Comments for Whatever It Takes http://whateverittakesonline.net To find a job, to pay the bills Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:56:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Not your grandparents’ middle age by Kathy Gibbons http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/11/24/not-your-grandparents-middle-age/#comment-39 Kathy Gibbons Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:56:19 +0000 http://whateverittakesonline.net/?p=95#comment-39 I'm no expert, obviously, but reading what you write, feel like if there is any way you can make it happen, you should go for it. Is there any way you can send out resumes for jobs in areas that are where you want to go? Do you have anyone in any of those areas you might stay with or network with? To me, it's not over until it's over, and if you have been dreaming of that all of your life, and you can make it happen, there is no time like the present. Are there any jobs available in your field there? What could you start training for now that you could find a job in, if not? Wish you luck, and please keep us posted on how it turns out! I’m no expert, obviously, but reading what you write, feel like if there is any way you can make it happen, you should go for it. Is there any way you can send out resumes for jobs in areas that are where you want to go? Do you have anyone in any of those areas you might stay with or network with? To me, it’s not over until it’s over, and if you have been dreaming of that all of your life, and you can make it happen, there is no time like the present. Are there any jobs available in your field there? What could you start training for now that you could find a job in, if not? Wish you luck, and please keep us posted on how it turns out!

]]> Comment on Not your grandparents’ middle age by Linda Kingston http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/11/24/not-your-grandparents-middle-age/#comment-38 Linda Kingston Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:49:06 +0000 http://whateverittakesonline.net/?p=95#comment-38 I liked your comments. Starting over is a scary situation. Here I am, starting over at almost 60 and I'm chomping at the bit. Going through a divorce is never easy but I just want it to be over with! I have a decent enough job, it's just not something that I love to do. It pays the bills and has decent benefits but it's hard to see it as something I'd spend the rest of my life doing. My sister tells me I might as well do what I really want to do while I have the chance so I don't have to look back and regret not giving it a shot. What is that? A lifelong dream of living in the mountains that began with our father. Every summer we had vacations, and always in the mountains somewhere out west. Part of my heart is still in the Rockies. He had the chance but my mother could never be persuaded to make the move. He passed away never fulfilling his dream. I don't have a college education to help my job-hunting go somewhat smoother. Where do I begin? Should I start online classes and still move? Take some classes at our local community college that might facilitate my job hunting? OR JUST DO IT???? I have all kinds of things going around in my head. I have set next summer as the deadline. Am I being unrealistic? Times are tough, I know, and I worry about being in a new place, away from my support system, and becoming destitute or lost in a snowdrift somewhere in the aspens. (a quiet lol). I would like to hear thoughts about this plan. Am i crazy? I liked your comments. Starting over is a scary situation. Here I am, starting over at almost 60 and I’m chomping at the bit. Going through a divorce is never easy but I just want it to be over with! I have a decent enough job, it’s just not something that I love to do. It pays the bills and has decent benefits but it’s hard to see it as something I’d spend the rest of my life doing. My sister tells me I might as well do what I really want to do while I have the chance so I don’t have to look back and regret not giving it a shot. What is that? A lifelong dream of living in the mountains that began with our father. Every summer we had vacations, and always in the mountains somewhere out west. Part of my heart is still in the Rockies. He had the chance but my mother could never be persuaded to make the move. He passed away never fulfilling his dream. I don’t have a college education to help my job-hunting go somewhat smoother. Where do I begin? Should I start online classes and still move? Take some classes at our local community college that might facilitate my job hunting? OR JUST DO IT???? I have all kinds of things going around in my head. I have set next summer as the deadline. Am I being unrealistic? Times are tough, I know, and I worry about being in a new place, away from my support system, and becoming destitute or lost in a snowdrift somewhere in the aspens. (a quiet lol). I would like to hear thoughts about this plan. Am i crazy?

]]> Comment on Starting over beats the alternative by Kathy Gibbons http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/09/19/starting-over-beats-the-alternative/#comment-36 Kathy Gibbons Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:39:31 +0000 http://whateverittakesonline.net/?p=91#comment-36 Don, I wish you luck in the business. I read somewhere not long ago that this could be a very good time to start a business, because once the economy comes back, you're positioned to hit the ground running. Good luck! Don, I wish you luck in the business. I read somewhere not long ago that this could be a very good time to start a business, because once the economy comes back, you’re positioned to hit the ground running. Good luck!

]]> Comment on Starting over beats the alternative by don http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/09/19/starting-over-beats-the-alternative/#comment-35 don Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:54:24 +0000 http://whateverittakesonline.net/?p=91#comment-35 Starting over is right. After almost a year of going to places hat in hand and begging for a job, only to be ignored at best and treated with utter contempt at worst, I am starting over. My wife and I bought a business and hope to make it grow. Naturally, the business world is nasty and much more vile than I suspected but, perhaps being treated that way by prospective employers for almost 11 months has made me more determined. Operating on a two eyelet shoestring budget we will make this work, and we are not above not taking prisoners to make it so. Don MacIntyre Starting over is right.
After almost a year of going to places hat in hand and begging for a job, only to be ignored at best and treated with utter contempt at worst, I am starting over.
My wife and I bought a business and hope to make it grow.
Naturally, the business world is nasty and much more vile than I suspected but, perhaps being treated that way by prospective employers for almost 11 months has made me more determined.
Operating on a two eyelet shoestring budget we will make this work, and we are not above not taking prisoners to make it so.

