Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Unemployment, what you're not missing
When you're unemployed (even when you're not), some days you need a lift. Things aren't going right, and you're reminded at every turn of the things you're missing by not working. Specifically, the paycheck. What you need then is a reminder of the things you're NOT missing.
So my question then is, how many times can you watch "Office Space" before you have a problem? I'm only up to 2 times since I was laid off. I've seen the movie more times than that, but twice in the last month. (What can I say, it makes me laugh.)
So my question then is, how many times can you watch "Office Space" before you have a problem? I'm only up to 2 times since I was laid off. I've seen the movie more times than that, but twice in the last month. (What can I say, it makes me laugh.)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Even in unemployment I can't get away from the Empire State Building
The company I last worked for had its offices in the Empire State Building, one of the city's (even the world's) most iconic buildings. The company used the ESB in its promo material and seemed to get a lot of mileage out it. Given that I was marketing manager, I spent a good deal of time leveraging the Building's image and reputation for our nefarious purposes. And I have to say that having an office there did impress (or intrigue) people, at least people who didn't know any better. I was pretty impressed too, initially.
The Empire State Building is a symbol of capitalism and possibility in America. But the truth is anyone can have their offices there if they're willing to pay a premium for it. The Building is filled with small companies and start-ups. I don't think any tenants take up more than part of a floor. So while it's an achievement to start and run a company, it's really not an achievement to have an office in the ESB. It's more of a strategy.
After about 2 weeks of working in the Empire State Building the novelty of it all became a big hassle. The area around it is packed with tourists and shops catering to tourists. Just walking the block to and from the Herald Square stop is a slalom course of Europeans, Japanese and Midwesterners taking pictures of themselves. Everything is more expensive, even than the already high Manhattan prices. 2 slices of pizza and a soda - for example - cost me $13 bucks at the neighboring Sbarro. And it wasn't even that good.
So one good thing about the layoff is I don't have to go to the Empire State Building anymore. The problem is that I can't get away from it. Everywhere I go, there it is. EVERYWHERE! And with it the constant reminder of my unemployment.
I think the Empire State Building might actually be following me, but I haven't gathered enough evidence to go to the police. The windows of my apartment in Queens all face west, and unless it's foggy, I can see it. Whenever I open the blinds - day or night - there it is, looking in my window, watching. The 7 train - one of my local trains - runs above ground for much of its route. If I sit facing the right direction, there's the Building is on the horizon. As the train moves, the ESB ducks behind smaller buildings in the foreground. But I know it's there. Something that big just can't hide. Even if I sit facing the other direction, it lurks still, staring at the back of my head. Communitea - one cafes I visit for a change of scenery - is in Long Island City, right across the river from Manhattan's east side. Look down any block and there is the Empire State Building hovering above, not even trying to be discreet.
The Empire State Building will probably go away when I find another job. But in the meantime, I guess I just have to deal with it.
The Empire State Building is a symbol of capitalism and possibility in America. But the truth is anyone can have their offices there if they're willing to pay a premium for it. The Building is filled with small companies and start-ups. I don't think any tenants take up more than part of a floor. So while it's an achievement to start and run a company, it's really not an achievement to have an office in the ESB. It's more of a strategy.
After about 2 weeks of working in the Empire State Building the novelty of it all became a big hassle. The area around it is packed with tourists and shops catering to tourists. Just walking the block to and from the Herald Square stop is a slalom course of Europeans, Japanese and Midwesterners taking pictures of themselves. Everything is more expensive, even than the already high Manhattan prices. 2 slices of pizza and a soda - for example - cost me $13 bucks at the neighboring Sbarro. And it wasn't even that good.
So one good thing about the layoff is I don't have to go to the Empire State Building anymore. The problem is that I can't get away from it. Everywhere I go, there it is. EVERYWHERE! And with it the constant reminder of my unemployment.
I think the Empire State Building might actually be following me, but I haven't gathered enough evidence to go to the police. The windows of my apartment in Queens all face west, and unless it's foggy, I can see it. Whenever I open the blinds - day or night - there it is, looking in my window, watching. The 7 train - one of my local trains - runs above ground for much of its route. If I sit facing the right direction, there's the Building is on the horizon. As the train moves, the ESB ducks behind smaller buildings in the foreground. But I know it's there. Something that big just can't hide. Even if I sit facing the other direction, it lurks still, staring at the back of my head. Communitea - one cafes I visit for a change of scenery - is in Long Island City, right across the river from Manhattan's east side. Look down any block and there is the Empire State Building hovering above, not even trying to be discreet.
