Attention, please. We interrupt this job-search blog to bring you our experience at last night's Taylor Swift concert.
Ever since Taylor's blonde curls bounced onto the music scene, my husband has been an unabashed fan. So in celebration of his recent birthday, our daughter gifted him with a pair of tickets to the pop star's concert last night at Cowboys Stadium. One ticket for him, and one for me.
Saturday afternoon, our inner 13-year-olds set out for Jerry's shiny, big gridiron palace. Fortunately the rest of us, which is 13 several times over, knows how to drive. We left in plenty of time, our anxiety buttons pushed a bit by media reports of predicted heavy traffic near Arlington's two mega-stadiums, where Taylor would be singing at the same time that the Texas Rangers played Detroit.
We were so early that the nightmare traffic had yet to materialize, and slid easily into Lot 12, waving our $35 parking pass. And because stadium food is pretty much a no-can-do for me and my gluten-free diet, we packed a cooler with a modest spread for our own Taylorgate party.
We watched the parade of fans as we munched. Have there ever been so many girls and young women in short, flirty skirts and cowboy boots? It's the Taylor fashion look, and most of the citizens of TaylorNation got the memo on what to wear.
Once inside Cowboys Stadium, we joined a line at one of the many souvenir stands. None of the Taylor Swift concert T-shirts had a design appealing to the mid-life male fan, so my husband passed on the shirts but opted for a "Speak Now" worldwide tour 2012 calendar ($10) and a souvenir program ($20).
Our seats on the top level must have been in section "V", for Vertigo. Once we found them, my husband plopped his center of gravity into the seat and announced that he wouldn't be moving again. That anchored center of gravity proved useful when he extended a hand to help a couple of slender, coltish fans who vaulted up over a couple of rows of seats to ascend to their perch in the seats beside us.
Demographically speaking, there are more slender, coltish female fans at a Taylor Swift concert than you'd ever see at a Cowboys game, or anywhere else. The menfolk, except for a smattering of husbands, boyfriends and granddads, must have been across the street at the Rangers game.
We did the wave along with everybody else while waiting for Taylor's opening acts, and finally, the big show. Taylor's fans went nuts when she appeared in her gold flapper-style dress, singing "Sparks Fly," and the singer looked genuinely wonderstruck at the size and scope of Cowboys Stadium filled with screaming, glowstick-waving fans.
From our seats in the aerie, the figures on stage were tiny, even when I used my opera glasses. But I'm sold on the Jumbotron, which brings every detail of a performer's face into high-definition focus. It is difficult, however, to keep track of the action on stage, where Taylor's band and dancers are putting on a great show, and keep an eye on the Jumbotron at the same time. So when Taylor comes to town for her next tour, we'll spring for pricier seats with a better view of the stage.
Meanwhile, the video of "Sparks Fly," which you can view at http://www.taylorswift.com/videos does a great job of capturing the essence of the "Speak Now" world tour experience in just a few minutes.
After the show, we spiraled our way down a long ramp to the ground floor, and through the massive wall of glass we saw that the promised traffic jam had indeed materialized, along with some welcome rain. We arrived home just before 2:00 a.m.
Returning for a moment to the original premise of this blog -- job searching -- there is news to report! I have a job offer, and when the details are all signed, sealed and delivered, I'll blog about it in an upcoming post.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Poker face isn't just a Lady Gaga song
It was week 11 of my Career Solutions Workshop, and on the agenda was a hot topic for job seekers: negotiating.
Negotiating has always put me out of my comfort zone, and I suspect I'm not alone. So I welcomed a frank discussion of how to navigate this somewhat slippery landscape. In this post, I'll share a few tips from veteran executive recruiter Maureen Walkinshaw, a Career Solutions board member and presenter.
When you receive a job offer, take a pause. Slip on that poker face. Yes, hide your excitement when you get that offer. Wait, look thoughtful and ponder.
The pause can pay off, says Walkinshaw. If an employer really wants a candidate, they may just throw in a few more goodies during that silence to sweeten the deal. It's especially true if the employer sought you out, or if the hiring company is a small business that is not entrenched with big-corporation hiring policies.
Think about what kind of leverage you may have going in, and know your value in the marketplace. Do your research on salary beforehand with a website such as Salary.com, so you can evaluate the offer realistically.
Many items are up for negotiation in addition to salary. If the starting salary is less than desired, you may be able to secure an early review, making it possible to get your raise after three to six months instead of a year. Telecommuting, flex time, extra time off...all may be on the table. If you can stay on your spouse's insurance instead of taking insurance from the new company, you might be able to turn that into a signing bonus.
