Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones

As many of you know I decided to remove a major source of stress from my life and left my position at a non-profit. I loved the people I worked with and for but the demands of the position were more then one person could handle and maintain a healthy body and mind. I've been working contract for a former employer and have enjoyed a relaxed summer. With the end of this contract comes the dreaded new job search. There is a false assumption that as a certified Human Resource Professional I would love this stuff. Wrong. I dread doing my resume, I despise cover letters, and detest filling out multiple questionnaires that ask the same information that is already on my resume. Now give me your resume & I'll tear it apart with my red pen and help you realize how awesome you are, ask me to do practice interview questions and I'll grill you to an elevated since of confidence and self worth, but make me do it for myself and I'd rather just pull my own teeth out. So we're going to play a game... I'm going to give you job hunting advice and then I'll make myself follow the rules.

Job Hunt Tips

Network
- tell everyone that you are looking, you never know who knows someone
-tell your church, prayer & connections are a powerful combo
-reach out to your professional organizations, attend meetings
-make a business card with your info & 3 bullet points of skills on the back
-set up informational interviews with people who have jobs you might be interested in or at companies you might like. this is a no pressure coffee or lunch were the people talk about their favorite topic: themselves & who knows they may know a position at their company or someone else's. be sure to pick up the tab.
-reach out to old coworkers and asscoiates, I even emailed an old AFLAC rep (he's a VP of a benefits company with 300 clients) that's alot of potential opportunities.
-always be gracious, thankful, and follow-up
-volunteer

Resumes
-keep one on your flash drive and update it even when you aren't searching. When you complete a major project, win an award, etc put it on there while its fresh. You can edit and thin out later.
-make your name the first & largest thing on the page
-follow the thumb rule: hold the paper in your hand & the most important information should be above it
-objectives are dead, write a strong summary statement
-always print & edit your resume. don't trust spell check
-if you have been out of school for more than 5 years, education can go on the bottom
-1 page only; unless your industry requires a CV, or more detailed information such as Program skills

Temporary Agencies
-contact everyone in town, loyalty is not expected and many companies have recruiting contracts so you could miss out on a great job if you don't
-5 people looking is better than just you
-you won't get less money or benefits, you might miss out on a sign on bonus but that's only if you do temp to permanent & does that really matter? you've been paid 40hrs every week
-a professional will review your resume & give you interview practice
-many agencies do few computer training

Stay active, engaged, and fresh. Schedule 2 hours each day to search and then give your mind a break.

To much time leads to blogs

Since I'm full of random thoughts, I've decided to subject you to them. After a month of trying to pick a cute, catchy, & charaterizing name I picked "Sticks & Stones." I was passing yet another kidney stone when it came to me. This phrase holds so many meanings in my life: kidney stones, nature, family, being gay, & even human resources. So here's a peek into the randomness that clouds my brain.