Good or bad attitude?

I haven't been posting as often as I should have been but have been really busy in this pre-week of school for my kids. I got a few interviews and will talk today about a new behavior from employers that is new to me.

I am used to look for a job in the mid-90's where jobs were more plentiful than employees were. People were nice, always nice. And so were the employees, as I recalled.

Well, things have changed now. For example, last Tuesday, I am asked to come for a job interview. First, they contact me by phone/email/cellphone. I am thinking: This is good! The job is 45 minutes away from my house with a commute overlooking most of the time the ocean. What can you ask more?

I got there and the receptionist was very professional and kind. I liked all the employees I got introduced to. They even did a tour of the place. Not a fabulous looking place but it is a place with four walls and a roof. Where it got sour is when I interviewed with the boss. I tried to answer all his questions by being brief (because I know time is money). He seemed annoyed by that so I tried longer answers and he was even more annoyed. Then, he looked at me and said that the girl before me in that position was nice but she got tired of the commute. He started assuming that I am nice now and will turn into a bitch later on. I couldn't believe his attitude. The more he was talking, the less I wanted to work there.

As I left, i just had this terrible feeling that I wasted my Tuesday afternoon by meeting this guy. I think my remedy for now is to interview with a nice person, because I know there are some of these, still out there!

All about where you live...

Impeccable resume? Check! Attended a great university? Check! Have experience? Check! Have great references? Check? Live close to the job? What?

Yes, in that whirlwind high demand of the employers out there, this is the NEW requirement. Not only are you supposed to have suck up all your economy to attend a decent school. make sacrifice, eat Top Ramen for months, work for free for a while to gain experience, but now, you are supposed to commit to move next to the job if they hire you.

For me, this is non-sense, but the sad reality. All my life, I bear a long commute to drive to school, then to internship, go to a good medical facility when needed, and so on. I don't mind driving; I am used to it. But obviously, the employers don't believe in that.

I was wondering why I never received answer from my resume for a while. Yes, it might have been too long (was a 2-page resume and now, cut to one-page). The reality came to my face yesterday when I got denied an interview for a 70K/year job... because I live too far. C'mon! One hour commute? I did way more in the good old days.

I should have been interviewing for that nice job today and instead, I am home being mad at that employer. It leaves me no option now: I am getting a mailbox in a central area where I will use that address on my resume. The employers will be fooled I live closer than he/she thinks but who cares really? At the end of the day, if you can be professional and do the job, this is all that counts. But obviously, that guy today didn't think so... 

New Entry for IllustrationFriday

I believe I told you about this wonderful website where you can submit an artwork every week. You have to follow their weekly theme and this week was Poof.

I did this illustration super quick as I had a crazy week shuffling the kids around, going to that useless Temp Agency open house, and that job interview this morning. The submission is mostly typography but got inspired by these stupid infomercials we see on TV. We all know someone in our family or neighborhood who got that belt that supposed to melt away the fat or the fishing pole that guarantee you will catch the biggest fish ever.

Well, what about a Poof Wand that make disappear anything you want. Wouldn't it be cool? I would never use it to have it disappear jobs but what about these bad recruiters or the ladies I encountered in the Temp agency's waiting room. Anybody with a bad attitude = Poof!

Temp agencies: Good or Bad?

As I was mentioning in my last blog entry, I went for an open house to a temp agency near my house. The smartest and most experienced applicants knew to get by the doorway by 5:00 PM sharp, when the open house started. Well, I wanted to show up a little later to look good but faced about 20 other applicants in there. Next time, if there is another next time, I'll know...

The ad said "come meet our recruiters." Well, they had a typo because as far as I am concerned, there was 1 recruiter on the spot. You had to either wait in line (which means probably 1 hour and a half starring the other applicants and nibbling on some cheap veggies/dip tray you get at Safeway) OR you could go home and have a phone interview the next day. Guess what I did?

While the receptionist was very nice at that agency, I got paired up with a "flaked" recruiter. She did call (later than she was supposed) and was supposed to send me templates for a resume by emails. She claims my resume doesn't work. Maybe she is right. Actually, all June and July, nobody called me for a job interview. As of today, I am still waiting on these darn templates...

I may sound like bitching but temp agencies were such a heaven place in the mid-90's. Jobs were plentiful and actually, the recruiters were nice. What happened to these recruiters? Also, I never had problems to meet new friends in the waiting room. We were all there to get a job but people were so much nicer then. Monday, I tried to start a conversation with two women and got the stare of death. Chill out people! You are looking for a job and I am too! Your bad attitude won't get you anywhere ladies...

Finished Logo

Above is the final logo I have been working on during my week. I also worked to integrate the logo into business cards and eventually, a website. I am busy and I am still job hunting. 

I have heard from one guy (yes!) but he was concerned I live too far from San Francisco. Darn! Plus that company was in the mobile business, a direction I was seriously contemplating. Good luck followed by a bad spell.

Monday, I am heading to a Temporary Employment agency. More on that next week. We'll see if they are more efficient for me than Craigslist.

Cool website to post your art

Creation of a logo

Art Prodigy?

Paying to find employment: is it really worth it?

Blogging: New Art job requirement?

More Art Opportunities this weekend

An example of ID design

Welcome to my Art blog!

6 Steps To Fame