Legit.

Today I was at the gym working up a sweat on the Arc Trainer and letting my mind wander a little, as per usual.  I was thinking about the cover letter my mom had helped me with earlier in the afternoon.  She said I did a good job selling myself for this particular job.  In an attempt to set myself apart from the Orange County residents or those completing a bachelor's or master's degree, (those parties are given preference) I talked about my superior knowledge in the arena of corporate sales and sponsorships. 
I thought about some of the other jobs I've applied for recently.  Then I thought about myself and my qualifications.  I was thinking about it really rationally, then all of a sudden I had the overwhelming realization that I was LEGIT.  I am a legitimate candidate for a lot of the things I apply for. 
Here is one example to prove my legitimacy: I have a degree.  It was never a question that I would get one or not; it was just expected or assumed.  So I got one. Now, clearly my degree is not a free ticket for a job.  However, I probably shouldn't dismiss it so easily.  I mean, it is one qualification everyone requires for the jobs that I'm applying for.  And it's one that I fulfill 100% of the time.
I obviously go through phases of doubt and confidence, and yes they usually are that extreme.  But I am constantly working on staying more towards the confident end of things.  I'm doing a lot better.  And I'm actually believing the things I tell myself, i.e. I am legit.

Support

So I debated a lot about what I would write about this time.  I thought about writing about my views on professional vs. collegiate athletics or professionalism, but I decided it would be good for me to talk about support.  I know how very easily forget (if I even knew it in the first place at all) what a good position I am in.
I think I am getting all the right things I need right now to make this a successful job search.  Most obviously, I have my parents who are letting me invade their house once again while I send out my resumes everywhere.  I realize that this probably isn't the easiest adjustment because I take up a lot of space in an engergetic sense.  I'm a lot louder than my dog is used to, it's too easy to pick on my mom and her "wardrobe", and I don't think my dad is used to my overall harsh tone and wit.  But for me, it really is a good place for me to be.  I'm not fed any of the fearful messages about how bad the economy is, or how everyone is having a rough time finding a job right now.  It's irrelevant because of their unconditional faith in me and my talents.  My dog just wants me to get out so he can nap in peace.  And who wouldn't want to be around people like that while they are looking for a job?
My support also comes in less obvious ways.  I got an extra late graduation card from an aunt today that made me feel a little better.  My grandma (who I can't say I ever see eye to eye with) made me fried rice, threw a blanket over me when I was taking a nap, and was genuinely glad I got to stop by.  I have friends who call and text me who sincerely believe in my ambition.  (My only friends at home though are my parents...)  One of my professors will send me an occasional job posting specifically for me, which is really helpful and considerate.  I even had a recruiter tell me not to worry; I have a good resume and I should just be patient.
I think that I've been hearing what I need to hear, and talking to who I need to talk to.  It's important for me now to shower myself with positivity so that I don't get sucked into what fear and disappointment I may have.  I could have so easily been in an environment where I'm surrounded by toxic people.  It's really more the norm, so I consider myself lucky to be where I am now.  So I appreciate the support that I've gotten, and I just though that should be out in the blogosphere.

Cover Letters

So today was pretty slow on the job front.  The Slavic Receptionist (I'm paraphrasing) position at Stanford didn't sound too appealing.  I worked a little on my LinkedIn account, so that's really pretty much all the excitement one person can handle in a day.  What I would like to talk about today is cover letters.  I don't like them.
The cover letter seems to be another hoop to jump through on the path towards salvation (i.e. a job).  To me, if I were the person going through all the applicants, I wouldn't want to read your BS cover letter.  If I want to hear you sell yourself, I will call you for an interview.  If I want something extra, I would probably ask you what your hobbies/interests are or something.
So I've done about 84302 cover letters. (+/- 1 SD) It's the only thing about applications that slows me down.  I will just find myself staring off into space instead of making my cover letter relevant to the job I'm applying for.  Since it seems to be the social norm to do the cover letter in order to get the job, I will continue to do them.  But someone should really think about it and ask themselves: Do I really want this letter?  If it were me, I would say no.  But what do I know?  I'm unemployed... =)

