The Muse of a Stranger

Eureka! I just discovered my unique sense of style as I was getting ready today. I looked in the mirror and it hit me! I am the person who wears a $250 suit jacket (not that I paid that much for it) with $19.99 Levis and t-shirt. I am quite happy to add black socks and Birkenstocks to that ensemble. I am ecclectic. I like to change my hairstyle and color every 2 months. I love to wear “hand-me-downs” and second-hand clothes for that lived-in feel, knowing that someone once loved that piece. I always have a scarf that I picked up in some foreign country or given to me by a friend. Once, not really a jewelry person, I now adorn myself with my favorite Silpada pieces…Martha Price says “no less than 10 and if you walk out the door and think you have too much jewelry on, put one more piece on!”

I'm the one who wants to surround myself with artists and bohemians alike. I'm not afraid to go off on journeys alone but welcome the companionship of a fellow traveler and treasure those that are taken with my husband and children. I can carry all my things in a small back-pack and be gone for five weeks and still look great every day! I'm not afraid to try new things (and sometimes fail) and I am always the first one to volunteer. I am an adventurer. I love the smell of the trees after an early morning rain or the leaves on a warm Indian summer's day. I write poetry and day dream in the morning and can tackle a whole boatload of professional activities throughout the day. I am not afraid to make new friends and I am learning to cherish and cultivate those relationships that are "life-giving" and shed those that pull my spirits downward.

"Being stronger means working harder. Being wiser means thinking longer. The easy path is no path at all; everyone's already doing that one." - Eric Marshall (EJM Designs)

Its funny how who you are as a person has always been staring you in the face every morning waiting to be discovered. Thank you Sherry! I may never hear from you again but you are the muse that opened up my spirit to possibilities. You let me look at myself in a different light. I’ve been trying to find my “voice” for a long time and it has been right in front of me. OK, now, what will I discover next?

Coffee on my PJ's

Its early, everyone is asleep because we are having a two-hour delay due to snow. I took the time to open up my computer and check on my blog. So, as with my usual routine I descended my staircase and with eyes half open made my way to the coffee maker for my morning cup o’ joe. Like most women, the multi-tasking begins as I start the coffee, run around the house, as quietly as possible looking for my computer and power cord. So I begin to gather all of my things together, computer in one hand, power cord under my chin, my short 5’0” self trying to reach into the cabinet for my favorite coffee mug that is placed so high that only an Amazon could reach it, juggling as gracefully as I can, maneuvering to the coffee pot, to pour coffee into the mug. OK, so far, success….the real trick was trying to get it all to the basement into my library where my “creative juices” flow. I’m careful. I make my way down the stairs and through the doors into my old cistern, come wine cellar, now library and what do I do? Yes my friends, all that work for nothing! I tripped on a cord and as I was saving my computer from a fate worse than death, my PJ’s were not so lucky as I now wear the new French fragrance entitled “L’eau du la cafe”.

So this is how my day is going to begin…figures…nice quiet perfect morning…but all is not always as it seems. With my half cup of coffee, my computer and the silence of my library I settle in to begin working on my next blog post. One cannot even imagine my delight to see that I actually now have a follower that is not family or not a well-intended friend. I discovered Sherry Hartz at my blog.

http://sherryhartz.blogspot.com

I immediately went to check out this stranger that had somehow found her way inside my private (or rather not so private) little journey and was fascinated to discover that Sherry is a writer of women’s books and wrote a book based in my favorite place on earth, Sedona, AZ. If you get a chance to check her blog I have included it. I can’t wait to track down a copy of her book, sit by the fire with a nice hot toddy and dig in. Thanks Sherry for the inspiration to pick up, blog some more and start finding my creative and authentic voice.

This week's goals

This week my primary goal is to finish “fine tuning” my new resume and get through Tuesday’s interview. I will also find five HR professionals who hire corporate trainers who would be willing to critique my resume and tell me what else I need to do with it to make it intriguing to potential employers.

"Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake".
-Henry David Thoreau

New Resume Submitted

Well, I’m anxious to see how this job application rolls. I used my new and improved corporate education resume to apply for a position at the college where I am teaching. I wonder if it will get me an interview. I guess we will know soon enough. I’m not sure how long they need to post before they start the process.


“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
– Henry David Thoreau

Resume re-packaged and ready to rock

My friend Christine helped me re-write my resume and I think it looks awesome! It is still heavily clinically focused but I hope it gets the job done. I am sending it on to some friends who have agreed to send it to some HR professionals that they know for some feedback. I am exploring other opportunities to receive feedback as well. Perhaps this is one area where I can tap into some connections on Linked-In.

