I haven't had so much free time on my plate in about... eight years or so. I spend a lot of time job hunting, reading other folks' blogs, checking out music news, writing business plans, researching, watching the news on tv (horrible, horrible addiction), and finding useless things to do with my time... reevaluating my credit card interest rates and figuring out the best way to compile my debt so that I'm paying the least in the moment and over time.

Why?

God only knows.

I can feel myself developing compulsive tendencies the longer I remain unemployed. Some days, I am productive and feel like I'm doing things that are fulfilling and others, nothing. I want to hang out, watch ER and not care about anything that is happening in the world.

I feel like such an American.

I drive down the street and see people working on lawns, people working at car washes, in restaurants, in positions they don't want to be in, but are doing it anyway. It's not to say that my productive days aren't really productive, it's just that the lazy days are so miserable, unsatisfying and relentless. Trying to overcome that is certainly the most challenging thing about unemployment. Scobleizer wrote a very useful blog about What To Do If You're Laid Off in a Recession back in January. I'm trying to stick to these rules, but it doesn't always work, every day. And it's okay.

State of the job market: Slow going this Monday. Updates later in the week; job posts are down, considering that it is Monday, though the Midwest shows promise for a better week this week. Job posting cycles have begun to make a shift to the later half of the week in the past month. Keep an eye on Wednesday and Thursday evenings for more job posts.

That said, I've just had a brilliant idea for organizing computer cables, so I'm going to go work on that prototype.

Labels: business, jobs, state of unemployment, websites

So cool.

Labels: art, design, useless blog, websites

Apparently, I did something right. I have a second interview in NYC the week of April 20th! I'm psyched! (I think.)

This position requires a ridiculous amount of responsibility, planning and sanity. I hope I possess all those in an in-person interview. We'll see what happens.

Send me fire. I'll be happy. Still hoping for the better industry job. Haven't heard a peep from them yet, but I'm going to start harassing them on Monday. Maybe if I ship them leftover Easter candy, they'll pay attention to me.

Labels: business, interviewing, jobs, snack foods

I went over to Target yesterday to pick up some TP, because, yet again, I have a roommate who uses the last of the TP and forgets to tell anyone. Excellent.

As I was walking past all the food and crap near the check-out, I happened upon this:



I'm a big fan of reusable bags and usually keep mine all rolled up in a bag near the door, because honestly, there's really no better way to store them. Target, however, came up with one of the best $0.99 ways to store their little green-friendly bags by zipping them in upon themselves into these little, women-sized-wallet packages that fit right into my glove-box. I never have to worry about leaving them in the car and taking up space, I don't have to think about whether or not I grabbed them on my way out to a shopping spree.

Brilliant. I do wish they were a little larger (Whole Foods's reusable grape vines nad bees bags have better shapes, more squared off at the bottom, and longer handles for over-the-shoulder carrying), but I can't complain when there's the little incentive to buy the fold-up bags. Cool stuff.

Labels: business, design, marketing, snack foods, Target

Believe it or not... I was not asked a single one of the "Top Ten Interview Questions" from my previous blog. Surprise, surprise, surprise.


I know it's a big shock for all of you.

So, the interview went well. I didn't come off as a completely ignorant dingbat, if that's what you're thinking. I think I formed complete sentences and stopped foaming at the mouth about 15 minutes into it, so that's damn near professional. Eh. I'll know more tomorrow when the poor sap who interviewed me calls me back to tell me whether or not I've made it to round two. Winnah.

It's been a rough week. I miss my friends. I wish I had their support right now, but I guess they're just not able to offer that at the moment. I'm glad to be finding support from people I didn't know would be there for me. It's always surprising, but so refreshing when these people crawl out of the woodwork to say hello to you.

On a bright note, I applied for one of my dream jobs this week, as well. Upside, dream job at dream company doing dream work that I've dreamed of for years. Downside, it's in my hometown and I feel so much like I'm going in reverse by applying for a job in my hoooomtown ewwwwwwww. The benefits way outweigh the drawbacks, however. I can do it; just need to psych myself up for the follow-up.

Side note: I'm trying something new. I have had a really difficult time with the fact that I've lost friends, apparently, because I deleted my myspace and stopped logging in on AIM. I've actually been told that I've "made myself scarce". For the first time in several years, if I want to talk to someone now, I write them a clear, concise email. I pick up the phone and call them. I write them a letter. It has begun to provide me with a significant amount of clarity as opposed to the short, choppy conversations I would have online or via myspace comments. I just started to realize that people identified me by those things and I had to remind myself that those applications are not me. I know it's easy to think that everything you read is true, that everything about your myspace represents you and that the argument you had on AIM is valid and justified, but it's just not the same as looking someone in the eye and saying, "I'm really upset with you," or "I'm sorry", or "I fucked up and ate your last frozen pizza". I'm not knocking those applications, but when I started to obsess over them and my position in my friends' "life", I realized this could not continue. So. Instead, you can find me on Twitter (epodz), and there, I will be happy to tell you straight up what is happening with me and how I'm doing. Check me out.

