It’s a good thing I wrote a little yesterday morning, because the rest of the day involved working on the projects I have due. I am trying so hard to get them done so I can do some of the other things I have to get done.

I did get a call, from a place in Nashville. One of the many places I filled out the forms online for employment, which you almost never hear back from, called me, wanting to hire me. The message said they loved my resume and when could I start. I had to call them back and explain how I am no longer going to be in Nashville, as planned, but instead will be in St. Charles, MO.

I have been less than impressed with the new way people are hired these days. It’s not just me, my kids and friends have all gone through the same thing. You fill out extremely long, very detailed applications and then never hear back from the company. My least favorite part of the experience is when they ask you to attache your resume, but then on the application they have you fill out every detail of your resume, including names of supervisors and phone numbers. Some of my previous employers do not even exist!

In the educational field they also tend to want you to supply references, with letters. Who am I supposed to ask to send out many, (not 1-2, but many!) letters of recommendation? Not only do they want the references to be work references, but a couple of them wanted only direct supervisors! I have one, and that poor man has already responded to multiple requests on my behalf. Do these places think we are only applying at one place? And do they not realize that until we are one of the final people in consideration, they do not need a reference? Many state that without all of the required information you will not even be considered for the position, so you must include the references, your transcripts, a completed application (some have been 10 pages long!) a cover letter written specifically for the position, and your resume, tailored to the position you are applying for.

With all of this for one single position, you can imagine how much time and effort it takes to apply to many places, and how frustrating it is when you don’t hear back from one of these places after all the hoops you jump through.

My frustration with this has started once again since I will be heading to St. Charles, MO, and I would like to be a substitute teacher, but the process includes all of the things I mentioned above, plus fingerprinting and background check. I can’t even start on that until I finish my projects for the summer semester, which are due Sunday!

I do not think there is an alternative to this new way of hiring, and sometimes when I see the requirements, I think it is the company’s way of eliminating the people who are not serious about the position. However, those of us with the need for employment really have no choice and will continue to fill out ridiculously long applications hoping to receive a call like the one I did, only hopefully in the same city I will be living in. Many times, the positions listed, already have someone, many times on the inside, already in mind, and are only fulfilling their legal duties by listing the jobs. This means that the hoops so many people are jumping through are completely pointless, and you never even have a chance for that job. This seems the most ridiculous part of all. However, it’s their job and they can hire whoever they want, so we have to play their game in hopes of getting that one call.

Ironically, I would have been set up in Nashville, with a job, my gym, my scooter, in a place close to downtown. Instead, I will head to St. Charles, with no job, no gym, no scooter, and living in a tiny town, near St. Louis. Despite all of this, I am excited about St. Charles and optimistic I will work out all of the details and have a great time there. Most importantly, I will get the chance to attend my graduation in December. I did not go to my Bachelor’s Degree graduation, but this one, for some reason, I want to attend.

Now, back to the projects, which I only have parts of two to complete, and turn in. I am exhausted today, but like a runner nearing the end of the marathon, I feel that second wind coming on, so I am off to get this work done and the summer semester completed!

Have a great day!

Wrigley, tired of my schoolwork

Avon, CT

I decided I would update my resume, in case someone asked for it. You never know when you might like to do something and need it. I looked for an old version, thinking it might be easier to update than to start fresh. I had a hard time finding one, and when I did, it was really old!

Dream a dream

I looked at it and reminisced about the various positions I have held. Driving around with a recent college graduate who is looking for work has reminded me how inexplicably fortunate I have been. Not only did I get to work in radio stations in a major market, but I had good positions as well. I enjoyed working at both the Country stations and the sports station. I have met some great people along the way.

I have truly been blessed. When telling Jonathan how I was lucky enough to acquire the various jobs, it seems as if I live in some fairy tale world, because those things just do not seem to happen to the average person. A combination of hard work and opportunity have led to my resume being filled with jobs I loved  There are two positions I really want to have that I have not yet been lucky enough to hold; one is a topic for a future blog, and the other is that of writer.

I remember telling people many years ago I wanted to write. Most of them shook their heads and said good luck, because they knew someone who wanted to write a book, but never did. Those that have known me for a long time know me best. They saw what happened when I said I wanted to be in radio…I was the manager at a bowling center, and I decided I wanted to be in radio. My advanced age made that seem impossible, but I did it. I like beating the odds.

I was in fifth grade, I believe, when I won a $50 bond in a contest for writing an essay. Later I had to read my essay in front of a group of people at the bank who sponsored the contest. The local paper had an article about my winning, and I basked in my 15 seconds of grade school fame.  That was the start of the thought in my mind that I could write.

In college, I took a script writing class, which was perfect for me to try out my writing. I wrote a script and the teacher, who was not easy to please, told me he really thought it was good. This encouragement led to an even greater obsession with writing the book. I continued toward radio, but in the back of my mind, I still wanted to write the books that people read.

I know many people want to write a book, and never do. I wanted to be one of those who actually finish it. Whether it’s worth

Do what you love

printing, or better used for starting a fire, I want to finish it. Having a dream, no matter what it is, gives us something to live for. Always follow your dream; you never know where it may take you.

I want to write.  Finishing updating my resume is a good place to start.