So, I have had my resume posted on Career Builders for a while. Just recently I received a call from a major Dialysis chain looking for a facility administrator. I have my first face –to –face interview since I started this process next week. I don’t know where it will go but while it is not necessarily my “dream job” I think that it would be a very interesting and challenging position. It would be a nice stepping stone into a growing company where I believe there could be a lot of future opportunity. Besides, if I ever want to resume work as a Clinical Specialist, I need to seriously update my dialysis experience. I’m sure a lot has changed over the years.

So, with my resume re-tooled and sent off to two colleagues I will see where it all leads. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Have you sent your resume on to be reviewed by any large HR professionals? I would love to hear what kind of responses you have received.

Enduring

Endure. One of my good friends of about ten years, Amy, has been supportive for me through this process. She called me today with a wonderful inspirational message about “enduring” through it all. “The triumphant will be the one that endures.” I think the hardest thing for me has been to be patient. So, I will keep networking and I will keep enduring.

Yesterday I met with my old administrator from my first job in dialysis years ago. It was very enlightening to hear about his job search journey. I certainly took a networking lesson from him yesterday. I was telling him about my dissatisfaction about my Linked-In networking activities. I realize now that maybe I have been going about it in the wrong way. I have been applying for job after job after job on Linked-In’s job boards. CS has been actually setting up appointments and requesting face to face meetings with contacts. While he has not yet secured a position, he has made some very impressive contacts using this method.

I had essentially given up on Linked-In as a job search tool. I think my next move is to focus my pursuit to a couple of particular roles and seek out individuals that can either aid me in my search or are the hiring managers themselves. Then, I just need to endure until I talk to the right individual. What things do you do to help yourself endure this process?

There is no Try

I've been talking so much about what I am going to "Try" next. Recently I read a blog at http://ejmdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/01/there-is-no-try.html. Eric talked about the fact that "there is not try".

"When it comes down to success, when it comes down to achieving, you either do or you don't. "Try" is a cop-out. So stop making excuses and get out there and put yourself out there and succeed - or fail. Either way, you've learned something so you can make even more out of it next time."

So I continue to progress towards my goal, I am going to JUST DO IT! Thanks Eric.

Resume Review

OK so I got some feedback from my friend on my resume. She was lovingly brutal but at least I am finally starting to address some of the issues.

“Your resume is like a foreign language to me and I don’t understand half the terminology or shit you did, in business language!! I need to rewrite the entire thing so that it appeals to a business executive, but really need some help from you too on translations. I had a couple people look at both resumes and the first thing they said was way too much information, too detailed and not punchy on the stuff you really want to emphasize. Also does not leverage the bachelor’s degree.”

So today I will be diving into my resume and I will start the process of identifying myself as a Corporate Trainer. How exciting is that? At least I am developing a focus. The next thing that I think I need to do is to create a job search strategy. Where do I even begin to find Corporate Training positions? I have only dealt in the health care arena. What steps have you taken to develop a job search strategy?

Sarano will help me save myself

If you have never heard of Sarano Kelley, you need to go to his web-site. I heard Sarano speak at a Silpada Designs convention last summer and he changed my life. I participated in a special coaching session that he offered us “Silpada Ladies”. Now I will tell you that I did not meet any of my goals during the session. But, what that first session did for me was to help me identify what I really want/need out of life, where I should really be placing my focus and putting some order into my life. I learned so much. Some of it was new and some of it was just re-packaged in a new way that made things click. Some of the new skills that I picked up that I have been carrying with me are the concepts of mind dumping and time blocking. This is not a new concept. Steven Covey has been teaching it for years. However, Sarano had a way of presenting it that made it more user-friendly and productive. So, I plan on putting my second game into action here in the near future. I have started with the all important task of cleaning out the clutter in my life. Since my game ended around the holidays, I let newly developed habits slipped. While I am not starting completely over, I have a lot of catch up to do.

To visit Sarano Kelley, click on the attached link: http://www.saranokelleycoaching.com/campaigns/kelley/index.php

So what support systems, tools, concepts, etc have you put in place that is helping you reach your goals? I will be playing Game #2 built from what I have learned through my first 90 day session with Sarano Kelley. While I acknowledge that I won’t have the support that Sarano had built for us “Silpada Ladies,” I have you, whoever you are and whenever you start providing feedback.

Re-package Equipment Trainer to Corporate Trainer

I think I have been trying too hard to go back to an industry that I love. I have to ask myself the question, "why did I love that job?" The bottom line is that I loved that job because I enjoy educating people. I get a thrill out of helping people understand a concept/task/device that they didn't know before. Using my creativity to develop and design educational/training programs gives me a real high. So why focus only on medical equipment? I have a lot of skills from my previous career as a business owner that can be "re-packaged" as a Corporate Trainer. I didn't spend ten years designing and developing processes, procedures and educational training material for it to all just go to waste now?

