Blogs about job-search from Pew Pew Laser Blog

Tough Job Interviews.

Shows like The Next Food Network Star, America's Next Top Model and The Apprentice aren't just reality T.V. shows. They're also incredibly long and gruelingly difficult job interviews. Would you put up with a month long interview process where you had to move in with the other dozen candidates for the job?

Advice for the Employed 1.

Are you employed? Congratulations! You've found gainful work in a dreadful economy. But don't rest on your laurels. There are more jobs out there, just waiting for the right candidate. (A friend recently earned a new job that even paid his relocation expenses.) Consider the following:

Is your job good enough? Does it pay the bills for the conceivable future? Do you have job security? Do you get enough vacation time? Does it offer opportunities for advancement? Does it pay for education or professional certifications? Does it have sufficient benefits for your longtime personal stability? Could your job be better?

Could your job be closer to home? Could you improve your quality of life with a switch to a different office, or even the same position at a different company?

The best time to look for a new job is when you already have one. You'll have the confidence to interview well. You can take your time to search for a good match. Your judgment won't be clouded by that desperation that accompanies unemployment.

Polish up your resume and check out those job sites. Go on an interview or two (remember that practice makes perfect). Find out what skills you're missing to qualify for new, better jobs, and learn 'em. At the very least, this will improve your negotiation abilities when review time comes. At best, you just might score an excellent new opportunity.

Voter's Pamphlet as Résumé.

The next time you receive a voter's pamphlet, read the candidate's statements. (There can be some particularly entertaining statements in the primary elections.) I have found that there are two basic types of statements - the "what's wrong with the current administration" statement and the "experience and accomplishments" statement. I look at these statements as the candidate's résumé, and I find a list of complaints very unconvincing as a job application.

Widemile Is Hiring.

Yes, I've put on my corporate shill hat yet again. But you're getting the inside dope right here. I just put up two new job descriptions on our website: Office Manager and Technical Support Team Manager.

The Technical Support Team Manager position is a great opportunity for someone out there with great support experience and web coder chops. The job description asks has quite a few bullet points, but I'd still like to see some applications you, my peeps. So polish up those resumes, and drop my name on your cover letter. Widemile's going places; you can come along.

U-turn of Life.

Yes yes, it's true. The husband is no longer in danger of unemployment due to "locational restructuring". At the last minute, he receive a one week extension, a new job was posted that was essentially written explicitly for the husband. He applied, received an offer letter, and today signed the papers. He will do pretty much the same job, with a more "important" customer base, and for a big horking raise in salary. All in all, we are happy. It's just that we must now switch gears from 'frugal and job seeking' back to 'busy and maid-considering'. But, really, we're happy about it, and since he landed an official non-contract job, the husband can purchase a shiny new HD LCD TV. Much research ensues.