And So It Goes...

I've applied to a lot of positions this week. I've emailed a lot of folks and talked to a few on the phone. Nothing is happening....yet....but it has to pick up soon.

I'm tired. That pretty much sums up my feelings in a nutshell....a tired, little nutshell.

I'm glad it's the weekend. I wish I could loosen up a bit and enjoy this flexible time but I just can't. I'm Dori Goldman. Those that know me know that I'm pretty tightly wound.

My JOG is taking a sabbatical until Monday. My JOG is tired as well.

Here's to futures brighter and prosperity to all.

Hire Me!

Is The Tide A'Turnin?

Yesterday and today I noticed a couple more recruiting positions posted (plus one for a gaming company but it's in NYC). Also, a friend of mine sent me an opportunity for a contract recruiter. I'm applying to all of these. I haven't had an interview in 3 weeks or so, so I will continue to apply to everything I see. Maybe there's a bit of an upswing out there?

Today's JOG tip: Be friendly to everyone. In email, over the phone or in person...I'm trying to be nice and helpful to everyone. I've always been fairly nice to most people but sometimes I can get heated if I think something is unfair or I've told a particular staffing firm to stop calling me a million times. I'm just trying to give off positive energy and hopefully it will come back around.

My lunch date was rescheduled until next week. That's OK. I feel like during this whole situation my life is continuously being put on hold.

Arrrggghhhh! (that was a positive ARGH....I think...)

Hire Me!

Rough Morning? Eh.

I have basically been up since 3:10am. I did catch a disco nap from 6:40am until 8am. What I thought was my carbon monoxide detector was beeping due to low battery. It turns out it was my smoke detector. I kept trying to take it off (it's attached to my ceiling) to change the battery but couldn't do it. 311 said I was nuts for even calling (I knew it wasn't carbon monoxide and it was my battery). Firemen aren't going to help you change a battery.

I called this Chimp that I know 22 times. He finally picked up the phone at 5am (My dog and I moved our party to the car where William had a fitful 10 minutes of solid sleep while I just sat there and thought). He changed my batteries in both detectors and I couldn't be more grateful.

I got to work around 9:30am and actually don't feel half bad. I'm in a decent mood. My friend had her baby (small thing with no name as of yet) and I applied to 2 new positions. I don't think that either of them will contact me but at least there were 2 new ones to apply to. (So much for the Secret way of thinking).

I'm having lunch with my friend tomorrow. She may have some freelance work for me. I also may be able to work for a game agency doing some sourcing. Anything I can get my hands on.

Oh...and this morning I think I opened a rotten bag of dog treats. They're freeze dried raw patties. They smelled like garbage. The expiration date hadn't passed so I don't know what's up but my dog, who normally eats anything and everything, turned his nose to them. Then I got a whiff and it wasn't pretty.

In my dog shop I wouldn't sell rancid treats.....only lovely, fresh, healthy ones....

Hire Me!

Is August The New Birkin Bag?

Everyone keeps mentioning that the job market is going to pick up in the Fall....late August to be exact. Is this true or just wishful thinking? I hope it's true. I definitely know the market will pick up but it may not be until 1st quarter of 2010. This could put a severe crimp in my everyday style. If it is August then people will be lining up to "get some of that" and there may be a waiting list. As I'm trying to network all over town, I'm hoping to be first in line when the clouds part and gold coins start falling from the sky. I'm all about it.

I heard from a couple more contacts yesterday. One offered me some contract work (it'll most likely be "you fill a position, you get some dough") if I can't find anything else and one wants to share leads with me. I'm open to both and do believe the more I'm talking to everyone, the more I'll land something sooner rather than later.

Should I take my resume off the job boards? I think I'll do this in a day or so. Nothing has come of it (only scam jobs and insurance agent offerings) and it may be nice to re post it in a few weeks.

I'm enjoying writing this JOG. I believe I may have 3 or so loyal readers and for that I am thankful. I may start marketing it to the masses but I feel I have to get a few more written to make it really appealing. Did those last few sentences make it worth your while? Yep, I'm a regular Hemingway and Doctor Phil all wrapped up in one.

Today on the agenda is more copying of employee files and maybe some forecasting for the new company (WB Games Chicago - the new name of the studio).

Oh the life I lead....

HIRE ME!

Throwing Out The Baby With The Bathwater

I don't really have a strategy for this week. I'm continuing to tell everyone and anyone that I'm looking for a job and that seems to be creating quite the buzz but still no solid leads. I know this will take time.

Again I'm hearing from the masses to enjoy my impending time off. Do things that cost no money and enjoy the time. I guess I'll see what happens when I get to that point but knowing myself, I don't know how relaxed I'll be. If I had a severance then maybe I'd be loosy goosy but no severance = pure panic at the disco.

Already this morn I've emailed a couple people from Friday who I met who said they wanted my resume in case their company was hiring. All I can do is keep on sending and hoping.

