A Positive Attitude...Just what the doctor ordered

Sorry for the delay…I need a new power cord for my laptop so I am out of the loop for the next few days.

But here is what is on my mind today (and maybe for the next few if I don’t get a cord soon)
I was recently speaking with one of my friends about my job search, because she asked even though I have told people I have a strict “don’t ask, I won’t tell policy.” Despite my policy the questions still insist and I told her the truth. That truth is, despite what we see on TV the job market still sucks, and for those in media the market can be even worse. Her response, “Stop being so picky.”

I don’t know if it was the dismissiveness of the comment or the fact that it was insensitive but it really made me mad for a few reasons. First because when people share their problems with me I try to give words of encouragement and tell the person to keep pursuing their dreams. So why is it that because I am a reporter I should give up on mine. Secondly because I’ve been applying for EVERYTHING under the sun so I am not being picky. Lastly I did not ask for any advice, I was simply answering the question, “How is your job search going.”

I shared with my friend Brandon how the comment rubbed me the wrong way. Brandon who is very rational offered me some great advice I think is important to share. He told me in a few words, “Friends are in your life for a reason and a season, and when times are tough surround yourself with positive people because those are the people who will keep you going.”

Brandon is totally right. Since losing my job I have found out who my real friends from small and large outpourings of support. That’s why today I am taking that advice and saying goodbye to the Frenemies who wish me well, but then offer a backhanded advice. Because at the end of the day it is the positive people who will lift ones spirits. It doesn’t matter what you’re going through whether it looking for a new job or new boyfriend positivity is infectious and that’s just what the doctor ordered.

Ashley

The Ten Commandments for the career center

As you know I like to go to the public career center to look for jobs. It gets me out the house and makes me talk to people because everyone’s unemployment story is interesting. However after witnessing some VERY inappropriate behavior, I have come up with the Ten Commandments for career center interaction.
1. Stop chewing your gum so loud….It’s just annoying and you sound like a horse!
2. In connection with number one, don’t bring your Popeye’s (or any food) into the center. No one wants to sit down to a greasy keyboard.
3. Don’t print out more than 5 sheets or paper at one time. No one wants to wait as you print out 100 pages from CareerBuilder
4. Get off of freaking MySpace and facebook! While social media is great for looking for jobs, I highly doubt you are going to find a job on Lil John’s facebook fan page.
5. Cut down on the cologne. I know it’s a recession, but if you can’t afford the good stuff just wear some ax or tag. If you have to shower in your cologne or perfume it’s too much for you and everyone else.
6. Stop looking over my shoulder or reading my screen. I am not reading your resume so don’t read mine (unless you know a news directorJ).
7. Get off the phone. No one cares that, “You got a nice lil mama over in Bethesda and you bout to go see her after you leave the career spot.”
8. Stop annoying the people at the desk with dumb questions. I know we were taught there is no such thing as a dumb question, but since we are able minded adults that that is no longer true. Stop asking, “Do I only get an hour on the computer” the answer is yes…Read the damn sign.
9. We all have problems, but in an effort to keep the environment positive don’t share depressing or irrelevant stories. I mean we are all in need of some good news nowadays, so please don’t tell me about your cousin Tanya’s baby daddy leaving her on the bus with the baby.
10. Don’t call the Whitehouse (this actually happened). Obama may be the homeboy buy I can almost guarantee he will not answer the phone, and the people at the Whitehouse have stuff to do…Like fix the economy so we can all find a job

If we follow these simple guidelines we all can have a positive experience…Good luck job hunting!
Ashley

Stimulus money can't pay for a printer?

When looking for a job today there are a couple of things you need like a good attitude, the internet, and a printer. While these things are important for obvious reasons…A good attitude will keep going when the phone doesn’t ring, the internet to look for jobs and a printer to print your resume. Unfortunately the DC public library system doesn’t seem to agree with my criteria. On my trip today to print out my resume that I was then going to mail to a potential job (yes some places still want a hard copy of my resume) I was told by the librarian, “ The printer doesn’t work and since we are moving into a new building we don’t even have any ink. They aren’t giving us supplies until we move.”

WHAT THE HELL are the administrators thinking? Across the country library use is up as more and more people are in need of help looking for job. To add insult to injury DC can afford ink and a new printer considering the chief
librarian announced in May the distric recieved 1.5 million dollars in Federal stimulus money ( http://www.dclibrary.org/dcpl/lib/dcpl/pdf/BM052709_ChiefLibrariansReport-Document7.pdf ).

That’s why I did exactly what every taxpayer should do, I wrote a complaint. Here is the districts response.

Thank you for your e-mail. I know that this is a time of transition atyour library. i will hsare this -mail with our Nighborhood Librariesstaff so htat they are aware of yuor concerns.

