Ah my favorite holiday of all. What pumpkin designs have you come up with?
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Bargain
After trying, and failing, to post some bargain finds at Fatwallet.com, I've decided to post my own thrifty treasures.
My latest and greatest deal is this fire pit from Wal-Mart. Jordan and I have been looking for one but they were all too small and expensive! We finally settled upon this nice rectangular pit with a tile rim that doubles as a place to set a drink or rest your feet. The website had it priced at $74.00 but when I got to the store it had been marked down to $50.00! What a deal! Nice quality, good size, great find.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6005130
My latest and greatest deal is this fire pit from Wal-Mart. Jordan and I have been looking for one but they were all too small and expensive! We finally settled upon this nice rectangular pit with a tile rim that doubles as a place to set a drink or rest your feet. The website had it priced at $74.00 but when I got to the store it had been marked down to $50.00! What a deal! Nice quality, good size, great find.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6005130
How I Managed to Land Jobs I Was Truly Unqualified For
APPLY APPLY APPLY
I didn't realize this until I tried to help my fiancé find a new job, but so many people don't apply for jobs simply because they don't have the minimum qualifications. Here's a little secret, the human resource employees that typically post employment opportunities usually have no idea what the position actually needs in terms of skill set and education level. Now if an ad calls for a Masters degree and 10 years of experience, you probably don't want to apply fresh out of school. But if you're looking at a position that asks for 3 years experience or a BA and you've got neither, hell, apply anyway. The worst that can happen is you won't get a call. The truth is personality and a willingness to learn new tools is more important than most realize. The same can be said about past experience rather than just a degree. I've come across handfuls of employers that will admit to hiring someone without a degree but a few years experience in the working world rather than a new graduate still reeling from college life. Next step... The interview.
SELL YOURSELF
Not all of us are salesmen at heart. I am the first to admit that nothing makes my stomach turn more than having to tell someone how great I am and why they should hire me over anyone else. This is the only chance you will get to make a good impression though, one that will stick out in that future employers mind, so remember a few things. First off, don't overdress. I'm not saying show up in a baseball hat and jeans, but don't go out and buy an expensive suit for the occasion. You'll end up looking as fake as you're acting. Show up polished and genuine. Introduce yourself, make small talk, be charming. This may be a given, but turn your weaknesses into strengths. When the stern looking woman from across the desk asks you why you dropped out of college, be honest, but with a positive twist. Admit that you have faults, but those faults are only to an employers advantage. And lastly, follow up. I cannot emphasize how important it is to follow up with an e-mail or a phone call, or even a card. Just a quick cordial "thank you for taking the time to meet with me". This has gotten me rental properties I could barely afford, loans I wasn't eligible for, and jobs I was unqualified for. Personality is often more important than experience.
HOW TO KEEP IT ONCE YOU'VE GOT IT
Get your work done as quickly as possible, and then ask for more. The more experience you gain the more likely you are to be given more responsibility and in turn, more money. Do your best to learn about all the positions related to yours. If you can get your feet wet by using other tools and processes the more valuable you are to the company. Offer to do the work no one else wants to. Holiday work? Hey, it's also holiday pay! Your willingness to pull shifts others refuse to shows that you are an employee they can always turn to. Holidays can be celebrated anytime, a day on a calendar doesn't mean anything. Most employers will usually let you bank that day and take it some other time, who doesn't like Christmas in July, in Hawaii?
Just remember that most jobs require skill sets that are trained once you've been hired. It helps to have a background in the field, but it's absolutely not a deal breaker if you don't. Never be afraid to try new things.
I didn't realize this until I tried to help my fiancé find a new job, but so many people don't apply for jobs simply because they don't have the minimum qualifications. Here's a little secret, the human resource employees that typically post employment opportunities usually have no idea what the position actually needs in terms of skill set and education level. Now if an ad calls for a Masters degree and 10 years of experience, you probably don't want to apply fresh out of school. But if you're looking at a position that asks for 3 years experience or a BA and you've got neither, hell, apply anyway. The worst that can happen is you won't get a call. The truth is personality and a willingness to learn new tools is more important than most realize. The same can be said about past experience rather than just a degree. I've come across handfuls of employers that will admit to hiring someone without a degree but a few years experience in the working world rather than a new graduate still reeling from college life. Next step... The interview.
SELL YOURSELF
Not all of us are salesmen at heart. I am the first to admit that nothing makes my stomach turn more than having to tell someone how great I am and why they should hire me over anyone else. This is the only chance you will get to make a good impression though, one that will stick out in that future employers mind, so remember a few things. First off, don't overdress. I'm not saying show up in a baseball hat and jeans, but don't go out and buy an expensive suit for the occasion. You'll end up looking as fake as you're acting. Show up polished and genuine. Introduce yourself, make small talk, be charming. This may be a given, but turn your weaknesses into strengths. When the stern looking woman from across the desk asks you why you dropped out of college, be honest, but with a positive twist. Admit that you have faults, but those faults are only to an employers advantage. And lastly, follow up. I cannot emphasize how important it is to follow up with an e-mail or a phone call, or even a card. Just a quick cordial "thank you for taking the time to meet with me". This has gotten me rental properties I could barely afford, loans I wasn't eligible for, and jobs I was unqualified for. Personality is often more important than experience.
HOW TO KEEP IT ONCE YOU'VE GOT IT
Get your work done as quickly as possible, and then ask for more. The more experience you gain the more likely you are to be given more responsibility and in turn, more money. Do your best to learn about all the positions related to yours. If you can get your feet wet by using other tools and processes the more valuable you are to the company. Offer to do the work no one else wants to. Holiday work? Hey, it's also holiday pay! Your willingness to pull shifts others refuse to shows that you are an employee they can always turn to. Holidays can be celebrated anytime, a day on a calendar doesn't mean anything. Most employers will usually let you bank that day and take it some other time, who doesn't like Christmas in July, in Hawaii?
Just remember that most jobs require skill sets that are trained once you've been hired. It helps to have a background in the field, but it's absolutely not a deal breaker if you don't. Never be afraid to try new things.
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