Entry for January 18, 2010

Sometimes we're looking too close to see what is right in front of us.

Last week was slow and boring. I sent resume in to five companies advertising nine different jobs. I was also turned down for the full time life insurance agent position. I am relieved about that one. I had lunch Wednesday with, Ed Marsh, a friend in Greenville. Ed works for the engineering/construction firm, Jacobs Engineering. He’s been helping me with internal contacts and leads within his firm. Even with his help, there is nothing really concrete in the job market. I have a scheduled appointment at the end of the month with the people who evaluate one of my work assessment tests. I’m hoping I will learn enough about career matches to be able to expand my job search to other fields of work.

I think the cold weather spell we've been under has affected my motivation. Being cooped up in the house all the time is nerve racking. Today’s job market does not want one to knock on a door. It's all handled through human resources departments and 3rd party recruiters. All of which takes away the getting out of the house and interacting with hiring managers. A lot of companies do not want to know about you through their current staff. They want unbiased hiring results based on credentials, pedigrees and sustained experience in a specialty field. None of which I have or hold.

All these brick walls actually make me more excited to change careers. The thought of expanding my working experience beyond auto repairs, shipyards, factories and engineering offices is mind-boggling. I have become a true jack-of-all-trades, master of none. I do hold a journeyman certificate for rigging. I wouldn't go as far to say it is useless to me. But, I would be hard pressed to go back to the stress and strain of such a physical form of labor. I really don't think my back could handle that work every day and I'm not willing to take the chance.

I do pretty well with writing. I just think I would require a lot more skills than I possess. Maybe some day I will attempt to write a book that is substantial in content as well as concept. There are a lot of things on my mind all the time. I am slowly making record of some of my ideas, quips and blurbs as a basis to assemble such a project. For now, I have to keep my mind on making myself marketable to a lucky company.

P@