Hello My name is I am looking for work...

      These past couple networking events have taught me that people these days seemed to be defined what they are doing or not doing rather than who they are as a person. Well, it feels like it lately since all my questions are these past events have been the typical "What do you do?".  I am not sure if I am the only one who feels this way but I don't like being defined but what I am doing at this point in time. I would much rather be defined by my interests, like, dislikes, and how I treat you as a person.
     The thing is I have a feeling that me like others are unemployed are not thrilled to be put into this little box in which we are defined by what we are not doing at this point in not working, but rather seeking work. I wish their was some other way that the unemployed population could be defined. I am not sure if this will ever change though.
     My thought is that the discourse at these networking events needs to change and that the focus should be on getting to know one another rather our own personal agendas.  I say this because from what I have seen the goal seems to be very much the Jefferson's "I am moving on up" type of scenario.  Their should be less pressure so that those of us who have a hard time interacting with a group of people might actually have a shot at the very least making some acquaintances or friends and maybe in the future a job.  I could be wrong and other networking situations might be like this I have just never experienced them up to this point.  But, for now I would like to just throw out the "I am looking for work" agenda and focus more on getting to know people, because I can do that.
    These also has me wonder if other job seekers out there have faced similar issues when trying to network? If so I would love to hear about it, or if you have had awesome experiences networking with others I would like to hear about that also.

<http://thegazette.com/2012/02/23/hello-my-name-is-the-links/>

The commodity of certainty

   I was at a job fair and talking with one of my volunteer cohorts and we were talking about uncertain one feels when unemployed and how this comes out in networking events. I say this because this person and I both have no idea how to act in this situations even with ample preparation. For example, I have gone to three of these events and to be quite blunt I don't know what to say, how I should be and if the focus should be on me telling the person about me seeking work, or actually getting to know them as a person. What, I have discovered over much practice with both approaches is that they don't work and this might be furthered by the fact that I like most unemployed people feel lost and not entirely sure about what to do with themselves.
       However, I think this uncertainty comes at a price for those who are out of work, if you don't know how you plan to define yourself to yourself how are you going to do with the many others that you converse with at a network event.  My new theory is that maybe employees are searching for those that are certain about those and their career path in life.  My guess is that they can't waste time on those that are feeling lost, uncertain, and want to keep our employment options open to some degree. Also, employers might be okay with people like this it just depends on how they portray it in networking situations.
    But, I have a feeling that those have clear goals in sight are able to do more purposeful networking and job hunting compared to those of us who just want work, and to have somewhere to go during the day where we feel like we are making a difference.  I think for me I feel like Marshall when he is looking for work in How I Met Your Mother in the hunt for the perfect hamburger where he just wants to be able to put on pants and go to work.
       I think, me like other job seekers just want to be able to put on these metaphorical pants and feel like we have been productive that day.  This being productive being defined as helping with their taxes, tutoring a student, or helping a customer find exactly what they are looking for in a retail environment, anything that makes one feel that they have helped a person, and the reward was just in that. I am not sure if others who are out of work, feel this way but I would love to hear your thoughts readers? Also those that are employed if you have any tips or hints for those of unemployed and are in an uncertainty funk I would also be open to hearing those too...

Networking is supposed to be about actually "networking" right...

    Alright, so tonight I went to a "networking" event if you can even it call it that is another thing in general. I say this because at this "event" it was filled with loud music, loud talking, very little space, you were lucky if you could hear yourself talk much less think.  So how is someone who has not gone to that many of  these networking events supposed to talk with people, much less have stimulating conversation with them.
    Also to add insult to injury where networking events these places are known for having free food usually as soon as you arrive, their was nothing until an hour or so into the event and the people who were holding the event tried to get you to buy what they were selling.  So this event disappointed on many levels, leaving me tired, hungry, nervous and very annoyed. This also has me asking are all networking events supposed to be like this? 
  Furthermore, if they are how are people like me who are introverted, and mildly shy and usually like to pick our moments when joining a conversation supposed to thrive in this type of environment.  This environment that was made harder by the fact that most people were already in cliques and sitting down with people they already knew.  This event just gave me high school flashbacks, and not the good kind.  I thought when people became adults that this high school mentality died down with them.  I was so wrong.  So to all the introverts, nerds, extroverts out there how do you deal when a situation is not all what you expected or when it has been reduced to a mini highschool?


   "My Golden rule of networking is simple. Don't keep score".
 Harvey McKay
  ( http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/networking.html)

My Golden Rule of Networking is simple: Don't keep score.

Harvey Mackay

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/networking.html#vIrxjEMXQpLMyTRr.99

     

My Golden Rule of Networking is simple: Don't keep score.

Harvey Mackay

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/networking.html#vIrxjEMXQpLMyTRr.99

The lost years of the millenials...

