Tag: job search

Sit Up Straight!

Here’s a weird side effect of the job search I don’t think I would have ever expected – my posture is suffering. Why is it that when I was working, I sat up straighter in my chair than I seem to be doing now? I think it’s because when I’m typing, I sit up straight but when I’m scrolling I seem to slump. So I guess that’s a measure of how much typing I did while working?

Any way you look at it, good posture can help you maintain better health. Not only can your posture impact back and neck pain but even impacts your digestion! Check out what these resources say about the effect of posture on your health:

Now that I’ve caught myself slumping more, I’m taking steps to correct it. To start, I’m taking a weekly Pilates class using a reformer. I LOVE the reformer – you get a fabulous stretch from it! And I’ve found all kinds of other suggestions like these which also utilize yoga or Pilates elements:

Sit up straight and check your posture – you’ll thank me for it!

Family Business?

On this day in 1901, Queen Victoria died after 63 years on the British throne – which was her family business. She had an amazing life – if you want to know more about her, check out this link: https://www.britannica.com/video/179999/Overview-Victoria-reign

Seeing this made me think about family businesses. My Dad was the first member of his family to go to college and he chose to become a pharmacist. His oldest nephew followed him into pharmacy and even worked at the same hospital with him. That nephew had 3 children – one of which is a PharmD, one is an engineer at Eli Lilly and the last is a doctor. Those aren’t my only healthcare connections – I had an aunt that was an RN and another cousin that taught medical imaging. So in my family, healthcare is kind of the family business.

I always wonder what it’s like to have a parent that has a business that they pass on to their children. I wonder what that pressure must be like for both the parent and the child. Dad never really tried to get me or my brother to think about pharmacy but I did get a lot of teasing about finally joining the family business when I got my job at Walgreens. 

I’ve been targeting healthcare as one of my priority categories as I look for my next role. Keep your fingers crossed for me OK? More applications went in this morning! 

Worst interview stories

For throwback Thursday, I thought it might be fun to tell a couple stories about my worst ever job interviews. The first one is funny in hindsight but the second one left a scar.

Here’s the first story: I was interviewing at a major fast food chain for a corporate marketing job. They flew me out to their corporate HQ for this interview so I knew I was pretty far in with them. But the minute I got off the plane, I started to feel horrible. By the next day – the day of the interview – I was just plain sick. With a fever. I really don’t remember a lot of that interview – I only remember concentrating on staying upright. It was just horrible! And no – I didn’t get the job. Can’t imagine why!

The second story is harder for me to tell. The interview was for a job that I really wanted. I mean I wanted it bad – I was a HUGE believer in their product and my franchise experience was perfect for them. Or so I thought. My interviewer was a 20 something person who probably shouldn’t have been allowed to be interviewing on her own. After the opening pleasantries, she said to me – and I quote – “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Google Analytics but you’ll be required to use it.” So a couple of things here – I was obviously older than her so it seemed VERY patronizing. And second, at the top section of my resume, I listed that I had certifications for both Google Analytics and Google AdWords. So not only was she patronizing but she also clearly hadn’t read my resume.

When I interview, I am always prepared – not only do I read up on the company but I also find out as much as I can about the interviewer. And when I have interviewed people to hire in the past, I generally have notes written on their resumes for questions to ask but I’ve also read up on them as much as possible – at least on LinkedIn. So that last story has left a scar. I know there is ageism out there now – so as I go into interviews now, I’m a little sensitive about it. 

Just because I have deep experience doesn’t mean I’ve slowed down. It doesn’t mean I don’t learn fast. And it doesn’t mean I won’t perform. I need a new challenge.

Do you have a bad interview story? Tell it in the comments!

Rejection – and your health

I got yet another automated rejection email in my job search this morning. Intellectually, I know it isn’t the end of the world but emotionally – OUCH. Job searches are a game these days trying to outsmart the automated screener to even get to a real person who might understand the value of the person represented in the resume. But can that rejection impact your health?

Of course I dove into Google and here’s what I’ve got. According to the American Psychological Association, rejection does take a toll. They say people who routinely feel excluded have poorer sleep quality, and their immune systems don’t function as well as those of people with strong social connections, he says. Even brief, seemingly innocuous episodes of rejection can sting.

But, I found another article that says your reaction to rejection can be a good thing. It’s a sign your brain is working correctly. Read this – I’ve got to go read more job listings and keep on keeping on!

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/17/why-rejection-is-good-for-your-brain-according-to-a-psychologist-.html

Disappointment – and moving forward anyway.

So remember that first interview I posted about? I don’t have category experience so the HR screen has screened me out for now. They interviewed me because I had an internal referral so I guess that’s something?

But it is disappointing. I actually WANT to work. I read a lot of postings on social media about people who phone it in. People who don’t show up for interviews and when they do, they make crazy demands or worse yet, bring their parents! I cannot for the life of me wrap my head around that. 

So I’m kind of gloomy today. Add to my disappointment that I got my packet about my severance and it’s a recipe for being out of sorts today. Thankfully I’m resilient and I’ll be right back at it – but I’m taking a minute to have a personal pity party this morning. Just a minute though!

Because I don’t think I always interview well, I’ve been looking at some resources to help me. If you’re on the job search, check these out!

  • Ladders Interviews Guide: 74 Questions That Will Land You the Job by Marc Cenedella
  • Anna Papalia on social media – she is the author of Interviewology. 
  • Check out Brigette Hyacinth on LinkedIn. She gives LOTS of good advice.
  • And this Golden Rule for interviewing I picked up somewhere along the way — be prepared, be professional and most importantly, be yourself. 

Disney 100

What is the point of being on a hiatus from the corporate world if you don’t have the occassional fun day? So today, I’m off to the Disney 100 exhibition in Chicago.  What a great Thursday Throwback for me!

I love almost all things Disney – although I haven’t been to DisneyLand yet. I need to work on that! Here’s the link to the the Disney 100 information – if you’re in the Chicago or Kansas City areas, you might want to check it out now too!

https://disney100exhibit.com/

Disney100: The Exhibition invites guests to step into ten magnificent and imaginatively themed galleries, where moving stories, unique interactive installations, and behind-the-scenes glimpses will take them on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company. There are ten large and imaginatively themed galleries with renowned classics from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to Encanto (2021), including the latest members of the Disney family – Pixar, Star Wars, MARVEL, and National Geographic. Celebrate the magic of Disney with timeless stories and memories through the visual, audio, and interactive elements of Disney100: The Exhibition.

Job searching and the weather…

Is it just me – or is it easier to look at the job listings when it isn’t so gloomy outside? I’ve hit a wall yesterday and today at looking at the job boards. I have about 6″ of snow at my house and it’s really gray outside. Has the seasonal affective disorder caught me?

This link will take you to everything you need to know about seasonal affective disorder: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

But I don’t really think I have SAD – I think this is just a trough of the roller coaster of being on the job search. It really does wear on a person. I’m still in contact with members of my old team and it is really odd to talk to them when I’m not really a part of the group anymore. Not to mention that talking myself up to a lot of strangers is NOT a comfortable thing for me.

This too shall pass right? At some point, a company is going to realize that I’d be a great fit for them and I’ll get back in the work grove. But today it’s wearing on me….