Well, I dog sat for Trooper this weekend, watched TV and DVD's and ate the most delightful cheese Danish from Hot & Crusty on Broadway & 87th. Trooper was a good, lazy Labrador. There were no accidents on the elevator or in the hall.
Today, I am still overwhelmed by New York. I am dismayed at this Bernard Kerick hoo-hah. Americans will never be safe the way we're made to think we are safe. It's amazing anything in this world works at all. People are lazy in their jobs, incomplete with their efforts and irresponsible much of the time. The rest of us spend too much of our time making sure all of our, and everyone else's, ducks are in a row. And that's just so we can function in our own little part of the world, nevermind adding anything to it.
I work hard. I like to be busy. I like to use my brain. I like to make things better. There are a few jobs in which I'm interested. But I feel deterred by the others to which I've applied before. An HR person really doesn't know me. They see a resume that's "unfocused." I am, rather, a super-smart woman who's struggled to find a path that challenges me. I am ethical, and I have struggled to find an employer who is as much (despite my history in the Christian music industry). Working smart and ethically has caused me more problems with employers than not. I can't remember the last time I was forced out of a job for not doing my job. I always do my job. It tends to be for not kissing the boss's ass appropriately or not shutting off my level of experience or knowledge about who I am and what I accomplish. And I am hardly that obnoxious know-it-all kid from class who raises her hand for every question. They just see it in my eyes, these threatened bosses. They see that I don't believe their hype, especially when the hype is covering up lies.
Regardless, I can do many things. But unless the path between those things makes sense to some highly educated HR associate, I won't get hired. And we all know "highly educated" does not equal "wise," or "experienced," or "intuitive." Or "smart."
The question now is, how do I move on from this? How do I make sense of the this-n-that called my resume? How do I explain a leap from published journalist to band manager to graphic designer? From concert producer to retail associate? From executive assistant to window dresser? I've done extremely well at them all, so I don't even see why it matters...
6 comments:
I face this as well. My best advice, tell them you have been searching for your career. It takes awhile to find that, and at each job you have learned about yourself.
Also, grad school is the great forgiver of scattered resume's.
Good luck!
This won't sound like me - it-s not intended to be mean:
If the point of someone hiring you, is for you to make the most of your self, then there would be lots of jobs you would like to have.
BUT, Employers hire people who are going to help advance and promote the employer - they don't hire competition.
An employer's motivation is to make the most of him/herself. It is not an employers job to fulfill you life goals - if you are wanting to keep a particular job, you will have to come to terms with that. You will have to keep your own career goals separate from your daily job.
For you to be satisfied you might have to find a way to work for yourself. Perhaps knitted bikinis are in your future. =o)
Well, an employer who recognizes surperb talent and skill in an employee would recognize hiring (and keeping and putting to good use)the employee - for whatever length of time - is going to make he/she look damn good as the employer.
I don't always want to run the show. I just want a job which:
A) keeps me busy
B) makes use of my brain
C) values my work ethic
And from what I've seen, my work ethic exceeds that of at least 75% of the work force, if not more. My brain is better than 90%. I say that not from arrogance, but because school and testing have told me so.
An employer who hinders or alienates a conscientious and hard-worker is taking years off the life of his own career as well. A good boss wants to hire someone who will someday take his job and do it better, or contribute something so impressive, that everybody looks good. It's really not that hard.
"And we all know 'highly educated' does not equal 'wise,' or 'experienced,' or 'intuitive.' Or 'smart.'"
Thanks Ames.
- Al ;)
Please post more about what you are doing for work. I also have too many jobs and too much education, and I have bad health. It's much more than you on all counts. I want the same things in any job as you. I cannot get any type of work. AND I am going to be moving to New York very soon, if I can manage it.
A good boss is hard to find. A company that values your attitude and your personal talents - even harder to find.
Maybe you just need to be a little more selfish. After all this is _your_ life. Don't try to think like, "ah, this job could be interesting - sounds like it could be something I could live with for some time. I know I'm qualified, I hope they'll take me". From my experience it's better to make up your mind about what you want to do, and then look for a job/company that can offer you what you are looking for.
This way it's also much more likely that you will find companies that are looking for someone exactly like you. You can begin your resume with what your goals/plans for the near future are and why you think particular job would be the best way to achieve them.
For me this has been the best way so far to rule out bosses who are more interested in me kissing up to them than they are in my work.
Anyway - I wish you all the best! Oh, do you know the book "The Peter Principle"?
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