Best, Bridget Bradley

Can you say spell check? I guess if Bridget can’t figure out how to use spell check, ordering a new printer is out of the question.

I just wanted to update this post with some facts I found online

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4063753

-- 81 percent of public libraries report there are not enough public Internet computers to meet patron demand some or all of the time; increasingly, libraries are having trouble replacing outdated computer workstations due to cost.

Jobless Rate Jumps to 9.7 Percent

Jobless Rate Jumps to 9.7 Percent


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In case you needed another reason to drink this labor day weekend read this article...Enjoy the long weekend!

http://money.aol.com/article/jobs/jobless-rate-jumps-to-97-percent/654607

And remember if you drink...Be responsible!

And then there were two

Just as the sun began to peak through the blinds my phone rings. To my surprise it is one of my close friends who should be at work (ok it isn't that early in the morning) is calling me. This can only mean two things, either he has a job he thinks I should apply for… or there is something funny I have to watch on YouTube. To my surprise the reason for my early morning call is to tell me that he was laid off the day before. My first response, “Whatever you’re kidding.” Unfortunately the phone call wasn’t a joke and now instead of being the only one without a job… now there are two of us.

Making matters worse is my reaction to the news. While I am sad for anyone who finds themselves in the unemployment line with me, it’s nice to have some company. My dear friend unlike the people at the career center understands what it is like to want to live a Fabulous twenty something life, yet struggle to make those oppressive student loan payments while looking for work. I guess some would say, “Misery loves company” but I choose to see it as having a close "partner in job searching crime" even if our fields are completely different. My new partner is someone who truly understands and is not offering advice from his work email.

Plus my friend needs to use my computer and offers to come over and make breakfast …Who would say no to a homemade breakfast made by an educated black man!

PS...I don't like my friend, before anyone emails me to ask.

Balling on a Budget

Yesterday was a good day. I work up and applied for several jobs online before changing out of my pajamas. When I did finally get up to get dressed I noticed something tragic in the mirror. After months of neglect my eyebrows had turned into large brown caterpillars on my face. They looked like at any moment they were going to spread their wings and fly off of my face, possibly to someone who would take better care of them.

I got to thinking, the last time I went to get my eyebrows done was in July and its now September. Instead of making a call to Celadon my normal spot I, I had to think outside of the box. Being fabulous takes money, but my unemployment check just won’t support my $30 dollar eyebrow (plus $30 for underarm) waxing habit.

So what is an YBF girl to do? The answer is simple you still ball, but do it on a budget!

Luckily I am in a city where it is possible. Yesterday for the low, low price of 32 dollars I got my eyebrows and underarms waxed for only $32 at the Aveda Institute. As most of you already know the Aveda Institute is where Aveda trains its next generation of fabulous hair stylists and estheticians. My student at the Aveda Institute was very nice but very slow (we can’t always have it all). However I will chalk that up to nerves since it was their first night working on real people. Despite her being slow everything came out great and I will go back in the future.
The Aveda institute isn’t the only place where you can BALL OUT without breaking the bank. I’ve listed a couple of ways you can have fun and still look great on an unemployment check.

• Filene’s Basement-I’m going speed dating on Thursday and found a great Calvin Klein top for only 24.99. You’re only as fabulous as you feel, so if you haven’t treated yourself to something new in a few weeks do on a budget.


• Happy Hour-Being the Howard girl that I am you know I enjoy going out on the town. But drinks (if you can’t find a gentleman to sponsor you for the evening) can get expensive. That’s why I suggest hitting up Happy Hour. Zengos at Gallery Place has $6 mojitos that are to die for, and I know most spots have great happy hour specials.


• Free Concerts and Movies-Being unemployed can be depressing if you don’t get out of the house, so step out in your new outfit and hit up a free concert or movie in your area. Here in DC there is free jazz in the sculpture garden on Friday nights and the national harbor shows free movies at night on certain days during the week.

Say Hello To My Metro Friend

Last week after some advice from an unwanted source (a homeless man using myspace at the DC career center) I told everyone to just shut up....today I take it back. As I was waiting on the bus today I struck up a conversation with a guy named Cole. Cole is a Mental Health Advocate and he asked me how I managed to get off of work so early (I still try to dress like a professional on my way to the career center) , when I told him I was looking for work, like everyone else he offered me some advice.

After giving me his advice, he told me I should interview him for "practice" so I can keep my reporting skills up while I am looking for work. He didn't realize my mom bought me a flip and I have been dying to use it.

Take a look at Cole's words of wisdom. They may not be anything you haven't heard, but at least it shows that not everyone on the metro is crazy and everyone living in the city is mean!