Updates

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let you all know where life in the Fishbowl is at! I did end up doing one of those Facebook ads..not much of a response yet..but I do like the idea. I do think I might have to link it up to one of my other sites. Speaking of links...hehehe..hows that for a segue? I did have people looking at my LinkedIn profile...I definitely feel as though my resume is starting to get noticed..i just hope more schools start looking at it! I also had a friend of mine take a look at my resume..he used to be a recruiter for many years and he is very good at what he does..some advice..if you have resources or someone offers you help..take it..it really is invaluable and particularly if they have background experience. He basically tore it apart..but it really needed to be...I like it a lot better..and at this point..my resume is done..I think. I have done all the tweaking I can do and I do believe it is up to professional standards. Some good news..I did get a call from a local computer company who saw my resume on Monster.com and wanted to talk to me about employment opportunities. A little more advice, if you are looking for a job and you havent posted on Monster.com...leave this blog...i wont be upset..lol..and open up an account there. I did not even call this company and now they are calling me. Social Media..networking..it really is amazing! Thats about all for now..talk to you folks soon!

Busy Day

Hello everyone! Well a lot happened today with the job search..did talk to a few schools..we will see what happens. I also did post a Facebook Ad as well! I will post another blog in the next day or so and go into more detail..no interviews..but a good day today all in all!!

Placing Ads

So another day...the search continues. If nothing else, I have gained so much experience from this...experience...lol!!! But I am still very hopeful something will happen! Anyways...I was reading about a gentleman named Alec Brownstein. Are you wondering who he is? Well..if you are in the boat that I am in, that is a name you should definitely know because I think in many circles, he is a bit of a celebrity and certainly without a doubt, an innovator. Alec Brownstein is the guy who got the job of his dreams essentially by having the companies that he was interested in google themselves and that led to his website...I think I have that process right...lol! I have thought about doing what he did but I am not sure how well it will work for two reasons. One..because it worked so well for Alec, I think more people are going to try that idea and something that was a really unique and interesting idea might seem not so new because so many people are going to want to try it. Two..i think in a field like public relations..its a lot easier to figure out the top five firms where one would want to work or the top five people in the field that one would want to work for. I think in student affairs it is a lot more arbitrary..the top five schools in the nation doesn't necessarily mean those are the top five student affairs departments. Now I am not criticizing Alec at all..come on...he is currently at his dream job..while I am just blogging about it..for now! No..Alec definitely knows what he is doing and he came up with an awesome idea. I just think if I am going to do it...i need to tweak the idea a bit. I'm thinking about maybe doing something on Facebook.It seems like a lot of student affairs and higher education personnel are on Facebook quite a bit. Any thoughts? No entry tomorrow..but stay tuned for another one probably on Sunday! Take care!

Welcome!

Well..im very excited today! No...no job offer...at least not yet! What I do have is apparently an audience for my blog! So...welcome aboard!!! I hope that people enjoy this blog and I definitely enjoy working on it! Today's word of wisdom...I really think anyone who is on a job search should be using LinkedIn...its great to be networking with people and it actually makes one feel that they are not at a moat of a giant castle trying to get past the gatekeeper! Hehehe..i like that analogy...i have to remember that! Anyways..welcome..im going to try to make the Fishbowl a daily blog or at least as often as I can, so stay tuned and thank you!

Job Search

Wow! This is some competitive job market! I found out today that one of the schools that I applied to..there are over 100 candidates for one position..100 candidates! That is insane! However..that still has me just as determined as ever. I have been doing a lot of networking tonight..posting on discussion boards and updating the Fishbowl! I also found out..through networking, might I add..about a website called Excelon Associates (www.excelonassociates.com) which is a recruiting agency for higher education. I posted my resume on there and we will see what happens!

Job Search Advice

Hello everyone! So, another piece of advice that I have learned in my job search is.....always, always try to have someone proofread your work. Don't just rely on spellcheck...definetly have another set of eyes helping you out! In my case..when it is my wife..I take her out to lunch!!!!

Cover Letter

I just finished tweaking my new cover letter. I do think its really good and I am definitely hoping it gets some positive results! If nothing else..it gets one's attention! We will see what happens later on this week! Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Fridays and the Fishbowl

Hello everyone! Two posts in one day...its a record for me! Actually the reason I am posting right now is to let followers(when I get some!LOL) know that I won't be doing any updating on my blog on Fridays. The reason is simple..two jobs. Not enough time to post..unless its very late at night(which I am a night owl but even I have my limits) or something very significant..interview...job offer...Cubs winning the World Series! So Fridays will more than likely be an off day for blogging but I will attempt to get right back to it on Saturday! See you folks this weekend!

