This just in: Progress has been made on the job front!
Last night, I sent my resume to a small paper in Connecticut (one that my dear friend Ann received a job offer from, but declined) just for the heck of it. And today, I got an email back saying I was a "very qualified candidate" but expressed concern that I live in Maryland. However, if I have housing in the area, it "makes sense to talk."
Now, while this is not a job offer, or even technically an offer for an interview, and there are myriad reasons why this would not work out (I don't actually have a place to live in Connecticut, and the job pays almost nothing) I am excited for two reasons. 1. After over six months of applying for jobs almost everyday, an employer finally responded back! The only responses I have ever gotten are automatic messages along the lines of "Thank you for your application, we will contact you if your qualifications meet the requirements of the position." So for a real live person to take the time to write me back, is very exciting. And, 2. he said I was qualified! Now, I know I'm qualified, and my boyfriend and father tell me so all the time, but it is nice for some third party (employer) to actually acknowledge this fact! A little outside positive reinforcement truly does go a long way.
So, while I do not have a job, job offer, or even interview, I feel as though leaps and bounds have been made. How long this feeling will hold out before the frustration sets in again is anyone's guess. But for tonight, I am happy to be emailing with a potential interviewer and to be a "qualified candidate."
Whoever thought being "qualified" would make me so happy?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Shout Out to My Girl!
I am instating my first blog tradition: the weekly shout-out! This is reminiscent of my days at the Ram Van (all my current readers know what this is, so I don't need to explain). Now there are a few people in the running for this week's shout out: my sister for being totally awesome and finally deciding on a bridesmaids dress! Or my boyfriend for being super sweet and supportive through my difficult "soul-searching." Or my dad for eating pie and watching That 70's Show with me. But this week, the shout out goes to.....my girl Ann Kaiser!
Ann was my roommate in college, and is currently living with her parents in Connecticut, working a sweet job at a design magazine. I haven't seen Ann's beautiful face in almost SIX MONTHS, since the day we graduated and moved out of our sweet little room in Walsh hall. But tonight, after playing phone/text tag for a few weeks, we finally skyped and got to catch up.
It was just like being in that little room again, only this time, ironic posters of Taylor Lautner and Hannah Montana weren't peering down at us. Ann and I are very different, but at heart, where it matters, we are the same. We both love bad Disney movies, eating too much ice cream and candy corn pumpkins and writing. We both want to be editors. We shop at different stores, but share the tendency to go overboard at OldNavy.com. We are really bad at following through with stuff. We love traveling and really want to go to London this year to visit our friend Caitlin who is doing an awesome grad school program over there. We both really like it when I make cupcakes or chicken stir-fry. And the best thing about Ann is that she is just so fun and pleasant and funny, but she gets my serious stuff too.
So here's to you Ann Kaiser, Assistant Editor! I love ya, girl.
Oh, PS--Ann also has a blog. Follow it! www.the-lost-graduate.blogspot.com
Ann was my roommate in college, and is currently living with her parents in Connecticut, working a sweet job at a design magazine. I haven't seen Ann's beautiful face in almost SIX MONTHS, since the day we graduated and moved out of our sweet little room in Walsh hall. But tonight, after playing phone/text tag for a few weeks, we finally skyped and got to catch up.
It was just like being in that little room again, only this time, ironic posters of Taylor Lautner and Hannah Montana weren't peering down at us. Ann and I are very different, but at heart, where it matters, we are the same. We both love bad Disney movies, eating too much ice cream and candy corn pumpkins and writing. We both want to be editors. We shop at different stores, but share the tendency to go overboard at OldNavy.com. We are really bad at following through with stuff. We love traveling and really want to go to London this year to visit our friend Caitlin who is doing an awesome grad school program over there. We both really like it when I make cupcakes or chicken stir-fry. And the best thing about Ann is that she is just so fun and pleasant and funny, but she gets my serious stuff too.
So here's to you Ann Kaiser, Assistant Editor! I love ya, girl.
Oh, PS--Ann also has a blog. Follow it! www.the-lost-graduate.blogspot.com
Stupid Duck
I don't get great cell phone reception at my house, so often, when people text or call me, I don't get the message until hours later. Last night, while skyping with my boyfriend, Andrew, my phone started going nuts and I got two voicemails and five messages at the same time. Most of the messages and one call were from my college roommate, Ann (sorry, girl!) and one message was from a man who saw my resume on Monster.com and wanted to talk about an opening.
Now, at first blush, this may seem exciting. Except for a few factors: 1. My Monster resume sucks, because I haven't used it in months, and 2. He didn't tell me who he worked for and what the position was. So I figured it would be something sketchy. Well, I called him today, and found out he works for Aflac Insurance. So, he probably was not "very impressed with what he saw" on my resume, but was merely looking for unemployed college grads in the area. Kind of a let down, but at least I saw it coming.
