The Truth isn't Always True...The Holiday Job Search

You know, really as much as people in the Job Search business think otherwise, there really isn't a whole lot that gets done between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Hell even if you have a job, nothing much gets done in that 6 week period. It's true. Think about it. Wherever you are or whatever you do, think for a minute. Does anyone start a long-term or business defining project in that time? No. Unless you are a retailer planning for a sale...you don't.

Me, I've gotten very little done since Thanksgiving. Part of that is because I started a part-time job and part of it is because there just isn't anything...job wise or really any otherwise that is interesting to sink my teeth into at the moment. I did get Step 1 of my Plan put in place...we have the Mac Computer with Final Cut 4 on it so I can start getting moving on the editing stuff. But I haven't done much writing for the book. I'm 6 chapters in...18 more to go by early February, I need to get to 10 by the end of the year.

((The KY mascot has the Holiday Spirit//Courtesy: Eric Hager))

Granted...and I don't want to sound like a Grinch; there should be more motivation to do things. The Job Networking groups say that "This is the best time to gain the advantage in Networking and in your search"...I don't buy that. How many businesses are "Seriously" looking to make a "Big" hire in mid-December? For that matter...how many people can say they've ever started a job in December. I actually did....many, many years ago. I accepted the job before Thanksgiving but didn't start until the week after.

Should you try to get stuff done during this period. Sure...you should. Will you get anything done around the holiday parties, the Christmas Shopping and the general festive short weeks? Probably not. Either way, enjoy the holiday, fine tune your plan and have a plan of attack...after the New Year starts.

Here is your Grinch fix...Thanks You Tube:

Holiday Motivation

We, I think have now reached the point of motivational struggling. What I mean by that is...what's next? It's been 10 weeks now and I have yet to truly find what I'm looking for (no U2 joke intended).

Yes, I am working, but it's part time and not exactly something that I want to do the rest of my life. I want to get back into the Video business, somehow, someway. I don't know how exactly to do it where I am now and I think that is the frustrating part.

((Me in the Video business/Circa 2004))

I guess the blessing in all of this is that there are some jobs out there, they may not be what you like or want, but there are jobs. I still sat here in front of the slowly disintegrating desktop computer looking at the usual sites, trying to see if there is something out there for me. Right now, there isn't.

What is it that you can do to stay motivated or fired up about trying to find something during the holidays? How do you continually plug away knowing that there isn't much out there and what you are looking for may be the proverbial "Needle in the Haystack"? It's a good question, a legitimate one, one that I really don't know if I have an answer to.

Sometime this afternoon, I will try and get in touch with the folks over at the ABC station here in Cincinnati. I had an interview with them about a week ago for a part-time producer job. I felt after talking to them that they would let me know one way or the other whether or not I got the gig, but I haven't heard anything from them...yet. It may be that last week was a short week with Thanksgiving, I don't know, but I guess I need to find out.

In the meantime, I still have the nice folks at the Panera Bread. I've worked there a little over a week now and it actually isn't so bad. People that come in there seem to be pretty pleasant overall and it's a good work environment with nice people. It's just difficult to think that I am doing that now. It really hit me this past weekend watching the Georgia/Georgia Tech Football game. Exactly one year previous to Saturday, I was there, on the field, working that game and it's very strange to think about where I am now. Granted, I like the city that we moved to. The people are nice and it is a "Much" slower pace than Atlanta which isn't so bad either.

So here we sit. Really, I would like to come up with something exciting, invigorating or motivating to make me and anyone else who stumbles across this energized in their job search, but I can't. All I can really say is be aware that this is going to happen. Be aware that you need to be aware of it. Keep plugging away and keep looking, the job or opportunity that you want "IS" out there. It may not be right in front of you, but it is there, you just have to keep searching...if you do that you eventually will get what you want.

In the meantime, enjoy the trailer for a Holiday Classic: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...we love the You Tube:

What to be Thankful for...

Sometimes things and life just kind of come full circle. This year, Thanksgiving is kind of like it was back in the day. Back when I was in my 20's. Back when I couldn't make it home to my family for the holiday, more often than not because I was having to work.

The good part is that Michelle and I are going to have a wonderful Turkey dinner and are eagerly awaiting for the snow or at least snow flurries that are predicted for tonight. Really, there is nothing more that I could ask for; spending the day with Michelle in our house with our dinner, I will always and forever be thankful for that.

We started the weekend last night by going to see one of our favorite sports; Hockey. We went to the "US Bank Arena" and watched the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones play the Kalamazoo Wings and we had a blast. We also discovered the joy of $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon Beers too.

Now, as for things to be thankful for besides family...there are lots of things. Be thankful for opportunity. Opportunity is something that is always there, whether you realize it or not. And most importantly; Opportunity is something that is up to you. It is what you make of it. Never forget that.

Be thankful for people. Not just the people that you know. Be thankful for people that you can meet. You will never totally be successful unless you meet people. You will "ALWAYS" be successful if you meet people and treat them right. Treat them the way that you would want them to treat you. If you do that, you will always have success, you will always be loved and you will always be able to do the things that you want to.

Be thankful for the Internet. Yeah, you heard me. Be thankful that the "Ultimate" searching resource is out there. It's available to you, whenever you have access. You can learn about every and anything that you ever possibly could imagine. No, it's not perfect, but if you utilize it the right way in your job search, it most definitely can be your friend.

Be thankful for the Holiday's. You don't always get the opportunity to have the days off, but if you do, make the most of them. Do some things you've always wanted to. Take the time to appreciate everything that you have. It's not every day that you get to slow down, take stock and think about what you have. Be thankful for it. Appreciate it for what it is and remember what it took for you to get there. Most important of all...be thankful that whatever your situation you always will have the opportunity to make it better.

HAVE A HAPPY TURKEY!!!! YOUR TURKEY SACRIFICED A LOT FOR YOU THIS YEAR!!!

Enjoy the WKRP Turkey Drop Episode...You must watch this...You know you can: Thanks to HULU.COM for this: