Category Archives: Work

Management.

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I haven’t spoken too much about my position as a manager since I started last March. Mostly because I was still getting settled, and figuring out who I was in this position, but also because I felt a certain discomfort writing on my blog about anything personal, or even professional, to some extent. I wasn’t sure what I could or couldn’t write, and I didn’t want anyone on my team to get the wrong impression about me. I juggle a lot of hats in my life, and this was one hat I just wasn’t completely sure of yet.

Right before I started, I asked my previous manager for some advice – the first thing she told me was “You can’t make everyone like you.” I thought, Well, duh, I learned that in middle school when the kids would oink at me in the hallway. Yes, I was that chubby student with the baggy jeans and a bandana.

But man, was she right. I’m not saying that I’m not liked, I’m just saying that that thought definitely crossed my mind more than once as I realized I’m no longer one of the “team members.” It’s actually kind of a joke – Jock and I have been watching back to back episodes of “The Office” – and as you watch Steve Carrell’s character Michael Scott cry, pander and beg to be ‘friends’ with his employees, you start to realize that he is acting on what most first-time managers initially feel when starting out.

However, what you soon figure out after that is that it doesn’t matter. It’s an adjustment, but ultimately it doesn’t matter if they like you or not. What matters is that you are a good leader, that everyone on the team is doing their best work, and that the company is thriving. I’m so appreciative of what my team is doing, and that everyday I become more and more proud to be on a team with people who actually care what they are doing, and who are OK with pushing themselves harder to do better and more quality work for their clients everyday. That is my only hope for working in this job, and I can’t wait to see what else we come up with.

I feel very lucky to be where I am, and I only hope that I am doing justice to the wonderful bosses I’ve had in my past (oh sure, there’s been some nasty ones – you can read my book to get a sense of one in particular – DISCLAIMER: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental…)

Yes, indeed.

Regardless, I think you will always care what people think of you, but it’s about moving forward, putting your head down, and getting on with it. After all, there is work to be done.

Since my last entry…

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Since being declared Vitamin D and B12 deficient, I have a new take on life. I realize how precious and random life is, and although this tragedy is being treated, my body is recovering and I am too. It was fate that brought me to that OBGYN’s office that day, and I will be forever grateful to that beautiful nurse who drew my blood and called me to tell me the tragic news. Oh Thank You dear Lord for your treatment of my illness!!! And just in time! Before my 29th birthday. These bag of bones are getting older and older by the DAY. by the DAY, I tell you.

Right, now, back to sanity and reality. I do love me some drama every now and again, and what better drama than the knowledge that I am deficient in a few vitamins. Those Vitamin B12 injections are like drugs! I feel so focused and alive afterwards. Everyone should get on it. And those 10,000 units of Vitamin D that I have to take everyday, never has my skin felt better.

So, that’s about it. Nice catching up with you all.

Just kidding!

I have news. I have a new full time job. I was finally able to find the job I’ve been searching for since I moved here – full time “Social Media Account Sensei” is my official title. No, really. Take a look: http://socialkaty.com/assassins

I’m managing two other assasins, and 9 clients. The long and the short of is – we handle Facebook and Twitter accounts for companies. However, there is MUCH more to it than that, but if I tell you, I will have to kill you.

I quit Kelly Services after I was laid off from there for a week, and then rehired back, and luckily got an offer with SocialKaty right away. A dramatic week it was!

Jock is still with midVentures, and is in the middle of planning an entire Tech Week in Chicago. Who would have thought that Jock would be handling a Tech Week! When I met him he was a technophobe, now look at him!

Chicago is being stubborn with warming up itself. However, I have faith.

We head to Austin, Texas in two weeks for a wedding that I’m in as a bridesmaid.  I get to wear these wicked shoes that the bride bought us for the rehearsal dinner!

Other than that, life is slowly settling itself down. The apartment is coming together – pictures to follow, and we’re making friends left and right. I’m still close with my co-workers from Kelly Services, and went out for a happy hour last week.

Now, to the Final Four! Happy April!

Noticing the Unnoticable

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You know you’re a writer when you start looking at

  1. the moldy tiles of the fusty subway escalator,
  2. the hardened pieces of artificially colored gum stuck to the furry, plaster ceilings and
  3. the decaying coffee breath of the business guy with a business coat too long for him who thinks it’s hilarious to speak to his friend through you about his fresh, innovative take on how “You know that every girl just takes a Halloween costume idea and puts the word “slutty” in front of it. ‘Slutty cat, slutty devil,’” – as if no one had ever heard that one before – and
  4. you take all of these and store it away for later.
  5. Instead of being utterly disgusted by them, you notice them. Which perhaps is the biggest step – noticing the sticky touch of the Caribou coffee counter.

But maybe you’re also a writer when you see the things that people aren’t saying, doing or being. Like that guy with the long business coat – perhaps he doesn’t have enough ‘funny confidence’ to use anything but cliches because his comedian father committed suicide on his 11th birthday before teaching him how “to be funny” or perhaps that other guy wasn’t actually a friend, but a boss he was trying too hard to impress.