Because I have a hard time saying "no" to people (something I'm working on, and actually getting marginally better at) I set up an appointment for next week, rather than saying, "I'm not really looking to get into the insurance business at this point, but thank you for the call." That would have been a much easier thing to do, because now, I either have to show up for this appointment, or call back later and say, something came up, or I don't want to do this, and then I will look like an idiot. What to do?
I told my dad this story and he just said "Hang in there." Which was nice. He knows how frustrated I am getting with the job search. He and Andrew tell me all the time, "Its not a reflection on you, you're qualified, its just the market." And in my mind, I know this is true. But in the part of me that doesn't specialize in thinking rationally, and just feels first (usually anger) it is becoming very difficult not to email a potential employer and say "We both know that I'm good enough! Just friggin' hire me because I know I can do the job better than most of the people already working for you!" I wish you could be just flat-out egotistical in your cover letter. I generally try to go for self-praise-disguised-as-modesty, but maybe that's not working in my favor. Perhaps I will start my next cover letter thus: "I am the best employee you are ever gonna get, and I while I am going through the formality of writing this cover letter and applying, we both know you want to hire me, so just do it."
To all of those people in the same position (though I know you aren't reading my blog--I know exactly which two people besides myself know about it), believe me, I know its tough. And as hard as it is to believe sometimes, we are good enough, smart enough, qualified enough. But employers just won't give us the chance to prove that to them.
"Hang in there."
Now, at first blush, this may seem exciting. Except for a few factors: 1. My Monster resume sucks, because I haven't used it in months, and 2. He didn't tell me who he worked for and what the position was. So I figured it would be something sketchy. Well, I called him today, and found out he works for Aflac Insurance. So, he probably was not "very impressed with what he saw" on my resume, but was merely looking for unemployed college grads in the area. Kind of a let down, but at least I saw it coming.
Because I have a hard time saying "no" to people (something I'm working on, and actually getting marginally better at) I set up an appointment for next week, rather than saying, "I'm not really looking to get into the insurance business at this point, but thank you for the call." That would have been a much easier thing to do, because now, I either have to show up for this appointment, or call back later and say, something came up, or I don't want to do this, and then I will look like an idiot. What to do?
I told my dad this story and he just said "Hang in there." Which was nice. He knows how frustrated I am getting with the job search. He and Andrew tell me all the time, "Its not a reflection on you, you're qualified, its just the market." And in my mind, I know this is true. But in the part of me that doesn't specialize in thinking rationally, and just feels first (usually anger) it is becoming very difficult not to email a potential employer and say "We both know that I'm good enough! Just friggin' hire me because I know I can do the job better than most of the people already working for you!" I wish you could be just flat-out egotistical in your cover letter. I generally try to go for self-praise-disguised-as-modesty, but maybe that's not working in my favor. Perhaps I will start my next cover letter thus: "I am the best employee you are ever gonna get, and I while I am going through the formality of writing this cover letter and applying, we both know you want to hire me, so just do it."
To all of those people in the same position (though I know you aren't reading my blog--I know exactly which two people besides myself know about it), believe me, I know its tough. And as hard as it is to believe sometimes, we are good enough, smart enough, qualified enough. But employers just won't give us the chance to prove that to them.
"Hang in there."
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Hoedown Throwdown
Last night, I went to a hoedown! I know, I know, you're so jealous. Well, you SHOULD be! Unless you are my sister, Emily, because she went with me. The hoedown was hosted by Emily's fiance's (Mike) church, and so was held in the church hall. I attended with Emily, Mike and Mike's two brothers, Matthew and John. We did some square dancing, during which I was partnered with Mike, because he got in the spirit and dressed in overalls and a straw hat, so Emily refused to be partnered with him. Just kidding! But I really did partner with Mike, and Emily with John. Mike and I did great (obviously, because I am an excellent dancer) and Emily and John mostly kept up. But then, we had to partner with two other couples, and Mike (despite our frantic glances and head jerks) paired us up with a family who had absolutely no idea what was going on. So the square part of the dancing was a little twisty, but on the whole, we kept it professional.
In addition to the square dancing, there was a chili cook-off (which I did not judge because I do NOT like chili) and a pie auction (in which I did participate because I DO like pie). In fact, I won a chocolate chip pie made by Mike's mother, and it only cost me $14.
On the whole, my first hoedown experience was a success. Minus a few painfully embarrassing minutes during which I attempted to learn the "Hoedown Throwdown" dance from a girl who has clearly watched the Hannah Montana movie too many times. Up next: contra dancing, because my cousin raves about it, and I've always wanted to try it! Stay tuned for those adventures.
