No Stone Unturned - My Ongoing Job Search

Photo Credit - Sean MacEntee (Flickr)

 

April, 2013.

Time for an employment update to my loyal readers.

Yeah, you!

And...nothing new to report.

I must say this whole process has been quite the journey. And an eye opener. A mind opener. Finding a job has become my job.

Looking for work is so much more than knocking on doors. Gone are the days of just filling out applications and submitting resumes. Job search strategy has elevated itself to an art form. And I've done everything I can to educate myself on what I need to do to locate that elusive job.

But mostly, I've stepped WAY outside my comfort zone, outside my box. And I must confess, it's a very uncomfortable place to be. But I can do this. I have followed every piece of helpful advice I've received from my career counselor and my loving friends and family. I've followed up on every lead sent my way. I have tried not to leave any stone unturned. For I'm learning that you just never know where that good fortune may be found.

Thank you one and all for your support, advice and encouragement.

School After 50 - What Am I Doing Here?

Head is spinning. Hands are clammy. Heart speeding a mile a minute. Oh please don't let me start hyperventilating. Please!!

Breathe....breathe....you can do this. Don't let them see you sweat. How embarassing will that be?

I'm sitting in a chair. In a computer lab. Of a noted university. Surrounded by students young enough to be my children. Students who seem to be very confident. And most importantly, know what they're doing. Me? Not so much.

First clue I will not do so well: the computers are Apples. I'm a PC.

The course is only 6 weeks long. How the heck am I going to concentrate on learning the curriculum when I don't even know how to use the darn computer?

Why am I doing this to myself? Why did I think I could take college courses at my age? What was I thinking?

Not sure how this will end up. Will I have all my hair at the end of all this? Will my family be visiting me in the local mental health facility? Or god willing, will I be glad that I took the plunge and took a chance at being a middle-aged college student?

Stay tuned....I'll let you know how it all works out in 6 weeks.........

Quiz of the Day: Job or Career or Both?

If it's Friday, it must be payday!

Is that you? Does your job consist of 40 hours and a paycheck? Or do you think of the time you spend devoted to employment as a step in your career and your wages as a welcome benefit? Does it have anything to do with loving what you do?

In other words, do you have a JOB or a CAREER? Is there a difference?

Photo Credit - o5com (Flickr)

Confucius Says - I'm Confused!!

Did you ever hear the saying by Confucius: "Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

I've heard it many times but not sure if it's entirely accurate. What do you think?

I mean I get it. It's supposed to mean if your occupation includes doing something you're passionate about, you won't think of it as work (that dirty little 4-letter word).
I'm not so sure about that. For even if you're passionate about something, and absolutely LOVE what you do that earns you a paycheck, there are bound to be days when you have to toil and labor to get the job done.

Let's take nursing. Most nurses I know chose the profession because they love being the caregiver. They truly want to help people. But I'm sure there are days when it's not so rosey. When its more about charts, protocol, paperwork, training, etc. than actually tending to a patient. And that's when it crosses over from being a passion to being a job. It becomes "work".

I haven't found (i.e. chosen) a job I love yet. Probably because I don't know where it is or what it is. At this point, in this economy, I don't think I have the luxury of waiting around until it finds me or trying on different jobs until I find the one I love.

So tell me: are you in a job you love? If not, do you know what it is you'd love to be doing? And if you were in that job, would you consider it work?

My Backyard - Louisa May Alcott; Orchard House, Concord, MA

Bookworm. That was me. And still is me. Growing up, books were my friends - my escape. I loved to read. Authors were like demi-gods to me. They wove their magic in and out of the pages of my favorite books. And none were more magical than Louisa May Alcott. Like many young girls, my introduction to Louisa was via "Little Women". After that, I grabbed hold of anything written by her. I couldn't get enough. In time, I began to have delusions of becoming a great writer just like her.

After recently becoming unemployed, I leaned on the comfort of books. I ran to my local library to be among their soothing presence. As I slowly strolled the aisles, lovingly caressing book binders with  my fingertips, a familiar book suddenly caught my eye - "Little Women". All the old feelings, my love of this novel came flooding back. I felt compelled to search out Louisa's biography. To learn more. I wanted to read about her using my now old and tired eyes. What made her tick. How did she come to pen her interesting and riveting writings.

An idea slowly formed. Maybe I should go visit Orchard House. The home depicted in "Little Women". Where she had written many articles. Where her family lived. I couldn't understand why I had never been there, especially when I learned her home was only 45 minutes from my own.

She Works Hard For The Money.....

