Your discussion on makeup and hair and image was such fun. I enjoyed every response and found them interesting, helpful, or hilarious. (Special thanks to Georg with the spackling tool quip.) You are very brave to ask such a question here - considering the many perspectives you were facing. I hope we were encouraging, kind and informative. We certainly are opinionated. What a time we had. And we did it without party food. Where's the refreshments committe when we need them? Hat's off to you and the New You. We wish you the very best. Polly
Tricia, I second Polly's comments. And after thinking about the whole discussion, I'm headed next week to a local solon where they have makeup specialists. I went totally silver-haired by the time I was 40. But I started covering it when I was 32 and didn't take the nice red color off until three years ago. Wow, what a shock. Now I have silver hair to go with my fair complexion. Hmmmmm, maybe I need a bit of color.
And next discussion, I volunteer to bring the artichoke heart dip. :)
Y'all're gonna make me cry -- THANK YOU all for the help. If I haven't responded directly to anyone it's not because I didn't want to but because I am so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of responses -- please, to those who posted publicly and the lurkers (and regulars) who mailed me privately, accept this heartfelt note of appreciation -- Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I still have some to go but I am getting there. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I do feel better (hormones have settled, but it is more than that) and am busy putting together an application and letter of interest to the LQS where I went for fabric therapy while killing time before my make up lesson the other day -- they had a sign seeking part time help. I was down and probably made a lousy first impression while asking for an application so I've waited a few days before going back in with it completed -- hoping the new me won't be connected with the pitiful me of a few days ago *snicker* Actually, I'll probably go in either tonight or tomorrow, depending on transportation -- Eeek! and a hair cut first, so probaby tomorrow if I go to get the hair cut tonight.
I would apply for the latest receptionist posting at the college (got my official no thank you letter on the other one a day or so ago) but I'm almost positive from the wording on the post that there is an "internal" candidate already in mind. The wording is just different enough (and more specific) from the other postings that it doesn't "feel" open to me, if that makes any sense. So I'm focusing on the LQS
-- I mean which would any of you rather do: work as a receptionist or work in a fabric store with other crafters?
The tips, the support, the encouragement, the story sharing that I wasn't alone, the advice -- it all helped. I'm having a hard time with some of it though (my nails esp. the thought of cutting growth.....oh well, guess I'll have to do it at some point *sniffle*) but it is slowly seeking in. Putting together work clothes will be the next item on the agenda as I have outgrown much of what I had purchased and worn before. (anyone wanna volunteer to be on the Dress Tricia committee? I'll start a private yahoogroup rather than clutter up RCTQ and I promise to be utterly honest in the pictures that are posted -- by the way, my before and afters are going to be removed in the next few days
-- I'm not leaving them up long term)
How to put this? I've been so isolated up here (13 months for those who asked how long) and have been in great need of a bunch of girlfriends to do this type of thing with (IRL or virtual). I have been more lonely here than I had realized. Thank you for all becoming the wiser sisters and cousins and friends I don't have here.
I did my make up on my own Wednesday and did a good job I guess (I even used -- ack! --hair spray to keep my hair back instead of a ponytail or headband). I gave myself the "day off" yesterday and stayed in the house and tried to fight off my allergies (I haven't quite been able to tell if the make up is aggravating them or not). When I finally quit working on the computer this afternoon, I'll shower, make up, etc. Either tonight or tomorrow night our neighbors are planning on inviting us to supper at their place -- since my hair needs cutting tonight, I'm hoping they'll ask us for tomorrow, but I guess an early morning cut tomorrow is just as effective as a late evening one tonight.
About the LQS job -- even though an application is all that is requested, I'm doing a letter of interest and have considered submitting samples of my work -- mostly because I have never taken a formal class in my life on quilting, piecing, crocheting, cross stitching, etc. It has all been learned casually from friends (IRL and virtual) or from books and how-to videos. The application gave me no room to explain those things so I thought a letter would be good. I have indicated that I feel comfortable enough teaching a basic course/workshop in counted cross stitch and/or paper piecing, besides doing sales so hopefully that will be in my benefit. I don't knit (well, I can cast on and after much fumbling go back and forth with stitches I'm not even sure if they are knits or perls) and I know that is a *big* thing all over the country these days but I believe most of the current staff does knit. The gal I chatted with while she cut my fabric earlier this week is a knitter and doesn't quilt, so I would be a balance for her IMNSHO.