Go from least to most important, asking for the item that is most significant to you last, and it's smart to include a throwaway item or two that you don't mind losing.
Asking for an expanded job description with more responsibility might pave the way for a higher salary, too.
Be sure to express appreciation for the offer, and it's OK to ask for a day or two to weigh this important decision. (Be careful not to offend the employer with a flippant "I need to think it over.")
In this state, it's unusual to get an offer in writing. To make sure you have correctly understood what was offered, it's a good idea to send an email restating your understanding of the offer, to make sure that you and the employer are both on the same page.
In this short space, I can't distill the essence of a three-hour class, which included other topics as well. You've got a chance to take the entire 12-week workshop, which will begin a new rotation starting with Session One on Monday, Oct. 10. Details at www.careeersolutionsworkshop.com.
Negotiating has always put me out of my comfort zone, and I suspect I'm not alone. So I welcomed a frank discussion of how to navigate this somewhat slippery landscape. In this post, I'll share a few tips from veteran executive recruiter Maureen Walkinshaw, a Career Solutions board member and presenter.
When you receive a job offer, take a pause. Slip on that poker face. Yes, hide your excitement when you get that offer. Wait, look thoughtful and ponder.
The pause can pay off, says Walkinshaw. If an employer really wants a candidate, they may just throw in a few more goodies during that silence to sweeten the deal. It's especially true if the employer sought you out, or if the hiring company is a small business that is not entrenched with big-corporation hiring policies.
Think about what kind of leverage you may have going in, and know your value in the marketplace. Do your research on salary beforehand with a website such as Salary.com, so you can evaluate the offer realistically.
Many items are up for negotiation in addition to salary. If the starting salary is less than desired, you may be able to secure an early review, making it possible to get your raise after three to six months instead of a year. Telecommuting, flex time, extra time off...all may be on the table. If you can stay on your spouse's insurance instead of taking insurance from the new company, you might be able to turn that into a signing bonus.
Go from least to most important, asking for the item that is most significant to you last, and it's smart to include a throwaway item or two that you don't mind losing.
Asking for an expanded job description with more responsibility might pave the way for a higher salary, too.
Be sure to express appreciation for the offer, and it's OK to ask for a day or two to weigh this important decision. (Be careful not to offend the employer with a flippant "I need to think it over.")
In this state, it's unusual to get an offer in writing. To make sure you have correctly understood what was offered, it's a good idea to send an email restating your understanding of the offer, to make sure that you and the employer are both on the same page.
In this short space, I can't distill the essence of a three-hour class, which included other topics as well. You've got a chance to take the entire 12-week workshop, which will begin a new rotation starting with Session One on Monday, Oct. 10. Details at www.careeersolutionsworkshop.com.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Entrepreneurship After 40: It Worked for Vera Bradley
For some people, the path to a new career is entrepreneurship.
It worked for two 40-something women named Barbara and Patricia, who started sewing quilted handbags for friends and family in the basement, and ended up as the creators of Vera Bradley, famous maker of all those cute and colorful totes and accessories. (Be prepared to see the word "cute" a lot in this post. It's part of the company culture.)
Monica Edwards, the company's vice president of marketing and communications, told their story to advertising industry professionals at the 2011 Central Region Conference of AAF Friday at Fort Worth's downtown Hilton. I attended with hopes of networking and making good connections with other working advertising folks, and that's exactly what happened. But in this post, I'm going to focus on some of what Edwards told us about the Vera Bradley company and its journey "from basement to branding."
After noticing the lack of cute luggage items for women at the airport, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia Polito Miller began cutting out fabric and stitching the pieces into bags on a basement ping pong table. Their initial $250 investment, made 28 years ago, has turned into a $350 million enterprise traded on NASDAQ as VRA.
The colorful bags and accessories, in distinctive florals and paisleys, are popular with females from 8 to 80, but the typical customer is an upscale woman of 39, who buys the bags for herself, her daughter and her mother. Girls wearing school uniforms enjoy Vera Bradley's colorful backpacks because they bring style and individuality to their daily look.
Edwards shared some funny and touching stories from the company as well as some things you or I never knew about Vera Bradley:
* The company is named for the late Vera Bradley, Barbara's mother, instead of Patricia's mother, whose name was more difficult to remember.
* There are 3300 Vera Bradley retail partners and 50 company-owned Vera Bradley stores, whose ambience is modeled after Vera Bradley's home. Dillard's will now carry Vera Bradley merchandise as well.
* It takes 18 months to create and execute a new design.
* The company mission: To be a girl's best friend.