Don MacIntyre

]]> Comment on WHATEVER IT TAKES by Kathy Gibbons http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/04/25/hello-world/#comment-31 Kathy Gibbons Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:57:28 +0000 #comment-31 Alex, Good to hear from you. I have been away from the site the past few weeks with a bunch of other things going on. Please keep me posted on your progress. My hope had been to have this grow into a give and take and mutual support-type of resource, and I plan to continue to write posts and build it as time goes on. Best wishes! Kathy Alex, Good to hear from you. I have been away from the site the past few weeks with a bunch of other things going on. Please keep me posted on your progress. My hope had been to have this grow into a give and take and mutual support-type of resource, and I plan to continue to write posts and build it as time goes on. Best wishes! Kathy

]]> Comment on WHATEVER IT TAKES by Alex Z. http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/04/25/hello-world/#comment-30 Alex Z. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:27:48 +0000 #comment-30 Hi Kathy, I just stumbled upon your blog trying to find sites and stories of people who do "Whatever it Takes" to find a job. I just moved from Michigan (Saginaw area) to Phoenix, AZ and am now trying to find any survival job just to pay the bills. I look forward to watching your blog and look forward to future posts! Alex Hi Kathy,

I just stumbled upon your blog trying to find sites and stories of people who do “Whatever it Takes” to find a job. I just moved from Michigan (Saginaw area) to Phoenix, AZ and am now trying to find any survival job just to pay the bills.

I look forward to watching your blog and look forward to future posts!

Alex

]]> Comment on WHATEVER IT TAKES by Don http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/04/25/hello-world/#comment-20 Don Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:55:29 +0000 #comment-20 The people at Michigan Works are nice. I wonder if they are hiring? Most likely not, sure seem to be a lot of folks that work there. The people at Michigan Works are nice.
I wonder if they are hiring?
Most likely not, sure seem to be a lot of folks that work there.

]]> Comment on WHATEVER IT TAKES by Kathy Gibbons http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/04/25/hello-world/#comment-19 Kathy Gibbons Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:23:49 +0000 #comment-19 Don, I just had something like that happen too. Same thing, notified the job had been filled. Then I saw the posting again, so applied again, only this time tracked down a manager and contacted him directly as well. He wrote me back and told me the job had just been filled. Sometimes I think the sites like indeed.com pick up old postings and recycle them, though I could have sworn this one had a July 9 deadline to apply. C'est la vie. All we can do is keep trying. Have you been to Michigan Works!? There are resources there and they are very helpful, and can review your resume and offer advice. Good luck! Don, I just had something like that happen too. Same thing, notified the job had been filled. Then I saw the posting again, so applied again, only this time tracked down a manager and contacted him directly as well. He wrote me back and told me the job had just been filled. Sometimes I think the sites like indeed.com pick up old postings and recycle them, though I could have sworn this one had a July 9 deadline to apply. C’est la vie. All we can do is keep trying.

Have you been to Michigan Works!? There are resources there and they are very helpful, and can review your resume and offer advice. Good luck!

]]> Comment on WHATEVER IT TAKES by Don http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/04/25/hello-world/#comment-17 Don Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:26:09 +0000 #comment-17 The hard part seems to be getting a real person to see you. Even if they ask applications be dropped off the chances of the person accepting them being the HR person is rare. Even so I am not dim enough to go in shorts and flip flops! Dress as I would for the job, be polite and ask some questions, be told they will be in contact. . .wait, return visit, wait return and be told they are going in a different direction,whatever that means. As for hiring mistakes, I have just applied for a job posting I applied for three months ago, wonder what happened? The person didn't work out or position never filled? The hard part seems to be getting a real person to see you.
Even if they ask applications be dropped off the chances of the person accepting them being the HR person is rare.
Even so I am not dim enough to go in shorts and flip flops! Dress as I would for the job, be polite and ask some questions, be told they will be in contact. . .wait, return visit, wait return and be told they are going in a different direction,whatever that means.
As for hiring mistakes, I have just applied for a job posting I applied for three months ago, wonder what happened? The person didn’t work out or position never filled?

]]> Comment on WHATEVER IT TAKES by Kathy Gibbons http://whateverittakesonline.net/2009/04/25/hello-world/#comment-15 Kathy Gibbons Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:56:14 +0000 #comment-15 Rutie's comments are helpful. It sounds like for one thing, even though it takes more time, mass mailings and form letters do not work. I know that when I have been in the position of hiring people, cover letters with Dear (fill in the blank) and standard paragraphs as opposed to letters that spoke to specifics about the job and company didn't get as much attention. Some came with no cover letter at all, which I thought was bad but then you get in some of these online application situations and they don't give you an opportunity to include one. Is there anything to do to get around that? I have actually in a few cases separately emailed cover letters to the company HR address. And then there are misspellings -- very bad and to be avoided at all costs. Thanks, Rutie, for the suggestions. Rutie’s comments are helpful. It sounds like for one thing, even though it takes more time, mass mailings and form letters do not work. I know that when I have been in the position of hiring people, cover letters with Dear (fill in the blank) and standard paragraphs as opposed to letters that spoke to specifics about the job and company didn’t get as much attention. Some came with no cover letter at all, which I thought was bad but then you get in some of these online application situations and they don’t give you an opportunity to include one. Is there anything to do to get around that? I have actually in a few cases separately emailed cover letters to the company HR address. And then there are misspellings — very bad and to be avoided at all costs. Thanks, Rutie, for the suggestions.

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