Monthly Update

Dear loyal reader(s?),

It seems I've hit the one month mark with the chronicles of my job search.  As with all efforts, it is necessary to review effort and progress that has resulted of that effort, so as future endeavors may be properly directed. Each method will be evaluated on how many phase II encounters it has provided to this point in time...

So here goes:

Method	Phase II Progress
Method 1: Searching Job Postings	1: Interview, no spam
Method 2: Passive Seach	1 Interview whole bunch of spam
Method 3: Networking	0
Method 4: Self Employment	1Potential Opportunity at the Library
Method 5: Job Fairs	1 Phone Interview whole bunch of spam
Method 6: Imaginary Jobs	1Potential Opportunity at the Library

As you can see almost all of the "hard" methods have had approximately equal success, though when weighing the spam responses it seems that Job Fairs (when done irresponsibly) may become a waste of time.  Also Passive Search methods require constant cleaning of the email inbox to keep up with the shear number of 'respondents' who have not yet bothered to look at my resume, save to read my name and email address.

It seems that continuing to pursue job postings (on job posting boards) is a relatively fruitful method.  However my recent experiences with the library have shown that this may be a method of active job seeking that I have not yet attempted.

With these conclusions in mind, I believe that devoting more time to the library, to responding to job postings and thoroughly researching job fairs will be the most effective use of my time.

I would also like to introduce Phase I method 7: researching companies in which I am interested and 1. applying to job postings via the company's website or 2. showing up at the company's recruiting events as they are held.

Best regards,
Beth

Method 1: Job Postings, Method 3: Networking

After searching through every one of these twenty sites you see on the right of your screen, I was only able to find one (yes, that's right ONE) position that I was:
1. Eligible for and
2. Interested in.

It's an associate manager position with a fairly well known gaming entertainment company, and the position's description sounded like it was right up my alley.  I filled out the requisite application information, and sent in my resume.

Turns out, Henk met one of the engineers for this company on his plane ride over here.  He agreed to do a little networking for me and send in my resume via email.

Very nice because the submission form on the site nuked all of my formatting.

The hunt continues, but it's nice to know that I know someone who knows someone for the first time since the beginning of my search.

Best regards,
Beth

Method 1: Job Postings, Method 5: Personal Enrichment

While patrolling my common job posting boards, I found an interesting listing.  One that the job didn't seem to match up with the requirements.  By this I mean the job looked to be much higher level than  the requirements would dictate.

Sure, I'd love to be a management consultant to fortune 500 companies all over the world, but are you sure that I only need 1 year of work experience and a bachelor's degree to do that?

Intrigued, I investigated further.  Turns out they have an internship program, which in turn leads to an associate consultancy, and eventually full on consultancy, with a path into the company's upper management.

Cool!

I can do an internship, and I certainly fit their criteria.  So, after about 3 hours of collaborative work on a cover letter and resume (thank you Allison and Sara!) I finally had a product with which I was happy.

Of course, after staring at a screen for three hours, my brain will convince me that a three year old's story is Shakespearean verse, so I elected to take this morning (and early afternoon) off from the screen.

My shift at the library was from 12pm - 2pm.  I was on shelf reading, and, lo and behold, I reached the area with books on consultancy and working with China (the company has two offices in China!).  I checked out the books I thought would be most helpful, and plan on reading them in case they call me for an interview.  At the very least I won't sound completely green!

More than that, if anything happens with Henk's work, they're a consultant firm, too!  And if I am hired onto a management position, again I won't sound completely naive for the first few months.

And of course doing business in China will probably be inescapable no matter where I end up working.

I also started re-reading my programming book.  It's all in Python, but I figure I can take what I learn and apply it to other languages.  I got through the first chapter which covers if/then, while, and a few other basic tools of programming.

And finally I drew on my tablet for about half an hour (will probably do more of that before the day is out).  Nothing major, just working on a drawing of a woman.  I should probably start doing more graphical things rather than art, but I'm enjoying myself for now.

My day continues!

Beth