13 posts tagged “economy”

Just one of those things in life, which leads to a rant.  One organization to which I had applied to sent me back a test of sorts, which is a good thing, as it shows you the applicant are under more than just causal consideration.

Worked on it and turn it around in a day.  I was then contacted by the HR person and was told what I had submitted was very good and I was asked about compensation.  I was asked about a salary figure  that was more that my final salary at Large International Automobile Manufacturer #2, but less that my salary at Large International Manufacturer #1,  and I said I could live with that. Ok, I was told and the next step would be that he (the HR person) would speak to the hiring manager and get back to me at the end of the week.  

The end of the week came and went, and no word.  Waited about another week and sent an e-mail thanking them first for contacting me and to simply ask whether I was still under consideration as a candidate. 

That too was about a week ago and I've heard nothing.  Now I do realize I was among many, many, who applied for this position, and having been on the hiring side, I also know  it is impractical, and can be a problem (the applicant goes to EEOC and files a complaint about being discriminated against in hiring)  to rely to all applicants.  And yes, there are also distractions: meetings,conferemces, key people out on business, illnesses, etc. Here though, I simply asked  whether I was still a candidate and a simple e-mail in return telling me 'Yes'/'No' was all I asked.   Not given an answer is just plan discourteous, unprofessional, and rude and reflects badly on the organization. 

And most important of all, the shoe may very well be on the other foot one day.

Just for the hell of it, I submitted my resume for a 'free', 'p[professional review.  Should have known better.  Got a call and e-mails from a company, who I was told has been in business since 1963, helping people like me and that, oh, there'd be a charge for their services.

That ran up lots of red flags.  I was told that for a fee of $1,470 or so, my resume would be professionally reviewed and edited  and that they'd then send out a broadcast mail to at least 100 of the hiring decision makers in my area.

Ok, first 'professionally reviewed' can mean anything.  Anyone being paid to do this, regardless of qualifications or time to review it, is doing this 'professionally'.  Second, sending out a broadcast mailing of 100 or so copies of my resume does not strike me as being close to those who do the hiring and its something I could do.  Third, as I have said before, being on the other side of the hiring table, I think I can, and a good interviewer can, spot a canned resume a mile away -not good for the person seeking a job. Second a broadcast, e-mails may get a bite or two, but putting one in the position on the other side, getting an unsolicited resume isn't one to the better ways to get one's foot in the door.

So I politely declined, telling them I do not have the financial resources  for this and I don't, but that's beside the point.  Paying someone to find a job for you is not a smart thing to do.

The person hoping to snare me was quite persistent, more persistent than I've seen in the past from such firms, appealing to my business sense by telling me if my plan was a business plan and it was failing, what would I do?  I would not throw good money after bad.

I need a job, but I am not that desperate to clutch at questionable straws.

Got a call from the mother of one of son's buddies, who works at a local hospital.  Seems the hospital's charitable foundation is looking for a director for fundraising and would I be interested.

Hell, yes! While its quite a departure form my to-date career,  one thing learned through this hiatus is assessing what are my core skills and looking at where I can apply them.  Fundraising is an area where these skills come into play.

I had a disagreement with Pound Salt on how to present or package myself.  His advice was to mention either in the cover letter or resume about my fund-raising experience and how I am well-connected.  My fundraising experience is very limited and my connections?  Well, hardy the stuff to boast about in a job interview, and thus to me there is a line, fine I'll admit about spinning one's qualifications and experience to a new job and just misrepresenting yourself.

But in any case the resume and cover letter are one their way and as I have many times in the past, will wait and see.

Its telling your son he can't have something he wants, not because its unsafe, unhealthy, or out of parental prerogative, but simply because we can't afford it now.

Gloomy, dank Sunday yesterday, so I dragged son out in search of a job for him. A couple of places wouldn't let him apply as he's not yet 18 and it did not matter that he'll be 18 in about 3 weeks.  Most restaurants are out since being under 21, he would not be allowed to even bring a bottle of beer, wince, etc., out to a customer.

Figured there might be something at the local Blockbuster store, but nope, was told they have had to cut back on their man-hours too!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

From a job board I found this...

Manager of Government Affairs
National Confectioners Association - Washington, DC
the candy, chocolate and gum industries. The Association seeks a Director of Government Affairs to manage federal and state relations in their Georgetown office...
From RollCall - 10:16 PM - save job, email, block, more...

Executive Vice President - Government Affairs and Advocacy
American Diabetes Association - Alexandria, VA
to direct our Government Affairs and Advocacy... reaching more than 800 communities. The Government Affairs and Advocacy activities at the American...
From American Diabetes Association - 6:35 PM - save job, email, block, more...

In the WSJ this morning, an article detailing the problems of the elderly, who cannot make ends meet on what they have and must return to the workforce.

Not something that will make one's day.

Found the following clip from  another blog. Sums up in a bitingly humorous way, how I feel about yet another government effort to "fix" things, when for many reasons, it is the problem.  As John Galt in Atlas Shrugged replies to the question on how to fix the fictional mess the country finds itself in, 'Get out of the way'.

And with that...

Put in an application for work where the wife works, nighttime work, as it would still allow the wife to work during the day and also allow me to shuttle son  between schools for his Japanese language class, at least through the end of this school year.

 When I turned the form in, I was told there were no openings.  Okay, I thought.  But yesterday, got a call and a telephone interview for part-time night shift work.   I think the telephone interview went well, but I was at a loss to answer the question on  what sort of compensation I wanted.  I haven't worked an hourly job since college and that was a while ago -not saying how long ago it was!  And breaking down my last salary per hour, compensation came to  around $60.00 an hour, a bit much to ask for a grocery store job, no?

Anyway, am awaiting further developments.

My wife's reaction, despite her being for many reasons, anxious for me to get back into the workforce, was,

ええええ！！！同じ店で？！　いやた！絶対いやた！

しょがない。仕事は仕事だ。

Wonder if she plans on working incognito I should I get the position there?

.. a previously 'exclusive' job site, starts to aggressively advertise its services.