I found some sample Corporate Trainer job descriptions doing a Google search that will help guide me into developing my own corporate trainer resume. How are you "re-packaging" yourself? What resources are you using to help you?

Door closed so time to move on

Well, the door has finally been closed today on all of the Clinical Specialist opportunities that I have had in the wings. I heard from the job in Chicago that they narrowed five candidates down to two….I was not one of the two. I phoned the in-house recruiter to get feedback from the find out where I “fell out” of the process. She was absolutely lovely and stated that she would check with hiring manager and definitely get back to me. I can certainly use that information to start the process of improving the presentation of myself.

I also heard from my old company. My heart sank as I read the e-mail from the HR department. I really wanted that job. It was going to be interesting and a lot of fun. An internal candidate surfaced and the role was given to that individual. I know it was a good move for the organization but it doesn’t hurt any less. So, where does that leave me? Well after all of the tears that I have shed today over the loss of opportunity, I think I actually see a light to move onto newer and brighter things.

I hope the old adage “when one door closes, another one opens” holds true as I move on and try to market myself in other industries. What do you do when doors close? How do you pick yourself up and keep moving forward? What methods do you use to keep motivated enough that your eyes are always open to creative ways to market yourself in new industries?

Where is the Human in Resources

So today I think I have applied for the fifth or sixth time with Quintiles / Innovex for a job either in Cincinnati or in Sydney Australia. I did hear back from Innovex in Sydney, Australia. They were very nice and told me that basically I need to already be in Australia in order to be eligible for a position there due to interview scheduling. Ok, I get that. But here I am, located in Cincinnati, applying for jobs in Cincinnati. I don’t understand the lack of human contact in today’s job market. Can someone please tell me why the “Human” had been removed from “Human Resources”?

In the big scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter since I have finally found my focus in corporate education. So, I guess the next thing I need to do is to start thinking about my own personal style and I how I want to brand myself as an individual. I have been thinking about this a lot since that broadcast last week. I have been reading a book called Bohemian Manifesto by Laren Stover. It has been very inspirational in helping me identify for myself my own style. While I do not consider myself a “Bohemian”, per se, (as defined by Laren Stover) I do consider myself “Bohemianish”. But how will I brand myself as uniquely me? Perhaps I will take a survey among my friends and colleagues.

So, my big questions for you today are, “how do you find the human in the resources in your job search?” “How are you circumnavigating the system to get your foot in the door?” AND “How are you identified as a human person to your friends, family and colleagues?”

Finding my focus

Eureka! This is so cathartic! Its like a light bulb lit up in my head. I kept asking myself, what do I want to do? Where are my strengths? What are my gifts? I keep coming back to teaching, education, presentation, etc. My good friend Christine said, “Why don’t you look at other industries in their corporate education departments?” I thought about it for a second or so and I said, “I don’t know, why don’t I?” So Christine has offered to take on my monster of a resume and help me reposition myself as a corporate educator. Now that I have a focus, its actually working. Yesterday, at a networking meeting, I introduced myself as a corporate educator in transition. You know, it worked. I had a call from a gentleman in the meeting who is launching a company and needs someone to provide education and training to his clients. I have an interview next week! Very exciting for me! Secondly, I rang up a old colleague who owns a company called Productivity Masters and told her what path I am going down and she was more than willing to connect me with her clients that have educational needs. So now, I have focus…lets see if it will take me anywhere. Do you have a particular job that you are focusing on finding? Tell me about your strategy. I really need a strategy.

Network to a job through Linked In

I’m still on this networking kick. I signed up for a score of groups on Linked-In because the “buzz” on the street is that Linked-In is the place to find a job. There have been a multitude of jobs listed for medical device specialists. That’s me! I have applied for this position so many times that the recruiter, Darren, in England pretty much told me that he would call me if something came available. He does not return my calls and does not return my e-mail requests. I want to scream to the world…THAT’S ME! I DO THAT! I am your medical device gal. I sent him an e-mail telling him we are willing to relocate, that my husband was a British citizen so sponsorship was not an issue, I tried to summarize my various unique equipment experiences, but ‘ole Darren just isn’t buying into me. So I have to ask the question, “does he really have a job available or is he just collecting resumes?” I don’t know. I always fancied myself a fine writer but now I question my cover letter techniques. My resume certainly isn’t cutting the mustard. I need to repackage myself. What about your resume? Are you getting enough responses from your efforts?

Network to a job

Networking! Networking! Networking! Everyone is telling me that the way to a job these days is Networking! Well, I guess if I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up networking would be a little easier for me. I am a good networker when I have a focus. I thought I wanted to go back to the Medical Device industry. I thought I was made for that industry. I love it! I love being in front of customers, helping the problem solve and helping them learn. I love the travel! I enjoy going from location to location and seeing what everyone is doing out there in the industry, looking at the trends and being able to pass that information along to willing recipients. I miss working in teams and having colleagues and mentors. So, I have been networking. I have called everyone I know in my industry, arranged for interviews where there were openings and have had multiple phone interviews. They all like me….but…my experience is either too old or I have worked for myself so long that there is a fear that I can’t incorporate into a team environment. How do I get my point across that this is what I want to do with my career and this is where my strengths lie? Are you having trouble positioning yourself for the job that you want too? Will anyone ever read this?

