Opportunity, Is That You?
Jun. 18th, 2003 09:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eggwardsLast night I spent some time re-writing my resume. And re-writing it. And re-writing it again.
It didn't help that Microsoft Word kept crashing. MSWordv.X is pretty crashes constantly. Last night it kept saying I didn't have enough memory, even after turning everything else off. The iMac has 1 Gig of RAM...this should not be a problem! Hell, Word works better on my iBook which only has 128MB and a 500 Mgh processor!
Yes Microsoft, you had better get back to work on Office for Mac now that you've "reallocated" resources by dropping development for Internet Exploder for Mac. Hell, you guys hadn't updated that since IE5, so I don't really thing you were going to put effort into a platform you don't control. Bitches.
Despite the struggle with some poorly written, but unfortunately necessary software, the bigger struggle cam in just how to sell myself these days. I brought home a list of accomplishments at work from 2002 and looked at which ones employers might be most interested in. of course the same thing keeps coming up...different employers want different things.
I had a quick conversation with Alan![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
redcub yesterday morning via AIM. He's helped me with my resume. I don't say this to try to drum up business for him, I really think he doesn't want to be flooded with resumes to work on (heck, I know he doesn't). It's more of a shout out to say thanks, and help move the story along. I said to him, "I just hate to have 20 different resumes for twenty different job searches." He replied, "But if one of those resumes lands you the job you want/need...how bad would you feel for not having written it?"
Ahh, he is the wise one.
So he worked on a generic "here's Michael" resume, but needed some more specifics. I worked last night on filling in those specifics.
Now, the important stuff...there's a reason for the hurry now. Two reasons, if fact.
1. They posted a manger's position in my area. If I were to get it, I'd stay in management, although for a different group, and I'd get a raise to boot. I think I could do this job, easily.
2. The company - different division posted my dream job...company wise. Media Relations Assistant II. Why II? I don't know. I've never seen MRA I. I don't think it exists. Still, it's writing press releases, developing media contacts and writing stories, coordinating media interviews with important people in the company. It's a flak job, but it's what's most in line with what I ended up going to school for.
So the manager's job isn't a realistic posting. Monday they told many people in management to go start looking for new jobs, so any small opening they're going to take a stab at. Our area is the only one expected to have growth potential, so they decided to open position when Gary resigned.
Naturally anyone on the chopping block is going to apply. This includes other managers who want to stay with the company. They have the experience, but think about it...they must already be trouble, because they are on the shit list. I have to out shine them, showing that I can do the job, despite the experience (on maybe since I don't have their habits...)
On the other hand, the Media Relations job is just what I want. It also allows me to work with Ivy McLemore, who used to write for the late, lamented Houston Post. I read his stuff all the time. He was a sports writer back then, and he really inspired me. I so wanted to be a sports journalist, too (never mind the locker-room fantasies).
The one thing I don't have is the three years experience writing professionally. this will hurt my chances, but I'm trying to make lemonade here. There's a cover letter you submit with internal applications that must include a reason on why you feel your qualified. I put on it every writing or communications assignment I've done for the company in the last 4 years. I thought I'll try to wow them with something, even if it's not exactly what they want.
I have hopes. I'm struggling not to get to caught up with this, because I might be out of my league for this job, but I want it. it's the one job that would make me consider staying with the company for longer than this year.
I have one thing in my favor...only internal candidates can apply. Yes, someone from Denver might apply, because I heard they are cutting all of the marketing department there, but that's still fewer people than if they opened it up to outsiders. I feel, unlike two years ago when I applied for the same job, that I have a chance here.
Here's hoping this goes well.
If you'd like to see the general resume, as it stands now, you may download it here. Suggestions are welcome.
It didn't help that Microsoft Word kept crashing. MSWordv.X is pretty crashes constantly. Last night it kept saying I didn't have enough memory, even after turning everything else off. The iMac has 1 Gig of RAM...this should not be a problem! Hell, Word works better on my iBook which only has 128MB and a 500 Mgh processor!
