My DH is applying for another position. We always get asked how we find job postings. Let me tell ya, it sure is not the same thing as when I got out of college.
Searching classified on the Internet doesn't really pan out. Not unless you're into commission based sales, putting things together in your home or real estate get rich quick schemes. Some job sites are helpful, but it's tough to find the right type website.
Word of mouth is pretty dependable. Try to get a contact name or at the very least, a direct line to Human Resources. Then make contact with that person (another challenge is this web- based era); tell them when to look for your email, give 'em a number to call if they have questions.
The best way to go is going to a specific company's site and looking under "employment" or "careers." This can be time consuming. But, with a little luck, you'll see some postings that fit you and your past experience.
We've been considering hiring a head-hunter but how do you find one? They seem rather enigmatic. You hear of them, but what section do you look at in the phone book. "Head Hunter" doesn't work, I tried. "Find me a job, Dude" isn't listed either. Hhmm. Go figure.
'Course a head hunter would cost us mucho dinero but it's like an investment, no? I wonder if they take credit cards...
P.S.- the spellchecker didn't like my "hhmm," it suggested "hammy." Would you like some Hammy on that sandwich?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
What is underemployment?
Wikipedia has three different definitions for underemployment. The first and second definitions regard either working in a position that under utilizes a person's skill set and talents, but it also refers to involuntary part-time employment. The third has something to with employing workers who aren't "fully occupied." Sounds like a family business where weird Uncle Ted finally has a "job.
Yeeeeaaahh. We fit into the first and second definitions. Mike has an MBA and but he has a part-time job clearing wood. I have a bachelor's degree but I can't find a full-time job that uses my skill set.
While Wikipedia is a most respectable website for info (insert that new sarcasm icon here), I thought I would redefine underemployment.
Underemployment is:
listening to your acquaintances brag about their recent weigh-loss due to cutting out red meat, and thinking, "funny, we can't even afford red meat."
watching everyone's pets while they go all trips and vacations, saving them hundreds of dollars. Yet when it's time to repay the favor, they need to charge you for "supplies."
buying an infant seat cheaply. That is to say, used.
watching the horrified look on my MILs face when I buy food for us and the baby at the dollar store.
having the veggie boxes rebuilt is a major expense
squeezing the baby into the office for her nursery
renting DVDs from the library instead of going to a gym
forgoing gifts at all holidays and birthdays (except gifts for the kids)
using your tax return (it finally pays to be poor) to get rid of any debt, instead of going on a long awaited trip to Disneyland
only the older boy gets new clothes. Thank goodness the younger one doesn't care.
squeezing 5 people into a five seat car for a 10 day road trip sans fancy DVD player and video games.
feeling guilty for buying a $10 t-shirt at Costco
Ugh. I'm being such a Debbie Downer. Time for some postiive stuff.
Having three super cute and wonderful kids to bring a smile to my face.
a hubby who really loves me for me, despite my lumpy, un- gymed butt.
Stay-up-late parties with popcorn, treats and lots of blankets and pillows.
Sunday drives to see the natural beauty of our state
having in-laws who welcome us for a visit ANYTIME, handy since they are only a 5 hr. drive
little handyman jobs that come just when we need a little cash
a healthy family
Medicaid for the kids
Yeeeeaaahh. We fit into the first and second definitions. Mike has an MBA and but he has a part-time job clearing wood. I have a bachelor's degree but I can't find a full-time job that uses my skill set.
While Wikipedia is a most respectable website for info (insert that new sarcasm icon here), I thought I would redefine underemployment.
Underemployment is:
listening to your acquaintances brag about their recent weigh-loss due to cutting out red meat, and thinking, "funny, we can't even afford red meat."
watching everyone's pets while they go all trips and vacations, saving them hundreds of dollars. Yet when it's time to repay the favor, they need to charge you for "supplies."
buying an infant seat cheaply. That is to say, used.
watching the horrified look on my MILs face when I buy food for us and the baby at the dollar store.
having the veggie boxes rebuilt is a major expense
squeezing the baby into the office for her nursery
renting DVDs from the library instead of going to a gym
forgoing gifts at all holidays and birthdays (except gifts for the kids)
using your tax return (it finally pays to be poor) to get rid of any debt, instead of going on a long awaited trip to Disneyland
only the older boy gets new clothes. Thank goodness the younger one doesn't care.
squeezing 5 people into a five seat car for a 10 day road trip sans fancy DVD player and video games.
feeling guilty for buying a $10 t-shirt at Costco
Ugh. I'm being such a Debbie Downer. Time for some postiive stuff.
Having three super cute and wonderful kids to bring a smile to my face.
a hubby who really loves me for me, despite my lumpy, un- gymed butt.
Stay-up-late parties with popcorn, treats and lots of blankets and pillows.
