Keeping Pace

Keeping Pace

Archives for September 6, 2007

YaYa lands a new job

by

On Wednesday, YaYa came home with his “application” for employment. Even 9 years olds are valuable contributors to the work force these days.

I have to say that I was envious of the simplicity of his application. Name and position desired were all that was asked. No interview needed; simply complete the form and show up for the meeting was all that was required.

When I picked him up, he announced his new title of “Conflict Manager.” Wow! As I spend my days trying to wrap my head around career based achievements, and endure hours on end of extensive questioning, my son lands a job just like that. A “management” position at that. Goodness. Last year, “Lunch Monitor” and this year “Conflict Manager.” I wonder what he will be doing next year.

Just in case he encounters more than the two-question “application,” we began developing YaYa’s resume. You don’t want to be under-prepared, you know.

110%

by

When Tom was laid off, several years ago, 110% of his time was invested in his job search. Workshops, PMP Certification, networking, and applying for the various jobs took over his every minute. I’m not exaggerating. He hardly made time to sleep. I’d come downstairs at 1 am to find him searching his mind for the right word to make his cover letter stand out from the rest.

I didn’t understand the pressure he was under. I couldn’t understand how, or why, his marathon training for Big Sur could get so derailed. It was derailed – Badly! We’d trained together for months but, on race day, he did not start.

From the outside, I saw that he had even more time to dedicate to his marathon training. I figured that he could get it done far easier than when he was working. But I was wrong. His need to be in the work force, and the lack of available jobs in silicon valley was a sad reality. He kept it up for 18 months before he finally landed the job that allowed his career to take off again.

Now, from the position of being the sole provider for the family, my need to remain in the work force is critical. I find myself becoming absorbed in workshops on resume building, interviewing strategies, and other classes to perfect my ability to land a new job. It doesn’t end there.

As I try to balance it all with work, my marathon training has been forced to shift – again. My juggling skills were called into action again, this week, as I tried to do it all. My responsibilities took precidence, as they should: shopping, preparing dinner, homework kick-starting, and FINALLY my run.

[Read more…]

Content Protected Using Blog Protector By: PcDrome.