Holiday Tips for Job Seekers

Dec6

I just read an article on job hunting in December.  The article said how December is a great time to look for a new job.  I was surprised by this information; as I always thought the end of the year was a bad time to look for a new job.  Here is what I gleaned from the article.

  1. Many companies are finalizing their budgets for the upcoming year, and will be adding staff. Now is a good time to get your resume in front of a hiring manager for the New Year.  Most companies work on a calendar year basis, as opposed to a fiscal year.
  2. Get out and socialize. Parties, industry events and gatherings provide a great opportunity to mix and mingle with potential employers.
  3. Your completion level drops off in December. Most job seekers don’t want to bother with their job search during the holidays.  You will more likely get noticed when the competition thins out.
  4. Reconnect with old contacts. I have a list of recruiters who I have dealt with in the past.  I have shared this list with many others, and suggest they reconnect with them now.  In my opinion, during a job search you can never have too many recruiters working for you.  You have to take the initiative, and call them regularly.  New opportunities come in all the time, and now is a great time to let them know you are in the market for a new job.

Here are several of my own suggestions for a successful job search.

Reach out to former employers.  I recently read that nearly 50% of jobs are found through networking.  Be actively engaged on LinkedIn.  If you are interested in working for a particular company, sign up on their website for job opening notifications.

In mid-2013, I found out my position was being eliminated.  I was bummed out because this was my dream job.  The employer asked me to stay on for two months to help out with the transition.  I was happy to oblige.  During those two months I sent out LinkedIn invitations to every one of my co-workers who were on LinkedIn.  I also asked if any of my current co-workers knew of any employers looking for people.  I got very positive feedback, and doubled the amount of my LinkedIn connections.  I also asked people to endorse my skills.  Some of these wonderful folks wrote nice recommendations for me.   We live in a digital age, and having a good LinkedIn profile is crucial.

If you are currently unemployed, do volunteer work.  Having large gaps on your resume will hurt you.  You will be helping others in your community, and this may lead to potential jobs.  I work full time and volunteer with two local organizations.  I visit with an elderly gentleman every week, and teach financial literacy to high school students.   Being unemployed can be depressing, helping others makes you feel good.

Last but not least, try and help others who are looking for work if you can.  If you see that one of your LinkedIn connections knows a person at a company you are interested in, ask for an introduction.

Sitting on the couch eating Christmas cookies and drinking eggnog is great during the holidays, but don’t let that be the only thing you do.

Attention Sock Manufacturers- Get some bigger sizes!

Dec3

Why in the heck can’t I find men’s socks over a size 12??? Every man in my family (which is spread out over three states) wears over a size 14.  I just don’t get it; I’ve seen women’s size 13 shoes at Payless.  Which is the only place that I can find size 15’s for my teenage son.

I wear a size 10, which was the biggest size for women when I was growing up in the 1970’s. I use to envy my friends who had smaller feet than me.  My mom, who wore a size 9 when she really should have been wearing a 10, ended up having foot surgery late in life due to wearing the wrong size shoes.

But socks sizes?? Come on, what’s the big deal.  It’s not that much more fabric.  My husband wears a 14 and rarely finds shoes in his size that aren’t a fortune.  I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I had a hard time finding shoes.  I would be devastated to say the least.  I don’t know what the fascination is with shoes for us women.  I actually gave a bunch of shoes to Goodwill recently, and I didn’t keel over.  I guess I’m finally becoming an adult.  Well, considering I’m 55 soon to be 56, I’m a senior citizen and should probably be wearing orthopedic shoes.

It hurts my feet to even think of wearing shoes with any kind of heel anymore.  I remember those glorious days of disco dancing wearing 3 inch heels. They made me almost six feet tall when I wore them. Now I’m all about comfort, which really blows.  Sure I have lots of stylish shoes, but I envy gals who are my age and can still wear high heels.   They look so fancy, and I look well functional.  I guess there are worse ways to look.  Like wearing socks that are too small.Old Lady shoes.jpg-2

Just another reason to love Ipsy.com!

