Job Hunting Chronicles

Happy Friday 📰 If you've been looking 👀 for a job for a while, no doubt at least one person has given you unsolicited 📣 advice. While well-meaning, it's usually not helpful 🚫 Like at all. The fact is, if you haven't had to look for a job in the last 3 years, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD THIS MARKET IS. You just don't. So please, try to keep your well-meaning advice to yourself. If someone asks for your advice, by all means, dispense 🥼 away. But maybe qualify it with "it's been x number of years since I've been in the job market but this worked for me...". Job seekers, hang in there. And remember, it's ok to take the weekend off from the job search if you're feeling burned 🔥 out. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

I'm not sure which is harder: • looking for a job right now or • talking with someone from the Silent Generation about looking for a job right now But I do know this, the Silent Generation isn't so silent 🤔 Job seekers, I feel you. Hang in there. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Thursday 📰  I haven't posted a freelancing book in a while, here's the one I'm currently reading 📖 I wish I got paid to read 😂 #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles #TheFreelancersBible

Happy Wednesday 📰 I took this picture as I was leaving a new client this morning. There are definitely worse views 🌴  #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Tuesday 📰 Last night I got a message on one of the cat sitting apps I use to find jobs. I replied within 2 minutes and it was seen by the potential client but he didn't reply back. The dates he gave me included a holiday (so a surcharge is added to some of the days) and when I didn't hear back from him last night, I wondered if I should remove the holiday surcharge in order to get him to book. But then I remembered that I did that recently for another potential client and she ended up not booking with me anyway. So I left the holiday surcharge in and was pleasantly surprised this morning to see that he replied to my message from last night and then booked with me. Freelancers, I know it can be hard to stand your ground with things like rates, but if you don't value yourself and your time, no one else will. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #CatSitting #CatSitter #JobHuntingChronicles 

Happy Sunday 📰 I'm in the middle of cat sitting for a new client. Her cats are VERY shy, I didn't even see them when I went over for our meet and greet. I told the client not to worry, cats usually end up coming around to me. We'd be fine. So I've been going over twice a day since Wednesday (the job finishes on Memorial Day), and while there's been evidence that they've been out when I'm not there, they haven't dared show their fluffy faces in my presence. That changed this morning. I saw one of them sitting in the window as I drove up (but of course, s/he was gone when I came in). Then after doing my routine, I decided to sit in a chair that looks down the hall to the bedroom and guess what I saw? A cat...just staring at me. But more importantly, not running away. I took a quick picture to send to the owner, stating I *thought* it was Ivy but I wasn't sure (per the owner, both cats look very similar with Ivy being smaller - not much to go on if...

Happy Friday 📰 I love #MemorialDayWeekend because it's the unofficial kickoff to Summer ☀️ I'm in the middle of a cat 🐈 sitting job that goes through Memorial 🇺🇲 Day so I don't get the day off but I am taking the weekend off from the job search. Hopefully I'll be able to read 📖 a little while sitting out on my balcony. Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Thursday 📰 On Monday, I spoke with someone who had reached out to me about paying their bills for them each month. It was just an informational phone call, no pricing was discussed, but I could tell she was hesitant to move forward. I sent her a thank you email that day. This is her reply (and yes, she misspelled my name). Most people who do things the old school way are harder to convince to change. They're comfortable with what works. And I'm a big proponent of doing what works for you. This isn't a business, it's someone's personal finances, and if they like writing checks for their bills each month, there's not a lot I can say to change their mind. Is it wise to start setting up the ability to pay online in the event something happens that makes it difficult for her to write and sign checks? Yes. But she's not there yet. And that's ok. Sometimes as a freelancer, I have to think of a "no" as a "not right now". I know othe...

Happy Tuesday 📰 If you're looking for a job, you've undoubtedly come across a post like this one. This person gives no information about the job. Nothing. Now, I realize this is most likely a very small company (based on where I saw this post) and they probably don't know how to advertise for a job, so I messaged this person asking just two questions: • Are you hiring full or part time? • Are you hiring an employee or independent contractor? (not that I expect them to know the difference) I've yet to hear back, which makes me think it's a scam, or the person conducting the job search can't be bothered. Either way, I'm glad I didn't hand over a resume and portfolio just because the ad asked for it. Job seekers, please be careful when applying for a job. I know it's tough out there - believe me, I'm in it with you, but there's no way I'm sending my resume to someone who can't answer a couple of basic questions. Everyone has to d...

