12.03.2009

I don`t understand why the goverment is soooo hesitant and reluctant to help out! We traveled to Kristiansand last Wednesday to meet with the nurses and my dads boss, and everyone was very impressed with what me& my brother had planned. I could tell they were afraid we would stick him in an old peoples home just to get him closer, but then they realized we had found a place that specializes in younger people with alzheimers/dementia and I could tell they really relaxed after that. We had a long talk about how he`s doing at work (not at all) and in everyday life (not so much) and all agreed that the nurses would contact the apropriate office to start the move. I was so releifed!

Two days later my phone rang..it was the nurse in charge of my dad. She told me the goverment in Kristiansand would not help us apply for this home because they do not want to cover the cost. So now I will get all the paperwork sent to me, and then I have to apply on behalf of my Dad…

I just don`t get it! They already spend money on taking care of him down there. Why on earth won`t they help us??? It seems insane to mee that I, a woman of 29, is left with the responsability to fight my way through the wilderness that is the Norvegian bureaucracy. I have no training and really no precondition to deal with this and it really scares me. What if he looses this place in that home because of me – if it takes  me too long? I know for a fact he won`t have a job to go back to after christmas, they just fear for his safety there too much lately. And then what? he`ll just hang around all day by himself without anything to treally do?? No…I will not let that happen!

I wish I had someone to discuss this with..someone who`d been through it and knew what to do and who to call!

[Via http://theforgetting.wordpress.com]

Quit org movement!

A few months back there was a major employment crisis as all major IT companies sacked its valuable and invaluable employees with the same eye!

But the scenario now has changed or what?!?! I am really not sure what is actually happening. But off late i have been witnessing people aka employees simply throwing away their jobs just because they have had enough from the company and their superiors. This may sound revolutionary for some and just a normal “attrition” that happens now and then for some. But for me… I am experiencing all these for the first time!

I have formally quit (but didn’t serve the whole 3 month notice period) from a reputed concern, working there for almost 2 years… I simply quitted because I felt my BIG personal problem is more important than my job! I did not even bother about the experience certificate or the notice period. But now when I am really holding a grudge against myself for doing that, with insecurities creeping inside my head like poison ivy… I am witnessing this!

So is it right or wrong to run away from a company? I feel people have to understand. Let it be the employees or the employer. They must get in to a discussion, discuss the issues clearly and have to grant the resignation if they are true from all the corners! Well…. I dunno id some organizations follow this. But as far as I know most of them doesn’t!

[Via http://theraincrab.wordpress.com]

i'm such a blessed kid lol!

- Mila lent me her book ‘Captivating’. i’m gonna read it after this. and i really thank God for her (:

- Feng Hui gave me an apple this morning lol. she told me it was from Washington HAHAHA. value-added-ness!

- i had a good time spent this afternoon. well, New Moon. amazingly, i didn’t get irritated by Jacob this second time of watching. but i’m wondering about Bella. to me, it seems that she needs protectiveness from guys too much. HAHAHA, if you get what i mean!  

- even though we failed the uniqlo adventure (lol, the queue was crazily long and the shop was super crowded), i got a java chip frap from bucks for free lol. thank God the queue there wasn’t long.

- my rent for this month is only $330! instead of $500! the contract clearly states that tenants have to pay the full rent which is $500 despite not staying for a full month. i’m gonna move out (supposedly lol) on 21st, and i thought i needed to pay the whole amount. but God is so gracious! the landlord only took $330 x). i’m still so amazed at God’s goodness! i won’t spend the rest but save up xD.

- a job offer from Pete’s cousin’s company (:

however, until now, i haven’t got a seat on the 21st Dec flight since i had been kicked out from the booking list without me knowing LOL! potentially homeless. but God will make a way!

i can’t stop praising and thanking Him for what He’s done to me.

now, Daniel [can't believe i dozed off last night ><"] and Captivating! (:

An Damaris <3 Jesus

don’t worry, i’m gonna be away very soon.

[Via http://teruteruchan.wordpress.com]

From The Wall Street Journal - Financial trader moves to waiter

A Finance Executive Walks Away to Work His Way Up From Waiter By Dawn Falik

“Scott Gould went from trader to waiter—by choice.

Growing up in Florida, Mr. Gould enjoyed working in restaurants as a waiter and bartender. But he also liked working with numbers, and after graduating from the University of Florida, he went into finance. He got a job in New York as a fixed-income trader in 2000, and later raised money to invest in new markets and help develop avenues for investments.

He learned to do research and listen to customers. Every client wanted something a little different. One might want something aggressive; another, lower risks.

Life-Altering Moment

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Mr. Gould was working in his office near the World Trade Center. He evacuated after the first plane hit. As he walked down 36 flights of stairs, he saw the second plane fly into the tower.

It made him re-evaluate his career. “I had to think, ‘Do I love what I’m doing?’ and I couldn’t answer yes,” he says. “It’s not like I hated going to work, but we spend so much time working and it wasn’t exciting and I wasn’t running to the office on Monday morning.”