Nov10

I have had my subscription to Ipsy.com for two years now.  For $10 a month I get five cosmetic items, plus a cosmetic bag.  I usually get several full size items, along with deluxe samples.  I get skin care, nail polish, hair care, etc.  As you can imagine, after two years, I have a lot of stuff. A lot of cool stuff that I usually put in a drawer and forget about.  I have a stash of unwanted stuff that I have been sending to my niece over the years.  For the most part, I love everything I get.  It is fun trying brands I have never heard off. I got some blue brown eye shadow that simply looks amazing with my blue eyes.

I’ve been in menopause for five years now, and let me tell you it sucks!  Most of the unpleasantness I’ve been able to handle.  My skin is one of my best assets, so when I got a funky rash on my face recently I was flipping out.  I mean really, it is a good thing I don’t smoke, as my hair is a fire hazard these days.  I can deal with most things not looking so great, but when the hair and skin go, I’m basically screwed.  I’m a middle aged woman, and I know  I’ll never look like I did when I was in my 20’s; and I’m fine with that. But I do want to look good for my age.  So I’m trying everything I can find for this stupid rash, and nothing was working.  We had a party to go to this past weekend, and I was hoping it would clear up. You can only cover up so much with make-up.

I was rummaging around in my junk drawer in the bathroom trying anything that could help with this rash.  I came across some Josie Maran Pure Argan oil I had gotten in one of my Ipsy.com bags. I thought, what the heck, let’s give this a try.  I had never used oil on my face before, but given the dry patches I had everywhere, I had nothing to lose. OMG! This is the best face product I have encountered in my 50 plus years on the planet! It’s that good.  I have used super expensive face creams to drug store brands, but never had such immediate results.  Within several days of using the Josie Maran Pure Argan oil at night, my rash was gone.  Plus my skin looks amazing.  I just ordered some Josie Maran sunscreen .5 ounces with a 47 SPF on eBay for $9.50.  The price of Josie’s products are very reasonable, with travel sizes available.  On Josiemarancosmetics.com, the same SPF was $14, and I paid $9.50 with free shipping on eBay.com.  I was comparison shopping between Josie’s website and eBay.  One thing you will want to note on eBay is you have to look closely at the size.  Some eBay sellers have the wrong size listed.  It is a good idea to look at the photo on eBay to see the actual size.  Also for sunscreens be sure to check the expiration date.  If you don’t see one, don’t order it.

Here is a photo of me from the party I was at this past Saturday.  Doesn’t my skin look great?  Not too shabby for a soon to be 56 year old woman.  Now, if I could only make my nose look smaller.

http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

http://www.ipsy.com/new/

www.ebay.com

Using Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil for three days

Using Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil for three days

How not to be a rotten boss-by a former boss-Part two

Nov8

I should know when I write late at night I am bound to forget something.  I wanted to add a few things to my previous post of the same name from November 7th.

So here we go.

  1. Be fair to all of your staff. I cannot stand favoritism, especially in the work place.  Any boss who blatantly favors one employee over another needs to be bitch slapped.  I always feel warm and fuzzy when the boss is saying how so and so should be cloned because they are so flipping wonderful. Really? Who says crap like that to their staff? Oh wait, that would be a rotten boss, oh never mind.
  2. Upper management really needs to get a clue. If your customers, employees, etc., complain about a boss’s horrid behavior, you need to take note.  It’s expensive to train people, and good workers are hard to come by. It’s especially galling when upper management (owner level) witness firsthand the terrible behavior and chose to do nothing. And they wonder why they have a huge employee turnover.
  3. Do right by your staff. The last time I managed others, I was promoted after the VP of finance was fired.  The accounting person had been working her butt off for the last five years for this company. But she had only gotten one raise.  The first thing I did was get her $1.50 an hour increase.  It was difficult because management thought she was being paid accordingly.  She most certainly was not.  This person had been through many management changes and was constantly having her workload increased. By the time I left that position two years later, I had gotten her hourly rate increased by $3.50 per hour.  She was a hard worker, and made my job easier.
  4. Do realize you are no better than the people you manage. I always tell my staff in the beginning that I’m no better than they are; I just have more education and experience. People really do appreciate that honesty.  If you work well for me, I’ll do everything in my power to help you.
  5. Never raise your voice to your staff. Once your voice goes up, the person will tune you out.  If you have a problem employee, work with them. They are not your children to be yelled at.  It doesn’t work.
  6. Your staff can hurt you. If you treat them poorly, do you really think they give a fig about what happens to you? Come down off your high horse, and just be a decent human being.
  7. Last but not least, be decent to everyone. I’ve always made it my policy to be nice to everyone in the company.  You never know when they might be your boss at your next job.

