October 29, 2009
October 26, 2009
Gotta be something more
I was excited to get a job. Thought I would feel more self worth, getting up and going to go do something a few times a week. Actually earning a paycheck instead of collecting unemployment. I was honestly jazzed (yes, I say jazzed) about how much money I would be making again. Bartending paid my way through college. Yup, graduated with no loans - and even paid my own way to backpack through Europe for 3 months.
So, I went through Dave & Buster's boot camp. It wasn't too bad. It's mostly corporate decorum. Wear this, say this, this is our policy on this, etc. I was enjoying the structure. I've worked several non-corporate places where I have previously been so frustrated with their lack of organization I leave, or tolerate because the money is so good but secretly hate everyone and everything about the place. The hardest part about the training was memorizing all the house drink recipes. And to be honest, I still don't know them all. Fifty drinks are a ton to memorize, especially when you're not making them all, all the time. There's that ONE drink that I haven't made yet, that will be ordered 3 months down the road that I'll have to look up.
Back to being jazzed about the potential money. I was excited because this meant maybe I wouldn't be living with my parents much longer. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the free rent and we get along 99% of the time, but living with my parents at age 25 wasn't where I wanted to be in life.
And neither is bartending at Dave & Buster's. I like everyone I work with. The management is all very nice and understanding. Most everyone I've met and that I work with there has been ultra cool and fun getting to know --- but man, I'm so disappointed with the money. This past Saturday I worked 15 hours and made $94. It's so frustrating to truely enjoy a place and the people and not be able to justify working there because you can't afford to!
I feel very far behind right now. I'm not where I want to be living or working. I can't say I'm satisfied with my dating/love life. And I'm a little scared I'm not going to be able to get back into the design market. I feel like it's going to be harder and harder to justify not being employed with a career-related position the longer it stays this way.
I'm sure I'm in the same boat as millions of people dealing with the economic strains, but knowing I'm in the same boat doesn't make me feel any better about where the tide is taking us.
So, I went through Dave & Buster's boot camp. It wasn't too bad. It's mostly corporate decorum. Wear this, say this, this is our policy on this, etc. I was enjoying the structure. I've worked several non-corporate places where I have previously been so frustrated with their lack of organization I leave, or tolerate because the money is so good but secretly hate everyone and everything about the place. The hardest part about the training was memorizing all the house drink recipes. And to be honest, I still don't know them all. Fifty drinks are a ton to memorize, especially when you're not making them all, all the time. There's that ONE drink that I haven't made yet, that will be ordered 3 months down the road that I'll have to look up.
Back to being jazzed about the potential money. I was excited because this meant maybe I wouldn't be living with my parents much longer. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the free rent and we get along 99% of the time, but living with my parents at age 25 wasn't where I wanted to be in life.
And neither is bartending at Dave & Buster's. I like everyone I work with. The management is all very nice and understanding. Most everyone I've met and that I work with there has been ultra cool and fun getting to know --- but man, I'm so disappointed with the money. This past Saturday I worked 15 hours and made $94. It's so frustrating to truely enjoy a place and the people and not be able to justify working there because you can't afford to!
I feel very far behind right now. I'm not where I want to be living or working. I can't say I'm satisfied with my dating/love life. And I'm a little scared I'm not going to be able to get back into the design market. I feel like it's going to be harder and harder to justify not being employed with a career-related position the longer it stays this way.
I'm sure I'm in the same boat as millions of people dealing with the economic strains, but knowing I'm in the same boat doesn't make me feel any better about where the tide is taking us.
September 21, 2009
Employment
Well I succeeded to the idea that I was going to be able to get another design job before my unemployment was up. There was the option to file for a 20-week extension, but I need something to do. And I need more money than unemployment was providing --- thank you gov't, but I'll handle things from here.
I had a mini-panic attack this past Friday when I realized I had 4 more unemployment checks before my account was out. That's 2 months. What am I going to do in 2 months? I haven't found a job in 5 months, what will magically make one materialize in 2? Especially at the end of the year when companies don't have any money left in their budget. So I attacked the bartending wanted ads on facebook, showered, got 'dressed up', printed out my bartending resume, and went to pursue a couple bartending postings.
First one I arrived at was in a strip mall on Sawmill Rd in Dublin. Nice area, right next to a golf course. However, I was intimidated as soon as I stepped in the door. The bartender behind the bar had short jet black hair, a tight black tank top on, wings tattooed to her back, bra straps showing, tight spandexie shorts and knee high black boots. 'Oh man' I thought 'I can't go back to dressing like that to make tips.' Mind you, I never too it quite that far in college at the sports bars, but I've been known to wear low enough cut tank tops to show off a red lacy bra, or push the limits on how short the skirt can be. It paid my way through college.
