Archive through February 11, 2002

The ClubHouse: Archives: Job Stresses, and trying to make a living: Archive through February 11, 2002

Meme9

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 02:56 pm Click here to edit this post
Lance well said!!!

Oregonfire, Congrats on the interview!

Dahli

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 03:56 pm Click here to edit this post
Whoami, I don't know if you've ever thought about doing this, but one of the gals who worked at my travel agency and subsequently went on to open her own VERY succesful agency and retired at 45!! came to me with no experience, zilch, zero, nada and offered to work for nothing... which I thought was incredible - what did I have to lose? so I agreed.

She was at the time working in a Merle Norman outlet doing makeup, but she knew travel was her passion. Don't get me wrong, she had a lot going for her, but no experience in the industry. What was required though was good people skills, attention to detail, an affinity for math and enthusiasm. She had that and really wanted the experience, she watched and schlepped and worked hard.

She only worked for nothing for two weeks and we knew she was a keeper. Hired her, trained her and watched her excel, four years later, her operation was bigger and better than mine!

The point of the story is, if you find your passion, maybe if can find a place that will 'let' you do it for nothing for a while - it could be the best thing you ever do!

Moondance

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 03:59 pm Click here to edit this post
Great idea Dahli!

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 04:53 pm Click here to edit this post
Orgeonfire--congratulations!!!!

Oh, and for the record, always tell the truth on a resume, IMHO. Why take a chance on any potential of losing trust.

Oregonfire

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 05:01 pm Click here to edit this post
Thank you, Lance! Now I just have to manouever (sp?) the online interview questions. I'm a bit sleepy though--spent the day doing errands. BTW, Lance, I know you're from this area, and I do like it very much. I took the back way to Albany today (highway 20?), and it's really just so scenic through there. I only wish there were more jobs.

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 05:13 pm Click here to edit this post
Oregonefire, that's the way it works sometimes. Not every place you like has the job you want. Sometimes it ends up being a compromise. Nothing wrong with trying to see if you can get that ideal where you have a job you love in a place you love.

The great news though is that there will probably be other places you can enjoy. Just make the best out of what you can find for yourself. I can promise you that if you find something you truly love doing, you will be willing to put up with a heck of a lot in other ways, and still feel pretty good:)

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 05:35 pm Click here to edit this post
I'm not sure if this is the best place, although I couldn't find one much better. I wrote this message to my deprtament manager in March of 98.

I'm one of those people who likes to make a difference whenever I do something--especially related to my job. This helped changed my views of what that can mean. Sometimes it's not ever commuicated that it happens, although this has helped me to look for as many ways as possible to "make a difference".

Gray,

I have something of note that may be able to teach us all a lesson some day. While I was on travel recently, I was reading an editorial by an executive of Alaska Airlines.

He told a story of a large road construction project near their corporate headquarters. It went on for several months, and needless to say traffic was screwed up the entire time, with long delays. This was in the middle of summer, and of course the hot temperatures didn’t make the situation any better. There was a man who was one of the traffic flaggers, and he would always smile and talk to the people stopped because of the construction. He would sometimes sing while standing with his sign. He did this day in and day out, making a relationship with just about every employee over the summer. This man had made a bad situation into something much better. People actually looked forward to being stopped for a couple of minutes, just so they could talk to him and be a part of his positive approach. When the project was over, Alaska Airlines gave him a surprise party and also two round trip tickets to anywhere Alaska flies. This man had no idea how he had affected so many people.

Here we are trying to work or way up the ladder, trying to jockey for visibility and make sure we get seen over each other. He we are trying to sometimes keep each other down just a little so that we can look better ourselves.

Here we are thinking the only way to make a difference is to gain rank and responsibility. Here we are going behind the backs of who we should be working with to gain power or position.

Here is a man who has a job that most would not consider much beyond menial labor. A man who performed the same job day after day, and never made it up one rung of a ladder. Yet here is a man that touched an entire corporate office building by caring about what he did, and performed his job to the best of his ability. Here is a man that put people in an uncomfortable position (sitting in a construction delay in the middle of summer), yet came to be a friend to each by the way he handled the situation.

Can just about anyone make a difference if they choose to???? It would seem so. I wonder if there is one person in our department (including me) that couldn’t learn something from this. I wonder if doing a great job just for the sake of doing so is something that is of value, even if we don’t shape the world in the process. We should hire this guy, or anyone like him.

Maybe we should take a better look at what “making a difference” can mean.
Gregg

Soeur

Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - 02:56 am Click here to edit this post
Lance, I think that's one of my favorites from you. You and that guy have cracked the attitude code.

Kep421

Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - 03:21 pm Click here to edit this post
Hi Who...I think I can certainly relate to your problem...more than you know.