 

How not to be a rotten boss-by a former boss

Nov7

Every October I get a statement from the Social Security administration.  It shows me how long I’ve been working, and what my wages have been.  I’ve been working steadily for the past 42 years.  I’m so tired of working; I’m especially tired of working for rotten bosses.  I’m looking at the last stretch before retirement.  Don’t get me wrong, as I have had some great bosses over the years.  I’ve even managed others for 15 years of my career.  I’m a college educated professional who is tired of being treated like a pimply faced teenager at McDonalds.

The first time I managed others, I decided that I would never treat my direct reports how I have been treated in the past.  I still talk to many people I have managed over the years.  Some tell me I’m the best boss they ever had. Aww, that’s always nice to hear. Plus the best part of keeping in contact with old co-workers is being able to hear when the rotten boss you worked for finally gets fired.

I so often wonder how people get management positions that are not even qualified to manage a midnight trip to the bathroom.  I got out of management because, well middle management sucks, and I’m too pro employee.  I think everyone in the work place should be treated with respect.  I don’t want my employees to kiss my butt just so that won’t lose their job.  I’ve seen so many abuses of power in my work life it’s disgusting.  Talking to human resources was always pointless.  They don’t care about the employees, it’s whatever management wants.

So here are some of my suggestions for being a good boss.

  1. Respect your staff. Your subordinates will be much more productive, and make you look better if they are treated well.
  2. Don’t expect your employees to work a crazy amount of hours just because you do. They have lives outside of work. Plus they usually make considerably less money than you do.
  3. Be flexible. We all have kids, aging parents, you name it.  As long as the job gets done, don’t be a troll.
  4. Listen to your staff’s suggestions. I’ve been working for many years, but I’m all about working smarter, not harder.  We all have a common goal at work.
  5. Never comment negatively on your staff’s performance in front of others. Nothing makes me less productive than being humiliated in front of my co-workers.  This is probably the worst, especially if the boss has a twelfth grade education, and you have a Bachelor’s degree.
  6. Show concern for your employee’s wellbeing. We all have different things we are dealing with.
  7. Set a good example. Not the do as I say, not as I do.
  8. Go to bat for your employees. I’ve done this time and again for my staff, and it’s always greatly appreciated.
  9. Be honest. If you can’t give your employee a raise right now, try to give them more paid time off.  Flexible hours, etc.
  10. Go the extra mile for your staff. I always gave gifts to my staff at Christmas, and their birthdays.  I also bought my staff gifts whenever I traveled. A lunch out on the boss is a nice gesture.

Believe me when I say a happy staff is a more productive staff. Not a staff that could care less if you got hit by a bus.

Dollar Tree Booyah-Revlon Top Speed Nail Polish, 3N1 Nail Art Pen

Oct24

I truly love the fact that Dollar Tree is next to my local grocery store.  On my visit to Dollar Tree this week I found some great Revlon nail polish.  I had to dig through a lot of stuff, as the kid who worked there was putting stuff away all over the place.  I picked up five Revlon Top Speed fast dry nail enamels.  They are Fire #510, a true red shade, Espresso #840, a deep shade of brown, Grape #660 a dark amethyst color, Vintage #570 a lovely fuchsia color, and my favorite Varnished #360, a shimmery pewter.

