Tools

I’ve begun to get a system in place for keeping the information I need organized. I don’t know if this will be of interest to anyone, but here goes anyway.

On my hard drive I have a folder called Search. Within that folder I keep several versions of my resume, CV, references, and my tracking files, which I’ll explain below. There are also four subfolders: Archive, Covers, Descriptions, and Applications and Admin. Archive contains documents I’m unlikely to use anymore but don’t want to trash. Covers contains various cover letters I’ve sent. Descriptions contains job descriptions of jobs I’ve sent resumes to. I realized that some job sites take down the description when the job is in the interview process, and I wanted to make sure I had the descriptions to help me prepare. Applications and Admin contains copies of any electronic applications I’ve filled out, and any other administrative stuff realted to the search.

I debated using a database or other contact management tool to keep track of things. In the past I’ve used both Access and Outlook to manage similar tasks. I don’t like Outlook, and Access seems like overkill, so for now I’m using three Word documents. Tracking.doc is where I keep the list of places I’ve applied to, contact information, what’s been done or sent, and next steps (i.e., “Follow up on Monday!”). Web sites.doc is where I keep a list of the web listings I go to, and when I visited each last. To-do.doc is just what you think.

I also use my calendar (you may be shocked to learn that last year I went back to a paper calendar!), and paper files here at home to file the paper aspects of this search.

That’s about it at the moment. Any thoughts or suggestions are encouraged!

P.S. Congrats to my brother Dave, who made Chief Petty Officer! Way to go, dude!

Topics

I have a couple of posts in mind that I've started writing. In the meantime, is there anything that you, all two of the readers of this, would be interested in reading about?

Let me know by posting a comment (click on Comments, below this post), or emailing me at wconners [at] gmail [dot] com.

Progress and Patience

I’m starting this post knowing I won’t have time to finish it. It’s late in the afternoon Thursday, weather.com says it’s 97 degrees, and the map shows lots of thunderstorm cells heading our way. So, this evening out at Agecroft for The Tempest, I’m either going to be very warm or very wet, or perhaps both.

Today was not the most productive of days, search –wise. Yesterday I finished off a packet to mail to one place, found what looks like a very good job and prepared and sent an application for that, and met with Paul Johnson. I also got the oil changed in the van. All in all, I felt pretty productive.

Today I don’t feel quite the same sense of accomplishment. I did find a couple of listings that might be promising, and I went to my weigh-in (total loss 13.2 pounds, but I had been hoping for more).

Later...

I had thought I would get back to writing that post that evening, and now it’s two days later...

The Tempest was rained out two nights in a row. Very unfortunate, especially since on both nights the skies opened moments before curtain.

In the comments, hrh asked me about my fretting, and also managed to evoke singing nuns. As you all know, I’m an accomplished fretter. If left unchecked, my fretting can reach epic proportions, causing major insomnia and serious overeating. At the moment, I’m managing to keep my fretting at bay (I use a whip and a chair, like a lion tamer). I suspect that partially this is through activity. If I can feel like I’ve made SOME progress each day, I’m less likely to feel the pressure of moving closer to October 1 and having nothing to show, no prospects.

I do have a couple of what I think are promising prospects. At least, to me they look very suited for someone with my background. Of course, I’d be happier if I had an interview or two lined up. I know that these things take time, and bureaucracies move slowly, so I’m trying to cultivate patience also.

Focus

I’m thinking of focus in a couple of different ways right now.

First of, how do I focus this search? Initially, it was anything but focused. So far, I have tossed the word out in a general sense that I was looking for a new gig, and I have sent a resume and/or application to anything that happened to pass in front of my face. That’s not too focused. However, I have begun to gather resources, web sites, recruiters, etc., into files where I can systematically check them, and keep track of when and how often I check them. That’s beginning to get focused. I originally set a goal of accomplishing at least one thing every day…sending a resume, organizing my work space, whatever. I would like to push that number higher.

Second, what is my focus? This one is tougher. There are a number of different directions I could move in, and each of them seems attractive at different times. Working for a school or school system is very attractive, though not so lucrative. Working for a college has its benefits, and the right position could be wonderful. Going back into the corporate world would be stimulating and potentially very beneficial financially. I think that for now, given the short timeframe, the best option for me is to continue casting a wide net. It’s more important to me to catch something that is the right fit, than just to find a place that will hire me. On the other hand, time is tight (cue Booker T. & the MGs...).

