animals) in some capacity, usually administrative, which is fine because I'm familiar with a medical office set-up.
All in all, this past month or so has been good to me (stressful, to be sure, but good).
In other news, I'm still trying to acquire a job by sending out a healthy amount of resumes and cover letters, as well as going through application forms online.
As for the title of today's entry, I find that listening to music is a good way to keep myself motivated when I'm getting the silent treatment from possible employers. I'm not going to give up or despair just because I don't hear back from a business I applied to for work. There are too many people out there who are much worse off than I am at the moment, so I'm going to keep my head up and my eyes locked on my goals: to get my Master of Science and to get a job.
I applied to 10 different places yesterday, all "entry level" positions save for one that would have me flexing my managerial skills more than my writing abilities, but it's technically in the veterinary industry, so I'm rather partial to it. All the other places would have me in the medical industry (for humans, not animals) in some capacity, usually administrative, which is fine because I'm familiar with a medical office set-up.
All in all, this past month or so has been good to me (stressful, to be sure, but good).
Friday, January 20, 2012
Post-Holidays Update
Hey Everybody,
Sorry I've been radio-silent (blog-silent?) for two months; between the holidays and such, I've been super-busy.
Good news: I have ALL of my data for my thesis collected, and I've already input all the information into chart form. I have 26 pages worth of charts! Once I have all of my appendices printed out, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have about 75 pages of content, not including my actual thesis. I'm also on target for defending my thesis and getting my degree this semester!
Bad news: Unemployed again. The part-time job I had finally gotten by my last post was great for a week-and-a-half, and then there were timing and scheduling issues within the company and I was laid off. I was paid for my time, and the boss told me that she'd love to have me back when she got the call center back up if I was still available. I still haven't heard from her, even though I did call this week and left a message telling her I was available. I also haven't been able to garner an interview anywhere else, either.
So, I have my work cut out for me, but I know I can finish my thesis on time and get a job; I just have to keep believing in myself.
-AMW
Sorry I've been radio-silent (blog-silent?) for two months; between the holidays and such, I've been super-busy.
Good news: I have ALL of my data for my thesis collected, and I've already input all the information into chart form. I have 26 pages worth of charts! Once I have all of my appendices printed out, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have about 75 pages of content, not including my actual thesis. I'm also on target for defending my thesis and getting my degree this semester!
Bad news: Unemployed again. The part-time job I had finally gotten by my last post was great for a week-and-a-half, and then there were timing and scheduling issues within the company and I was laid off. I was paid for my time, and the boss told me that she'd love to have me back when she got the call center back up if I was still available. I still haven't heard from her, even though I did call this week and left a message telling her I was available. I also haven't been able to garner an interview anywhere else, either.
So, I have my work cut out for me, but I know I can finish my thesis on time and get a job; I just have to keep believing in myself.
-AMW
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Part-Time Two-Step
I start my new part-time job on Monday, the training portion of it anyway. I will be working customer service, mostly calling to set up appointments for people. The pay is good for the work involved, and it leaves the majority of my days open because I'll be working in the evenings, so I'll still be able to work on gathering data for my thesis.
However, a part-time job, no matter how nice, is not a way to make ends meet in the long-run. Looking for full-time work in my field is the goal, and the part-time job is a stepping stone to get me closer to that goal. This doesn't mean that I will shirk any responsibility while working at the part-time job; it just means that I need to remind myself not to get comfortable, since I have a laundry-list of things to do in order to obtain my goal.
The one perk of having employment is that suddenly a lot of people see you as more employable. I already have one or two people waiting to hear from their bosses before they hire me for short gigs in contract work for proofreading and whatnot. Dad also says that companies love to poach workers from other companies as well; so being able to state that I'm currently working is a definite plus on a resume.
I'll be staying in Fort Collins for the next couple of months, at any rate, and I won't have to move back to Michigan now that I'm employed. I'm looking forward to finally working again and being in an office setting. I'll be able to stay long enough to finish my data collection, write the rest of my thesis and defend it, so I'll be graduating officially in Spring 2012. After that, I'll see where the job offers take me (and if they take me early...well, at least I'll have my data collected by the end of this year).
-AMW
However, a part-time job, no matter how nice, is not a way to make ends meet in the long-run. Looking for full-time work in my field is the goal, and the part-time job is a stepping stone to get me closer to that goal. This doesn't mean that I will shirk any responsibility while working at the part-time job; it just means that I need to remind myself not to get comfortable, since I have a laundry-list of things to do in order to obtain my goal.
The one perk of having employment is that suddenly a lot of people see you as more employable. I already have one or two people waiting to hear from their bosses before they hire me for short gigs in contract work for proofreading and whatnot. Dad also says that companies love to poach workers from other companies as well; so being able to state that I'm currently working is a definite plus on a resume.
I'll be staying in Fort Collins for the next couple of months, at any rate, and I won't have to move back to Michigan now that I'm employed. I'm looking forward to finally working again and being in an office setting. I'll be able to stay long enough to finish my data collection, write the rest of my thesis and defend it, so I'll be graduating officially in Spring 2012. After that, I'll see where the job offers take me (and if they take me early...well, at least I'll have my data collected by the end of this year).
-AMW
Monday, November 14, 2011
Unacknowledged Blues
Twenty years ago, if you applied for a job and didn't get it, the company would send you a letter that acknowledged your attempt for employment, but they weren't going to pick you at this time. Of course getting these letters in the mail wasn't fun, but at least the company took the time to acknowledge your efforts and your existence.
This year, I've noticed a trend in people trying to get a job: they're happy getting rejection letters or emails. I know why this is as well: a lot of companies have stopped sending rejection letters because they cost time and money (even more so if the letters are mailed rather than emailed). I am here to state that it is bad enough to be rejected for the jobs you apply for; it is somehow infinitely worse to never hear from the company in response. A written "no, but thank you for applying" is polite and at least acknowledges you exist. A wall of silence not only says "no", but also says "you're not worth acknowledging".
I understand that in this economy, we must tighten our belts and cut things that seem to just waste money. I understand the silent "no" to the initial application for a job. However, I can say from experience, for the people who get interviews and follow up by contacting the company a week afterward, that wall of silence is deafening. It is one thing to ignore the existence of a person via their application; it is completely another to ignore their existence after having met them.
We wait for a phone call or email to validate our attempts to gain work, but we also wait for somebody to acknowledge our existence is more than our resume. We are people who are actively seeking employment; we have bills and pets and families to take care of by working to earn our keep. It seems cruel to ignore a population that wants to work and has garnered enough attention from a company to get an interview.
Like I said before, I understand the monetary reasons for it...however, I don't agree with it. How does a company expect to keep good public relations when it won't relate to a section of the public and what they're going through? It doesn't make sense from a public relations/human resources perspective.
I'm interested in hearing from others, either about their own job search, or if they're employed, then on this scenario:
You interviewed with two companies, and Company A gave you a wall of silence, and Company B sent you a rejection email/letter. Two months later, they each call you up and offer you a job; same pay, same benefits. Who would you work for, and why?
-AMW
This year, I've noticed a trend in people trying to get a job: they're happy getting rejection letters or emails. I know why this is as well: a lot of companies have stopped sending rejection letters because they cost time and money (even more so if the letters are mailed rather than emailed). I am here to state that it is bad enough to be rejected for the jobs you apply for; it is somehow infinitely worse to never hear from the company in response. A written "no, but thank you for applying" is polite and at least acknowledges you exist. A wall of silence not only says "no", but also says "you're not worth acknowledging".
I understand that in this economy, we must tighten our belts and cut things that seem to just waste money. I understand the silent "no" to the initial application for a job. However, I can say from experience, for the people who get interviews and follow up by contacting the company a week afterward, that wall of silence is deafening. It is one thing to ignore the existence of a person via their application; it is completely another to ignore their existence after having met them.
We wait for a phone call or email to validate our attempts to gain work, but we also wait for somebody to acknowledge our existence is more than our resume. We are people who are actively seeking employment; we have bills and pets and families to take care of by working to earn our keep. It seems cruel to ignore a population that wants to work and has garnered enough attention from a company to get an interview.
Like I said before, I understand the monetary reasons for it...however, I don't agree with it. How does a company expect to keep good public relations when it won't relate to a section of the public and what they're going through? It doesn't make sense from a public relations/human resources perspective.
I'm interested in hearing from others, either about their own job search, or if they're employed, then on this scenario:
You interviewed with two companies, and Company A gave you a wall of silence, and Company B sent you a rejection email/letter. Two months later, they each call you up and offer you a job; same pay, same benefits. Who would you work for, and why?
-AMW
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Relocation Jitters
More and more, I've been applying to jobs that are not in Colorado. While I'd love to stay in Fort Collins or Colorado in general, I've realized that if I'm going to get a technical writing or public communications job, I have to be more than just willing to move; I have to be ready to move in order to work.
I know that a lot of people are not willing to move in order to get a job. I understand that it's daunting and scary and really unsettling in general to move several hundred miles in order to work, removing yourself from everything familiar. I did the same thing to go to graduate school; picked up and moved over 1,200 miles from the town I grew up and lived in for 25 years, just for a chance to better myself. It was terrifying at first, but then I met some amazing people and the fear left just as quickly as it came.