* Company values: Caring, Creativity, Optimism, Fussy (in a good way, as in caring about the details), Honesty, Humility, Respect and Fun.
* The company's culture includes a number of unwritten rules and courtesies, some of which are: Be nice! Mentor and teach others. Give people your full attention. And be sure you look cute on a plane!
* One of the best ways to build brand awareness for a company like Vera Bradley is called "seeding," and it's simple: Hand a bag to a cute girl.
* Employees try out new products first and offer feedback.
* Vera Bradley does not delete negative customer comments on social media. They find that much of the time, their own customers will defend their merchandise for them to other consumers.
* The company supports the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer and more than a thousand other organizations nationally.
A final note: To my delight, I won a Vera Bradley tote at the conference luncheon, and I'm doing my best to wear it cute. When I carried it to lunch today before attending The Kaleidoscope of Homes tour, I made sure to wear a blouse that matched the violet petals in the print.
It worked for two 40-something women named Barbara and Patricia, who started sewing quilted handbags for friends and family in the basement, and ended up as the creators of Vera Bradley, famous maker of all those cute and colorful totes and accessories. (Be prepared to see the word "cute" a lot in this post. It's part of the company culture.)
Monica Edwards, the company's vice president of marketing and communications, told their story to advertising industry professionals at the 2011 Central Region Conference of AAF Friday at Fort Worth's downtown Hilton. I attended with hopes of networking and making good connections with other working advertising folks, and that's exactly what happened. But in this post, I'm going to focus on some of what Edwards told us about the Vera Bradley company and its journey "from basement to branding."
After noticing the lack of cute luggage items for women at the airport, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia Polito Miller began cutting out fabric and stitching the pieces into bags on a basement ping pong table. Their initial $250 investment, made 28 years ago, has turned into a $350 million enterprise traded on NASDAQ as VRA.
The colorful bags and accessories, in distinctive florals and paisleys, are popular with females from 8 to 80, but the typical customer is an upscale woman of 39, who buys the bags for herself, her daughter and her mother. Girls wearing school uniforms enjoy Vera Bradley's colorful backpacks because they bring style and individuality to their daily look.
Edwards shared some funny and touching stories from the company as well as some things you or I never knew about Vera Bradley:
* The company is named for the late Vera Bradley, Barbara's mother, instead of Patricia's mother, whose name was more difficult to remember.
* There are 3300 Vera Bradley retail partners and 50 company-owned Vera Bradley stores, whose ambience is modeled after Vera Bradley's home. Dillard's will now carry Vera Bradley merchandise as well.
* It takes 18 months to create and execute a new design.
* The company mission: To be a girl's best friend.
* Company values: Caring, Creativity, Optimism, Fussy (in a good way, as in caring about the details), Honesty, Humility, Respect and Fun.
* The company's culture includes a number of unwritten rules and courtesies, some of which are: Be nice! Mentor and teach others. Give people your full attention. And be sure you look cute on a plane!
* One of the best ways to build brand awareness for a company like Vera Bradley is called "seeding," and it's simple: Hand a bag to a cute girl.
* Employees try out new products first and offer feedback.
* Vera Bradley does not delete negative customer comments on social media. They find that much of the time, their own customers will defend their merchandise for them to other consumers.
* The company supports the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer and more than a thousand other organizations nationally.
A final note: To my delight, I won a Vera Bradley tote at the conference luncheon, and I'm doing my best to wear it cute. When I carried it to lunch today before attending The Kaleidoscope of Homes tour, I made sure to wear a blouse that matched the violet petals in the print.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Come September
I was afraid it wouldn't happen this year.
Every Texas summer is a scorcher, by the standards of someone who grew up in the upper Midwest. But during all of my years in Texas, a slight, but noticeable cooling trend has been ushered in shortly after the Labor Day holiday.
Mercifully, it did cool down in Dallas/Fort Worth right on schedule, even with the three months of triple-digit temperatures we've endured.
I also think I see a slight, but noticeable upward trend in the number of open positions of the kind I'm looking for -- advertising copywriters, editors, public relations writers and the like.
I know, it goes against the flat, dismal government job statistics that have Wall Street in a tizzy.
But it makes sense, in my world. Summers were always times to catch your breath, for a moment at least, in the newspaper business. And you needed to take that break when you could, because things always sped up in a big, fat hurry come September.
So even if the economy is wretched, it's still back-to-school time, back-to-serious-business time. And that's why I think I'm seeing more appropriate jobs to apply for, even if some of them are freelance or temporary assignments. I'm open to those as well as "real" work. I found that my last freelance assignment (which was also my first) gave me a certain sense of validation, and satisfaction in flexing my professional chops.
