Additional Blog

Hi!  As I've been busy with work lately, I've had trouble coming up with inspiration for "employment" type posts.  In the event of some recent happenings, I have started a second blog.  Check it out at:

http://cakelessbuthappy.blogspot.com/

StrengthsFinder 2.0- Preparing for the Interview

Let's ponder workplace skills, shall we?  My boss is great at anticipating when we need doughnuts,  my coworker, Kim, is great at organizing material and making documents look appealing...and then I found this one that describes me:

=

Only kidding!  :)  

We all have skills- numchuck skills, bowfighting skills, computer skills.  We're also pretty aware of the ones we don't have.  For instance, I'm very good at grammar and can write carefully crafted, semantically sound and uplifting emails.  I am not, however, particularly gifted with coming up with answers to questions on the fly (I'm a much better when I can plan or research them first).

Read About Your Strengths!

Whether you're preparing to develop yourself at your current job, find a new job or just plain like to read self-improvement books, I have a book to recommend!  In lieu of skills, it discusses broadly: strengths, the abilities behind the skills. 

Strengthsfinder 2.0 is the second edition of the popular book by Tom Rath designed to help people discover and work on their strengths.  Upgraded from the first edition, 2.0 includes a one time assessment designed to measure your self-perceptions, preferences for tasks and human interaction style. It identifies your strengths and gives you different ways to use each one in a current job or in your life in general. Per a review of the author, Jennifer Robison pointed out in her article,"No amount of training will help you excel in your areas of weakness. You can't do anything you want to do -- or be anything you want to be -- because you're just not going to be good at everything." And so true.  If you try to be good at everything at work, you're going to lose yourself, go crazy, and do one of two things: be a big stress ball or withdraw completely because the task is so daunting--- all of which will make you burn out.

Early on, Tom mentions that something that is easy for you and that makes you feel good and successful is a strength.  So if organizing things makes you feel empowered and accomplished, it is a strength!  While most people spend an agonizing amount of time fixing their shortcomings, a better use of time is to use it to get to know what you're best at and use it in your workplace.  

Strengths Finder 2.0 - Amazon.com

Included in the purchase of the book is an online code that is used to take an online test.  These results determine your top 5 strengths.  For instance, mine were: Learner, Teacher- good at teaching; Intellection-  likes ideas and thinking about concepts; Rsponsibility (gets everything done and feels ultra-accountable) and Activator-  likes to act on new ideas.

Once you get the results of your top 5, Part II is devoted to helping you understand your 5 in depth (and learn about the other ones you didn't score as highly in).  This is organized well-  first a description, second, what people sound like who have this strength from many different careers, third, ideas for action and my favorite: working with others who have the strength (a section for employers or managers, I imagine)

Some of the other themes:

Achiever Activator Adaptability Analytical Arranger Belief Command Communication Competition

Connectedness Consistency Context Deliberative Developer Discipline Empathy Focus Futuristic

Harmony Ideation Includer Individualization Input Intellection Learner Maximizer Positivity

Relator Responsibility Restorative Self-Assurance Significance Strategic Woo

What I Liked About It:


It just makes sense!  Why spin your wheels!? People who have a natural talent at something can also add to that talent by building skill upon natural talent.  In contrast, if you don't have a natural talent at something, trying to add skills, while adventurous and a great experience by other means, is just frustrating and creates feelings of worthlessness in other areas of your life.  More than likely, you'll keep getting frustrated until you quit until the damage is done.  For example: I am great at being creative, but I have a really hard time organizing-  my process is messy, but I get the job done.  The more I try to be an organizer, the more I make a mess of things!

When I was unemployed and was applying for jobs, I read this book and elaborated on strengths at my interview when I responded to questions.  The interviewers eyes lit up as I briefly highlighted a few since this was now being used as a tool for their employees to develop their current employees "on the job".  I didn't get the job I applied for, I did have a lot of great connections after the interviews and really believe that this book helped pave the way.  And within two interviews after reading the book, I landed a job! While my new job probably was the result of getting a lot better at interviewing over a few months, the book gave me the confidence to speak about what I was good at- and I could back it up with information from the book. In my opinion, it's an effective tool for prepping for interviews!

