Day 35...Where Do I Begin?

I have provided a hodge podge of disorganized information. I apologize for the disorganization and will attempt to break it down into some semblance of organization. I suggest doing things in the following order; however, do what feels right for you.

1. Update/create your resume. If you have never created a resume before, I have offered assistance. You can also contact a professional resume writing service (http://arizonaresume.com/). Whatever you decide, your job search cannot really begin until you have a resume.


2. Create your network presence. I suggest using both LinkedIn and Facebook. More information on this can be found on Day 45. A networking presence in this day and age is almost as important as your resume. Be sure your message is consistent with that on your resume and that your profile pictures are tasteful (I suggest being fully clothed - nice head shot...you would be surprised with some peoples' profile pictures)


3. Alert your networks by posting a short message (on your home/profile pages) that you are looking for work and the kind of work you are looking for. 140 characters or less.


4. Post your resume to the major job boards - Monster, Jobing, and Careerbuilder


5. Follow up on any personal leads (i.e., people who have said they will find out if their company is hiring)


6. Register with temporary agencies - more information on this can be found at Agency Links and Attachments.


7. Continue networking...I suggest reminding people via email, telephone, network connections, etc. at least once/twice per week. Remember, YOU are looking for a job. More information on this - Continue Networking


8. Attend networking events or events that will allow you to network - Valuable Links and Networking ideas for those in the technical fields may provide you with some ideas on how to personally network

So I have given a little order to your search, but use it as a guide...not gospel. I will be taking the weekend off to enjoy the holiday. I suggest some of you that have been diligent in your search do the same. For those who have yet to embark on your search, maybe this is the time to buckle down and focus. Whatever you do...let me know what I can do to help. Have a great weekend! Happy Fourth of July!

Countdown - Day 53

So "early bird gets the worm" is not always the case. The bird needn't be so hasty! I sent off a cover letter today and found a typo in it...yes "fans", a typo!! UGH! So the PT Marketing Coordinator position is no longer an opportunity...lame. On the upside, I still have some prospects and will be much more careful not to make the same mistake. That's the beauty of being me...I actually learn from my mistakes (I have to...I make so many!).

People are still "getting used to" the idea of the company closing. I try not to think about it every second of the day. I don't have to, everyone else is. The 60-day notice is kind of murky. It's like watching someone die...or worse, the person is already dead, but still warm. One of my co-workers stated, "...it's like someone died and the body isn't even dead and their parts are being donated...their clothes and jewelry being stolen..." There is a very dark cloud hovering. Some departments don't even turn on the lights in the morning.

Then there are the gamut of people's emotions we all have to deal with. Some think we won't make it the whole 60 days, others are in disbelief and haven't really acknowledged that they need to begin looking for a job, some people cry every day, and there are the "manics"...a little edgy and hysterical about the whole ordeal. They were manic before, but the situation has only amplified their manic behavior! Then there are the flatliners...those that need to get a little more in touch with their emotional side (you know who you are!).

Personally, I am just glad for the notice and thankful for the people I know. I continue to talk to anyone who will listen about available jobs and potential contract opportunities. As we near our closing date, I am sure the panic will only deepen. Over and out for now...

55 Days to Go

Whoohoo!! I finally finished my resume and I'm ready to embark on this new journey. I must say, there is a lot of love out there. Thank you to all my friends who are forwarding posts and providing me with potential opportunities. While nothing has firmed up, I feel even more positive about my prospects.

Before I formally make the trek into Internet job searching, I need to at least narrow some potential areas I will be searching. I am thinking engineering (it's what I am currently doing and where I have the most recent experience and contacts), advertising/social networking (this is an area I have recently been intrigued with and think I would do well). I like to write and think I could bring humor and levity to informative posts (this requires me knowing about the industry in which I am working). IT is another potential area of employment. I have to be careful here because technology has changed since I was last in the industry, but I am a quick study and have no worries of being able to catch on quickly. So I have honed in on a few areas.

The tools I am currently using are specific to social networking...Facebook (used mostly to steer any interested people to either my blog or LinkeIn page), LinkedIn (a valuable, professional networking site where I can keep business associates from all industries on my radar), and my blog. The purpose for my blog is multi-faceted. It's a journal, living proof of my ability to ramble (blog) about something (or nothing), and it will hopefully provide some prospective employer (or business partner) insight into my personality. Or, the flip side is that it will bore someone to tears!

Whatever the case, I hope my "follower(s)" enjoy the ride!

56 Days to Go

Four days into " the search" and I am still in the resume "review" process. I am deciding the industries that I want to approach for potential opportunities. While I believe the economy is on the upswing (at a snail's pace), I am not sure how long it will take the civil engineering industry to revive itself - so I am looking at other industries.

Others that I trust have reviewed my resume and I am making the final touches to my text resume. I will finalize later today or tomorrow at work. Once the text resume is done, I will embark on the journey of creating a visually appealing resume for posting as a pdf. This will hopefully display my creativity and desktop publishing skills.

Back in the old days, I wouldn't have been so conscientious about the search. But now an older and wiser me realizes the importance of first impression (when I don't get to be present). I am talented, smart, and an asset to any organization (no self esteem issues either).

I still have to maintain a happy, healthy home while I search for new employment. With that said, I am off to go swimming at my brother's for the afternoon! I will be back later to see what the Internet has in store for me. Happy hunting to the other CMXans that are looking!