L.A. Tour

This weekend I went down to L.A. with my family for a wedding.  We, of course, saw a lot of relatives there and the next day went around to visit even more.  Some of the relatives I haven't seen since I was 14 or 15, and it's disheartening to tell them that I'm back living at home looking for a job.  I also tell them that I graduated and did an internship with UFC, but to me, I'm giving them the impression for the next 7-10 years (or whenever we see each other next) that I'll be job searching.  I know this is being dramatic, but "Oh well I'm back at home now looking for a job," was not update I wanted to give for this decade.  It's not like I was ok with giving my relatives I see much more frequently that same update, so really it just kills me to say it at all. 
What really angered me, though, was a comment one of my relatives gave me in regards to my UFC/Las Vegas summer.  It went something like this: Well so being in Las Vegas must have just been a really exciting little part of your life, huh?
Now I've noticed a lot of comments people make about my job search, etc. I become overly sensitive and defensive about, and this is probably one of them.  However, here's what made me bristle.  It sounded to me as though my UFC gig was just a fun little blip in what would ordinarily be a much more normal life.  It was like it was an accident.  No, sir. It was a very exciting and fun summer that I had in Las Vegas, but I plan to turn this into the norm, not the exception in my life.  I absolutely refuse to believe, or let anyone else believe, that I maxed out on this experience.  That, for lack of a better term (there are actually better terms but I don't want to use them), is bull shit. 
I plan on having nothing but exciting and enriching experiences.  I can pull it off.  It's a good color on me.  I thrive on it.  I think I need to feel a little more excited about where I'm at right now.  My mom keeps telling me I should look at my stay at home as a stepping stone towards my dream job.  In which case, I'm actually moving forward, instead of backwards like I keep thinking. 
Perhaps I should quote the United States Olympic Committee here: Amazing Awaits.

Friday Night!!

This was my Friday night: going out to dinner at BJ's with my parents.
Let me start by saying I love my parents dearly and am extremely grateful for what they do.  Nothing will ever change that and I truly believe myself to be lucky to have them as parents.  I've always said I would be dead in a ditch without them.  That being said, I felt like I was having dinner with geriatrics.
To start, we have to rush over there as soon as my dad gets home at 5 because my mother is starving and can't function.  She's been hungry since 3; it's not pretty.  They have a coupon.  I have to yell everything so that they can hear.  They're talking about what they've had when they've been before and what they like and don't like. 
It's really nothing that offensive; they didn't take they're dentures out and put them in the same glass or bring their own drinks like the couple sitting at the table behind us.  It's really just more of my balking at living with my parents.  It also didn't help that a friend asked me what my plans were for tonight...well after we had gotten home from dinner.
I would rather be at Wined up Fridays at Green Valley Ranch in the desert where it's adequately warm. (I've had to wear a sweatshirt in the morning and at night...it's not my fault I got acclimated to 115 degrees)  Or at South Point for Midnight Bowling; pretty much anything else would do other than dealing drugs.  But that was my Friday night, just thought you'd like to know.  All the more motivation (not that I needed it) to get out of the house! =)
Have a nice long weekend!

What Accomplishment are You Most Proud of and Why?

This was a question I was asked on an application today.  It's interesting/very college essay-y.  It was a good break from the searching to stop, and reflect on the question.  It's funny that an application itself forced me to do it.  What I wrote about was being able to stay and graduate from school in four years.  I could have been a miserable bitch (which maybe I was a few times in the Winter...) for four years.  To quote myself: I don't find it charming or quaint to be able to shop next to the Amish at WalMart.
What I did was get everything I could have out of my experience at Lock Haven University.  My worst grade was a B in Shonah Hunter's Principles of Biology class when I was a freshman.  If I wasn't learning how to be a great volleyball player, I was learning how to be a great volleyball coach and a leader.  I had friends and connections that could help me out if I needed.  I got really nice references from my professors.  In my belief, I did everything I could to make the experience as worthwhile as it could possibly be. 
What I am most grateful for from that experience is the person it turned me into.  I got confident and tough as nails, attributes that are helping me get through this job process now.  I became steadfast in the person I believe myself to be.  I believe myself to be confident, competent, and charismatic.  And I was able to do that in Lock Haven, PA.  That makes me tough as nails.  I dealt with snow, sadness, and stupid.  Let me take a moment to explain:
Snow: there was snow; it was cold
Sadness: I was sad a lot of the time (lonely, confused, far from home)
Stupid: I ran into a lot of stupid people...en masse they are infuriating...but also individually
My move home has rattled me a little, and I need to go back to what I worked so hard to achieve in Lock Haven.  I am very slowly getting my ironclad and resolute confidence and positive attitude back.  I have a steady foundation, so I know I haven't totally lost it, but I know I'm not the same.  I will be, probably next week, but until then I'll keep reminding myself of what I'm proud of.

Parker

Parker is my dog.  He's an 11 year old black lab.  He's a spoiled brat.  I took him for a walk this morning and noticed that more often than not, when he pees, he doesn't wait until he's finished to start walking away.  Patience is something that I know I need to work on, but I took comfort in knowing that at least I can finish peeing before I feel my impatience take over and walk away and step in my own shit.
Also, for those of you who are employed, Happy Friday!!