Help ! Will Someone Hold My Hand While I Freak Out ?
Here I sit. In my new office, the Dining Room. This is where it is all supposed to happen. I have re-organized, sorted through old stacks of papers seeking out forty years worth of my accomplishments, personal and professional. I find out through Resume Writing Class that I have to completely re-create my resume. Ok, that’s fine. I sit through class attempting to take notes and listen to the facilitator give me the cold hard facts. My resume will have to get through to a human being. How ? My resume must out smart the resume software of robo readers that scan resumes and kick out the ones that aren’t written with key words the robo reader likes. No human is involved. Panic sets in…..I look at the young facilitator. “Easy for you to say young man” I silently scream. “I have been out of work for over two years !!” “I have been hard at work pulling myself out of the dark hole of severe depression and anxiety, lost weight, eating right, quit drinking, taking a stress class (doctors orders), does that count for anything ? I have mental illness and what if someone finds out ?
Here I sit writing this blog instead of my new resume. I would rather be out playing in the new fallen snow with my dog. All of a sudden I have the urge to clean my house, do laundry, shovel snow, brush my dog and cats, whiten my teeth, color my hair. Help !
Wanted: middle aged woman of 58 years for a perfect job created just for Luce. Here I go back to my fantasy world…..noooooo. Snap out of it ! I’ll settle for holding a paw instead of a hand.
Luce
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Oh luce, you describe it all so well, and you have my heartfelt understanding and sympathy. You sound very intelligent and capable. Have you thought of a service you could offer. You could advertise on Craig’s list for free. There are also other ways to connect with people. You also may consider taking a short course to qualify for a position, or see what you local Junior college has to offer. You may want to contact agencies to see what is available for retraining.
I think you need to get a job and then you could find a better job for you. I know you seem to think resumes are pretty futile and theyare, so look for other ways to find work.
Back to personal service, you have a dog. I know a lady who walks dogs. What do you do well? Good luck.
Great suggestions Roseinbloom!
Thank you for your kind thoughts rose and you have great suggestions. There is a Workforce Center not far from me where I have been going. I have a job coach and I meet with her tomorrow. We will set a plan of action in place and she will help me with my resume. They hold job fares and have a special program for those over 50. All services are free. Right now I need to find something to pay the bills. The resume is very daunting to me but crucial. I accept all comments and suggestions !
Luce, I am right there with you, so don’t feel like the Lone Ranger because Tonto is right here. I have made several attempts at updating my resume which is over 17 years old. This has become a weekly ordeal, going on for about a year now. It is just scary to me to think about interviewing and just getting out there in the work force again. So here I am again, saying, tomorrow I will attempt the resume. Thanks for the reminder.
Suzan1957 (alias Tonto)
Once the resume is done it is such a relief. I created a master resume. Any skills, interests, job history, etc. can be included anyway you want. The master is a base for any type of resume. It took me a year to update mine. I have had help with a job coach at no cost to me. She will kindly but effectively keep me on track. I still do all of the work but she is my mentor. I couldn’t do this on my own. Hang in there !
Luce
Dear Luce,
HANG IN THERE. You are a smart, valuable person. And, who doesn’t have some sort of mental problem. I have fought with deep depression all of my life.
Try your best to stay focused. Wanting to clean the house, etc, is a way of coping with stress. I realize that this is a stressful time for you, but there is a place for everyone. Just the fact that you are so concerned about doing well shows that you would be a valuable employee.
It was very smart of you to take a class on writing resumes. You are obviously a smart woman with a lot to offer. Believe in yourself and others will believe in you also. I am available for hand holding. There have been many times that I needed my hand held.
Thank you sunnydays for the kind words and encouragement.
I don’t blame you Luce, I’d be overwhelmed too. But I really think you’ve got what it takes! You took a resume class…you GO, Girl! That shows determination right there. Look at all the other positive, self-improvement actions you’ve been doing too. Who doesn’t have struggles and issues? But not everyone tackles them head-on the way you have. Start focusing on how far you’ve come! I see more pros than cons happening in your life now. Be proud of yourself!
Take a short break from the employment search sometimes, and do something just for you. Then get back to it. I am quite sure you will have a good update for us soon!
Thanks KayBee. I met with my job coach yesterday and she put me at ease so I feel better. Onward and upward !!!
On my resume it says I have 50% of my Bachelors degree completed..(I have two years of college) it also states that I wrote correspondence for the Governor’s signature (I wrote one letter)
just remember that the glass is half full no matter what you have done in the past! never half empty!
Good ideas Candy. I have to learn to think outside of the box. Thanks for your reply.
