The Lucky Seven...

I am ready to recap on my Time in the Bread Line. My calculations of 9 months are still pretty accurate. I will be short of funds coming December and I am still short a job.

I have to be honest; I was focusing on school for the summer so the job hunt was not a huge priority on my list until 2 months ago. I do kick myself a bit for this, but I also was able to kick start my 10 year hiatus from school off with a strong bang. BA here I come!

Now down to the nitty gritty.

Search Status -
The answer is simple. I am spending almost every waking hour on Linkden, Monster, Craigslist.com, and various other job boards. I research company careers sites and also do cold call type resume drop offs. I am eager and excited to get back to work but after over 70 resumes sent I have only had a handful of interviews.

The issues -
The market. I am not the only person I know who is unemployed. Statistics say there are four unemployed Americans for each one position available. Those are not the best odds.
I also do not have a BA. When there are highly qualified competitors with the same background and experience as me but they have the degree, which can be a very strong tipping point to who will get the position.
My final issue is my employment history is strong, but my industry background is scattered a bit. I have many years of experience in the hospitality industry but there are many facets of that industry. In addition I worked the last 5 years working in a corporate office type setting wearing many hats in a Footwear Production R&D team. Most people look industry experience and less on my skill sets during the initial resume review.

From here on out I am now going to focus more on my daily routine of finding a job. I will post sites I go to and articles I may find showcasing new statistics and findings about how the market is doing and where the jobs are.

We are all in the same line but I will get out of it if it means working 80+ hours at low wage jobs. I am also looking at moving to other cities with stronger markets and my blog will mark each road I travel down until I get that job.

So this is day 266 – Get ready for Monday – 269 (I will send resumes this weekend but no one ever responds on weekends so there is not much action to trek.

Your Skills and Nothing But

Starting a new career chapter can feel overwhelming. First you have to look behind you and decide, “Was my past or current job fulfilling?” “Was I stuck in a rut due to a sense of financial security, or fear of stepping into the unknown, or was I good at what I did?”

here are some basic things everyone needs to look at while looking for that “new” path. A practical checklist of things we all should keep in mind:

1) What are your natural skill sets?: These are the passions and personality traits that drive your normal day-to-day existence.
A) Do you like to cook and are you good at it? – Private chief, nutritionists, catering.
B) Do you have a low gag reflex and shrug at the sight of vomit or blood? Nurse.
C) Do you have a knack for catching spelling and grammatical errors (not me)? – Copy write editor, proofer.
D) Are you patient and compassionate? – Speech or occupational therapist. Teacher of any kind.
E) Got the gift of gab and keen listening skills? – New Hire Trainer, or sales may be your calling.

All these are good indicators of where you should be guiding your job hunt. Focusing on these natural skills will help you excel greater than any book smarts. It will always keep you passionate for your work because you will have that inherit skill set that gives you the leg up.

2) Degrees/ education/ hands on experience: Review what your expertise is in. Make sure you really understand your job market and where the jobs are at for that particular career. If you are a graphic designer in a saturated market/ industry look to another part of town or even state lines. Who know where they may need your service. Another option is, figure out another field that you may be able to cross over into. Do not limit yourself, such as automobile catalogs. I guarantee you there are also cabinet companies that need good graphic designers. Not as glamorous but if you have the right attitude it could be just as fulfilling.
3) We all have varied reasons for taking or keeping jobs we may not be so thrilled about. I, for example, do not have kids at this moment in my life. I only have to look out for little ol’ me. I can take bigger risks because my risks only affect me. If you do have a family to care for or even if you are solo, know your budget for living expenses. What do you need Net to maintain a healthy and happy life for you or your family? I don’t mean find a job so you can keep the Benz and eat sushi every night. What I mean is, can you pay your rent or mortgage, credit card bills, utilities, insurance, etc.?
If you have a job and are making a lateral move then you can be pickier in these situations. If you are unemployed you may need to shed some un-needed expenses. Don’t let stubbornness or ego block you from getting your foot in the door of a prospective new career. Please note, I do not suggest settling for the first offer either. Know your needs but just be realistic.

All in all, there are so many options out there. Getting a job all comes down to persistence, making yourself valuable and your skills updated to the current job market, being patient, how far you cast your net and how open you are to change.

It may seem like a dark tunnel ahead but the end of one Chapter is always the beginning of another.

Here is a fun Web Site with tests to get yourself started on the search.....
http://www.skillset.org/careers/getting_in/skills/article_5025_1.asp

Chapter 1......

After years of many accomplishments and adventures the times for the tables to turn came upon me.
I am not writing this first chapter to evoke sympathy, but more to outline the facts of who I am and where I have ended up, also a little bit on how I got here.
I know I am not the only one having this adventure, so if there is anyone else feeling they are alone or struggling to breath with all the pressures life is throwing at you... Just know, you are NOT alone. Our stories may be different, and you may have children, or you may have lost your home, but we are all surviving, and survive we will!

Name: Not important
Age: 32
Sex: Female ... and No, none right now
Location: Los Angeles to San Francisco
Status: Unemployed and humbled
Children: No
The weight: A mortgage

I have worked the same company for the last 5 years. Previous to my most recent career chapter I had worked in the Event and Hospitality Industry.

All my career-oriented paths have allowed me to live a very colorful and creative life. I have been able to travel to 4 continents and handfuls of countries. I was able to wear many hats giving me many varied skill-sets and job experiences.

Now, to why I am where I am. It was not a surprise. I had planned to leave, and I was just waiting to become 100% vested. Teams were shrinking due to bleak sales and weak projected forecasts.
Some competitors were growing and we were slowing down to a drippy faucet pace, and drying up quickly. In the industry we were not the "place" to be anymore. Many people have their views on why and each opinion had it’s validity.

Well my choice to wait a year to leave was taken away in October 2009. I had noticed my boss was not so open with me as usual. I had seen this before and I confronted the situation. My intuitions were correct. I was on the "possible" list to be let go. Lucky for my boss I was 100% o.k. with this and actually spoke about how I felt it would be a refreshing change for me. With my severance I would be able to go back to school for a bit, which was a dream of mine. With a hearty hand shake we spoke of a March 2010 layoff as a cushion and I walked out of his office with a new purpose and a humbled heart.

I had to think fast on my financials. How much were my basic expenditures? How much would I bring in, in UI benefits? How long would my intake and my severance last with my expenses? I had to rent my home out and take the burden of my mortgage off my shoulder for a bit. The answer to all my calculations? 9 months~ Not long but long enough to breath.

Now the weeks to come brought a turn I would never expect. 3 days after the discussion, I left early to be with my mom during a routine procedure. The day did not go as planned and my mom had a massive stroke leaving her partially paralyzed. The next few months were a roller coaster of juggling work and being next to my mom while she recovered. Her recovery was short lived and my mom passed away mid. December. My boss was so supportive and I finished a few final projects on my plate and made an earlier leave, starting January 2010.

I'm one to believe in signs, and this all seemed like I was being told, get ready little lady, you have a new life ahead of you.
With that same humbled heart, I packed my bags, and decided to move to San Francisco. The thought was be closer to my brothers, and to shake off the last year and start that new life that is waiting for me, and this is where I am.