If Santa Claus is coming to town this year, he’s not coming to my office!

The Holiday season is on its way...which usually means that you can expect a myriad of Holiday parties in the office. I work at a University, so not only does my specific building usually do a Holiday party, but the President of the University has one, in addition to my specific program’s annual party. That’s 3 parties right there, in addition to other dept’s parties, which if you want, you can crash. Well, bad news came via email this morning. It went something like this.

“As a result of the current financial turmoil, the University is cancelling all Holiday Parties that involve University Funds.”

Buuuummer. Last year, I went to the President’s annual Holiday Luncheon which included foods such as Chicken Cordon Bleu, Filet Mignon and everything else that spells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Oh well, I’ll have to make my own this year and pretend that I got it for free, along with a half-day. Maybe they’ll still give us the half-day? I’m not trying to be a complainer; I understand the reasoning behind this. Not to mention, that while I can’t enjoy the phenomenal display of food fare, I realize there are many families who are struggling to figure out how they’ll be able to celebrate anything this year. This is definitely the year for people to give anything they can to the needy. Hope all those who will enjoy office parties this year, have a good time!

A dream office...

Photo courtesy of potterybarn.com


Pamela, from Pamela's Pink Pencil (http://pamelaspinkpencil.blogspot.com/) gave me the idea of writing about and displaying my dream office.

I want an office where I love to stay from 8 a.m. until late afternoons when the sun goes down. I would love to watch the sun go down through my big windows, beaming off my white office furniture. Ahhh..doesn't it sound so relaxing? I couldn't find a picture of exactly what I would dream of, but I found something fairly close. Don't blame me for liking Pottery Barn, it's good stuff! What do other dream offices look like?

Pacing yourself on the job hunt

Everyone approaches the job hunt differently. I tend to get really excited at the thought of a new and exciting career so my energy level is at its highest when I first start out. I spend hours doing Internet searches, writing cover letters and signing up for networking events all over. Pretty soon, I realize I don’t have time to take a shower. I thought I was having fun! Well, it is usually fun, but if I don’t pace myself, I get burnt out rather quickly.

Even when I’m not actively looking for a job, I try to spend as much time networking as I can. You never know who you could meet and where. It’s important to never close any doors, even when you’re not actively searching. I live in Boston and there are opportunities for networking events practically every night of the week. While it sounds fun and exciting, having to be “on” all the time can get very tiring. Realize that you can’t do it all and pick and choose which events will best suit your career pursuits and your personal schedule. Some events are free, while other can cost upwards of $100 or anywhere in between. Make sure you’re spending your money for the right reasons.

When actively on the quest for a new job, it’s important to create a strategic plan before you begin. Perhaps even a schedule of when you’ll spend a few hours applying, so you don’t get distracted. If you happen to come across an open position, but don’t have time to start applying, send the link to your email and deal with it later. It’s important to prioritize! An organized and conscientious candidate always comes across more appealing than one who is scattered and can’t remember which company to address the cover letter to.

Leave it up to the Obamas...

Above courtesy of Reuters.com, showing the puppy that Peru has so graciously offered to the Obamas...

Hi all roaring twenty something fans,

I know my blog is focused on careers, so my apologies for digressing to the election jargon for the last few posts. I will come back with better than ever info on all your career needs and desires!

For today, I thought I would just touch on something I think the media and society is spending to much time thinking about. Who cares what kind of dog the Obama's choose as the first dog? It shouldn't be up to anyone except for his family. The Obama family will have plenty of decisions to make in the next 4 years that need to involve the good citizens of the United States. So, please let them have one thing they can choose on their own! Let them choose a puppy they will love and remind them that they are also a happy American family, just like the rest of us.

P.S. The above picture is sickening. I think the girls will pass on this one...Thanks Peru.

A historic day for America...

As I sat in the comfort of my own home last evening, I was grateful to be a part of history in the making. I knew that staying up just a little bit later would be worth it, for it wouldn't have been the same to simply watch the re-play the next morning. I will always remember the evening when I watched the first African-American man become elected President of the United States. His victorious speech on America and the change to come was inspiring to all, red or blue. As Barack Obama has said himself, "We are not red states, we are not blue states, but the United States of America."

God Bless America!!!!

Free Starbucks today!!!

Image courtesy of Starbucks, inc.

Starbucks is giving out free cups of coffee today to anyone who voted. Awesome! But how do they know if you voted? I didn't get a sticker...did you?

We can’t always do it all

A huge piece of information I have learned about myself in the past few years, is that I really do want to do it all sometimes and I can’t. I want to work full time, be a part of every organization, take classes, and take on a part time job to supplement my income and resume…and have a life without going insane. Believe me, I’ve actually tried it. It doesn’t work.

Perhaps this is my twenty-something, vigorous mind talking, perhaps I don’t feel satisfied, and want to find my way into a new situation. Whatever the reason, it’s a blessing and a curse! Funny thing is I wasn’t always like this. I wasn’t overly involved in high school or college. It wasn’t until I entered the work force that I realized, I’m on my own and don’t have anything to fall back on except myself.

Right now I work full time; I am doing my best to network as much as I can, so I get my name out there and hopefully land my dream job sometime soon. Oh, I’m also taking a class. Did I mention that? I know, I’ve learned my lesson so I am trying to take it easy. I’m not super woman, but I want to feel like it.

Roaring Twenties Writer