Labels: business, jobs, snack foods, state of unemployment, websites

Personally, I don't get it. You upload your songs (for $10, EACH), and then if an industry heavy likes your stuff, they have to pay $5 to get your contact information?

Myspace is free. Artists can upload music for free. Industry reps can stalk artists for free.

There are a few other perks, listed in Mashable's review below, but... I don't get it.


Mashable's review of StartMySong.com:

20 word description: Start My Song allows songwriters to post their new songs for music industry members looking for new material to browse.

CEO’s 100 word description: Start My Song is a website dedicated to Songwriters. It solves the problem of new material and demos having to be sent to multiple organizations including song producers, record labels and artists. Now songwriters can post their best material in one place for music industry members looking for new material to browse. The website accepts MP3 formats for finished songs or available beats and melodies that are ready to be matched up with lyrics. The website also accepts lyrics and music sheets in the form of PDF files.

Mashable’s Take: Start My Song is a new community for songwriters and other music artists, to help promote themselves and find others to work with. Artists can upload their own content, whether it be songs, beats, melodies, or lyrics, and rate the uploaded content of others. All of your uploaded content will display on your profile page, along with your contact information.

While this is a community for music artists to find each other and promote themselves, this isn’t really a social network of any sort. In order to protect users from spammers and non-serious inquiries, Start My Song does require a $5.00 surcharge for each inquiry. This seems a bit steep, even for protecting users from spam, and will make it difficult for Start My Song to compete in the very crowded online music market, against other startups like Songpull or the big boys like MySpace.

Aside from this surcharge, another obstacle Start My Song is facing is its lack of promotional tools that are available for artists. Adding widgets, photo galleries and portable players along with additional feedback mechanisms could help Start My Song better gain traction.

Labels: daisichain, linear walkout, review, websites

So, I emailed this web application development company yesterday regarding one of my start-ups. I asked some simple questions, given that I am not a web geek, web guru, or techie-brilliant tool. A gentleman named "Will" emailed me back today asking a little bit about my idea, my business background and funding.

I wrote up a detailed description of my idea and sent it off to him.

His response?

"So you know, I've seen a similar idea come across our company and our partners companies several times. I think its very difficult to solve this problem and raise money.

Another question is about your background. Investors may say "why you?".

Will"


Now, I'm confused. I don't believe I was asking for business advice, or whether or not they have already done something like this or how I'm going to come up with the money. I certainly did not ask him for advice on how to consult with investors and explain why they should invest in me.

"Will,

No offense, but I didn't ask for your pessimism, I asked what your company could do, how much it might cost, and how it might be done. I can take care of the business side, find my investors and get the funding I need. I have worked on several other start-up businesses and I'm simply not a pro at web development. Of these other similar projects, how many have seen success? There are other, similar sites out there, but none with the knowledge and background I have behind touring and artist development.

If you cannot answer those questions, I will continue on to find someone else who can.

Thanks."


Every day that I come in contact with someone who offends me, especially in direct connection to the business-to-business deal we could have potentially worked out, I have to think about how this is going to effect my future business. I am not trying to sound threatening, but I can't understand why someone would respond in such a way not knowing who I am, what I do, where I come from, or who I am associated with. All I am asking is, "What can your business do for me?"

If you can't answer that question, please don't bother to respond to my email. I'll feel unfulfilled, but I'll be far less offended than I am if you respond as poorly as Will did in this unfortunate circumstance.

Labels: business, customer service, failure, start-ups

It took me a few runs through before I started to get it. There's something there. Really something there.

The band fools you into thinking that there is some really hokey things that are going to happen to this album in "The Beloved". Cheesy tracks fool you just long enough (thankfully, only a short 1:18 stint) and throw you directly into Star Struck, like you never had to listen to the first track at all. I don't condone this method, but "The Beloved" might have fit better into a different slot on the album.

"1983" is reminiscent of all the good things about pop punk; it's melancholy, it's achy, it's sexy. Love it, hate it, cry to it a little.

The album is great... in pieces. There's some loss in production quality in a few songs, making the transitions not as smooth as they could be. I had to ask myself a few times, did I not download the whole song? What happened here? Fade out is not necessarily a good quality for a punk band. They'll figure it out though, I have faith.

The album shows a lot of promise for the band; I haven't seen a lot of good punk/emo come out of the Southeast lately, but ATTWY has my hopes rising that sitting in this heat-hole down south will turn in my favor as more bands like this come out of the woodwork.

Best first impression: "Fall Fearless Empire"
Best download and listen to on repear all week: "1983"

Labels: album, daisichain, linear walkout, new music, review

Thanks, Joe.

26

Labels: useless blog

Interview prep.

