Job Hunt 2k17: The Search is Over

 

The search is over, and it only involved 1 screw over temp position, 3 dream job interviews, 4 anxiety attacks, and 2 Netflix binges.

But today I'm starting a position as a Junior Media Content Coordinator at Global Eagle Entertainment. I'm so excited for this position and I'm glad I worked with a recruiter who specializes in placing creative marketing positions. She really worked with my strengths and passions. There was never a moment I felt unsupported.

This morning, my recruiter and her associate greeted me and my new manager with 2 dozen donuts at the office to make sure I was comfortable and here. 

What I love about this new position is the commute. Public transportation is my favorite means of getting around. I think it's the Chicago girl in me. But, there's so many pros to commuting. Free time to read or catch up on podcasts, getting a couple hundred to easy thousand steps in before your day even really starts, and getting to know the interesting people in your community.

Of course there's obvious cons to commuting; irregular dependability, weather exposure, technical difficulties, volatile persons....etc. but I don't mind taking those chances when I don't have to scream my head off in standstill traffic on the 5 and 55 freeways.

So far I love my work environment. It's entertainment based; the walls are plastered in posters of the newest releases, issues of The Hollywood Reporter are displayed for reading on the waiting area table, bathrooms are labeled "Actresses" and "Actors"...pretty much this place sings to my entertainment loving heart.

From what I know about my position at this moment, I'll be organizing television episode data and making sure the correct description data is with the correct episode. This also includes making sure all the correct language dubs and subtitles are associated as well. Sounds tedious and boring to some, but its exciting for me, nonetheless.

Now there was one other position at a different place that I interviewed for. It was more fit for my child development background as well as my public relations background. I was called in for 2 interviews and fell in love with the place and the president and HR person reciprocated the feelings right back. They wanted me very badly, but the position was going to be a discreet hire and the person who I would have been replacing was given 3 more months to improve their performance or be let go. This position would have been a dream, a step in the right direction for my career in child development/family studies based marketing. 

No matter what though, I'm so excited to be where I am. Both positions were meant for me and make me happy beyond means. I get to exercise my skills and meld them with my passions. How amazing is this? 

I'll keep you all updated as I go! 

What was your first job that you loved? 

Job Hunt 2k17: An Experience in Being Idea Fished

So yes, I'm still on the job hunt. Recently I've been working through an agency that specializes in placing marketing creative types. It's been okay so far, they're very supportive and kind. The wait has been very frustrating more than anything. Being unproductive is what's been killing me.

