A Different Approach to Job Searching

Although the national unemployment rate has declined somewhat over the past few weeks, it is still pretty high. This means that there are thousands of people across the country still looking for work.
Because the job market has gotten so competitive, some people are taking a new approach to their job search. This has included targeting entire downtown blocks of office buildings, and going from building to building dropping off a resume. This is something job seekers used to do years ago before the invention of the internet. After the internet was launched, many companies started requiring that all applicants apply for jobs online. This not only made the job search more impersonal, but it also made applicants wonder if there resume was going into a black hole. This is why some applicants have started dropping off their resumes to the company receptionist, because it makes them feel more confident that it will reach the right person. In addition, doing this also gives them an opportunity to see what the company looks like.

The unstable job market has also made some people get bolder in their job search. Instead of waiting for an open position to be posted on the internet, some job seekers are going into companies and requesting to see someone from human resources. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. In the instances it does work, the applicant is able to learn additional information about the company and most importantly deliver their resume to a human being. This strategy may not always help the applicant get a job offer, but it does provide more personal contact with a recruiter. In other words, the recruiter can now put a “face“ with the resume.

Another new approach some are taking in order to get a job, is writing a “certified” letter to the president of the company. In the letter they state why they are qualified for the job, and how much the company would benefit from their skills and experience. Included with the certified letter and resume is a full page of personal and professional references. This approach might seem a little too bold or pushy for some, but it has actually helped many job seekers get an interview or a job. In some instances the job offer or interview invitation actually came directly from the company president.

All the above proves that taking a non-traditional approach to job searching is the best way to get a job or interview, or at least get your foot in the front door. All the above also proves that the job market recovery still has a long way to go.

Addicted to Sweets

Many people have a sweets addiction, but most won’t admit it. They won’t admit it because they don’t want anyone to know that they are addicted to foods that are not good for them. Some of these people are slim and look very healthy, so you would never know to look at them that they have a sweets addiction.

There are many people who are addicted to desserts like brownies, chocolate chip cookies and strawberry shortcake. Some of these people work in office buildings that have numerous bakery and candy shops located in the food court. They visit these shops frequently and buy themselves things like candy bars and cookies, which they hope will help them make it through the day. For some, making it through the day means eating a chocolate fudge brownie for breakfast or a slice of cheesecake during their mid-afternoon break. Those who usually do this typically work in very stressful jobs. Instead of doing something healthy to relieve their stress like exercising or drinking water, they eat something sweet like chocolate. It is something about that rich chocolaty taste that makes them feel good.

Unfortunately this good feeling does not last very long. About thirty minutes after they eat the chocolate, they start feeling tired and sluggish. After this happens they eat more sweet treats to make them feel better. Even though these people eat sweet treats several times a day, most will not admit (or don’t realize) that they have a sweets addiction problem.

Because most office buildings today have some sort of bakery or cookie shop located in the lobby area, it is very easy for the people who work in these buildings to become addicted to sweets. This is because the first thing they usually smell when they enter the building early in the morning is the smell of cookies and brownies baking in an oven.

Then you have people who are addicted to Cinnabon’s and are not ashamed to admit it. Some have tried really hard to resist that sweet smell of cinnamon, but they eventually just gave in. For those who don’t know what a Cinnabon is, it is a large cinnamon sweet roll that is highly addictive and filled with a lot of calories and sugar. Cinnabon shops are mostly located in high foot traffic areas, which include office buildings, retail malls and airports. Some people have actually admitted that as soon as they get off a plane, they head straight over to the nearest Cinnabon shop. Deep down inside they know that those hot sweet rolls are bad for them, but they simply can't resist.

Eating sweets from time to time (including cookies and Cinnabons) will not negatively affect your overall health, however you can potentially develop serious health problems if you become addicted to them.  

Prepping for an Audition

There are millions of “up and coming” actors out there today, and the ones that get the best TV and movie parts are the ones who are fully prepared for their auditions.

Getting involved in the entertainment industry can be exciting, but it also requires a lot of hard work and flexibility. It takes a lot of hard work to remember the lines, and a lot of flexibility because many auditions are usually last minute.

If you are preparing for an audition for a TV role, try and get as much information about the TV show as you can. This will help you gain a better understanding of what the show’s main concept is about. This information will also help you know how your character should act. If it is an existing TV show, try to watch a couple of episodes before your audition date. By doing this you will see how the characters on the show interact with other, which is very important.

If you are replacing another actor on the show who is very popular with viewers, watch closely and carefully how this actor played that role. It is not necessary for you to “duplicate” everything they did, but you just want to see what viewers liked about their characteristics and personality. This is what actor Dick Sargent did when he replaced actor Dick York on the Bewitched TV show. Sargent did not try to fully imitate York, but he did try to mimic some of his characteristics. This same scenario happed recently on HGTV’s “Property Virgins” television show.

For many years the “Property Virgins” show was hosted by real estate agent Sandra Rinomato, who had become a viewer favorite. About two years ago HGTV hired a new host to take Rinomato‘s place. The new host was real estate agent Egypt Sherrod. Before taking over the show, Sherrod familiarized herself with Rinomato‘s style and personality. Although Sherrod brought her own style and image to the show, she did incorporate some of Rinomato’s characteristics.

If you are auditioning for a movie, try and see if you can get a copy of the script. In some cases only a written profile of the character will be given to those scheduled to audition. Which is why it is important to get a copy of the script if possible. This will give you a good idea of how your character should be played, and also what other characters are involved.

Since many auditions are last minute, it is a good idea to keep yourself in “audition mode”. You do this by taking auditioning classes and honing your acting skills on a consistent basis.

Doing your research thoroughly and following these tips, will help improve your chances of getting the role and having a successful audition.