In addition to finding more job openings than usual this week, I also attended a weekly networking event called "Social Media Lab."
Held at a North Richland Hills coffeeshop called "Roots," this group is an ongoing, informal and hands-on-the-laptop discussion on honing your social media skills not only for the job search, but for on-the-job purposes as well.
It's a small, friendly gathering run by volunteer coaches who ask only that attendees pay it forward by sharing what they've learned with others. Oh, and one more thing...if you go, make sure you thank the folks at Roots by purchasing a latte and something tempting from the bakery case. Go ahead, "Like" them on Facebook. They are awesome to host this event each week.
I'll tell you more about Social Media Lab in a future post. Meanwhile, if you're interested, it is held every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at Roots coffeehouse on Hwy. 26 in North Richland Hills, just east of NRH2O. Bring a laptop if you have one, but no worries if you don't. Just sit next to someone who has one and look on. It's part of the deal.
Every Texas summer is a scorcher, by the standards of someone who grew up in the upper Midwest. But during all of my years in Texas, a slight, but noticeable cooling trend has been ushered in shortly after the Labor Day holiday.
Mercifully, it did cool down in Dallas/Fort Worth right on schedule, even with the three months of triple-digit temperatures we've endured.
I also think I see a slight, but noticeable upward trend in the number of open positions of the kind I'm looking for -- advertising copywriters, editors, public relations writers and the like.
I know, it goes against the flat, dismal government job statistics that have Wall Street in a tizzy.
But it makes sense, in my world. Summers were always times to catch your breath, for a moment at least, in the newspaper business. And you needed to take that break when you could, because things always sped up in a big, fat hurry come September.
So even if the economy is wretched, it's still back-to-school time, back-to-serious-business time. And that's why I think I'm seeing more appropriate jobs to apply for, even if some of them are freelance or temporary assignments. I'm open to those as well as "real" work. I found that my last freelance assignment (which was also my first) gave me a certain sense of validation, and satisfaction in flexing my professional chops.
In addition to finding more job openings than usual this week, I also attended a weekly networking event called "Social Media Lab."
Held at a North Richland Hills coffeeshop called "Roots," this group is an ongoing, informal and hands-on-the-laptop discussion on honing your social media skills not only for the job search, but for on-the-job purposes as well.
It's a small, friendly gathering run by volunteer coaches who ask only that attendees pay it forward by sharing what they've learned with others. Oh, and one more thing...if you go, make sure you thank the folks at Roots by purchasing a latte and something tempting from the bakery case. Go ahead, "Like" them on Facebook. They are awesome to host this event each week.
I'll tell you more about Social Media Lab in a future post. Meanwhile, if you're interested, it is held every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at Roots coffeehouse on Hwy. 26 in North Richland Hills, just east of NRH2O. Bring a laptop if you have one, but no worries if you don't. Just sit next to someone who has one and look on. It's part of the deal.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Mercenary me
Open up the dictionary to "freelance" and you'll notice that one definition is "a medieval solder who sold his services to any state or military leader."
In other words, a mercenary. Like me. Writer for hire, with sharpened pencil standing in for the lance.
I've just had my first freelance copywriting assignment published, a story of approximately 2,000 words on trends in kitchen and bath design. If you want to see it, head for Central Market or a Barnes & Noble in Fort Worth and buy a copy of 360 West magazine. Turn to page 73 for The Kitchen & Bath Guide.
Or, just visit this handy link to a digital copy of the September issue of the entire magazine, which is celebrating its biggest issue ever.
The best part of the experience was working with some former colleagues from the publishing industry who now work to put together this exceptional magazine every month.
It's beneficial to have a fresh writing credit, as I forge the new direction of my post-layoff career.
In other words, a mercenary. Like me. Writer for hire, with sharpened pencil standing in for the lance.
I've just had my first freelance copywriting assignment published, a story of approximately 2,000 words on trends in kitchen and bath design. If you want to see it, head for Central Market or a Barnes & Noble in Fort Worth and buy a copy of 360 West magazine. Turn to page 73 for The Kitchen & Bath Guide.
Or, just visit this handy link to a digital copy of the September issue of the entire magazine, which is celebrating its biggest issue ever.
The best part of the experience was working with some former colleagues from the publishing industry who now work to put together this exceptional magazine every month.
It's beneficial to have a fresh writing credit, as I forge the new direction of my post-layoff career.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Resuming my resume
A resume is always a work in progress, and never a done deal.
We're advised to customize them for each and every job application, adding key words that will connect you to the job you're seeking.