What I Thought Needed Improvement:
I would have loved to seem more of were : lists of tasks or ideas on developing or using each strength.  For example, typically, what tasks bring a person with this strength fulfillment if they have "Responsibility" strength?  What things will make me feel productive if I do them if I am an activator?  Voicing my opinion in meetings, inventing things?  

Whether you're unemployed and very much anticipating your return into the workforce or already employed and looking for a job change or promotion, this book really makes you think.

A high recommendation!

4 and a Half Professional Penguins!

 

Without having read the book, what do you think your strengths are based on the titles?  (Then get the book, take the test and see!)

Based on what you read, would you read the book? 

Work on a Saturday

We had another crazy week of work-  I'm recruiting for a really big project in the coming weeks and so we're recruiting like 400 people for a job.  That's all I'll say (Can't disclose a lot of information if you are working on a job like this or what it's for...)  It got so busy that I had to come in to work on Saturday for about 5 hours.

When I have to do mass recruiting, I HAVE to have something outside of work that I can focus on or I start getting all weird and anxious. (See picture at right)

And because I have all this creative energy, I started writing another book on top of the fun, goofy one I'm writing.  This one is a little more serious.  It's called, "If you Give a Grad a Benefits Package"...Yep, it's a knock off of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"- a children's book from the 80s that talks about what favors a mouse asks for when you start giving him what he wants.  My book is going to be sassy though-- and probably illogical.  It's going to be a big hit, I promise.  And it's going to have artwork and lots of fun diction.

But anyways...I digress.  My in-laws flew in all the way from California to spend time with us before we all went to Jon's (my husband's)  ---never did figure out how this grammatical phrase worked-  is it Jon, my husband's, aunts"....Oh, nevermind.  Well anyway, it's Jon's relatives' 30th anniversary party.  We went out for Mongolian Barbecue on Friday night because I am limited to vegetables for the next who knows how long and annoyingly have to avoid most starches so anything with mostly meat and veggies is about it for now.  This was yummy though.

I worked for about 5 hours on Saturday and after interviewing for 40 hours straight, and then putting in overtime to interview, I feel like I want to just ask dumb interview questions and see what the candidate says and treat it like a real interview.   Encouraging them to give a really stupid answer would be especially entertaining.  OR maybe let them know ahead of time that these interview questions wouldn't be taken as seriously and they can answer off the record.

I especially dislike the "What is your greatest weakness?" question.  If I could answer honestly, I would give it in the worst format and make it extremely personal/related to home -  two things you shouldn't do in an interview.  My answer:  Dishes.  Jon typically has to redo the ones I do.

Sunday was fun--- we went to a new church up the block.  The fact that my father-in-law is a pastor always gives another social element because he knows a lot of people wherever we are.  My mother-in-law is a hoot and a half.  She grabbed this for me to take in the car on the ride home because she thought it would be entertaining.  :)

And then we ended the day at the 30th Wedding Anniversary.  It was a great way to end the day-  Hay bales you could write on, wine tasting, chocolate tasting, and more Lemon Ricotta Cake than my gluten- free stomach could handle.  It was a stomach ache worth waiting for, but seriously, why be on such a serious diet when you're going to cheat on such a magnanamous level!  And seriously, how great is a party that has wine with labels like these that my husband's cousin made!

Hope your weekends were great albeit busy!

What interview questions do you hate?
What weird question would you give/ have you given in an interview that you regret?  OR is there an answer you wish you would have given because you never would have gotten the job?  Just curious... :)

A Way to Feel Special: It's Cooler to Work at Two Companies Than One!

Apparently no one realized that I left this job. I've been gone for at least a year!  In addition to being a recruiter, I guess I am still technically a middle school teacher, according to the website.  I don't know if I should feel honored that they are holding onto my memory, jilted for the new teacher who took my place whose name isn't indicated, or sad that no one noticed I am gone.    Funny thing is that the link worked... I wonder who is checking my email still...Kinda funny!

