Tips from a Resume Reader

You all know the easy ones, like spelling properly and proof-reading before you print a dozen copies on that expensive paper. Let's get beyond that.

1. Include a -brief- description of your responsibilities at each job. We want to see evidence you actually use those skills you've listed.

2. Give a one-liner on the company. Please don't assume the whole wold knows what Acme Corporation does. You may give a great description of your experience as a Quality Analyst for Acme, but neglect to say what they make. That means I have to call you and "bother" you, trying to find out the details. Guess what, Bob, it annoys me, too.

3. How about a phone number that hasn't been disconnected and an email that works?

4. While we're at it, let's be professional. "LegalizeIt@biteme.net" isn't a good first move.

5. Take an extra minute to check out the format of you resume, once posted online. Be sure it's not a giant block of text. FYI: we don't read those. And there's at least one engineer out there wondering why no one has called with a job. Is that how sloppy All your work is?

...to be continued...

Long weekends

This weekend has felt crazy long. Weird. Especially as I was actually doing things. Normally that shortens the weekend, but not this time. The review:

Work - Mike, Chadd and Chadd2/Tim (or the ever-entertaining "Frick and Frack") all were in NYC for a boys only pj party. Isn't that the cutest ever? Then BossMan leaves on Wed, PReal on Thurs midday, the Greek split before lunch on Friday, with Jason just after. Made for a D-Liciously quiet week. Mmmmm :)

Home - Got the new room painted. It's a light yellow that strongly resembles the color of butter. I think it's a great color that really opens the room, brightens things. I'm working on a cloudy ceiling, and got the border done. Someone threw away the last rollerbrush, though, so the rest will have to wait until I go shop. Upstairs got Spazz to clean (CLEAN!!!), and we are getting a new pal on the 1st.

Weekend - Went to the island on Friday, mellow night in with the 'rents and without Spazz. Saturday was cool, around the house, some simple stuff. Came back to RO to see the end of the cleaning (!!!) and do the painting. Went out that night with Upstairs and Hugo. A tour of RO -O'Toules (mediocre [sp?] and full of yuppies), 5th Ave (in and out too quick to get a drink), Goodnight Gracies (decided it was the perfect place for a great date, just need to work on getting said great date; the bartender is heavy handed, and the music was pretty good), Memphis Smoke (has potential), and finally to Gusoline Alley (for those in the know, it's a sibling of Remy's).

Today I got over my anxiety to get into Caribou (do I honestly look like I'm in my 30's???) to get the NYTimes crossword. Got some good coffee and another page to this letter I'm working for my Luvr. Went to Borders with 2 books in mind and couldn't find either. Not a helper in the store, not a computer helper thing, not any assistance. Left empty handed, unlikely to return.

Alright, whatever. I'm done.

FYI

In case you have contact with anyone from AL, MS, or LA who may be interested in the following, please do share.

Throughout the month of September, Planned Parenthood Northern Michigan will provide free contraceptive care to women and men from Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, displaced by Hurricane Katrina. "We recognize that many people have been through a terrible ordeal. We are able to help in this unique way by offering free contraceptive services to displaced people who are not able to access these services through their regular provider," says PPNM CEO/Executive Director Jill Warren. Women, men, and their families in central and northern Michigan should call 1-800-230-PLAN, visit www.plannedparenthood.org/ppnm, or call one of the following numbers for information about the closest Health Center location. Marquette - (906) 225-5070 Petoskey - (231) 347-9692 Traverse City - (231) 929-1844 Mt. Pleasant - (989) 773-5602

Sorry, folks

Hey, y'all. Sorry for that word verification business on the comment section. It may pose a slight annoyance, but, it beats having all these idiots post adverts on my blog. And who wants to read that shit? Exactly.

YAHOO

MEDICAL: Complete. Peace Corps has completed your medical review. There are no medical holds on your account at this time.

Raise

I think I got a raise today...

The North Side

It may be too early for a life update, but, I wanna get it down while it's still knocking around my nogg.

I'm in R.O. now, officially. It's a 5-bedroom place, decent sized, with only 3 of us here so far. All chicks. A dude is supposed to show up this weekend. I met him when he was touring and he seems nice; a resemblance to my pal Petie.

1 is a nice gal. Normal. Resemblance to Brenda, from 6' Under. In more ways than one, I learned recently. 2 is... odd. Loud, crude, ... but I think I just need to get used to it. Perhaps. We shall see, shan't we?

Been in the basement. Normal sized room, no ceiling so I tacked up my old "tapestry". Bathroom is good sized and clean, quite nice if you can deal with the chilly ring every time you whiz. This weekend I'll be starting a move up to the main floor. Warmer, with a real bed, not an air bed. Will share the bathroom with 2 and Boy.

Work has been better than expected. We have a new software program to deal with, so that's been pretty good for filling days. I had a tough time with all 9 hours yesterday, but not so much today. We have a new guy there, too, so its all just been full of excitement. (can you FEEL it?)

I bike to work now, as Im a short 2 miles away. Sadly, I can already feel it in my legs. Not bad, but enough to say, 'hey fatty, about time you made us work'. Those jerks.

So, today, I'm on my way home, cruising down this divided street, riding along the median. I see a black squirrel (tons of em here) chomping a nut, so I say 'hi' and encourage him to stay on the grass. What does he do? Well, run right out in front of me and my tire, of course!! I damn near ran over a squirrel with my bike!! Damn near killed myself, too. How moronic do you have to be to DELIBERATELY run in front of traffic?

So the big dilemma: What's for dinner?

Moving Day

Today, I will be officially moving. I'm heading on up to the North side, where everything is a bit more shiny and costs twice as much. It's a house, owned by a 26 yr old (who happens to own ANOTHER house, as well), managed by his 24 yr old ex girlfriend, costing my just under $400/month. I got a bit of a cut for paying 3 months up front.

The best part of the place? It's a mile from work, give or take a titch. I'm gonna find a bike (most likely mum's old yellow granny with the extra-wide, wooly seat) so I can cruise in to the office every morning. Considering I'm in D-town, winter shouldn't be too hard; cold but not necessarily snowy. Meaning, the bike riding could carry me well into the winter months.

I've met 2 of the residents: the manager, who is there when not at her current bf's place, and the new fellow who is moving into the best room -the upstairs loft, which runs for 150 more than any other room. (YOW) If only I had that kind of money...... There is a fellow leaving by Oct 1, at which point we will clean and repaint his room for me to shift into, a gal who is there until further notice, and... oh. That's it.

It should all be most interesting. Rest assured, I will keep you posted.

p.s. My blood cells have all increased to "normal" levels. Plenty of reds, hemoglobin, hematocrit, all those iron-relevant words. The report was faxed to Peace Corps yesterday evening. Stay tuned.