I change my nail Dollar Tree 10-22-14 polish every few days.  Last week I went to a wedding and had on twelve coats from the previous weeks.  I just keep painting over the old color, and no one is the wiser.  I get compliments on my nails all the time. I tried finding the colors I bought online and found out they were all discontinued.  Who cares?? I got them for a buck each.   I did find the polishes on Ebay and Amazon for much more.   The total price elsewhere $31, I paid $5! Revlon is a good brand of polish, and stays on much better than really cheap polish like LA Colors.

The polish was repackaged, so they seem pretty darn fresh. And like the name says, they dry superfast.  I do my nails before I go to bed, as I don’t want to waste any prime time I could be watching something stupid on TV. Or surfing the internet for new and exciting information.  I actually do my nails in the bathroom as the lighting is good, since I don’t wear my glasses while applying.  I guess I’m lucky any of it gets on my nails, as I’m blind as a bat without them.  Oh wait, I’m hunched over with my eyeballs six inches away. Man, its hell getting old.

I also got a Sassy & Chic 3N1 Nail Art pen in Blueberry.  I’m having all kinds of fun with nail art these days. I got a Sassy & Chic 7 Way Nail Buffer.  Not a bad haul for $7, wait no $8 counting the Tootsie Rolls I got, which lasted for two whole days.  A girl’s gotta have some candy while she’s doing her nails.

Ipsy October 2014 Beauty Candy Glam Bag Review

Oct20

OMG! I think this is my favorite bag yet!  The Nicole by OPI nail polish is to die for.  It is a super cool dark cherry red color.  The VolumEyes mascara by Model Co. is awesome.  I’ve already used it twice since I got my bag on Oct. 17th. It’s a blackish gray, that really brings out my blue eyes. Of course I poked myself in the eye this morning, being in a hurry as always. I think I’ll save this mascara for the weekend.  The name says volume, but I got amazing length as well.  I also got Epice Purifying Exfoliant which I’m anxious to try. My bag also included Rose Berry Figs and Rouge hand cream.  It smells like a delicious fruit tart. I don’t know if I want to eat it or just put it on my hands.

Last but not least I got some lip gloss by Starlooks in Guilty Pleasure, a soft rosy color that smells like candy.  This was a nice way to end my lousy week.  The teal quilted cosmetic bag was the icing on the cake.   Enjoy!  ipsy.com, you are the bomb!

Ipsy Oct. 2014 Glam Bag Review photo Nicole by Opi-Feeling Very Cherry

Tips for Buying Beauty Products on EBay

Sep30

I love to shop for beauty products.  I like trying new stuff.   I usually get most of my skin care products at Ulta.  I’m a rewards member and often have coupons.  I really like Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Moisturizer with sunscreen. It has a broad spectrum SPF of 30, which is crucial.  I’ve been using it for about 6 months now.   The bottle is 1 ounce and lasts me about a month, using it every day.  I have seen a marked improvement in the tone of my skin.  I had a few sun spots that have virtually faded to nothing. It has also softened some of my wrinkles.

I’ve been spending around $20 a month for one bottle.   I try to get it on sale when I can.  After doing some research, I’ve discovered that EBay has the best price.  I recently paid $10.50 for my last bottle of my new favorite day cream.

Today I checked the price on several websites, they are as follows:

Walmart.com-$17.97, Ulta.com-$21.99, Walgreens.com-$23.49 and Ebay.com $12.50 with free shipping.  I recommend buying products you use all the time on EBay.  I did buy a ROC moisturizer a month ago on EBay for half of what it normally costs. I read positive reviews; however it ended up irritating my skin, so I stopped using it. Had I bought the ROC at Ulta, I could have returned it.

Make sure to check for an expiration date when shopping on EBay.  Sunscreen will break down after one year, and not be as effective.