He kept thinking back to how he had liked working in restaurants. As a trader, he had taken clients regularly to Del Frisco’s, a steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan. On a whim, he called a manager he knew. He asked for a job.

Behind the Bar

There was an opening—as a server. He handed in his notice the next day, took two weeks off and started at Del Frisco’s in August 2002″.

Read the exciting conclusion to the article here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204488304574426964224711496.html

[Via http://teleburst.wordpress.com]

What NOT To Do During Your Job Search

It’s been awhile folks! I’ve been off the radar for awhile, enjoying my family and friends during this great holiday season. But I’m back and ready to blog in full force!

I find it ironic, however, that I’m talking about things NOT to do during a job search when I just did one of the things I shouldn’t have. As you read you will see what I’m referring to, but I’m pretty ashamed of myself right now. I’ll slap my own hand later.

Here’s the thing; some of us think job searching is going to be easy. And for some, it may just be. But those people have worked for 20+ years and have a resume that makes hiring managers do unmentionable things to get their hands on. Most of us don’t have that advantage going for us, so we have to get a little creative and strategic to get our jobs. And because of this fact, we run the risk of falling into a scary trap; we could totally screw up any chances of finding the job of our dreams by one little mistake. That’s where this article comes in. So, without further ado, here’s what NOT to do…I didn’t mean to make that rhyme.

What NOT To Do During Your Job Search

1. Don’t call…and call…and call some more. There is NOTHING worse than a candidate who is so persistent they become a pest. Recruiters and hiring managers have a lot on their plate. Recruiters have anywhere from 10-40 (sometimes more) jobs that they’re trying to fill, and hiring managers still have to do THEIR job plus find the perfect candidate to fill another position. They aren’t ignoring you because they don’t like you; it’s because they may not have even SEEN your resume yet. In my own opinion, if you haven’t heard back from anyone in a week, send an email to the hiring manager. Express your interest, attach your resume, and also make it known that you understand they are incredibly busy, but you look forward to hearing from them if you are qualified for the position. If you still haven’t heard back in 3 weeks, lick your wounds and move on. You may hear back eventually, but chances are they don’t find you qualified or they have someone in mind already. Some companies have a courtesy letter they send, explaining that you aren’t a fit for the position, but if you don’t hear from anyone, just assume you won’t.
2. Don’t send the same resume to every company. I know what you’re thinking; you don’t have TIME to change your resume for every job opportunity you come across. Well, then I guess you don’t have time to really care about getting a job then, do you? Hate to break it to you, but due to the high volume of resumes coming in every day, recruiters and hiring managers are scanning your resume quickly to see if you meet their “must have” qualifications. In other words, your resume BETTER include what they’re asking for. My best advice would be to take note of what they are requiring for the position, and if you meet those qualifications, go back to your resume and HIGHLIGHT them! Include them in a “Skills” section at the top of the page; if they ask for five (5) years of experience, and you have that or more, mention it right away. List your skills in the order that they did; they WILL take notice. You can’t expect to send out a weak resume to everyone and get strong results.
3. Don’t apply to just any old job. When you do this, you’re saying that you don’t really care what job you get. Most of us already have an idea in our head of what we want in our career, and there’s nothing wrong with going after that. I’m not suggesting you be extremely picky, but have an idea of what area of work you’re interested in. For example, when I was job searching I knew I was looking for something in HR.  I applied to positions that were considered in the human resources department, but didn’t necessarily have it in the title. That’s how I came across the “recruiter” job position. Also, applying to numerous jobs at the same company can hurt your chances, too. Some companies have applicant tracking systems, and can see every job you’ve ever submitted a resume to in their company. If you’re applying for jobs that range from cooking to being an IT person, you’re not showing your credibility. If you’re going to apply for just any type of job, make sure you’re doing it at different companies.
4. Don’t keep your job hunting a secret from family and friends. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called a candidate about their resume when people, other than the candidate, answer the phone and are downright rude to me…until they find out I’m calling about a job opportunity for their loved one. It’s not really the best way to make a first impression, is it? Make sure the people in your life know you’re searching for a job. Not only should they be aware they may be called for a reference at some point, but they might hear about a position somewhere else and tell you about it.
5. Don’t think that Social Media is a joke. Social media is probably your BEST bet while you’re job searching. Who can afford to get into these networking functions when they’re unemployed? Well, you can use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for FREE and get the same chance to network. Get onto LinkedIn, find someone who is doing what you want to do, and contact them. There’s no one in this world who is going to tell you to buzz off when you tell them they’re doing what your dream job is, and you’d appreciate any advice they could give. Who doesn’t want to hear that their job rocks and they’re lucky to have it? Networking could possibly lead you to other professionals, webinars and classes to expand your knowledge, and even a future position! Take advantage, people!
6. Don’t look for opportunities every few days. You have to stay focused, and focused means searching every day. This is where I slap my own hand, because if I would have been job searching the past week, I would have done a really bad job at it. I’ve been M.I.A the past week, and you can’t do that when you’re looking for new opportunities. Because there’s ALWAYS someone else, lurking in the shadows, waiting to snatch that position from you when you’re not looking. Make sure you’re keeping track of what positions you’ve applied for so you don’t apply for the same one twice. Also keep track of what job boards you’ve been searching on. Be careful with ones such as SimplyHired or Indeed. Those pull jobs off of CareerBuilder, Monster, and other major job boards, so you could be applying to the same job and not even know it.
7. DON’T GIVE UP! Job hunting can be a nightmare. You sit at a computer for hours and submit your resume to any job you’re qualified for, only to be rejected, day after day, week after week. It’s exhausting! But you can’t give up. SOMETHING will come along. I searched for a long time until I finally received a call back about a position. The job for you WILL come along; you just have to be focused. Know what you want, do everything you can to get to where you need to be, and apply with these tips in the back of your mind. You WILL find a job!