I grew up in a family that didn't usually have 2 nickles to rub together. Times could be tough. But the one thing I knew is that my dad worked very hard to give the family what we needed. He owned his own landscaping business. The hours and days were long. And he only took Sundays off. That was church day; he never missed the Sabbath. When the weather turned cold, the landscaping business took a hiatus. My father would then take odd jobs. Plow snow. And work in the local factories.

My older brothers would help him with the landscaping after school, on weekends and on vacations from school. Even us girls would help out as much as our skinny little bodies could. So I got to witness first hand how hard my dad worked. It was very labor extensive. Hard work, for little money. I watched as he struggled through nursing a cold or an injury. He worked without complaint. But I knew he had great satisfaction out of being his own boss. Owning his own business. Being an honest business man. And supporting his family.

Flash forward to my work experience. I started working when my youngest turned 3. And I've worked hard ever since. I think the work ethic was ingrained in me from my dad. When I work, I'm going to give 100% to whatever task I'm assigned. And whether I'm feeling under the weather or dealing with a health crisis, I would not let anything deter me from my job.

My last job was supposed to be 9-5. Not so. It became round-the-clock, 7 days a week. I was given a laptop and a blackberry so I could work anytime, anywhere. That was a dangerous thing to do for someone like me. With technology like that in hand, there's no way a work-a-holic like me would not be idle. The workload had become intense. The mountain of work kept getting higher. So work-a-holic me took the work home and convinced myself that by working at night and weekends at home, I could somehow catch up. Ha! Wasn't going to happen. But no one could convince me of that. So I kept plodding along.

I was scared that the boss would think I was slacking if I couldn't show her that I was making every effort to do the work. I had visions that she would call me on the carpet and grill me about why the work was piling up. And she would crack the whip and tell me to put my nose closer to the grindstone and gitterdone!

My health problems kept rising, I still pushed forward. I did not complain. I did not take a sick day. I could work from home if I couldn't physically make it into the office.

In the end, it wasn't enough. I was shown the door. My committment to the job was not enough to keep me from getting laid off.

But you know what? I'm not going to change. I believe in hard work. I believe in giving 100% no matter what I'm doing. And I really try not to complain. I just do it. I can't change. I'm my father's little girl.

Teacher! Teacher!!!

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a teacher. I used to play school with my sisters. And my dolls. They were the students. I was always the teacher.

Photo Credit - Cogdogblog Alan Levine (Flicker)

My dad must have gotten an odd job cleaning a school because one day a few old wooden desks appeared in the back yard You know the ones where the chairs are attached? With an inkwell hole in the upper corner? I lined them up, sat my sisters and dolls in the chairs and started their daily lesson.

My husband says I still act the same way (except I don't try to teach my dolls anything these days). And that I missed my calling. I should have been either an English or history teacher. I just can't help it. I have this compulsion to always impart my wisdom and knowledge on him and anyone else who unknowingly and mistakenly gives me their undivided attention. Sorry! Can't help myself!

And don't think my need to teach is limited to academia. Oh no. It doesn't stop there. I'm also a driver's ed teacher extraordinaire! I've taught many people how to drive: my kids, one of my sisters, a niece and nephew. And they all passed their road test with flying colors, thank you very much!

I just love teaching. Showing others what I've learned. I almost feel like its my duty to share what I know because I want everyone to be "in the know".

Oh dear. Maybe I should re-think my career reinvention. Perhaps I should look into teaching. But what field? What level? Argh!!!

Why do I make things so much harder on myself? Teacher! Teacher! I need help!

Where Do I Fit In?

Talking to my career counselor has been an eye opener. I've done some soul searching. And researching. I'm beginning my job hunt with the aim of getting a job where I'll be happy. Comfortable. In other words, a good fit.
Of course, we'd all love to find a job that fits our wish list of "got to haves". And I'm well aware that with this economy and the lack of jobs out there, my chances of finding the "perfect" job that fits all my criteria is probably very slim.
One of the criteria I've been asked is what role do I feel most comfortable in at work. A leader? A follower? Or a collaborator?
I think I can safely eliminate "leader". I've never at all felt comfortable in that role. I'm too shy, and have always suffered from low self esteem. So no way would I want to be thrust into that position at work. Where all eyes would be on me. Ugh! No way! I think the only aspect of leader that is enticing to me is the prospect of recognition, raises and promotions.
A follower? Well, sometimes. It's so much easier to be a follower. With someone else being the leader, there isn't much pressure or stress on the follower. But then again, the follower will probably never be recognized for their work. It's usually the leader who gets all the credit for a job well done. So by being a follower, don't be surprised when you are overlooked time and again when its promotion time or time for a raise. Followers don't get noticed. And they don't get as much respect as the leaders.
And there's collaborator. I think that's me. Though I'm more of a lone wolf at work, I like being part of a team sometimes. When we're all working on a common goal. And everyone is equally responsible for their part of the project. If the members of the group are the right mixture and all on the same page, there's usually an energy that electrifies everyone to continue to pull the project together to a successful conclusion. I like being part of that. And I think I make a very good teammate.
How about you? What role are you the most comfortable in? And why?