Brand your image

I saw an interesting interview on the news today during one of the morning shows. There was a marketing guy on there that gave a couple of examples of stars that have “branded” themselves or products then shifted the conversation to individuals who are looking for a job. He talked about “personal” branding and showed an example of how he exhibits some of his own individual flair. One end of his business card appears folded down. He stated he got the idea because people would come to him with copies of his books and they would ask him questions from the dog-eared pages. Also, he has his own personal dress style. He wears black everywhere he goes. He talked about persons who were looking for a job to develop their own unique panache that makes a statement and forces the interviewer to remember them. Marketing 101! We are always focusing on product but why not ourselves? So I wonder, what will be the mark that I leave? What’s yours?

Are you overqualified too

Blogging to my dream job – Day 2. Are you over qualified? I am so sick of hearing that I am “just over qualified” for this position or that position. What in the heck is “overqualified” anyway? Can someone tell me? Please? Most of these jobs require (at minimum) a bachelor’s degree. Well, I went back to school, got the bachelor’s degree and graduated in December of 2009. So, since I am now a new bachelored prepared candidate, how does that make me “overqualified”? Frustrating!

How do I navigate the system these days? What are these Human Resources departments looking for? I have submitted over 300 resumes in the last few months for jobs in the US, EU, Australia and New Zealand. I have had a few nibbles but that is about it. I don’t get it yet. It seems to me that the “Human” has gone out of the “Resources”. I am told by most employers that I have to submit my resume through the internet. This means that they never meet me, they don’t know any of my crossover skills, and they don’t know who I am as a person. All the HR Department sees is that I have been in business for myself for the past ten years. Nobody asked me if I wanted to be in business for myself. I was in business for myself out of necessity, but what I really want is to be part of an industry team that is doing important and exciting work. How do I get that out there without sounding too desperate and how do I break down those barriers so that HR departments do not think that I am “overqualified”?

So, yesterday, after my first official blog, I got inspired. I applied for a great job in Hong Kong. It is for a Clinical Manager for a company that makes dialysis equipment. It is a great opportunity but I never expected to get a response. I changed my approach by constructing a well worded cover letter outlining my goals and my sincere interest in the position.

I am very excited about this opportunity and I have my fingers crossed that they look at me as a viable candidate. Lo and behold, I received a response from HR. I don’t know where this one will go but wish me luck.

Here we go

While my on-line journey is just beginning, the search for my dream job is actually well under way. Inspired by the book "Julie and Julia" I decided to embark on a new type of journey for me. Recently I finished a 90 day coaching session with well-known speaker and business coach Sarano Kelley. I have learned a lot about myself in these past ninety days but I guess the biggest thing that I learned is that the larger you put yourself out there, the more accountable you have to become to those who are along for the ride. I have always kept my struggles deep within my inner circles of friendships but I am taking a leap and I am going to share this journey with anyone out there who wants to join me. So, here I go…I am writing my first blog and I will share with you my day to day frustrations with today’s job search.

You see, this job hunting thing is all new for me. I am an RN who very early on in my career specialized in hemodialysis / nephrology nursing. My interest in dialysis led me to wonderful and exciting opportunities which took me all over the world as I became a sort of “extracorporeal” (blood outside the body) expert. I would receive phone calls from recruiters for various positions. I sometimes had been recruited directly by the hiring manager themselves.

Ten years ago, I was with a company that I absolutely loved and my job was dissolved. I was four months pregnant with an 18 month old at home. I was in a profession that required extensive travel. Who in the heck was going to hire a woman 4 months pregnant for a job like that??? HELLO!!!! Nobody I am sure. So, after the tears subsided, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and started my own business. It was great! There were a lot of ups and downs but we always made money. Two years ago, I sold the business and went back to school to finish up a degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.

You know, I sold that business during the best and worst time. The best time because it was a hot commodity, the worst time because now I am faced with finding a job in the worst job market I have seen in my lifetime. I started looking in September. I am consulting and I am teaching at a local college (very part time) but I still need to find full time employment. I don’t know what you all are faced with but I have decided that I need an outlet to share my mounting frustrations with today’s job market.

So, I invite you to join me on my quest to find a job. I will discuss my methods (or lack thereof), my interviews and my experiences. In turn, I hope that you will share with me your experiences, what is working for you and help me wade through this really grueling system that is currently in place. HERE WE GO!