I haven't a clue what to wear though -- the only "blazer" I have isn't one that will go with my other interview outfit (it's got a navy background but large olive green/tan flowers all over it). It's still too warm for the fancy dress up top I used to wear for doing IEPs and holding conferences with parents. It's one of those tops that looks as though it has a dress jacket over a top but in reality is all one piece (oh, and to the person who mentioned my sloping/rounded shoulders -- it has shoulder pads). It is heavy though and I tend to sweat in it. The lighter version of it is too restricting across the back to be working at a cutting table. Dang catch 22 -- need $ to go shopping for work clothes, which I need in order to get a job, need a job to get $$, ack! One of DH's classes at the college didn't go so since he gets paid by the credit hour taught we are down even more $ than we had planned on being.
Anyway, I guess I rambled on, sorry about that.
Thank you again for all the help -- it is appreciated, more than you can ever know!
are there any temp agencies where you live? in uni i did lots of temping. it's not bad money & you can work the weeks you want. plus, if the company likes you it can end up in a full time job.
"Tricia" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Tricia, I can tell you a thing or two about how temp agencies work; I used to work FOR one, now I work THROUGH them.
***Caveat: While I do work for a temp agency, I'm not trying to drum up business for them, so I'm not ever going to mention the name of the agency I work for. It's a small-town one, anyway, but I don't want anyone thinking I'm crossing the line of etiquette in discussing this.
Basically, the way ours works is like this: You schedule an appointment to come in and complete a lot of paperwork. At that same appointment, we would test you over some computer programs you know (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Quickbooks, whatever) as well as standard typing/10 key speed and accuracy tests. Once those were all finished, we'd sit you down for a short interview to find out about the sorts of positions you're interested in. Don't be discouraged if they don't offer you a position right then and there; your information usually needs to be entered into the computer system before a placement can be made. That really should only take a day or two, though.
Once a position is found that you would fit your background and skills, one of the personnel coordinators will give you a call and ask if you'd like the position. We had three different terms of employment:
Permanent: A company has called the temp agency looking for a particular person to fill a position they have open. If you accept this position, you are no longer an employee of the temp agency; the new company has hired you on permanently, with all benefits and pay as a regular employee would have.
Temp-to-hire: A company wishes to hire someone on permanently, but they want a "trial" period. During that trial period (ours was for
520 work hours, I believe), should either you or the company decide it's not working out, the assignment "ends", and you are not considered to have been "fired" or to have "quit". For those initial 520 hours, you are not given any benefits through the company, although you may receive some through the temp agency (ours did not offer any). This is increasingly becoming a favorite way for companies to find people, as it allows for an amicable parting of ways should there be a problem. Often you can still claim unemployment insurance if a job ends this way, too.
Temporary: A company needs someone for a short-term basis for a certain project. The bulk of our business came from positions like these. They may be part time or full time, and the pay rate can fluctuate wildly, depending on the job description.
You are free to accept or decline any position offered to you, but keep in mind that some positions, if declined, may affect unemployment insurance claim eligibility. A good coordinator will give you all information up-front: length and term (temp/perm) of assignment, pay rate, dress code, exact job description, hours worked per day, whom you contact upon arrival at the job site, directions to the job site, etc. You should never feel pressured into accepting every position they find for you (I turned down a factory position because I knew I wouldn't be able to physically do the job). It's much better to turn down a position at the initial phone call rather than decide that you don't want to do it and not show up at all. That's a sure-fire way to get yourself blacklisted by the agency.
Register for more than one agency; if one has a dry spell and can't find you work, another one may be booming with business. Also, short-term positions shouldn't necessarily be snubbed, either. I know of one young lady that our agency has kept working full-time for a solid eight months now. They just keep offering her new positions after the last ones end.
Dress for this registration interview the same way as you would dress for an interview for the type of job you're looking for. In other words, if you want an executive secretary position, dress in a business suit. A receptionist? Go with business casual. Jeans and a t-shirt (with or without "bling") will probably get your application placed on a backburner, unless you type 80 words a minute or ten key around
14,000.