How to Stay Sane In A Job Search

Hello everyone! I think I am doing pretty good so far staying up on this blog, this is three days in a row which I think is a record for me. It is a good thing because it is making me dedicated to keeping current on this which..lol..is usually the point of a blog. I am going to always attempt to keep this blog more professional based than personal..I don't think people are going to be terribly interested in what my cats ate today or how the Red Sox did last night(although i will always readily talk about that!) This is more regarding my job search, how it is going, any progress I made and hopefully reaching the point where I am talking about starting a new job in the student affairs profession. I am planning on not stopping the blog there either..I want to talk about what it is like to be back involved in the field, how it is going for my wife and I being in a new situation, maybe having relocated very far from home. I'm excited to share these experiences with anyone who reads this blog. So with that, I am going to share some advice with people about what I have come across in my job search and keeping sane (which I have been told I am doing pretty well at!)

1. Consider all your options- I had been doing a lot of sending out resumes, cover letters, etc...at least two a week, if not more. I felt accomplished but it had not done much in getting my foot back in the door. I had been against blogging...Twitter...mainly because I didn't know much about them. I educated myself a bit and found out how resourceful these options can be and how they have opened a door that I feel wasn't there before and am networking with professionals in the field that I was not meeting before by doing the cold calls. This option really has invigorated my job search and gave me a shot in the arm when I really needed it. Which brings me to my second point.

2. Social Media- I really believe that this is the wave of the future for job searches, if it isnt already here. LinkedIn...Twitter..blogging..I think to a lesser extent, Facebook are really good tools for networking and having you feel as if you are a little closer to where you want to be. When I do get hired by a college, I would love to do a presentation about the signifance of these sites in one's job search and how vital I think they are. The computer is such an important part of so many peoples' lives and it makes sense that the job search would reflect that. Use these sites..make those connections and I think you will feel like you are at least getting through the door. What you do after that is up to you!

3. Have a good attitude- Searching for a job can be very frustrating and can be very draining. I think if you start giving up and have a bad attitude, it can reflect...even subconsciously...in interviews, correspondence with potential employers. I sometimes think finding a job is almost like dating. If you deal with a lot of rejection, you may give off signs of desperation..even if you don't think you are. But you better believe other people will notice. And I don't think there is a single employer out there who wants to hire someone right off the bat with a bad, negative, deflated attitude. Karma is important...give off positive vibes and you will get positive vibes.

4. Don't be a prisoner to your email or phone- I have had to learn to do this one. You keep on waiting for the phone to ring..or that email to show up in your mailbox that you are looking at both items all the time...and I mean all the time! I was waiting for the phone to beep every three seconds. Put it away. Now. You will drive yourself crazy. These things take time and I have heard of many stories of an applicant calling every day inquiring about their status in a job process and have taken themselves out of the running because of it. I have learned to put the phone away...or at least not look at it every second. Find other things to do. And again..when you do return to the phone or the computer, you feel a sense of being revitalized and that you can do what you need to do to keep the search going.


5. This ties in a bit with no 4...distract yourself. I work right now so that can be a distraction right there from my job search..I know that for eight hours a day I need to be focusing on work and not on my phone ringing. I think its definetly kept me sane and focused and not wondering any minute if a school is going to call..or if they haven't called..why have they not called..etc. I also have found that hobbies are really good..my fantasy baseball team has been a real help and so has my music..those things relax me and they keep me focused in the moment and I enjoy them. If you dont have a hobby or a pasttime...get one!


6. Support System- This could be different people..depending on who you are. For me..its my wonderful wife, Cindy! She has been a rock during this process..which directly affects her too because wherever I go..obviously she is coming with me! So this process is nerve-racking for her too. However, she has supported me through it all..given me advice...reassurance..positive words..you name it. I want this just as much for her as I do for myself. I'm a lucky guy. For other people, it could be friends..peers..colleagues..significant others. Having positive people around you make you that much more positive and it is important to have that kind of energy around you. You dont need negativity bringing you down.

There it is...the steps that I have learned to keep myself sane during this search. I hope maybe other people in the same boat are keeping sane as well..maybe someone might read this if they are going a little crazy and can take a step back and breathe for a bit. Whatever might help! Good luck!