Support

I can’t express enough how thankful I am and how cool it is to have people who are interested in helping out. A number of people have thrown things my way…ideas, suggestions, and in one or two situations, actual jobs. Two people have offered to put my resume in the hands of individuals who do hiring.

It warms the cockles of my heart (what *are* heart cockles, anyway?) to know that there are people out there who know me and are willing to go that little bit for me.

If any of you are reading this who have offered me support in any way, large or small, please know that I appreciate it very much.

In about four hours I have to get up to take my son to the airport. He’s going to New Mexico for two weeks, where he will hike about 80 miles with a pack on his back. I’m very proud of him and happy and nervous for him as well. What a cool experience.

On another note, I found one of these today:

Roland RD700SX

At the dump. For free. It seems to work perfectly. I’m astonished. This is a $2200 keyboard, people. I guess I’ll have to start playing more keyboards.

I'm ok, I'm not ok, I'm ok. No, really.

Emotion. I haven’t even begun to get a handle on this. To start with, let’s assume I’m excited and enthusiastic about getting going on this and finding something new. Many of the opportunities I’m turning up are at least interesting, and at best *really cool*. I think this will only increase as I get deeper into it. I’ve been thinking about moving on for a long time, and going about it, whether voluntarily or not, is pretty exciting.

On the other hand, there is the fear. It’s irrational, I know, but I am regularly consumed by a deep, dark, cold fear that could paralyze me completely if I let it. Why is it irrational? Because intellectually I know that we will survive, even if I have real trouble turning something up. I can always get something, even if it’s not really what I want, that will help up keep ourselves afloat. We won’t lose our house, we’ll have enough to eat, and the kids will still be able to go to college. But that’s my big brain talking. Sometimes, deep in my gut, far away from my big brain, there’s a huge ugly freezing fear that threatens to take total control of me, and I’m afraid I’ll end up huddled in the corner. Silly, I know. It’ll be ok. I've always said, if it gets down to the wire I can work at Blockbuster. How could that not be cool?

Emotions are flying all over, and making me a little crazy. It’s a rollercoaster ride, and I’m just hanging on.

I turned up two new opportunities today, both at universities. I’ve applied for one, and will apply for the other as soon as it becomes available, which should be next week.

Fret factor: Moderate/high.

New Life? Nah, just a new post...

I started writing this post thinking that this would give my blog a new life. Then I thought that seemed like setting the bar pretty high, since it failed before. So, I’m thinking that I would like to write some about what’s going on my life, as there are now massive changes afoot, and maybe this blog is the place to do it.

So what you will get is maybe a new life, but at least a place for me to vent a little bit and share my feelings and my process of looking for a new job.

It’s not really that important to discuss how this came about. The important thing is that I’m now looking for a new job, after 13 years at VCU. I found out about this two weeks ago yesterday, and I have until October 1st. What have I done in two weeks? Not much. OK, maybe a little. I’ve been so busy trying to finish up this class I’m taking and also with the opening of The Tempest that I haven’t had time to get organized.

Here are a few things I’ve done.

The way it was presented to me, I could stay if I could find a grant or contract to fund 50% of my salary. However, The money to support that 50% would not come from the budget, but from the program income funds, which are not inexhaustible. Therefore, I think it’s wise to devote more effort to a job search than a grant search. I’ve sent out some emails asking folks to consider supporting me, but I will not devote much effort toward this. Even if I get the 50% it’s just a band-aid.

I’ve decided to cast a wide net, at least to start with. I have skills and experience that could serve me well in a number of different areas, so for now, I’ve started looking at school systems, training operations, education (higher and lower), nonprofits, corporations, recruiters, etc.

One of my problems has always been that it’s hard to define myself or what I would ideally like to do. I could see myself teaching technology to middle schoolers, or managing a training operation for Goodwill. What’s most important to me is working with good committed people and feeling like I’m making a contribution to society.

I sent emails to as many people as I could think of, asking them to keep an eye out for me. A couple of these are starting to generate some possible leads.

I updated my resume on Monster, which has generated a couple calls from recruiters, for contract jobs. Actually, for one contract job. Two recruiters contacted me, and it turns out to be the same job, an instructional design contract with Capital One.

I created a contact tracking document.

Next steps: I need to fill out some applications for some of the people I’ve contacted, and make a systematic plan for getting out there.

This is going to be something.

Since I finished my final today, tomorrow is when things get moving a little more thoroughly on this get a job thing.

Peace, ya’ll. Goodnight.

P.S. I've lost 12.2 pounds