The Empire State Building will probably go away when I find another job. But in the meantime, I guess I just have to deal with it.
Friday, November 21, 2008
More Music (11/20)
The good news is my internet at home is back in full force. The bad news is I'm way behind, so no comments. Sucks to be you, because I already know what I think.
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends
The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Luna - Rendevous
The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
My Morning Jacket - Z
Mogwai - Mr. Beast
The High Violets - To Where You Are
Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark - Best Of
The Outfield - Play Deep
Hooverphonic - New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends
The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Luna - Rendevous
The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
My Morning Jacket - Z
Mogwai - Mr. Beast
The High Violets - To Where You Are
Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark - Best Of
The Outfield - Play Deep
Hooverphonic - New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
Thursday, November 20, 2008
School networking events
I have to give credit where credit is due. Just as the job market started heading south and before I was laid off, career services at both Fordham (my grad school) and Franklin & Marshall (my undergrad school) reached out to alumnae with offers of help. F&M notified me of a grad school open house they were having and promised career center events in the near future. Of course, all that is in PA... not so helpful. Fordham scheduled HR open houses at 2 big local employers. The first was subsequently cancelled because (I kid you not) the company announced major layoffs. The second was at a big record label where I worked and was laid off from a few years ago. Again, not so helpful for me. But their hearts are in the right place.
Networking for the Slightly Shy, the Reserved and the Downright Introverted
The other night I went to a seminar at Fordham entitled "Networking for the Slightly Shy, the Reserved and the Downright Introverted." I'm not shy, but I can be a little reserved and introverted. It's really because I just don't like people. (In case you're wondering, I hate you too.) Seriously, I'm just comfortable by myself and don't much like networking events. I don't know the root cause (fear of rejection, maybe). I signed up this event because, when I'm unemployed, I try to do anything that can possibly help.
Sure enough, it was very helpful, and I'm glad I went. The presenter was a career coach named Mary Anne Walsh, and she reminded me of the lady who was selling us her apartment until I was laid off and our mortgage was rejected. (I guess that's a story for another post.) She started with why we network:
She continued on to explain that we should treat networking like we would a job, particularly if we didn't enjoy it. So I took out my computer and immediately went to ESPN.com (BAA-zing! Thank you, be sure to try the veal). Seriously, she suggested we outline a strategy for meeting people. The key point for me was to have a plan and goals going in (ex. meet 5 people, setup 3 meetings, get 10 business cards). She gave tips on how to keep conversations moving and how to move on to other conversations after 5 minutes (her suggested length).
I don't want to give away too much of the stuff she presented. After all this is her business, and people pay her for this. But one other point was particularly relevant for me. Have something to offer people whom you're meeting. If the conversation and any subsequent relationship isn't a give and take, you won't get very far.
This point resonated with me because someone recently called me out on this very thing. This contact made the point that he only hears from me when I look for a job and send out my resume en masse. Further, if I were to offer help when I'm gainfully employed, I'd never be in the position I always find myself in - unemployed and in need of help. Jobs would come to me. Initially I was a little angry and indignant about it. I do try to help people in my network, and I pride myself on that. But some people never seem to need help. And some I just don't know that well; that's the nature of networks. Anyway, his point was spot-on, at least as it applied to him (and likely many more people). And I realized this once I got over myself and thought about it a little.
Anyway, back to the point of this post. Networking needs to be a key component of any job search, active or passive, whether you're employed on not employed. If you hate it as much as I do, then it's all the more important because you probably avoid it. And if you treat it is as its own process and and important part of the larger process of finding a job, you can rationalize yourself into doing it.
And if you have the wherewithal, it's probably worth hiring a job coach. There are many things we're probably doing wrong, and there are people who can help. Mary Anne is one of them.
Sure enough, it was very helpful, and I'm glad I went. The presenter was a career coach named Mary Anne Walsh, and she reminded me of the lady who was selling us her apartment until I was laid off and our mortgage was rejected. (I guess that's a story for another post.) She started with why we network:
- gain confidence
- learn new skills
- increase self-esteem
- increase visibility
- get a new job (HELLO!)
