2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

What I hear missing from this conversation is the personal side of job searching.

A job hire in today's market is not a transaction by a company - it is a risky investment and the job seeker's role includes assuaging that risk.

Get off the keyboard and put yourself out there. Be the solution to their need, ask people for help that know you, be confident in the things that you are good at & that you know you can do well for a targeted company.

The hard part is being heard/noticed and that rarely happens thru a computer-generated stack of files. It happens through networking, a personal cover letter perhaps, and by putting yourself out there (even to companies that are not hiring), everywhere that makes sense.

Finding a job is hard work: you have to really throw yourself in it and manage it like a project with lots of different elements.

Hope my comments help.

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
view in context

I CANNOT WAIT to read your books after hearing this lively banter! I am a big Philip Margolin fan and love getting entranced in dark, local novels.

I'm so glad that you found your way to the NW and your voice here!!

posted 2 years, 2 months ago
view in context

Another Big Fan!!! Love Amanda Jaffee and demonstrating a strong women character in your crime novels.

Also, I travel a lot for work and enjoy the local references in your work! Keep reminding the world of the great landmarks here.

Can't wait to read your new one!!!

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
view in context

Walking around downtown, I once had a pregnant woman ask me for a cigarette. I haven't smoked for more than a decade and I don't have any children. Even without any first hand experience, I do possess common sense about the health risks of said behavior.

Her request enraged me. I will never forget it. I responded so irrationally, it was almost embarassing. I raised my voice so everyone around us could hear me scolding her. I told her she was selfish and ignorant and the worst mother anyone could have. She had some choice words back for me, about minding my own business and not being judgemental.

I told her that if she wanted to give her kid birth defects and a rough start to life she shouldn't expect others to contribute, and that she opened the door to the criticism by begging to me.

She started to cry. She told me I didn't know how hard it was and that she just needed a little help. I did feel a little bit sorry for being so harsh, but not that sorry. I told her that 'help' is completely different than a cigarette and that she was only making her situation worse.

I walked away and the guilt set in. I couldn't believe I was so mean to her. About 1 block away I decided to turn around and apologize. You know what, I saw her behind me; getting a cigarette from the next passerby.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
view in context

I am completely with Luke T. If you want to be treated like professionals not assembly workers, you have to participate in the professional system. This includes knowing how performance is measured, what is expected, and the consequences for not meeting standards. I think it is HILARIOUS that no one in that conversation knows how a teacher gets fired. Maybe the pay scale should move down the to do list and basic operating models should be defined and communicated to key leaders first. Disappointing show of performance for the people on the panel - you should be embarassed and educate yourselves.

posted 5 years ago
view in context