Observations in the Job Search

I have found some things that I find interesting in doing an online job search and application process. Many of the larger nonprofit and for profit organizations are utilizing some great technology to filter the job candidates for their positions. Brassring and Taleo are some Web-based programs that automatically search a candidates uploaded resume and auto-populate a company's online job application to make the process more uniform for the employer and easier for the candidate. They are sophisticated enough to be pretty accurate even with different resume formats.

Some of the web-based applications seem to go a bit too far in their pre-screening process. I had an hour-long application yesterday that involved a 65 question multiple choice test and 8 different screens to manually populate with my professional and educational experience. When I was submitting 16 different jobs, that can really take some time. Another Web-based application had 12 different screens (that is fine) that continued to ask some of the same questions over and over. They were simple ones such as my birth date but to have to type this information repeatedly when I had other things I could be doing and knowing that I could have designed a simple fix for this in their database was a bit frustrating. This same application asked my success rate in applications to interviews. I have never been asked that question before and wondered what was the purpose for this employer. If I get an interview, maybe I will ask.

These annoyances though are not nearly so difficult to bear in comparison to feeling unproductive because I am not part of the professional workforce. That is why I have applied to a number of organizations to start volunteering at least until I find a full time, permanent, paying position.

All in all, the application process and job search has not been too difficult but the waiting is definitely a soul-killer. Hopefully I will find something soon to help with this problem.

Human Resources Job Search

I have been unemployed for about a month and half now. I had this great job as a Business Manager at a St. Paul charter school. My role was to ensure proper human resources practices and state reporting of different school programs. With the state of Minnesota holding back 27% of the federal monies for the school (along with some other financial difficulties) I was laid off. This isn't a big deal except that I have been laid off from three of the last four jobs that I have had for budgetary reasons. That is really difficult for the fragile male ego of mine as well as for relationships, resume building, and financial stability.

What I would really like is to find a position where I can challenge myself and use my skills as human resources manager. I really shine when I am able to put my technical and customer service acumen to work. These are called KSAs or Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes in human resources-speak. I am extremely proficient at the technical and IT side of human resources, making certain that the company I work for has the best benefits plan and has proper human resources risk aversion policies in place. Add to that my genuine appreciation of the staff I work with and understanding that I need to make their lives as easy and stress-free as possible so they can make the company profitable and that explains my understanding of my role in any job.

So why has it been so difficult for me to find and keep a job? I will leave the latter part of that question for another time. However, upon initial reflection, I think that I need to seek out professionals in my field to help with my job search. I have this deep-seeded initial hesitation at cold-calling or contacting human resources professionals because I feel like I am interrupting their life or something. If I would get over that, perhaps this job networking thing would be more successful.

I guess I had better go get my telemarketer mindset on and get to calling.

Religion as I see it (Part 1)

You will find that I am not particularly articulate when it comes to expressing my viewpoints on most contentious issues. Religion, politics, abortion, justice, all of these things are important issues that I think about quite a bit but there seems to be no clear way that I can produce my thoughts externally (see the discombobulation is starting already). So I am going to try from time to time to articulate my viewpoints on this blog and hopefully this will make it all clearer.

Religion: we all are opinionated about which religion is the best or the correct or the truth. I really think that all religions are valid but that they are just trying to explain the same ends. When I say religion, I include the Western secular philosophies and science in general. All of these religions are trying to explain the "Unknown" to help take some of the uncertainty and fear out of not knowing what happened or will happen. 

So when I hear/see people arguing that their religion is more correct or true and that others are not valid, it annoys me. Take the current socio-religious conflict between Islam, Judism, and Christianity. From my limited understanding of each religion, they are trying to get to the same place largely through the same philosophical framework. Do good now and believe in your creator and you will make it to a heaven or some place wonderful after you die. Does it really matter if one religion believes that Jesus existed as the son of an omnipotent god or if he was simply one of the prophets? Does it even matter if you don't believe in Jesus? Maybe there is one god and that god will be waiting for you with spiritual wealth after you die. The core of each of these three religions is that you are to believe in a single maker and that you must do good deeds and live a spiritually and physically healthy life to have value in your existence. 

For most religions, it seems that the theme of living a healthy life is at the core. Science says that you should eat your vegetables and not things that will make you sick. Christianity and Judaism preach that though shall honor thy father and mother and thou shalt not kill. Islam says that you should avoid pork and shellfish (traditionally unhealthy to eat), and that you should not kill. What is wrong with any of these ideas? Are these religions worth fighting and killing over? Definitely not. Are they worth arguing over and discussing? Most healthfully, yes.

Passions

What is this all about? I plan to use this blog format to discuss my passions in life and how they affect me and others.

• Recreational: 
• running 
• climbing
• biking
• swimming
• triathlon
• snowshoeing
• cross country skiing
• camping
• backpacking
• Professional:
• human resources
• education
• environmental protection
• Social:
• family
• friends
• my puppy
• human rights
• Others:
• general ranting

I am not really certain where this will all lead but this journey has just begun so there is no way to know accurately anyway.