#MerryMonday  📰 When I was working in an office, I sat in my chair (and not a great one) ALL DAY LONG. One job, I had so many Teams meetings that the only time I got up was to go to the bathroom, go to get water, go to pick up lunch, or go to the conference room for an in-person meeting. Other than arriving to and leaving the office (and the examples I listed), I felt like I was chained to my chair. And believe me, my back suffered because of it. So this is your friendly reminder to get up and move throughout the day. Your body will thank you. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Thursday 📰 The hardest part of freelancing (for me) is turning down a potential client. I work REALLY HARD to try to meet them half way but I've learned walking away is sometimes necessary: ➡️ Think my fees are too high? I wish you luck in finding someone who can do it as well as I can but for less money... ➡️ Can't decide what you actually need help with? Let me know when you figure it out... ➡️ Think you can do it better/faster than I can? Be my guest... ➡️ Your previous person only charged $x? Go back to them... ➡️ Expect me to be available whenever you want? Here's my on-call fee... It's definitely been hard but I realized if I don't set boundaries, a potential client can start out with unreal expectations. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Wednesday 📰 Happiness 🙂 is a cat 🐈 client adding more visits to an upcoming job 🙃 #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #CatSitting #CatSitter #WorkLifeBalance #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Friday 📰 Today I'm traveling to visit family for 4 days ✈️ 🚫 I didn't have to look at my calendar to see if it's a *busy season* 🚫 I didn't have to request time off 🚫 I didn't have to get permission from a manager 🚫 I didn't have to do my work in advance 🚫 I didn't have to get someone to cover my absence ✅️ I just had to book it I won't lie, freelancing has had its challenges. But the freedom it's given me has been immeasurable ⚖️ Have a great weekend. As with my previous trips, I won't be checking my notifications or messages until I return. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #JobHuntingChronicles #WorkLifeBalance

Happy Thursday 📰 There's been an uptick in scammers on LinkedIn so I want to remind job seekers to be vigilant, especially when someone you don't know reaches directly out to you. One thing that's worked for me is asking for a job description. I've sent this message several times to *recruiters* who have cold-called messaged me. It's not foolproof but so far, it has stopped the conversation as none of the recruiters has had the nerve to reply to this message. As job seekers, we have to protect ourselves. I have a resume that has my LinkedIn profile link as my only contact information on it (no email address or phone number). It's not the resume I typically submit but if I have any doubts about the requester's validity, I send it. They've already contacted me on LinkedIn, there's no reason to give them my email address as well until I know they're legit. Another concerning thing I've seen is posts telling people to drop their email addres...

Happy Wednesday 📰 The Dodgers play ⚾️ this morning at 11:00 PDT 🕚 and I'm totally here for it 📣 I'm going out of town ✈️ on Friday so I've purposely eased up on my job search this week and you know what? That's absolutely 💯 fine. I'm going to watch 📺 the Dodgers hopefully win this last road series before they come home 🏡 and I'm not going to feel guilty 🙅🏼‍♀️ about it. Job seekers, please don't let the talking heads 🗣 on LinkedIn convince you that you don't deserve any downtime 🛀 It's true taking time off won't find you a job, but it can save your sanity 🧘🏼‍♀️ Let's go Dodgers! #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Tuesday 📰 This is today's office view 🏢 I took this picture 🌳 as I was stopped ✋️ at a red light🚦on my way home 🏡 from a cat 🐈 sitting job this morning. It's not really an office view so much as a commute view 🚗 but office view sounds better 😉 What's your office view like today? #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #JobHuntingChronicles

#MerryMonday  📰 Candidates, what kind of energy are you bringing to your job search today? 》low energy 》Medium Energy 》HIGH ENERGY I'm getting ready for a trip at the end of this week so my job search energy is low. I'm not abandoning my job search, I'm just not spending all day/week on it. And you know what? That's ok. #freelancer #FreelanceWork #FreelanceLife #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #CatSitting #CatSitter #JobHuntingChronicles

Happy Saturday 📰 I'm not usually on LinkedIn on the weekends but I was expecting a message so I opened the app on my phone. This job was in my notifications on a job search I have set up. See any issues with it? It's for an accounting CLERK (no pay was listed but I guarantee it's on the low end since it's for a clerk), yet this company is expecting whoever they hire to not only prepare financial statements (that is NOT something a clerk would do), they're also expected to ensure compliance with organizational financial policies. I'm sorry, what??? And recruiters and hiring managers wonder why they're having a hard time finding qualified candidates 🙄 Recruiters, hiring managers, and whoever else is in charge of hiring: stop trying to combine roles in order to save money. I feel sorry for the candidates who not only apply to this role but are also unfortunate enough to get picked to interview for it. If hired, you'll be doing a higher level job at a...