I'm continuing to run errands that need to get done while I still have money....like taking my car in today to get the once over. Friday I'm having my cleaning lady, Renata (if you ever need a cleaning woman this gal is awesome!!!) do up my place nice and pretty. Not sure when I can have her back due to my economic sitch.

I said last week that this week would be a good one. I'm going to continue in that thought process. It never hurts to think a little SECRET every now and then.

Hire Me!

No Shame In My Game

Everyone I talk to and every post on a social networking site is about my hunt for a job. I have no shame. I want everyone to know that I'm looking so hopefully someone will offer me something or give me leads. I have never expected to get something for free. I work for everything I get.

So slowly but surely this method is working. I got an email yesterday from a former coworker about a contract job at his company and today my friend contacted me about freelance help for her company. If I can piece enough things together then maybe I can make a go of it. I'm not sure if either of these opportunities will pan out but at least it's something...SOMETHING to think about instead of NOTHING.

Maybe I should draw up biz cards for myself: Dori Goldman/(Contact information)/No Shame In My Game. That's an attractor, huh?

I'm going to leave work early today....really early. I've got a lot of personal errands to run. That's the one good thing about losing your job: You get "Me" stuff done a lot easier.

Oh Happy Weekend.

Hire Me!

Who's Bad?!

My boss said something interesting to me yesterday: "Maybe you're getting so down on yourself because you're sending your resume to anyone/everyone and not hearing anything back instead of being more strategic. Since it "only takes one" job then try being more selective in your search. This is going to take time no matter what." Huh.....I guess it's a good way of approaching it. I've been going on different company websites and not finding any recruiting opportunities but if a company really interests me I'm still posting my resume to their database. I know from experience that I may never be "sourced" but at least it's in there. I can always go back and post again if need be. I think this is OK but maybe all the Monster/Careerbuilder stuff has to end. They are both crappy!

I also need to start writing down who I send my resume to. This will help me in the future if another opening pops up at the same company. I won't have to go thru all the sign up stuff. And if an Agency calls me to ask if I've already submitted my resume I'll know if I have/haven't.

I just got to work. I had to run to Evanston hospital to get an exam. Something all ladies need to do at 40 (or just before you turn 40 as in my case). It wasn't nearly as painful as I had expected. Wasn't a walk in the park, but it wasn't terrible. All these "appointments" I'm trying to get in while I still have insurance and/or Cobra. Because Midway may cease to exist in a few months, I may not even get Cobra so I want to do all of this now.

Off I go to make more copies. Who's bad? Me.

HIRE ME!

Dori

Hello I'm almost 40 and I love my mommy and daddy

So, last night I get home and I see that my dad has sent me a check for a pretty nice amount. My parents do this a lot when they know I'm "in need". I started getting really misty eyed. Here I am....almost (a few months!) FORTY and my parents are sending me money to help me out in these hard economic times. It's so appreciated but I also feel like I'm worthless. Because I'm having such a hard time finding something new I feel like even my P's don't have the confidence in me that I'll land something. Now, I know that their concern only comes out of love but I'm just having such a hard time with this whole thing. I've always been able to support myself and make a decent living. This is the first time since I was about to leave college that I'm really worried about money. But as I've talked to numerous friends about this who are around my age, they too say that they've received help from their parents and there's nothing to be ashamed of. Umm....

I was listening to Drex this morning (they kind of drive me nuts but it's nonsense radio and really that's all I can handle while driving to work) and he was talking about "funemployment". Instead of looking at it like UNemployment, it should be looked on as FUN where you don't have to do the daily grind and the feeling of Groundhog's day becomes nonexistent. Well, this is all fine and dandy but doesn't anyone have to pay a mortgage or have really high bills??? I'd love some time off to enjoy the summer but honestly, I need to be making the coin.

Today I got an email from a chap in London who's looking for "September employment". Not sure what that's all about but I assume that he's in school and wants to do something for a month in the video game industry. Instead of just deleting the email, I responded to let him know our situation and to wish him luck. I truly don't want to blow anyone off these days especially since I know how crappy that feeling is since no one is returning/responding to any of my emails/inquiries.

Here's to all you FUNemployment people. Enjoy the relaxation while you can. I wish you all the best!

HIRE ME!

Makin Copies

So, today's JOG is going to be really short. I'll be spending my entire day at the copy machine. Good times? Oh, yeah. I need to make copies of all former Midway employee's files. Please don't envy me.

I contacted one company yesterday in regards to a job. It was a referral. We'll see if he gets in touch with me.

I think the IL unemployment rate is 10-12%. Brutal. How do you find a job when there are none to be had? I guess I'm trying to look at it this way: I just need one. Just one job. So if I look at it that way, then I believe that my odds are better. Or am I just on crack?

In any case...Happy Tuesday. May the force be with us all.

Hire me!

New Week: New Tude

The weekend was fine. Yesterday was very unproductive and I'm kind of glad to be in the office today. I have a feeling....and I have no clue if my feelings are ever right or wrong, but I have a feeling that this week will be a good one and next week will be an even better one. Beyond that, I don't have a clue.