     Alright for the past couple weeks be it through Facebook conversations or face to face conversations I have noticed a common thread among me and my friends in the lets call it our late 20's. The trend I have noticed is that we all have no idea what we are doing with ourselves in the present or how we are ever going to get the lives we supposedly want in the future.
         I say this because one of the friends I had talked for years about becoming a film maker of many genres but did he ever pursue it or do anything about it in a small or big way, he talked about it with people, came up with many a pipe dreams, but again nothing happened. He has been know been working at a what would  well paid job while he is now going back for a masters degree in some subject.  I wish I knew but I don't think he has decided on one.
          Now I have another friend he for a decade wanted to be a singer and while he did pursue it nothing ever came of it in a big way, and while I think this person is a great person, I agree with other people to say that I think he would make a better fit as a fashion designer, song writer, etc, actually this person could probably be like Oprah and Martha Stewart and create their own lifestyle brand with all their ideas and skill sets if given the time and money.
           Alright, after analyzing everyone's career choices lets go to me, because I am not free of scrutiny, I have been saying that I want to be a teacher since I was 19, and now well older than 19 and while I have some tutoring experience and volunteer experience, and have talked in conferences and while I love to research and write I still have not gotten myself to submit a community college job application or talked with my mentor who I have not seen in months.  I think I like my fellow friends that if I follow my dream to teach that I will fail and fall really flat on my face , with many a superiors wondering why I have signed myself for this masochistic torture of teaching others. However, in past jobs when someone has learned something or gained a skill, it excites me in knowing that I taught them that. Also even through I have been avoiding the application I still love reading the research that is out there and trying to keep up to date in the academic world in whatever way possible.
         Alright, so after all these life choices, readers I guess are wondering what is wrong with these people, why can't they pursue these dreams that they set out to reach years ago before reality and the job market decided to come in and kick their ass?  Alright, now I have a theory about this myself and that can be started with the quote "We set out to be wrecked". This a quote that I borrowed from a very rare JM Barrie book and I am now applying to this situation.
         This quote had me thinking that maybe the reason that my friends and I can't get our acts together is because deep down we don't want to or are too scared about what would happen if we even tried to do want we want for our lives, because if we did we would have to stop wandering so helplessly trying to figure out the purposes of our own lives.  However, I could be wrong and it might  not be just fear holding all of us back, what do you think readers?

The search for employment aka as "Hunger Games"

      As of recently I have been applying for most government jobs because they pay well and they are expected to train you pretty thoroughly before you start a position, and also for most government positions if you have a bachelors degree it matters to some extent. I recently had my application accepted for a government position and was thrilled to know that I would get to take the written test to find out if I would make it to the interview process. Also to prepare myself I looked up online what would be on the civil service test for the job so I would at least be mildly prepared at the time of the test.
     When, I showed up to where the test was going to be taken their was a line of people, and while I was sitting to wait for our test booklets I guessed that their were at least 100 people taking a test for two departments that were each hiring one person for each of their departments.  This is not a good ratio 100 people taking a test for two positions, I do not like these odds.  Also, I happened to over hear one person who I think for worked for the county saying that they will pick the top seven scores to interview for these two positions. This test is basically used as a smart weeding out tool to determine who to interview and who would be best for these jobs.
        This whole situation made me think of the "Hunger Games" series where Katniss constantly has to use various strategies and get a one up on her opponents during these games. Also, I know that I am not the only unemployed person where I live since our unemployment is about 11 to 12% when I last checked it, and I am sure that is not including those who have given up looking for work, or who have been unemployed for the past couple years.  So, I think in my situation is was more like "Hunger Games" magnified combined with feeling like its Darwin's Survival of the Fittest and the odds are ever not in my favor.
      This has me wondering though if this is how I feel after being unemployed for the past month, imagine how other people feel. Also it had me thinking what are the new tools that job seekers need out there to survive in this dog eat dog world where its about if you already have the skills to do the job, and to some extent about who you know?

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s OK to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not growing.” –H. Stanley Judd 
(http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/01/30/30-motivational-quotes-for-job-seekers/)

The food that leaves something to be desired at seqouia brewing company

        Now I am usually a champion for any local businesses, and prior to this experience I actually had a good experience at the Sequoia brewing company. I went to go see a musical with my dad and ordered their salmon blt with a side of fruit and it was delicious and the service was spot on, we never had to call the waiter over for anything. However, in the case of this experience I was mildly disappointed.
    My significant other and I decided we would eat the Sequoia brewing company since he had never been there before, and I just wanted to eat something easy on my digestive system. I had eaten prior to having lunch at the Seqouia brewing company and thought I would give  their half a sandwich and salad a try since I had not tried these items there before.  The first thing wrong was the server did not give me a choice of salads for the side salad which they are suppose to offer at least based on the menu. (if i am wrong about this readers, you can call me out on it) Also when I did get my food, I had the wrong bread  on what was called a "sandwich" was not a "sandwich" in the broadest since of the word. I got two pieces of bread with lettuce and turkey, no condiments, or tomato, or cucumber or anything else on it.  Then the final coffin on this eh experience was that the server could not leave his shift until the bill was paid for. I know that my significant other and I did come at the sort of end of lunch time and I get wanting the shift to be over but in this I felt rushed a bit.
      However, even with this negative experience I can attest to this their sweet potato fries are good, along with the condiments with it, and my significant other seemed to love their hand crafted beers.  I am sort of on the fence about this place and might give them another try at some point in the future, just to see if they can prove me wrong after this "eh" experience. I think I am just one of those people who want consistency wherever I go to eat, more so now since I am unemployed so I would like to get bang for my buck.