Archive for April, 2009

A continuation of Job Stalking #2.

If you want to use the newspaper to find jobs thats fine, but its extremely limiting nowadays.  We used Craigs List and many online job finder helps…like Yahoo! Hotjobs where I input all the information I wanted to give and then used the search and email alerts to have the possibilities sent to my email box.  You can also google for local job listings, sometimes your library will have a web-page for postings.

Next, I hunted for jobs that would also allow me to call them, or show up at a certain time for an ‘open call’ interview.

But mostly you just end up waiting a lot.

I was inputting for multiple jobs a day.  On the days there was nothing I tried to find addresses, emails, and phone numbers for the jobs I already applied online for so I could hunt them down and pursue them.  You need to be aggressive, when you call them up:

• Ask them is the job still open
• Next ask when you can come in for an interview
• Ask when you can call back again and check on the job if they are not going to give you an interview.
• Ask for names and numbers to easily check back again.
• Tell them you can stop bye today!
• Ask them to please contact you if the position is filled.

If you find an address:

• Show up during non-busy hours (to the best of your ability)
• Ask to talk to a manager or recruiter
• If no one is available ask for a business card and ‘best time’ for a retry.
• Bring copies of your resume with you – they will not have it printed out, and if you ‘walk-in’ you want to have one ready to push in their hand so you remove another excuse not to talk to you.

Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!  Keep checking till you know the position is filled or someone tells you ‘no’.  And be ready to answer interview ‘questions’, know how much money you want to make, have some goals for yourself, and have goals for you in their company/business.  Build good questions to ask them when they give you the chance:

• What does the position pay
• Whats the schedule
• Is their benefits/healthcare
• Etcetera!

I have been interviewed by people who didn’t even give me their name!  SO during the part when they ask If I have any questions I said YES!  “What is your name?”…do you have a business card…

Next time we will talk about the difficulties.

A continuation of: Job Stalking #1.

What where the things that I did to start my job search?  First, go on LinkedIn and sign up, after you complete their whole input process there is an option to download it (your resume, cv) in PDF form!  Presto Magic!  An online resume builder that costs you absolutely nothing! (also includes your introduction that is the cover letter)

Then I went online and had the PDF converted to text or a Word document because all online acceptance does not take PDF, some want Word Document or equivalent.  *Hint – you can also remove the Linked In graphic from your resume too…automatically added by Linked In.

Alright, now you are armed with 2 sources for online cover letter & resume submission and can also print them out for live use.  And remember, print extra copies and take them with you because even if you submit it online, usually they never print it out -AND- I have been asked for a copy again when going to the interview.

For my own use I added my references and contact number(s) on my printed resume, it cuts down on having to add it later…or they lose the information in the email or application that goes with your resume.   Also, it helps you when filling out all those application…you can just look on your resume in case you forget.  BUT please don’t post that resume on job boards or anywhere public or you will be asking for spam!  And all your information will be spread across the commercial (and maybe private) world.  Telemarketers, spam filled inbox, you get the idea.

If you have a local store that does all your fax or document printing (like Kinko’s in the USA) then maybe it will be convenient and not to much money from your pocket, but we find its a good investment to get a printer with scanner/copier capabilities…SO so much less stressful.

For example:  My wife needs to have documentation/certifications that need to be attached or printed for submission to jobs.  Copy them all in then print them or attach them to email when needed.  Or print out important paperwork, sign/fill out, then scan back in and return and you also have the hard copy for yourself.  Very wise investment for several reasons beyond job hunting.

Now that I finally have a job, I wanted to share with you a little about the modern day process and what you can expect.

First a little background. Even though we live in Northern California we have found our friends across the states tend to agree with our general knowledge about the ‘job stalking’ procedures and results that I will lay out here in multiple post/parts.

Second the job positions. I am a Chef/Cook with college in Computer Information Systems and a successful background in Beverage Distribution (for example: Route Salesman, Deliverer, Merchandiser…). My wife is a registered nurse. So we applied to jobs across the board to anything that we felt were our strong points.

I applied to jobs of this nature or affiliation: Pepsi, Budweiser, various distributors…restaurants, catering, personal chef, cooking in a health-care environment. (and more)

My wife applied to several different types of nursing jobs, with different shifts, and different sections of hospitals.

We both were coming to this area after being gone for awhile, my wife’s old ’stomping grounds’ and for me it was the first time to take residence (even though I have various friends and family in this state although not particularly close to where we live now).

I give you this information to explain to you that neither one of us had ‘inside connections’ or people we could ‘hit up’ for a quick job or employment.

The average time it took us both to get a permanent job was 2 Months…and as I talk with people and ask around I find this is the ‘norm’, some even say we are lucky.

Job Stalking #2 will be more about what we did, how we did it, and how to really be diligent and make your presence known in order to make a lasting impression to get that job!

Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking: Michael Ruhlman

I am currently reading this book.  I have read all the other books (that are NOT cookbooks) about Chefs that he has wrote about…that is a recommendation.

For me its a reminder of how I started cooking long ago and trying to train myself to be independant from recipes.  It is important to have consistency – so I still develop recipes for personal, commercial, and business use.

If you have any talent cooking this book can help free you to move beyond the  cookbook and experiment.  It can free you to be spontaneous in the kitchen, on the grill, or any cooking experience that might bog you down looking for a recipe.

If you don’t, won’t, or can’t read thru the big books of Larousse Gastronomique and/or The Professional Chef buy the Elements of Cooking and Ratios by Michael Ruhlman, this should get you started with a pleasurable education to get you cooking daily like a pro in your own kitchen.

The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty

Being out here in California on a permanent level I wanted to find a few books that combine the area that I am living in and a ‘foodie’ aspect that would appeal to me.  I found a non-fiction work called ‘The House of Mondavi – The rise and fall of an American wine dynasty’ .  A very intriguing story of the Modavi’s start in America which later moved to Napa Valley, the rise of the ‘empire’, the split, and the success and failures that happened along the way.  Heard of Robert Mondavi Reserve, Opus One, Woodbridge, or Charles Krug wines?  All Mondavi family owned at one time.  I thought it was an excellent read and showed that Robert or the ‘family’ truly pioneered some of the wine tastings and chef oriented open houses which furthered the progress of the California wine culture that thrives today.