jobhunt 1 Comment

Job-Hunting Update

This evening was spent evaluating the state of my job search and determining my next steps. I feel pretty happy about what I accomplished.

I decided that, first and foremost, I needed to update my log of job applications and job solicitations from recruiters. So far, the tally is nineteen total job possibilities. I still need to send in my resume (or apply online) for four of those opportunities. Five jobs on my list were brought to my attention by recruiters or HR reps. (It’s a good thing I updated my Monster resume.)

Next, before I contacted the new folks or followed up with the old, I wanted to finish updating my resume. The LHH workshop was surprisingly helpful, and made me realize that my five-year-old resume was, indeed, horribly out of date, as far as current resume format is concerned. The two-page allowance saved my ass — I was always told to keep your resume to one page, no matter what. So, I’d ended up printing my resume on legal paper, which is not the most accessible of formats for everyone. At any rate, I finished tonight what I’d started last week in the workshop, writing job summaries for my RCC positions and formatting the whole thing in a way that pleases me… as much as a standard, “normal” resume can.

Next on the agenda:

  1. Apply for outstanding jobs on my list
  2. Schedule follow-ups with recruiters and HR reps
  3. Add finishing touches to portfolio, including (but not limited to) videos, shockwave and audio files
  4. Post and/or update info on other job sites
  5. Search for more jobs online

I have something like 21 working days until my job is eliminated — oh, did I mention that my end date got extended a week? My betters were concerned that Huntington might need specific data from the database, or help moving it to their servers, or Buddha knows what else. So, basically, I’ll be sticking around with Scott, Heather, and Ruth Ann, helping to pack boxes and put out fires and check balances and transactions on Sky’s systems. But I’m OK with that — it gives me one more week to job-search, and gives me a nice, even date of October 1st to give potential employers.

Still, though… one month total to get this going on. I’m not worried, but I’m starting to feel the pinch.

geekspeak

I Am Teh Win… I Hope

I don’t usually spend an excess of money on display items. However… I think I may have scored this before PodBrix.com exceeded their bandwidth:

Woz 'N Jobs

A limited-edition Young Woz and Jobs custom “Lego” set. I read about it on Wil Wheaton‘s blog, who read about on BoingBoing (which I need to start reading again).

Their mockup of the 1984 commercial sold out in less than a minute, according to their website. This set may have done the same, barring technical issues. The Young Woz and Jobs set went on sale at 9pm, and I had a heck of a time getting the page to load. I just kept hitting Reload, Reload, Reload… and kept getting Firefox telling me to Try Again. Then I got a few minutes of 403 Forbidden errors. Then, just after 9:10 or so, I got through.

I do have a PayPal confirmation e-mail, so I *think* I’m golden. We’ll see if I am one of the elite 300 soon.

Update: PodBrix says, “If you were able to make it through to PayPal checkout and ordered, we have your order.” So, it sounds like I’m golden.

BTW, Aaron saw the $200 price tag on the 1984 Playset and about shit a brick (a Lego® brick, perhaps?), but then he saw that the Young Woz and Jobs set cost much less. 🙂

music

Air For Band

This takes me back to high school band, back in 1992. I joined band my Junior year, and I believe this may have been the first song I ever played with the concert band — in warm-ups. Air for Band was almost always next on the agenda after our brief and basic long-tone warm-up every day. (Music majors, please note that the clarinets are featured, *and* that the main melody is in the difficult “throat tones” of the instrument. Excellent warm-up… in retrospect.)

It got to the point where Mr. W. would just start right into Air for Band before we even got our music out, and we’d have to spend the first phrase or two shuffling papers with one hand and playing with the other. Eventually, I think I had the whole first page memorized; even now, fifteen (!) years later, I can still recall the fingering of the first phrase, and I haven’t even touched a clarinet in nigh on ten years. (I can still sing my part all the way through, though, of course.)

Hearing the North Texas Wind Symphony play it so perfectly is almost surreal. In my memory, I can still hear the saxophones (behind me and to my left) completely missing the key change. (One in particular, usually, although they had their days.) Jim would be on the snare in the back; and Jeff, Eileen, or Katie would have the cymbals.

During my Junior year, I was first chair clarinet (yep, my first year in band — it was more because of my attitude than my ability, IMO). That meant I got to sit next to my best friend, Melody, who was first chair flute. We had a vibe goin’ on, be it in Concert Band or Jazz Band or after school in the cafeteria. Anyway, I remember it was strange when Mel graduated and I had to spend my Senior year playing Air for Band (and everything else) next to Heather instead.

They weren’t the “best years of my life,” not by a long shot… but sometimes I forget that they did have their moments. Air for Band was always one of those moments.

randomness

Turning Over A New Mental Leaf

I could have had a shitty evening. My portfolio was throwing fits at IE6, and I’m unlikely to get any work done on it tomorrow or Wednesday, as I have evening plans both days. I was feeling a little stressed.

Instead of freaking out? I meditated for 15 minutes. I chatted with friends over IM, which I haven’t done in ages. I posted a comment to a friend’s blog that was cathartic in its own way. Responded to my bestest Amy-friend’s e-mail from a couple weeks ago. And I figured out my coding problem, for the most part.

I’m feeling pretty good right now. Chilled. Relaxed. At peace with myself.

For the most part.

randomness

Well, Shit.

I was just sitting here, getting into some portfolio coding, when I heard something. Something like tornado sirens.

That’s my cue to turn on the TV and check the local news. From the bit I heard and saw, Lucas County is under a Tornado Warning and will be hit by the storm in question in about 25 minutes.

Weather.com says the storm is “capable of producing a tornado,” and that it also is capable of producing destructive straight line winds.

Hmm. Should be an awesome storm. I’m looking forward to it.

As for my portfolio… I’ll just be sure to save often.

Update, 7:15pm: As promised, awesome storm. Too short, but awesome. Sat outside on the front step until it started to downpour. Sat in the living room with a candle and Channel 13 News until the danger of tornadoes passed. Now, I’m back to the portfolio… but with a window open.