So I smiled and asked her for an application. A man at the bar patted the chair and said 'Take a seat, I'm the owner' I said hello, sat down and slyly pushed up my Vicki's bra. And then it got even more awkward. There was another bartender girl, brown hair, sitting on the other side of the owner. She smiled and introduced herself (I'm horrible with names, for the life of me I can't remember hers). The owner read over my resume while I filled out the application, looked at the brown haired bartender and said 'So what do you think?' She shrugged 'She's cute, blond. We don't have any blonds, you should hire her.'
I definitely felt like a piece of meat at that point. 'At least you're cute' I thought to myself. I could be the worst bartender you've ever met and you just hire me like that? Crazy. The owner talked to me a little more, hired me, then asked me to come back later that night to talk to the manager about scheduling.
Alright, back into the car. I drive across town to Polaris Mall to find where Dave & Buster's is opening a new location and see about their interviews. I had seen their post on craigslist asking for Servers, Kitchen Staff, Bartenders, etc. But I had also noticed that they had been posting these positions for hire for weeks. What would my chances be? With so many people out of work, all of OSU's students coming back to campus... they would have to be full.
I walked into an vacant store space in the mall where D&B were renting out space to hold interviews. There were 5 or 6 tables set up with applications and pens laid out. I smiled at the people behind the computers, sat down and started filling out an ap. I finished, took that and my resume up to the man, Seth. He looked it over 'Applying for a bartending position?' 'Yup, that cocktail, or wait staff' I said. 'Have a minute to talk?' 'Absolutely' and I followed him to one of the tables and sat down.
We talked for about half an hour about what drinks I knew by heart, why I liked bartending, where I wanted to be in 3 years, where had I worked, what I liked about those places, what would I do if someone needed cut-off, how could I tell if they needed cut-off, etc etc etc. I was surprised with how few drink recipes I could think of off the top of my head. After the interview I was kicking myself - I know a ton more, just froze up I guess. No matter, I did get the job.
After the majority of the questions he said 'Well I'll tell you what, I'm going to hire you. You seem knowledgable and reliable. But I have one serving position open and one bartending position open - and I have someone in mind for the bartending position already.' I had been pretty passive the entire interview. Just answering questions and polite conversation. When he said this, I jumped into action...
'I'll tell you what' I said 'I've helped open two bars as a bartender. I know how openings and the first month goes. You can hire your friend, or whoever you have in mind as the bartender, and I'll take the serving position. But in 2-3 weeks when one of the bartenders isn't working out, or they don't show up to a shift and there's an open position - I get that bartending position.'
He smiled at me 'Okay, you can have the bartending position. How's Monday at 9am for orientation?'
:)
Now if I could get a design interview and use those persuasion tactics on them!
I had a mini-panic attack this past Friday when I realized I had 4 more unemployment checks before my account was out. That's 2 months. What am I going to do in 2 months? I haven't found a job in 5 months, what will magically make one materialize in 2? Especially at the end of the year when companies don't have any money left in their budget. So I attacked the bartending wanted ads on facebook, showered, got 'dressed up', printed out my bartending resume, and went to pursue a couple bartending postings.
First one I arrived at was in a strip mall on Sawmill Rd in Dublin. Nice area, right next to a golf course. However, I was intimidated as soon as I stepped in the door. The bartender behind the bar had short jet black hair, a tight black tank top on, wings tattooed to her back, bra straps showing, tight spandexie shorts and knee high black boots. 'Oh man' I thought 'I can't go back to dressing like that to make tips.' Mind you, I never too it quite that far in college at the sports bars, but I've been known to wear low enough cut tank tops to show off a red lacy bra, or push the limits on how short the skirt can be. It paid my way through college.
So I smiled and asked her for an application. A man at the bar patted the chair and said 'Take a seat, I'm the owner' I said hello, sat down and slyly pushed up my Vicki's bra. And then it got even more awkward. There was another bartender girl, brown hair, sitting on the other side of the owner. She smiled and introduced herself (I'm horrible with names, for the life of me I can't remember hers). The owner read over my resume while I filled out the application, looked at the brown haired bartender and said 'So what do you think?' She shrugged 'She's cute, blond. We don't have any blonds, you should hire her.'
I definitely felt like a piece of meat at that point. 'At least you're cute' I thought to myself. I could be the worst bartender you've ever met and you just hire me like that? Crazy. The owner talked to me a little more, hired me, then asked me to come back later that night to talk to the manager about scheduling.
Alright, back into the car. I drive across town to Polaris Mall to find where Dave & Buster's is opening a new location and see about their interviews. I had seen their post on craigslist asking for Servers, Kitchen Staff, Bartenders, etc. But I had also noticed that they had been posting these positions for hire for weeks. What would my chances be? With so many people out of work, all of OSU's students coming back to campus... they would have to be full.
I walked into an vacant store space in the mall where D&B were renting out space to hold interviews. There were 5 or 6 tables set up with applications and pens laid out. I smiled at the people behind the computers, sat down and started filling out an ap. I finished, took that and my resume up to the man, Seth. He looked it over 'Applying for a bartending position?' 'Yup, that cocktail, or wait staff' I said. 'Have a minute to talk?' 'Absolutely' and I followed him to one of the tables and sat down.
