You're only Important if I'm a Pest?

There are two groups of people these days when it comes to applying for jobs.

For the purposes of this blog we'll call them the Importants (those who have what we want, namely, jobs) and the Pests (those who simply want and need). I don't know if it's just me, but these days, it seems the Importants don't want to be bothered with the Pests.

Agree? Disagree?

Well, if the universe really is a circle of reciprocity, one day the Importants will realize they actually need the Pests to remain important. At that moment, the roles will be swiftly reversed.

Until that fateful day of role reversal, I guess I'll be content remaining a pest. That's the only way to ever become important anyway, right? Read more...

Free-time = My Time

Fact:

When you leave your job, whether by choice or by force, you suddenly have a lot of free time.

Opinion:

You should use this newfound FREEDOM to do what you love and chase after what you desire (being practical of course).

I mentioned three blogs ago how about 3-4 weeks after quitting my job I found myself debating such things as whether to watch MTV or VH1 - what a choice, haha!  Well, I'm honest enough to admit that at that point I was being lazy, wasteful with my time, and stagnant.  Sure I needed time for myself, but what I quickly came to realize is that time watching TV in hopes of being mildly entertained wasn't actually taking time for myself; on the contrary it was me throwing time away.

Let's face it, life is about interaction, sharing our talents, learning, friendship, and broadening our horizons.  Where does lying in the bed for hours watching mindless shows fall in (clearly TV can be good on some levels.  Pinky and the Brain, Damages, and Heroes were/are great TV show)?  As a person who believes in destiny and purpose, I had to change, and while it's an ongoing process, I am making progress...

With that said check out the Hulu Super Bowl 2009 ad. It's fitting:

In 2008 I was completely and pleasantly surprised when I was officially appointed by my state governor to serve as a youth member of the state committee which distributes government funds and promotes programs for less-fortunate and delinquent youth.  This was an unanticipated honor, yet because of my last job and the stress/hours of work I rarely was able to attend the meetings.  As a recent graduate with bills and expenses, I'd already become consumed by the "rat race" and bought into the philosophy that making money was paramount. Nonetheless, I remember several occasions when I wanted nothing more than to attend a committee meeting. Inevitably, though, something major would happen at work preventing me from attending.

Having since quit, when I received notice of the February committee meeting I was excited about finally being available. It wasn't long though before I turned apprehensive, as my involvement had been so irregular prior to this.  Well, I bit the bullet and went to the meeting on this past Wednesday -  it was incredible to say the least.   Certainly, I had a great deal to catch up on including jargon and policy, but my "unfamiliarity" allowed me to bring a fresh and inquisitive perspective.  I dared to ask questions and offer uninformed but thoughtful opinions that ultimately sparked a reconsideration of how the committee would support and fund programs in the future.  The committee made progress and individual members thanked me for my ideas afterwards.  All of this came from daring to use my time to go after my interests and put aside fear.  I felt good...and that feeling is something you can ONLY get when an opportunity, your interest, and your effort align.  

Oftentimes fear of failure and even success can be the single reason why we don't achieve our full potential in life.   The bed, the couch, and the TV will always be there, but your time and talent are always ticking away.  

Unemployed?  Enjoy and use your time

Done with classes?  Enjoy and use your time

Vacation?  Enjoy and use your time

Free time doesn't equal time to kill...

Free time = Me time, whatever that may be for you

Be well

Seek and ye shall find.

Read more...

Destiny isn't a Choice

I'm trying to get a good job. That's all.

I've been interviewing, making excellent impressions, following up, and yet all the great people I encounter are denying me in a sense. Instead of offering me the job experience I desire, they tell me time and time again that I'm great and should chart my own course to success - not to confine myself to a box or settle for the positions I've been applying for.

My Question:
How can I settle when my interviewers won't even give me the job offer? No, they seemingly go on a spontaneous trip of honesty and advice, telling me I'm "too good for the job" or "overqualified." They outright tell me I’m meant for something more.

I’m beyond finding this flattering. Simply put, I feel stuck.

As wonderful as it may be to “chart one’s own course,” that takes time. Bills and responsibilities are immediate. Furthermore, while many will encourage you to go out alone and pursue greatness, there are far less people willing to walk with you or support you along the lonely path to success they so readily prescribe.

Unfortunately for me, and probably a lot of people in my boat, it seems that no matter how hard we fight, life’s current keeps pushing us to go at it alone – walk the path less traveled. Despite our plans, misfortune, destiny? fate? God? just won’t allow us to move forward.
Now, most people believe the age frame 17-26 to be a major transitional period in life. I agree, but entertain my imagination for a second and just visualize…

Think of Destiny as a bubble with a single hole in it. For our entire lives, that bubble has floated beside us with the hole facing us, always hoping we’d turn in. Naturally curious, during our early years we travel and turn in every direction except towards the bubble’s entrance. Then finally, around the age of 18, something happens (an experience, a book, a person) and unknowingly we turn in a direction never before seen - toward the bubble.

Well that bubble, our Destiny, isn’t anything if not determined and resolute. When it gets a hold of us, it shakes us, jolts us, even hurts us as it steadfastly floats back toward the path meant for us all along.

While trapped inside this bubble, we’ll see countless opportunities pass us by, the things we wanted - attractive jobs, people, places…happiness. We’ll wave, holler, and scream but destiny just keeps on dragging us, floating along.