On another note, my more recent past employer is still using my name on ads I wrote for jobs 6 months ago.  Is this Identity Theft technically?

P.S.-  I am working on another post.  Here's a sneak preview of a drawing.  Siskel and Ebert never thought of WILDLIFE for their rating system! And PROFESSIONAL Penguins, no less!   That would have made ME watch more movies!  "And Rio received 4 Professional Penguins for Best Picture..."

"I Used to be in a Higher Income Bracket" Isn't Something You Should Ever Say To Your Boss

Life got a little more bleak in the last few weeks even since I've been employed.  It's been hard to snap out of it.  I lost some creativity I think...

But I have kind of a funny story from work to share.

Picture this scenario:

I'm sitting at my desk getting ready to leave for the day.  My boss sits 8 feet away from me and has a perpetually open door in an office that  reverberates any sound you utter under your breath.  My boss comments that her cell phone doesn't "do anything", despite the fact it's a Blackberry.  I casually mention that crackberry.com has free ringtones and backgrounds among other things for free and it's a good deal.  My co-worker says to my boss and I, "Oh, you two and your fancy phones.  All I have is this cheap-o phone."  I say, "Well, I clearly was in another income bracket when I got this phone and could afford it."  Boss gives weird look like she is mortally wounded.  Kaaren can't put foot in mouth fast enough. Kaaren backs out of office quickly hoping Boss will take comment as a testament to only how expensive the phone is and nothing else.

That was last Friday.

Blahh blee blah blah.... Well, maybe I am making less, but I like the work.

BUT WAITTTTTTTTT....

Money making ideas I came up with just now:

• Hiring out my dog, Wally, to the local daycare for $30 a day.  He can play with all the kids and compete for their balls and toys.
• Inventing a cheap way to cool the house in a Minnesota summer by placing bags of ice around the house. 
•  Reading to kids in my complex and doing voices for $5 a story + tips.
• Cleaning my own furniture, extending its life so we don't have to replace it so soon ($30 a month up to $800)
• Creating my own office paper out of recycling hand towels; notepads are things that I have to supply myself in the office  (yep, thought we were behind purchasing our own  materials when I resigned from the school district and moved to corporate)
• Weaving old socks into dog toys and dyeing them by just washing them with some bright red and green shirts to mooch off some of the color.
• Getting a second job as an impersonator.  

Any suggestions out there?  How can I save money in this economy?  Beuller?...  Beuller?

Tomorrow's post: What a nice weekend I had out of town, things you shouldn't say to a client, more resume bloopers, etc.

Over-Thunked, All Moved In and a Questionable "Quornbread" Recipe

Well hello.

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I've posted.  We've had a lot of things to iron out with our move and my hubby's new job.  I don't feel like I've spent an adequate amount of time with our dog, and in reflection on my life at the ripe old age of 28, having moved twice in the last 10 months and changed careers the same amount of times in that period, too I am feeling rather lacking in the friend department in our new city.

I DO have some great close friends, but they're all a drive away.  I've found that I tend to have fewer friends of greater quality than a lot of friends I know very "surface-ically"...if that's even a word.  I'd rather have it this way---  what this means is that I don't always have a lot of week-end plans.  :)

Life at the recruiting firm is interesting.  I found out I am "temporary" like a few other employees who have been temp for 2 years already...although I have full-time employment that "looks" permanent.  Yep.  I get no days off, no paid vacations, no sick days.... and that means no maternity leave, no health care, dental.  Ahhh the joys.

I DID, HOWEVER, BESIDES UNPACKING BOXES THIS WEEKEND MANAGED TO COOK ONE ITEM....to drown my sorrows about the employment pit I find myself in lately....while I find everyone else positions with benefits and a higher hourly rate than I'm getting.

I call it .... "Questionable Quornbread"  because I tried to doctor a recipe to make Cornbread Muffins that looked like this....

