JOB HUNTING...ARGHHH

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Wow, job hunting is nothing like it used to be!
Of course, the last time I looked for a job was 17 years ago. Do you remember looking in the employment section of a newspaper? How times have changed!

So I thought I'd be smart and I started out by lining myself up with several agencies, but I was told by the second one that they don't recommend that. 

Hmmm, too bad, I want a job now! 

I also figured even if they don't have the perfect job for me they can get me temporary work to hold me over...well I learned some things. Hopefully this will help someone else some day!

Rule #1 Do not tell them you want something specific or they will not consider you for anything else!!!  Mistake #1. I was totally honest with them about what I want for my next permanent job, including pay rate. So when I called to check on these other jobs I see available they ask, "Oh, so you're willing to work temporary jobs?" Well yeah! Duh!

Rule #2 Do not tell them how much you want to make for a permanent job or they will not approach you with anything less!! See above...my next call about a job I see posted and they ask "Oh, so you'll accept a different rate for temporary?" Again...Well yeah! Duh!

Rule #3 Do not assume that all jobs  available are listed where you can see them. Headhunters have their own networking! I have been all over every job site out there for hours every day, yes, looking at a lot of duplication, but hey, I didn't want to miss that perfect job! 

Rule #4 Don't let anyone tell you that you should stick with just one agency! So now I talk with ANOTHER agency I need to contact and what do you know...after 4 weeks of applying and searching, 3 - 4 hours a day, sometimes more...30+ resumes submitted - and he's got something lined up for me the next day!

Rule #5 Along with all the other changes...don't use that "old fashioned" resume style. So Agency #1 advised me to make some changes. No problem, I'm all for adapting. Then Agency #2 sees my new resume and advises some other changes. Works for me! Then Agency #3 advises I make changes like the previous one had! I'm up to revision #6, and still make slight changes to suit some positions.

So my advice to you...don't leave your job search in anyone else's hands, but by all means, reach out to as many agencies as you can. You never know which one will have that perfect job for you!

The bottom line, you do whatever it takes!

May the force be with you!

MISSING IN ACTION

It has been such a long time since I wrote regularly - or let's be honest here, at all! Well the Lord has been nudging me now for oh...6 months or so. Hmmm, guess I'm a little slow!

I have no good reason for the years away from this passion, except I let life get in the way. Honestly, when I think of the time I've wasted I just shake my head.

I have one complete novel/novella to submit, another that was returned to me by a publisher that folded, and a whole boat load of idea leads in a file on my computer. Not to mention all the notes/ideas I have entered in my phone!!! (It's so convenient to record an idea when I'm driving so the idea isn't lost by the time I'm back home! Anyone else use this trick?) What a world we live in!

But I thank God for His kindhearted patience. He is so good! He waits patiently for us to respond (much more patiently than we wait for Him to answer our cries)!

Not only did he nudge me to start writing again, but He planted an idea in my head. Suddenly I was hearing it all around me, on the radio, during preaching...hmmm some positive reinforcement maybe? And still I ignored it for this long!

But here I am again, finally ready to take up my pen (well, my keyboard). I hope some of my writing friends remember me, as well as those of you who enjoyed my writing in the past! Here is a  link to my previous work if you don't remember me and would like to check me out! I'd love to get to know you!

http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Donna+B.+Snow

I hope you stop by often, I'd love to be a part of your day or week and encourage you along as you encourage me!

God bless you all!

Until next time...

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer.      

                                                                             Romans 12:12

How many times today has someone asked you to pray for something? For a sick loved one, or themself, or a bad situation...

The gift that we all have, that was left for us with His Spirit, is the ability to reach out to our very creator and ask for His mercy on us and our loved ones. AND HE HEARS US!

And how many of us have witnessed answered prayers?

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.                2 Chronicles 7:14

                                                                                        

You would probably be amazed if you knew how many people truly pray when they hear a request, whether it be a passing moment or repeated prayer throughout the day as they think of it.