Sunday drives to see the natural beauty of our state
having in-laws who welcome us for a visit ANYTIME, handy since they are only a 5 hr. drive
little handyman jobs that come just when we need a little cash
a healthy family
Medicaid for the kids
Friday, May 7, 2010
Under employment- the in between days
Mike is at home today. He'll spend a lot of time in our nursery/office looking up job postings and writing cover letters. We have got to overcome this under-employment thing. He has a line on some positions that will open up soon, so he wants to have his letters written and his resume adjusted so he can get his info in as soon as possible.
Yesterday, Mike was working as labor. He made $75 clearing timber for some rich guy at the top of Emigration Canyon. He'll go back again next week for a few days. Not his ideal job, but it's money.
For now, I'm looking for new locations to teach swimming (who knew I would still be teaching swimming almost 20 yrs. later?). My BIL is working on a new business card for me and I'm talking to all the moms I know trying to drum up new clients.
Honestly, at times I'm a little embarrased to still be working at a job that's usually for the average college kid. I'm almost 40- who wants to see a me with my baby pouch and jiggly arms teaching swimming? But it's money. Until we're able to conquer under-employment and un-employment, this is the plan.
Yesterday, Mike was working as labor. He made $75 clearing timber for some rich guy at the top of Emigration Canyon. He'll go back again next week for a few days. Not his ideal job, but it's money.
For now, I'm looking for new locations to teach swimming (who knew I would still be teaching swimming almost 20 yrs. later?). My BIL is working on a new business card for me and I'm talking to all the moms I know trying to drum up new clients.
Honestly, at times I'm a little embarrased to still be working at a job that's usually for the average college kid. I'm almost 40- who wants to see a me with my baby pouch and jiggly arms teaching swimming? But it's money. Until we're able to conquer under-employment and un-employment, this is the plan.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Well, here we are...
Today on the news, the anchorwoman flashed her white teeth as she declared in an upbeat voice that underemployment is becoming the new normal. There's nothing new about it to us. We have been either underemployed or unemployed for over five years.
When we moved to Utah, 5 1/2 years ago, we knew we were leaving a nice life behind. Mike was General Manager at an 80+ room motel that was owned by his parents. We had all sorts of little perks in lieu of larger numbers on our paycheck. Free rent, free cable, free use of snowmobiles, tour vans and dude ranch accessf, free gas, free movies. Sometimes we would get a loan taken care of instead of a raise on paper- so we could avoid taxes. We lived at the door of the national park and it was a great life.
Yet paradise had it's downside. A small town, the challenges of a family business, the desire to give birth to my kids at a hospital closer than 90 miles. Then we discovered our oldest child had a disability. A disability that needed intensive therapy, therapy we couldn't access in a remote town of less than a thousand people. We left that great life behind to start a new one in the shadow of our college alma mater in Utah.
The first job Mike took was to get his foot into the Salt Lake valley door. It payed only 38,000/ year but it would do. Soon it was apparent he had been hired onto a sinking ship; the hotel was in bankrupcy.
"Onto bigger and better things," we told ourselves. His next job was at a high- end resort in the moutains of Utah. He was shortly given the old heave-ho when the owner's brother expressed an interest in running the property. Job after job, Mike had to take pay-cut from the previous postion. Now he just finished a term at UVU, working as an adjunct professor for a measly $1000 a month.
If there's one thing we know, is how live underemployed or unemployed. We hope to share our exeriences of the good, the bad and the funny. You can have a great life in our position and it will make you a stronger family and person.
When we moved to Utah, 5 1/2 years ago, we knew we were leaving a nice life behind. Mike was General Manager at an 80+ room motel that was owned by his parents. We had all sorts of little perks in lieu of larger numbers on our paycheck. Free rent, free cable, free use of snowmobiles, tour vans and dude ranch accessf, free gas, free movies. Sometimes we would get a loan taken care of instead of a raise on paper- so we could avoid taxes. We lived at the door of the national park and it was a great life.
Yet paradise had it's downside. A small town, the challenges of a family business, the desire to give birth to my kids at a hospital closer than 90 miles. Then we discovered our oldest child had a disability. A disability that needed intensive therapy, therapy we couldn't access in a remote town of less than a thousand people. We left that great life behind to start a new one in the shadow of our college alma mater in Utah.
The first job Mike took was to get his foot into the Salt Lake valley door. It payed only 38,000/ year but it would do. Soon it was apparent he had been hired onto a sinking ship; the hotel was in bankrupcy.
"Onto bigger and better things," we told ourselves. His next job was at a high- end resort in the moutains of Utah. He was shortly given the old heave-ho when the owner's brother expressed an interest in running the property. Job after job, Mike had to take pay-cut from the previous postion. Now he just finished a term at UVU, working as an adjunct professor for a measly $1000 a month.
If there's one thing we know, is how live underemployed or unemployed. We hope to share our exeriences of the good, the bad and the funny. You can have a great life in our position and it will make you a stronger family and person.
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