Lots of disjointed things, actually. Took on a little bit of "free"-lance ... couple of seminars on networking and re-careering ... start an online class today ... a volunteer stint at a community garden ... checking out some other volunteer opps ... investigating a low-budget trip to Italy. (Really!) It hasn't gotten too far yet, but my thinking here is that as soon as I commit and purchase the plane tickets, the job offers will come flying in and I'll have to eat the tickets. Given the current state of affairs, that could be a good problem to have.
If you think I might be a bit confused and conflicted, you're probably right. This is the problem of being unemployed. It hovers over most everything, so it's hard to give a full-fledged commitment to anything. ... Sure, I'd like to be more active in volunteering, but my first priority is finding work, and when I do find work, then I won't have the time to fulfill my volunteering commitment. I'd really like to learn to speak Italian, and play the guitar, but I don't want to be half-vast about it, and I question the wisdom of committing the time to be fully vast.
So I dabble at this and dabble at that -- not because I don't have enough to keep busy, but to keep myself in circulation. This "networking" stuff is slightly uncomfortable for me. I realize the value of it, but the people who are really part of my network -- the "circle of trust" -- know what's going on in my world and are looking out for me. This expanded network -- it just feels like I'm imposing. I guess that's why I'm trying it -- so I can get more comfortable with the process.
By the by, here are a couple pointers I learned along the trail:
* 24 years of experience at one thing is too much -- unless it's twittering. Makes me dated. Better to have 10-plus years experience, plus, of course, hundreds of followers on twitter.
* My resume needs more buzzwords, phrases like "operational efficiencies" and "relationship building" and "organizational advocacy" -- stole that one from Josh Byrnes.
* It's better to be less than honest about my salary history. But I'm not quite sure how much less than honest -- just enough to not price myself out of a job while not selling myself short.
Somehow, it seems just a little disingenuous. They say it's supposed to be about selling yourself, but really it's about selling what you think they want to buy.
Some of us are more comfortable selling something we believe in and hoping that it matches what they want to buy, rather than vice versa.
Keeping the faith
Some days it's not so easy to keep the faith. But here's a little inspiration from an old friend, courtesy of the great Capt. Harry Allen. (Warning: Contains language that some viewers may find objectionable.)
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