What More?

Now that I am gainfully employed, I'm all good now, right?
Wrong.

There is so much my job doesn't do for me. From provide a venue for me to truly unleash my inner fashionista to offer an opportunity for me to give back to the community. Soo....I've been looking into places to volunteer. I, of course, rely on the most comprehensive non-profit search site I know of, Idealist.org.

I love that you can search by job openings, volunteer opportunities, and organizations. It's funny how it's so easy to find volunteering opps in comparison to jobs, but I suppose that makes sense: who doesn't want someone to do work for them for free? There are a couple of options I'm looking into and I can't wait to find something that offers me a chance to help others in a field that I hope to further pursue--mental health.

What can I say? I'm a giver. Lol no, but really, I believe everyone should spend even a little bit of time doing something that will benefit others. I think as we get older, life and all our own problems(bills, family issues, time schedule, etc)get in the way of our giving back to the community.

What do you think, should more people find ways to do community service even as they get older?

If Only I Could Write Cover Letters Like This

dream cover letter:

To Whom This May Concern;

My name is Ngozi Ojukwu and I'm a college graduate. I live at home with my mom and have been mooching off of her for far too long now. I would like to make some substantial money so I can support my shopping habit and actually start paying off my loans.

I believe this position is the right fit for me because you need somebody and I'm desperately available. I know there are thousands of other desperately available people, but I'm smarter than most of them, with better fashion sense as well.

Please hire me because I could really use a job. Don't think too hard about it, just go with me.

Sincerely,
Minah C. Di

wouldn't t be nice...

Melaleuca and Me

Yesterday, my friend invited me to a presentation about a business opportunity that she was "very excited" about. She offered to drive me there and since I wasn't up to much, I said "yes".

What it turned out to be was a recruiting session in which successful members of this business, Meleluca, tried to sell to everyday people, me, a "opportunity" to make money without doing much. It was my first time dealing with these multi-level marketing businesses and I must say, I was a little put off.

My friend who invited me was actually great and didn't try and push me at all; however, the same could not be said about the other recruiters there. At one point, a lady led me to a contract, put a pen in my hand, and held my hand to the paper saying "Go ahead. It just makes sense."

"Umm no. This pushy sales pitch makes no sense at all", I thought.

I absolutely did not sign up to this company, and although I would have liked to purchase a few things just to help my friend out, Melaleuca requires that you make a minimum $60 purchase monthly. And I certainly don't have money to put down on random purchases.

2 Down, 300 to Go

So far, so good. I have applied for my two jobs today and am looking forward to seeing where this all goes. It can't hurt to have my resume floating out there...

Two A Day?!!

So I just finished applying to one job. Why did it take two hours?!! My goodness, Cover letters, resumes, writing samples, references...it seems simple until you have to personalize it for the job! Wheww! This two job apps a day thing might get pretty old pretty quick.

*Sigh*

Unto the second one!

How to Feel When Someone Else Gets Their Dream Job

I want to be happy for them, and most of me IS happy. They have achieved something that we all are striving for. They are on their way to accomplishing their goals and it is refreshing to know that you can still get a job in this sucktastic economy.

But there is a small small almost minuscule part that goes a little green with envy and develops a very bitter feeling towards that person, the world, and self-admittedly, my own pathetic situation. And even though that tiny part is invisible to the eye, I feel it just as much as the rest of me that is happy and proud of that accomplishment.

Part Timing It

So it appears I will start working here part time as an Executive Assistant(I gave myself that title, but whatever) lol

I love natural hair and could talk about it forever so I'm pretty glad I have an opportunity to learn more about it and help an up-and-coming business work to project natural hairstyles into mainstream and strive to infiltrate the media.

But I once heard that you should start looking for your next job the day you get one so I'm def still on the prowl for exciting ventures and job opportunities.

What About Wendy's?

My 14 year old brother just gave me unsolicited advice on where I should be looking for a job. Top of his list was Target and McDonald's. Sigh.

When I explained to him hat I was a Psychology major with an interest in law school, he then suggested I get a morning internship as a Psychologist's Assistant so I could still work evenings at Target.

You gotta love kid's frame of mind right now...

But hey, I'm trying to school the kid on a few things: the seriousness of our economic situation, my belief that an excellent field-related position exists just for me, and why McDonald's is not an appropriate job for an Ivy League graduate.

Afro-Beautiful Hairstyles in the Workplace

I've always debated with the issue of how to wear my hair when it comes to the workplace. I think it's ok to wear your natural hair however you please(as long as you come correct with your style), but when going in for an interview: is it ok to rock that 'fro? Could you possibly scare an employer away by making a "statement on your head"?


Sadly, it's def possible. But what people need to realize is that natural hair is not a radical statement. It's NATURAL. As the U.S. continues to genuinely embrace diversity, we need to internalize the idea that we do not need to blend into the white conservative environment.

I, myself, am not ready to rock a full out afro to a job interview yet, but hopefully soon.

Where are all the Jobs?!!!

The other day, a friend of mine told me about a guy who just got a job as a paralegal in D.C. How did he get this job? A fantastic resume? No. A daddy that's partner? Maybe at another firm, but no. He emailed an alumni who worked at the firm to ask if they would like to go for drinks after work. The alumni responded "I don't have time for drinks, right now I need a paralegal." Voila! Dude's got a job.

Sure this is an extreme example, but this is the new world of networking. And you got to work it or someone else will. There's no time for pride or timidness when sooo many college graduates are looking for work.

If you've got those connections, use em. Email em, Facebook em, call em, borderline harass em. Whatever it takes, because if you don't someone else sure will.

These are desperate times and the unemployed must resort to desperate measures....

SO where are all the jobs? They're around. You just have to hustle those connections, cause that's really how most people are getting jobs in this economy.

Currently Unemployed...So NOT Fabulous.

Here are my top 10 reasons why being unemployed is so unfabulous:

10. Your life goals get put on hold...indefinitely.

9. You start counting every dollar you spend and it's a little too depressing how much of that money is spent on food.

8. You start to feel as though your productivity value is significantly decreasing and your use as an American citizen is withering away..because let's be serious: it's hard to help others if you can't help yourself.

7. It's boring.

6. There's nothing fabulous about not being able to afford to go out on a Friday night.

5. After awhile you just want a different answer for the "How's the job search coming?" that people love to ask week after week after freakin week.

4. You start to question those four years of undergraduate pain and suffering.

3. Somehow feeling exhausted after a day of doing nothing just doesn't feel as worthwhile as being wiped after working somewhere you hate with people you can't stand.

2. You have to think twice about buying yourself that Cosmopolitan at the bar. And if you can't buy yourself a Cosmo, how's a guy supposed to buy you your second round? Sure he may buy you that first drink, but come on we're in a recession...men aren't look for freeloaders.

1. Your fashion suffers tremendously. It's kinda hard to stay up on the newest looks when you can't afford to pay for them. And unlike many Americans today, I cannot afford to put myself into debt so One-day sales pass me by...semi-annuals go unvisited...Clearances stay uncleared, and my closet remains unchanged.

Christian Louboutin Dillian Pumps
(so so fly...umm can I just charge em? lol. womp...I need a job)