Look through your resume for accomplishments that will be most meaningful to a given employer, the experts say, and find a way to highlight them or bring them to the top part of your resume.
Inevitably, as much as you've been tweaking and improving this all-important document, the day will come when you realize a weakness or an error in your resume and think, "I've been sending out that?"
I had a good start on my resume with the help of DBM, the outplacement firm hired by my former employer. But in its latest incarnation, after some in-person scrutiny by veteran recruiter Maureen Walkinshaw of the Career Solutions Workshop, my resume is looking even better.
In the newspaper business, the biggest, most important news of the day is deliberately placed "above the fold." That means the top half of the newspaper, where the day's headlines and photos might capture the attention (and pocket change) of those who walk by a streetside newsrack or a stack of papers at 7-11.
Well, hello! A resume is no different. "There's prime rib in there, but it's buried," said Ms. Walkinshaw, after she spent a few minutes looking at my resume. She let me know which statements on my resume would be most impactful to a potential employer, and advised me to move them up to a highlighted location on the top third of the page. She also recommended some deletions.
Now the "prime rib" on my personal menu is spelled out in bullets under "Accomplishments" on the top third of my resume, right before Professional Experience.
Employers are getting a lot of resumes these days, and spend only an average of 10 seconds looking at yours before deciding whether it goes in the "Yes" or "No" pile.
Don't make them look too hard for the good stuff.
Career Solutions Workshop is a 12-week free course for the job hunter. More at http://www.careersolutionsworkshop.org/.
We're advised to customize them for each and every job application, adding key words that will connect you to the job you're seeking.
Look through your resume for accomplishments that will be most meaningful to a given employer, the experts say, and find a way to highlight them or bring them to the top part of your resume.
Inevitably, as much as you've been tweaking and improving this all-important document, the day will come when you realize a weakness or an error in your resume and think, "I've been sending out that?"
I had a good start on my resume with the help of DBM, the outplacement firm hired by my former employer. But in its latest incarnation, after some in-person scrutiny by veteran recruiter Maureen Walkinshaw of the Career Solutions Workshop, my resume is looking even better.
In the newspaper business, the biggest, most important news of the day is deliberately placed "above the fold." That means the top half of the newspaper, where the day's headlines and photos might capture the attention (and pocket change) of those who walk by a streetside newsrack or a stack of papers at 7-11.
Well, hello! A resume is no different. "There's prime rib in there, but it's buried," said Ms. Walkinshaw, after she spent a few minutes looking at my resume. She let me know which statements on my resume would be most impactful to a potential employer, and advised me to move them up to a highlighted location on the top third of the page. She also recommended some deletions.
Now the "prime rib" on my personal menu is spelled out in bullets under "Accomplishments" on the top third of my resume, right before Professional Experience.
Employers are getting a lot of resumes these days, and spend only an average of 10 seconds looking at yours before deciding whether it goes in the "Yes" or "No" pile.
Don't make them look too hard for the good stuff.
Career Solutions Workshop is a 12-week free course for the job hunter. More at http://www.careersolutionsworkshop.org/.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Becoming a foodie, of sorts
Throughout this not-yet-too-terribly-long journey of job searching, I've received one constant word of advice in all of the workshops, outplacement classes and networking events that I have attended.
Job hunting is be hard work, probably the hardest you'll ever have, say the experts...but in your spare time, while you still have some, do spend a little of it volunteering in your community.
And so I am.
Next week, I'm scheduled to work my first session as a volunteer for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. The marketing and public relations staffers there have been kind enough to take a look at their to-do lists to see if there are some projects where my own professional experience can be useful. And while I'm there, I also want to help box up donated food in their quality control area.
As I drove away from the Food Bank today, I felt a definite uptick in my attitude. Now I've got something on my calendar that puts me back working with people on something that's not all about me, getting a job.
And I have to admit, it feels good to get a "Yes" response from an organization for a change.
Visit the Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves 13 counties, at www.tafb.org.
Job hunting is be hard work, probably the hardest you'll ever have, say the experts...but in your spare time, while you still have some, do spend a little of it volunteering in your community.
And so I am.
Next week, I'm scheduled to work my first session as a volunteer for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. The marketing and public relations staffers there have been kind enough to take a look at their to-do lists to see if there are some projects where my own professional experience can be useful. And while I'm there, I also want to help box up donated food in their quality control area.
As I drove away from the Food Bank today, I felt a definite uptick in my attitude. Now I've got something on my calendar that puts me back working with people on something that's not all about me, getting a job.
And I have to admit, it feels good to get a "Yes" response from an organization for a change.
Visit the Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves 13 counties, at www.tafb.org.
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