RI Music Hall of Fame

A few weeks ago I mentioned in a post that I was going to be volunteering with the RI Music Hall of Fame. So far I've attended a board meeting and tonight I attended a committee meeting.

I am really getting excited about this! The people I've met so far are very excited about this venture and making the Hall of Fame on par with halls in other states. I'm going to be helping with putting together a directory of all the venues in the state and perhaps even developing a blog for the Hall. The other committee members had so many great ideas, including working with schools, sponsoring performances, reaching out to the music community and archiving information about the music scene. I could have sat there for hours listening to them.

I can feel the passion they all have to make the Hall successful and a place that the people of the State of Rhode Island can be proud of. A place that tourists can visit and get a sense of the great talent that abounds in my little state. I like that the emphasis is not just on what and who has come before, it's also focused on today and the future.

Now I need to get the word out and hopefully get others involved. It's such a worthy cause and there are so many ways that people can help. And all it costs is a bit of time.

This is going to be good!

Unemployment Update

So....I'm still unemployed. So is hubby. So far all this togetherness and stress has not led us to kill each other. And that's a good thing.

But I've been working...preparing myself for the hunt. Job hunt, that is. Shared a lot of what I've learned so far with hubby. He still isn't using my favorite tool.....THE (dreaded) LIST !!

My Backyard: Women's Expo; Rhodes on the Pawtuxet

I love spending time with my sisters. I have 5 of them so there's always an opportunity for gal-time. And since we love all things fashion, beauty, shopping and girly, we're always looking for events that bring it all together and we're there! Last month, 2 of my sisters went with me to the "What Women Want" Expo held on a Sunday afternoon at the Rhodes On the Pawtuxet in Cranston. It was presented by Alex and Ani and hosted by lady dj's from local music stations 92PRO-FM, Lite Rock 105, and HOT 106. A portion of the proceeds went to Women & Infants Breast Health Center.

Oprah Winfrey Lifeclass - My "AHA" Moment

I used to love watching the Oprah Show. I like her optimism. Now she has her own network (fittingly called “OWN”) and an excellent new series called “Lifeclass”. It’s an interesting concept. The show is an interactive classroom with a live audience where Oprah invites in a guest, some type of life expert, every week to impart a life lesson. The at-home audience can participate with the show online by tweeting or skyping in with a question or comment on the topic of the day.

So this past weekend I watched a recent episode. On the show was Pastor Joel Osteen, he of the 40k member Lakewood Church in Houston. I almost turned the channel because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be preached to but I decided to give it a chance. After all, part of my reinvention is to keep myself open for any opportunity or lesson that could help me with this new period of my life. And I think I found something that could really make a difference for me.

My Friend Jenny Craig

Made a new friend this year. Her name is Jenny Craig. She's been supportive and helpful in getting my life and health back.

I've fought the battle of the bulge for many years now. It's been hard to keep the weight off while fighting health issues. And getting older, I truly understand when they say as we age our metabolism slows down. The weight just doesn't come off as quickly as it used to. All attempts on my part to do it on my own were met with failure.

Consignment - A Great Way to Save Money and Recycle!

So I officially entered the consigning world. I've been wanting to clean out some closets and say goodbye to the 3-piece suits that I swear I will not ever wear again! (or at least I hope not....really do NOT want to go back to the corporate world full of dull boring gray cubicles....)
Only problem is the store I chose to start with isn't interested in suits or formal wear, nor did they want my dress slacks, but they did take some jackets and a wool dress for consignment. Cool! It's a start. Hope they sell! One woman's unloved, unwanted clothes are another woman's treasure, eh?
So I continued on and tried another local store but they only look at clothes by appointment only. And would you believe they can't fit me in until the end of December? Really?
Oh well, I will reach out to some other stores to see if they'll take the rest of my clothes off my hands. Don't know if I want to wait until 2013 to try to sell off my fancier outfits. I'm thinking the formal dresses I have would sell better NOW than after the new year. This is the time of year that women dress up for parties and the holidays. They won't be looking for dressy stuff after the new year, right?
So anyway, I feel good that I'm moving forward on cleansing myself of my previous life. The corporate lifestyle is slowly disappearing in my rear view window.

p.s. If you haven't given consignment stores a try, what are you waiting for? They're full of treasures just waiting to be found. And its also a great way to recycle, save money and help local businesses. To find stores near you, just do a quick internet search. Or, if you're shopping in a RI consignment store, look for the brochure that lists all the local stores which makes it easier to find and visit new ones!  Have fun!

