Wow...it has been a long time since I updated this thing.....
Hello all from the Great NW! I was online tonight after having consumed too much coffee and thought I'd peek in here and see when was the last time I updated. I can't believe it's been 5 months! It seems like only yesterday.
Well, a lot has happened in the past several months. For one, I moved to Seattle on January 9th. It has been a fun few months, but I'm still unemployed. Which really sucks....
I guess it's my southern upbringing, but finding employment here has been challenging to say the very least. I have sent out at least 75 resumes in the past few months, and have only gotten 4 interviews. I knew the job market would be tough, but jesus, throw me a freakin' bone here. They want rocket scientist's qualifications for administrative assistants...yes, I said ADMINISTRATIVE positions, and then they want you to work for peanuts. I don't get it. I spend all this freakin' time putting together a kick-ass resume (I'm serious, it really is good) and then I compose a cover letter - tailored to what ever job I'm currently seeking. And when I get there for the interview, I have to fill out their own application. Wasting an hour of my time putting all the information that's already in front of them on yet another piece of paper. It seems to me that the resume would be easier to read, but what the fuck do I know...
The temp agencies aren't much better though. I've gone to four of them, and in addition to their applications and forms, I have to take tests that judge whether or not I REALLY know how to type and use microsoft office suite. This takes a couple of hours to complete. I did all this at one office and when I went back to meet the "recruiting specialist" she just told me, "I don't think we have anything for you here" and I wanted to scream at her, "Then why the fuck are you wasting my time?!?" But, I simply smiled and left with my dignity. I hope she's dead.
Below is an example of an interview I went to last week. I don't know, but it seems to me that these people could use some help with their interviewing skills...
This was at a Law office. I told Ms. Luong that I didn't have experience in law offices, but she insisted that that was not so important as having a good worker and that she would like to know more about me. So I agreed to an interview.
I get there about 5 minutes early, so I have to wait. Ms. Luong comes in and invites me to come to her office (there's a great view). I introduce myself and wait for her to invite me to sit. Ms. Luong is Vietnamese and speaks with a very pronounced accent. I had the previous night did a little internet research on her law firm and found that it was very small, just herself and a Mr. Nguyen.
After seating myself, we begin to chat:
Ms. Luong: "So, tell me a little about yourself" (I always hate these sorts of questions at interviews, because I never really know what all to tell. She has my resume in my hand so she knows my work history for the past 10 years. Does she want to know about my family? What I do to pass the time? What??? I just don't know....so I tell her a little about myself)
Me: "Well, I moved to Seattle in January and have been learning my way around the city-"
Ms Luong (interrupting): "Why did you quit your last job?"
Me: "Well, it was so that I could move to Seattle"
Ms. Luong: "Why did you move to Seattle?" (I honestly don't know what this has to do with how well I can do a job, but it seems to be pretty important to people around here because they all ask it)
Me: "I moved here because I fucking hated living in the South" (which is what I want to say) but what I really said was:
"I've been out here to visit several times and love the area and there seem to be more more cultural opportunities for me out here."
Ms. Luong: "What did you not like about your previous job?"
Me: "It was not very challenging and there was no room for advancement."
Anyway...blah..blah..blah...
I hate interviews. Why can't people just hire me because I say I can do the job? I'm almost ready to start begging....almost...
Well, a lot has happened in the past several months. For one, I moved to Seattle on January 9th. It has been a fun few months, but I'm still unemployed. Which really sucks....
I guess it's my southern upbringing, but finding employment here has been challenging to say the very least. I have sent out at least 75 resumes in the past few months, and have only gotten 4 interviews. I knew the job market would be tough, but jesus, throw me a freakin' bone here. They want rocket scientist's qualifications for administrative assistants...yes, I said ADMINISTRATIVE positions, and then they want you to work for peanuts. I don't get it. I spend all this freakin' time putting together a kick-ass resume (I'm serious, it really is good) and then I compose a cover letter - tailored to what ever job I'm currently seeking. And when I get there for the interview, I have to fill out their own application. Wasting an hour of my time putting all the information that's already in front of them on yet another piece of paper. It seems to me that the resume would be easier to read, but what the fuck do I know...
The temp agencies aren't much better though. I've gone to four of them, and in addition to their applications and forms, I have to take tests that judge whether or not I REALLY know how to type and use microsoft office suite. This takes a couple of hours to complete. I did all this at one office and when I went back to meet the "recruiting specialist" she just told me, "I don't think we have anything for you here" and I wanted to scream at her, "Then why the fuck are you wasting my time?!?" But, I simply smiled and left with my dignity. I hope she's dead.
Below is an example of an interview I went to last week. I don't know, but it seems to me that these people could use some help with their interviewing skills...
This was at a Law office. I told Ms. Luong that I didn't have experience in law offices, but she insisted that that was not so important as having a good worker and that she would like to know more about me. So I agreed to an interview.
I get there about 5 minutes early, so I have to wait. Ms. Luong comes in and invites me to come to her office (there's a great view). I introduce myself and wait for her to invite me to sit. Ms. Luong is Vietnamese and speaks with a very pronounced accent. I had the previous night did a little internet research on her law firm and found that it was very small, just herself and a Mr. Nguyen.
After seating myself, we begin to chat:
Ms. Luong: "So, tell me a little about yourself" (I always hate these sorts of questions at interviews, because I never really know what all to tell. She has my resume in my hand so she knows my work history for the past 10 years. Does she want to know about my family? What I do to pass the time? What??? I just don't know....so I tell her a little about myself)
Me: "Well, I moved to Seattle in January and have been learning my way around the city-"
Ms Luong (interrupting): "Why did you quit your last job?"
Me: "Well, it was so that I could move to Seattle"
Ms. Luong: "Why did you move to Seattle?" (I honestly don't know what this has to do with how well I can do a job, but it seems to be pretty important to people around here because they all ask it)
Me: "I moved here because I fucking hated living in the South" (which is what I want to say) but what I really said was:
"I've been out here to visit several times and love the area and there seem to be more more cultural opportunities for me out here."
Ms. Luong: "What did you not like about your previous job?"
Me: "It was not very challenging and there was no room for advancement."
Anyway...blah..blah..blah...
I hate interviews. Why can't people just hire me because I say I can do the job? I'm almost ready to start begging....almost...