In addition to the square dancing, there was a chili cook-off (which I did not judge because I do NOT like chili) and a pie auction (in which I did participate because I DO like pie). In fact, I won a chocolate chip pie made by Mike's mother, and it only cost me $14.
On the whole, my first hoedown experience was a success. Minus a few painfully embarrassing minutes during which I attempted to learn the "Hoedown Throwdown" dance from a girl who has clearly watched the Hannah Montana movie too many times. Up next: contra dancing, because my cousin raves about it, and I've always wanted to try it! Stay tuned for those adventures.
Friday, November 5, 2010
S Club 7 for the New Generation
I am currently in love with the band Big Time Rush. They are a boy band (making a comeback?) composed of 4 twenty-year-olds, and they have a show on Nickelodeon where they pretend to be 15 year-olds. The show reminds me of that fondly-remembered band S Club 7, and their cheesy, over-acted sitcom. Big Time Rush is similarly cheesy and over-acted, but there is just something about it that appeals to me. Probably, its due to my ironic love of bad music, a la Miley Cyrus and Aly and Aj.
But, I actually like the music of Big Time Rush. Though they try mostly to get by on looks, they do have catchy, sing-along-worthy tunes. Though there is the definite boy band element, the songs get stuck in my head. Plus, they have jazzy choreography, which always gets an A in my book. My current favorite song is "Boyfriend" which is all about how he wants to be your boyfriend. Its sweet, in a borderline-stalkerish kind of way, but more like a puppy following you around than an obsessed, knife-wielding psychostalker. The YouTube link is below, but its not an official video, so don't watch--just put the song on while you pretend to do other things, but find yourself subconsciously jamming along.
Big Time Rush "Boyfriend"
But, I actually like the music of Big Time Rush. Though they try mostly to get by on looks, they do have catchy, sing-along-worthy tunes. Though there is the definite boy band element, the songs get stuck in my head. Plus, they have jazzy choreography, which always gets an A in my book. My current favorite song is "Boyfriend" which is all about how he wants to be your boyfriend. Its sweet, in a borderline-stalkerish kind of way, but more like a puppy following you around than an obsessed, knife-wielding psychostalker. The YouTube link is below, but its not an official video, so don't watch--just put the song on while you pretend to do other things, but find yourself subconsciously jamming along.
Big Time Rush "Boyfriend"
First Book Blog
Alright, so given my blog title is all about me being a book worm in New York City, and given that I'm not actually in New York City right now, I figure its about time I write about the book worm part--otherwise, my blog may be seen as a complete sham, which it is not.
I recently finished a remarkable book called The Lost Girls. It is a non-fiction travel narrative written by three women who quit their hip, New York media jobs and travel the world together for a year. In other words, it is my dream come true. The book is written in turns by all three women (Jennifer, Holly and Amanda), with each chapter written by one woman, instead of all three collaborating on every word. I felt a real connection with Jennifer. We were, like, eerily similar. We both hail from Maryland, she lives in NYC (I just want to), both have a lust for travel, and numerous other little idiosyncrasies that left me constantly wondering if, somehow, Michael J. Fox seriously screwed up the space time continuum and Jennifer is actually me writing about the future from the past. I feel as though, even though she's almost ten years older than me, we would be great friends.
Well, back to the book. The ladies start in South America, where they hang out in Lima, hike the Inca Trail and see the ruins of Machu Picchu. Then, they move on to Kenya, where they volunteer for a month at a girls' boarding school. Next comes South East Asia, where they explore Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, etc. Then finally, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. Along the way they forge lasting bonds and discover things about each other and themselves. You know, basic women's lit stuff. And though they don't find the answers they were searching for--what should I do next in my career? Is this relationship going anywhere? and so on, they do make all kinds of wonderful discoveries.
I seriously loved this book. I think it may have changed my life. I realized that I should be taking this downtime (aka, searching for a job, working in a restaurant) and seriously reconsider my plan. It also awoke in me the dormant wanderlust, and ever since I closed the book, my mind has been racing with ideas of how I can get out of America and see the world without any money.
I have always been a world-traveler wannabe, and my time in Australia reaffirmed that notion. My dream job has always been to become a travel writer (a dream I probably share with 20 million other Americans). So, the Lost Girls have inspired me to work towards that dream. I bought the latest issue of National Geographic Traveler (I majored in Journalism, so I'm all about research) and wrote a list of travel articles I would love to write. Of course, that will be difficult, because I don't have the money to go anywhere, but it was a good exercise to get my brain juices flowing. So stay tuned for some practice travel posts!