Last March I quit my job because I couldn't stand the way it made me feel anymore. I had been there 15 years, had good benefits and I made excellent $$, but it meant little because I couldn't enjoy anything in my life.

After quitting, I quickly learned that I too was unable to find a job. I found myself losing position after position to younger (I'm 48), less grey males. I am also overweight and that combined with the constant rejection did little for my self esteem. My husband was carrying the entire financial weight of our lives, and his insurance benefits stink big time. I felt so guilty for putting him under that kind of pressure, even though he did every thing he could to reassure me that I did the right thing in quitting. I even applied to a fast food restrurant and was told by some young kid that they wanted someone who would not be gone if something in my field came up (I'm a computer tech). I really do know what you are going through and how you are feeling right now.

My advice to you is keep trying. That job is out there, you just need to hang in there. Consider everything...no matter how silly it may sound...find something positive about the job and how you would be able to make it your own. And like everyone says...if you have to start at volunteering or part time, go for it.

I've found my new direction in a part time tech support job that pays a little over minimum wage. I was initially told that I was way over qualified for the position and that I would be bored. But I didn't just look at what the position is, I saw what it could be and what I could bring to it that would make everyone see what a stellar employee I am. I know in my heart that within the year I will be full time, and I have been told by two of my fellow employees that they are so glad I decided to work there.

I'm very happy and a large part of my happiness comes from knowing that I'm moving in the direction I want to go in life and accomplishing what I want to do. That's something all the money and benefits in the world can't buy.

If your search takes longer than you can afford, there is always temporary work through agencies. Did you know that you could sign up at more than one? I didn't, but my daughter told me she signed up at three different agencies and she was kept busy. She didn't know what she wanted to do and was able to experience many things while the agencies did all the work. That's how she ended up with the job she is doing and loving now.

So hang in there sweetie...you will find the perfect job for you if you just keep looking and don't give up. I'm going to include you in my nightly prayers that you find it soon...just like my TVCH friends did for me this past year.

Littlebreeze

Saturday, February 09, 2002 - 06:53 am Click here to edit this post
My heart aches for those of you who are having such a tough time in the job market. Like the domino effect, that strain can trickle down into every other part of your life. You have to hang tough. We need money to put food on the table and put a roof over our heads, that's a fact, but so-called "status" and "position" are far from what's valuable in this life. You can find countless CEOs who aren't fit to lick the tattered boots of the homeless guy on the street corner. So, please, don't ever let any person, any circumstance or a stretch of hard time alter your opinion of yourself. Noone on this planet is more valuable than you are. Remember that.

I hope it's okay to inject a little job humor here to make you smile. Talk about a stressful interview....

The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After eliminations through background checks, interviews and testing, there were three applicants remaining, two men and a woman.
 
The CIA Agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. "We must know that you will follow your instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room, you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill her."  

The man said, "You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife."
 
The Agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job." 


The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes then the man came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I can't kill my wife."
 
The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."
 
Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman.
 
She wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "The gun was loaded with blanks. I had to beat him to death with the chair."  

Teddybear

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 07:36 am Click here to edit this post
I went to a job interview on Saturday and have the second one this week. I should know at the end of the week. Everyone cross your fingers and pray for me, becuz I really want this job!

Oregonfire

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 07:40 am Click here to edit this post
Good luck, Teddybear! And remember--never let em' see you sweat!

Aussiedeb

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 07:54 am Click here to edit this post
Good Luck Teddybear, you will be in my thoughts

Whoami

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 08:01 am Click here to edit this post
Good luck Teddybear!


We need a "lucky" clipart! Four-leaf-clover, horseshoe, etc!

Teddybear

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 08:18 am Click here to edit this post
Thanks so much guys!

Wink

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 08:25 am Click here to edit this post
Muchas luckas TB.
Rob and Brennan send their love.

Micknrc

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 10:14 am Click here to edit this post
Buona Fortuna, Teddybear!

Babyruth

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 10:42 am Click here to edit this post
GOOD LUCK, TEDDY BEAR!

Mssilhouette

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 10:54 am Click here to edit this post
Well I'm back searching the job market and I hope to actually land a job that I have an interview for on Thursday!!

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Babyruth

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 11:04 am Click here to edit this post
GOOD LUCK, MSSILHOUETTE!

Willi

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 11:06 am Click here to edit this post
Good luck Tbear & MsSil!
:)

Aussiedeb

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 11:23 am Click here to edit this post
Good Luck Mssilhoutte with the interview

Wink

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 11:26 am Click here to edit this post
I have a few things crossed for you too MsSil. Good luck.

Whoami

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 11:52 am Click here to edit this post
Good Luck Mssilhouette!

Teddybear

Monday, February 11, 2002 - 12:02 pm Click here to edit this post
GOOD LUCK MISSILHOUETTE!!! I WILL KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED FOR YOU!