- get promoted (I should be so lucky)
- acquire new business
- solve problems more quickly
She continued on to explain that we should treat networking like we would a job, particularly if we didn't enjoy it. So I took out my computer and immediately went to ESPN.com (BAA-zing! Thank you, be sure to try the veal). Seriously, she suggested we outline a strategy for meeting people. The key point for me was to have a plan and goals going in (ex. meet 5 people, setup 3 meetings, get 10 business cards). She gave tips on how to keep conversations moving and how to move on to other conversations after 5 minutes (her suggested length).
I don't want to give away too much of the stuff she presented. After all this is her business, and people pay her for this. But one other point was particularly relevant for me. Have something to offer people whom you're meeting. If the conversation and any subsequent relationship isn't a give and take, you won't get very far.
This point resonated with me because someone recently called me out on this very thing. This contact made the point that he only hears from me when I look for a job and send out my resume en masse. Further, if I were to offer help when I'm gainfully employed, I'd never be in the position I always find myself in - unemployed and in need of help. Jobs would come to me. Initially I was a little angry and indignant about it. I do try to help people in my network, and I pride myself on that. But some people never seem to need help. And some I just don't know that well; that's the nature of networks. Anyway, his point was spot-on, at least as it applied to him (and likely many more people). And I realized this once I got over myself and thought about it a little.
Anyway, back to the point of this post. Networking needs to be a key component of any job search, active or passive, whether you're employed on not employed. If you hate it as much as I do, then it's all the more important because you probably avoid it. And if you treat it is as its own process and and important part of the larger process of finding a job, you can rationalize yourself into doing it.
And if you have the wherewithal, it's probably worth hiring a job coach. There are many things we're probably doing wrong, and there are people who can help. Mary Anne is one of them.
Music today... and by today I mean yesterday
What a banner day of looking at job boards and listening to music! I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing than job hunting (the music part I love). Maybe dental surgery... yeah that would be better. Cleaning the local subway station with my tongue would be worse. So the job hunt falls somewhere between dental surgery and licking grimey tiles. But the music part was awesome.
U2 - Achtung Baby
One of their best, before they fell behind the curve. I can't believe this album is 15+ years old.
The Stratford 4 - The Revolt Against Tired Noises
Another good pickup from the WFMU record fair. I already had the downloads from eMusic, but never listened. Check it out if you think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is a little heavy for your tastes.
Boards Of Canada - In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country
Trippy, but less hip-hoppy.
Doves - The Last Broadcast
I usually go straight for their first album, especially since hearing "Words" to advertise the NFL Network. But holy crap, still a great album!
Chicane - Behind The Sun
This one is starting to sound a little pedestrian, as 90s electronica often does. But it still has it's moments.
The Honeydrips - Here Comes The Future
The first song always grabs me but the rest comes up a little short.
Pluramon - The Monstrous Surplus
A bit of a throwback to female shoegazer stuff (Pale Saints, Lush, etc.). But alt retro seems to be all the rage. And this one reminds me of my days in college radio.
The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
Still getting used to this one. But me likes what me hears.
The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost
Dark and brooding. Check it out if you think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club should trade in all the pills for a healthy dose of devil worshipping.
The Books - The Lemon Of Pink
Samples and bits of songs can be made into other songs. DJ Shadow proved it and these guys do too. Though I think they play some instruments as well. Solid.
U2 - Achtung Baby
One of their best, before they fell behind the curve. I can't believe this album is 15+ years old.
The Stratford 4 - The Revolt Against Tired Noises
Another good pickup from the WFMU record fair. I already had the downloads from eMusic, but never listened. Check it out if you think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is a little heavy for your tastes.
Boards Of Canada - In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country
Trippy, but less hip-hoppy.
Doves - The Last Broadcast
I usually go straight for their first album, especially since hearing "Words" to advertise the NFL Network. But holy crap, still a great album!
Chicane - Behind The Sun
This one is starting to sound a little pedestrian, as 90s electronica often does. But it still has it's moments.
The Honeydrips - Here Comes The Future
The first song always grabs me but the rest comes up a little short.
Pluramon - The Monstrous Surplus
A bit of a throwback to female shoegazer stuff (Pale Saints, Lush, etc.). But alt retro seems to be all the rage. And this one reminds me of my days in college radio.
The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
Still getting used to this one. But me likes what me hears.
The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost
Dark and brooding. Check it out if you think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club should trade in all the pills for a healthy dose of devil worshipping.
The Books - The Lemon Of Pink
Samples and bits of songs can be made into other songs. DJ Shadow proved it and these guys do too. Though I think they play some instruments as well. Solid.
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