Then one day, when we feel hopeless and have given up resisting, Destiny will stop and we’ll finally see the door in the bubble that trapped us. That door is now our escape. Having grown complacent and weary, some of us will choose to just remain within, too afraid to venture out. Others will get the courage and faith to stand up and walk out. They will be the fortunate ones who discover destiny’s path...

Presently, I feel my bubble slowing down. I’m patiently looking in every direction for the door.

Seek and ye shall find.

Read more...

Impressive Rejects - the College Grad

Musecatto here!

Jintian, zenmeyang? (Chinese - How's it going today?)

So today I had an interview at one of the top PR firms in the NE.  I'd met the CEO of this firm 3 weeks before, and he hired me on the spot.  According to him, all I needed to do was come in and find out where I would fit/negotiate salary.  Was I excited?  You bet...and today was the big day!

Long story short I met with the company's founder for an hour today and we absolutely hit it off (the founder is the father of the CEO).  We had a TON in common, established a great rapport, he called me very impressive/completely impressive at least 4 times, and described me as artistic - the type of employee he finds ideal for PR.  BUT THEN, as he reads my resume he says "I think you may be too good for PR."... ... ... Noooooo.  Outwardly, I remain calm for interview purposes, but internally I'm steaming.  This is the second time I've received such a response.  The first happened in 2007 when I was applying for an international sales position.  Much to my surprise, the company president called me "overqualified" and said the job was actually beneath me.  And Now, today, my interviewer (who saw so much of himself in me) seemed completely enamored with my life experiences, clubs, and interests,  intimating that I'd be doing myself a disservice working at his company... 

What does it all mean?  I just want a job.  Why can't they just take me anyway? Of course this frustrates me because it's hard enough getting a job as a recent college graduate, especially in this recession.  Most jobs I'm interested in require more experience than I can offer on paper, and now the few good companies that are getting back to me are telling me I'm meant to do something more. What type of predicament is this...

To be fair, I'm still in the running for the PR position that I interviewed for today.  Still, the company founder overtly stated that I should just brand and market myself because I have the most to offer as my own individual.  This same man is actually the one who instructed me to start blogging about my life (which I now am - I listen to the advice of wise and inspiring people) and offered to be my PR in the future.  

As disappointing/flattering/confusing as these experiences  have been, maybe there's some wisdom we can garner from this series of complimentary rejection.  

Maybe this curious experience vacuum is swallowing more college graduates than we think.  If so, is that a bad thing?  Are business professionals depriving younger talent of experiences need for true growth or are they sincerely encouraging us to courageously charter our own courses...to success, happiness, and fulfillment?

Seek and ye shall find. I'm thinking...

Read more...

Graduate Depression...It's the New Black

Prozac Prescription Instructions:  Take Prozac only after receiving your BA from an accredited university.   If enrolled in Masters or PhD courses, please consult your physician prior to use, as additional credits and loans may increase likelihood of drug ineffectiveness and intensify self-loathing upon graduation/introduction into the "real world."

Nimen Hao (Hello All - In Chinese),

Musecatto here...whether that be fortunately or unfortunately.  

2 months ago, I couldn't have even dreamed of being home at this foolishly early hour of night.   Indeed, when I had a job, this might as well have been my lunchtime.  Thank goodness for unemployment, right? Well...

You see, I quit my job at the very end of November, toting my pride, skills, dignity, and fueled by my relentless optimism that everything would always work out for me.  Trust me, I'm not saying I'm a privileged person, but let's just say I've always had access to a great educacion (Español, see!) and an immensely supportive network of friends and family to assist me in life.  Consequently, I could have cared less about this "recession" and the "massive layoffs."  All I knew was that after over a year at the company, I was still extremely unhappy, unfulfilled, and frustrated in my old job (my first job out of college); I had to leave and move on to the BIGGER and BETTER that would surely come knocking at my door and offer me the opportunity of the lifetime.  So I left...

Week 1 passes - My "recovery week," as I coined it.  Detox from the insanity of Job #1.

Week 2 passes - Submit 2 Job Applications (lazy, I know, but I'm still "recovering")

Week 3 passes - Seized by a slight fit of panic, I submit about 15 Applications and register for 4 different job posting sites.  My enduring spirit of hope is revived.  Certainly someone will get back to me!! My Bigger an Better..

Week 4 passes - ONSET OF DEPRESSION, Doubt.  "Hmm, what's on MTV?  Better yet, VH1! Why???"

Week 5 passes - Meet up with fellow Ex-Coworkers (We'd all quit the same company at some point.  I was the last).   All of the said "Ex-Coworkers" were great at the job and fortunately we managed to take away a solid group of friends.  At the monthly dinner/reunion with the Ex-Coworkers, I discover that they ALL have found new jobs...I mean ALL OF THEM.  Sure, they'd quit before me but still.

Week 6...WHY - The Musecatto eduring spirit of hope is broken.  The only companies getting back to me were those pestering marketing/PR/sales/exploit the young & restless recent college grad firms.  You know the ones I'm talking about...

Just when I thought all hope was lost, my bright silver lining appeared! ("Musecatto, that lining looks dusty grey to me," says my friend, Hindsight..."Quiet," I reply).  Today would be the day it all changed for this college graduate...

And so I got up, showered, put on my suit, and off I went...

To where? For what? Seek and ye shall find

Read more...

Contact The RGC

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/TheRGC

Feel free to contact the RGC members/blog. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions!

Click here to Email The RGC

We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for the message!

Read more...