Research...Yes it is!

Heading to a nightclub on a Saturday night for some research...yes, you read that right .... research! It is! Honest!

Here's the scoop: As part of my reinvention I know I need to get involved with something that I'm passionate about. Something that's suited to my hobbies and skills. Something I'm a fan of. Something that'll add to my knowledge, create connections, and who knows? Perhaps it'll lead to the type of job I've dreamed of. A job I love.

I think I've found it. The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.

The Hall is a relatively new venture. The organization hopes to assemble a comprehensive place to honor the music of RI: the musicians, writers, composers, producers, venues.

I heard the call for volunteers and signed up. I've connected with a member of the board whose goal is to put together a website of resources and information about all the venues in the State. I love that idea and told him "I'm In!".

So, back to the research. I feel so out of the loop sometimes on what's going on in my own backyard. I need to get out there more, visit RI venues and check out the music scene. I'm starting tonight with Steve Smith and the Nakeds at Corinne's in Pawtucket. The band has been around for years and are a RI institution. But its been years since I've seen them or visited Corinne's so I'm off to do my duty (accompanyed by my obliging little sister).

Like I said, research. Work. But who said you couldn't have fun while working! Go me!

Progress

It's been over 2 months now since I lost my job. Done a lot of soul searching. The first month I was still in a daze and felt like I was sleepwalking though a fog. The second month was a time of action.

I made a plan to fill my days with learning and excursions (and of course there's always the never ending errands). Most things on my list were aimed at adding to my next act. Like museum visits. Local sightseeing. Libraries. Classes. Volunteering. Travel. But I've also made time for my parents and my pets. Shopping. Meeting new people. Catching up with old friends. Things that are good for the soul, which can only benefit my job search and reinvention, right?

Also started working with a career counselor. She's been great and really helpful. We have a game plan. We're working on 2 different resumes. One is for my reinvention, the other a safety net. It'll be used if I have to fall back to working in my previous field. I'm learning a lot about new and some enhanced ways to find job opportunities and hopefull land a job. Internet searches. Networking. LinkedIn. Social Media.

I've been so busy since I lost my job that the time is flying by. I don't know how I could have worked full time and accomplished as much as I have in these last 2 months.

It's been quite a journey and eye opening experience. I'm learning a lot. And I pray that all of this work will all be worth it someday!

Buffalo Gal Won't You Come Out Tonight.....

Tried something new tonight. Normally, I'm not that adventurous with food. But hey, this is my reinvention time now, right? Try new things, open my mind to new experiences.

So I went for it. Hubby and I went to Ted's Montana Grill in Cranston. Never been there before. We both had the same thing......drumroll please.........

BISON FILET!

Photo Credit: om_man8 (Flickr)

 

And....it wasn't bad! Couldn't tell the difference from a normal beef filet. Matter of fact, it was quite yummy. It came with tasty garlic smashed potatoes and roasted asparagus for a filling meal.

Not sure if I'll make a habit of eating Bison. It was quite pricey compared to the beef prices. But I was proud of myself for stepping a bit out of my box and trying something new.

If you haven't tried it, give it a shot.

So.....what kind of "out of the norm" foods have you tried?

My Personal Symphony

Okay. I know what you're thinking. "Her Fourth Movement"? What the ........... huh?

Let me explain.

My First Post - Call Me Ishmael......

Call me Ishmael….

Ha! Only kidding! That’s not really my name. (Just thought I’d class up the place by sounding all literary and refined; besides, its a great opening line eh? ☺)

I have lots of names:

Ø  Kathleen (on my birth cert)

Ø  Kathy (my family and sibling alias)

Ø  Yes Dear (term of endearment by hubby)

Ø  Kate (friend and nickname)

Ø  Red Rocker (self appointed rock star moniker)

Ø  MOM!  (plaintive cry of my kids)

Ø  Gramma (the sweetest sound)

Phew! Sounds a little schizophrenic, doesn’t it?  But, really, who am I? You even a little curious? I know I am. Seems as long as I can remember I’ve been trying to figure it out. Like that age old mystery: why are we here? I’m still trying to find an answer..............