Posts

when the trolls are close to you...

#MerryMonday 📰 I have someone trolling me in my job search. First it was a 6 a.m. text on a holiday weekend, then it was a comment on one of my Facebook posts (that had nothing to do with my job search, freelancing, or cat sitting). I'm trying to turn the other cheek but it's hard because this person is in my family and obviously there's a different dynamic in play... It's impossible to get some people to understand just how tough this job market is, more so if they haven't had to look for a job in decades. If you know someone looking for a job, please don't offer unsolicited advice. Don't ask "have you tried this?" or tell them to "get a job". If asked, by all means give your best advice (maybe qualified with "it's been x number of years since I've looked for a job but..."), otherwise stay quiet. Job seekers, are you being trolled by someone you know? How do you handle it? #JobHuntingChronicles
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hang in there

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Happy Thursday 📰  I took this picture on my walk this morning. A walk I went on after a virtual interview was postponed. Again. No reason was given and at this point, I don't even really care why. It's hard for others to understand why I'm more interested in freelance work as opposed to getting "a real job", but this morning is a big reason why. Postponed interviews, canceled interviews, being ghosted after multiple interviews, roles being advertised again - these are just a few of the things job seekers are constantly dealing with. At least with freelancing things seem to go at a decent pace. You apply, you get a call/message/email, you meet (oftentimes virtually), you get hired or you don't. You're not subjected to an antiquated hiring process that takes weeks or even months to get through. Unfortunately I don't have enough freelance work so I continue to apply to full-time jobs as well. Something has to work out, right? Eventually... #freelancer #F...
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here's what I've read lately on getting a job

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Happy Wednesday 📰  These are a couple of the most recent books I've read on job hunting. I'm Gen X so I'm not sure if it's good news or bad news that I've already been doing most of what these books suggest and am still looking... Obviously, no one has all the secrets to getting hired and people can really only speak for themselves on what works and what doesn't, what's liked and what's not (for every "do this" post by a recruiter or hiring manager, I usually see at least one post stating "don't do this", it's definitely confusing). As job seekers, it's up to us to be our authentic selves and do what's comfortable for us. Getting advice is fine but in the end, we're the ones applying for the jobs and sitting through the interviews, if we act like someone we're not, we're not being fair to ourselves or employers. Hang in there job seekers. May better days be ahead for all of us. #JobHuntingChronicles ...
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be open to possibilities

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Happy Tuesday 📰 Recently I've had two friends send me information on potential jobs. Unfortunately neither one panned out but I do appreciate them thinking of me. Be open to possibilities, you never know where your next job may come from. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles
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sometimes "support" isn't supportive

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#MerryMonday  📰 This text is how my holiday weekend started. I was up because I had cat sitting jobs over the holiday but still, did this need to be sent at 6:00 a.m.? No, it did not. If you're looking for a job, hang in there. If you know someone looking for a job, please don't be this person. There's nothing helpful about this text. At all. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles
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take time off when you can

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#MerryMonday  📰 OOO June has been a busy month 🗓 for freelancing and I have a few days before my 4th of July 🇺🇲 cat sitting jobs 🐈 start so I'm taking them off to enjoy some me time 🏖 The best part? 🚫 I don't have to request time off 🚫 I don't have to get permission from a manager 🚫 I don't have to do my work in advance 🚫 I don't have to get someone to cover my absence ✅️ I just get to do it Having that freedom never gets old. See you on the other side of the holiday 🎉 (picture taken on my walk yesterday) #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles
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until it's in writing, it's not real

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Happy Friday 📰 I really like today's calendar message because I think a lot of us looking for a job need this reminder: until it's in writing, it's not real. And if a company keeps making excuses for why they haven't gotten back to you, that's a red flag and it's time to move on (imo). I've seen a few posts this week where OP's have claimed employers said one thing then did the opposite, or said a written offer was coming by a certain day and time only to not receive it, or after verbally being told they'd be moving on to the next round, never hearing from them. I get it, it's tough. But if this is how a company is treating you when theoretically they should be trying to convince you to work for them (shocking take I know, but I firmly believe the interview process is a two way street), do you really want to work there? Job seekers, pay attention to how you're being treated during the interview process, more often than not t...
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