Yesterday was awful. I knew it was coming when I put my last post up. And Man... was I ever right. Lots of throwing up, lots of discomfort, but it's over now. It was really hard to stay in bed yesterday, but I had to if I wanted to get better. So i read half of Frank Peretti's new book "Monster." It's been 6 years since his last, which is quite a break in the author world, but this book is really good. A far step from "The Prince" and "The once and future king" and the other books I've been reading lately, but alot of fun.
Well, anyway. Today was back to the application grindstone. I am SOOOOO tired of filling out applications. I don't mind interviewing at all, and I don't mind sending my resume to people, but there is so little personal information to the work application. It takes all the humanity, all the intangibles, all the personality out of the person. I look like an idiot on paper. Really. And I'm the king of "puffery." When you tear me down to my work DNA, I'm an experienced worker, with management and graphic design experience. That's it. How do you list that you've acheived above and beyond what's asked of you at every job? How do you communicate what it means to be asked to do a certain account at a south side newspaper? (right, Jim?) How do you explain what it means to be a Coffee Master for Starbucks, and to have the highest sales in every store you've worked in? It's bull. It doesn't fit into the "Skills" bracket, and it certainly isn't in "Objective." I am intangible person, with tons of skills that don't fit in boxes. My knowledge and instict never fit their title of "Learns quickly" and my reparte with people I've never met, that can lead to incredible closeness in a very short amount of time, never fits the "People skills." It sounds like you can herd them into stalls.
Anyway... today, after a morning of applications and resumes sent, I made a call to a local construction contractor. His daughter is a girl that attends our church, her name is Alicia, but I have nicknamed her "Hickory Duff" as she resembles the famous Duff sisters Hillary and Haley. On Sunday, Hickory came up to me and said that her dad was looking for help. He met Sarah and I at the Christmas pageant, and really "liked" me. So she gave me his number, and said to give him a call. He was really happy to hear from me, and said that Alicia had mentioned I'd be calling. We set up an appointment on Monday morning at Starbucks of all places, to discuss bringing me on board. I don't have any construction or landscaping experience, but he was cool with that. He said that he's looking for a fellow christian that would be able to learn the business and take over the management of his landscaping work. It would take about a year of training with him before he'd hand over the crew to me. Sounds pretty cool! Not at all what I've been up to the past few years, but it's honest work, and it utilizes a lot of the skills I've been building up. It's not a small business, but not a giant corporation either. I'll find out more on Monday, and keep you apprised, but it sounds like this could be a good thing! And management in construction can be quite lucrative. We'll see.
Anyway. I gotta go. Later!
Jim
P.S. It's just nice to have some good news for a change.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Wow, Monday sounds interesting! Just don't get over anxious and scare the gentleman off . . . I am sure you could fit right in without experience. You are able to learn and self-motivate, and all you need is a chance to show that. This man knowing you from church is a bonus, because if yo truly do apply yourself, it would be very difficult for him to give you the shaft, and more likely he would want to help the two of you. You never know, there could be possibilties there for the wifey too! Maybe something part time or home based, even data entry or billing management or something.
This could at least be a great answer for the short term and more experience for you. Good luck!
Excited, of course, for this. Keep us posted, as I know you will.
Is it especially strange that I find Hillary Duff attractive but not Haley?
Probably makes me sound like a lumsn.
I know exactly how you feel with the "bummer resume's". So with my most recent ones, I've sent along a cover letter, specifically tuned to the organization I'm applying with, letting them know those type of specifics in my own words. The past-jobs-stuff makes me look like a flunky, too, but Experience and amiability with customers & co-workers counts for a lot in today's workplace. GO FOR IT, CHIEF!!!! DL
Post a Comment