More Job Search Advice from AARP

     Well, as I mentioned in my last post, based on some suggestions from my friends at AARP, I got a much-needed haircut.  Now I look more hip.  Or whatever the current terminology is.  Guess I need to work on the latest slang also.  Urbandictionary.com, here I come!

     Anyway, knowing (desperately hoping?) that I will be looking for a new job at the end of the summer--and likely competing for said job with a number of younger folks--I am taking all the steps I can now to ensure I'll have a fighting chance to find employment.  I'm gonna be a contender!

     Next AARP recommendation:  get up to date with technology.  Sigh ... It isn't that I'm a technophobe, but frankly, I don't see the point in having to leave an electronic footprint on every social media site for every freaking thing I do.  Sure, I like to put some updates and check ins on Facebook--which I guess at this point is just another indication of my "maturity" since apparently the younger crowd is turning to other social media--but I enjoy being disconnected because that means I can be engaged in whatever I'm doing and whomever I'm with.  However, I need to be prepared, and I trust AARP to give me good advice.

     This blog is part of the technology step.  I still only have the basics down, but over the next several months, I should be able to get a handle on the more sophisticated features of Blogger. Perhaps more importantly, though, I will be doing some writing on a regular basis.  I see writing as one of my strengths, so I want to continue sharpening my skills.  I also see my writing as a big advantage I have over a lot of younger people.  In case you're wondering how I came to that conclusion, keep in mind that my part-time job is teaching college English. 'Nuff said.

     So, what else does one do to keep that technological edge?  Well, aside from Facebook, I am also on Twitter and Instagram.  So far, I have re-tweeted a few things, liked a few Tweets, and written no original Tweets.  Yeah, I'm off to a great start!  It gets even better though.  Yesterday, in an attempt to put my first photo on Instagram, I guess I used my iPhone's camera button and not the Instagram touch screen button to take the picture, so there was nothing to post.  Epic fail!  I obviously need some work in these areas, but there is no reason why I can't learn how to navigate all this social media.  I am, after all, learning new tricks.
     The technology-related thing in which I've invested the largest amount of time--mainly because I think it's the most important--is LinkedIn.  I have a decent profile set up, and I am working on growing my contacts. I even have a profile picture now, and that process was a major undertaking.  I am a complete ham and have always loved getting my picture taken; unfortunately, I'm like the least photogenic person in the world.  Oh, well ... we all have our crosses to bear, right? I will continue to tweak my LinkedIn page as I learn more about how best to sell myself in the job market.  And hey--when I learn new tips, maybe I'll Tweet them.  You can follow me @harlistaweezy so as not to miss any of them!

     

Preparing for the Job Search with a Little Help from AARP

     Yes, you read it correctly:  AARP.  If you are 50+ and have not yet joined AARP, I urge you to do so.  No, I am not being compensated in any way for endorsing the organization, but there are a lot of benefits to being a member.  For example, you can get discounts on all manner of things, they have all types of resources on their website, and you get two different print publications from them:  AARP Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.  The publications contain human interest stories, articles about topics relevant to the 50+ crowd, and legislative updates on issues that concern people in that same age group.  It was in one of the publications where I read an article about how the economic downturn has left a lot of older workers unemployed and looking for work.  The article contained a number of suggestions for how those workers could better prepare for their job search.  It was like fate had drawn me to an article written just for me!
     One of the recommendations AARP made was the one I tackled first, and that was to get a haircut.  I get the need to have a more contemporary look and let's face it--this is an easy task to handle.  I had been letting my hair grow long, and frankly, it looked like crap.  To my great disappointment, my 50-something hair somehow looked nothing like my 20-something hair, so I was considering cutting it anyway.  Now, I refuse to invest any time in styling my hair, mainly because I have neither the patience nor the talent for that sort of thing, so I needed a maintenance-free hairstyle.  I ended up getting a cut that kept a little length (just past my shoulders), but has some layers.  I can just wash my hair and let it air dry now, and I think it looks relatively modern, so check that off the job prep list.
     As for next steps, I'll leave you in suspense for the moment.  I originally planned to write a bit more in this post, but I've spent most of the day working on my second job, which is teaching college English.  I've been grading research papers from my freshman comp classes, a task that leaves me mentally exhausted.  And that's all I'll say about that topic.