I do not fear moving for a job; at this point, I think it would be a new kind of adventure. I would welcome the challenge of going to a new place and getting into a new city-culture. I can always keep up with old friends online, and make new friends wherever I land. I'm not scared of new people anymore (and for the record, I used to be painfully shy when it came to parties and meeting groups of new people).
What do you dear readers think of relocating?
-AMW
I know that a lot of people are not willing to move in order to get a job. I understand that it's daunting and scary and really unsettling in general to move several hundred miles in order to work, removing yourself from everything familiar. I did the same thing to go to graduate school; picked up and moved over 1,200 miles from the town I grew up and lived in for 25 years, just for a chance to better myself. It was terrifying at first, but then I met some amazing people and the fear left just as quickly as it came.
I do not fear moving for a job; at this point, I think it would be a new kind of adventure. I would welcome the challenge of going to a new place and getting into a new city-culture. I can always keep up with old friends online, and make new friends wherever I land. I'm not scared of new people anymore (and for the record, I used to be painfully shy when it came to parties and meeting groups of new people).
What do you dear readers think of relocating?
-AMW
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
It's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know
The title of this particular blog is about something that has irked me for quite some time: using relatives/friends/acquaintances to gain your dream job.
The adage of "It's not what you know, it's who you know" has always bugged me, because it should be the other way around. Do you want the guy with a degree in accounting to be doing your PR, just because he's LinkedIn buddies with ten contacts you happen to have in common?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Nooooooooo.
You want somebody who has trained to do a job to do that job. The guy with an accounting degree should be in the accounting department, and the person you find with either a degree and/or sufficient experience in PR should be doing your PR.
My dad and I had a pretty good conversation about this bizarre turn of events where people have gotten jobs through friends/acquaintances/networking, turned said jobs into careers, and never used the degrees they worked to obtain. I understand getting a job through acquaintances/friends if you need a stopgap to pay the bills, and networking to attain that dream job. But when I earn my Master's Degree in Public Communication & Technology, I don't want to be wasting my time flipping burgers! I want to use what I learned to help the business I'm working for, in a marketing, journalism, PR or technical writing capacity (since all are under the umbrella of the degree).
I would love to start my career by getting in with a company in a low-level job and working for a Marketing Director or a Lead Technical Writer. I would prove my worth and my skills, climb the ladder to a higher position, help the company with marketing strategies or better written/formatted user guides. That is where I would be happy, because I'd be right in the thick of things and taking on challenges.
I do admit that networking is useful, and I'm not bagging it entirely because it has helped a lot of my friends get good jobs/internships. However, I'd like HR departments and Hiring Managers to consider that while the whole six-degrees-of-separation thing is a way to meet people who could be qualified, it's the people who are qualified who should be getting the jobs, regardless of who they know on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. Doing a job right means it's what you know, not who you know, that matters in the end.
That's my two cents, at any rate.
-AMW
The adage of "It's not what you know, it's who you know" has always bugged me, because it should be the other way around. Do you want the guy with a degree in accounting to be doing your PR, just because he's LinkedIn buddies with ten contacts you happen to have in common?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Nooooooooo.
You want somebody who has trained to do a job to do that job. The guy with an accounting degree should be in the accounting department, and the person you find with either a degree and/or sufficient experience in PR should be doing your PR.
My dad and I had a pretty good conversation about this bizarre turn of events where people have gotten jobs through friends/acquaintances/networking, turned said jobs into careers, and never used the degrees they worked to obtain. I understand getting a job through acquaintances/friends if you need a stopgap to pay the bills, and networking to attain that dream job. But when I earn my Master's Degree in Public Communication & Technology, I don't want to be wasting my time flipping burgers! I want to use what I learned to help the business I'm working for, in a marketing, journalism, PR or technical writing capacity (since all are under the umbrella of the degree).
I would love to start my career by getting in with a company in a low-level job and working for a Marketing Director or a Lead Technical Writer. I would prove my worth and my skills, climb the ladder to a higher position, help the company with marketing strategies or better written/formatted user guides. That is where I would be happy, because I'd be right in the thick of things and taking on challenges.
I do admit that networking is useful, and I'm not bagging it entirely because it has helped a lot of my friends get good jobs/internships. However, I'd like HR departments and Hiring Managers to consider that while the whole six-degrees-of-separation thing is a way to meet people who could be qualified, it's the people who are qualified who should be getting the jobs, regardless of who they know on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. Doing a job right means it's what you know, not who you know, that matters in the end.
That's my two cents, at any rate.
-AMW
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