In the news was information about changes to unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies. Previously, at least in the State of California, "Someone who receives their last payment on their regular UI claim for a week that ends after Saturday, March 27, 2010 will not be eligible to start one of the four federal extensions currently available because the filing deadline for the first extension in the chain is Sunday, March 28, 2010. Such a situation would apply to someone who started a typical 26-week regular state claim any time after September 20, 2009."
My last day at my former place of employment was September 24th. I opened my UI claim September 25th. I missed the automatic extensions by five days. As such, I was to receive NO extensions. The other day, however, the law was amended and extensions were to be made available to those who previously did not qualify. This is excellent news for those of us whose UI ran out.
More good news relates to COBRA subsidies, which were previously allowed for nine months, but have been extended for 15 months, through December 31, 2010. Also great news for those of us still striving to find work but not quite lucky enough to do so.
I'm hopeful good luck will come my way soon. I am being considered for two positions at a global enterprise in the Bay Area. One position is FT; the other is for a 6-month contract. I have had my first interview for each position and am considered a strong candidate for each. I am in the process of scheduling additional interviews for the FT position. I confessed my candidacy for the FT position to the interviewer of the contract position. Upon hearing that I was being recommended for a second round of interviews for the FT position, the interviewer decided to search for someone else for the contract position. I let her know that I was still interested in the position, especially if the employer was slow in hiring, because I really want to get back into the work force, but I don't know if I'll still be considered. If my interviews for the FT position don't go well, I'll no longer be a candidate for either position, which makes me very nervous.
It appears that my resume is gaining attention with the addition of a Bay Area address in place of my former, remote address. According to the stats on LinkedIn, search results on my resume have just about doubled, which gives me added hope. But hope won't pay the bills, so, for now, I'll just continue to send out resumes and follow-up contacts, and hope something comes my way.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Success is More Than Just a Paycheck
Hello dear readers (all two of you),
Over the past few weeks, my resume has gotten some recognition. I have had a few telephone interviews and two face-to-face interviews.
The telephone interview of interest is a place where I would really love to work. The company develops video tutorials for hundreds of software applications. The opening for which I applied was not the most ideal fit for me, as the requirements warranted a person with less experience than myself, but I wanted to get my foot in the door and try to advance from within. Both the recruiter and I realized, however, that the time was not right, nor was the salary, so I offered an alternative plan for down the road. Although I have yet to hear from the recruiter, I haven't given up, and although I would prefer the recruiter's assistance, I can always go directly to the people in charge to express my interest in a future position.
Now for the face-to-face interviews. Just over two weeks ago, I interviewed with a huge enterprise in the Bay Area. The division within the company, however, was tiny. As such, the staff was very low-key and unstructured in their processes for producing their product support documentation. I interviewed with the two writers comprising the Doc Dept. We seemed to have good chemistry and one of the interviewers even mentioned that I would likely be forwarded to the final two interviewers. Apparently, she misspoke, because I have yet to hear from anyone regarding a second interview, even after attempting follow-up contact with the HR recruiter.
I suspect the reason why I wasn't chosen was due to the fact that my interests lie in keeping up-to-date with the latest technologies to continually expand my own skill sets and also improve the end-user experience. My interests did not seem to parallel with those of the department, however. One interviewer claimed she had no time to even consider changing their methods because it took all their time to keep up with their current needs. Ironically, that's precisely the reason why they should try to find better methods and tools. I feel certain I could have helped their situation and eased their workloads, but it appears I won't be given the chance to prove that.
My next interview was for a contract position in the L.A. area. Although I desire a full-time, salaried position with a company, this position would be a great opportunity for me. This position would enable me to develop video tutorials, which is exactly what I need to position myself for a future opportunity with the company I mentioned earlier. This position would require that I relocate to L.A. during the work week, but I am requesting a four-day work week in an attempt to lessen my overhead expenses. The shorter work week would also allow me one day each week to continue my job search efforts, without interfering with my responsibilities to the contract employer.
This week, I was also contacted for a contract position that requires I work remotely as an editor and illustrator. I just sent samples of my work and hope to hear something soon. The samples I sent were of artwork created from school assignments at my online learning institution. I hope the designs are good enough to show my knowledge of the software application from which they were created.
In support of my potential contract positions, I am going to file a fictitious business statement, which I will note on my LinkedIn profile. I am in the process of teaching myself the DreamWeaver application so I can create a website for a local business. Noting these items on my LinkedIn profile as current are beneficial, as they suggest that I am actively employed. As we all know, an employed candidate is more appealing to potential employers than an unemployed candidate, and I am pulling out all the stops to make myself more marketable.