I may not always remember to pray again, but if I say I will pray, you can be sure that I will. And I'm not alone. Prayer is a precious gift and we should use it wisely. God has promised to hear us, we should be sure our requests are worth hearing.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.   James 5:16

Have faith, He's listening!

Just a job, Lord, this not working is tiring!

I thought sure that I could find a job in a week or two, but even though the job market is good, summer time is not the best time to find a middle management position! Between vacations and being short handed or slow, no one wants to make any major changes until things settle back to a normal pace.

So what do you do when the company you've worked at for 20 years is bought out and you slowly watch your job drifting off to corporate land? Well, I'll tell you, you don't wait! No matter if they tell you that your job is secure, chances are it isn't! So you check out the job market, polish up your resume and get it out there as soon as you see something you like. I'm not saying to jump ship without a lifeboat, but definitely start looking around.

You see, most corporations function the same way. Although they may have divisions all around the world, that's probably only the production end of things. So if you work in production you shouldn't have a worry in the world. But on the office side (where I work), that's usually done all in one place - at corporate headquarters.

So even if they don't take your job away all at one time, you can expect it to disappear eventually. In my case, bit by bit my job was transferred away and I had less and less to do until I had so little left that I was begging for work from anyone who had anything!

I don't blame the corporation (although it would have been nice if they answered honestly when I asked if I should be looking for a job), they are just functioning the way they need to. But I do blame myself for not seeing the writing on the wall.

So, do your job as well as you've always done it, but open your eyes and start looking at what else is out there, because if you're like me, they'll be thanking you very politely for all you've done and pointing you toward the door.

Hmmm and companies wonder why people change jobs so frequently, why there's so little job loyalty...how about some job security first?

Now here are two of my most favorite people in the world, my aunt and uncle. Married for 55 years and still living and loving the way we were meant to.

These are two remarkable people, people who know what's right and what's wrong, and what's important and what isn't, and how to love unconditionally.

If you ask them, they will tell you, hands down, that THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS WORLD IS FAMILY. Now there is love, not just for each other, but for most everyone around them, because family isn't just blood, it's neighbors, it's friends, it's friends of friends.

Talk about a great example to follow. They raised their grandchildren with no complaint, grandchildren who still love them and gather around them every chance they get - as well as the great grand children! Everyone loves them! Because they know how to love!

This world has been a better place because they are in it, hopefully for many years to come! 

Thank you for the example, thank you for your sacrifices, thank you for your LOVE.

Baby Steps

HAPPY GRADUATION DAY!!!

There are so many milestones in each of our lives and most of the time we don't take any time to set the mile markers when they happen.

Well, this is one that I just have to share. Our daughter graduated from college this year and we couldn't be more proud. After 4 years as a Nursing Major, she graduated Summa Cum Laude. I won't say she worked harder than anyone else, but she pushed herself to do her best.

I am happy to say that she passed the nursing exam last week and she is now an RN, going on to start her first nursing job in the next few weeks.

We have always been proud of her, from her first baby steps to this walk across the stage.

There are so many mile markers along the way, try not to miss them!

Happy Anniversary

25 YEARS 

Happy Anniversary 

to Us

What does the perfect marriage look like? You want one just like it, right?

Well, let me give you a hint, there isn't one!

Marriage, just like any other relationship has its ups and downs...and they all take work. I know you've heard it over and over again, but yup, communication is really what it's all about (and make sure there are lots of kind words thrown into that communication mix).

It kills me to see marriages fall apart (well, most anyway). But it just seems like people don't want to make the effort. "If it isn't easy then it isn't worth it."

Ah, but if you put the work into it, it's worth more than you could ever imagine.

To quote an old song that's been running in my head for quite awhile now, "What the world needs now is love".

Yes, indeed, and love starts at home. Go ahead, give it a try! You might like where it leads 😉