Job Search 2009

When I went back to school part time in June of 2004, I was in hopes that 3-4 months after I graduated, I'd be working in my new career. I'm now six months out and still looking.

Timing was everything. I graduated into the "real world" at the exact moment the economy decided it didn't want to grow up, it wanted to be a (Toys 'R Us) kid. I try to accept this, but it is difficult to take the lack of responses and few job openings in a non-personal way. Luckily, as of late, the chances have increased exponentially, and I'm even getting inquiries about potential jobs from non-local firms.

At first I was opposed to the idea. After giving things more thought, I realized that I really don't have anything keeping me here. I'm single, not dating, most of my friends are married and not social anymore... all that ties me to my present location is family. So, I responded to those application requests in Wisconsin and California.

This is where a new problem seems to lie: online tests for jobs. Six months out of school, and sometimes years out of certain technologies (i.e. a specific computer language) makes things rough. Its difficult to quickly write something in C# when you took that class in 2007, and have since taken courses in C++ and java.

This also causes problems with questioning. Imagine at the end of a semester, your professor makes the choice to focus on Chapter 13, rather than 12, because it is more useful to you. Subsequent classes and technologies require that information more, as it builds and grows your knowledge much further. However, that online assessment had two questions... all which were based in chapter 12. Without roughly 4 lines of code, and an overall understanding of how to utilize it, you can't even begin to write anything. Its like writing a Novel without an introduction, climax, or conclusion: just some lines of information loosely strung together with the important information missing. You never get to tell the story.

This is my predicament, and my fight. I have a vast amount of general knowledge. I excelled at learning this all, as my GPA during my 4.5 years of college (1.5 of that part time) to get my bachelors was a 3.4 out of a possible 4.0. I accomplished this while working full time during a majority of it. Not a simple task. Then I'm graded over that entire time span over one Chapter that was deemed less important, so it was skipped.

I realize the economy is playing heavily on this. There is also a bit of a luck factor. However, I need employment desperately right now. Student loan repayment is kicking in, and what is left of the savings has dwindled to next to nothing. Can only keep searching, and hope that a company will take me on based off of my record and potential, and grow me into their organization. I've got more to offer than Chapter 12.

Life Update

I haven't posted in a while, and owe any of the few people who still read this at least an "I'm alive" along with a bit of an update on my life.

I still haven't been able to find a job after graduating last December, although a 10% unemployment rate and overall bad economy haven't exactly been major aids to my job search. Luckily I've been achieving better results recently, as I've had a couple interviews as of late.

I've also increased my willingness to relocate. Although my top choice is still Chicago, I'm now willing for "within a days drive of" Chicago. I want to be able to visit my parents on occasion, so my far fetched schemes of moving cross country are still not in play. This is why I put in for a job in Madison, Wisconsin. I could still make a drive to see the parents on a weekend.

I've just found it frustrating, to have put all that word and sacrifice into my four years of school, getting a 3.4 during that "comeback" period while working full time during 3 of the 4.5 years, and now sitting around with no job and few prospects.

Hopefully things will be looking up soon.

The Beer Geek - Inventory

As many are aware, I am a beer geek. Add onto that, I'm a bit... OCD. When I get into "something" its a need to know all about it. If I can find a way to quantify or collect things, I do it. My beer "collection" has manifested itself into a bottle cap collection, a bottle collection, and a database.

Another sort of collection I've developed is a rather nice cellar of beer. Some types of beer improve with age, if kept within a certain temperature range, and out of light. My cellar space in the extra fridge had recently filled up, so I decided to take a small inventory before I start drinking some of it down.

Here's the list:

Bittersweet Chocolate Oatmeal Stout (08) by Stone
Russian Imperial Stout by Stone '09 Vintage
Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout by Three Floyds (07, 08, and 09 Vintages)
Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch "Weasel"
Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout by Left Handed Brewing
Oatgoop by Mikkeller/Three Floyds
Popskull by Dogfish Head/Three Floyds
Behemoth by Three Floyds (08 and 09 Vintages)
Old School (from 08) by Dogfish Head
Immort Ale (08) by Dogfish Head
Imperial Stout (09) by Founders
Old Curmudgeon (08) by Founders
Palo Santo Ale (08) by Dogfish Head

Most of these cellar beers are imperial stouts and barleywines. Both are high gravity, high alcohol styles of beer. Age makes them less boozy, yet it intensifiess the flavors.

More Power!!!

I recently discovered that facebook has a feature that allows it to import blogs from another source. Having seen my blog here dry up, due to low readership (which is my own fault for writing more in other sources) I decided to give it a try. I want to see if I can get my writing outlets down to two: blog and my LJ, yet still torture all my friends via facebook, and maybe myspace too if that's possible.

YAY for my rambling and ability to drive others nuts!!!

I'm Alive... Have a Cover

Foo Fighters with Cee Lo doing Prince?

No Need to Embellish

Sometimes you read an article... and can't add anything to it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_7961000/7961224.stm

Bikini Wax Ban

New Jersey dropped its plans to make bikini waxing illegal.

All started out because a couple of people found out that having hair ripped from your genitals using hot wax can actually be painful, and might cause infection. I always thought that was just fun on a first date.

After some consideration, they decided to stop pursuing the law.

My guess is someone gave them a clue as to what beaches would look like with a bikini waxing ban by forcing the lawmakers to watch Borat... I know this sight doesn't make me recommend a lack of personal grooming...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7956689.stm

My New Theme

I'm playing "pissed at the world" now.

With this angry, special feeling, I have found a theme song.

Street Sweeper - Tom Morello and Boots Riley

Tom Morello (guitarist for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, and solo as The Nightwatchman) along with Boots Riley (vocalist for The Coup) are putting out a disc.

For all you Rage lovers, its that style. Political hip hop over Tom's guitar riffs.

http://www.streetsweepermusic.com/