Let's just say you do a search for interview prepping via Google. You come up with the top 10 interview questions. I ask you... how many people have actually heard these questions come up in an interview?:

1. What are your weaknesses?
2. Why should we hire you?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What are your goals?
5. Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?
6. When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
7. What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?
8. What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
9. What Salary Are You Seeking?
10. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Come Thursday, I'm going to let you know how many of these questions they asked me. I can very clearly understand some of them, but others, really? If you were an animal? I am... technically... an animal. Let's be clear about that. What context are we talking about in the animal scenario? In bed? In the kitchen? On the road? Really. I'll chameleon out if you ask me to, jump around from one animal to another given the right situation. Whatever.

Should I answer these the way I want to answer them? Probably not, but here goes nothing.


1. What are your weaknesses?

Honestly? Belgian waffles... with strawberries and whipped cream. I could honestly do just about anything to get one.

2. Why should we hire you?

I need a job and you have one open.

3. Why do you want to work here?

You're the first person who called me. I can do the job. In fact, not only can I do the job, but I can assess and evaluate the way things are being done and probably improve on them, given that I care enough. Chances are, I will care enough... if you pay me enough. We'll see.

4. What are your goals?

Gaining employment, getting out of debt, winning the lottery to I can traipse around the world on my own free will, love someone forever and perhaps learn how to make really good chocolate later on in life.

5. Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

I quit my job. I'm kind of a dumbass for doing it, given that it was in education (recession-proof industry) and I thought it would be a good time to "find myself". I thought I was being a winner, a hero. I wasn't. I'm just poor now.

6. When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

When I was leaving. Actually... there was the occasional Friday where I had a two hour lunch, that was pretty great, too.

7. What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?

I can obsess completely over the nitty-gritty bullshit that no one else cares about. I can also draw a pretty slammin' bunny on microsoft word. Ah, AND I have a cat that plays fetch. She'll come and hang out sometime; we'll do lunch.

8. What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

a) complains when appropriate
b) affordable
c) she quit

9. What Salary Are You Seeking?

More than you can afford.

10. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Lion, giraffe, cheetah, lynx, gnat... given a variety of situations.



Who thinks I'll get hired?

Labels: craps, gin rummy, interviewing, jobs, nap time

I can't lie. I'm not really unemployed. I have my own business. However... until my business earns me enough money to, well, pay for my insurance, I will consider it a traitor to my well-being.

I have realized, however, that I am sick and tired of eating peanut butter and jelly. This week seems to be a grilled cheese week.

This week's peak market appears to be New York city and surrounding areas. The west coast has dropped off significantly in their listings for positions and it seems you'll be in a better position focusing on the northeast for the job market this week. Healthcare still reigns as the supreme hiring maniacs across the nation, while web-design, development, flipflops, and hackers seem to be most-employable right now in the Northeast. Time to brush up on your Ruby skillz. Go.

Labels: jobs, listings, snack foods, state of unemployment

I realize that I have... let's say, limited skills, based upon the fact that my previous employer was unable? unwilling? to present me with the appropriate training for my position or able to assist me with the advancement of my position. Why? I'm still not sure, after several trips to human resources regarding the matter, several meetings with management, even after a consultant was brought in to assist in the restructuring and rebuilding of our apparently self-destructive structure.

However, I made every effort to learn more about my position, contact as many people as possible about how to do my job more efficiently, write a basic, standard manual for the new employee who took my place and then left in search of a new and more fulfilling practice: unemployment.

No, that wasn't really my goal. I was on my way out of the country to work and play elsewhere for awhile, gain some international business skills and return to the States triumphantly, ready for action in the world of the web, entertainment, music, LIFE! Except that never happened. Even the best laid plans... well... get fucked.

So I am here, unemployed and hoping to help by entertaining you with my messages of sass and inappropriate diatribe about the lifestyles of the unemployed and looking for work.

I applied for a position at MTV today. Actually, to be more precise, a Director's position. I'm still trying to figure out if I'm better off applying for positions above and beyond my skill set and background experience, or applying for a low-paying, brain-dead entry level position that won't challenge me at all and run the risk that I'll find yet another manager who has no interest in their employee's personal growth and development. I think I'm enjoying the prospect of getting a job that could be a huge challenge for me, learn from my mistakes and failures and improve my skill set instead of voluntarily disregarding the fact that I am highly educated and have 5 years of experience working very hard to learn as much as I could in the positions I previously held. But, others would disagree, suck it up and take what you can. Why? Why not work harder to get the job I really want and could learn more from?

Some might argue that employers don't want to hire people into a learning experience, especially into a mid-senior level or director's level. Truth be told, however, I'm fairly certain that few people will have the exact skill set required for the position in question. I believe my basic skills in combination with the appropriate training could put me in a position of success... given that I'm applying for jobs that align with my skills and not something flamboyant like, Senior Rocket Scientist when I was... yes, a music major.

Craziness. Employers, please, read my cover letter. Read my resume. I will tell you more about myself in the interview. Believe me, I have the skills (*ahem, MAD SKILLZ).
I've stopped applying for jobs I can't do, won't understand or won't care about. If you see my name cross your desk, I can assure you, I'm qualified.

Labels: complaints, jobs, training, waffles