In summary, The Lost Girls is a must read, for anyone who loves traveling, or feels stuck in their job, is looking for a change, or anyone who possesses two X chromosomes. If you like me, then you will like this book! And who doesn't like me? ; )
I recently finished a remarkable book called The Lost Girls. It is a non-fiction travel narrative written by three women who quit their hip, New York media jobs and travel the world together for a year. In other words, it is my dream come true. The book is written in turns by all three women (Jennifer, Holly and Amanda), with each chapter written by one woman, instead of all three collaborating on every word. I felt a real connection with Jennifer. We were, like, eerily similar. We both hail from Maryland, she lives in NYC (I just want to), both have a lust for travel, and numerous other little idiosyncrasies that left me constantly wondering if, somehow, Michael J. Fox seriously screwed up the space time continuum and Jennifer is actually me writing about the future from the past. I feel as though, even though she's almost ten years older than me, we would be great friends.
Well, back to the book. The ladies start in South America, where they hang out in Lima, hike the Inca Trail and see the ruins of Machu Picchu. Then, they move on to Kenya, where they volunteer for a month at a girls' boarding school. Next comes South East Asia, where they explore Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, etc. Then finally, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. Along the way they forge lasting bonds and discover things about each other and themselves. You know, basic women's lit stuff. And though they don't find the answers they were searching for--what should I do next in my career? Is this relationship going anywhere? and so on, they do make all kinds of wonderful discoveries.
I seriously loved this book. I think it may have changed my life. I realized that I should be taking this downtime (aka, searching for a job, working in a restaurant) and seriously reconsider my plan. It also awoke in me the dormant wanderlust, and ever since I closed the book, my mind has been racing with ideas of how I can get out of America and see the world without any money.
I have always been a world-traveler wannabe, and my time in Australia reaffirmed that notion. My dream job has always been to become a travel writer (a dream I probably share with 20 million other Americans). So, the Lost Girls have inspired me to work towards that dream. I bought the latest issue of National Geographic Traveler (I majored in Journalism, so I'm all about research) and wrote a list of travel articles I would love to write. Of course, that will be difficult, because I don't have the money to go anywhere, but it was a good exercise to get my brain juices flowing. So stay tuned for some practice travel posts!
In summary, The Lost Girls is a must read, for anyone who loves traveling, or feels stuck in their job, is looking for a change, or anyone who possesses two X chromosomes. If you like me, then you will like this book! And who doesn't like me? ; )
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Little Hitch
Ok, so it has been a few days since my last post. I have an explanation, I swear! I came down with some weird stomach bug this weekend, and had to call out of work two days and pretty much just sat around not eating for three days. I probably was strong enough to blog, but I just couldn't bring myself to do anything. That's alright when you're sick.
But today I have some exciting news! A couple weeks ago, my dad ordered a new Mac book Pro, and it came in the mail the day he after he left for London. Then, when he got back, he became ill and had to spend a few days recovering. Then, he began transferring all of his files from his old laptop to his new laptop, and encountered ALL KINDS of difficulties, and we had to take it today to the Genius Bar at our closest Mac store. It took Umar, our Genius, about an hour to straighten everything out, but we finally got everything switched over. WHICH MEANS....I get my dad's old laptop! A nice, brand-new (to me) Mac book Pro, only three years old but in absolute mint condition. After months of dealing with my old Dell, that sometimes didn't turn on and had 0 seconds of battery life, this is BLISS! I know it might be materialistic, shallow, whatever, but its just so nice to have a working piece of machinery that is mine, that I can carry around and save things on. As my boyfriend put it, its like having a home again. And while that may be hyperbole, I definitely get the sentiment.
So, here's to working computers, and having things that are your own!
But today I have some exciting news! A couple weeks ago, my dad ordered a new Mac book Pro, and it came in the mail the day he after he left for London. Then, when he got back, he became ill and had to spend a few days recovering. Then, he began transferring all of his files from his old laptop to his new laptop, and encountered ALL KINDS of difficulties, and we had to take it today to the Genius Bar at our closest Mac store. It took Umar, our Genius, about an hour to straighten everything out, but we finally got everything switched over. WHICH MEANS....I get my dad's old laptop! A nice, brand-new (to me) Mac book Pro, only three years old but in absolute mint condition. After months of dealing with my old Dell, that sometimes didn't turn on and had 0 seconds of battery life, this is BLISS! I know it might be materialistic, shallow, whatever, but its just so nice to have a working piece of machinery that is mine, that I can carry around and save things on. As my boyfriend put it, its like having a home again. And while that may be hyperbole, I definitely get the sentiment.
So, here's to working computers, and having things that are your own!
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