EBay is a great place to buy perfume too.  I have purchased perfume that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else for a reasonable price.  I can’t remember the last time I bought fragrance at a department store.  The best value on fragrance seems to be when you buy a gift set. One thing I have noticed on fragrance lotion is, once it’s opened the scent doesn’t last for very long.  If you aren’t going to be using it the all the time, I would skip it.

I love when I can shop from my couch and get great deals. Plus no coupons to clip!

Just call me Morty, but my name is Sally!

Sep19

Ok, what is going on with my body? I swear I’m turning into an old man, but I’m a middle aged woman! WTH??? I have hair growing in weird places. Like hair coming out of my nose, black hair, and I’m blonde! I have more pubic hair growing down the back of my legs than in my pubic area. Is it trying to escape? Is it migrating towards my feet? Don’t get me started on the hair on my face? If I didn’t shave it off, I’d be a dead ringer for Grizzly Adams.

I know your body changes when you go through menopause (which I’ve been in for five years), but this is ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I like not having periods anymore. I would take them back in a heartbeat to not have all of this extra hair. Oh, and did I mention that the hair on my head would be going south if it wasn’t for the wonder elixir Rogaine? I’m just a middle aged hot mess!

I exercise five days a week, for an hour at a time just to maintain my weight. Do you think my legs might be a bit toned after walking 15 miles a week? Oh hell no! I have lost all of the muscle tone in my body. My shorts go to my knees and my shirts stop at my elbows. I know I should lift weights to firm up, but who has time after exercising an hour a day five times a week.

If anyone can suggest a good workout to firm up, I would really appreciate it. Now if you will excuse me while I go and trim my nose hair, and shave the back of my thighs! Good grief!

Quadraboob Quandary

Sep18

I’m going to a wedding in a few weeks.  A dear friend’s daughter is getting married in October.  Her other daughter got married this past May.  I broke down and wore a dress with panty hose for the May reception.  The last time I wore a dress was when this same friend got remarried 7 years ago. As you can probably guess, I rarely dress up, let alone wear a dress.  My friend said “Oh, just wear the same dress in October; just wear some black tights with it.”  Now if all of the same people weren’t going to be at this wedding I may have considered this, but we have a lot of mutual friends. So that was not an option.  I decided to pull out an animal print dress I bought a decade ago for a class reunion I never attended.  I bought the dress online specifically for my reunion, but have never worn it.  It’s a sleeveless shift dress with a black long jacket.  The jacket has animal print on the collar and down the front.  It’s actually a very nice outfit.

I tried in on, it fit! Yeah!  My weight has been up and down over the years, so I wasn’t sure it would fit.  After admiring my reflection for a while, (I had to really get a good look, as I was wearing some old glasses and couldn’t see too well), I thought it would work.  I found some nice shoes, put on the accessories I was going to wear, and thought ‘hey there good lookin’, you don’t look half bad for a middle-aged woman’.

The wedding is early in the day, and the reception is several hours later. Having this in mind, I wanted to make sure my ensemble was comfortable. I sat down, took the jacket off on the rare chance I might get my husband to dance with me.  Then I noticed it.  It being the strange way the top of the dress fit.  After I put on some newer glasses, I saw it. OMG! The dress fit well, but cut my chest in half horizontally, mid nipple.  I thought, oh crap, I have a quadraboob. How that word even popped in my head is anybody’s guess.  My ‘girls’ are big, so it was pretty darn noticeable. I have a rare talent of retaining absolutely useless information.  I’m sure I heard quadraboob sometime in my life.  I Googled it, and was aghast when I saw the photos.  Those quadraboobs were just ill-fitting bras with some major spillage going on.  They didn’t look like they had four boobs, just boobs falling out of the top.  I didn’t see any photos of what I had going on.  Thank god I put on those newer glasses.

I can just hear those people at the reception now, “Hey, check out the chick with the four boobs on the dance floor.”  Geez, maybe I should just wear the same dress with tights, and different glasses.