Cornbread Muffins

and then when I made it, it was questionable if it was good and if it still constituted cornbread... Clearly, it didn't have the consistency to make cornbread muffins or I wouldn't have smashed it into a pan with a fork.

What resulted was a cornbread flat bread-  completely dense, but still good at the same time.   With chili on the side and coated completely with butter and honey, you don't taste much else.  I'm going to have to do some experimenting with gluten free though.  I used yogurt instead of milk and my stomach handled that better.  I don't think the recipe was equipped for "Greek yogurt" though- which would explain the density of the "Quornbread" I made.

On another note, Jon is gone for the week on business so I'll have some more time to think of better blog posts than about how lonely I am in my new place, how I have no benefits and how poorly my gluten free recipe turned out.   :)

"Why You No More Teach?" ....And Where We are Now! Life Updates In the Past Few Weeks

Occasionally I wonder what my life would be like if I were still teaching.  And then those thoughts quickly go away as I reach a new milestone at work or in life.  I thought I would do a more personal post that sort of relates to job searching, recruiting and interviewing, but that also encompasses some more about my life!

So along with the new job came a new job for my husband, Jon.  And because it was a move away from property management and he gave short notice, our lease came to an end.  We ended up moving about 45 minutes away, but still in the metro area.   I haven't had the internet for a week!  Hence the really late post.  

Here's our new place!  

Our new 2-story apartment- albiet cluttered.

I'm sure Wally, our dog, was unsure if he was also accompanying us to our new house with all the chaos going on around him, but he is happy to be at home with us.

Now I've been at my job for about a month.  Although it is super varied, fast-paced and interesting, I cannot escape my teacher past.  And it is really interesting being out of it because people are almost too honest how they actually feel about teachers...until they find you have been one and then they back-track and apologize for what they have said.

The other day, I was interviewing a guy for a position and had to give him a skill test that a client wanted.  I happened to mention a few tips that are good to know about testing - the test is meant as a screener, usually go with your gut instinct, etc.  I then happened to tell him I had been a teacher, and he gave me the dirtiest look in the world.  I realized then that I shouldn't probably share that fact since most of the people I interview barely graduated high school and/or probably didn't have the best educational background-- not to say that's a big determiner for what kind of job you'll end up looking for, but if you end up hating to read, you probably aren't looking for something in an office setting. 

If looks could kill, his would have peeled my skin back like an acid wash.  I still will place him on a job, but it's interesting to see how many people can't hide their disgust for the teaching profession.... and just so you know, when you're in an interview, a lot of things don't get past your interviewer....the fact you haven't showered, dirty looks, hate for your past employer.  It all shows.

As it was said to me early on in my job search, "Job searching is definitely not an ego boost."  And so true.  During my unemployment, I literally put every hobby I had on hold, including writing, because I felt so zapped of direction and positive self-concept.  It's amazing what happens when a part of your identity is stripped from you.  In our culture, the tie to career as self-definition is very strong.  I'm learning to define myself in other ways-- writing, childish sketching, practicing the dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller in my living room, and volunteering with kids.  Here is one illustration I have made in my free time.

One of my illustrations of what my dog would look like with glasses. 

Another big hobby is playing with my 1 1/2 year old dog, Wally.  This is what he looks like every morning- ball in mouth, ready to play. I taught him to to sneeze, dance and army crawl during my months of unemployment.  

Who can resist this face in the morning?  Would you look at him and say to his face, "I can't throw that ball for you;  I don't have time"?
 Neither can I.

Besides the Crappy Job Market and my New Recruiting Job,  Why I'm Not Teaching.

I used to be very defined by my teaching career.  I loved saying I was one because I felt I was on my way to being what I thought a teacher should be: creative, lifelong learner, understanding, flexible, thoughtful, detailed, compassionate, and think beyond the traditional curriculum. 

http://www.andertoons.com/cartoon/3320/

Since I quit my teaching job last summer to follow my husband's career track, I sometimes still feel plagued by thoughts I failed:

1. I could have kept teaching had my school or subject area been varied a bit.
2. I may have still been a teacher if I had found a job in our new area...and found a good school.