[Via http://lindseyelias.wordpress.com]

Sister Logical !

There were two nuns…
>
> One of them was known as Sister Mathematical (SM),
>
> and the other one was known as Sister Logical (SL).
>
> It is getting dark and they are still far away from the convent.
>
> SM: Have you noticed that a man has been following us for the past
> thirty-eight and a half minutes? I wonder what he wants.
>
> SL: It’s logical. He wants to rape us.
>
> SM: Oh, no! At this rate he will reach us in 15 minutes at the most!
> What can we do?
>
> SL: The only logical thing to do of course is to walk faster.
>
> SM: It’s not working.
>
> SL: Of course it’s not working. The man did the only logical thing. He

> started to walk faster, too.
>
> SM : So, what shall we do? At this rate he will reach us in one
minute.
>
> SL: The only logical thing we can do is split. You go that way and
> I’ll go this way. He cannot follow us both.
>
> So the man decided to follow Sister Logical.
>
>
> Sister Mathematical arrives at the convent and is worried about what
> has happened to Sister Logical.
>
> Then Sister Logical arrives.
>
> SM: Sister Logical! Thank God you are here!
> Tell me what happened!
>
> SL : The only logical thing happened.
> The man couldn’t follow us both, so he followed me
>
> SM : Yes, yes! But what happened then?
>
> SL: The only logical thing happened. I started to run as fast as I
> could and he started to run as fast as he could.
>
> SM : And?
>
> SL : The only logical thing happened. He reached me.
>
> SM : Oh, dear! What did you do?
>
> SL : The only logical thing to do.
> I lifted my dress up.
>
> SM : Oh, Sister! What did the man do?
>
> SL: The only logical thing to do.
> He pulled down his pants.
>
>
> SM: Oh, no! What happened then?
>
>SL : Isn’t it logical, Sister?
> A nun with her dress up can run faster than man with his pants down.

[Via http://tasneemrocks.wordpress.com]

Focus

Personalities have always been interesting to me. Myers-Briggs and similar profiles are fascinating. I’m pretty sure my mother passed this interest along to me. Some of those assessment tools are more accurate and helpful than others, but they fascinate me nonetheless. One particular aspect of personality I’ve been thinking about lately relates to focus and activity . . .

Some people are created to focus. They can spend countless hours working on, studying, and driving toward a specific goal.

Other people are ADD. I personally think the term “ADD” is sickeningly overused, but for this discussion, we all understand the terminology enough to move on . . . ADD folks can’t stick to a single idea or task for any length of time without taking a break, being distracted by a noise, or whatever rabbit that can be chased.

Over the years, I personally have found that my ability to focus on a task is directly related to the amount of stuff I have to do. For some people, being busy means ADD to the extreme, where you flitter from task to task and never really get anything done.

This is not the way I roll. If I have a lot on my plate, I can focus and knock out task after task . . . especially as deadlines loom. The more I have to do, the more I focus and get things done.  In college, I took 19 and 20 quarter-hours a few times, and got the best grades those quarters, with the exception of the 4.0 my last quarter . . .

This year has been hard. I have a ton of little things to do, but very few “real” deadlines. I have had a real hard time focusing. Right now, I need to buckle down and get my brain wrapped back around the Architecture Registration Examination information so I can retake the last section on December 9.  I’m having a hard time picking up a book to read, let alone study.

Sometime in the next few days I will probably be starting a job selling wireless phones. It’s not going to make us rich. Probably won’t even keep us from dipping into savings. But it will be productive and get us off unemployment. I’ve been asking myself how I am going to get anything else done if I have to work 40+ hours a week in retail during the Holiday season . . . but to be honest, it will probably be great for me. I’m probably going to get a lot more done. Right now, I feel lazy, and probably am. I’m looking forward to genuine, productive activity, not matter how strange or menial.

How about you? How does workload relate to your ability to focus?

[Via http://apk4jc.wordpress.com]