Talk

Talk never ceases

warding off the encroaching night

that wounds hope

Phone interviews

Today I had a phone interview and learned a few things.

Great - you can have notes in front of you.

Though its primarily a screening tool for HR professionals to see who they want to interview in person, you will still be asked that open-ended question - Tell me about yourself.

Have a glass of water nearby - you can end up talking quite a bit

Keep your resume nearby

Speak slowly

Say thank you at the end of the interview

The Flag

The American Flag

a perennial flower boldly waving

rooted in hearts

Winter Psalm

Between the winter drooped pines

a squirrel frolics

creating his own sweet sun

A New Year

2011. Will anyone read my posts this year? Who knows?

Clean slate goes the cliche. But we really build on our past in some ways. Skills learned added to new experiences and new skills. Lessons learned from failures - this is one I have to carry with me. So, what did you learn?

Don't try to stuff a square into a round hole. Don't try to be something you aren't. Spend more time discovering what your true talents are and serve the world with these strengths. But when the bills are demanding payment, I'll take anything. Employers are getting pretty smart though - it seems - they are looking for true talent, I guess.

Be honest. It avoids alot of problems in the long run.

I think employers are discriminating against the long term unemployed. I think they look at their resumes and just chuck them. I've heard it said that they are going to hire, probably 90% of the time, people who are already employed but dissatisfied with their current jobs. I've also been told, though, that HR people at hiring companies will consider the long-term unemployed as long as the resumes indicate that people have been doing something while they have been unemployed.

Any resolutions for 2011?

Volunteer more. It allows me to "pay back" to the community for the unemployment help that I've been getting. I'm also connecting with people.

Stay current in my field - I'm doing that by working on by CEBS designation.

Well, these are a couple, subject to change, without notice.

Happy New Year.