Jock thinks I’m a bit nuts when I go on these tangents about people  and what “could” be happening with them – but I just say, you never know!

He’s right to an extent. Sometimes what you see is simply what you get, but many times there’s more to it than appears to be true and we can’t possibly know what another person is going through.  I just try to give people the benefit of the doubt as they scream at me and shove their middle finger in my face. Kill ‘em with kindness, as my mother always said.

My dad once told me about Paradigm Shifts. I thought I knew what one was because it was a popular buzz word in the 90′s, but in fact I had no idea. On the link above, I linked to a yahoo question forum because I honestly couldn’t find another website that better described it. Read the one about Stephen Covey and you’ll get the idea. It’s just easier to judge than to take the time to understand.

Maybe all this just means I’m a human.

How to Search for a Job

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Or the title should read – “How I’ve Grown With My Job Search.”

Or, “How to Make Yourself Visible to Human Resources.”

Or possibly – “How to Become Obsessed with Fonts, Search Engines, Adjectives and Action Verbs”

Or just – “Getting a Job” would probably suffice.

(Don’t worry – “Bloke Who Brunches” is coming for those of me who are anxiously awaiting, but I did say I had one more post in me!)

My last seven days have consisted of the following actions:

1. Day by day, hour by hour, edited resume by chopped up cover letter – I am chiseling away at the Chicago job machine. Whomever is out there who is about to hire me might now know that I am taking this sharp toothpick to the steel wall that is the job market, but I am and I will succeed in whittling you away.

And you will be proud to hire me as your employee. And boy oh boy, will I be proud to work for you.

What am I applying for, you might ask?

Jobs that I feel are the right fit. That’s the only way I can describe how I go about my search. When I read the description, I assess my qualifications against their requirements, I rework my resume accordingly.

2. My resume has gone on an evolution. Clearly, I tweak it and my cover letter for every job I apply for – I highlight which duties work best with each job. But, the format has changed.

The first few days, I had no responses. So, I looked at my resume, I ran it through careerbuilder.com ‘s resume checker. They suggested adding a brief Profile at the top to describe my assets. (No, not that kind.) They explained that HR might only look at it for a few seconds before moving on, so make an impression!

Sent it off many more times. Nothing. Except a nice letter from YMCA letting me know they had more qualified janitors, but thank you for applying. (J/K)

So, I looked at the resume again. I went back to it. The damn resume. I needed something to stand out – and apart from putting it on pink letterhead and spraying it with perfume à la Elle Woods, I thought a professional digital picture of myself attached to the upper left corner couldn’t hurt. Ya know? Just so they know who this MAL is. Click here to view it in its present form.

Not rocket science, but I’ve had two interviews this week. Neither of them had anything to do with my resume since one was a staffing agency and the other I was referred to by a friend, but still. Perhaps the picture vibes are helping…

3. Cover letter

Again, I stayed professional, routine, traditional in the beginning. Nothing comes through.

So, I think, “You’re a writer, Meagan, not some automaton robot who churns out cover letters. Act like one. Be creative! (And remain professional.)” So I got more creative. I dared to challenge myself to stand out.

How? Well, as soon as I get a job, I’ll post which cover letter got me the job.

4. The Job Search Itself

Apart from buying an ad on facebook like that guy did, the truly great jobs aren’t on Simplyhired.com, Indeed.com, Careerbuilder.com or Monster.com – I mean, they might be, but it’s hard to get seen through that slush pile.

The best jobs are directly on the company’s websites hiding in the bottom corner, are found out by calling directly (depending on the company), using my Linkedin connections, Twitter searches or from a friend of a friend. Trust me, I’m trying it all. My dream job is out there. I’m just not sure where yet. If you know of anyone looking for:

A hardworking, detail-oriented and excellent communicator who has 5 years experience as a high-level assistant in a variety of busy offices. I have a strong background in accomplishing tasks with research and ingenuity in an efficient manner and with passion. Computer and technologically savvy, I endeavor to maintain a confidential demeanor, use my people skills to get assignments fulfilled and understand first, then be understood. I thrive in helping others.

Then, you know where to look! When I’m not looking for jobs – I’m doing this:

Catherine Deneuve – AND Magazine

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Catherine Deneuve is a force to withhold. Her beauty is something she has played with carefully and, especially in her early years, took advantage of to comment on the social implications of having such a stark beauty. This interests me not because she was a sex symbol like Brigitte Bardot of her time or Marilyn Monroe, but because there seemed to be something that she knew that these other women didn’t. She didn’t become a victim to the stares of men or to society’s view of what she should be like, she rose above it to remark on it. At least she did, her later years have proved more difficult to discern.

After doing a bit of research, I found that this French actress is truly a remarkable woman to study. Click on photo below to read full article.