Hello Luce, you had the will and strength to pull yourself out of the depression, no mean feat in it’s self, so the determination to move forward is there, do not put off writing your resume or CV as we call it in England, you will feel much more at ease if you sit down and do it, you can get tips and hints off the internet, yes you need to sell yourself to get as far as the interview stage, but your resume will not just be judged on qualifications alone, qualities such as sense of humour, good time keeping, adaptability, able to communicate and get on well with others are all things that will be taken into consideration, as regards the young chap that is teaching you how to write your resume, well he has been trained to do this and is probably teaching you from the text book rather than personal experience, any medical problems should not be asked for or mentioned on your resume,would be discrimination if they are asked for, unless of course the job is working with vulnerable people then certain facts would have to be disclosed and police checks undertaken…….don’t overthink too much, one step at a time….good luck Luce….xx
You sound such a smart lady to me , you have gone after what you require , don’t allow anxiety to take you back , you have come so far in everything you have taken on board so far and I,m sure with self confidence ,you will obtain any positionyou seek … Paws are just the thing to tell you , that you are important and nloved, never forget there is a real ME inside of you …… xxxxx
Well said Lani and thank you. Confidence is the key. I’m getting there !
Just as an afterthought, when I applied for my job in caring for people with learning difficulties I was given an interview but could not make it as I would be away on holiday, one at a later date was offered which I attended and was offered the position, I didn’t learn until later that the panel had decided to offer the position to a previous applicant they had seen a couple of weeks earlier, she had a load of qualifications and a humanitarians degree, I had none and no experience in this field, i was told the job was offered to me because of the warmth, humour and sincerity that they saw in me, I went on to eventually become the manager and have interviewed many over the years for jobs ,not always the written word is true, and it does not count for everything…….
So true. Getting an interview with a human is hard these days but when that opportunity arises, then I can sell myself. I’ve done it before and I will do it again. Thanks for your comment.
Cold hard fact, Luce, it is now all about what skills you bring to a business and not how much you know or the experience you have. In fact, sometimes highlighting how much knowledge and experience you have in a particular area, does more harm then good. This causes them to think you are set in your ways and they can’t mold you into what they want. So, beef up your skills in your resume. Any computer knowledge is a huge plus. Best of luck xxx
Good point. Thanks for your comment !
Dear Luce in 2004 i got my stomac operation by cancer my digestif tube burned On third degree the gal died and 75% intestins were taken away after My operation i got a hospital virus 1 week in coma a very nasty situation after four months controle medic they put me back On work while i should recover 2 years .i ve been to school gardening learning technical and latin words about plant species .i had Some black-outs because i can t eat normal so reception electricity in My Brain is not as it should be .i had after 5 months learning working with pain 24H a day without help from anyone i have passed my exams and got 2 degrees diplomes .i ve worked 6 months for a garden society 6 days a week starting at 6.30 am finishing 11pm saturday half day.conclusion i had 8 coma s so My boss couldn t count On me anymore .i am declared invalide beccause i got 3 fractures and brain bleeding .since i live calm and gardening at home and My sisters place she is mental handicap which i care about .my life is not what i expected to be but the misery i got thrue gave me a light that be positif stay positif it gives me straight beccause i lost My friends friendship my work and my dignity this hurts but live Goes On in short time i Will be 57 but i will survive the situation because the pain ive lived and i still have won t be forgotten.i could wright a book but i have to think too much and My brain doesn t work like it should but maby one day who nows it Will happen never say never .stay strong you have it d ont worry about your life its not easy but finaly you will get thrue and find your way !!!!!!
Thank you Bouvierlover for sharing your story and your encouragement. I am sorry to hear of your struggles and you sound like a strong willed survivor.
Hang in there you smart lady…….you are already on your way or you would have been unable to write a confident positive bog.
I can’t hold your hand but send you Safe Journeys and a true wind in your sails.
Go for it!
Thank you !
Thought this was Luces blog, apparently not, seem that other bloggers want to en-part with their troubles, when I read Luces blog I had a little bit of sympathy for her as it reminded me of a dear friend who was in more or less the same position, then it was shattered by everyone else tales of woe and misery.
It’s all good Teddyted 🙂
Misery is everywhere but many of us do not now that because most of the time we avoid those situation it s not pitty we look it s sharing the negatif to a positif result that gives people hope to continue their life .there is a difference between healt and illness .i saw many die they had everything but unable to be cured but who am i to critizise i am only a human teddy
Sharing one’s life experiences is a good thing. My blog is about me but I would hope anyone can comment on it and share their feelings too.
I give up.
Don’t give up Teddyted. 🙂
Never give up teddy i apreciete your honesty stay what u are d ont change it s good to now that there is something to write or talk about it otherwise if Every one says okee or yes conversation would be sad insignifiquend 🙂