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5ksandcabernets: 5ksandcabernets.. and resumes?

5ksandcabernets

Monday, March 23, 2009

5ksandcabernets.. and resumes?

Last week was all about mourning the loss of my job and drinking every day and every night.

This week, beginning when I awoke Monday, is about the business of moving forward and finding a job.

With that, I spent most of the day in the Barnes and Nobles near my apartment working on my resume and signing up to receive my unemployment benefits.

It took me five hours to do my resume. Five hours! The last time I did one of those was in 1996, when I applied to be the Lakers writer for the Orange County Register. (I got the job  by the way, but turned it down when the Star-Telegram offered me more money and responsibilities to stay. Wonder how my life would have turned out had I gone to Los Angeles??)

Anyway, in 1996, you just listed the jobs you held, your education and a few writing samples and that was it.

On Monday, I had to write up exactly what it is that I did the last 14 years in short, succinct sentences. I guess prospective employees don't understand what "Higher education reporter," means. They want to know that you, "cultivated sources and built relationships with chancellors, faculty members, and other higher education officials." It's the kind of syrupy language I'd never use in a newspaper story, but it just might help me get a job outside of the field.

At Barnes and Nobles, I worked on my laptop at one of the desks they have near the magazines. The smell of Starbucks coffee _ and taste, quite frankly _ was energizing.

More importantly, there was an outlet near the desk, so I didnt have to use up my laptop's battery power. Around 1 or so, I got hungry, very hungry. I wondered if I should pack up all my things, go next door for a sandwich and risk losing my spot. Nah. There was a nice lady sitting behind me who said she'd watch my stuff while I got something to eat. I guess, for one day anyway, that lady was my "co-worker."

Obviously, getting a new job has become a top priority, even though I am still running and drinking (plenty) wine.

Maybe I should rename my blog: 5ksandcabernets... and resumes.


9 Comments:

Blogger Billy said...

I like that.

What I don't like, is that you passed up an opportunity to cover the purple n' gold just for a little more scratch and responsibility - were you HIGH??

Just imagine life in beautiful LA (yes, I'm partial) and covering the Lake Show right as they landed the likes of Shaq and Kobe and all the drama (and championships) that followed.

Man, oh man, what life could've been like brother...what life could've been like.

Good luck on the job front.

March 23, 2009 at 11:26 PM  
Blogger fraizerbaz said...

Good for you for knocking out your resume! It's hard, isn't it?

Are you on LinkedIn? I can't remember if I'd already asked you that...

March 24, 2009 at 10:41 AM  
Blogger The Boring Runner said...

Good luck on the job front! The great thing is that you don't have to be anywhere right at 8:00am. So, if you're still nursing a headache from one too many glasses of Merlot, you can just start at 10!

March 24, 2009 at 10:41 AM  
Blogger Kevin said...

Billy - I know. I know. There's not a week that goes by that I don't think about my missed opportunities there.

Beth - I just joined Linkedin last night. You on that site?

Adam - The 'extra' wine-drinking I've been doing is nice, but Merlot? Merlot? What's that line from the movie, "Sideways"

March 24, 2009 at 10:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just updated my resume and it was hard!

March 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM  
Blogger Victoria said...

Oh, let's not get snobby about our wine-drinking here. There are plenty of EXCELLENT merlots out there.

And I would know. I've sampled them.

March 24, 2009 at 10:51 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I had some time so I was just reading some running blogs. I am sorry to hear you lost your job. I lost mine in November and was out of work for almost 4 months. I ran to keep my sanity. It helped and found a new job that allowed me to run more frequently. Hang in there and keep running, drinking and resume writing.

March 25, 2009 at 8:05 PM  
Blogger Lindsay said...

nice job getting the res done! woulda taken me at least week or so with all my procrastination.

hope the hunt has been going well!

March 26, 2009 at 4:26 PM  
Blogger Linden said...

One of my favorite perks about having a job with breaks (like university teaching!) or not having a job is that you can drink more often than is usually responsible. I get to set my own hours during the break (which we are having right now), so I don't feel bad at all having a beer every night and sleeping in until 10. I just work a couple hours later than normal. :)

March 30, 2009 at 4:49 AM  

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