I've purposely removed the names of the people involved and the company at hand due to tentative pending legal action and advice from my recruiter. 

~~~

Last Monday, my recruiter told me about a position that was open near me for a beauty company that was seeking a Social Media Coordinator. I was stoked! The position started the day after and they reviewed my resume, references, and portfolio. Supposedly they were impressed.

I went in that Tuesday, showed up nearly 45 minutes early, wearing a professional dress with coiffed hair and subtle yet fresh makeup. With my backpack packed ready to start a new adventure in a field I had been dreaming of, my excitement was following me as I took the elevator up to the 17th floor of this beautiful building.

The recuriter who met me had a short meeting with the man and woman who had "hired" me. After the recuriter left I was escorted back to this small office with the man and woman. They set me up at this new desktop right next to a window which had the most beautiful view of inland Orange County. The woman interviewed me shortly asking about my experience and whatnot. She seemed impressed and asked me to draw up a social media plan only giving me the website address, instagram name, and facebook link on a post it note.

I opened up my laptop and desktop and began working on an organized and intensive social media review and plan for this company. Utilizing my Google Analytics tools and other social media measurement tools, I did the best I could with what I had and felt confident with the review and plan I had drawn up in Google Drive.

1 pm rolled around...that was the time I was scheduled to work too on my first day. The people who had "hired" me were at a meeting the whole day and even stopped by with the lead international director of this company. I mean, things had felt great up until this moment when I was about to leave and told the woman, who was the marketing director, that I would take more time and explain the whole plan to her the following day.

But, she asked me to explain it to her then. I figured she was so impressed after screening it and telling me "You really know what you're doing, huh?". It made my heart glow so I went into detail and explained the whole thing. She asked me to share it...with "contact@(insert company name).com" and within seconds of me sharing my plan, she informed me:

"We actually haven't hired you yet. We are going to have to review and talk with Reha and we'll let you know soon."

I was dumbfounded. Absolutely dumbfounded.

Right away, as soon as I stepped outside, I called my recruiter and even she was confused. She said that she was sure that this was a permanent hire position. All afternoon her and her colleagues attempted to reach these people. (Who, might I add, I saw leaving the building 10 minutes after I walked out, and they were carrying all their files and laptops and whatnot).

It took a day to hear that these people are now across the globe and will be for the better part of a month. They're around the globe with my social media plan, my hard work and resources. Sure, my agency paid me, but that's not the point.

The point was, I was idea fished. I was robbed and lied too. Now there's a big cosmetic accessory that is going to most likely benefit under my plan and idea and I'll have no credit to it. The heartbreak that happened here....it's just frustrating. This is what artists must feel like when they're ripped off and their images are taken. But I don't even know how to fight this? I can't prove visually that their productivity is my work. I'm just....I don't know.

I'm working with a client right now who wants to use another person known for stealing off of freelancers. I was going to go with the plan, because I was sure that this person would respect the entity they were answering too and I would be protected by this entity whom I had formed a bond with earlier, but now, I don't know. I have nightmares of people taking credit for my work and even though I have a small business umbrella, how do I protect myself and my work?

Anyway, I'll figure it all out. Have you ever been idea-fished? Not been given professional credit? Guised?

Let me know below. I'd like to know and see how we can all work through these learning experiences together!

My Job Hunt Adventure: 2017

Being laid off is never fun. Really, beyond the financial hit, it's quite demeaning to your mental health, emotional well-being, and it can even affect your physical health.

I've been told before by those in my life that I'm very tactful and efficient when it comes to landing interviews and attention from recruiters/hiring managers. Part of that stems from the innate survival instinct of fight or flight. My anxiety heightens my fight instinct and I begin to function in an almost over-efficient job-hunting strategist.

A Little Bit Overwhelming, A Little More Action

I've got The King on the brain because I'm going to Vegas for my day job next week. (nervous about that seeing as it's my first time in Vegas and it's for a trade show).

But in the last 24-48 hours my life has been crazy in the best way.

I set up a Facebook page for my web design business and I had an overwhelming response to it from my family and friends. I've been picking up traction on twitter but the best thing, I've gotten 3 new clients!

Honestly, the reason I set up the Facebook business page was for legitimacy and verification reasons regarding a major project I'm working on. The support meant a lot. I was going to be happy with my 2-3 projects I had in the works already and sit content with a smile on my face not expecting anyone to really contact me for site and brand consultation.

And here I am now creating two files for clients I have to create quotes for and strategize a beginning plan.

I'm overwhelmed in the best way.



As much as people told me I'm a "go-getter", I never thought I could be an entrepreneur. At least to the caliber this is at for me. Sure, I've done this in the past for a few people, but I have a legitimate business. An actual business. Wow. Truly overwhelmed and honestly just awestruck at all the support and feedback.

This is only the beginning.

Nevermore have I felt so blessed and determined.

Here's to a productive and successful 2017!!

How I Decided I Needed a Second Cell Phone

Even when it breaks, it's still dependable af

If you know me, or can get the gist just by my sidebar, how busy of a person I am, the answer to the question posed in the title seems like it should be an easy one. And yes, I guess that conclusion makes sense a bit. But let's start a while back...like high school (don't worry I'm going to jump ahead after a quick anecdote/memory).

In High School I took honors courses and AP Courses like it was nobody's  business. Between all those courses I also participated in various clubs and sports, including cheer team and Spanish Club. When I wasn't at school, I was volunteering my time and helping my mom out. Oh, and did I mention that I worked at Dairy Queen and AMC in the evenings?

Yeah, I've never really slowed down...at least by choice.

In high school, I was able to keep up with my crazy schedule thanks to my trusty Blackberry Curve. It was my best friend and, ideal for the multitasker, and in hindsight I'm thankful for the security encryption in the software. Due to an unfortunate small teensy download I made trying to get some teeny bopper ringtone, my Curve fell victim to a virus and couldn't be recovered by AT&T. I was handed my mom's old iPhone 3G. Forced into using something I really didn't want to, but ended up succumbing to the Apple craze.

Ever since then I've been an iPhone faithful. (in case you're wondering, 3G --> 4s --> 5s --> 6s Plus currently)

But over time, I've come to miss my Blackberry more and more. I've never stopped missing it. From the stories of Kim K hoarding them off Ebay to seeing the Blackberry World App Store logo pop up here and there, and then how BBM is now supported by iOS....it's been teasing me ever since.

I've toyed with getting one for a while, but as of recently, I justified it. I 'm working:

• Public Relations for a non-profit (1 email address, 2 social media accounts)
• Business Development for my day job (1 email address, 1 Number, continuous documents needing updates)
• Web Management Freelancing (1 email address, 3 Social Media accounts, Documents/Folders)
• Private Collab that's launching soon (1 email address, 2 social media accounts, Site docs)
• School (1 email address, documents/folders)

So I'd say it's pretty safe to say I need to be in touch with these accounts at all times. But why a separate phone?

Same Kim, Same.

Well, the storage on my iPhone pretty much doesn't exist and between all those social media accounts and emails and contacts and documents, I couldn't turn on my phone without it telling me there was no storage. Also, I like my iPhone to be my personal area where I run my own social media and my own emails and games and photos and whatnot. To look at my phone and see work stuff, it stresses me out.

Also, as much as touch-screen is the present and foreseeable future, I miss my keypad and scroll pad and buttons, I miss buttons! I miss having an organized planner and mini computer in my pocket that acts as a second desktop when I need it. Accidental swipes and gestures just get in the way. It's beyond frustrating. 

So I've decided to make my phone....my phone again. I'll still text and Snapchat and Instagram from my iPhone. I'll call my mom and friends and general personal inquiries I have, but I'm taking the stress out of my phone and growing up and moving on....it's not cheating, it's an open relationship!

Business on the Curve party on the 6s Plus!

P.S. if anyone wants to hate on Kim K for any reason, please direct your negativity away from here. If you want to spend your energy openly hating another human being because you dislike what they stand for even though those stances literally do not impact your life directly, then go right ahead, but do it away from this blog. Thank you very much!