If you've got any questions I may not have answered, feel free to ask!
Anastasia
--whose ISP has decided to not let her view newsgroups through Outlook Express anymore, so she has to use google groups. Pooh.
I used temp. agencies way back when, and DD has more recent experience. She is a music PhD with Marketing qualifications, so does not find suitable permanent jobs 'off the peg', so when she has moved with her husband's job she has done temporary jobs as a Personal Assistant. Her computer skills are good, and her typing speeds are far better than mine ever were, and I was a secretary (must be all the piano playing she has done since the age of 8 - flexible fingers!) She's never found any difficulty in finding a placement, and says the different environments are fun. Last time she was a cashier in a bank, she has worked in the fundraising dept of Cancer Research, and for the Blind Inst.
If your LQS jobs doesn't happen (which would be a pity), give 'temping' a try. Sometimes a permanent job can come out of it, too.
-- Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)
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Tricia, I can tell you a thing or two about how temp agencies work; I
I temped for over 10 years - it was far too much fun to stop temping for a permanent job!
what agencies look for : someone eager to work (proven by turning up at their office *several* times a week asking if they have work for you - and do this only in the am - the bummers/people with too much night life only wake after noon so one wants to be in there before then)
someone who isn't too fussy about work - when I was younger I took any job coming my way even if it was with half an hours notice (they remembered this and in emergencies asked me *first* ) as a result I can make computer cables from scratch, dissect a photocopier and do export papers for containers full of what have you. I learnt how a company works from inside and out and know how to get stuff done even when I don't know the computer programme all that well.
they want to know what you are doing - if you take a 3 day temp job tell them - before you start *and* tell them when the job is done - this keeps them up to date *and* you stay in their mind - the people who they know best often get thought of first for a job.
if you have a temp job and know it is coming to an end tell the agencies - then they can start looking for the next job before you are out of work
my dd temps and loves it she has a more flexible schedule, working when she wants to. she gets better hourly wage than if she were in a full time position and most of them last from a month to two months time. usually covering someone maternity leave or when folks go on long holidays. works for her very nicely and she is making contacts in so many different fields this way. who knows what she might find while temping. good luck, jeanne
I have worked for different temp agencies in the past, and loved most of the jobs they sent me on. When I first started, I was a "food demonstrator" at a newly opened warehouse club....fun for the most part, but a tad on the boring side. If you got there early enough, you got to pick what you were going to "demonstrate" out of the entire packet....we worked in shifts, so the afternoon shift usually got the nasty stuff.
Then, when I met DH, after a series of mass-mailings of resume's and interviews that never led anywhere, I started at a company based temp agency. It was one of the big ones..Kelly temps, I think, and the office I was working out of was based inside a company that had a high turnover rate for the job of entering coded data - healthcare forms, authroizing psychiatric counseling, etc. WOrked there for a few months, then asked that I be allowed to end the assignment as I somehow was given the responsibility of training the new temps and was not compensated for that, or giving appropriate training to be their "teacher". I also had a problem with the ones who came in and got LOUDLY annoyed at doing such "brainless" work when they had a college degree....um, hello? I *have* a college degree, and I was doing the job, so why couldn't they.
Anyway, the next job was for AT&T....2 weeks of doing nothing but answering the phones and relieving the security guard so she could take her lunch break (was also working part time at night for JoAnn fabrics). Neither of those lasted very long.
Final job, and this was one that I truly loved, was for MARC Train Service. I was the secretary for all but the director, was responsible for the mail delivery, processing the invoices, keeping the databases updated, etc. The people were wonderful and there was enough variety that I was *never* bored! They kept extending my term with them, but couldn't offer me a permanent position until they moved into their new building, which was fine with me. My direct supervisor said she felt that I was pretty indispensible since I also knew how to fix their copier (it was by Xerox, and I grew up going on service calls with my father when he was a Xerox technician), brought in homemade baked goods, and updated the older databases so that there were no incomplete or even empty files!!
That was a blast...sadly, we moved to Panama, and that ended the job. I have, however, kept in contact with my former supervisor....we became pretty good friends after working together for abour 6 months.
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