I've been scheduling appointments while I still have a job to take care of my biz. Lady Doc, Car Maintenance, Dentist....all the stuff that has to be done and is easier to be paid for with $$ coming in.

Because it's the beginning of the week there is not much to report but hopefully this will change as the week goes on.

I left a message for the dude that interviewed me almost 2 weeks ago and NO RESPONSE but I guess that's how it's going to be. He can suck it (until I find a fabulous new job this will be my feeling towards all prospective employers that don't hire me). 'Nuff said.

I still find that a lot of people are sending me their resumes and looking for work. As I said in my last post, I will be kind to them and try to help if I can. I'm hoping this goodness will come back to reward me.

I hope the universe has a good Monday. We all deserve it!

HIRE ME!

I'm The Female George Costanza

First off, I want to say that I will be referring to this from here on out as my JOG (job + blog = JOG).

Now, with all the administrative issues aside I can get down to the task at hand: My job search and what I'm doing.

I do feel a little like George from Seinfeld. My friend asked me yesterday if there's anything else I wanted to do besides recruiting and I was thinking, "Sure...I like dogs. I like watching TV. Maybe I could do something with that. I like celebrity gossip. Anything there?" But I answered, "Well, maybe sales?" Ugh. I don't know if I have any other skills. I'm lucky I've gotten this far with the minimal skills I have. Now I have to try and gain more/newer skills? Man, this thing called "Life" is tough.

I have decided that I can't use this forum to only complain and feel sorry for myself. I must also try and give tips. You know, so that when Suzy Orman or Oprah catches wind of my Jog and wants me on their show it impresses them that I'm also giving out advice.

So, here's today's' tip: Pay it forward. Just because I have no prospects doesn't mean I shouldn't forward a job onto a friend. Since I'm pretty much using my whole day to search job boards, company websites and group networking sites I'm coming across a lot of job opportunities....for others. I've been forwarding those onto my current co-workers and friends that I know are looking for work. I know that misery loves company (this girl I know....we'll call her "Shmori"....does relish in the fact that she's not alone in her plight) but I do believe that the Karma Gods will pay it back at some point. So don't not forward a Staff Accountant job post on just because you're a Paralegal.

Yesterday I was so touched to see a couple of guys I've known (1 friend from HS and 1 guy I dated) send me job leads. So nice! Really, people have been so kind to me. I really appreciate it and seriously....KEEP EM COMIN'!

I think I'm going to call my "He's just not that into you" interviewer from almost 2 weeks ago. I'd rather that he tells me that he isn't interested in me than not respond to any of my emails. OK...I just called and left a message. My heart was beating so fast like I was calling a dude that I liked. He wasn't there so I left a message. Hopefully it doesn't come across like the John Favreau VM message in Swingers. Oy!

Until next week.....

Oh, and I'm going to sign off using a catch phrase. That phrase is going to be: Hire Me!

Hire Me!

Dori

First Blog Post: Job Searches Are Like Dating

Ok, so....I never thought I'd write a blog. N-E-V-E-R (for all you spellers out there). But because I am in the throes of a job search and not having a lot of success I felt compelled to share my thoughts and almost use this venue for a bit of self release therapy.

I love(d) my job. I'm here until (drum roll please) September 11th (yes, my friends) as we qualified for the WARN Act due to the demise of Midway Games. This may seem like a lot of time to find a job but it's not. Not at all (especially since I really started looking about 4 weeks ago). The days tick by quite quickly and when you think you have a whole bunch of opportunities lined up, think again. I liken my job search to dating. "Will he call/email?" "Why haven't I heard from him?" "Was it something I did/said?" I refresh my email a zillion times a day and call my land line (which no one ever uses except the random telemarketer and that Steve Fanelli psycho lady) a few times as well just to see if some one's trying to get in touch with me. I have my cell phone with me at all times and often stare at it or check it just to make sure it's working. It's always working!

I went on an interview over a week ago and like when you first process a date I thought all was FABULOUS. But after numerous follow up attempts (3 to be exact) and no response from the Hiring Manager I'm now going over the interview wondering where I went wrong. How did I misread this meeting? Did the Hiring Manager not think I was as attractive as I thought he was? (Um...he wasn't, but he looked like Rob Lowe to me as I was sitting in his office talking to him)

I get pretty down on myself because I'm always the person that people say, "Dori? Oh, you know everyone. You'll be fine." Flattering, yes but in this crazy job market I feel like I know no one and even if I did there are so very few jobs in my field and I'm very nervous....nervous that I will be one of those unemployed people who will lose their home to foreclosure and who you read about was on top and then hit rock bottom. I don't want to be one of those dames.

So...that's how I'm feeling today. I'm trying to stay positive but positive is tough when no one is knocking on your door. Maybe tomorrow I'll be peppier. Maybe.

In any case, if you know of any fabulous recruiting roles in Illinois (or a virtual opportunity) please let me know. I'm an awesome recruiter. I really am. At least that's what I keep telling myself to keep my spirits lifted.