We talked for about half an hour about what drinks I knew by heart, why I liked bartending, where I wanted to be in 3 years, where had I worked, what I liked about those places, what would I do if someone needed cut-off, how could I tell if they needed cut-off, etc etc etc. I was surprised with how few drink recipes I could think of off the top of my head. After the interview I was kicking myself - I know a ton more, just froze up I guess. No matter, I did get the job.
After the majority of the questions he said 'Well I'll tell you what, I'm going to hire you. You seem knowledgable and reliable. But I have one serving position open and one bartending position open - and I have someone in mind for the bartending position already.' I had been pretty passive the entire interview. Just answering questions and polite conversation. When he said this, I jumped into action...
'I'll tell you what' I said 'I've helped open two bars as a bartender. I know how openings and the first month goes. You can hire your friend, or whoever you have in mind as the bartender, and I'll take the serving position. But in 2-3 weeks when one of the bartenders isn't working out, or they don't show up to a shift and there's an open position - I get that bartending position.'
He smiled at me 'Okay, you can have the bartending position. How's Monday at 9am for orientation?'
:)
Now if I could get a design interview and use those persuasion tactics on them!
August 25, 2009
What is your brand map?
Really interesting article over at Truely, Deeply/Madly In fact, really good brand-conscious blog. I'm going to make this a daily read.
August 23, 2009
I want you to want me...
I'm so tired of people asking me about my job search. They just care, I understand. It's exhausting telling people "No I haven't heard anything from anyone - No no interviews, no leads"
Trust me, you will hear it ring from the heavens when I get an interview. I don't even care if it's for working at Wendy's down the street! "What? You want to talk to me? Absolutely! No pay? I'll be right there"
Facebook, Twitter, text and phone calls - everyone will know! And then, I probably won't get the job... but the no-interview-glass-ceiling will have been broken. And it's all daisies from there :) right?
It's draining though, that's for sure. Now I've only been unemployed for 4 months (April 24th) but I've sent out over 150 resumes, most with cover letters and about 1/2 with work samples.
I've received less than 15 rejection letters, or hiring progress reports of any kind. I've inquired about the status of the job of ten positions after I've applied and received ONE reply with a staus and ONE saying please don't inquire. The majority of the postings say DO NOT CALL DO NOT EMAIL THIS WILL DISQUALIFY YOUR CHANCES FOR THE POSITION. And I completely understand their side of the deal. They don't want to have to answer 150+ phone calls a day of unemployed people convincing them that they're the best for the job. I wouldn't at least...
Another thing that almost offends me, but I know their intentions are good, are friends that ask if I've considered going back to school for something different. ????? I didn't realize that being laid off in the worst economic period since the depression meant I had to give up on my dreams and doing what I really love. Or even the friends that say (this was actually said to me) "Are applying to any job or are you still STUCK ON a design job?" Like they don't exist? Did they all disappear and someone didn't tell me? I know all the other markets are rainbows and butterflies too... Heck I have friends in medical jobs that can't find positions right now because all the hospitals are on hiring freezes.
All in all, I know it's just friends and family caring - I just wish there was something I could tell them.
Until the fated interview comes, I just keep applying, just keep applying
Trust me, you will hear it ring from the heavens when I get an interview. I don't even care if it's for working at Wendy's down the street! "What? You want to talk to me? Absolutely! No pay? I'll be right there"
Facebook, Twitter, text and phone calls - everyone will know! And then, I probably won't get the job... but the no-interview-glass-ceiling will have been broken. And it's all daisies from there :) right?
It's draining though, that's for sure. Now I've only been unemployed for 4 months (April 24th) but I've sent out over 150 resumes, most with cover letters and about 1/2 with work samples.
I've received less than 15 rejection letters, or hiring progress reports of any kind. I've inquired about the status of the job of ten positions after I've applied and received ONE reply with a staus and ONE saying please don't inquire. The majority of the postings say DO NOT CALL DO NOT EMAIL THIS WILL DISQUALIFY YOUR CHANCES FOR THE POSITION. And I completely understand their side of the deal. They don't want to have to answer 150+ phone calls a day of unemployed people convincing them that they're the best for the job. I wouldn't at least...
Another thing that almost offends me, but I know their intentions are good, are friends that ask if I've considered going back to school for something different. ????? I didn't realize that being laid off in the worst economic period since the depression meant I had to give up on my dreams and doing what I really love. Or even the friends that say (this was actually said to me) "Are applying to any job or are you still STUCK ON a design job?" Like they don't exist? Did they all disappear and someone didn't tell me? I know all the other markets are rainbows and butterflies too... Heck I have friends in medical jobs that can't find positions right now because all the hospitals are on hiring freezes.
All in all, I know it's just friends and family caring - I just wish there was something I could tell them.
Until the fated interview comes, I just keep applying, just keep applying
August 13, 2009
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