Yes Microsoft, you had better get back to work on Office for Mac now that you've "reallocated" resources by dropping development for Internet Exploder for Mac. Hell, you guys hadn't updated that since IE5, so I don't really thing you were going to put effort into a platform you don't control. Bitches.
Despite the struggle with some poorly written, but unfortunately necessary software, the bigger struggle cam in just how to sell myself these days. I brought home a list of accomplishments at work from 2002 and looked at which ones employers might be most interested in. of course the same thing keeps coming up...different employers want different things.
I had a quick conversation with Alan
redcub yesterday morning via AIM. He's helped me with my resume. I don't say this to try to drum up business for him, I really think he doesn't want to be flooded with resumes to work on (heck, I know he doesn't). It's more of a shout out to say thanks, and help move the story along. I said to him, "I just hate to have 20 different resumes for twenty different job searches." He replied, "But if one of those resumes lands you the job you want/need...how bad would you feel for not having written it?"Ahh, he is the wise one.
So he worked on a generic "here's Michael" resume, but needed some more specifics. I worked last night on filling in those specifics.
Now, the important stuff...there's a reason for the hurry now. Two reasons, if fact.
1. They posted a manger's position in my area. If I were to get it, I'd stay in management, although for a different group, and I'd get a raise to boot. I think I could do this job, easily.
2. The company - different division posted my dream job...company wise. Media Relations Assistant II. Why II? I don't know. I've never seen MRA I. I don't think it exists. Still, it's writing press releases, developing media contacts and writing stories, coordinating media interviews with important people in the company. It's a flak job, but it's what's most in line with what I ended up going to school for.
So the manager's job isn't a realistic posting. Monday they told many people in management to go start looking for new jobs, so any small opening they're going to take a stab at. Our area is the only one expected to have growth potential, so they decided to open position when Gary resigned.
Naturally anyone on the chopping block is going to apply. This includes other managers who want to stay with the company. They have the experience, but think about it...they must already be trouble, because they are on the shit list. I have to out shine them, showing that I can do the job, despite the experience (on maybe since I don't have their habits...)
On the other hand, the Media Relations job is just what I want. It also allows me to work with Ivy McLemore, who used to write for the late, lamented Houston Post. I read his stuff all the time. He was a sports writer back then, and he really inspired me. I so wanted to be a sports journalist, too (never mind the locker-room fantasies).
The one thing I don't have is the three years experience writing professionally. this will hurt my chances, but I'm trying to make lemonade here. There's a cover letter you submit with internal applications that must include a reason on why you feel your qualified. I put on it every writing or communications assignment I've done for the company in the last 4 years. I thought I'll try to wow them with something, even if it's not exactly what they want.
I have hopes. I'm struggling not to get to caught up with this, because I might be out of my league for this job, but I want it. it's the one job that would make me consider staying with the company for longer than this year.
I have one thing in my favor...only internal candidates can apply. Yes, someone from Denver might apply, because I heard they are cutting all of the marketing department there, but that's still fewer people than if they opened it up to outsiders. I feel, unlike two years ago when I applied for the same job, that I have a chance here.
Here's hoping this goes well.
If you'd like to see the general resume, as it stands now, you may download it here. Suggestions are welcome.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-06-18 07:41 am (UTC)Very lucky.
Good luck with the hunt.
M$-Free Mac!!!
From:no subject
Date: 2003-06-18 07:43 am (UTC)Of course, listen to me. My iMac began eating itself. Sigh.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-18 10:38 am (UTC)Enough of my bitching though...as for the new position, go for it!
Media Assistant II resume - think about recasting your resume to be essentially skills based. Drop the legnthy paragraphs attached to each previous job and bring the up the "Other Experiance" below the "Skills" section as "Related Experiance."
Good luck...and watch those verb tenses!
no subject
Date: 2003-06-19 01:27 am (UTC)One word of advice on your resume. The Aldus corporation hasn't existed for about five or more years. Aldus PageMaker was bought out by Adobe (Adobe PageMaker -- and Photoshop) The other Aldus product was Freehand, which you correctly identify as Macromedia.
The best of luck on your job search...on the Media Relations position; so what if it's not managment--sometimes you have to step back to leap forward.