Friday, September 2, 2011

Living through Unemployment

Forgive the topsy turvy dates of the first few posts. We are editing an old Blog and reinventing it for this adventure.

Converting site...check back SOON. This site will be filled with everything you need to help you through the most incredibly difficult time of your life.

I know this because we are living it with you. Learn how to survive from, day to day, with us.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Lost Your Job~~Now What?

Lost Your Job~~Now What?


You've just been thrown out into the wilderness without a map. The most difficult thing is knowing where to begin. With months of research and trial and error behind us, we have experience in forging the trail. Let us be your compass.
The following is a list of websites with useful information for the Job Search/Interview process, itself.
Just follow the links to the appropriate sites.

(from my other blog)
Get Ready to Get Out There

What Is The Longest Period Of Time That You Have Been Unemployed?

Now that you know what jobs match your skills and interests, it’s time to get out into the job market and make things happen. Our toolkit will help you prepare with proven tips that can help you perfect your resume, sharpen your interviewing skills and prepare for salary negotiations: Link


What You Should Never Put in an Introductory Email
It's never too early to make a bad impression.
A cover letter or introductory email is often the first thing a potential employer sees when reviewing a job applicant. It's the first opportunity to impress recruiters and hiring managers and, therefore, the first opportunity to disappoint them. Everything from copy mistakes to inappropriate jokes in a cover letter could derail an application. Link

Top 5 Tips for Creating Impressive Video Resumes 
In today’s highly competitive job market, creating the right video resume to accompany your traditional CV can make you stand out from the crowd. The wrong one, though, can make you a laughing stock. Link

Interviews
A collection of resources to help you ace interviews. Includes tips for successfully navigating job interviews, sample interview questions and answers, plus interview practice games that provide immediate feedback online. Link

Thank You Note Example - Follow Up With Information 

Thank you note example to use when you want to follow-up with the hiring manager and provide additional information about your candidacy that you wish you had mentioned at the interview. Link

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hot Cocoa from Alton Brown







What do you do when people drop off boxes of food with dried milk? Obviously, you search the internet for hot cocoa recipes and the kitchen for ingredients. Gourmet cocoa without a Starbucks in sight.

Hot Cocoa

Alton Brown

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Art of Darkness II: Cocoa

Rated 5 stars out of 5
Total Time:
5 min
Prep
5 min
Yield:
5 1/2 cups dry mix
Level:
Ingredients

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.

Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Between A Rock and A Hard Place

Having searched the internet for any sign of hope in amongst the despair about unemployment and its conqequenses, I have come to realize that what is needed is a place for families to turn to for information, help and perhaps, even a bit of humor. Life is not over...its just on hold. I hope. This blog will attempt to offer anything and everything about the life of the unemployed Ameerican. Mainly, that life does go on.

To be continued...

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Value Meals


I have read, in many places, that in order to survive unemployment, you must give up eating out. I am fairly certain the people who say this are the same one's who say your children, who have given up going out to movies, birthday presents and new school supplies, don't deserve a simple candy bar at the grocery store.

Mean spirited~judgmental~people, who have given up NOTHING.

A value menu is a group of items on a fast food restaurant menu that are designed to be the least expensive items available. In the US, the items are usually priced between $0.99 and $1.49.

The portion size, and/or number of items included with the food, are usually but not always related to the price. Wikipedia

Our family of four has mastered the art of eating at Arby's for just over $8.00. The lift in spirits and well being, getting away from the drudgery that sometimes is our day, is worth much, much more.


Arby's

Arby's announced the launch of their value menu on April 9, 2010. Items on the value menu vary based on location, but typically include small or value size roast beef sandwiches, curly fries, milkshakes, chicken sandwiches, ham and cheddar sandwiches, and turnovers.

Burger King

Burger King added a value menu in 1998 with items priced at 99¢ (USD). In 2002 and 2006, BK revamped its value menu, adding and removing products at 99¢, and later increasing some prices to $1.39. Many of these items have since been discontinued, modified or relegated to a regional menu option.

McDonald's

After numerous attempts beginning in 1991, experimenting with a variety of menus and pricing strategies, McDonald's launched its first national value menu, the Dollar Menu, in late 2002.

Taco Bell

In 1988, Taco Bell lowered the prices of all new items and launched the first three-tiered pricing strategy and free drink refills.

Wendy's

Wendy's is generally credited with being the first fast food chain to offer a value menu in October 1989, with every item priced at $0.99.

Wikipedia






Monday, August 15, 2011


No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Friday, August 5, 2011

Weekly Time Sheets

Begin the job search by
Number ONE
Organize your time~~plan out your week.
Sample List
Monday
7:00-7:30 Breakfast
7:30-8:00 Morning Jog
8:00-9:00 Work on Resume
9:00-10:00 Internet Job Search
10:00-11:00 Practice Interviews Out loud
11:00-11:30 Fix Kitchen Sink
11:30-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Talk to Bank about Mortgage Options
2:00-3:00 Sort Through Email-Respond
3:00-3:30 Pick up Kids from School
3:30-4:00 Robert Half Consulting
4:00-5:00 Study Lesson 5.2 of Java script
5:00 Dinnertime
Tuesday
7:00-7:30 Breakfast
7:30-8:00 Morning Jog
8:00-9:00 Work on Cover Letter
9:00-10:00 Internet Job Search
10:00-11:00 Practice Interviews Out loud
11:00-11:30 Mow front yard
11:30-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Work on new budget options
2:00-3:00 Sort Through Email-Respond
3:00-3:30 Pick up Kids from School
3:30-4:00 Send Thank you to Robert Half Consulting
4:00-5:00 Study Lesson 5.3 of Java script
5:00 Dinnertime
Wednesday...
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