It has recently come to my attention that I need to remove my current address from my resume. Although I note on my resume and cover letters that I am ready and willing to relocate at my own expense, potential employers don't see past the notation of the remote town in which I live. As a result, my resume address changes depending on where I am applying for a position. Although my mobile phone still suggests an area code out of the area, the fact that it is a mobile phone makes it more acceptable.
This week, I applied to two very promising positions and am relying on my LinkedIn contacts to bring my resume to the top of the pile for consideration. "They" say that 75% of all jobs opportunities are the result of networking, so we'll see how it goes.
Although I'm still very much unemployed, I have to feel proud of myself for my strides forward. I have become a very creative problem solver and I am finding strengths I didn't realize I had. These newly found traits might not bring in a paycheck, but they are successes just the same and I feel proud.
Over the past few weeks, my resume has gotten some recognition. I have had a few telephone interviews and two face-to-face interviews.
The telephone interview of interest is a place where I would really love to work. The company develops video tutorials for hundreds of software applications. The opening for which I applied was not the most ideal fit for me, as the requirements warranted a person with less experience than myself, but I wanted to get my foot in the door and try to advance from within. Both the recruiter and I realized, however, that the time was not right, nor was the salary, so I offered an alternative plan for down the road. Although I have yet to hear from the recruiter, I haven't given up, and although I would prefer the recruiter's assistance, I can always go directly to the people in charge to express my interest in a future position.
Now for the face-to-face interviews. Just over two weeks ago, I interviewed with a huge enterprise in the Bay Area. The division within the company, however, was tiny. As such, the staff was very low-key and unstructured in their processes for producing their product support documentation. I interviewed with the two writers comprising the Doc Dept. We seemed to have good chemistry and one of the interviewers even mentioned that I would likely be forwarded to the final two interviewers. Apparently, she misspoke, because I have yet to hear from anyone regarding a second interview, even after attempting follow-up contact with the HR recruiter.
I suspect the reason why I wasn't chosen was due to the fact that my interests lie in keeping up-to-date with the latest technologies to continually expand my own skill sets and also improve the end-user experience. My interests did not seem to parallel with those of the department, however. One interviewer claimed she had no time to even consider changing their methods because it took all their time to keep up with their current needs. Ironically, that's precisely the reason why they should try to find better methods and tools. I feel certain I could have helped their situation and eased their workloads, but it appears I won't be given the chance to prove that.
My next interview was for a contract position in the L.A. area. Although I desire a full-time, salaried position with a company, this position would be a great opportunity for me. This position would enable me to develop video tutorials, which is exactly what I need to position myself for a future opportunity with the company I mentioned earlier. This position would require that I relocate to L.A. during the work week, but I am requesting a four-day work week in an attempt to lessen my overhead expenses. The shorter work week would also allow me one day each week to continue my job search efforts, without interfering with my responsibilities to the contract employer.
This week, I was also contacted for a contract position that requires I work remotely as an editor and illustrator. I just sent samples of my work and hope to hear something soon. The samples I sent were of artwork created from school assignments at my online learning institution. I hope the designs are good enough to show my knowledge of the software application from which they were created.
In support of my potential contract positions, I am going to file a fictitious business statement, which I will note on my LinkedIn profile. I am in the process of teaching myself the DreamWeaver application so I can create a website for a local business. Noting these items on my LinkedIn profile as current are beneficial, as they suggest that I am actively employed. As we all know, an employed candidate is more appealing to potential employers than an unemployed candidate, and I am pulling out all the stops to make myself more marketable.
It has recently come to my attention that I need to remove my current address from my resume. Although I note on my resume and cover letters that I am ready and willing to relocate at my own expense, potential employers don't see past the notation of the remote town in which I live. As a result, my resume address changes depending on where I am applying for a position. Although my mobile phone still suggests an area code out of the area, the fact that it is a mobile phone makes it more acceptable.
This week, I applied to two very promising positions and am relying on my LinkedIn contacts to bring my resume to the top of the pile for consideration. "They" say that 75% of all jobs opportunities are the result of networking, so we'll see how it goes.
Although I'm still very much unemployed, I have to feel proud of myself for my strides forward. I have become a very creative problem solver and I am finding strengths I didn't realize I had. These newly found traits might not bring in a paycheck, but they are successes just the same and I feel proud.
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