Nature Calls but so Does Work

     To pick up on the theme of the last post, I have a couple more things to say about my values and how they have contributed to my decision to quit my jobs and move to a new place.
     I love the outdoors and the natural world.  It would seem, then, that living in South Florida would be a great choice for me because the weather is certainly conducive to spending a lot of time outside.  Just being outside isn't quite enough for me, though.  I enjoy hiking especially, and there aren't really any nice places to do that in South Florida.  Everglades National Park is probably the closest place with any real trails, but it is easily a 1 1/2-hour drive from where we live, and to be honest, I am not a lover of the Everglades.  Perhaps because the time I've spent hiking, biking, and camping has been in the Midwest, I am partial to deciduous forests and freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams, which are things you won't find in the Everglades.  I would like to live somewhere where there is just more green space, whether that be parks, hiking trails, greenways, nature preserves, or whatever.  I think having more opportunity to get outside, move around, and just enjoy nature will increase my enjoyment of life.  
     Unfortunately, I can't just spend all my time traipsing around the woods; I also have to be gainfully employed.  Work is something I value.  I believe a job, whether it is paid or volunteer, can give us a sense of purpose.  It can also provide us with the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, thereby allowing us to grow both personally and professionally.  But in order for a job to do these things, it has to be a good fit for the person in it, and my day job does not fit me well at all.
     I am goal oriented; the consummate list maker who feels a sense of accomplishment whenever I check something off my "to-do" list.  Consequently, I like working in a structured environment.  Unfortunately, where I work now is anything but structured.  The company has no mission or value statement.  No one has job descriptions or defined duties.  Without those things to guide me, I am never sure exactly what I am working toward.  Moreover, many tasks I am asked to do get interrupted by a newer, more important task and as a result, I never finish the original task.  I leave work every day feeling unhappy and unfulfilled.
     Now, I absolutely don't have to pull up stakes and move out of state to find a new job that would be better suited to my temperament and talents.  At least I don't think I do.  But again, I am looking to make a number of changes that together will lead to my living what I define as the best life for me (and Mr. Weezy and our two dogs).
     I saw a quote attributed to Nelson Mandela that has become my new mantra:  "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."
     Thank you, Mr. Mandela.  They most assuredly will.

 

Context, Common Courtesy, and Some Breathing Room

     When I wrote my profile for this blog, the English teacher in me knew using a word like "better" to describe the life I wanted was far too vague, which is why I said I wanted a life more in line with my values.  That statement, though, simply begs the question, "What are my values?"  What are the things that are important to me, at least as related to my decision to quit my jobs and move to a new place?  While I plan to discuss those ideas, I first want to provide some context for what prompted me to examine them in the first place.
     In November of 2012, one of my coworkers was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 62.  For those of you who are not familiar with the disease, I can tell you it is a very deadly form of cancer.  By the time someone exhibits symptoms, the cancer has generally already progressed to the point that it is too late to do much of anything about it.  So much so, in fact, that 95% of those diagnosed with it will not live more than another year.  Sadly, my coworker was one of those 95%.  
     His illness and death made me think a lot about my life and whether or not I was content with how I was living it.  Don't get me wrong--I have a lot of positive aspects to my life; however, I decided that if I didn't make some fundamental changes, I could end up being one of those people who come to the end of his/her life and regret the things he/she didn't do.  I don't want to be that person, so I started asking myself what I could do that would help ensure I didn't become her.     
     If you haven't ever examined your values, I have to say I think it's a great exercise we should all perform from time to time.  After all, our values guide what we do in life, right?  Pretty important stuff.
     I am going to identify my first value as two-fold:  common courtesy and some breathing room.
     Although I am originally from Wisconsin, I grew up in Miami and have spent most of my life in South Florida.  While there are certainly things I enjoy about this area--the beach, the weather, the cultural diversity--those things are being outweighed by too many people, many of whom are both rude and unfriendly.  "Please" and "thank you" are in short supply.  If someone passes you on the street, he/she likely won't acknowledge you with a "hello" or "good morning;"  instead, he/she will ignore you.  We (Mr. Weezy and I)  make it a point to meet our neighbors, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn the majority of South Floridians don't know the people who live near them.
     A large population creates a lot of traffic, and the traffic in So Flo is horrendous!  Aside from the fact that there are a lot of drivers, a great number of them are as rude on the road as they are off it.  For instance, if you are at a stoplight and it turns green, if you don't immediately hit your gas pedal, people behind you will start beeping their horns.  Of course, leaving as soon as the light turns green is dangerous because at least a few drivers coming on the cross street will run the red light.  Ever wonder why South Floridians don't use turn signals? Here is your answer:  If you use your directionals to indicate you want to change lanes, the person already in the lane to want to move to--even if they are half a mile back--will mash his/her gas pedal so as to try to prevent you from changing lanes and ending up in front of him/her.  It is as though driving is a highly competitive sport here, and everyone wants to be the "winner."  This is especially tough on Mr. Weezy and me because we ride motorcycles.  Riding here doesn't usually equate to a nice, relaxing time.  
     I would like to live somewhere where there are fewer people and those present treat others with a little care and respect.  I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation.  I am fully aware that no place is perfect; there are good people and bad people everywhere.  I do think, however, there are places that have fewer people overall and a higher percentage of nice ones than where I live now, and I wanna move to one of those places. 
     There are more reasons behind my decision to leave South Florida, but in an attempt to keep my posts at what is a manageable length, I will save the other ones for next time.