But I'm not...and in reflection, I needed a break for my sanity.

I feel as if all the characteristics that made me a great teacher are gone with the job-  that maybe people don't see me as any of those things anymore and when I talk about going back someday, the fear of my last year repeating itself that arises causes some unfortunate physiological reactions.  When teaching is brought up now, I avoid the topic, get clammy, and my heart races.  Filling out applications actually made me nauseous (and I did about 15 - 4 hour applications and 2 face-to-face interviews!)  And it makes me really sad because I know I was good at it because of who I am and what I know.  I haven't talked about it a lot on this blog-- but the short answer why I'm not teaching: teaching is a solo career during most of the day, but then to be in a specialization that has very little political support is very discouraging and incredibly isolating- (I taught ESL).  I felt alone even while I was with peers 95% of my day.  My only consolation was those sweet faces I saw all day and the few coworkers I connected with who were dedicated to improving education.  If teaching is like being on an island, then I felt I was on the tippy top of the mountain across a desert on that island like this...

EHHHH.... sorry for getting sappy on you.

And so, I am happy for this change in direction. It's something new and I'm slowly finding success in it day by day.  

From all of this, it just goes to show that no job is perfect, working in another field is gaining experience and broadening your knowledge, and just because I don't get the job I planned on in the field I thought I'd be in permanently, it doesn't mean that I did something wrong or am not who I used to be when I was in that job.  Most people work outside their degree and I can still exhibit teacher qualities in my new job.  It just might make me a better recruiter!  I'm where I need to be right now.  

Do you have any past regrets or "what if's" pertaining to choices you've made or directions you've gone?  What are your hobbies?

How to Make A Winning Resume: Resume Mistakes (Issue#2)

Another issue complete with excerpts of resumes I have received recently.  *Some entries have been slightly modified to protect the innocent but are as true to meaning and grammar as I have received them.  I enjoy reading resumes.  Even more than reading resumes, I enjoy fixing them because I'm sort of a grammar geek.  So in my decidedly undiagnosed ADHD brain of mine today while interviewing, filling jobs and looking at resumes, I brainstormed which resume bloopers to include in this post and what kinds of illustrations they warranted.  I had too many ideas so I pared it down to two.  This is a follow up to Resume Mistakes(Version 1).

In order to speed up getting an interview, consider the following:

• Address your materials to the proper department. 

This is Kaaren's (remember the spelling of my name... you'll need to recall it later)....Start over:  This is Kaaren's interpretation of what a "Personal Department" could provide.  While a "Personnel Department" provides hiring, benefits, payroll and access to hiring managers, A personal department may be something like this:

 You may also be able to hire people: to make you a personal agenda to bring to a board meeting and even perhaps help you formulate a personal vendetta against an unsuspecting former coworker or "frenemy". 

(A few Facebook friends helped with the rest of these.)

An additional hired psychiatrist can help with your "personal-ity disorder" (Thanks, Michael).

In the Personal Department, you can also order:

A Personal Pan Pizza (Thanks, Trina)

And you can give your personal opinion freely, keep your personal property without the risk of someone violating it, etc.   

(Thanks to Becky, Leslee, David, Michael, Fran, my sister Jenna, Andrea and Amber for the help brainstorming)  

• Another thing you can do to make your resume a winner?  Feign familiarity with recruiters by addressing them by a well-spelled first name and THEN bribe them with money to hire you.  

At first I thought it was a Nigerian Prince asking for money, however, I then saw that it was in response to an ad I posted.  I figured that Nigerian Princes probably get enough money from other people and don't offer to give it out freely since it takes so much time to wire it to them in Africa.  Also I figured that since he was offering to give me money and not take any from me that he was legitimate.  So then I deduced further that it truly was a legitimate job seeker with a really nice, though unknowingly unlawful, intentions.  :)

These tactics and others will surely give you the edge for a job you truly desire by making your resume "stand out" from the crowd.  Hope you have enjoyed my Resume Mistakes!  May the power of Spell Check be with you!  

Ruff Crowd: Dumb Jokes and Wisdom for Dog Lovers: Issue #2

I had to post another... despite the warnings of my husband....   He saw the preview and his exact words were, "You have a wonderful career ahead of you writing Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum Wrappers." :)

Back story: Our dog loves the bathroom and I caught him sitting on the toilet one day.  So I thought I could think of a funny caption if I took the picture.

Well, I enjoy doing this sort of thing.  ... And I usually find that things that people enjoy doing usually are amusing.  Enjoy.

Woo hoo and Un Woo hoo: Extreme Aspects of My New Temp Job!

I have big news.. And by big news, I mean a small change.  Because when you have nothing big going on, a small change is big news!  I got a temporary job as a recruiter through a referral. It’s not permanent and I don’t get vacation or sick days.  But it’s work … And I’m definitely going to continue with the blog because technically I don’t have a “career” job (What is a career anyway?)  and I’ll definitely still have funny stories to share from recruiting and from the permanent job search...

The Good, Bad and Bleh

But, some money is better than no money, and I am very grateful for the opportunity, even if it is never guaranteed to continue and is only going for about 4 months.  

So about the new job....There are parts of it that are awesome to which I say, "Woo hoo!" and then jump up, sing and optimistically fist pumping the air like a I'm on Jersey Shore.

I look like this:

...and there are some parts that are are times to "Un Woo hoo!" in which I slink into my chair, deflated and less confident, want to say "Bleh"

and I look like this.                                      

         

I would like to share these with you now.


The Woo Hoos and Un Woo Hoos as a Temporary Recruiter

Out o' Da Pump, Not Down the Dwain.

Woo Hoo for a paycheck!  No public assistance for this girl, and no more draining the savings!

Un Woo Hoo for helping people find positions that are much more well-paid than mine with way less required training.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them...but it's still rough.  There are many days I wish I had gotten a technical degree in Pizza Consumption, a certificate in The Science of Being Random and Zany or a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Karaoke.  I could go on the road singing karaoke with choreography and eating gluten free pizza in eating contests.  That would be the life for me!

Daily Rituals

Woo Hoo for getting out of the house, having goals and taking daily showers!

Un Woo-Hoo for 40 mile commutes in heavy traffic.

Moola, Moola

Woo Hoo for steps toward financial stability and rebuilding the savings account!

Un Woo Hoo for paying for gas out the wazoongamunga (or butt- the short version is wazoo).  (Would you like your bonus in cash or gas cards? Gas cards, Puh-leeze!)

Prestige is the Name of a Car by Kia

Woo Hoo for experience in a field I'm trying to learn a lot in.  (Former teachers like to learn?  Unheard of!  :)  )

Un Woo Hoo for trying to explain my job history in one sentence why I am out of work again for my 10 year high school reunion and why I quit a full-time permanent teaching job with "summers off" (yeah right- more like I lived in my classroom and/or was taking college classes).

Talky, Talky

Woo Hoo for a job that lets me be outgoing and talk to people around the country.

Un Woo for being able to exhibit very little creativity in how I interview.  This just comes with the job. If I had my pick of questions, however, I would add this one to the list: "Tell me about your first pet.  How did you treat him and how do you know he loved you?"  You could tell a lot about a person by this question!  I might also ask, "Without feeding me B.S., why do you feel you are qualified for this position." It would show how many people actually read the job description before they apply.  But alas, I'm not allowed that freedom yet.  A girl can dream though.

TaDa!  My list of Woo Hoo's and Un Woo Hoo's and a bit of an update on the job transition from public to corporate steward.   I think for my next post, I'm going to make up a list of interview questions that I'd LOVE to ask, but know I probably cant.


Can you relate to any of these?  What are pros and cons to your field or job or just life right now?  I'm curious to know more about how other people feel about work, being unemployed, giving up a career for kids, etc.